Back in stock: All genres

Review: Italojohnson has clearly decided that less is more, having limited their output to one self-released 12" a year since 2013. Volume 10 in the mysterious threesome's self-titled series predictably contains more twisted, tried-and-tested material. The untitled A-side sounds like a modern update of a breakbeat-boasting Frankie Bones classic, with hectic bursts of percussion, surging sub and a classic riff taking it in turns to impress. There's more of an acid house feel to the similarly untitled flipside workout, with booming, mangled vocal snippets and sharp electronic stabs riding a thunderous groove, '80s electro hits and a classic Chicago bassline. There's little subtle about either track, but they sound like guaranteed floorfillers.

Notes: Macro Power S8 is a pedal power supply with eight output power supply jacks, equipped with vary functions input voltage switch, independent output power jacks, over-current protection and adjustable output. It was designed to meet users needs and offer convenient and pure experiences.

Output power jacks: From left to right
One adjustable voltage output power jack, can choose output voltage from 9V/12V/15V/18V. The output current is 200mA.
Three independent output power jacks, each lines output voltage is 9V, and the output current is 200mA.
Four parallel output power jacks, each lines output voltage is 9V. And support the whole 400mA power needs that the four lines parallel into an independent output power jack.

Review: In terms of being an afrobeat legend, Pasteur Lappe is Cameroon's Fela Kuti, an unsung hero who was ahead of the game back in the 1970s and 1980s, and one whose been famous for burning the pockets of many diggers nowadays. Luckily, Africa Seven have compiled some of his best work onto a ten-track LP, ranging from the funky oddities of "More Sekele Movement" or "Na Real Seke Fo'ya", to the future-zouk sound of "Sanaga Calypso", and plenty of jazzy, popped-out, disgruntled soulfulness to satisfy anyone from Gilles Peterson to Cherrystones. Heavy and warmly recommended.

Notes: MX12 as successor of the UC44 is a universal controller for all kinds of MIDI controllable hardware and software.

You can combine NEW MODULE devices to a large system. The connections are on the right side to allow a back to back placing of two or more devices. Connect two NEW MODULES by a special extension port.

Furthermore, there are 4 MIDI-ports and one USB-port with various routing possibilities.

It is packed in a metal case with the same dimensions like the famous ELEKTRON devices so it's a great extension for these devices. But you can use the mix controller also with your DAW like a classical 12-track-mixer.

The device has 24 standard pots, 12 Faders and 24 buttons in a 12-track-layout, various kinds of MIDI commands like control change, note on/off, pitchbend, aftertouch and program change are possible. You can program every MIDI command for every separate control on the device very fast and easily.

Of course you can assign the pots and keys to any of these commands by learning incoming MIDI commands, which is the same procedure you know from your software/DAW. The pots work with standard resolution of 7 bit to have full compatibility to any software and hardware instrument, effect and DAW. Use the internal 30 setups to save your individual settings. Backup and restore of all settings by sysex dumps is possible too.

The factory settings are perfect to control music and video software products out of the box if they are freely assignable. So any additional device programming isn't necessary for many applications.

Some special setups are preconfigured for use with ELEKTRON RYTM and ABLETON LIVE.

Check out this amazing power box and you will get a reliable mate...

Notes: More knobs than you can shake a stick at. Add hands-on control to pretty much any MIDI-equipped hardware or software. Upgraded version of the classic PC44, featuring a whopping 72 rotary pots and 12 buttons.

Supplier's notes:
PC12 as successor of the PC44 is a universal controller for all kinds of MIDI controllable hardware and software.

You can combine two or more NEW MODULE devices to create a large system. The connections are on the right side to allow a back to back placing of two or more devices. Connect two NEW MODULES by a special extension port.

Furthermore, there are 4 MIDI-ports and one USB-port with various routing possibilities.

It is packed in a metal case with the same dimensions like the famous ELEKTRON devices so it's a great extension for these devices. But you can use the pot controller also with your DAW like a classical 12-track-mixer.

The device has 72 standard pots and 12 buttons in a 12-track-layout, various kinds of MIDI commands like control change, note on/off, pitchbend, aftertouch and program change are possible. You can program every MIDI command for every separate control on the device very fast and easily.

Of course you can assign the pots and keys to any of these commands by learning incoming MIDI commands, which is the same procedure you know from your software/DAW. The pots work with standard resolution of 7 bit to have full compatibility to any software and hardware instrument, effect and DAW. Use the internal 30 setups to save your individual settings. Backup and restore of all settings by sysex dumps is possible too.

The factory settings are perfect to control music and video software products out of the box if they are freely assignable. So any additional device programming isn't necessary for many applications.

Some special setups are preconfigured for use with ELEKTRON RYTM and ABLETON LIVE.

Check out this amazing power box and you will get a reliable mate...

Notes: It's all about the things you connect to the The Field Kit! To get you started, Koma Elektronik have decided to offer an Expansion Pack with a bunch of different sources that you can use and connect to create your own signature sounds.

