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

Ahead of Superbooth 2025, being held May 8-10 at the FEZ-Berlin, Tiptop Audio & Buchla USA have introduced two new modules in their line of Euro-format reissues of classic 200 series module designs.

The new modules include the Multiple Arbitrary Function Generator Model 248t & the Triple Envelope Follower Model 230t.

The Multiple Arbitrary Function Generator Model 248t or MARF has been described as “The Holy Grail of West Coast signal creation”.

It offers up to 32 stages of voltage storage, which can be used for many ‘arbitrary’ purposes. So you can use it as a sequencer, envelope generator, voltage processor and many other things.

The second module is the Triple Envelope Follower Model 230t, right, which produces three sets of control voltages and pulses, relative to amplitude of the signal inputs.

The 230t translates your input signal into control voltage and pulse outputs. Sensitivity and decay time can be adjusted per channel.

Buchla’s Series 200, “The Electric Music Box”, is a collection of modules, introduced in the early ’70s, that was designed to scale from portable systems, like the Music Easel, to very large modular systems. Tiptop Audio’s 200t series features recreations of the original designs, but adapted to Eurorack format.

Details on pricing and availability for the two new modules are to come at the Tiptop Audio site.

At Superbooth 2025, being held May 8-10 at the FEZ-Berlin, PPG is introducing the PPG 1002, a reissue of the very rare vintage original.

The PPG 1002 is a limited-edition reissue of the analog synthesizer designed by Wolfgang Palm in 1975.

What they have to say about it:

“In 1975, Wolfgang Palm made synthesizer history with the PPG 1002. An early prototype featured retractable patch cables, but in the final production model, these were replaced with rotary switches for more versatile modulation. A key advantage of the 1002 over its competitors was its temperature-compensated VCO circuit, now further refined in this reissue, preserving its iconic sound.

The PPG 1020 (1977) introduced digital oscillators, paving the way for the 360 Wavecomputer in 1979, which marked the beginning of wavetable synthesis. This was followed by milestones such as the PPG Wave 2.3 (1984) with MIDI and the PPG Waveterm B (1985).

After PPG was dissolved in 1987, Wolfgang Palm collaborated with Steinberg and later co-developed the Waldorf Microwave (1989). In the 2000s, he released software synthesizers under his own name, including the PPG Wavegenerator, Wavemapper, Infinite Pro, and Phonem. In 2020, Palm transferred the PPG technologies to Brainworx, which became part of Native Instruments in 2023.

At the same time, Cornel Hecht, part of the PPG team since 2012, reviewed Wolfgang Palm’s original handwritten schematics of the PPG 1002. His mission: to faithfully bring the analog circuitry of 1975 into the present. The first prototype impressed Native Instruments, laying the foundation for this exclusive reissue.”

“What’s labeled PPG should also be PPG inside! That was and still is my motto,” notes Palm. “The new edition of the PPG 1002 is based on the original PPG circuitry.”

Features:

• 2 analog oscillators with transpose switches and mixable waveforms from triangle to saw
• Oscillator 2 also offers square wave and a sub-oscillator
• Oscillator 2 can be synchronized
• Noise generator for audio and modulation
• A ring modulator can be switched on instead of the noise generator
• Routable LFO with pulse and triangle waveforms
• 24dB low-pass filter with resonance
• Voltage-controlled amplifier
• 2 easy edit envelopes
• Switchable modulators for each module, allowing for an almost modular-like routing
• CV and MIDI inputs
• Low-noise power supply

The PPG 1002 is available now to pre-order. The total price is € 9,999.00 excluding shipping costs. Production begins after your pre-order and a deposit of €4999. The remaining €5000 is due before delivery.”

German synthesist Hainbach – in his latest video – shares his perspective on the Tiptop Audio ART system, a collection of modules that implement a new standard for polyphonic synth patching in Eurorack modular systems.

“I love new music technology,” notes Hainbach. “When I heard about TipTop Audio’s new ART system that allows for polyphonic pitch, gate and velocity information to be transferred via regular patch cables and their own multi-tip USB style cables, I was intrigued. I never thought of Eurorack as being a fun tool for polyphony, as it requires a lot of modules and a spaghetti mess of connections. Can this tech change that?”

Watch the video, and share your thoughts on the Tiptop Audio ART system in the comments!