In this edition of Synth Journal, find out about two upcoming movies you won’t want to miss if you’re a synth fan! We’ve also got a new software synth by AIR Music Tech and two awesome hardware controllers for vintage Roland synths from Retroaktiv Synthesizers.
Nine Inch Nails to compose the score for Tron: Ares
The long-awaited sequel to 2010’s Tron: Legacy is taking shape! The filming for the third installment of the Tron series, which stars Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Gillian Anderson, and Jeff Bridges, among others, wrapped on May 1st of this year. Tron: Ares is set to be released on October 10, 2025.
One question remained, however: who would provide the score for the film? With none other than Wendy Carlos and Daft Punk having scored Tron and Tron: Legacy, respectively, the new Tron film is without a doubt one of the most exciting upcoming cinema events for synth lovers. Daft Punk’s retirement in 2021 left some big footsteps to fill! At this year’s D23 Expo, Disney’s fan event in Anaheim, California, the secret was finally revealed.
Tron: Ares will be scored by Nine Inch Nails! This marks the first time Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross are doing a soundtrack under the band’s name, instead of their own names. Mark your calendars – we’re sure NIN will deliver a score for Tron: Ares that’s no less groundbreaking than the first two films.
AIR Music Technology AIR Sub Factory: 808 Basses for 808 Day
Released for 808 Day 2024, AIR Sub Factory by AIR Music Technology delivers hard-hitting “808-style” basses for R&B, hip hop, D&B, and pop. At the core of the new software synth are two wavetable engines with hundreds of waves. In addition to this, you get a sample-based engineloaded with kick drums, loops, effects, and more. For sound shaping, AIR Sub Factory offers a multi-mode filter, as well as a powerful modulation engine with three envelopes, sidechaining, and a versatile LFO. Ring modulator, chorus, drive, and EQ effects are also included.
AIR Music Tech AIR Sub Factory is now available from Plugin Boutique* for $39.99.
History in the Making: Billy Preston and the ARP Pro Soloist on Saturday Night Live
Mark your calendars: SATURDAY NIGHT, the upcoming film about the chaotic making of the first episode of Saturday Night Live back in 1975, will be released on October 11! For synth fans, the most memorable part of that classic episode is of course Billy Preston’s performance of “Nothing From Nothing”, which featured an ARP Pro Soloist synth.
It looks like Sony Pictures went to great lengths to authentically recreate that iconic moment in the movie. Not only is the late Billy Preston portrayed by Grammy winner Jon Batiste. According to the Alan R. Pearlman Foundation, the producers also made sure they had an authentic instrument on hand.
After being approached by Sony Pictures, the foundation sent over an ARP Pro Soloist in great condition that had just been refurbished by SyntheticDreamscapes following some “abuse” by Stevie Wonder and others at NAMM. Read this post by the Alan R. Pearlman Foundation to find out how all this came to be.
If you want to recreate the sound of the ARP Pro Soloist in your DAW and relive the iconic SNL moment, we recommend Cherry Audio’s excellent plugin adaptation* (read our review here).
Retroaktiv Synthesizers MPG-7 and MPG-7X: Take control of your vintage Roland synth!
Retroaktiv Synthesizers specializes in controllers and programmers for vintage Roland synths, including the MKS-50, MKS-70, and MKS-80, as well as the JX and Super JX Series. After discontinuing the MPG-70 mkIII programmer for the Super JX, MKS-70, and JX-8P, the developer has now announced two new devices that put all features of the knob-less Roland classics from the 80s at your fingertips.
The MPG-70 mkIII Super JX Programmer is being replaced with the brand-new MPG-7X. Like the predecessor, the MPG-7X is compatible with the Roland Super JX, MKS-70, and JX-8P. However, it comes in a more compact 6U format and boasts many improvements, including a large OLED display, USB MIDI, two sets of MIDI ports, and a redesigned interface for easier modulation routing. Thanks to built-in patch storage, the Retroaktiv MPG-7X can also store your patches without an additional memory card. According to Retroaktiv, the new controller will be released “in the next few months”.
The much smaller Retroaktiv MPG-7 is a control surface for the Roland MKS-7 Super Quartet. As the Super Quartet is based on the Juno-106 architecture, you can also use the MPG-7 as a Juno controller. Like the MPG-7X, the MPG-7 offers an OLED screen, USB and DIN MIDI, and on-board storage. This controller is available in black or white and you can pre-order it on the Retroaktiv website for $575.
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