The Expansion Pack contains:

- 2 x Contact Microphones: Use these contact microphones to pick up vibration or sound, they are an amazing versatile input source
- 1 x Electro-Magnetic Pickup: This guy is good at picking up changes in magnetic fields, you can use it to amplify a string like a guitar pickup or amplify a spinning motor
- 1 x Solenoid push-pull motor: Use the solenoid to hit things, together with the DC Interface the solenoid can make anything rhythmical and percussive
- 1 x DC motor: The Motor can be used to rotate things or as a noisy oscillator together with the Electro-Magnetic Pickup
- 1 x small speaker: Use the speaker to listen to the main mix or as a sound source and to feedback sounds
- 3 x patch cables Always handy to have around to patch up different parts of your Field Kit... and a bunch of little objects to play with (little springs, marbles)

The new KOMA Elektronik Field Kit is the perfect tool for everyone who would like to experiment with electro acoustic sound. Use everyday objects, amplify them and use them to make sound, like our heroes John Cage and David Tudor used to do!

The Field Kit is optimized to process signals from microphones, contact microphones, electromagnetic pickups and able to run DC motors and solenoids. On top of that it can receive radio signals and convert signals from switches and sensors into control voltage!

Review: Samba flavours do not come more authentic than this. The sixth in Mr Bongo's Brazil 45 series, here they unearth two foundation pieces from Rio collective Os Origianais Do Samba. Forming in 60s Rio, they're still highly active today and have a discography peppered with Brazilian gold. This 45 does well to showcase their breadth... "La Vem Salgueiro" is quintessential samba. Heavy rhythm, punctuated vocals and a dynamic that leaps from bold and delicate in a flash, it charms you instantly. "Tenha Fe" has a softer soul as it strums and sways and more of a folky sensation, tight harmonies and alluring naked instrumentation.

Review: Nicola Conte and Gianluca Petrella follow up last year's beautiful "African Spirits / New World Shuffle" with two more lavish instrumentals. "Sun Song" lives up to its name with wave after wave of heated musicianship from the belting harmonies to the light-touch keys. "Nigeria" taps deep into the source too as it drives us through the heart of Lagos with full horns and sweeping keys. Spiritual, sun-splashed and vital.

Review: Together under the starry skies of the 70s, Arnaud Rodrigues and Chico Anysio made some of the most incredible music of that decade, under the name of Baiano & Os Novos Caetanos. Their legendary debut LP from 1974, under their own name, has become a Brazilian funk addict's must-have, not to mention a Holy Grail for contemporary sampling. Until now, it's been difficult to get a hold of it on viny format, so we're super psyched that the irresistibly reliable Far Out label has decided to reissue it. With 11 tracks to marvel at, there is a slice of funk for all walks of life and, of course, there is so much grooving to done! Quite simply, this is feel-good music for feel-good people, and this duo's vibes are just about the best thing we could ask on this June morning. Cop it before it's too late - we wouldn't want you to suffer at the hands of the online sharks, now!

Review: The Hamburg-Berlin connection returns. Retreat label boss Hauke Freer and Matthias Reiling of Giegling fame have been at it as Session Victim for the better part of 10 years and they're still in fine form. The third instalment of Listen To Your Heart features four splendid journeys into the deep. Starting off with the lo-slung disco loops of "Almost Midnight" on the A side, which is followed up by the sun-kissed/slo-mo balearica of "Castle For Sale". On the flip, they pick up the pace once again with "Almost Midnight" which showcases the classic SV sound: deep house from a hip-hop production style of technique which no doubt influenced a new generation of German producers such as Glenn Astro & Max Graef. Finally, recline, relax and light one up to the dubbed out ambient journey that is "Thermal Explorer".

Review: It would be fair to say that Henry Maldonado, known more widely as Son Of Sound, has been one of the few revelations to come out of New York City since the early 2000's. For a city which gave us so much in the 80's and 90's, there have been relatively few new names to carry on the dynasty, but Maldonado's sleek and thoughtful style for imprints like Disrtrict 30 and Speak Recordings has provided a bit of life and love to the American Dream. Moreover, the man appears on Delusions Of Grandeur, one of our all time favourite labels when it comes to house, and one that we wish was more present again. The deal here is simple; Son Of House provides us with three sultry, laid-back house groovers with plenty of soul and homebred sensibility, rolling and pushing its solid grooves over bouncy, seductive melodies and feel-good charms.

Notes: The Keith McMillen Instruments CV Cable Kit is designed for converting MIDI messages to control voltages. The kit makes it possible to connect a QuNexus USB MIDI controller to external hardware that accepts a CV voltage such as an analog synthesizer. The kit consists of one right angle 1/8" stereo to 1/4" stereo interconnect cable, one 1/8" stereo to 1/4" mono interconnect cable, one 1/8" TRRS to dual 1/8" stereo interconnect cable, and two 1/8" stereo to dual 1/8" mono interconnect cables.

