Zoom LiveTrak L6max Features 12-Track Mixing, Recording + Eurorack Compatibility


Zoom Corporation has introduced the LiveTrak L6max, a mixer and digital audio recorder designed to deliver the power of large mixers in a compact, battery-powered device.

Features include 14-track recording to SD card, overdubbing, AI noise reduction, built-in effects and compression, Eurorack support and more.

Features:

  • Compact solution for mixing and recording
  • Custom Monitoring Options – Two headphone outputs with a customizable Sub-Out mix lets you monitor exactly what you need, wherever you are on stage.
  • High-Output Ready – Channels 5-8 include a -20 dB PAD switch so you can handle loud sources such as vintage synths and Eurorack modules.
  • OLED Display – The high-contrast OLED display helps you create projects and adjust settings with ease.
  • Powerful Multi-Tracking – 14 Tracks of recording. Capture up to 12 individual tracks plus a stereo mix directly to SD cards up to 2TB. Projects can be saved and recalled for mixing anytime.
  • Unlimited Overdubbing – You can mix and bounce tracks to the dedicated ‘bounce track’, freeing up additional channels to keep adding layers. Even after a bounce, individual tracks are saved to the SD card for future mixing.
  • AI Noise Reduction – Turn on AI Noise Reduction and let the L6max intelligently remove hum, hiss, and background noise – while preserving every detail of your voice and instruments.
  • Clipping Free Recording – the L6max records clip-free audio in 32-bit float. Channels 1-4 have dual-AD converters, keeping mic signals pristine across extreme dynamics.
  • EQ for Each Channel – A 3-band EQ lets you dial in the perfect tone with LOW, HIGH, and variable MID EQ on each channel.
  • Onboard Effects –  including Reverb, Delay, and Echo. Use the TAP key to set delay times.
  • Advanced Compressor – The master track compressor adds punch and saturation to your mix. With 32-bit float the audio will never clip, even at high volumes.
  • Record with your Smartphone or Computer – The L6max can be used as a 32-bit float 14-in / 4-out USB audio interface for your computer, iOS, or Android device while recording simultaneously to the microSD card. It’s also a control surface for your favorite DAW.
  • “Pro-Level” Mixer Functions:
    • MIDI I/O and USB MIDI – Connect external synths and grooveboxes or integrate with MIDI apps on your computer and mobile devices.
    • Flexible Routing with AUX Sends – Two AUX Sends with pre/post-fader options for FX loops and monitor feeds.
    • Sound Pads with MIDI Sync – Trigger jingles, sound effects, or samples on demand. Sound Pads can even sync to a MIDI clock for live electronic performances.
    • Scene Memory – Store up to four mixes and recall them anytime with a single button.
  • L6max Editor App  – The free L6 Editor app for Mac and Windows lets you customize pads, effects, and MIDI assignments with ease.
  • Mobile Mixing and Recording – Power the L6max via AA batteries, USB bus power, or a mobile battery pack.
  • Eurorack Integration – Add the optional ERL-6 rack mount adapter to install the L6max in a Euro Rack setup and power your modular rig.

The Zoom LiveTrak L6max is available now to pre-order, priced at $399.99

Prairie Wires Festival Of Electronic Sound Returns To Brandon Manitoba Canada


Organizes of Prairie Wires – a Canadian electronic music festival – let us know that this year’s event will be held September 19–20 in Brandon Manitoba.

Prairie Wires Modular 2025 will be the third iteration of the Festival of Electronic Sound since its inception in 2019. The festival features two days of performances, presentations and interactive activities at six free-to-attend, family friendly concerts and events spread across downtown Brandon and the BU campus.

Organized by Brandon based sound-artist and graphic designer Brendon Ehinger, this year will see PWM’s programming expanded to two full days.

“I really saw nothing like this happening. Not in Brandon. Not in Canada” said Ehinger, “I wanted to showcase the diversity of not just sounds, but genres, that the instrument (the modular synthesizer) is capable of.”

“This year’s festival will feature everything from electroacoustic chamber music to synthpunk rock, and everything in between,” he adds.

Here are some of highlights of the festival plans:

  • Kerey Harper, “a brilliant electroacoustic new-music composer from St. Theresa Point First Nation”, will be headlining the opening-night concert at BU School of Music, performing with a chamber ensemble of piano, clarinet and cello. The lineup includes other artists that combine acoustic instruments with modular synthesis including Jason Tait (Weakerthans/Bahamas) who will explore live drumming with modular, and Edmonton synthesist k.burwash who will collaborate with violist Jennifer Thiessen (Wpg).
  • Wiggle + Blunder Electric Afterparty (at the Dock on Princess) is another do-not-miss show. Winnipeg’s ‘queer mad scientist from the 80s’ Stiff Wiggle will share the bill with Winnipeg ex-pat and electro-indie rock darling Blunderspublik, in his first Manitoba appearance since relocating to Guelph, ON, in 2015.
  • The festival wraps up on Saturday evening back at the School of Music with a multi-sensory concert spanning two performance halls. The audience is invited to move between spaces each featuring experimental music and projected visual works of two Montréal-based acts. Sound artist Jeremy Young will perform site responsive musique concrète to an undulating backdrop of digitized 8mm film works by Charles-André Coderre, and ARC, a multi-instrumental electronic post-rock trio also from Quebec, will animate the stage with a dynamic performance integrating live video synthesis that responds to the sound of their instruments.

