Artiphon has introduced the brand new ORBA 2, which they claim can play any sound in the world and allow users to create their own instruments for making songs in seconds. In addition to traditional instruments, ORBA 2 also includes electronic synth sounds. This means users can play everything from upright pianos and guitars to found sounds on their ORBA 2 without the need for a screen.

Hot on the heels of their East Beast desktop synthesizer, Crea8audio recently announced a new West Coast style semi-modular synthesizer called West Pest. They describe it as the "too hip for school cousin" of the East Best that features a "pesty cornucopia of simple complexity." 

Cherry Audio recently unveiled their new Low Down Bass Synthesizer, which they describe as "the fattest floor synth." Lowdown is based on the sounds of the most legendary dual-oscillator bass pedal synth ever made, bringing its room-rattling sounds to the desktop for the first time. From the dual "constant-beat" oscillators to the girthy ladder filter, everything has been modeled with exceptional accuracy by award-winning synth designer Mark Barton. 

QU-Bit has recently announced their spectral reverb, called Aurora, that will offer a broad palette of sounds. According to QU-Bit, these range from lush caverns and whale songs to "alien textures you've never created before." They also believe that Aurora will invoke the same hunger for exploration that most musicians felt when they first touched a modular synth.

Anyone looking to add some creative panning to their sound will appreciate the Panflow plugin from Audiomodern. It is designed to shape complex, evolving panning patterns while also adding random, rhythmical movement to any audio track in real-time. In addition, Planflow allowers users to create instant fluid motion with precise stereo editing. Panflow also boasts an easy-to-use interface and powerful pattern editor. Panflow is ideal for giving the audio a more lively, dynamic feel and can add dynamism to any static sound.

Features:

Roland has released the latest version of their Zenbeats music creation app on Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac, featuring a host of new features. According to Roland, the goal was to create a more inspiring Zenbeats experience and to accomplish this, they have been surveying users and analyzing functionality over the last year.

Erica Synths has announced that their PĒRKONS HD-01 Drum Machine is now available to pre-order. Erica Synths describes PĒRKONS, named after the Baltic god of thunder, as a drum machine and synthesizer that will change your approach to electronic rhythm synthesis.

Joranalogue Audio Design has announced two new modules as part of their Eurorack line-up. The first is Delay 1, an analog bucket brigade delay line, followed by Pivot 2, which is a voltage-controlled variable router.

Delay 1 is scheduled for release in November 2022, and Joranalogue describes it as a fully analog bucket brigade delay based delay module with a multitude of features geared towards modern musical use. It features an integrated temperature-compensated high-frequency VCO, which provides the clock signal necessary to drive the delay line within 1 to 50 ms.

Cre8audio has recently announced that their East Beast synthesizer is now available for pre-order with shipping expected before the end of May. East Beast is a fully analog East Coast style semi-modular synthesizer. According to Cre8audio, East Beast offers a fresh take on old-school East Coast style synthesis concepts, such as big filter cutoff knobs, envelope generators, and big fat-sounding voltage-controlled oscillators. Of course, it also has a few twists thrown in here and there.

KORG has teamed up with Bjooks, publisher of PUSH TURN Move and the Patch & Tweak series, for a new limited edition bundle. They are describing it as a synth exploration experience and it combines the NTS-2 with the Patch & Tweak with KORG book. The NTS-2 is a powerful new tool optimized for a variety of studio tasks while the book features a comprehensive look at semi-modular synthesis. Patch & Tweak with KORG is filled with artist interviews, patch tips, tutorials, historical explorations, and much more.