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

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Designer Eric Pitra of Landscape has introduced a new handheld device, Ferrous, that offers a way to get new sounds from steel-stringed instruments like guitar, piano, bass, etc.

The Landscape Ferrous, created with Artist/Performer/designer Victoria Shen, lets you magnetically ‘strum’ strings, creating harmonically complex “ghostly sounds” not normally associated with these instruments.

Ferrous’ spinning disc contains six strong earth magnets. Adjusting the rotational speed of the disc will change which strings are most affected and their harmonic content.

If the disc is spinning slowly, lower strings resonate; if the disc is spinning quickly higher strings will resonate louder. The results can sound like an unknown instrument in a reverberated physical space, floating sine wave tones, or feedback.

Fluctuation of rotation speed by using the thumbwheel, rev button, touch-plate or control voltage input can create a soft strumming effect across multiple strings or shifts in harmonic content. New harmonics and overtones can emerge from both lower and higher strings as the disc spins faster. The distance at which Ferrous is held from strings affects how strongly they will resonate and their harmonics.

If Ferrous is placed near guitar pickups you will hear the heavy sounds of the magnets and the motor, with the resulting pitch based upon the disc’s RPM.

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Behringer has announced plans to copy the Elka Synthex synthesizer, a vintage synth from 1981.

The Elka Synthex is an 8-voice polyphonic analog synth design. It features the type of knobby hands-on interface that went out of style, for a long time, with the introduction of the Yamaha DX7, two years later.

They shared the news in a post on Facebook:

“Recreating the Magic of the Elka Synthex

The Elka Synthex, a synthesizer from the early 1980s, is cherished for its rich, warm sound and unique character. Musicians like Jean-Michel Jarre and Duran Duran have used it to create iconic tracks, solidifying its place in music history. Designed by Mario Maggi and produced by the Italian company Elka, the Synthex has a storied past.

At Behringer, we’re working to revive the Elka Synthex with a dedicated team of top-notch R&D engineers in Italy, where the original was created. Using advanced Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), we’re able to replicate the original circuitry and signal paths, capturing the essence of its distinctive sound.

The Role of FPGA’s

FPGAs help us recreate the immensely complex inner workings of the Synthex, ensuring we maintain its unique tonal qualities while improving reliability and performance. The two large chips in the center of the main board are Xilinx FPGA’s.”

Behringer says that they’re still in the early stages of this project, and that it will ‘take a few years’, details on pricing and availability probably won’t be available for several years.

Are you interested in a Behringer Synthex? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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Today, Erica Synths introduced the MKI x ES Labor, a new device that they describe as “a fully-featured circuit design playground.”

The MKI x ES Labor was developed in collaboration with Dr. Shalom D. Ruben, teaching professor for engineering at the University of Colorado.

It is designed to serve as a universal learning tool for electronics engineering, and to create Eurorack-compatible voltages.

Features:

• Built in dual power supply producing eurorack-compatible voltages, with built-in over current protection for safe experimenting
• Modular interfacing section with 16 slots for potentiometers, jacks & switches
• Pulse/triangle/sine oscillator (audio & LFO range)
• Multi mode envelope generator controlled by a premium push button
• Buffered variable control voltage source
• Output amplifier with variable gain
• Dedicated headphone output and a line-level output for recording, processing and analyzing the signal
• Expansion slot for installing specialized prototyping tools
• Protective lid to cover a breadboard.

Intro Video:

The EDU DIY Labor Basic Kit is available starting at € 170.00, with shipping expected to start June 18, 2024.

 

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