Roland’s AIRA Compact: bite-sized versions of TR drum machine, JUNO-60 synth, vocal FX

They’re smaller and cheaper than the Boutique series and first-gen AIRA, they’re battery-powered, and they pack a surprising amount of functionality and hands-on control. Roland has a new compact platform for the AIRA, and they look cute and fun.

Tiny Poly: Roland is making Boutique versions of JD-800, JX-8P

Roland is continuing its series of tiny synths with some unlikely additions – the 1985 JX-8P and 1991 JD-800. But maybe the big news is, under the hood, you finally get serious polyphony.

Peter Kirn - November 9, 2021

Error Instruments’ Loopman is an experimental cassette Walkman instrument

Also from the mad genius of Error Instruments – Loopman is a Walkman-style tape record player-looper, modded for speed manipulation, recording, and CV input.

Peter Kirn - August 24, 2021

One artist is making insane, impossible, hilarious KORG volca mock-ups

Peter Kirn - June 15, 2021

Novation’s Circuit Rhythm is coming in summer; here’s what we know

Peter Kirn - February 9, 2021

What’s in Novation’s new Circuit Tracks: polysynths, drums, sequencing, samples, $399

Peter Kirn - February 9, 2021

Roland Verselab MV-1 combines drum machine, looper, melody, vocals

Peter Kirn - January 11, 2021

Polyend teases Tracker: grid, tracker display, hardware

Peter Kirn - March 11, 2020

Polyend puts presets in your modular – plus run on a battery, anywhere

Peter Kirn - May 13, 2019

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