Korg’s new Gadget app for the iPad is a fully-fledged beatmaking environment featuring up to 15 different synth and drum machine modules usable simultaneously. Essentially this is Reason on a tablet. The app’s sound quality is great, and Gadget also sports a robust feature set that makes it a breeze to create music. Korg Gadget […]
Review: The Korg Monotribe — an Analog Beat Box in a Compact Size
February 20, 2014 by
I picked up a Korg Monotribe around the holidays. Its cheap price made for a perfect gift card purchase. The Monotribe is an easy-to-use beatbox that is part of Korg’s recent analog renaissance, including everything from the Monotron series to the upcoming rebirth of the ARP Odyssey. Korg deserves praise for bringing analog to the […]
Korg to Release New Version of the ARP Odyssey
February 18, 2014 by
A news item released by Korg yesterday probably shocked many vintage analog synth fans. The Japanese company announced they were releasing a new version of the legendary ARP Odyssey synthesizer from the early 1970s. I wonder if Korg waited for Roland to reveal their new AIRA line before dropping this bombshell. The new Odyssey is […]
Roland introduces AIRA Product Line — Finally
February 14, 2014 by
One of the biggest buzzes to NOT come out of the recent NAMM show, Roland’s new AIRA line of instruments starred in a collection of interest-generating videos and press releases released during NAMM. Many, including myself, were hoping they’d follow Korg’s retro lead and release true analog versions of the TB-303, TR-808, and TR-909. Well, […]
Review: The Arturia iMini brings the Classic Bob Moog Sound to the iPad
February 13, 2014 by
iMini was Arturia’s first foray on the burgeoning iOS music app platform. It features a dead-on audio simulation of the classic Minimoog, arguably the most popular analog synthesizer in history. In true Arturia fashion, iMini also adds a host of useful features not included in Bob Moog’s classic piece of musical art. iMini for the […]
Review: The Arturia iSEM puts Oberheim on the iPad
February 11, 2014 by
Originally known for their excellent software plug-ins spanning a variety of analog synthesizers from the 70s, Arturia has recently branched out into hardware synths, controllers, and drum machines in addition to the first iOS versions of their software products. Their iSEM app for the iPad is great rendition of Oberheim’s first commercial synthesizer, the SEM. […]
The Korg Monotron Delay and its iOS Clone — Monotone Delay
February 7, 2014 by
About two years ago, Korg released a family of handheld, battery-powered analog synthesizers — the Monotron series. I recently picked up the Monotron Delay and found it to be an absolute blast. A great, albeit a bit noisy, sound which is powerful enough to stand out in a thick mix and also scare my cats. […]
I Dream of Wires: Hardcore Edition Review
February 5, 2014 by
Serving as both a history of the electronic synthesizer and a look at today’s robust modular synth cottage industry, I Dream of Wires: the Hardcore Edition is a must view for any fan of electronic music and analog synthesis. After spending an afternoon watching the entire four-hour movie, I was inspired to check out prices […]
Waldorf Nave gets an Update — and Other News
February 3, 2014 by
Over the weekend, Waldorf released an update of Nave, their powerful synth for the iOS platform. (Check out our Nave review here.) The update adds polyphonic aftertouch if your MIDI controller or keyboard supports it. Additionally, 64-bit support for Apple’s newer iPad Air and iPad mini Retina tablets is now standard, along with the ability […]
Welcome to TabMuse
January 31, 2014 by
We had hoped to publish TabMuse by the end of year, but over Thanksgiving weekend I sat down and watched the excellent synth documentary, I Dream of Wires. This was the four-hour hardcore edition and after seeing the history of the synthesizer (most of which I already knew) combined with a current view of the […]
