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

 

Good news from Erica Synths, as it’ll be heading to Superbooth 2022 with two new products and a positive update on one of its previously announced ones.

 

The biggest ‘unveil’ is the Syntrx II, a spruced-up version of the original Syntrx that landed in 2020. This takes inspiration from the classic Synthi AKS synth, but is a “reminagination” rather than a direct clone. It features stable oscillators, new synthesis options, a digital patch matrix, patch recall, a built-in sequencer, effects and more.

 

The original Syntrx was good enough to get the thumbs-up from Synthi’s Peter Zinovieff, who demised last year, but its successor promises to be even better. Based on lessons learned during development of the first version, Syntrx II is said to represent “the culmination of Erica Synths’ analogue sound design circuits”, and features two main oscillators with waveshapers, a multimode filter, external instrument inputs with an envelope follower, a ring modulator, a recordable joystick, and a built-in piano roll sequencer.

 

What they say about it:

 

“Based on lessons learned from the SYNTRX, we decided to create an instrument which would integrate even deeper into contemporary electronic and experimental music setups and cover sonic territory from daunting drones to powerful basslines and glitched noisescapes.

 

The SYNTRX II is the culmination of our analogue sound design circuits – two perfectly stable main oscillators with waveshapers, a versatile multimode filter, supercharged external instrument inputs with an envelope follower, a unique, great sounding ringmodulator, a recordable joystick and built in piano roll sequencer, all arranged around our signature matrix mixer and topped off with powerful FX on our new DSP platform. Introducing The SYNTRX II – a new dark horse for experimental sonic rides.”

 

 

 

Features:

 

• Two stable main oscillators with CV controlled waveforms
• Modulation oscillator with variable waveforms
• Highpass and Lowpass filters in series
• Free running or gate synced sample and hold circuit
• Multi-colour noise generator
• DC coupled instrument inputs with signal inversion and envelope follower
• Ringmodulator of unique design
• Looping trapezoid envelope generator and VCA
• Two output VCAs
• Signal meter with a dedicated audio/CV output
• FX section with great sounding Delay and Reverb
• Recordable Joystick Analogue patch matrix with 3 attenuation levels in each patch point
• 254 patch memory
• Piano roll sequencer
• Two CV inputs
• Gate input
• DIN5 MIDI Input (CV and Gate) and MIDI Thru
• Two assignable outputs
• Headphone output

 

There’s the obligatory matrix mixer, along with an FX section that’s running on a new DSP platform.

 

The Erica Synths Syntrx II will be available in the summer priced at €1,800 (VAT excl.) /$2,719.

 

 

The next new product of the Erica Synths rank is the LXR-02 Eurorack module – a digital drum box that can also be a source of bass sounds with an integrated sequencer by Sonic Potions and Erica Synths. It’s based on the sound engine from the LXR-02 drum machine, but adds assignable CV control over parameters.

 

You get a total of six drum/percussion voices, three of which can be used as basslines. Each voice has more than 30 adjustable parameters, and there’s an insert effects section.

 

Features:

 

• 6 drum/percussion voices
• 3 voices can be used as basslines
• Powerful sound design engine
• Over 30 adjustable parameters per voice
• 5 assignable CV inputs with 1V/Oct tracking
• Insert FX section
• 4 assignable outputs
• Kit memory
• SD card for Kit exchange and easy FW updates
• Kits compatible with the LXR-02
• Module width – 28 HP

 

The LXR-02 Eurorack Module will be available in the summer, priced €410 plus VAT/$499.

 

 

Lastly, we are pleased to be able to report that the delayed Perkons HD-01 drum machine is finally available for pre-order. Announced last year , but put on ice due to component shortages this eagerly anticipated device will ship in July priced at €1,650 (plus VAT)/$1,999.

 

You can find out more about all three products on the Erica Synths website.

 

 

 

 

Roland’s new Aira Compact range puts TR drums, 303 basslines and Juno synth sounds in your pocket. “Fun, affordable and easy-to-learn” line-up also includes a vocal processor.

 

Once again Roland’ Aira instrument range is being expanded with the launch of three ‘Compact’ instruments – the T-8 Beat Machine, J-6 Chord Synthesizer and E-4 Voice Tweaker, the company’s rich heritage.

 

Roland Aira products are completely digital. These are “fun, affordable, and easy to learn” boxes that are designed to be used either individually or together, in a similar way to Korg’s Volcas.

 

Again, Roland’s Analog Circuit Behaviour (ACB) technology is in play, and each model comes with a built-in rechargeable battery that promises plenty of run time.

 

 

The T-8 Beat Machine is the most straightforward of the three. It is a mini rhythm factory, with six-track drum machine that includes sounds from the TR-808, TR-909 and TR-606. Additionally, there is a bass part based on the TB-303, taking the device tentatively into groovebox territory.

 

Other features include a sequencer – this can run to up to 32 steps – with features such as step loop, pattern shift and probability enabling you to add variation to your grooves. You can tweak your bass sound, and there are reverb/delay send effects.

