WORLD OF MUSIC ; PORTABLE KEYBOARD - Latest Portable Music Keyboards, Synthesizers and Music News

Synthesist Martin Peters shared this hypnotic Berlin School style live performance, Entanglement.

The performance features sounds of both Eurorack and Moog format modular systems, along with Minimoog lead.

Peters shared about the technical details:

“It starts with a sequence on the Behringer Victor. Then the bass from the Synthesizers.com modular comes in. After that sequences from the Rob Hordijk OSC HRM, Oberheim SEM, Verbos Harmonic Oscillator, Korg Opsix and DSI Mopho are added. Strings are from the Waldorf Q Keyboard and the solo’s from the Moog Minimoog”.

Mike Pinder – one of the founding members of The Moody Blues, and the eminent Mellotron orchestrator – died this week at the age of 82.

Michael Pinder (27 December 1941 – 24 April 2024) was a founding member and the original keyboard player of The Moody Blues. He helped create the groups orchestral sound through his pioneering use of the Mellotron and other keyboard instruments. Listen to any of the group’s classic albums, and you can hear Pinder expanding their sound through his creative use of keyboards.

Pinder’s family shared the news via The Moody Blues Facebook page:

“Mike Pinder – Musician, Father, Cosmic Philosopher & Friend

Michael Thomas Pinder died on Wednesday, April 24th, 2024 at his home in Northern California, surrounded by his devoted family. Michael’s family would like to share with his trusted friends and caring fans that he passed peacefully. His final days were filled with music, encircled by the love of his family. Michael lived his life with a childlike wonder, walking a deeply introspective path which fused the mind and the heart.

He created his music and the message he shared with the world from this spiritually grounded place; as he always said, “Keep your head above the clouds, but keep your feet on the ground.” His authentic essence lifted up everyone who came into contact with him. His lyrics, philosophy, and vision of humanity and our place in the cosmos will touch generations to come.”

Pinder worked for Streetly Electronics, who manufactured the Mellotron, from 1962-63. In 1964, he left to found The Moody Blues with Ray Thomas, Denny Laine, Clint Warwick and Graeme Edge.

Here’s Dawn Is A Feeling, from Days Of Future Past, which showcases both his songwriting and his approach to using the Mellotron:

Pinder was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018 as a member of The Moody Blues.

You can find out more about Pinder’s experiences with the Mellotron at his website.

Behringer has officially introduced Vintage, a free software synthesizer for Mac + Windows.

Initially,  we thought it was available; then we were told that it wasn’t – but Behringer has now finally released Vintage, its free VST synth.

Vintage is a traditional subtractive synth, featuring two oscillators and dual multi-mode filters.

The software synth was created in collaboration with Stefano D’Angelo of Italian DSP company Orastron, who – according to his LinkedIn page – previously worked for Arturia. Behringer is making Vintage available as donation ware, with donations going to support the Playing For Change Foundation.   

To recap, some people managed to download Vintage this earlier this month, but then we were told that its short-lived availability was down to an “accidental leak”. In between, Tone2 Audiosoftware was forced to clarify that it had nothing to do with Vintage’s development (some had noted similarities between Vintage and Tone2’s Saurus synth).

Vintage does now have a proper page on the Behringer website. It’s “based on meticulous modelling of legendary analog vintage synthesizers” and is the first in a new series of software instruments.

Vintage offers two oscillators with hard sync and a choice of waveforms (sine, square, saw, noise and sub-oscillator), two 12/24 dB filters that can be switched between low-, high- and band-pass as well as notch and formant modes (plus filter envelopes), and a noise generator.

There are also two amp modules with an ADSR envelope, and dual LFOs. All of which is said to combine to produce a “legendary tone” that gives you the “soul of vintage synthesizers”.

Features:

• Synthesizer engine based on meticulous modeling of legendary analog vintage synthesizers
• Two high-quality oscillators with hard sync function and selectable waveforms including sine, square, saw, noise and sub-oscillator
• Two versatile filters featuring 12/24 dB switchable low, high and band pass, notch and formant modes, plus selectable drive curves for lush harmonic saturation
• Filter ADSR controls are easily accessible and a flexible routing scheme allows for serial or parallel filtering
• Noise generator with color knob controlling low pass cut-off
• Following the filters, two amplitude modules allows for panning and leveling with controllable ADSR envelope
• Dual LFO to modulate oscillators, filters and amplifiers with separate controls for rate, attack, delay, retrig and waveform

Behringer says that Vintage is valued at $99. Vintage is available now as a free download.

Vintage is available for PC and Mac and runs in VST/AU/AAX formats. Find out more and download it via the Behringer website.