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Review: Hard to define, rule breaking and game-changing producer Theo Parrish is back with another of his challenging and superlative albums. This one - which naturally arrives on his own Sound Signature label - is a collaboration with Maurissa Rose that true sooth the soul. It s full of his usual deadly grooves, shamanistic percussive layers and jazz energies with plenty of his famous luscious, meditative loops. Add in the smooth vocals of Rose - which come in the form of a soulful stream of consciousness - and you have yet another unique album from this true maverick of the form.

Review: Some 14 years in the making, Les Jardins Mystiques Vol.1 comprises 52 tracks of music composed, arranged and produced by Miguel Atwood-Ferguson; with contributions from 50+ friends including Kamasi Washington, Thundercat, Carlos NiNo, Austin Peralta, Bennie Maupin, Gabe Noel, Jamael Dean, and more. If that wasn't monumental enough, just know that this lengthy classical-experimental-jazz album is certainly Miguel's intended magnum opus, having been written and recorded entirely as a result of his own uncompromised, self-funded efforts. Such an extensive time period reflects an album of longstanding personal growth for the artist; an attitude of continual evolution and innocence, of constantly coming of age and reinventing oneself.

Review: Marc Leclair may have become best known for his Akufen work in the 00s, but his Horror Inc work is surely some of his finest. Taking the slinky micro house he pioneered and turning it to more cinematic purposes, his last album under the name was 2013's incredible Briefly Eternal on Perlon. Now he revives the project with this expansive suite for Ohm Hourani's Anoma label, which is appropriately tipped towards jazzy subtleties within machine music. With each release, Horror Inc becomes a deeper, subtler concern, and so it goes on this record where the springy, swung patterns are offset by half-hidden melodic murmurs and a generous dose of mystery as Leclair takes his conceptual project further into the realms of playfully spooky micro jazz.

Review: Revered jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery originally released Full House in 1962, and it became one of his most popular albums. Recorded live at Tsubo coffee house in Berkeley, California, the classic LP showcased particular selections from his performance which became hugely influential thanks to Montgomery's distinctive, expressive tone. Now Craft have gathered together all the original analogue tapes to present a definitive edition of the album spread across three discs, including some alternate takes recorded during the hybrid recording session and concert. After his untimely passing in 1968, Montgomery's playing became a source of fascination for successive generations of jazz guitarists, and here, laid out in comprehensive fashion, is the reason why.

Review: Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio. Japanese jazz legend Tsuyoshi Yamamoto has been busy with his trio for this new album A Shade Of Blue which comes on gatefold 180 gram vinyl via Evo Sound. The record is a reflection of his love of the classic piano trio. Such a setup was only first conceived in around the 1940s when jazz cat Nat King Cole first had the idea which was then further built on in the fifties by now well regarded innovators such as Oscar Peterson, Ahmad Jamal and Bill Evans. Alongside bassist Hiroshi Kagawa and drummer Toshio Osumi, Yamamoto revels in great musical chemistry for this most sublime album.

Review: Despite his considerable contributions to drum & bass over many decades as a DJ, producer and promoter Grooverider has released only one solo artist album and that is 1998's Mysteries Of Funk which now turns 25 years old. Produced in conjunction with Optical, it gets a special, limited edition anniversary reissue across six sides of vinyl including standout singles 'Rainbows of Colour' and 'Where's Jack The Ripper.' It came a decade or so after Grooverider established himself alongside long time partner Fabio with sets at the UK's best illegal raves before then starting their own seminal Rage night at Heaven.

Review: Few could have predicted the impact Phil Collins would have when he decided to go solo following his first stint in Genesis, but then few were prepared for the iconic gated drums which would come to define the 80s. Opening with the ubiquitous air-drum anthem 'In The Air Tonight', it was an unintentional landmark like all the best ones are, written as a personal therapy after his first divorce and subsequently turned into one of the biggest sellers of 1981. With a huge sound that deserves only the finest treatment, Face Value now gets remastered and repressed as an audiophile double vinyl courtesy of those exacting folk at Analogue Productions.

