Well how about that? An all analog hardware synth from Arturia. The MiniBrute has some unique features including a Steiner Parker filter, supersaw ocillator, “metal” triangle oscillator, Brute factor (re-input staging) and an arpeggiator with tap tempo and 6 swing settings. CV, Midi… 499 Euro, $549 USD!

“MiniBrute is Arturia’s new analog synthesizer. With a pure analog signal path and several innovative features, it sets a new standard for what a hardware synthesizer should be. The pure analog, multi-wave oscillator combined with a huge sounding classic multi-mode filter, and wide range of modulation capabilities will bring new life into your recordings and stage performances. Add to that outstanding features like the Ultrasaw, Metalizer, Brute Factor™, Arpeggiator, LFO with sample & hold, full USB/MIDI/CV connectivity; all of which are housed in a rugged metal enclosure and it is almost too brutal to think about!” – Arturia

For more info: arturia.com

This is going to hurt my bank account ($2,000 USD). I really like how you can record real time effects on the two pad strips (link). I hope the included samples don’t ruin a near perfect analog thing. So far the demos sound pure enough for me. Anyone NOT getting one?

“The all-new Tempest analog drum machine (created by none other than the living legends Dave Smith and Roger Linn) is expected to be available sometime in Fall 2011.” – Sweetwater.com

For more info: davesmithinstruments.com/products/tempest

Nick from Sonic State’s full review of the Korg Monotribe. I can’t believe these things are $229 (link)! I can’t believe people are complaining that’s too expensive. You have to make and enjoy music of a certain retro style to really get this box. If your looking for a sound source of that retro nature this is going to get you there better/easier than any plug-in. I can’t wait to see Korg’s next analog thing. Imagine what they can do at $999.

“c’mon korg, give us a? ms-20 mkII!” – nekrobot

For more info: korg.com/monotribe

via sonicstate.com

Nick from Sonic State opens up the new Korg Monotribe. Who is this marketed to? Me! I’d buy it just for the little analog drum machine. For the music I do this thing sounds right on.

“In addition to analog synthesis, monotribe brings together intuitive ease of use and a three-part discrete analog rhythm section, plus the proven appeal of Electribe-style sequencing.” – korg.com

For more info: korg.com/monotribe

There is an interesting article in the New York Times titled The Fading Sounds of Analog Technology talking about the end of analog noises produced by now vintage products. Sounds such as dial tones and cassettes rewinding are fading away. Interestingly, we still reference many old analog sounds in our day to day language.

“We’re losing the dial tone, too. Cellphones don’t have dial tones. Only landlines do, and those are rapidly disappearing. And without the dial tone, how will movie producers ever indicate that someone’s hung up on a character? (Even though that was an unrealistic depiction to begin with.) Funny thing is, we’re replacing these sounds mainly with… nothing! What’s the sound of broadband? Of rewinding a CD?” – David Pogue, NYTimes.com

Read the full NYTimes article: click here

photo credit: m kasahara

What’s better than one Oberheim SEM analog synthesizer? Four of course. There’s usually a catch to something as great as the new Tom Oberheim Son Of 4 Voice and there is: $3500. Skip the monthly Mercedes Benz lease payment and grab one of these.

“100% discrete analog … absolutly no custom chips. SO4V can be used as a 4-voice polyphonic synth or as 4 individual synths under MIDI control. Two SO4Vs can be ganged together to create an 8-voice.” – Gearjunkies.com

For more info: tomoberheim.com

via Matrixsynth

Nothing was better than the underground 80s. Music was way out there lyrically and humans were taming electronic synths and drums in unique ways. I always thought and still feel EBM (Electronic Body Music) was a great genre. The bassline below in these videos are clearly EBM even though they are simply 16th note patterns. It’s the notes and feeling that classifies them.

“This thing can really make some nice EBM basslines!” – sampleandhold

photo credit: free-secret-life

via Matrixsynth

The XILS Lab XILS 3 is a recreation of the EMS VCS synthesizer. It comes in two flavors. There is a LE version for $37 and a version with more features for $181. There is a demo. All versions including the demo require an iLok. There is an extended review of the XILS 3 in the August issue of Sound on Sound: click here. Basically they say it’s not a spot on emulation but a very interesting plug-in. Hardware lust and purism aside is the XILS 3 in the realm of the TimewARP 2600, UHE ACE and the Korg Legacy Collection?

“Given the DSP power available nowadays, you might think that it would be possible to emulate the VCS3 in software. You could imitate its unstable oscillators, model its unpredictable filter, recreate its loopy envelope generator and all its other facilities, iron out its idiosyncrasies, add a few enhancements, and then stick a pretty GUI on the front that forces players to approach it in the same way as the original. So, what is XILS 3? On the surface, it’s a soft synth designed to look, feel and sound like a VCS3. However, as we delve deeper, we’ll find that it’s much more than that.” – Sound on Sound

For more info: xils-lab.com/pages/XILS-3.html

photo credit: The Standard Deviant

I can’t see why having one of these new Vermona MONO Lancet analog synths around can be a bad thing. Be sure to watch until 2:50 to hear the quality of the resonance. I like it.

“The voltage controlled lowpass filter has a slope of 24db per octave. On high resonance settings it starts to self-oscillate and produces a stable sine wave that can be played in a range of about 2 ½ octaves.” – vermona.com

For more info: vermona.com and twitter.com/Vermona

Thickening Up the Moog Voyager from Calvin Cardioid on Vimeo.

Calvin Cardiod from the cl516 blog plugs his Minimoog Voyager into a Macbeth Moroco and Malekko Barker B:assmaster.

“I don’t think the Voyager needs its tone altered in any way, it’s just that the mixer out jack makes it easy.” – cl516

For more info: cl516