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

Ahead of Superbooth 2024, Erica Synths and Richie Hawtin have introduced the Bullfrog XL, an educational electronic music instrument designed specifically for teachers to use in front of the classroom.

Erica says that the “Bullfrog XL expands the concept of the regular Bullfrog by inflating its size by a factor of three. With its expanded size and built-in oscilloscope, Bullfrog XL isn’t just for classrooms but is sure to be a great addition to any studio.”

When the original was announced, Hawtin said “We believe that the hands-on approach and problem solving that is innate to synthesis on a semi-modular synth like the Bullfrog, contains life lessons that go beyond what we can hear.”

The newly inflated version, Bullfrog XL, is 3 times the size of its predecessor, measuring 820mmx505x65 (250 with the side panels) and weighing in at just over 8kg, and adds a few key educational features, including the oscilloscope you see at the top of the unit.

Bullfrog XL key features:

• Fully analog design
• Highly accurate voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) that tracks great over 8 octaves
• Manually adjustable and voltage controlled waveshapes – sine-shark fin and pulse wave with pulse width modulation (PWM)
• Zener diode-based noise generator
• Resonant lowpass voltage controlled filter (VCF)
• Voltage controlled amplifier (VCA) with adjustable offset
• Delay effect with adjustable delay time and feedback amount
• Two looping attack-sustain-release envelope generators (EG)
• Sample & Hold circuit with an individual clock
• Attenuverter and two buffered splitter circuits
• Slew processor with adjustable slew time
• Two channel oscilloscope
• 3 mm jack sockets
• Manual gate button, Gate and Trigger out
• Voice card slot
• Built in speakers
• DIN5 MIDI input and USB connector
• Dimensions (mm): 820 x 505 x 65 (250 with the side panels)

Bullfrog XL is available direct from Erica Synths now, priced €1,700

At Superbooth 2024, being held May 16-18 in Berlin, Pittsburgh Modular has introduced the Voltage lab 2 Analog Synthesis Laboratory, a new version of their Voltage Research Laboratory that adds new wave-shaping technologies, an addictive tactile performance controller and more.

PM describes Voltage Lab 2 as “a playground of new analog synthesis tools”. It pairs a curated selection of synthesis tools with specially designed Touch Controller to provide hands-on performance control.

Official intro video:

Voltage Lab 2 Oscillators

Voltage Lab 2 includes a pair of Laboratory Oscillators. Each offers a unique set of waveshaping tools designed to expand the sonic potential of analog synthesis.

Laboratory Oscillator 1

Oscillator 1 introduces Center Clipping. Center clipping unlocks independent control over the top and bottom of the waveform, allowing for detailed manipulation of harmonics and timbre, without affecting pitch. It does this by processing waveforms from the center out as opposed to traditional methods which work from the peaks inwards.

Laboratory Oscillator 2

Oscillator 2 introduces a host of new sonic possibilities with two new waveshapers. Pulse Symmetry and Reflection.

• Pulse Symmetry creates a new species of pulse wave that adds a step between the top and bottom of the waveform. The resulting wave looks like a set of stairs where the depth of the center step can be adjusted in addition to the pulse width.
• Wave Reflection takes the bottom half of the waveform and reflects it onto the top half. Each waveshape responds to this differently. For example, a saw wave morphs into a triangle while triangle and sine waves lose their fundamental harmonic and jump up an octave.

Pittsburgh Dynamics Controller

By simultaneously managing both amplitude and harmonic content, the Pittsburgh Dynamics Controller expands beyond the VCA found in many synthesizers. It does this by utilizing new advancements from traditional low pass gates to add additional definition and dimension to the voices of the Voltage Lab 2.

When used in low pass gate mode, sounds shed harmonic content and become warmer as they decrease in volume. This mimics how sound waves react to their environment. Because of this connection, they say that Voltage Lab 2 sounds more natural or complex compared to other instruments.

Touch Controller 2

The Touch Controller 2 lets you blend traditional pitched performances with the freedom to openly experiment. Two independent channels offer a combination of real-time, expressive playing and in-depth sequencing.

