Alesis’s Q MKII MIDI keyboards promise no-nonsense performance at a low price

The beat goes on

As I write this in mid-January, myself and

Korg aren’t messing around in 2021

The Japanese synth titans kick off the year with a synth bonanza

The miniKorg 700FS, a revived version of Korg’s first analogue synth

Released in 1973, the miniKorg 700 was Korg’s

Korg’s Drumlogue is another ‘logue… but drum

>We love Korg’s new Wavestate/Opsix/Modwave family, but they

Gadget goes VR

>The devices in Korg’s Gadget app have always

Wavestate SE adds aftertouch and a 61-note keyboard

>As well as gaining a stablemate in Modwave,

Korg ARP 2600 remake gets a (smaller) module version

>Korg’s ARP 2600 FS was a loving and

Roland’s Verselab MV-1 is a standalone studio for creating complete songs

>Since debuting their Zen-Core engine back in 2019,

Kurzweil go beyond the K2 workstations with the mighty K2700

>The K2700 is an evolution of Kurzweil’s popular

Antelope Audio’s Zen Go Synergy Core is smaller and more affordable

>Antelope Audio are bringing their Synergy Core technology

IK promises “next-gen analogue for all” with the paraphonic Uno Synth Pro

>IK Multimedia took their first step into the

Yamaha launch YC73 and YC88 gig-ready keyboards

>A year on from the launch of their

Sequential’s desktop Prophet-5 is as “ballsy” as the keyboard

>Sequential have unveiled desktop versions of their new

New Onyx: top analogue quality and multitrack USB recording

>Mixer maestros Mackie have just announced three new

Moog releases its first official desktop soft synth, but not everyone can use it

>Moog have announced that their Model 15 iOS

Softube’s Weiss EQ MP is designed for surgical mixing at professional quality

Softube has introduced the Weiss EQ MP plugin,

Goldie Timeless

FFRR, 1995

Bicep Isles

Ninja Tune

Thumbing Thru Foliage

YUNGMORPHEUS

Music For Parents

Florian T M Zeisig

Hall Of Mirrors

Neil Cowley 

MULTI DIMENSIONAL MUSIC

MPE comes of age.

KNOW YOUR…

CONTROLLERS

5 things you (probably) didn’t know could use MPE

Lots of controllers and instruments wear their MPE compatibility on their sleeve, but polyphonic expression turns up in some surprising places you might not ex pect too

What’s the difference between MPE and MIDI 2.0?

If you keep an eye on developments in

Using MPE without a controller

It’s natural that MPE is usually associated with

STUDIO

BITWIG

LIVE 11

ABLETON

LOGIC PRO X

APPLE

6 ways to get the most from your MPE controller

From Roger Linn’s Linnstrument, to Roli’s Seaboards, to Expressive E’s Osmose and Haken Audio’s Continuum Fingerboard, these controllers unlock a wealth of polyphonic expressivity…

Creating your first MPE patch with Equator 2

Although an increasing array of plugins and DAWs now come stocked with MPE presets you can use right out the box, synths such as Roli’s new Equator 2 make it easy to design your own custom patches for use with an MPE controller. Let’s build a simple virtual analogue poly sound, and tailor it for MPE expression

GOOSE

Since debuting on influential UK label Skint back

TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS

“Most people in the industry do not have

Victor Ruiz

Love Story

Making Love Story’skick and bass in Logic Pro

Victor uses processed kicks to create his booming techno rumble, plus some tasty synth work

Steinberg Cubase 11

As has become an annual tradition, Cubase’s latest significant update landed in the final weeks of 2020. Let’s explore how to work smarter in version 11

Editing pitchbend and controllers in the Key Editor

1The Key Editor in Cubase has always been

Frequency 2 as Channel EQ alternative

1Frequency, a Cubase EQ plugin (independent of its

What are VCA faders?

While many people may be familiar with Group

Using the Key Editor Scale Assistant

1The Scale Assistant in the Key Editor Inspector

Getting to know Squasher

>Squasher is an intriguing, powerful plugin that arrived

Making the most of the SuperVision analyser plugin

1Cubase lets you tweak the channel meters in

Sampler Track: slicing loops, repurposing and sampler sounds

1There are many ways to get audio into

POWER TIP

Audio samples imported into the Sampler Track are

THREE QUICK TIPS

Multiple mixer windows 1 By default Cubase assigns

Audio Random Access (ARA) and Extensions

>Audio Random Access (ARA) was designed for plugins

Using job management features in Audio Export Mixdown window

1Cubase 11 added some new tools that make

Krust

After 14 years of relative silence, jungle pioneer Kirk Thompson reprises his DJ Krust moniker. Danny Turner discusses the motivation behind his return

Jimmy Edgar

The producer, DJ, and photographer tells Leo Maymind about his long history with recording, why he redlines in Ableton Live, and what’s motivated him in the time of Covid

Generate new musical ideas in Ableton Live

PROBLEM: Coming up with loops and ideas? Relatively easy. Arranging them into a finished piece? Less so. Any ideas?

Cristian Vogel

Lockdown re-evaluated Cristian Vogel’s approach to his latest album The Rebirth of Wonky. Danny Turner explores the innovative producer’s workflow and use of the Kyma software environment

UDO Super 6 £2,195

UDO’s Super 6 is already making a big noise in synth world! Dan ‘JD73’ Goldman goes supersonic…

Modal Cobalt 8 £579

Another Modal release has arrived in the form of the virtual analogue Cobalt 8. Dan ‘JD73’ Goldman digs in!

Apple M1 13-inch MacBook Pro from £1,299

Apple’s silicon Macs are here; Ben Rogerson investigates what that mean for music makers…

Soundforce SFC-60 V3 £250

Many of us look to years gone by

FREE DELAY PLUGINS

From classic copycats to supermassive modern favourites, here are our picks…

Korg SQ-64 Poly Sequencer £269

The SQ-64’s USP is its vast connectivity. Rob Redman tries not to be overawed by the sheer ’80s flashiness and flexibility

Master The Mix Reference 2

>Getting things right at mastering stage often requires

Roli Equator 2 £199

The MPE-centric sound engine comes of age as a fully-rounded power synth. Si Truss expresses himself

Native Instruments – Pharlight £179

>Pharlight uses Kontakt as a host for its

Audiotent – Rectify u-he Diva Standard: £37 Deluxe: £57

Fans of the u-he Diva [did you know

HIGH-END SYNTHS

Sequential Pro 3 from £1,459 Full Review: FM366

SOFTSYNTHS

Kilohearts Phase Plant from €169 Full Review: FM350

HARDWARE SEQUENCERS

Korg SQ-64 £269 Full Review: FM367 | An intuitive,

DIGITAL POLYSYNTHS

Korg opsix £699 Full Review: FM365 | The opsix