What could be better on a Sunday night than to settle in on the couch and watch your favorite synth videos? Here are my picks of the week—from the amazing Genki Katla to rare gems from the Soviet Union.
Synth Videos of the WeekWinterdagen Explores the Genki Katla: A Synth Like a Film SoundtrackHow to Use a Wavetable Synth with Alex BallSynths from the Soviet Union: From Opus to Polivoks
Winterdagen Explores the Genki Katla: A Synth Like a Film Soundtrack
Genki Instruments Katla · Source: Genki Instruments
It’s been a long time since a series of synth videos has captivated me as much as the four short clips that Winterdagen has released of the wonderful Genki Instruments Katla. The delightfully unique Katla had caught my attention long before, but now I’m completely blown away. What an instrument!
According to Genki Instruments, the Katla was inspired by Iceland’s volcanic landscapes; even the side panels and knob caps are made of lava rock. And what might sound like marketing speak is actually true: the synth actually sounds like a photo album full of volcanoes, lava steams, geysers, and hot springs. The sound lives, breathes, and flows in a way I’ve rarely heard from any other synth. It certainly helps that the person at the controls clearly knows what they’re doing, but the unique modulation architecture of the Katla plays a big part in this.
These wonderful demos have put the Katla at the top of my personal wish list, perhaps even pushing the equally great 3rd Wave out of the top spot.
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How to Use a Wavetable Synth with Alex Ball
5 Ways to Use Wavetables in Actual Pieces of Music · Source: Alex Ball
Speaking of the 3rd Wave: In his latest video, Alex Ball explores the unique qualities and uses of wavetable synthesizers. What can a wavetable synth do that others can’t, and which musical tasks do wavetable synths excel at?
To answer these questions, Alex grabbed the 3rd Wave 8M, the slightly more wallet-friendly 8-voice version of Groove Synthesis’ mighty flagship synth. From dynamic pads that don’t cause your mix to sound muddy, to complex drum sounds, to warm, gentle pads that seamlessly transition into clear, bright, radiant timbres full of high-end sparkle, wavetable synths have some unique qualities that set them apart from all other synths.
The three versions of the Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave are available at Thomann*.
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Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave
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Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave Desktop Module
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Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave 8M
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You can find our overview of the best wavetable synthesizers here.
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Synths from the Soviet Union: From Opus to Polivoks
When it comes to synths from the Soviet Union, most people immediately think of the Formanta Polivoks. But there are many more to discover! Marko Ettlich aka RetroSound has put together an impressive collection that also includes several other rare gems from beyond the Iron Curtain. In addition to the Polivoks, his latest video also features the Rodina Alisa 1377, the Elektronika EM-26, and the RMIF Opus. A wonderful retrospective of Soviet synth history with plenty of ’80s vibes!
Most of these Eastern Bloc classics are almost impossible to find on the secondhand market, which is why we’d love to see them as plugins someday! In the meantime, Cherry Audio Atomika* is an excellent software emulation of the Polivoks.
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Cherry Audio Atomika Download
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$48.00 / £43.00 / 49.00€ at
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