Synthesizers

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 →

As a trusted resource of repairs for over decade, Echo Fix has certainly established themselves as the go-to when your tape echo machine has gone haywire. So it makes sense that the Australian company would go even further down the prototyping, testing, and design rabbit hole to create their own take on the classic tape echo. The resulting Tape Echo EF-X2 is nothing short of stunning. This unit has an extremely deep feature set, which starts with four basic functions; tape echo, real spring reverb, DSP reverb/chorus and preamp. From there, the possibilities to tweak and develop creative sounds are endless. Continue reading →

The Make Noise 0-Coast is a powerful desktop synthesizer that makes it easy to quickly create complex sounds using both East and West Coast synthesis techniques. The synth fits a lot into a small package! With two channels of MIDI to CV and MIDI to gate options, 0-COAST is capable of creating complex synth sounds in any style. We recently spoke with Walker Farrell from Make Noise (you may know him as the voice of these tutorial videos) to learn more about how to make music using the 0-Coast. Read on to learn 10 different ways to use the 0-Coast synthesizer in your studio from simple synthesis creation tips to complex arpeggiated patches. Continue reading →

Building your first Eurorack rig? Here’s a checklist to make sure you have everything you need to get started!If you're reading this, you are probably in the same position a lot of us have been. You're intrigued by the idea of building your very own, one-of-a-kind modular synthesizer, but feel completely overwhelmed by the sheer amount of options and information out there. You may be wondering if it's even worth wading into the vast ocean of modular synthesis when there are already so many ready-made all-in-one hardware synthesizers on the market today. We're here to clear the air, help you decide if modular synth is right for you, and get you started down the right path. Continue reading →

Keeping up with current guitar pedal releases can sometimes seem like a full-time job, there are just so many innovative brands who keep pushing the envelope and finding new ways to recreate classics. We wouldn't trade this embarrassment of riches for the world and that's why we put together a new video featuring our choices for the hottest pedals and effects of 2020 so far. Our list starts with the Vongon Paragraphs, an outstanding analog four-pole resonant low pass filter pedal that has been flying off the shelves for the company. Next, the legendary Shin-Ei line is back, and we're talking specifically about the picture-perfect fuzz of the Companion. Rounding out the pedal selections on our list, Strymon discontinued its long-time compression option in the OB-1, but it's now back with the impeccable Compadre. Continue reading →

One of the most exciting releases we’ll surely see in 2020 is the Moog Subharmonicon, the brand's latest addition to its semi-modular synthesizer line. Everyone with a Mother-32, DFAM, and three-tier rack can now experience the semi-modular feng shui of this trinity of synths all jamming in harmony (or chaos).I got to have a first look at the Subharmonicon at the 2018 Moogfest when it was introduced as one of the DIY kit builds. Only 120 were produced for the festival. Ever since, I’ve seen synth heads on muffwiggler and the Moog forums asking when a full production model would be released and we’re elated to report that it’s here and it’s fantastic. Continue reading →

NAMM 2020 is here and Moog has officially announced it's brand new Subsequent 25 synthesizer. Ever since photos of the new synth were leaked around the start of the year, gear lovers everywhere have been salivating waiting to find out what the story is with this new creation. Fans of the recently discontinued Sub Phatty should be excited, as the Subsequent 25 is a spiritual successor to the beloved synth first released in 2014. The new and improved Subsequent 25 is a 2-note paraphonic analog synth that combines the high-quality analog designs of classic Moog instruments with the versatile sound engine of a modern synthesizer. Continue reading →

Throughout the past few years, Moog Music has been busy creating semi-modular synthesizers that have become instant classics upon their release. The Moog Matriarch and Grandmother have become the perfect tools for a wide array of musicians, as both have something to offer those just starting out and those who have been creating patches for decades. If you were to quickly scan the Matriarch and Grandmother with a less than critical eye, the differences between the synths might not standout. The Matriarch builds off the Grandmother's semi-modular design, using the same oscillators, arpeggiator/sequencer, ADSR envelope generator, and ladder filter in its make-up. You'll notice a lot of the same colors and controls, but from there, things start to become different. Continue reading →