XILS-Lab KaoX Merges FM and Analog Synthesis With Chaos

The sonic masters at XILS-Lab recently crafted another unique software synth, this time combining FM and analog synthesis. Somewhat modeled after the Yamaha GS-1, the predecessor to the DX7, KaoX also leverages virtual analog and chaotic oscillators to greatly expand its sonic depth. Its range of sounds is stunning, taking FM synthesis to an entirely […]

The Moog One blows out the Current Synth Market

Sell those stock options, as this week Moog released its benchmark polyphonic analog synth, blessed with the moniker of Moog One. Its price point places the synth squarely in the realm of the boutique. The 8-voice model runs $5,999; while the 16-voice edition rocks a street price of $7,999. Needless to say, short of winning […]

The Best New Synths from NAMM 2018

Each year I cover the most intriguing synthesizer announcements from the NAMM show in Los Angeles. Maybe sometime I’ll actually attend, but the costs involved for little old TabMuse also pays for a bright and shiny new synth, audio interface, or music computer. Priorities simply matter. If you are interested in reviewing our previous NAMM […]

Moog’s Subsequent 37 refines the Original Sub 37 Design – Synth News 7

Moog recently announced another upgrade to its already venerable Sub 37 synthesizer. We previously covered the Subsequent 37 CV, and now the Subsequent 37 (with no “CV”) has hit the market. I actually missed the CV tag the last time around. Sorry, it’s now fixed! By the way, I still think Sub 37 CV – […]

PolyM offers a Great Polymoog Emulation

The Polymoog remains one of the most underrated Moog synthesizers. Gary Numan used it to great effect in the late 70s, but its complex design led to a poor reliability factor, with Dave Smith’s Prophet 5 ultimately winning the polyphonic analog race. XILS-Labs’ recently released emulation – the PolyM – brings the olde beast back […]

Recording Digest: Church of Hed — Brandenburg Heights

Editor’s note: Jerry Kranitz published Aural Innovations magazine for nearly twenty years until retiring earlier in 2016 to work on a book project. No other entity did a better job covering the worldwide psychedelic music and spacerock scenes. He typically interviewed me every few years about Church of Hed and Quarkspace, my two primary musical […]

Five Great Improvements for the Moog Sub 37

Don’t get me wrong, the Moog Sub 37 is a stunning piece of analog synthesizer gear. The thing sounds wonderful and expressive, with a panel full of knobs and switches sure to delight any synth head. It’s my best musical device purchase in years — maybe ever?! Having said all that, there are still some […]

First Impressions of the Moog Sub 37

Well, after a long wait — a bit too long methinks — Moog’s hot new analog synth, the Sub 37, arrived at my door yesterday. Our cats were quite intrigued with the box, but unfortunately for them it wasn’t to become their plaything du jour. The box contents are all mine. The Sub 37’s packaging […]

Korg Volca Keys — the Analog Synth Reviewed

While Korg’s Volca series of portable analog synth boxes intrigued me, I wasn’t really in the market for one. But with a Moog Sub 37 on seemingly perpetual pre-order (its ship date recently moved from mid-May to late-Summer) and two albums from Church of Hed and Quarkspace needing overdubs I began to reconsider. I hoped […]

Moogfest 2014 Intrigues and Inspires

Observing the news from this year’s Moogfest, held once again in Asheville, NC, headquarters of Moog Music, it is obvious that the modular synthesizer revival is coming full circle. At the festival, Moog announced they are reintroducing Keith Emerson’s classic modular unit, used in pretty much every ELP tour since the early 70s. I Dream […]