Synthesizers

First announced at the NAMM Show 2021, Korg's highly-anticipated drumlogue hybrid drum machine ($599) is finally here! Tailor-made for beatmakers and groovebox users, drumlogue utilizes features from Korg’s popular Volca and logue series synths. Continue reading →

Following the immensely popular reissue of the ARP 2600 semi-modular synthesizer, Korg has taken the same legendary instrument and put it into a smaller, desktop-friendly enclosure—the ARP 2600 M ($$1,899). The M model provides the same iconic sound, familiar layout, lush spring reverb and built-in speakers with a more compact footprint you can keep on your desk or take to a gig.  In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the new ARP 2600 M and walk through all of the features to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your synth collection. Continue reading →

There's no doubt that ambient music is currently seeing a resurgence. It could be the well-timed Mort Garson and Laurie Spiegel reissues that piqued interest or even documentaries like Sisters With Transistors. Maybe it's the fact a pandemic effectively canceled band practice for the foreseeable future. Either way, we're here to embrace these soothing sounds. If you haven't dabbled in the ambient artform, it's incredibly easy and fun to zone out making lush landscapes. Without the need for bandmates, musicians can take their own spin on beat making, sound design, field recording, looping and create something all their own. Today we’re gonna take a look at some of the popular tools that will help you create your own ambient sounds. Continue reading →

The world of synthesizers is a vast landscape with lots of options. One of the reasons for its explosion in popularity is that music makers are afforded the freedom to create any kind of rig they can dream up. For some though, this can be a barrier to entry. With the release of the Moog Sound Studio, the historic brand is giving new and old synth enthusiasts all the tool they to start creating music instantly. On the surface, the Moog Sound Studio appears to simply be two different bundled options, the Mother-32/DFAM ($1399) and DFAM/Subharmonicon ($1449). These entries into Moog's semi-modular synthesizers lineup are world-class instruments that have been adopted by knob tweakers and patch-friendly artists all over the world. The best part? You don't need to understand modular synthesis to make interesting sounds with these instruments. Continue reading →

With NAMM's Believe in Music Week less than a few days away, pro audio brands around the world are starting to announce new gear releases. One of the first drops of the NAMM 2021 season comes from Sequential who have just launched the Prophet-5 and Prophet-10 desktop modules. Back in October, Sequential reintroduced the legendary Prophet-5 synthesizer, in addition to a Prophet-10. For the new Prophet-5 ($2499.00) and Prophet-10 ($3299.00) desktop modules, Sequential founder and designer Dave Smith managed to fit the big sound of the full-scale synthesizers into a smaller form factor. Just like the classic version, the Prophet-5 desktop module features five voices while the Prophet-10 has, you guessed it... 10! Continue reading →

With 2021 nearly here, we're concluding our blog wrap-up of the best selling pro audio gear of 2020. You didn't think we would skip synths and pedals, did you? Fear not, filter sweepers and fuzz lords! We've got you covered! While few will reminisce about 2020 with great fondness, one positive to come from this year is an overwhelming amount of new tools for tinkering in the studio. From pedals built in collaboration between companies to synthesizers that revive classic designs, this is the gear that got our customers through the past 365 days. Continue reading →

Looking for a last-minute score before 2020 is over? Something to make the season bright? Elektron has a special offer that will get you an incredible music-making machine AND make carrying it around a little bit easier. When you purchase an Elektron Digitakt or Digitone before January 4th, 2021, you'll receive an ECC-7 Carry Bag for free. Whether you're working on-the-go, headed to a collaborator's studio or getting ready for a live gig, this carrying bag will certainly make it easier to manage and protect all of your important gear. Continue reading →

The dream of FM Synthesis is alive and well with the new Korg opsix Altered FM Synthesizer. The legendary instrument manufacturer is back with a synth that features six FM operators, 64 voices of polyphony, 42 on-board effects, a 16 step sequencer, a virtual patch bay, and much, much more. Before we get into the opsix, let's talk a little about FM Synthesis. FM (short for Frequency Modulation) Synthesis is "additive synthesis," whereas traditional analog synthesizers use "subtractive synthesis." Traditional FM synthesizers utilize a simple starting wave to build up more complex sounds. They often get a bad reputation for being kind of laborious and menu-driven, but the opsix changes that. Continue reading →

Lisa Bella Donna is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and modular synthesist. She has many years of experience as a session musician and has developed extensive techniques with a variety of genres including musique concreté, micro-tonal music, orchestration, film composition, and more. Recently, Lisa put out two new albums, Night Flight and Orchards of Churchyard Departures. Both records are sonically fitting for the Halloween season, as they feature a number of dark and brooding tones created using a wide range of analog and digital synths. Continue reading →

When Moog first launched the Matriarch and Grandmother, we were among the many excited by the vibrant colors they choose to adorn each synthesizer. For those that have been longing for the semi-modular synths with the classic look of the brand's blacked-out modular panels, your time has officially arrived.That's right, Moog has just announced the Matriarch Dark and Grandmother Dark. These are the same classic synthesizers that we've all come to know and love, but with the added touch of cool and nostalgia factor. These beauties will now perfectly match with classic Moog gear and new favorites like the Mother-32, DFAM, and Subharmonicon. Continue reading →