In the box:
- Keith McMillen Instruments CV Cable Kit
- Right Angle 1/8" Stereo to 1/4" Stereo Interconnect Cable
- 1/8" Stereo to 1/4" Mono Interconnect Cable
- 1/8" TRRS to Dual 1/8" Stereo Interconnect Cable
- 2 x 1/8" Stereo to Dual 1/8" Mono Interconnect Cables
- Limited 1-Year Warranty

Review: Earl's back with 002 from his new label Melange. 3 power cuts in raw form. This time bringing along good friend and previous collborator, Kofi Tarris.

Notes: These premium quality 12" record sleeves have the following superb features:

- Ultra Clear
- Anti-Static
- UV Inhibiting
- Mega Slippy

Notes: These premium quality 7" record sleeves have the following superb features:

- Ultra Clear
- Anti-Static
- UV Inhibiting
- Mega Slippy

Notes: These premium quality 10" record sleeves have the following superb features:

- Ultra Clear
- Anti-Static
- UV Inhibiting
- Mega Slippy

Review: Alex "Omar" Smith has something he wants to get off his chest. The much-lauded Detroit producer has teamed up with re-born Italians Do It Better sorts Nite Jewel for "Confess To You", which comes in two distinctive variations. The A-side "Mix" revolves around a tactile, boogie-era synth bassline, late night AM radio synthesizer chords, drifting sax solos and a crunchy, deep house-influenced rhythm track. Arguably even better is the flipside vocal version, which naturally sees Smith, Romana Gonzalez and company deliver a near perfect chunk of '80s soul/deep house fusion. It sounds like a softly spun summer anthem in waiting. Don't take our word for it, though; check out the clips and revel in the track's breezy brilliance.

Review: Brighton based record label, publishers, cinematographers and legendary former London record store Mr Bongo reissue the legendary 1968 album by Pedro dos Santos, entitled Krishnada. Born in Rio de Janiero in 1919, Santos was (according to the label) "a percussionist virtuoso, composer and inventor of instruments.. such as the 'Tamba' (electrified bamboo drum) and the mouth berimbau whistle." He was a very spiritual person apparently and regarded by some as a philosopher of sorts. The album was produced by himself at CBS studios with arrangements by Joppa Lins. It features poetic lyrics in a unique linguistic structure, as well as various percussive instruments and horn arrangements with samba rhythms from Latin styles. Despite the originality of his percussive sound and the influence it has had on musicians, it had little impact at the time. The album had a cult revival in the noughties and began circulating the internet in MP3 format, finally giving recognition to this unusual spiritual Bossanova masterpiece.

Review: Rhythm Section International, helmed by "Executive Producer" Bradley Zero, has barely put a foot wrong since launching in 2014. Here, the Peckham imprint welcomes Tom Harris AKA Hidden Spheres into the fold. He hits the mark from the off, layering up twinkling pianos, mutant synthesizer lines, bluesy vocal samples and huggable deep house grooves on "Well Well". Another deep, sun-kissed, almost horizontal house excursion can be found on the B, with the intricate and tactile "Your Effect" impressing. Elsewhere, Harris explores the dusty, downtempo side of his repertoire, with the jazzy "Land" sounding like a long lost Ninja Tune jam from the mid '90s.

Notes: Lipsk facilitates the inversion of the individual bits produced by Drezno (or any other module connected to its input header at the back), and delivers the resulting code to its output header. Bit inversion can be manually controlled by pressing any of combination of its eight illuminated buttons, or it can be automated by patching gate signals into its gate input sockets. An active (5V) gate flips the state of the respective bit. If the button is active (bit already flipped), then the gate flips the bit again yielding double inversion (no inversion). The corresponding LEDs show the combined effect of both manual and gate actions. The bit processing logic is hardware-based, so there is virtually no latency, allowing the binary signals to be manipulated at extreme rates.

Review: Session Victim return to the Delusions Of Grandeur imprint with their third studio album. Listen To Your Heart is the result of a year of cross-continental scripting which started in their Hamburg studio and wrapped up stateside in San Francisco's Room G Studios where the duo had worked on their 2014 LP See You When You Get There. Here is the second of three LP samplers. "Shadows" gets things rolling with a classic Session Victim groove, looped up pads and hooky spoken vocal samples. Next up we have "Unchained" which drops the BPM for a widescreen, slo-mo jam clouded in a smoky haze with jazzy touches, recalling the halcyon days of Pork Recordings. Flipping over we have a brand new LP version of previous single "Up To Rise", another sublime slice of blissed-out house music with a wonderful organic and live sound palette. Echoing Rhodes licks join the lead guitar tune for a Balearic beauty which will be stuck in your head long after the sun sets. Closing this second sampler we have "Over And Over", which winds things down somewhat for an inspired, bass-led roller.