Review: Wes Montgomery is a jazz giant and one of the scene's finest guitarists. He worked with the Wynton Kelly Trio back in the mid-sixties and that is when he played a set at the famed Half Note jazz club in New York City with drummer Jimmy Cobb and bassists Paul Chambers, Ron Carter, Herman Wright and Larry Ridley. The show was more than two horns long and was for radio broadcast and now it has been remastered for this triple album Maximum Swing: The Unissued 1965 Half Note Recordings. A booklet with new essays and interviews adds extra context to a classic album.

Review: With the recently announced news of a final "new" track from The Beatles set to imminently drop, reissues of both the iconic/infamous Red and Blue compilations are set to be delivered on a gatefold 180 gram vinyl 3xLP half-speed remaster, with the blue spanning their output from 1967 to 1970, this version exclusively bears the highly anticipated last original recording 'Now & Then'. Running from The Magic Mystery Tour EP all the way up to Let It Be (with a bevvy of essential non-album cuts such as 'Hey Jude' and 'Don't Let Me Down'), the compilation offers a detailed insight into the artistic abandon the members felt during the final years of their tenure once touring, radioplay and listener expectation had become moot points.

Notes: Module A-130-4 contains four linear VCAs with a common level control section for all four VCAs. It can be used for all applications of simultaneous amplitude/level control of up to four different audio or CV signals. A-130-4 is the replacement of the no longer available module A-132-2. Compared to the A-132-2 the width has been reduced from 8HP to 4HP.

The module has these controls and in/outputs available:

Control Man.: manual control of the amplification
Control CV: attenuator for the control voltage applied to socket CVo socket Input 1
Sockets In 1...4: VCA inputs 1...4
Sockets Out 1...4: VCA outputs 1...4

Application examples:

simultaneous amplitude/level control of up to four different audio or CV signals
polyphonic application 1: simultaneous control of the frequency modulation depth of 4 VCOs (Quad-LFO A-145-4 or Quad-VCLFO A-147-5 > A-130-4 > FM inputs A-111-4)
polyphonic application 2: simultaneous control of the pulsewidth modulation depth of 4 VCOs (Quad-LFO A-145-4 or Quad-VCLFO A-147-5 > A-130-4 > PWM inputs A-111-4)
simultaneous control of quadrophonic signals

Technical notes:

The maximum amplification for each VCA is about 1 ("Man." control fully CW). Even with an external control voltage applied to the CV input the maximum amplification is limited to 1.
The module is equipped with two internal connectors (pin headers with 4 pins each). Pin header #1 can be used to normalize the four inputs to other modules (e.g. Quad LFO A-145-4 or A-147-5, Quad ADSR A-143-2). Pin header #2 can be used to connect the four outputs to other modules.
The max. level at the VCA inputs without clipping/distortion is about 20Vpp or +/-10V.

Dimensions
4 HP
45 mm deep

Notes: Limited-edition white version of Arturia's ever-popular MiniLab controller, now in its third iteration. Features 25 velocity-sensitive keys, eight RGB pads, eight rotary encoders and four faders.

Supplier's Notes:
MiniLab 3 Alpine White

Ice-cold music maker

MiniLab 3 Alpine White is a music-making controller keyboard with a fresh makeover. Control music software, create your own tracks with inspiring sounds & samples, and get playing with comfy keys & pads - all in dazzling white.

A MIDI controller with a minimalist aesthetic

Rediscover the keyboard controller of choice for today's production pros & beginner music makers alike, decorated with a lush modern aesthetic to elevate any setup.

A fresh all-white look

This mini keyboard controller is going for that ultra-clean, contemporary design vibe with a white exterior, white keys, and white controls.

A fresh all-white look

This mini keyboard controller is going for that ultra-clean, contemporary design vibe with a white exterior, white keys, and white controls.

Easy to use

Explore amazing synth & instrument sounds on your computer, make beats & musical ideas in minutes, and sharpen your production skills - great for beginners.

Everything you need

Play keys, punch in a drum loop, connect to MIDI gear, and get creative with premium musical software included as standard.

