Impressive Deals From 3 Big Brands: Arturia, KORG and Akai!
We hunt down the deals of the week so you don’t have to, and we’ve found some pretty awesome savings for you from 3 big-name brands!
October always feels like a long month, especially when it comes to pay cheques. I always seem to find myself worrying if I’m going to make the end of October payday before I hit empty at the bank. So here are some pretty neat deals on some great bits of gear that might make last month’s pay cheque go a little further!
Big Deals on Big Brands
3 Amazing Synth Deals From Arturia!
Arturia PolyBrute 12
Arguably one of the finest analogue synths ever made, Arturia’s PolyBrute 12 is an absolute beast and a master of expression, with its MPE-compatible FullTouch keybed. The sheer power and capability of this thing is amazing, and I firmly believe that this will go down as a masterpiece of analogue synthesis, up there with the likes of the Jupiter 8 and CS-80. It’s a hill I’m prepared to die on!
However, something like this comes with a price tag almost as weighty as the synth itself, so any assistance in the acquisition department is always helpful and, right now, our affiliate partner is taking around 16% off the ticket price, saving you somewhere in the region of €600+! So if you’ve been jonesing for one of these, now might be the time, with deals like this, to pull the trigger.
Or maybe you can drop hints to your loved one to snap up your Christmas present to you early!
Arturia AstroLab 61
Released around the same time as the PolyBrute 12, the Arturia AstroLab was another bold statement from the Grenoble-based company in what was their 25th anniversary year. Picking up where their stunning Origin synth left off, AstroLab blurs the lines between hardware and software synthesis integration, being basically their V Collection in a keyboard.
Deep integration with their Analog Lab software, AstroLab is billed as a stage keyboard, but it can be so much more. The concept is about having a huge amount of variety in a single, efficient piece of hardware that works just as well in the studio as it does on stage. And let’s not forget, this is the only way you will get Arturia’s fantastic Pigments synth in a dedicated hardware keyboard. For now, anyway.
Since its launch, the 61-note version on offer here has been joined by 88 and 37-key versions, all offering identical functionality. There’s also a silver coloured version of the 61-note version. Right now, with our affiliate partner’s deals, you can pick up the original 61-key version with a healthy 20% off the RRP, saving you over €300!
Arturia MiniFreak Vocoder
Tiny by comparison to the two previous synths, don’t be fooled by its diminutive stature; the Arturia MiniFreak is a real heavyweight sonically and packs a huge punch with its hybrid synthesis. Featuring digital oscillators, fed through analogue filters and enhanced by a powerful FX section, the MiniFreak sounds way bigger than it looks.
Vocoder functionality was added in the previous update, but a recent firmware revision has added the ability for users to import their own samples and wavetables for almost limitless sound-designing capabilities. Honestly, I don’t know of many companies that support their synths and users with such useful updates.
The MiniFreak has become a firm favourite amongst its users, and this is only enhanced by the fact that the hardware synth comes with a 1:1 replica plugin version that not only works as a regular plugin, but also acts as a librarian and editor for the hardware. Truly the best of both worlds! Right now, you can pick up the Vocoder Edition with 27% off as part of our affiliate partner’s deals, making it ridiculously affordable with more than €160 off the RRP!
- More from Arturia
2 Great Synth Deals From KORG!
KORG modwave Mk.II
The deals keep on coming, this time from synthesizer legends, KORG. Their range of 37-key, Raspberry Pi-powered synths took the synth world by storm, and whilst the wavestate and opsix are superb synths, the general consensus is that the modwave is one of the better ones, along with the multi/poly, more of which later.
Inspired by their own DW-8000 synth from some 40 years ago, the modwave takes up that mantle and explodes it into so much more. 60 stereo voices of polyphony, hundreds of wavetables and modifiers, the ability to import your own samples and wavetables, and multi-lane motion sequencing for some amazing performance patches, the modwave is a real powerhouse.
It’s also available in desktop/rack format and as a native plugin, but for those of you who prefer having a keyboard wedded to your synth engine, the 37-key version is what you want. And our affiliate partner is currently offering a huge 36% off the RRP in their current deals, saving you in excess of €320!
KORG multi/poly
As I mentioned earlier, the modwave is one of the most beloved of KORG’s range of Pi-based synths, but when they introduced the multi/poly, invoking the spirit of the famous mono/poly, they really outdid themselves. The multi/poly, to my ears anyway, is one of the most analogue-sounding digital synths I’ve heard in a long time!
With 4 oscillator types, featuring both analogue and digital wave shape, including wavetables, it features 4 DAHDSR envelopes, 5 LFOs, 6 modulation processors, a variety of new and vintage modelled filters and a powerful FX section, the multi/poly, like its siblings, packs a lot under its hood.
The multi/poly is a powerful analogue modelling synth that should be close to the top of anyone’s list if they’re in the market for one. And right now, you can save 15% off the RRP with our affiliate partner’s deals, dropping the price by around €140!
- More from KORG
Akai’s Flagship MPC is Reduced!
Akai Professional MPX XL
It’s fair to say that the MPC has had somewhat of a revival in the last few years. After dominating the market and numerous musical genres for decades, the MPC began to lose favour as other competent beat-making machines came to market, such as Native Instruments’ Maschine range of devices. The MPC’s place in the market wasn’t helped by Akai taking their foot off the gas when it came to development, something that wasn’t helped during its transition under the inMusic umbrella.
However, it is fantastic to see the MPC back in its rightful place at the top of the beatmaker’s wish list with new and powerful models emerging alongside other new versions of the paradigm, such as the brilliant MPC Sample, a personal favourite of mine. But the king of the hill is the new MPC XL, a real statement piece and the most powerful MPC ever made.
Sporting a huge screen, an embarrassment of controls including multi-function knobs, pads, touch strips, buttons and dials, it even reintroduces the padded wrist rest! The MPC XL has reclaimed centre stage in the serious beat and production community and has set a high bar that, as yet, no other company can come close to. Such a powerful tool will have a pretty high price, but at €2,899, it can certainly justify that price. However, if you fancy saving yourself over €450, check out the 16% discount with our affiliate partner’s latest deals!
- More from Akai
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**Percentage discount will vary based on your territory and conversion rates on the day of purchase. Displayed percentage discounts are used for guidance only. Note that American prices may be subject to import duties.
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