Review: Omar S' Detroit proud FXHE now has a staunch reputation as one of those buy on sight labels for a reason. This new release by rising star John FM follows up the well-received Alone and Where My Roots Lie EPs. Starting with the soulful machine funk of "Jehks" truly capturing the sounds of the city of industry in its heyday. There's then the fine R&B jam of "Motion" somewhat reminiscent of Theo Parrish & Andrew Ashong, but it's his smooth vocal delivery which undoubtedly makes it his own! On the flip, the mysterious and melancholic Omar-S remix of "Alone" is absolutely sublime, but just wait for the tough acid fuelled groove of "Gump" which truly takes it home in right fashion.

Notes: Melody synthesizer and sequencer with parameter locks, punch-in effects, arpeggio and chord play styles.

Pocket operators are cleverly designed on a single circuit board. By placing all vital and sensitive components under the LCD display there's no need for an outer case. By saving this cost, high quality components could be used to guarantee the best possible sound and very low power consumption. The space under the display also doubles as a speaker box.

Experience a fresh new way to create music using your thumbs. With its pocket size, its animated graphics, real synthesizer engines, sync, punch-in effects, built-in speaker, alarm clock and impossibly low price, making electronic music has never been this much fun!

Review: Irish house producer Lerosa appears on Simoncino's HotMix label for the first time after a 10 year career that's seen his music released with Uzuri, Quintessentials, Millions Of Moments and Ostgut Ton. Here he provides a four-track EP of varied house styles that only someone who knows what they're doing could provide. "Inverted Castle" has a beefy staccato bassline with deep flecks of piano chords to offset the heat, while "Tango" is minimal and deep but jacking. It's quality Chicago house at its most elemental on the B-side with "Horatio" while "All The Same" throbs with a bubbly pulse while filtered keys and chord progressions are played by what sounds like a pianist trapped underwater.

Notes: Want to create the perfect filter sweep, manually trigger a gate or step through a sequencer? No more need to turn knobs or to patch up a lot of modules, the Kommander makes it simple: just plug it into a CV input on your (modular) synthesizer, move your hand over the device and you are able to control it with your hands, feet or nose, yes: just like a theremin: Kommand and Konquer!

The Kommander is a handheld dual infrared X-Y motion controller that makes controlling your electronic instruments intuitive and fun. The device measures the distance to your hand or any other surface and sends out corresponding CV signals between 0 and 8V. The closer you have your hand to the Kommander, the higher the output voltage. This will allow you to create complex synth sounds, trigger a drum machine, control your Koma effect pedals or any other instrument that is capable of receiving CV signals.

Koma know that some equipment can only accept CV signals up to 3V or 5V, that's why they fitted the Kommander with attenuators, which are accessible in the back of the unit. The attenuators connected to the CV outputs allow you to attenuate the maximum voltage output, so you can e.g. set the range from 0V to 5V instead of 0V to 8V.

Because of the innovative circuit design there is no interference from sunlight or stage light, so the musician can use it wherever she or he wants. Just plug the Kommander into your Eurorack Modular System, Buchla, Moog, Roland or any other synthesizer and create.

Notes: A Digital DJ looking for a professional, durable case solution for your turntable cartridges? Then don't look further as UDG has developed a super light EVA Hardcase designed for life on the road. The UDG Creator Cartridge Hardcase is constructed from durable lightweight compression moulded EVA material with a laminated Nylon exterior. The Case provides protection against drops, scratches & liquids. Skillfully designed & moulded to fit several cartridges, this Case is perfect for the travelling DJ's that needs to protect their cartridges.

Specifications:
Color Black
Weight 0,36 kg / 0.792 lbs
Outer Dimensions (W x H x D) 26.0 x 13.6 x 5.8 cm | 10.2 x 5.3 x 2.3 inch
Inner Dimensions (W x H x D) Not Applicable
Material Durashock molded EVA foam
Protection Soft fleece interior
Extra's Easy grip zipper puller
Fits Turntable Cartridges

Notes: The MBase11 can do only one thing, but it does it right, and it does this even better than in the past.

The MBase11 is the logical follower of the MBase01 and offers even better performance, more versatility and an even phatter sound. It generates analog bass drums, from extremely powerful to soft and covers the whole range from 909-style to 808-fashioned. And also, the LFO has 8 different waveforms including true sine that can be used to create very different envelopes. The resulting sounds are not simply kicks, this turns out to be a bass drum synthesizer.

The MBase11 has a compression parameter to vary the thickness of decaying sound. It offers a variable gate time to to create very different sounding attacks. It also has a metalise parameter to have hundreds of variations on the attack noise.

For more intuitive editing, JoMox have added an analog potentiometer that works alternatively to the parameter editing when scrolling the data wheel is too hard.

The MBase11 purposefully sounds a bit different to the XBASE 999/888, making it a great sounding expansion for our other drum products and other analog percussion.

The kick sets in very precisely and the attack sounds very snappy at all kinds of sound variations.

The MBase11 can also be used as a real bass with some limitations. If decay is cranked up it is long enough for tones and the pitch can be played on the keyboard in semitones over three octaves.

