The QChord is part of the Omnichord series by Suzuki and was first released in 2000. Suzuki combined the technology of a basic keyboard along with an electric guitar for an instrument that is not only easy to play, but also very portable. *** In terms of design the QChord is divided into three separate sections. These consist of a “strum plate” that is touch sensitive along with a rhythm section and a section from the chord buttons. Players have the option to either use a combination of these sections or use them independently. This instrument also has a 2-digit LCD, 2-LED Light bar, and 12 LEDS.

The design and features of the QChord makes it an instrument that can be enjoyed by anyone from a novice to an accomplished musician. In fact, the “strum plate” has been designed in such a way that it is easy to avoid any wrong notes. The QChord also always sounds in tune and strumming the “strings” of the instrument is as easy as pressing a chord button and then using the “strum plate.” The QChord is capable of soothing melodic sounds and works best as an accompaniment instrument.

Another benefit of the design of the QChord is that it is easy to follow a natural progression on the instrument by using its multiple skill levels. Suzuki even released a number of song cartridges for the instrument, which can be used to play and sing along to a variety of popular songs.

From a technical standpoint, the Suzuki QChord allows access to up to 84 different chord combinations. Users can also make use of 100 instrument voices and the instrument has a pitch bend wheel for added expression. Songs can be customized by making use of features such as sustain, volume levels, rhythms, and voices.

Even though the QChord looks like a toy, the sound quality and ease of use elevates it above other cheap instruments. In fact, being familiar with musical theory and chord progressions will allow players to get much more out of the QChord than those simply playing around with its sounds. The other advantage of the QChord is that because it is so easy to use it is very addictive to play and serves as a great stepping stone for anyone interested in learning a musical instrument. The QChord sounds fine on its own, but can also easily be connected to a speaker if you want to increase the volume.

Overall, the QChord is great for newcomers who want to get into playing an instrument without having to invest too much time into learning as well as veterans looking for something new and unique.

The V30 is an update of the famous Minimoog replica, the Midimini, released by Studio Electronics in the late eighties. As far as imitations went, the Midimini was one of the best around, so a refresh was long overdue.

The MidiMini V30 is still heavily inspired by the Minimoog and features a three oscillator core. However, Studio Electronics has converted it into a semi-modular analog synthesizer, complete with CV and gate connections. The company has also applied some of the technology from their Boomstar range to improve the MidiMini V30. The result is a synth with plenty of new analog synthesis options along with expanded MIDI capabilities.

The MidiMini V30 is a monosynth in a 19″ 4u rackmount format that adheres to the classic Minimoog architecture while adding plenty of new additions. This synth has a built-in power supply and is housed in a heavy metal casing. It feels incredibly durable, though, which is reassuring given the relatively high asking price. The fact that it is hand-built and uses high-grade components means that this is a synth that will not buckle under prolonged use, unlike many of the cheaper options out there. The through-hole construction of this synth also allows for easy long-term maintenance.

The signal flow of the MidiMini V30 will be familiar who used the original hardware and features three VCOs with triangle, sawtooth, sharktooth, and square waveforms. Studio Electronics also kept the VCO, VCF, and envelope design the same as the original hardware. The inclusion of a dedicated LFO is also a step up from the vintage MidiMini. The LFO features seve

Studio Electronics are no strangers to analog synths, as this is where the company got started back in the mid-eighties. The Boomstar MK2 range is their return to the analog synths of that era and comes in five different flavors. Each one of them is a single-voice, monophonic desktop synthesizer that is identical in every way apart from the filters. The models on offer are the 4072, SE80, 8106, 5089, as well as SEM. These correspond to the Arp 2600, Roland, Yamaha, Moog, and Oberheim sounds produced by these filters. The Boomstar range is pretty stylish, and features are pretty weighty for their relatively compact size. The dimensions of these desktop synth modules are 206x180mm, including the beautiful wooden bookends. Studio Electronics has gone the extra mile by drilling these from the inside, so you won’t see any screw holes marring the retro look. The lumber and microlumber sides are hand-picked and handcrafted featuring Bocote, Marblewood, and Pau Ferro. These sides look beautiful with the sturdy steel chassis of the synths. The Boomstar MK2 features two VCOs, and the output from the oscillators is routed to a small mixer featuring white noise and a ring mod too. It also has two full ADSR envelope generators, with the first hardwired to the filter while the second handles the amplitude. In addition, it has one voltage-controlled amplifier and a single low-frequency oscillator. For the MKII version of the Boomstar series Studio Electronics has addressed some of the issues that users had with the first version. The synths have been refaced for clarity of function and now feature better signal flow along with an overall visual/tactile assist overhaul. This basically means that the different areas on the synths are now separated with printed lines and clear legends to make it easier to operate. The synths have also been revoiced for purity of tone and feature a diode-based feedback circuit for greater dynamic range and harmonic distortion content. The synths now also have lined, fluted knobs and lined quick-turn pot shafts top to bottom to make it easier for more precise programming and patch recall. Metal-shafted pots are also installed throughout, except for the envelopes, which feature custom taper plastic-shafted pots strengthened with an added bushing. The front panel jacks include a CV in, Gate in, Filter frequency modulation in, Amplifier modulation, in Oscillator out, and External signal in. The rear panel jacks consist of MIDI in, MIDI out, ¼’ Audio out, and a DC power input. The SE80 model also has a Traveller input. The Boomstar MKII series is not cheap, and there are much more affordable software versions of the classic synths available, but in terms of hardware, these are hard to beat. Not only are they fantastic to operate, but they will set you back a lot less than the original vintage hardware with the same type of filters.