Korg

Notes: A whooooole lot of synth power for the money, building on the original Minilogue's analogue platform with a load of added digital features. Hard to think of many more versatile synth modules.

Supplier notes:
Minilogue XD module is the new desktop module version of Minilogue XD, the four-voice polyphonic analogue synthesiser with a customizable digital multi-engine and built-in stereo digital effects.

The desktop module is equipped with the same controllers as the keyboard version, making it a great choice not only as an additional sound module for your keyboard or DAW but also providing excellent performability, giving you an easy way to include an analogue polyphonic synth in your setup. It's also equipped with a poly-chain function that lets you connect it with another Minilogue XD or Minilogue XD module so that the two units can operate as a polysynth with a total of up to eight voices in your studio or on stage.

Add the sounds of the Minilogue XD to your setup or system!

Equipped with an analogue synthesiser circuit and a digital multi-engine:

Voice structure of Minilogue XD is 2VCO + MULTI ENGINE, 1VCF, 2EG, 1VCA, and 1LFO. In addition to the distinctive circuits found in the series, such as wave shaping to shape the overtones of the oscillator and a sync/ring switch, there's also cross modulation, a two-pole filter that can be both sharp and fat, and a drive switch that adds thickness and drives signal into Minilogue XD's filter. Every parameter has been tuned in detail based on what musicians want out of their synth. The sounds range from the warm pads typical of analogue to fat basses and crisp lead sounds, covering every situation.

The additional sound design possibilities of digital sound are delivered by the multi-engine: the third oscillator in addition to the two analogue VCOs. This engine, which is equipped with three different types of sound generator (noise, VPM, and open-source user oscillators) lets you take advantage of a sonic character that's different than analogue, and use it at the same time as the analogue engine, infinitely expanding XD module's potential through hybrid sound design.

High-quality digital effects:

Minilogue XD's high-quality digital effects use 32-bit floating point DSP processing, adding a finishing touch to its deep sound design platform. The three types (modulation effects, reverb, and delay) can be used simultaneously, letting you choose from a wide range of variations including chorus, ensemble, warm tape delay, and a diverse variety of reverb. The user effect slots allow you to load your own effect programs that you've created.

User customization brings out infinite potential:

The Minilogue XD features a customizable open-source environment. The unit comes with 16 user oscillator slots and 16 user effect slots that you can customize. Oscillators and user programs that you've created with the SDK (Software Development Kit) can be loaded into the Minilogue XD via the dedicated librarian software, as well as oscillators other users share online.

What sounds can you create using the fusion of expanded digital oscillators with analogue synthesis? Create original programs, share code, and participate in the user community. KORG even provides sample code to get you started.

Polyphonic Step Sequencer:

One of the major features of the Minilogue XD series is its 16-step step sequencer. Each of the factory-preset programs has an embedded sequence pattern created with performance in mind.

The step sequencer provides 16 steps, and supports both realtime recording and step recording. You can use the 16 step buttons to select a step directly, allowing quick editing to replace the pitch of a step or to mute it, or even improvisatory performances. Motion sequence lets you record the movements of up to four knobs, adding time-varying change to the sound, and you can record not only smooth changes in value but also values that change precisely at each step. You can use this to have different parameter values at each step; for example, you might create a drum pattern or sound effect from just a single program. This allows countless ideas to be unleashed.

Poly chain support:

The Minilogue XD module can be used in conjunction with another unit in the Minilogue XD series for poly assignment settings. Specify one unit as the master and the other as the slave, and they will play as an eight-voice polyphonic synthesiser. This supports a variety of uses, such as a voice-expansion module for the Minilogue XD or as a sound module for a DAW-based production system.

Free bundle of music software:

The Minilogue XD module comes with a diverse variety of music software from Izotope including "Ozone Elements" which lets you not only create songs but also master them using AI, "Skoove" which will help you improve your keyboard playing skills, "Reason Lite" DAW software, as well as software synths from KORG and other brands.

Notes: Easy self-assembly for Korg's intuitive oscilloscope, part of the Nu:Tekt range. Surprisingly useful as a tool for visualising sounds, dialling in synth patches and understanding how sound works.

Supplier's Notes:
The ultimate toolkit for the modern musician

The Nu:Tekt NTS-2 oscilloscope kit is a DIY multifunctional tool for musicians. Building on a 4-channel oscilloscope - monitoring control voltage (CV) and audio signals alike - NTS-2 also packs a flexible waveform generator, a spectrum analyser, and tuner functionality into a
build-it-yourself device which fits in the palm of your hand!

The NTS-2 kit is compact and easy to assemble with no soldering required, but don't let its size fool you - it packs a real punch!

It's an oscilloscope, tuner, FFT, and spectrum analyser that is accurate, intuitive, and incredibly useful. But that's not all - using its dual stereo IN, dual stereo THRU/OUT, and two separate OUTPUTs, you can wire it into your synth rig and use its dual waveform generators to give yourself an extra pair of oscillators or LFOs!