The kick drum can be triggered by an external analog trigger input. This is especially useful for live drummers who want to thicken up their live drum kit. The trigger input works with regular piezo pickups or audio signals.

Last but not least: one of the most convincing arguments for the MBase11 is the price: This is an inexpensive tool that helps you to create great kick sounds, without the time-consuming searching associated with mostly not satisfying samples. You save time and energy while reaching the sound quality you always imagined.

Tweak the sound you need. Everything is real.

Notes: The Theremini is a reimagination of one of the oldest electronic musical instruments, and Bob Moog's first love - the Theremin. Its design fuses the experience of playing an instrument you don't actually touch, with a powerful sound engine derived from Moog's award winning synthesizer, Animoog. The Theremini guarantees immediate success to anyone at any skill level or physical ability, while also providing new ways to experiment with music, education, and gestural control.

Assistive pitch correction allows each player to adjust the instrument's level of playing difficulty. When activated the Theremini will play every note in a selected scale perfectly, making it impossible to play a wrong note. As the assistive pitch correction is decreased, more expressive control of pitch and vibrato becomes possible. When deactivated, the Theremini will perform as a traditional Theremin and there is absolutely no pitch correction.

A built-in tuner supplies real-time visual feedback of each note as it is played, as well as its proximity to perfection. This is useful for correcting a user's playing position, and for educating younger players about pitch and scales.

The Presets section of the Theremini allows you to select from 32 wave or wavetable-based presets, store a selected scale, set and recall a specified playing range, and specify settings for the included stereo delay and more.

Recessed in the top of the Theremini is a compact speaker perfect for private rehearsal and quick setup anywhere. Silent rehearsal is also possible via the front panel headphone jack. Simply plug in ear-buds or headphones and the built-in speaker becomes silent.

For live performance and gestural control, the rear panel of the Theremini features stereo line level audio outputs, a Pitch CV output with selectable range, and a mini USB jack for MIDI connectivity to the free Theremini Mac / Windows software editor and Theremini iPad editor.

Specifications

Pitch detection: Heterodyning analogue oscillator
Synthesis engine: Animoog-derived wavetable
Presets: 32
Display: 128 x 64 pixel backlit LCD
Internal speaker: 2-inch, full-range
Headphone jack: 1/8" (3.5mm) TRS headphone jack
Audio outputs: 1/4"TS Mono/Stereo; Line Level

Review: Since launching in 2016, Mr Bongo's Record Club compilation series has provided three essential volumes of personal favourites - many obscure and hard-to-find - selected by the label's in-house team of crate-digging DJs. Volume four is naturally every bit as essential as its' predecessors, offering an enticing mixture of Brazilian, African, soul, funk and disco with not a suspect selection in sight. This time round, they've chosen to include contemporary music as well as dusty old gems, with highlights including Kenny Dope's delicious rework of the soul-jazz positivity of 'Throwing Stones' by James Reese and the Progressions, the fast version of Ze Roberto's 1973 MPB classic 'Lotus 72D' and the samba-folk wonder that is Matthew Tavares' 2019 gem 'Self Portrait'.

Review: Houdou Nisbi is a top draw, cult classic record from Ziad Rahbani that now gets a deserving reissue on Wewantsounds. It was recorded in around 1984-85 and originally came out on the sought-after Lebanese label Relax-in in 1991, and only on CD and tape. Now it lands on vinyl for the first time and still sounds as good in the way it fuses Arabic sounds with jazz, boogie, funk and even hints of Brazil. Original groove fans heralded this as one of the best of its kind and this newly remastered version, which has been curated by Lebanese DJ, radio host and compiler Ernesto Chahoud, certainly backs that up.

Review: 'Song For Biko' is Johnny Dyani's defining chef d'oeuvre, and was dedicated to the martyred South African anti-apartheid activist, Steve Biko. Despite an illustriuous solo career following his stint as part of The Blue Notes, only 3 albums in the space of 10 years were released by his Quartet. By the time of 'Song For Biko', its membership included Don Cherry, Dudu Pukwana and Makaya Ntshoko, whose combined musical prowess adds up to a glorious melodic free jazz debut.

Review: Habibi Funk gets yet another compilation released in his honour, this time shedding light on the takeoff period in the Libyan synthfunk artist's career: when he had just left his home country to pursue stardom in Egypt and London. Unbridled happiness and sun oozes from this comp, centring on the smash hit, lovers' anthem 'Ayonha', as well as nigh-forgotten earlier gems like 'Shantet Safar' and 'Reet'. Ghostly vocal processing and folk-funk production permeates; 'Maktoub Aleina' in particular is one club classic we won't hold with you forgetting. Now residing back in Cairo, Hamid was more than approving of this release, knowing full well that the tracks on it deserved much more praise than they received back in the day.