 

Features:

 

• Portable rhythm and bass machine with genuine Roland sounds
• Six rhythm tracks with sounds from the influential TR-808, TR-909, and TR-606 drum machines
• Bass track with sawtooth/square waveforms and hands-on controls derived from the TB-303 Bass Line
• Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) technology faithfully recreates the tonality and behavior of vintage Roland instruments
• Classic TR-REC drum sequencer with 64 user patterns and up to 32 steps each
• Advanced rhythm programming with probability, sub step, last step, and velocity
• Real-time recording and powerful performance features like step loop, mute, fill, reload, and pattern shift
• Color and process sounds with delay, reverb, overdrive, and sidechain compression
• Comprehensive connectivity with audio, MIDI, and sync I/O plus AIRA Link
• Class-compliant USB-C audio/MIDI interface—no drivers needed
• Lithium-ion battery with up to 4.5 hours of operation per charge
• Sturdy construction and high-quality rubber pads
• Connect to other AIRA Compacts and standard MIDI devices with optional BOSS TRS MIDI cables

 

Roland T-8 Audio Demos:

 

 

The J-6 Chord Synthesizer is arguably a more curious proposition – it blends a Juno-60 synth engine (presumably the same one as you will find in the new full-size Juno-X) with a chord sequencer. J-6 is a “portable synth toolbox” and is designed to be used by non-players – 100 chord sets are included, with each enabling you to trigger chords and create progressions using the built-in keyboard. You can also dial in variations- example arpeggios and guitar-style playing.

 

In fact, you could just use the J-6 as a synth. The J-6 like the other Aira Compacts has MIDI connectivity and 4.5 hours of wireless operation, though beyond choosing the sound itself. Editing is limited to filter and envelope controls. Again, there are also delay and reverb effects.

 

Features:

 

• Portable song creation machine with professional Roland sound and features
• Create with 100 chord sets spanning classic and contemporary music genres
• Add arpeggios and rhythmic phrases to chords via nine styles with 12 variations in each
• Programmable chord sequencer with 64 user patterns and up to 64 steps in each
• Four-voice JUNO-60 synth engine with authentic sound realized through Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) technology
• Includes 64 ready-to-play synth presets derived from the original JUNO-60
• Filter and envelope controls for shaping synth sounds in real time
• High-quality delay and reverb effects with customizable settings
• Comprehensive connectivity with audio, MIDI, and sync I/O plus AIRA Link
• Class-compliant USB-C audio/MIDI interface—no drivers needed
• Lithium-ion battery with up to 4.5 hours of operation per charge
• Sturdy construction and high-quality rubber pads
• Connect to other AIRA Compacts and standard MIDI devices with optional BOSS TRS MIDI cables

 

Roland J-6 Synthesizer Audio Demos:

 

 

Lastly, the E-4 Voice Tweaker, a compact vocal effects box that promises everything from standard processors to full-on vocal transformers. There are pitch and formant sliders for instant gender switching and robot voice effects (among other things), and you also get the customary automatic pitching/harmonising and vocoder options.

 

You can capture your performances with a 24-second looper, while the Scatter knob enables you to dial in slice effects.

 

Features:

 

• Vocal performance tool with powerful voice transformer effects
• Instantly shape the sound with pitch and formant sliders
• Advanced vocal effects including Auto Pitch, harmony, and vocoder
• Dial up unique rhythmic effects with the Scatter knob
• Process the sound output with high-quality reverb, echo, tempo delay, and chorus effects
• Low-cut filter and noise gate to eliminate unwanted sounds
• 24-second looper with unlimited overdubbing, undo/redo, and automatic BPM detection
• Supports external MIDI control of pitch, harmony, and vocoder functions
• ¼-inch mic input with wide-ranging gain control
• Headphones output with support for an inline mic
• Comprehensive connectivity with audio, MIDI, and sync I/O plus AIRA Link
• Class-compliant USB-C audio/MIDI interface—no drivers needed
• Lithium-ion battery with up to 3.5 hours of operation per charge
• Sturdy construction and robust controls
• Connect to other AIRA Compacts and standard MIDI devices with optional BOSS TRS MIDI cables

The three Roland Aira Compact devices are available now priced at $200 each.

E-4 Voice Tweaker Audio Demos:

 

Find out more on the Roland website.

 

 

 

Korg NTS-2 is a ‘studio Swiss Army Knife’ that ships with a semi-modular synth book

 

Given the numeric nature of its name, a sequel to Korg NTS-1 build-it-yourself synth always felt like it could be on the cards. The NTS-2 isn’t a complete surprise, then, but its design – along with the fact that it ships with a complementary book – does come a little out of leftfield.

 

A pocket-sized oscilloscope, spectrum analyser, waveform generator and tuner

 

This is chiefly because the centrepiece of the hardware is not a synth engine but a 4-channel oscilloscope. This offers dual stereo inputs, which enable you to study, compare and overlap up to four signals at once. There are multiple colour display modes, and an interface that can be navigated with menu buttons and a clickable encoder.

 

In addition, there is FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) mode with a real-time spectrum analyser, along with a dual waveform generator. Each of the two oscillators can create sine, square, triangle, sawtooth, pulse and noise waveforms.

 

Besides being used as audio, these sounds can also be employed as control voltage sources and set to cycle continuously or operate as one-shot impulses, meaning that you can turn them into LFOs, envelopes, triggers, and control voltage generators, making the NTS-2 a potentially useful partner for any patchable synth.

 

The Korg NTS-2 slightly unusual feature set is topped off by a tuner that offers multiple display modes. The end result is what Korg is calling a studio Swiss Army Knife for musicians.

 

 

Shipping with the hardware is Patch & Tweak with Korg, the latest in a series of books from Bjooks. This focuses on semi-modular synthesis, and its tutorials, tips and tricks lean heavily on Korg’s MS-20 Mini, Volca Modular and Arp 2600 M synths, along with the SQ sequencers.

 

 

The book covers everything from synth basics to advanced sound design, and includes more than 25 new exclusive interviews with the likes of Pete Townshend, Jean-Michel Jarre and Richard Devine.

 

You will need to build the NTS-2 yourself, but based on our experience with the NTS-1, this will be quick and easy.

 

 

NTS-2 pricing is still to be announced, and it won’t be available until early summer. Find out more on the Korg website.