Other features include assignable scales, step conditions, jumps, chance effects, generative sequencing and more.

A Florist and Echos

The Voltage Lab 2 includes a set of analog time based effects, Florist and Echos.

• The Florist is a flanger/chorus hybrid that focuses on brighter, short time shifts with highly controlled feedback allowing for maximum ringing before self oscillation.
• Echos is a more traditional, darker analog BBD delay that also utilizes highly controlled feedback to provide a larger number of repeats before falling into self-oscillation. Both effects are perfect for traditional workflows and unconventional experimentation.

Here are the official Voltage Lab 2 demo videos:

The Lab Report Episode 1: Building on the Past

The Lab Report Episode 2: New Waves

The Lab Report Episode 3: Hands-On Sound

Voltage Lab 2 has an expected street price of $1999.99 and it is available for pre-order now, with shipping expected in June 2024.

At Superbooth 2024, Synth-Werk is debuting two new devices, the Bode Barberpole Phaser and the SW 995-Contact Keyboard.

Synth-Werk is working with the ZKM, Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe, to reconstruct various inventions by Harald Bode. SYNTH-WERK, as the ZKM‘s technical partner for the Harald Bode archive, is bringing the work of the physicist and musician Harald Bode back to life. The reconstructions of Harald Bode‘s devices, most of which are currently inaccessible or unpublished, will become part of the ZKM archive and the SYNTH-WERK product portfolio.

The first product of this exciting project is the Bode Barberpole Phaser, the last commercially available product by Harald Bode. Only one is known to exist, which is owned by Peer Bode, Harald’s son.

The Bode Barberpole Phaser offers 9 phase stages and various sound manipulation features. The option to insert an additional effect into the feedback loop or one of the two audio paths is one of them.

The main feature of the BPP/product is infinity phasing. Infinity phasing is a psychoacoustic effect based on the Shepard scale, which was introduced in 1964 by the psychologist Roger N. Shepard. It creates the illusion of an infinitely ascending or descending scale that never exceeds the limit of one‘s hearing.

The combination of the various features like left-right panning or the transfer of a monophonic input signal into a stereo output signal and modulation of the phaser creates a sonic soundstage in the tradition of Harald Bodes ”Klangumformer” principal. Synth-Werk says that, “if you think you know the sound of a Phaser, you need to listen to the Barberpole Phaser to understand the possibilities of a ‘Klangumformer’.”

Price 3200 Euro plus TAX.

The SW 995-contact Keyboard

Synth-Werk is also introducing the SW 995-Contact Keyboard.

What they say about it:

“In tradition of SYNTH-WERK, we first designed a purely analog keyboard based on the MOOG 952 Keyboard; however, we decided very quickly to do something based on the newest technology and possibilities.

As this is purely a control instrument and not primarily involved in the sound stage of a synthesizer, we created the first instrument of our R.A.3.0 series: the SW 955-CONTACT keyboard.”

Features:

• 8 channel programmable CV-source, including audio measurements.
• With the calibration feature of the SW 955-CONTACT keyboard it is easy to calibrate the 901 single oscillator or oscillator bank within seconds.
• ENVELOPE SECTION You can assign 4 CV outputs to become 911 envelope outputs which include the standard parameters of a 911 envelope generator but also extended ranges and additional features.
• MODULATION SECTION There are 3 onboard LFO’s offering triangle, rectangle, saw up, saw down and S&H waveforms using independent frequency ranges between 0,01 Hz and 100 Hz. All LFO’s can be assigned to the various features of the keyboard (e.g. aftertouch, ribbon controller, mod wheel…).
• KEY ZONES You can define 3 different key zones on your 6 octave range. › Every key zone can be defined by its lower and upper note.
  • Key assignments: Polyphone, Low, High or Last key
  • Trigger Mode: Multi or Single
• MIDI IN: Local or channel 1…16
• MIDI OUT: Channel 1…16 or OFF
• RIBBON CONTROLLER

Details on pricing and availability will be announced at Superbooth 2024.