Synth legends in conversation, Camel Audio’s Alchemy makes an unexpected return, and check out the food at James Murphy’s wine bar.

The Inventors of Synth. At Sweetwater’s Gearfest 2015, a unique seminar and panel discussion with three of the greatest music technology pioneers of the last century: Roger Linn, Dave Smith, and Tom Oberheim. Watch above.

Moog employee stock ownership announced. Last week, the owner and chief executive of Moog Music, Michael Adams, announced to the tight-knit group of loyal staff at the company’s North Carolina factory that he had sold half of the business to the employees themselves. The new employee stock ownership plan was met with a relieved wave of whoops, applause and happy tears, according to those present. Read the New Yorker‘s full story here.

Will Gregory’s Moog Ensemble. Inspired by Wendy Carlos’s groundbreaking use of synthesisers in her 1968 record Switched On Bach and by “a sense of guilt looking at a room full of old synthesisers languishing unused and clogging up my studio”, Goldfrapp‘s Will Gregory brought together 10 electronic musicians to create the Moog Ensemble hyper-orchestra. Watch them perform Bach‘s Brandenburg concerto No. 3 BWV 1048 above, and find out more here.

Sample Magic Summer Sale. Sample Magic announce their summer sale – 25% off all packs, 50% off Magic AB and up to 50% off books here.

Propellerhead’s Social Music Creation Platform. Propellerhead has launched a new social platform for collaboration using their production software and apps, and it’s open to anyone who signs up to work on music together, regardless of where users are and if they know each other. A user simply starts a track using a Propellerhead software or app, and uploads it to their servers for another user to add their own parts and re-upload. Coming soon to iOS and android, available now via browsers. Watch the promo video above, more info here.

Check out the food at James Murphy’s wine bar. LCD Soundsystem frontman and the founder of DFA Records, James Murphy’s new Williamsburg wine bar has opened with a team that includes wine consultant Justin Chearno, head chef Nick Curtola, and Murphy’s wife, Christina Topsøe. The Four Horsemen are offering natural wine, rare beer, and serious snacks. Check out Grub Street‘s review here.

Waldorf Attack Drums for iPad. Waldorf‘s Attack Drums has been released as an iPad app, following its announcement at NAMM 2015 over a decade since the plugin version of the percussion synth debuted. Attack Drums for iPad is an advanced drum synthesiser with polyphonic step sequencer, which promises a sound engine that’s capable of producing a wide range of drum tones, its own effects, and touch interface optimisation. Buy Waldorf Attack Drums now on the Apple App Store, watch the promo video above.

A One-of-a-kind Soviet Hybrid. An analogue synth/drum machine/organ hybrid from communist-era Czechoslovakia appears at Synth Fest 2015, named the Elektron-83. It’s the creation of Jožka Říhák, legendary in Moravia as a genius electronic instrument builder. His Syntezátor – 83 Unisono went into production, but the Elektron-83 is the only one that exists. Watch a live demo above.

Alchemy Makes Unexpected Return. Following Camel Audio‘s abrupt closure earlier this year, Apple Insider reports that previews of a future GarageBand release seem to feature new synth sounds with the ‘Transform Pad Smart Controls’ familiar to Alchemy Mobile users, which seems to suggest that Camel Audio’s Alchemy synth may live on within Apple’s GarageBand and then Logic Pro. Find out more here.

Elka Synthex Reissue Not Funded. Even with high-profile backing from Jean-Michel Jarre, Generalmusic‘s IndieGoGo campaign to fund the reproduction of Jarre’s favoured synthesiser – the Elka Synthex – has failed to meet its $414,000 goal. Organisers have assured that all contributions towards the project will be refunded.

The Best and Worst Dance Music Films. Celebrating the release of the Daft Punk biopic Eden, which comes out in the US this week only to be followed by EDM bromance We Are Your Friends later this year, the Guardian lists history’s five best and five worst dance music-related films here.

Japan’s No-Dancing Laws Relax. Japan infamous no-dancing legislation, which dates back to 1948, has officially been revised by the country’s government. The new laws will take effect in 2016, and will allow dance clubs to remain open for 24 hours if they meet certain conditions and obtain permission from a local public safety commission. Find out more here.

19th June, 2015

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