Other events include a sonic scavenger hunt at “Mod on the Quad” Friday morning on the BU campus, and “Wandering Wires”, a guided ambient sound-trek through downtown to the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba where “Patch & Release: Modular Synthposium”, an open-house modular meetup will take place from noon to five. Visitors can interact with PWM2025 artists and get a close-up look at their synthesizers on display, and take in additional performances by the likes of Winnipeg’s probableSelves and performance artist Princess Dasha.

People of all ages are also invited to explore the interactive “Wiggleroom Interactive Synthlab”, where Stiff Wiggle will coach you through creating your own patches on physical and virtual modular synthesizers and other sound-making devices. Visitors can also enter to win a Stylophone Gen-X2 mini synth.

Prairie Wires Modular 2025: Festival of Electronic Sound takes place in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, on September 19 and 20, 2025. All PWM2025 events and venues are free-to-attend, accessible, and welcoming to people of all ages and backgrounds. Visit the event site for details.

Impact Soundworks Chro-Nyx Virtual Instrument Inspired by Classic Hardware Synths


Impact Soundworks has introduced Chro-Nyx, a new virtual instrument that they say is primarily inspired by the Roland JP-8080 synthesizer, but also by other classic hardware synths, including the Roland Jupiter 8, Access Virus, Nord Modular 2, Mono/Poly, and RADIAS.

The Impact Soundworks Chro-Nyx goes far beyond the original 7 waveforms of the original 8080, with a total of 31 oscillator types.

“Go from delicate to untamed with FM-powered modes like 2-Op and Raw. Create massive chords with a single voice using Chord and Hellchoir modes. Transform Chro-Nyx into vintage hardware with the J106, Alpha, and Hoover.

Thicken any sound with the Sub Oscillator, Jupiter-8 style Cross Modulation, and up to 10-voice unison with adjustable tune and spread.”

When it comes to filters, Chro-Nyx starts with the 8080’s signature filter design, slopes, and types (LPF, BPF, HPF), then adds dual filters (and a third post-FX filter) that can be run split, in series, or parallel. Plus, each has Virus-style Filter FM, as well as five filter types like “Classic”, “Lush”, and “Acid”, each with their own distinct character and response.

Features:

  • Up to 10-voice unison for the entire signal path (minus FX) with adjustable stereo spread, detune, phase, and phase randomness
  • Voice spread…
  • Three engine modes to balance CPU performance with circuit model accuracy
  • Multiple legato modes for retriggering pitch, filter, amp or any combination, plus portamento/gliss
  • Analog drift adjustment
  • Oscillators:
    • Dual oscillators with 31 modes including all classic JP8080 waveforms (supersaw!)
    • External audio input on oscillator 2
    • Sub oscillator with 7 waveforms
    • Oscillator cross-modulation, ring modulation, and xyz
    • Adjustable phase and phase reset
    • Noise oscillator with white and pink modes, transient ‘snap’ layer, option to route noise to Osc 1 for ‘chaos’ modulation
  • Filters:
    • Dual filters with highpass, bandpass, and lowpass modes; 12db/oct and 24db/oct slopes
    • Five filter models: Modern, Classic, Acid, Lush, Chro-MP
    • Serial, parallel, and split topologies
    • Custom drive section with 18 waveshaper & distortion modes
    • Filter FM from VCO1 to filter 1, noise FM to filter 2
  • Modulation:
    • Dual LFOs with four waveforms
    • LFO BPM sync from 1/64 to 64/1 speeds; free running speeds from ultra-slow to audio rate
    • 16-slot mod matrix with two destinations per source per slot
    • Math modulators: add, subtract, multiply, quantize, smooth, curve, detune, merge
    • MIDI modulation sources: constant, velocity, key, aftertouch, modwheel, pitchbend, expression, MIDI CCs
    • LFOs and all three envelopes usable as mod sources for anything
    • Eight macro knobs
    • Two per-step mod sources in the step sequencer
  • Sequencer & Arpeggiator:
    • (Up to) 16 step arp/sequencer with variable length, velocity, pitch per step
    • Trance gate with multiple blending controls, ADSR, and tail control – can be overlayed on top of the regular sequencer
    • Can be synced to DAW playback
    • 1/16 to 4/1 speeds; separate speeds for arpeggiator and sequencer modes
    • Adjustable shuffle and overall gate length
  • Effects:
    • Adjustable bass/treble tonal control, plus sub boost with adjustable intensity/tone
    • Delay line with 5 stereo modes and internal modulation
    • Dual FX slots that can be run in serial or parallel with adjustable phase and reset
    • Modulation FX: JP, Alpha, and Juno 106-style choruses, Ensemble, Flanger, Modulator, Phaser, Phaser Jet, Rotary cab, Twisting
    • Distortion FX: Asymmetric Drive, Cross Drive, Distortion, Overdrive, Bitcrushing
    • Spatial FX: Delay Pong, two Reverb modules, gated Reverb, sidechained Reverb (three speeds), two Shimmer modules
    • Other FX: Compressor, Parametric EQ, Multiband Compressor, Alpha HP filter, Formant filter
    • Pre and Post-FX EQs with lo cut, hi cut, lo shelf, high shelf, and two parametric bands
    • FX Filter with HPF, BPF, LPF, Notch modes, 12db/oct and 24db/oct slopes, all waveshaper modes from the main Filter section
    • Twelve band vocoder

Chro-Nyx is available now for the free Reaktor Player (VST/AU/AAX), with an intro price of $79 (normally $99).