Rossum Electro-Music synthesizer modules at NAMM

Rossum Electro-Music

We at CatSynth have long been fans of E-MU Systems’ synthesizer. The Proteus 2K and Morpheus remain vital parts of my music studio – and some long-time readers may recall that I used to work for E-MU many years ago. So it was excited to see the new Eurorack modules from Rossum Electo-Music, the new project of E-MU founder and synthesizer inventor Dave Rossum.

Rossum Electro-Music

The main module available is the Evolution, a Moog-style ladder filter with some unique twists. It allows the user to switch among topologies, from 3 to 6 poles, in real time. And of course this function is controllable via CV for some interesting effects. The filter itself sounds great, with signal conditioning to allow resonant sweeps while maintaining strong bass tones from the original signal. The Morpheus module is a Eurorack implementation of the legendary E-MU Z-Plane filter, which allows interpolation on three axis between different 14-pole filter configurations. All of the parameters for the Z-Plane filter are CV controllable. Unfortunately the Morpheus wasn’t ready for me to hear, but I certainly looking forward to it.

Booth 5000 (Modular Synths) at NAMM, Part 1

Our friends in the modular-synth world are moving up at NAMM, with a collective booth at the front of the show right near giants like Moog and Dave Smith Instruments.  It’s a bit much to take in all at once, as modules and module-makers continue to proliferate.  This will be the first of a few articles covering just this booth.

One new set of modules, and perhaps the oddest, comes from BASTL Instruments.

BASTL Instruments

In addition to the wood texture, there are modules that can control motors, solenoids and other outboard electronic elements.  It does bring to mind some ideas for sound installations and live performances.  You can hear a bit of these modules in this video.

Soulby presented Eurorack modular versions of 8-bit processing modules more messing with voice and other input signals.

Soulby

Delays and looping seem to be a thing this year. 4ms had a new looper and delay module whose novel feature is audio rate control of the functions for unusual flange delays and other continuous effects.

4ms

While the 4ms Spectral Multiband Resonator is not new for this year, it is still one I am excited about.

QuBit Electronix has a new sequencer module with a circular pattern; and a new polyphonic oscillator with individual controls and VCAs. You can see and hear both of them in this short video.

@qubitelectronix polyphonic oscillator in action! #namm

A video posted by CatSynth / Amanda C (@catsynth) on

Synthrotek is focusing on full systems, including a MIDI-CV converter that supports bi-directional clocks. One can use heavily modulated CV clocks to control time-based elements on MIDI synthesizers with this feature.

Synthrotek

And KOMA Elektronik returned with their massive sequencer, looking more refined. And it has a lot of lights!

KOMA Electronik Sequencer

More from this both and beyond in coming articles.

CatSynth at NAMM 2016

namm2016-catsynth

Once again, it’s that most glorious time of the new year when we CatSynth trek down to Anaheim, California for the NAMM show.  Synthesizers have been quite the thing the last couple of years, and we expect to see more that again this year.  Follow us here on the blog for detailed coverage, as well as on Twitter and Instagram for live coverage and photos!

CatSynth video: KATOD – 7CATS – Pussy

One more from KATOD’s album 7CATS.

ublished on May 1, 2015
Electronic / instrumental music
fanpage: http://www.fb.com/KATODmusic
instruments:
– moog synth
– modified C64 + synth software
– bass guitar
– electric solo guitar

Composed, recorded, mixed and mastered by KATOD
Video-clip recorded and assembled by Katod.

Album: 7CATS
Track: Pussy
Full album you can find here:
SPOTIFY:
https://play.spotify.com/album/0mi4SY…
GOOGLE PLAY:
https://play.google.com/store/music/a…
EMPIK:
http://www.empik.com/7-cats,p11136393…
and also many other online music providers…
CD you can buy here:
http://www.generator.pl/p,katod-7cats…

CatSynth video: KATOD – 7CATS – Labirynth

Our first post of the new year features this awesome video KATOD of their album 7CATS. Once again, it stars Szarik the Cat. Enjoy!

Electronic / instrumental music
fanpage: http://www.fb.com/KATODmusic
instruments:
– moog synth
– modified C64 + synth software
– bass guitar

Composed, recorded, mixed and mastered by KATOD
Video-clip recorded and assembled by Katod.
Main actor 🙂 – Szarik Cat
3D CGI seqence by MAC300
https://www.youtube.com/user/mac300ch…
https://www.facebook.com/MariuszMac300/
spaceship model by glaz3d (later modified by us for “cat spaceship” 🙂

Album: 7CATS
Track: Labirynth
Full album you can find here:
SPOTIFY:
https://play.spotify.com/album/0mi4SY…
GOOGLE PLAY:
https://play.google.com/store/music/a…
EMPIK:
http://www.empik.com/7-cats,p11136393…
and also many other online music providers…
CD you can buy here:
http://www.generator.pl/p,katod-7cats…