In May 1977, Elektor magazine published the first of a series of articles that document building the Formant modular synthesizer. The Formant, designed by C. Chapman, was designed to an affordable DIY alternative to the commercial modular synths of the day.
Last year, Erica Synths introduced a modern reissue of the Formant modular, with 27 module kits available for DIYers.
Carr shares an overview of the Formant modular, history of the system, sound demos and more.
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Arturia KeyStep 37 Mk2 with redesigned interface, extended connectivity and generative tools.
Following the launch of its KeyStep Mk2 MIDI controller keyboard in November last year, Arturia has unveiled the KeyStep 37 Mk2, bringing many of the features from the Mk2 over to its 37-key big brother.
KeyStep 37 Mk2 has been equipped with more physical controls – an upgrade that Arturia says “drastically enhances its playability” – while expanding connectivity via USB-C and introducing a more sophisticated sequencer and arpeggiator with generative capabilities.
KeyStep 37 Mk2 is equipped with the same 37-key slim keybed with velocity and aftertouch as its predecessor, but has been kitted out with a strip of 39 LEDs above the keybed that provides visual feedback on notes played by the keyboard.
The top panel has received a significant redesign and now features an OLED screen, a clickable encoder for navigation and editing, and dedicated buttons for KeyStep 37’s Chord Mode and Mutate function, which allows for one-touch transformation of patterns and sequences. These are joined by transport controls, dual touch strips and four assignable encoders.
The sequencer has been updated with support for unquantized recording and pattern chaining, and the arpeggiator has been equipped with eight new modes. Scale and Chord Modes have been brought over from the KeyStep Mk2, while the generative Spice and Dice functions (lifted from the MicroFreak) enable you to create randomized variations on sequencer and arp patterns in real-time.
On the hardware front, Arturia has added a power switch, traded the USB Micro-B connection from the KeyStep 37 Mk1 for a USB-C port, and thrown in a second CV output. All told, KeyStep 37 Mk2 features four 3.5mm CV outputs, MIDI In/Out over 5-pin DIN, analogue sync in/out and a 1/4″ sustain pedal jack.
Main Features:
37‑note Slimkey keyboard with velocity & aftertouch
2 capacitive touch strips for pitch‑bend & modulation
Polyphonic step sequencer: up to 64 steps, 8‑voice polyphony
16‑mode arpeggiator with generative pattern styles
Mutate, Spice & Dice tools for live variation
Chord & Scale modes for instant harmony
OLED display with clickable encoder & RGB LED feedback
4 encoders + Control button. Hands-on, mode-aware editing for Seq, Arp, Chord, and Mutate
MIDI CC button with 4 banks. Access 16 assignable MIDI CCs available across all modes
4 controllable CV/Gate outputs (Pitch, Gate, Mod 1, Mod 2) assignable to velocity, aftertouch, mod wheel & more
“What’s the worst part about being dead? You can’t listen to music”: Liquid Death and Spotify have come up with a solution, The Eternal Playlist Urn
Liquid Death, the achingly-cool purveyors of fizzy drinks, and Spotify have teamed up to create the Eternal Playlist Urn, so you can groove to your favourite tunes – from beyond the grave.
No, it’s not April 1 (yet). This is absolutely for real. It’s an urn, you know, for the ashes of your dead loved ones. But with a Bluetooth speaker attached.
The urn is 11 inches tall, 7 inches wide, and weighs 2.4 pounds. The one catch is that you will be dependent on your surviving chums to charge up the speaker and operate the playlist. At that point, the burnt remains of your body will be in the actual urn. Still, you can’t have everything…
“What’s the worst part about being dead?” asks the launch video. “You can’t listen to music. Now you can enjoy all your favourite jams – for eternity.”
“Upload remains and you’ll upgrade any post life experience,” they say, tongue firmly in their collective cheeks. “Research shows that if you keep the dead happy, then they’re less likely to haunt you. Music has been shown to reduce hauntings by up to 47%.”
Spotify has helpfully rolled out the Eternal Playlist Generator to build a list of songs for the urn. You could even construct a thematic playlist should you wish: There’s A Ghost In My House, Dead by the Pixies, Death Disco and more. Hours of fun await.
The Eternal Playlist Urn is priced at $495, it’s only available in a limited run via the Liquid Death website.
