Tech
6 tech products you should know about this month — including an AS Vocoder, Allen & Heath mixer and forthcoming KORG synth
Whether you’re in the market for some new audio kit or want to upgrade your studio — here are some key announcements and releases from the world of tech
Welcome to Mixmag’s round-up of the best tech released in May
Bowers & Wilkins releases ‘most advanced wireless headphones yet’, Px7 S3
Bowers & Wilkins has released the newest generation of its heralded wireless headphones series, the Px7 S3.
Building on the award-winning predecessor, Px7 S2e, the new cans offer upgrades across the spectrum of sound, design, battery life, aesthetics, software and more.
Headline improvements include re-engineered drive units and dedicated headphone amplifiers for exceptional audio quality, as well as a major upgrade to the noise cancelling with an eight-microphone configuration.
They will also offer spatial audio for the first time, with the engineers at B&W's Southwater Research & Engineering facility having developed a proprietary audio processing technology which is being rolled out later this year.
The headphones are available in three colours: Anthracite Black, Indigo Blue and Canvas White.
Giles Pocock, VP of Brand Marketing, said: “It’s been an extraordinary challenge for Bowers & Wilkins to develop new headphones able to exceed the exceptional performance and critical acclaim given to our current range. I’m thrilled that with the new Px7 S3, the team has not only risen to that challenge but has managed to set a new benchmark for excellence in the headphone category. I can’t wait to hear how they are received by our fans around the world.”
Price: £399, buy here
We Are Rewind release new retro-inspired boombox, GB-001
Audio tech company We Are Rewind have unveiled a brand new, retro-inspired boombox following the release of their popular portable cassette players last year.
The GB-001 can be used with both cassette tapes and through Bluetooth connection, and comes complete with four hi-fi speakers – with a total 104 watt output.
Price: £379. Pre-order here.
Arturia releases latest ultra-compact MIDI controller, Microlab Mk3
Arturia has released its latest ultra-compact MIDI controller, offering a brand new design with a “high-quality slim keybed, intuitive controls and professional music making software”.
The portable controller, which is said to be made for both beginner producers and home-studio enthusiasts alike, features velocity-sensitive keys, touch strips, and allows for connection to a sustain pedal for “added expressivity”.
“Plug it in and start playing instantly,” reads a description. “Launch your favorite sound in Analog Lab, use Chord Mode to create harmonies with a single key, shape your performance with touch strips and connect a sustain pedal for added expressivity - all with seamless USB-C integration.”
Price: £59. Buy it here
Analogue Solutions to launch new, 12-band analogue vocoder
Music hardware manufacturer Analogue Solutions has announced a first-of-its-kind 12-band vocoder.
Inspired by '70s vintage units, the vocoder is set to be available both as a standalone unit and as an expansion module to its Colossus models — with features including internal oscillators, an external carrier signal and an envelope follower.
Details on when the AS Vocoder will launch, and the price it will retail for are yet to be announced.
Price: TBA. More info here.
Allen & Heath reveal six next-gen Qu mixers
Allen & Heath has unveiled six new mixers to make up the next generation of its Qu range, combining 96kHz FPGA and DEEP Processing capabilities, "Dante options, and a host of workflow and hardware enhancements to the renowned digital mixing platform".
“Every aspect of the mixer has been rethought, the XCVI core, enhanced I/O capability, all the way to the screen and faders," says Keith Johnson, Senior Product Manager. "We’ve completely reimagined the UI, keeping the simple layout and workflow that Qu is known and loved for.”
The new Qu mixers feature 38 inputs, 12 mixes, 4 matrix, 6 FX engines with "dedicated stereo returns" and an Slink port for connection to the Everything I/O ecosystem of remote expanders
Prices start from £1,870.00. Buy it here.
KORG Berlin has confirmed its first product will come out in the first quarter of 2026
Called phase8, the hardware is an eight-voice acoustic synthesizer which offers envelope control, sequencing, waveshaping, and audio modulation.
The instrument combines physical and electronic elements, It has eight independent electromechanical voices, with the incorporation of replaceable and tunable metal resonators.
KORG Blerin is a company setup within the KORG group in 2020, by Tatsuya Takahashi.
Price: TBA. See prototype previews here