Be creative anywhere

MiniLab 3 Alpine White is tiny. It fits perfectly in your lap, in small spaces in your home studio, balanced on top of other gear, and even on an airline tray-table. Don't let a lack of space get in your way. Whenever you get the chance to live out your creativity, this little controller will be ready.

Pint-sized control freak

Small but mighty, MiniLab 3 Alpine White has an expressive, velocity sensitive keyboard, 8 RGB backlit pads, 8 rotary encoders, and 4 faders to put you in total control of your virtual instruments, DAW, and effects. 1 knob is even clickable, letting you navigate menus and select presets right on your controller!

Every sound you need included

What software & sounds do you get with MiniLab 3? From recording software to a library of over 4 million samples, you're totally kitted out for whatever music you want to make.

A Hands-on Experience

Explore the layout, features, and hidden talents of MiniLab 3 in detail, from its quality slim keyboard to its easy-to-use creative commands.

Main Features

Premium Keybed quality

25 high quality note velocity-sensitive slim keyboard

Pads & controls
2 banks of 8 velocity & pressure sensitive pads with RGB backlighting
8 rotary encoders
4 sliders
2 capacitive touch sensors for pitch bend and modulation wheel

Display control
Mini display & clickable browsing knob
real-time feedback on tweaks and controls

Smart features

Built-in arpeggiator
Chord mode
Hold function
Octave up and down buttons
Semitone transpose

Software integration

Seamless integration with all Arturia software instruments, including Analog Lab: select sounds, browse presets and smart-assigned controls
1 DAW preset for automatic integration with any major DAWs
DAW Transport Control with MCU protocol for every other DAWs
Up to 5 user presets for a totally customizable experience
Connectivity

USB-C connects to computers and iPad
MIDI 5-pin DIN output for connection to external instruments, gear
Control input for pedal: sustain, expression, or footswitch
USB powered

Size & weight

Instrument size: 14 x 8.7 x 2 inches (355 x 220 x 50mm)
Instrument weight: 3.3 lbs (1.5 Kg)

Platform specifications

Windows

Win 10+ (64bit)
4 GB RAM
4 cores CPU, 3.4 GHz (4.0 GHz Turbo-boost)
3GB free hard disk space
OpenGL 2.0 compatible GPU
ARM processors not supported on Windows

Apple

Mac OS 10.13+
4 GB RAM
4 cores CPU, 3.4 GHz (4.0 GHz Turbo-boost) or Apple Silicon CPU
3GB free hard disk space
OpenGL 2.0 compatible GPU

Required configuration

Works in Standalone, VST, AAX, Audio Unit, NKS (64-bit DAWs only).

Work with ASC

An elegant and simple solution to help you install, activate, and update your Arturia software instruments

Notes: The classic ADSR envelope with CV control for all parameters

The ADSR module offers the classic four-stage envelope (Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release) that is not only loopable (patch the end output into gate input) but also accepts CV control over each of the stages! For the time values (A, D, R) the value set by the knob can be increased to five times the duration by the corresponding CV value. For the Sustain value the knob and CV value are simply added.

Notes: The CVSHIFTER module is the AE version of the well-known analogue shift register modules that are around in the modular world since a long time. It works like this: The CV input is sampled with each trigger input signal and this CV is sent to the CV 1 output; at the same time, all CV outputs 1-4 are shifted by one.

Compared to the "classic" circuits, this module is digital based and therefore doesn't suffer from drift as some analogue ASRs and S&Hs do. The result is, that you can e.g. control the pitch of up to four oscillators which is a first step into polyphony.

The CVSHIFTER module offers three modes:

Classic: Each trigger shifts the CV outs by one position, the new CV goes to output CV 1
Cycle: Each trigger sends the CV to the next output channel, restarting at out 1; additionally a gate signal at the according output.
Random: The CVs are sent in random order to one of the four outputs, plus a gate at the according output.

