Korg x Little Bits Synth Kit introduction video

Korg are well known for pushing the boundaries of electronic instruments and they are brave enough to take the plunge on products that are a little bit unconventional. They've proven this countless times with their analog gadgets that continue to inspire the geek in all of us.

When Korg announced that they were teaming up with Little Bits to make the Synth Kit, it made our inner geek scream 'I WANT IT NOW' once again.

The Synth Kit comes with 12 modules that easily snap together with magnets. There's no wiring involved; it's just as simple as Lego. Let's just hope that we will be finding one of these nifty little modular synths in our Christmas stockings this holiday season.

Below you can find Korg's introduction video to the Synth Kit, complete with cheesy backing music.

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Korg introduces Volca grooveboxes

Korg have just introduced three brand new analogue grooveboxes at Musikmesse. It's not that long ago that we were all getting exited about the release of Korg's all analog Monotribe, so it seems that these grooveboxes are a step in the right direction.

The Volca Beats, Bass and Keys are all fully analog desktop synthesisers, each with their own built in sequencers. It seems that korg are listening to the masses when they are calling out for new analog gear (I think they proved that when they announced the Mini MS-20).

I've not been this exited about new gear in a while now and these little boxes have definitely grabbed my attention. The device that I'm looking forward to the most has to be the Volca Beats; having an affordable mini analog drum machine sitting next to my studio computer would be a dream.

Check out the videos below to the Volca machines in action. The first is the official Korg demo and the second is live from Musikmesse (Thanks to FutureMusic Magazine).

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Rob Papen EDM and Urban synth bundles

Rob Papen currently has two very special (limited edition) synth bundles available. The EDM and Urban bundles from Rob Papen both feature three epic software synthesisers that are sure to get your creative juices flowing.

The folks at Rob Papen are well known for developing top notch plugins that never fail to deliver the goods and this new offer is well worth checking out. If you’re looking for a new synth or two to add to your arsenal then you won’t want to miss out.

Included in the EDM bundle:

-Punch

-Predator

-Blade

Included in the Urban bundle:

-Punch

-Predator

-SubBoomBass

As you’d expect from any of Rob Papen’s instruments, the Products in these bundles are beautifully designed and sound absolutely phenomenal. They’re well worth checking out.

The EDM Bundle will meet all of your dance floor needs. At the heart of this bundle you will find Predator; a beast of an instrument that is capable of a vast array of sounds. This synthesiser can be subtle, aggressive or completely off the wall, but it will always find its place at home in your productions. Predator is the perfect virtual analog synth for pretty much any situation; you’ll quickly find yourself going back to it again and again as your ‘go to’ synth.

Punch stands alongside Predator in the EDM bundle and provides your tracks with hard hitting professional sounding percussion. Just by skipping through the presets you will find that a lot of care has been taken in producing the sound of punch. A combination of synthesis and sampling to provide you with one of the best software drum machines that’s available.

Rob’s newest synthesiser completes the trilogy and gives the EDM bundle that special something. Blade is a sharp digital synth that will bring brand new textures to your productions. The synth uses its own brand of additive synthesis to create its unique sounds. Blade is a great way of getting into additive synthesis without all of the confusion and hassle that other additive synths are often burdened with.

If the EDM bundle isn’t your thing then why not check out the Urban bundle. In the Urban bundle Predator and Punch join forces once again, but this time they stand alongside the monstrous SubBoomBass. This dedicated bass synth will provide you with the hottest bass sounds available. Your productions will rumble and boom under the pressure of awesome bass synth.

Both of these bundles are well worth the asking price and they’ll give you a whole new sound design pallet for your latest productions.

These Limited edition Bundles will be available until March 31^st 2013 at the generous price of €199/£169.

For more information check out the Rob Papen Website

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Reason 7 announced

Propellerhead software have just announced the the release of Reason 7.
For more information on the new features check out the video from Propellerhead below.

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Supercharge Your Beats - another Native Instruments teaser video

Native Instruments have uploaded yet another teaser video to their YouTube page.



Unlike the first teaser that we got last week this video seems to be more focused towards beat programming. Rumours are suggesting that this could be an updated version of their popular drum sampler instrument, Battery.

Could this mean that Native Instruments have two new products coming our way?

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Arturia releases iMini for iPad

Arturia have just released iMini for iPad. The iMini is based on their popular Minimoog V software that is used may many producers and sound designers.

Arturia are the latest company to release a synthesiser for the iPad and iMini is a welcome addition to the various vintage synths that are available in the AppStore. It's nice to finally see a faithful Minimoog clone in the AppStore.

Arturia iMini is now avalible in the AppStore for £6.99.

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A revolution is coming - Native Instruments teases new synth

Native instruments has uploaded a new video teasing a brand new synthesiser. Native Instruments are well known for their synthesisers, with Massive and FM8 being a huge hit with many producers, I'm sure that they won't be holding back with this one.

There's no further details about this mystery synth yet apart from the video on their YouTube page (that I've embedded below).

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Native Instruments release Traktor DJ for iPad

 

DJing is not something that I regularly talk about on Voltage-Controlled, but I thought that the new Traktor DJ app from Native instruments was worth a mention.Unlike most DJ apps in the AppStore, Traktor DJ focuses on the waveform display rather than virtual turn tables. Traktor DJ also features effects, EQ and filters taken from Native Instruments' computer based DJ software.



Traktor DJ is now available in the AppStore for £13.99. For more information on Traktor DJ check out the Native Instruments site here.

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Propellerhead releases Rotor RE

Rotor is the latest Rack Extension from Propellerheads. Rotor is modelled on the Leslie 122 rotary speaker cabinet and it's perfect for bringing that vintage flavour to your instruments.

Rotor is now available in the Propellerhead shop for just €39.

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Peavey announces new "The Walking Dead" line of instruments and accessories

Although I do play (a little), I don't usually post about guitar related stuff here on Voltage Controlled, but my geeky side feels that this deserves a mention. I'm a huge fan of The Walking Dead (Both TV and comic book) and Peavey's new The Walking Dead line of instruments and accessories looks pretty awesome.

"Peavey Electronics®, one of the world's largest manufacturers and suppliers of musical instruments and professional sound equipment, proudly announces the expansion of its licensed product line with the addition of products featuring graphics from The Walking Dead, the award-winning comic and TV show.

Designed for serious collectors and musicians alike, these new musical instruments will feature highly detailed artwork on guitars and accessories."

You can find more info about the line on Peavey's website, here.

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The Korg Mini MS20 is real!

People have hassled synthesiser companies for ages to recreate some of their classic analog gear. Korg has finally taken the bait and announced a fully functional, fully analog replica of their legendary MS20 synthesiser.



The Micro MS20 is smaller than the original but it looks perfect. If the pricing on this little machine is right then it could be a phenomenal hit. I need one of these!

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Moog announce new Sub Phatty analog synthesiser

Moog have just announced their latest addition of their Phatty range of analog synthesisers. Full specs and price are yet to be released but the instrument looks pretty interesting.



Moog have also uploaded a new promotional video for the synthesiser featuring new Flying Lotus track "Such a Square" and animation by Adam Fuchs.

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