Review: Radiate Like This is Warpaint's first album in six years. The LA four-piece have been busy since their last outing, 2016's Heads Up, but their brand of dishevelled, dusty indie-pop feels more welcome than ever. As is so often the case with music released these days, the bulk of the work on the record was created in isolation through these weird pandemic years. They also opted to hold off recording the final takes until they had a chance to tour the material, sharpening up the tracks and creating a dazzling end result which might just be the most focused material they've ever realised.

Notes: Very nice old-school vocoder for Eurorack, featuring a built-in mic pre-amp and full 10-band patch bay. Internal VCO and straightforward control setup help simplify operation.

Supplier's Notes:
The VXC-2220 is an 10-band analogue vocoder with patch-bay for each individual filter section. VXC-2220 vocoder is based on the iconic classics 222 vocoder. For stand alone usage the VXC-2220 is equipped with an internal oscillator generating saw and pulse waves form C1 to C6. A simple and efficient vocoder.

Specifications

Microphone input for speech signal
Line input for speech signal
Line input for carrier signal
Input level control for speech and carrier signal
Output level control
Line output
10-Band analyzer outputs
10-Band synthesizer input
Internal VCO (1 semi-nut step size);
* Saw wave (C1 - C6)
* 3x 10% Pulse wave (C1+C2+C3 - C4+C5+C6 )
* White noise
- Synthesis for 's' and 't' sounds
- Feed-trough level control for speech and carrier channel
- Bypass switch
- 10pin power connector (+/-12V)

Dimensions:
(36HP) 128,5×182.5mm (depth: ca. 35mm incl. power connector)

Power Consumption:
+12V = 125mA
-12V = -125mA

Notes: Inspired by the early 80s Synton Syrinx, the SER-2020 is a semi-modular monster, featuring an excellent formant filter section, unique Touch 'N Bend Control and MPE-compatible MIDI interface.

Supplier's Notes:
The SER-2020 is a monophonic semi-modular analog synthesizer with an formant filter section, designed to use as standalone synthesizer or in combination with Eurorack modules. Inspired by the Synton Syrinx *(1) added the flexibility of an MS-20. Its filter design features a combination of a 24dB/octave VC Low Pass Filter, and two independent Resonant VC Peak Filters for precise and dynamic sound shaping. The sound is ranging from solid bass sounds to articulated formant effects. Other features on the SER-2020 are the Touch 'N Bend Control together with the MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) capabilities makes the SER-2020 a special instrument which response to its player. The flexible routing makes the SER-2020 a versatile machine for sound effects.

Key Specifications:
2 VCO's (CEM3340 based)
1 Sub-Oscillator
Ring Modulator
Noise Generator
Audio Mixer
Multi-Mode Sync & Sync D-Tune
3 VCF's (CEM3350 based)
2 ADSR's
2 LFO's with Reset & Shaper Modes
Auto-Glide
Multiple Triggering
Touch 'N Bend Pad
Bend Assign
Sample and Hold
Semi Modular Setup - CV inputs and outputs
Signal and Headphone output.
MIDI interface
USB MIDI interface
MPE compatible - Sensitive for; Strike (note-on velocity), Press (aftertouch), Glide (pitch bend), Slide (brightness) and Lift (note-of velocity).

The SER-2020 consist of two VCO's and one sub-oscillator, driven by VCO 1. Both VCO's deliver a triangle, sawtooth, square wave and pulse signal, which can be selected. A rich spectrum can be obtained with Pulse Width Modulation of VCO 1 and VCO 2. The LFO 1 and 2 signals can be feed to the pulse width modulation section introducing phase shift effects and Doppler frequency shifts. Since the both VCO's have a separate LFO for PWM, chorus-like effects can be obtained by controlling both pulses with different LFO speeds. VCO 2 can be synchronized to VCO 1 in different modes. Synchronization is applied when two or more VCO's have to produce exactly the same pitches, without phase shift or beat effects. When VCO 2 is detuned from VCO 1 another effect occurs, which will result in quite dramatic tone colors.
Each VCO has an individual output, also the noise generator and sub-oscillator has individual outputs.

The most important sections of this synthesizer is the filter. The SER-2020 features a very extensive filtering system, which consists of the standard 24 dB/octave low pass filter and two independent band pass filters, which together form the Voltage Controlled Formant filter.
Both band pass filters have a frequency control and a resonance control for setting the selective amplification in the pass band. The bandpass filters are equipped with a control voltage mixer for LFO, ADSR and key range voltages. The LFO control can be used for the external modulation input.
The low pass filter is an standard 24 dB/octave roll-off. It has a frequency control and a modulated CV mixer from several sources like LFO, ADSR and the key range. The LFO control can be used for the external modulation input. Also the resonance of the low pass filter can be controlled.

The SER-2020 has two ADSR generators, of which one is used to control the internal VCA, and the other one to control the filter section. The control signal can be inverted by means of the ADSR controls in the filter section, so that the filters can be swept in opposite directions.
ADSR 1 and 2 have a positive and negative (inverted) direct output available on the patch panel.