Review: Who doesn't love a bit of Dolly Parton? The globally renown queen of country - and the unlikely cult hero who invested heavily in the quest for a Covid-19 vaccine once the pandemic hit - is still turning out plenty of new music. Rockstar is her latest full length and it comes via Butterfly Records and Big Machine Records. It is a collaboration with a variety of rockstars which marks her first moves in the world of rock. Legends like Simon Le Bon and Rob Halford, Pink, Brandi Carlile and Sheryl Crow all feature across eight sides of vinyl and an adventurous and accomplished long player.

Review: Joseph Kosinski, famous for his direction on 'Tron: Legacy' scored by Daft Punk, wanted to go a completely different direction for 2013's 'Oblivion' starring Tom Cruise. An emotional, epic soundtrack composed by French electronic act M83 was the only real option for him - a match made in heaven. Immediately, 'Jack's Dream' and 'Waking Up' are cinematic and vast in scope with blaring strings that swell in ways that only movie soundtracks can. A complete departure from Anthony Gonzalez's megahit 'Midnight City', 'Oblivion' is an orchestral affair that is bold and punchy, with soft and ethereal ambient patches scattered throughout. The title track is a major standout, featuring Norwegian talent Susanne Sundfor, a favourite vocalist and frequent collaborator of Royksopp. Expect the unexpected, but prepare to be amazed.

Notes: A (buffered) mult is an essential item in every rack. This buffered DC-coupled module will fulfill all your audio and CV multiplying needs.

With a little switch on the back the module can be configured in two different modes.
The 1-to-8 mode speaks for itself, offering eight identical copies of your input signal.

The double mode offers a 1-to-4 and 1-to-3 buffered multiple with the first input getting normalised to all output jacks if the second input stays unused.

Weight: 27 g
Dimensions: 128.5 × 9.8 × 30 mm
Width: 2 HP

Notes: Soft case for Soma Laboratory Terra.

Review: The whopping forty-ninth album by country-pop superstar Dolly Parton, Rockstar hears the titanic musician don the vaunted mantle, picking apart what it means to be dubbed a "rockstar" after having been nominated for inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, despite not personally considering herself to hail from a rock & roll background. Leveraging her power to channel the spirit of rock despite not resonating with the sound at its origin, Rockstar harnesses the power of collaboration and association - with titanic cameos from Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, Linda Perry and Miley Cyrus in tow - to posit an album-length critique of the loudest music genre of the 20th Century.

Review: The American hip-hop group Run DMC are some of the earliest pioneers of rap and hip-hop music. The pair emerged from a strange melting pot of a time in which rap was still stooped in the late vestiges of funk, but rappers themselves were becoming more interested in fusing their now harder-beat-driven style with elements of other extant and popular styles such as rock. Such is why this Run DMC album is called 'King Of Rock', capturing the duo's striking out into appealing to the already established rock music market, with guitar riffs and drum machines fusing neatly together on cuts like 'King Of Rock', 'You Talk Too Much', and 'Can You Rock It Like This'.

Notes: The Dreadbox PSYCLOP is the ultimate modern utility device. It's an Effects Chain Loop with Dry/Wet mix control, Signal Attenuator and Boost as well as Expression to CV (Control Voltage) converter, all in one easy to use package suitable for string instruments or synthesizers and is also Eurorack compatible.

PSYCLOP is not your average Effects Loop Mixer. Capable of managing any type of signal from instruments or effects pedals, PSYCLOP seamlessly blends them with its parallel effects loop.

Its features include Input Attenuation of up to -20 dB and an Output Gain Boost of up to +20 dB in order to match any signals. For unity gain, simply set the Input Attenuation Amount to 100% with the IN control and using the OUT knob, adjust the Output Gain Level to 0%.

To avoid phase cancellation issues between the dry and wet signal paths, the PSYCLOP also features a simple but effective Effects Loop Phase switch, which is easily accessible on the pedal's side.

Additionally, PSYCLOP is capable of converting TRS Expression signals to CV and makes them usable with most Eurorack gear, making it a perfect device for synth fans and sound design enthusiasts. The pedal's EXP knob attenuates the CV output. When nothing is connected to its CV IN jack, the CV OUT jack will output 0-5V depending on this knobs' setting and a connected EXP pedal's position.

So all you have to do is plug in and embark on your next thrilling sound design adventure.