Apart from a few exciting Kickstarter projects for synth enthusiasts to back, there has also been a slew of new updates to existing products along with new software synthesizers released recently. Here's a quick rundown of the most notable ones worth a closer look. 

New Updates:

TimewARP 2600 v2

By AIR Music

Website: https://www.airmusictech.com/virtual-instruments/timewarp-2600/

Price: $49.99 (Regular price $99.99)

AIR Music announced that TimeWARP 2600, the only ARP 2600 emulator endorsed by Alan R. Pearlman (the original inventor), is back with significant upgrades. TimeWARP 2600 was first created in 2006, but the new V2 update adds a host of features to carry its legacy forward. Check out the AIR Music video embedded above for a complete walkthrough of everything. The software's free ten-day trial version is also available from the official website. 

Bitwig Studio 5.2

By Bitwig

Website: https://www.bitwig.com

Price: $79

After releasing as a beta a few months back, Bitwig Studio 5.2 is now officially available. Along with significant workflow enhancements, it also features new studio tools. Users can expect a professional compressor, three hardware-inspired EQs, and more. The EQs are inspired by classic hardware and, according to Bitwig, bring a natural musicality to the task of shaping sound. In addition, the graphics engine was rewritten to be more responsive and efficient. Check out the complete list of changes on the website (https://www.bitwig.com/whats-new/) or the video embedded above. Bitwig Studio 5.2 is a free upgrade for all Bitwig Studio license holders with an active Upgrade Plan as of April 25, 2024. 

New Softsynths:

Anyma V

By Aodyo Instruments

Website: https://aodyo.com/anyma-v/

Price: € 79.00 (Regular price: € 159.00)

Aodyo Instruments has released Ayma V, a powerful hybrid physical modeling virtual instrument. It combines traditional electronic music elements with advanced physical modeling technology, allowing it to simulate acoustic sound sources and resonating structures. According to Aodyo Instruments, Anyma V is the virtual counterpart to their Anyma Phi hardware synthesizer. As such, it shares the same sound engine and patch format, which means owners of both can seamlessly create and transfer patches between the instruments. However, Anyma V goes one step further by offering polyphonic capabilities and unlimited instances in your DAW. Anyma V is available now for Windows, macOS, and Linux as a standalone application and plugin. For more information or to try out the free demo, visit the official website. 

ATLAS

By Discrete Labs

Website: https://discretelaboratories.com/atlas/

Price: Free

Discrete Labs has released a polyphonic virtual analog synthesizer called ATLAS, inspired by the iconic synthesizers of the 1970s. This synth combines the vintage charm of those synths with modern capabilities to deliver a comprehensive suite of features. Best of all, ATLAS is a free download. It offers three oscillators featuring VCA-controlled waveform modulation, a noise generator, dedicated LFO, glide rate, and two modulation busses. ATLAS also has a mixer, eight-voice polyphony, two ADSR envelope generators, and MPE support. It is available for MacOS 140.0 or higher for AudioUnit-compatible DAW host software. For more information or to download ATLAS, visit the official website. 

Alicia's Electric Keys

By Native Instruments

Website: https://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/komplete/keys/alicias-electric-keys/

Price: $149.00

Native Instruments captured the sounds of Alicia Keys' personal electric grand piano, combined it with a powerful sound design engine, added custom-made effect chains built and used by Alica herself, and released it as Alicia's Electric Keys. Alicia Keys' CP-70 electric grand piano has been the cornerstone of her sound and has been captured with precision for this virtual instrument. Check out the embedded video above or visit the official website for more information.