Synths

If you liked the original Pulse synth, you will like the Waldorf Pulse 2 even more. Introduced at Winter NAMM, the new analog synth boasts many of the same features of the classic '90s synthesizer -- like three analog oscillators in combination with a true analog cascading filter -- plus some new filter circuits with Highpass and Bandpass, and analog Filter FM and Ring Modulation.  

Casio has big plans for its two new synth babies: the XW-G1 Groove Synthesizer and the XW-P1 Performance Synthesizer. The first is kind of like DJ gear with a keybed, offering the functions of the various digital equipment used by club DJs in a single unit; while the second is meant for onstage musicians wanting to create sounds, play expressively, and do cool stuff in real time.  

Korg unveiled its smallest Kaoss synth yet -- the hand-held Kaossilator 2 synthesizer uses Korg’s X-Y touchpad Kaoss technology to help you generate sounds on the go and start a party in your pocket. Aside from its size, the Kaossilator 2 improves upon the original and offers as an advanced sound generator, dramatically expanded loop recording, and the ability to save audio creations.  

Arturia pulled the curtain on its brutal little synth called the MiniBrute. This monophonic analog synthesizer boasts a host of modulation capabilities, a pure analog, multi-wave oscillator combined with a huge sounding classic multi-mode filter, and much more.  

Say hello to the Clavia Nord Drum, a virtual analog drum synthesizer designed to be tweaked, played, used, and abused during live performances. The new drum synth is capable of producing a wide range of drum sounds, Clavia says, from retro analog sounds to harmonically rich organic sounds.  

When it comes to the new KOMA Bass Synthesizer, Eowave is not shy about disclosing specs or details on the synth. Right now, we're just waiting to know when the KOMA will ship and exactly what its capabilities are; we might just find out this week at Winter NAMM.  

Here's a sneak peak at Moog Music's new little Taurus, the Minitaur. Set to make its official debut at Winter NAMM, the Minitaur analog bass synthesizer is quite small (8.5" x 5.25") and weighs less than 3 pounds.  

Say hello to the Korg Monotribe 2, the new and improved little analog ribbon synth featuring 16-step synth parts, volume automation, drum roll capability, better sync between multiple units, and many more important updates.  

Kurzweil now has three keyboards in its PC3K series: the 61-note synth-action Kurzweil PC3K6, the 76-note semi-weighted Kurzweil PC3K7, and the 88-note hammer-action PC3K8.  

Eowave is now shipping its latest and greatest -- the Domino analog monophonic synthesizer. The Domino features transistor-made VCO, filter, and VCA, which give the synth a rich yet raw kind of sound.  

Expanding the musical possibilities of its Kronos Music Workstation, Korg introduced the EXs Expansion Sample Series and the KRS Professional Sound Series -- new sound libraries that take advantage of the nine sound engines that power the Kronos. In addition to the sound libraries, Korg also announced the Kronos Music Workstation System version 1.5 update.  

Analog groove making and real-time control come together for the Korg Monotribe Analog Ribbon Station. Now available, the compact Monotribe features analog synthesis, Electribe-style pattern sequencing, analog rhythm section, and more.  

Roland's Jupiter-80 Synthesizer is now shipping and ready to find a home in your studio. The new keyboard synth pays homage to the famed Jupiter-8 and offers the modeled version of the original's sounds via analog modeling, digital synthesis, and SuperNatural technology. The SuperNatural-driven tones are said to be so fat you’ll need a knife to cut through them.  

If you have any kind of Phatty -- Little Phatty Tribute, Stage 1, Stage 2, or Slim Phatty -- you can download Moog Music's Phatty OS version 3.1 firmware upgrade, which lends the little synths some major improvements to the Arpeggiator, plus other features including MIDI and velocity sensitivity.  

This Will Destroy You's Donovan Jones just sort of happened by his Crumar Orchestator. He says if you can get one at a reasonable price? Why not grab it?  

It's the lowest-priced, true analog, monophonic Moog synth around. But what does the Moog Slim Phatty sacrifice in order to keep its cost of admission so low? Contributing reviewer Geary Yelton wondered the same thing; he reports his findings herein.  

The Metasonix Wretch Machine doesn't just "wretch.". It is a heavy handed beast of a vacuum tube synth. If you are aiming for sounding like Howard Jones it might not be for you. If you want to sound like Atari Teenage Riot? It might be more your style. Of course, Alec Empire of Atari Teenage Riot would probably tell you to try and sound like yourself.  

Analog groove making and real-time control come together for the Korg Monotribe Analog Ribbon Station, which features analog synthesis, Electribe-style pattern sequencing, analog rhythm section, and more.  

Check out Yamaha's new MOX8 and MOX6 music-production and performance synthesizers. Relatively lightweight and easy to take from studio to stage, both keyboard synths feature MOTIF XS power and the same synth engine, in a portable body casing.  

Ending all speculation on what the "metamorphosis of a legend" could be, Roland announced the Jupiter-80 Synthesizer -- a new keyboard synth that pays homage to the Jupiter-8 with analog modeling, digital synthesis, and SuperNatural technology. The SuperNatural-driven tones are said to be so fat you’ll need a knife to cut through them.  

Boldly going where no Gearwire Pro Reviewer has gone before (but has probably wanted to), Geary Yelton explores the outer reaches of the Moog Minimoog Voyager XL in this in-depth review.  

Owen chats with Beck and NIN four-stringer Justin Meldal-Johnson about coming to terms with addiction. Namely, an addiction to modular synthesis. Turns out it's one of the better addictions with which to be afflicted.  

Fan of the classic BassStation synth David Battino tries his hand at the Novation UltraNova to see if his love is real. What follows is a relationship assessment so scrutinizing, so honest, you'd think you were watching Dr. Phil.  

Ezra Buchla gives Gearwire's resident modular synthesis aficionado Gino Robair a tour of the new Buchla 251e Quad Sequential Voltage Source 200-series module. File this one under "Gearwire Advanced."  

You know how you've got that friend who's probably ADHD and whenever you drive them anywhere they sit in the passenger seat and can't keep their hands of the radio dial? The Buchla 272e Polyphonic FM Tuner Module is like four of those friends with four different radios.  

The hotly-anticipated Teenage Engineering OP-1 portable synth is nearing ship-form, so we took a look at the thing in its mostly-complete state at the recent Winter NAMM 2011 show.  

A look at and listen to the new M-Audio Venom virtual analog synth in its natural environment: the Avid NAMM booth.  

This video opens with Roger Linn jamming on the new Dave Smith Tempest analog drum synth. If that doesn't make you want to click through to the video landing page, then we don't want you to.  

Some benefits are all black ties and laborious speechifying. This benefit contest for the Moog Foundation, however, is all atmospheric drone and buzzsaw gliss, thanks to Eric Persing and the contest's grand prize, the one-of-a-kind Spectrasonics OMG1.  

Korg is now shipping the PS60 Performance Synthesizer, a "live-music oriented" keyboard instrument with 440 sounds, 63 effects, 61 full-size, semi-weighted keys, and much more.