A custom synthesizer, as well as a number of augmented reality cereal box synthesizers, has been released by Reese's Puffs.

In a new take on cereal boxes which have regularly featured puzzles and cut-outs, the popular American breakfast brand has developed three interactive cereal box "Puffs FX" synthesizers: the Crunchy Drum Machine, the Creamy Lead Synth and the Chocolatey Bass Synth.

Bay Area synthesist and composer Pauline Anna Strom has died at the age of 74.

The news was confirmed yesterday by her record label RVNG Intl, who wrote: “Heartbroken to say goodbye to Paula so suddenly. At least now at one with a world beyond ours to which she was connected.” 

Korg has introduced a new hardware synth called opsix. The FM synth uses the same form factor as its range of minilogue and monologue synths and promises to make the notoriously difficult form of synthesis easier to program. The opsix offers six faders and knobs that represent each operator, with a diverse option of waveforms and timbres, as well as a filter that introduces more subtractive synthesis features. 

An electronic musician has adapted a prosthetic arm in order to control a modular synthesiser.

Born without the lower half of his arm, musician Bertolt Meyer has adapted his myoelectric prosthetic arm in order to generate signals that could be adapted to control other electronic devices, including one of his modular synths.

Legowelt is set to perform a live synth soundtrack to Stanley Kubrick's 1968 sci-fi classic 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Taking place as part of Grauzone Festival in The Hague on Friday, February 7th, the performance is the latest live score by the prolific electronic artist, born Danny Wolfers. He has previously live scored the likes of Werner Herzog's Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht.

Berlin's Superbooth conference – founded by the synth sorcerers Schneider's Buero – has gone from strength to strength over the past few years, growing from a small, niche, synth gathering to a fully fledged exhibition and conference, featuring the biggest names and brands in MusicTech. It's been known to count Ricardo Villalobos and Nina Kraviz among its visitors, and those are just the punters – the event also features performances from artists who are pushing technology and synthesis to its limits.

Moog has launched its new semi-modular analog synth, Matriarch.

Native Instruments have announced details of its long-awaited synth, Massive X. Scheduled to come out in June, the instrument - which is the follow-up to 2007's Massive - will have what Native has called a 'radically overhauled interface'. 

As well as 125 new wavetables within a pair of oscillators, the synth will also feature a new pair of phase modulation oscillators and a new comb filter, three Insert FX slots and more. The GUI has also been completely redesigned, referencing the multiple modulation options Massive is famous for along the middle strip of the synth.