4 channel oscilloscope
FFT/Spectrum Analyser
Duel Waveform Generator
Tuner
Powerful connectivity

4 channel oscilloscope

With dual stereo inputs, you can visualise up to four signals at once, comparing and overlapping them with ease. A variety of display modes let you choose how you see your data, while the user interface is clear and quick, thanks to its dedicated menu buttons and clickable encoder knob, and 240 x 320 pixel 2.8" colour LCD screen. NTS-2 even has a powerful "Lissajous" mode - opening the door to creativity and making it possible to visualise widely available oscilloscope art, for extra fun with your device.

Dual Waveform Generator

A flexible Wave Generator mode provides 2 oscillators with dedicated outputs. Each oscillator can create a variety of waveforms - sine, square, triangle, sawtooth, pulse, and noise - whose shape and phase can be adjusted to suit many applications. These sounds can be used in the audio range or as control voltage sources, and they can be set to cycle continuously or act as one-shot impulses; that means you can turn them into LFOs, envelopes, triggers, and control voltage generators, as well as sound sources. Attaching the NTS-2 to any patchable synthesizer instantly expands its power.

FFT/Spectrum Analyser

NTS-2 also comes with a dedicated FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) mode with a real-time spectrum analyser.

Tuner

This multi-functional utility kit wouldn't be complete without a precise and easy-to-use tuner with multiple display modes.

Powerful connectivity

The NTS-2 offers many ways to connect to your rig. Alongside its 4-channel input and dual waveform output features, its dual stereo THRU/OUT ports enable you to keep it wired into your system, rather than constantly plugging and unplugging cables. NTS-2 lets you maintain your signal flow at all times - even when powered off. NTS-2 maximizes portability and flexibility by using either batteries or a USB-C power supply.

Specifications

Dimensions: 12.9 x 7.8x 3.9 cm
Weight: 130g (not including batteries)
Power: USB type-C (2.0, 500mA max) or 2x AAA batteries (approx 2 hours running time)
Inputs: 2 x 3.5mm Stereo, +/-10V max
Outputs: 2 x Through Output: 3.5mm Stereo, 2 x Output: 3.5mm Mono, +/-5V max

Oscilloscope

Display modes: Single, Stereo (Input1L-INPUT1R, Input1L - Input2L, Input2L - Input2R), 4ch XY(Lissajous, 2ch)
Vertical: 10mV~5V/div, AC/DC MODE switchable
Horizontal: 50us~1s/div
Trigger: Auto, Rise, Fall, Single(rise), Single(fall)

FFT (Spectrum Analyser)
Input: mono (1L, 1R, 2L, 2R)
Frequency: 20Hz~20kHz

Waveform Generator
Wave type: sine, square, triangle, saw, noise, pulse, envelope
Frequency: 1Hz~10kHz, Hz/NOTE mode switchable, [1ms~10s,sec/BPM switchable(pulse, envelope mode)]
Output level: 10Vpp max, V/dB mode switchable

Tuner
Display mode: Needle, Meter
Input: Mono, Stereo (Input1L-Input1R, Input1L-Input2L)
Calibration: 410-480Hz

Notes: The Korg Volca Keys is an ideal introductory synthesizer, with a simple, yet powerful polyphonic analog sound engine and loop sequencer.

The Volca Keys is a long awaited synthesizer that adds a new chapter to the long and storied history of Korg's analog synthesizers. This 27 key analog lead synth delivers unbelievably powerful sound in a compact body. Starting with a filter section that uses the circuitry of the legendary miniKORG700S (1974), it delivers astonishing sound that takes full advantage of Korg's half-century of know-how in circuit design.

With a simple structure that includes delay effect and a sequencer, it's also an ideal choice for a first analog synth. It offers the richly expressive sounds that are distinctive of analog, providing the enjoyment of simple yet deep sound-creation. The possibilities are endless; you can use the three oscillators to play chords, use them in unison with detune to produce solid lead lines, or apply ring modulation to create far-out metallic sounds.

The Voicing function makes it easy to specify how the three oscillators will be combined. Choose between poly, unison, octave, fifth, unison ring or poly ring simply by turning a dial. Easy for those taking thier first steps into synthesisers, the Volca's simple design makes it easy to obtain a wide variety of sounds.

Record phrases as you play them with the Volca Keys using the loop sequencer. With up to 16 steps, it's easy to create phrases as they come to mind. Use the overdub recording function to produce complex loops, with up to 8 sequence patterns able to be stored in internal memory. Craft your loops with the motion seqence function, apply time varying changes to your sound to enhance loops and add originality to your life performances.

Skip a step during sequence playback with active step, a function that creates effects similar to a short loop or unexpectedly irregular rhythms. This allows you to create a dynamic performance just as though you were performing the sequence itself. Flux function lets you play back the phrase without quantizing the steps, producing a loop with a distinctive sense of groove.

A useful self-tuning function constantly tunes the oscillators, so you never need to tune during a performance or wait for the pitch to stabilise after turning the power on.

Connect the Volca Keys with the rest of the Volca Series or a Monotribe using the sync jack. A MIDI in connector lets you synchronise with other devices, play the Volca from any MIDI keyboard and send note messages from your DAW.

The Volca Keys analogue loop synth has a compact size and a built-in speaker, easily playable anytime, anywhere. The ideal starter-synth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7rbcYJ326EI