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At Superbooth 2024, AJH Synth is introducing Hans Zimmer’s RadioPhonic Synth – an all-in-one Eurorack synthesizer that they describe as “the ultimate analogue modular system.”

Manufactured by AJH Synth, the RadioPhonic System was commissioned by Zimmer to take “pride of place” in the composer’s forthcoming recreation of the BBC’s legendary studio, which played host to some of the most pioneering figures in early electronic music.

The RadioPhonic System was inspired by both the EMS VCS 3 and Synthi 100, two synths that were used extensively at the Workshop; Zimmer told AJH that the VCS 3 was the first synth he ever owned.

The synth hosts 48 AJH modules in a handcrafted walnut and cherry case, including seven MiniMod VCOs, two MiniMod Transistor Ladder Filters, a Gemini 2412 Dual VCF filter, and Discrete Cascaded VCA, a two-stage amplifier that uses early Minimoog circuitry.

The possibilities for modulation are extensive, with two Tap Tempo LFO modules and two of AJH’s Dual LFO with VCA modules, along with the Multi Burst envelope generator and Dual RVG, a recreation of the original EMS Random Voltage Generator.

You’ll also find a number of effects modules, including Ring SM, an “award-winning” ring modulator, a 12-stage phaser and a mixer/VCA module that’s capable of adding smooth drive and distortion.

What they say about it:

“The RadioPhonic System was specially commissioned to take pride of place in the new Radiophonic workshop which Hans will be recreating soon, back at its original site in the Maida Vale Studio, London. We are calling this amazing system ‘The RadioPhonic’, in honor of this accolade.

From its inception in 1958, the BBC Radiophonic Workshop has played a huge part in the history of electronic music. In the early days audio tape would be cut and spliced into sound effects and theme music which was used in BBC television and radio programs.

In the 1960’s, synthesizers were added to the arsenal of instruments, and the EMS VCS 3 and Synthi 100 were two of the earliest synthesizers used there. The VCS 3 holds a very special place in Hans Zimmer’s heart, as it was the very first synthesizer that he ever owned and the beautiful American Walnut and Cherry wood case of the RadioPhonic deliberately channels the VCS3 “Putney” case design. However, the range of modules included takes the sonic possibilities way beyond that of the larger EMS Synthi 100 ‘Delaware’ system, which also saw so much use at the Radiophonic Workshop.

Hans has very graciously allowed us to produce a limited number of exact recreations of the RadioPhonic synth, and each will be individually numbered.”

The Hans Zimmer RadioPhonic Synth is launching at Superbooth and is priced at GBP 12,500.00 plus VAT.

Ahead of Superbooth 2024, Frap Tools has unveiled two new Eurorack modules: Bagài and 411.

Bagài is an analog sample and hold, bit crusher, and down sampler, also capable of generating fluctuating random voltages, colored noise, and clock bursts.

It consists of six highly intertwined sections:

• A clock with straight and random outputs (yellow)
• An analog noise generator with variable color (grey)
• A bipolar fluctuating random voltage generator (white) with variable rate
• A sample and hold the circuit (orange) with selectable time scale, slow for modulation, or fast for audio sampling up to 48 kHz.
• An 8-bit quantized version of the orange S&H circuit with variable bit depth (red)
• A clock burst section (green).

By default, it outputs bipolar random voltages and triggers. The voltages are fluctuating, stepped, and quantized with selectable bit depth. The clocks are straight,randomized, or “burst”. Once you start patching, you can use it as a S&H, audio downsampled, and bitcrusher, with a sample rate of 48 kHz.

All its major parameters are voltage controllable.

Size: 12 HP
MSRP: 250 EUR + VAT

The 411 is a quadruple linear VCA, mixer, and multiple for audio and CV. It consists of four linear vcas with semi-normalled inputs and CV inputs, -6 dB attenuation switches, a mixed output, and an unpatched output.

The 411’s architecture allows to use it in many ways, for example:

• processing four signals independently;
• modulating one signal with four CVS and send it to four different destinations;
• mixing up to four signals and modulate them with the same CV;
• mixing two audio signals and modulate them with a modulated CV.

Size: 6 HP
MSRP: 110 EUR + VAT

See the Frap Tools website for more information.

Ahead of Superbooth 2024, Polyend has introduced the Tracker+, a Stereo Sampler, 16-track Sequencer, Synthesizer and Drum Machine.

We were big fans of Polyend’s Tracker when it arrived in 2020. Although it draws its inspiration from the somewhat niche world of software trackers, beyond those retro leanings lies a well-equipped and surprisingly approachable sample-based sketchpad.

They say that the Tracker+ improves on the original Tracker in almost every way, adding USB audio, Stereo sampling and playback, Synthesizer and drum machine engines, 8 extra tracks of MIDI and synth engine sequencing, increased sample memory and more.

One of the most significant improvements here is fully stereo sampling and sample playback. On the synthesis, Tracker+ now comes with four different synthesis engines: ACD is a single oscillator virtual analogue monosynth, FAT is a three-oscillator virtual analogue with drift and detune controls, VAP is a virtual analogue polysynth with flexible modulation matrix, while WTFM combines wavetable and FM synthesis. Each Tracker project can be loaded with up-to three synth instances making use of a total of eight voices.

Alongside these synth engines, Tracker+ adds a new drum machine engine, named Perc. This uses up one of the eight available synth voices, but can produce five drum sounds simultaneously, including a range of kick, snare, hat, tom and perc tones.

The distinctive vertical tracker-style sequencer has been expanded here, for a total of 16 tracks. Of these, the first eight are universal and can sequence synths, stereo samples or MIDI, while the latter eight are restricted to sequencing external MIDI or the internal synths or drum machines. Tracker’s song mode has been updated and expanded as well.

The hardware also adds USB audio capabilities, making it easier to get your creations into a DAW environment. To cope with the new functionality, Tracker+ is upgraded with additional processing power and sampling memory.

Tracker+ is available to order now priced at $/€799.

Find out more on Polyend website.