New Gear Alert: Sound Studio by Moog, Focal Updates Alpha Series, Rocket Bass Amps from Ampeg & More

Moog unleashes Sound Studio.

Moog offers an attractive solution for exploring the world of modular synthesis with Sound Studio.

Moog Sound Studio is the ultimate synthesizer set up that includes everything a bedroom producer needs to start creating. The good news is that it won’t break the bank, and Moog makes this an incredibly fun and interactive learning experience.

Moog Sound Studio is way more than a ‘bundle”—it is a new semi-modular synthesizer experience that provides all the creative inspiration, educational tools, equipment, and accessories an individual needs to embark on an immersive sonic adventure. Designed for beginner and seasoned synthesists alike, Moog Sound Studio introduces a uniquely comprehensive approach to exploring modular synthesis.

Check out a video introduction to Moog Sound Studio here.

Moog Sound Studio retails for $1,399 (Mother & DFAM) and $1,449 (Subharmonicon & DFAM).

Focal updates the Alpha 50 Evo and Alpha 65 Evo studio monitors.

Focal supercharges the Alpha 50 and 65 Evo with revamped tweeters and cones.

The Alpha 50 Evo and Alpha 65 Evo replace the current Focal Alpha 50 and 65 models, while the current Alpha 80 are still available. The Alpha 50 Evo and Alpha 65 Evo studio monitors offer high performance at a price unrivaled in their market, providing ultra-powerful, professional tools to more people than ever.

Dedicated to music creation and all reproduction, the Alpha 50 Evo and Alpha 65 Evo offer excellent sound coherence, no matter where you are listening. For renewed performance, Focal has chosen an aluminum inverted dome tweeter to ensure vast sound dispersion, as well as the Slatefiber cone. This recycled carbon cone, produced exclusively by the French brand at its Saint-Étienne workshops, has been chosen for its neutrality and dynamics. Focal is constantly renewing its offerings, drawing on its acoustics expertise of over 40-years and its innovation capacity. This is demonstrated by the new large laminar port, which limits distortion noise.

The Alpha 50 Evo are priced at $349/ea; the Alpha 65 Evo are priced at $449/ea.

Ampeg introduces the Rocket Bass combo bass amplifiers.

Available in five different models, Ampeg delivers the Rocket Bass combo amplifier.

Available in a broad variety of configurations, Rocket Bass amps range from the surprisingly potent 30-watt RB-108 to the concert-ready 500-watt RB-210. And just like their famed larger siblings, Rocket Bass combos offer essential Ampeg features such as 3-band EQ, signature Ultra Hi/Ultra Lo switches (RB-112 and up), and the new Super Grit Technology overdrive circuit, all of which combine to produce legendary Ampeg tone.

In addition, XLR line outputs (except RB-108), auxiliary inputs, and headphone outputs ensure that Rocket Bass combos are ready to rock in any situation. Custom padded covers embroidered with the Ampeg logo are available for the RB-112, RB-115, and RB-210 models.

Rocket Bass amplifiers will be available spring 2021. Pricing is as follows: RB-108 $209.99; RB-110 $321.99; RB-112 $559.99; RB-115 $741.99; RB-210 $909.99.

MOD Devices announces the release of MOD OS Version 1.10.

MOD Devices implements crucial new features and improvements with MOD OS Version 1.10.

With the debut of their newest audio processor, the MOD Dwarf, MOD Devices releases an update that also enhances the usability of both the flagship Duo X and the touchstone MOD Duo, keeping all three devices (and the MOD footswitch) within the same user-friendly, open-source rooted orbit, while refreshing the legacy models with a cleaner look and more information presented.

With many improvements within the general user interface, the OS 1.10 update unlocks many exciting new features for the platform, notably, a file manager UI inside the now-familiar web interface. With soon-to-be-announced plugins and sampled instruments, users will be able to upload their own audio, MIDI, and IR files to and from the device. This opens up many new use cases for all MOD Devices, for example using it as a backing track player, MIDI player or impulse response loader. It will even be capable of running sampled instruments.

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