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Modal Electronics is back this year at the 2024 NAMM Show, proving that there’s hope for the future of the UK synth maker.

Modal is the company behind high-end keyboards like the Modal 002, Eurorack modules, the budget CRAFTsynth line, the portable SKULPT synthesizer, and the Argon8 and Cobalt8 keyboards. In 2023, the company was in administration for insolvency, according to UK government records.

At NAMM, they are showing their full range of synths and showcasing the Carbon8 8-voice Experimental Digital Synthesizer.

The Carbon8 features over 40 complex digital algorithms and advanced oscillator modifiers to produce contemporary and unusual sounds. On top of that, it offers 34 filter types, shapeable LFO waveforms, a powerful sequencer & arpeggiator section and extensive realtime control.

Features:

• 8-voice digital experimental synth combines advanced digital audio algorithms and hi-res wavetables
• Sophisticated oscillator cross-modulations to enrich or drastically change the harmonic content
• 34 static and morphable filter types including vintage hero emulations, all-time Modal classics and modern filters
• Oscillator freerun and Vintage parameter to introduce organic vintage behaviors
• Shapeable LFO waveforms increase innovative modulation
• Powerful 3-slot effects engine with 26 effects
• Premium 37-note Fatar TP9/S keyboard with aftertouch
• X/Y joystick with 4 assignable axes
• ModalApp compatible

The Carbon8 has a street price of about $1100. Find out more on the Modal Electronics website.

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2024 NAMM Show: Suzuki has introduced the Omnichord OM-108, the return of their classic strummable electronic instrument.

Originally introduced in 1981, the Omnichord is an electronic musical instrument with an automatic accompaniment function (auto bass/chord) and equipped with a harp sensor. By pressing a chord button and sliding your finger on the harp sensor (strumplate), an arpeggio corresponding to the chord is heard.

While they were originally designed for novices, Omnichords been used creatively by musicians for decades, and now have a cult status.

Features:

• The sound of the classic OM-84 is reproduced with analog circuits.
• Equipped with both retro and new tones.
• Layer function that creates expression of sound.
• Updated rhythm selection with popular drum beats.
• Adding sus4 and add9 allows OM-108 to play 108 chords
• Sensitive strumplate that fully expresses light touch playing.
• Possible to play a melody using the chord buttons.
• Drum pad on both chord buttons and strumplate.
• Expand sound with MIDI OUT
• Can be switched to OM-84 drum kit.
• Battery-power and built-in speaker make it portable, but you can connect it to an external amplifier or headphones.

Omnichord OM-108 is available now at Amazon site. Find out more on the Suzuki website.

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Behringer announces an update to its most hotly-awaited clone of the Roland Jupiter-8, ‘We assure you that this beauty will come to fruition’.

Today, Behringer shared the first official look at their planned JT-16 synthesizer, a polyphonic analog instrument that’s based on the Roland Jupiter-8.

Behringer might not be at the NAMM show in full force, but the company has chosen the opening day of the gear-fest to announce an update to its JT-16, a synth that looks like being a a 16-voice analogue machine not a million miles away from a Roland Jupiter-8 in concept.

Details are to be announced, but based on what they’ve said, it appears that the Behringer JT-16 is designed to copy the look and sound of the original Jupiter-8, but double the polyphony, MIDI and other basic enhancements. The company says that it will have “exact same analog circuitry” as the original.

The company’s latest update confirms that the synth will be a 16-voice version of the analogue synth – which is good news – and that it will be called JT-16.

The rest of the Facebook post states that the synth is being tested and that someone called Gilles can’t keep his hands off it because it’s that good.

This is certainly one Behringer synth to look out for, as is the company’s Eurorack version of the Jupiter-8, which it last updated us on a year ago.

The JT-2 is a more affordable version of the full-sized Jupiter clone and is expected to sell for just $99, but could – given its name – have only two voices of polyphony. Or indeed one. Behringer said last February…

“While we’re currently working on a full key version of the Jupiter, here is a new prototype in a smaller and more affordable Eurorack package. It features an authentic Jupiter voice based on the same VCOs and VCFs, plus an autotune and arpeggiator function.”

The photos are of the company’s first JT-16 prototype. Behringer says that “the synth is in its very early stages, and we are now focusing on debugging and implementing the necessary software.”

The Behringer JT-16 synthesizer is currently in development, so it will probably be a year or two before the instrument is officially released and pricing is announced.

There isn’t – from Behringer website.

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