The SER-2020 has two independent Low Frequency Oscillators (LFO's) of which the rate can be controlled, and for LFO 2 also the wave shape.

LFO 1 generates a triangle wave which exclusively is routed to the pulse width modulation control input of VCO2. LFO 1 also generates a square wave and a pulse wave. The square wave is available as direct output on the patch panel. The pulse wave of LFO 1 is internally routed to the sample and hold generator as clock source.

LFO 2 is more versatile and can be used for the modulation of the VCO's and the filters. Moreover LFO 2 can be used as a one shot generator which means that a signal is generated much alike an Attack/Release generated function. Except for the LFO 2 rate control with the preset knob, it also can be controlled dynamically with the pad.

Several sections in the synthesizer can be controlled with the bend pad, by pressing it with the left hand index and middle finger. The pressure sensitivity for the VCO, VCF and VCA can be adjusted. The touch 'N bend pad also reacts on the MIDI modulation control and the MIDI brightness (CC#74) control for MPE compatibility.
Also the speed of the rise/decay mode of the LFO 2 is possible. Pressing the UP pad will result in a shorter cycle, and pressing the DN pad in a longer cycle.

Review: Next up on Kompakt's esteemed Spiecher series is Brazilian techno heroine with the powerful and adrenalised acid techno epic "Hidden Beauties" taking you back to a time in the '90s when the likes of Laurent Garnier and Hardfloor reigned supreme - absolutely epic stuff! The jackathon continues on the B side with second offering "The Dansant" with its violent whirling bassline that doesn't rely on the that little silver Roland box like the previous side but still packing as much punch, its aggressive syncopated 909 rhythms rapid firing away in convincingly old school fashion. Just fresh off of it's 100th release, ANNA was a great choice thereafter, following up some killer grooves for top labels such as Turbo, Terminal M, Get Physical and Matador's Rukus imprint to name but a few.

Review: Warner Music's ongoing New Order remastering and reissue project continues apace with 'Murder', featuring a quite opposite pair of singles form the cult Manchester band. Again both have been remastered from original master tapes at Abbey Road Studios. 'Murder' was released in 1984, but was recorded in winter, two years earlier, for the Power, Corruption & Lies album. It captures the darkness and unrest of the times with hellish vocal screams and huge, pounding military drums all building to a thunderous peak with a nagging lead guitar eventually making its way out of the mire like a beacon of hope. 'Thieves Like Us' (instrumental) is a more archetypal New Order track with those happy-sad guitar licks and resigned drums.

Review: Soul fans are in heaven this month, just from the releases of Soul Direction alone. The label has been hard at work serving up plenty of golden nuggets and next in the spotlight is Joe Adams. 'That's Not Half Bad' is his stunning version of the Gene Woodbury classic. This is another lost tune that was found on a DAT tape recording made from material that was laying around in an old basement. It comes steeped in rich Philly soul and with gorgeous vocals that for us outshine the original. On the flip, it is backed with an equally sublime mid-tempo heart-wrencher for those tender moments.

Review: The recent Tokyo Dreaming compilation on Wewantsounds was a huge success so the label does the right thing and follows it up with another collection of sounds from the Far East. This one again looks into the fascinatingly niche city pop sound with expert digger DJ Notoya at the wheels. He delves into the Nippon Columbia catalogue and turns out all manner of breezy and laidback gems from Hiroshi Sato, Hitomi "Penny" Tohyama, Midori Hara and more. In many cases, these tunes are making it tot vinyl for the first time. What's more, the audio has been newly remastered in Tokyo for this reissue making sure it sounds as good as possible.

Notes: Octava is an all-analog octave fuzz / frequency doubler featuring an on-board low pass Filter control that allows you to achieve singing octave up tones anywhere on the neck, without adjusting your guitar's tone control. A front-end Drive and gushing Fuzz circuit add signal power and easily convert Octava to shoegazey fuzz pedal capable of producing devastating, full-wave rectified distortion. Use the Blend knob to mix the octave up effect on top of your dialed-in drive.

Knob-by-knob

Volume: Sets the overall output volume.
Blend: Mixes in the octave-up effect.
Filter: A low-pass filter tone knob. Sets the cutoff frequency of the low pass filter on the input of the Octave circuit.
Drive: Mixes in warm front-end overdrive by increasing the gain of the J-FET preamp stage.
Fuzz: Activates the fuzz circuit.

All analogue, still versatile

Built with the theory of "do one thing and do it well" paired with the flexibility of more diverse effects units, the Octava transitions seamlessly between a singing octave-up to an overflowing fuzz, and every blended tone between.

The Octavia ribbons

Parallel ribbons made up of complex patternwork wave ever-so-slightly in the blackness of space. It is from this mysterious place Octava was harvested. Pretty much sounded like a badass octave fuzz.

