Moog Music has launched a new video series, ‘Synthesizing with Moog’, that promises to be must-see content for synthesists.
Host Chris Miller takes viewers on a journey through sound and time, weaving together science, acoustics, history, human perception, synthesis and more.
Moog says that the seven-part educational video series is designed to make learning the fundamentals of synthesis accessible, engaging, and inspiring.
And these may be the ‘Moogiest’ videos they’ve ever produced, with vintage styling, a soundtrack that recalls the early days of Moog synthesizers, and a great location, filmed on location at Schneidersladen Apotheke in Berlin.
“We set out to create a series that brings you as much technical knowledge as it does entertainment and joy as you watch each episode,” they note.
They’ve also shared the soundtrack to the first episode, below, which features original compositions by Max Ravitz and Gunnar Haslam:
Watch the videos, and share your thoughts on them in the comments!
Sound Particles has introduced GrainDust, a new granular synthesizer – for Mac + Windows – that features 4 fully independent granular layers.
Beyond its granular capabilities, GrainDust features 6 filter types, 10 effects, spatial sequencing, support for ambisonic, binaural and surround formats, and more.
What they have to say about it:
“GrainDust is a powerful granular synthesizer with 4 fully independent granular layers, giving you the freedom to create rich and evolving textures. Every grain can move, shift, and breathe, creating results that feel alive and truly three-dimensional.
Comes loaded with an exclusive library of unique sounds, giving your music and sound design a signature character from the very first note.”
Features:
Presets
+250 Presets and Sub-Presets
MPE Compatible Presets
Random presets generator – the dice for happy accidents
Behringer shared this official demo video for the new UB-Xa MINI, a mini-synth with a synth voice based on their flagship UB-Xa keyboard, which copies the classic Oberheim OB-Xa.
Behringer calls the UB-Xa MINI a polyphonic synth. with three VCOs, that can be controlled individually, feeding through a single signal VCF-VCA signal path. But it would probably be clearer to describe it as a monophonic/paraphonic design.
However, no matter how you describe it, though, the UB-Xa MINI packs a lot of features into a tiny package.
Features:
Portable analog polyphonic and programmable synthesizer
Reproduction of OB-Xa VCO and VCF circuitry from the ‘80s
Analog signal path based on VCO, VCF, and VCA designs
27 touch-sensitive keys
3 separate VCOs with saw and square waveforms
Multi-mode ring modulator on square waves for metallic sound effects
16-step motion sequencer with 10 memory slots and recording of knob movements
Extensive play modes featuring poly, unison, octaves, fifths, ring unison, and ring poly
LFO with 3 waveforms and sync for pitch, filter cutoff, and pulse width modulation
Selectable dual-slope 12/24 dB analog low-pass filter with adjustable resonance
The Behringer UB-Xa MINI is priced at $109 and is starting to show up at retailers as available to pre-order.
