ADSR envelope explained: attack, decay, sustain, release and how to shape a sound
Attack, decay, sustain, release: these four controls decide whether a sound snaps, settles or fades. The ADSR envelope is the tool that…
Music
Dirtywave M8 for iOS: price, features and the full tracker on iPhone and iPad
The cult portable tracker is now a native iPhone and iPad app. The complete engine is here — eight tracks, five synthesis…
XILS-lab MemoryTone: price, specs and the 16-voice Memorymoog software synth
XILS-lab takes on the Memorymoog myth with a virtual synth running three oscillators per voice. Sixteen-voice polyphony, a self-oscillating 24 dB ladder…
The Usual Suspects 88emu: a free Roland Sound Canvas (SC-88 Pro) emulator, out now
The Usual Suspects has released 88emu, a low-level emulator of Roland's Sound Canvas modules, from the SC-55 to the SC-8850. It is…
Shakmat Lancer’s Lash: specs of the multi-engine snare drum module
Belgium's Shakmat dedicates an 8 HP Eurorack module to the snare drum. The Lancer's Lash brings together seven synthesis engines under consistent…
Behringer Pedal Flanger: price and specs of the Tycobrahe-style foot-controlled flanger
Behringer revives a rare cult effect: the Pedal Flanger, an all-analog flanger you control with your foot like a wah, a tribute…
Animal Factory Asura: price, specs and the 6-voice wavetable synth from India
Animal Factory unveils the Asura, a portable six-voice wavetable polysynth built with Sanjay Das. Two wavetable oscillators, an analog distortion stage in…
EMW S-8000: specs and price of the compact multi-sample playback synth
Brazilian maker EMW unveils the S-8000, a small desktop sample-playback synth. Multi-samples on microSD, a resonant filter, envelopes and onboard effects: a…
Arturia MiniFreak 5.0: user samples and wavetables in the free update
The free 5.0 update opens Arturia's MiniFreak hybrid synth to your own samples (WAV/AIFF/FLAC at 12-bit) and wavetables. A new Factory Bank…
Sonicware ELZ_1 core: price, specs and the 18-engine desktop synth
Sonicware puts its multi-engine ELZ_1 into a keyboard-less desktop box: 18 synthesis types, Waldorf-licensed wavetables and a full sequencer, for $499.