Specifications

Electronics

Voltage: 9-18VDC
Current draw: 100mA
Input impedance: 2.2M
Output impedance: 150 ohms

Body

Length: 1.5"
Width: 3.75"
Height: 1.75"
Weight: 0.5 lbs

Review: The Cromagnon Band's debut 7" back in 2019 was a sell-out and critically acclaimed success. They make a welcome return here with another natural fusion of all of the tastes and styles of the individual band members. They have said before they make music in a reverse engineering fashion after years honing their skills producing beats on MPCs before moving to real instruments. They've already featured on compilations from Andy Votel and Doug Shipton's Finder Keepers label and these two nuggets are likely to become crate-digging delights of the future. 'Green Smoke' is a tumble of funky drums and jazzy keys that never let up and 'Thunder Perfect' is a deeper, more spacious approach to funk.

Review: It would wind up being one of the last dates Joy Division played in the UK before the tragic suicide of Ian Curtis laid waste to the band's promise of a huge future, resulting in the formulation of successor outfit New Order. Taking place on 8th February 1980, within months the dulcet-toned frontman would no longer be with us, but this recording - along with a host more - audibly proves the lasting legacy of Manchester's finest post punk group still sounds exceptional today.

Of course we know what to expect by now. Most of us have both Unknown Pleasures and Closer on the shelf or the hard drive, if not also debut 1978 EP, An Ideal for Living. But that doesn't detract from the powerhouse of atmosphere that the outfit always created, whether on studio or concert recordings. In our opinion, this is up there with the best examples of the latter.

Review: The eternally mystical Muslimgauze was as experimental as they come. They turned out a wealth of now cult albums that still sound like very little else out there'd there has been a rather extensive reissue project in the world over the last few years. The next of their albums to get put put in remastered form across various formats is Khan Younis from back in 1993. All fused into the competing tracks that make it up are sounds from the worlds of experimental, ambient, acid house and dub to make for a truly unique listen.

Review: Biz Markie was one of the true titans of the early East Coast hip hop scene - a staple of Marley Marl's Cold Chillin' label with a cheeky demeanour which showed even the toughest hip-hop didn't have to be moody. 'Just A Friend' originally dropped in 1989 and became a mainstream hit in the US, breaking Markie to the world and ensuring the success of his second LP, The Biz Never Sleeps. Nearly a year since he passed away, Cleopatra have revisited one of his most enduring classics and given it a fresh airing on this tidy 7". If you don't already have it and you take your old-skool hip-hop seriously, don't sleep on this one.

Review: Canadian electro-industrialists Front Line Assembly are legends of the EBM scene and were active from the 80s onwards. They are a rather obscure outfit, nonetheless, who make music for dance floras but with a really twisted and dark edge and plenty of distortion. The Initial Command is a reissue on limited gatefold coloured vinyl of their landmark 1988 album. It comes with all the original tunes as well as three bonus tracks to make this an absolute collector's must. The band are also out on tour right now across the US and still have what it takes to impress.

Review: Poetic Hovering Synth Tinkerer.

Review: A tale of two sides, Azimuth's classic "Manha" should be recognisable to many; taken from their self-titled LP in 1975, its golden harmonies and lavish, lolloping Bob James style jazz are as timeless as they were 40 years ago. Flip for "America Latina". Conjured by prolific collaborator Osmar Milito (whose discography features the likes of Sammy Davis Jr, Spanky Wilson and Liza Minelli), its striking, sing-along charms are no accident... It was actually created for 70s Brazilian soap opera Selva De Pedra.

Review: The 1982 glam-rock swan song for British rock group Roxy Music sees another limited reissue, a departure from the more edgy and abrasive sounds the group went for prior. The word that people constantly use to describe 'Avalon' is mature, in multiple senses of the word. At its core, the record is sensual and seductive make-out material, a 10 track package pining on romance named after the fantastical romantic gesture of King Arthur's body being sent to the titular island. It's plain to see why 'Avalon' is the band's most acclaimed and influential project, spawning off other New Wave acts like Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran and Tears for Fears. 'More Than This', the title track, has stood the test of time and is still playlisted and cited as one of the greatest British New Wave tracks of all time. 'Avalon' is accessible, seductive and, without doubt, a classic.

Review: The Four Flies crew has been hard at work assembling this comprehensive collection of soul, AOR and Italo disco from between the very specific years of 1977 and 1986. Across four fantastic sides of wax it shows how Italian artists took those sounds and added their own perspective to them during that era. Accompanying text says "In Italy, a soulful and sophisticated approach to pop music was embraced ... by an entire generation of writers, arrangers and musicians" and that is sure highlighted here in lush grooves, escapist melodies and feel good tunes that are effortless and timeless.

Review: The fourth EP from Florence on their own Florence label is simply entitled 'Funk.' And that is what we get in two different variations on this limited 45rpm' There is an old swing feel to the opener which has vocals that Elvis would be proud of. 'Bossa Nova Baby' is lovely and hard-hitting with hand claps and steel drums adding fuel. On the backside is 'I Got You' which is a more sweet soul sound driven by funky brass and prickly bass motifs. Two golden oldies for sure.