Synths and workstations

Interview Phil Dudderidge – Chairman Focusrite Audio Engineering

Just a few months ago we got the opportunity for doing an interview with the current CEO of Focusrite (and Novation) Phil Dudderidge. After doing some reasearch we found that mr. Dudderidge is quite a remarkable man. In his early years he worked as a sound engineer. For a while he was even the live sound engineer of Led Zeppelin. From here on his path lead to developing and customizing PA systems and live mixing consoles and eventually in founding Soundcraft. Short after Soundcraft got sold to Harmann Industries, mr. Dudderidge bought the assets of Focusrite from, initial founder, Rupert Neve. And that’s where this journey began.

FXpansion Tres also available as Rack Extension for Reason

FXpansion Tres also available as Rack Extension for Reason

FXpansion’s Tres is a monosynth Rack Extension for Reason featuring DCAM circuit-modelling technology and advanced TransMod modulation. The oscillator section’s complex timbral output is sculpted by filter and VCA sections full of warmth and characterful tone. All important parameters can be modulated with internal LFOs and envelopes or external CV sources to produce fresh and original bass, lead, percussion, drone and FX sounds.

Special Edition Dave Smith Mopho Synth with bigger keyboard

Special Edition Dave Smith Mopho Synth with bigger keyboard

Dave Smith Instruments best-selling analog synth gets a bigger keyboard and an updated look and feel, with a special edition of the Mopho synth. “The Mopho family of instruments has been ground-breaking for us and for our customers in terms of value,” said DSI’s Andrew McGowan. “And I think it’s pretty apparent from the way the industry responded that we were on to something with smaller, more affordable, but full-featured instruments, whether modules or keyboards. But there is no typical synthesizer user and we’ve gotten feedback from customers who loved the synth’s sound and features, but who wanted an instrument with a larger keyboard. Now there is one.

Arturia re-creates Oberheim SEM module for the iPad – iSEM

Arturia re-creates Oberheim SEM module for the iPad – iSEM

The Oberheim SEM was one of the world’s first self-contained synthesizer modules. It was primarily developed as a convenient solution for musicians who wanted to set up sequences without tying up their main synths. The SEM also worked very well as an expander to fatten up the tone of other synthesizers like the Minimoog™ or the ARP Odyssey. Arturia‘s re-creation for the iPad, iSEM, tips its hat to the familiar interface of the classic 1974 Oberheim SEM, but there’s more than meets the eye. They’ve added a few new features and some of the extra functionality that people have come to expect from Arturia products.

Sennheiser Delivers at Bruno Mars – Moonshine Jungle Tour

Sennheiser Delivers at Bruno Mars – Moonshine Jungle Tour

Superstar Bruno Mars finished the North American leg of his Moonshine Jungle Tour in September ­ a run that consisted of over 40 U.S. and Canadian dates, a spectacular appearance on the MTV Video Music Awards, and an announcement that he will perform at the Pepsi Super Bowl XLVIII Halftime Show on February 2, 2014. This month, the Moonshine Jungle Tour continues on to Europe before setting out to Australia and New Zealand in early 2014. Bruno and his band rely on Sennheiser microphones and wireless systems.

AAS launches new Ultra Analog VA-2 synth

AAS launches new Ultra Analog VA-2 synth

Applied Acoustics Systems released an all-new version of its award-wining Ultra Analog VA-2 analog synthesizer plug-in for Mac OS X and Windows. Ultra Analog VA-2 ships with a new streamlined interface, a new equalizer and compressor module, a new multi-effect processor, brings native 64-bit operation on Mac OS X, and more. The factory library has been redesigned with more than 600 presets including a sound bank by renowned sound designer Richard Devine.