Forget everything you thought you knew about audio interfaces being the most boring bit of your studio rack. CROW HILL dives, headlong and unapologetic, into the Focusrite ISA C8X – a slab of gear that might just kick your old interface into the skip. This isn’t just another box with a hundred blinking LEDs; it’s a foundation-first, preamp-packed, connectivity monster with a few tricks up its sleeve. If you’re tired of interfaces that only come out when they break, and you want something that actually earns space on your desk, this one’s worth a look. As usual, CROW HILL keeps … Read more

Apogee Symphony, Focusrite ISA C8X, MixPre

20. June 2026

Tefty Music Tech

Tefty Music Tech fires up the MPC Key37 G2: Sampling, slicing, and iPad mayhem

SPARKY

If you thought the MPC Key37 G2 was just another MIDI plank, think again. Tefty Music Tech takes Akai’s latest groovebox for a spin, dragging an iPad into the fray for some USB sampling wizardry. Expect flying filters, plugin carnage, and more pumping than a warehouse at 3am. This isn’t a glossy ad – it’s a hands-on, sweat-on-the-pads breakdown that shows off the MPC’s new tricks, quirks, and the kind of sonic filth that makes us all want to call in sick and make beats all day. And yes, you’ll want to see the video for the full flavour – … Read more

Akai Iona plugin, Akai Jura plugin, Akai MPC Key37 G2, Akai Subfactory plugin, Apple iPad, Audio Damage Quanta

20. June 2026

AudioPilz

AudioPilz vs. Yamaha FS1R: The Digital Synth That’s Both Legend and Nightmare

SPARKY

AudioPilz dives headfirst into the Yamaha FS1R, a synth that’s both a badge of honour for FM fanatics and a migraine in a rackmount box. Expect a wild ride through 90s digital excess, where formant synthesis meets a user interface straight out of a dystopian office printer. With his signature meme-laced wit and razor-sharp insight, AudioPilz pulls no punches—calling out the FS1R’s brilliance and brutality in equal measure. If you’ve ever wondered whether a synth can be both the holy grail and the ultimate headache, this is the showdown you’ve been waiting for. Hold onto your encoders – this one’s … Read more

Yamaha FS1R

20. June 2026

Bounce Chord

Bounce Chord’s Pedal Brawl: Three Tape Flangers Enter, Only Your Ears Survive

SPARKY

If you thought tape flangers were just for shoegazers and retro obsessives, think again. Bounce Chord lines up three radically different tape flange pedals – the Spaceman Aurora, Catalinbread Zero Point, and Strymon Orbit – and proceeds to stomp, tweak, and generally abuse them for our pleasure. Expect dry wit, honest opinions, and zero patience for pedals that don’t deliver. Whether you crave momentary foot-triggered whoosh or digital swirl, this video is a gear-nerd’s playground. Grab your imaginary Jazzmaster and prepare for a proper toe-to-toe tape-flange showdown.

Boss BD-2 Keeley modified, Catalinbread Zero Point, Dunlop Mini Expression, Spaceman Aurora, Strymon Orbit

20. June 2026

Rapid Flow

Rapid Flow’s 2026 Studio Arsenal: Only the Essentials That Slap

SPARKY

Rapid Flow (aka Erik) isn’t here to sell you snake oil—just a hard-hitting rundown of the gear that actually gets tracks finished in 2026. Forget the gear FOMO and influencer shills: this is a stripped-down, sweat-proof list that focuses on workflow, sound quality, and stuff that won’t explode after a weekend in a rave bunker. From headphones that tell no lies to synths that ooze character, Rapid Flow’s setup is a crash course in creative survival. If you’re after smart studio upgrades and want to dodge the money pits, buckle up and let’s see what makes the cut.

Ableton 12 Suite, AIAIAI TMA-2, Akai APC 40 mkII, Behringer TD-3-MO, Dangerous Music Source, MIDIMIX, Moog Matriarch, Moog Muse, Nord Wave 2, Presonus Quantum 2632, Prism Orpheus, Sequential Prophet 6, Slate VSX Platinum Edition, Waldorf Iridium

19. June 2026

Arturia

Architecting Electronica: Arturia’s Beyond Series Vol. 3 Sound Bank in Action

LYRA

Arturia returns with a deep dive into the Electronica sound bank from the Beyond Series Vol. 3, offering a hands-on breakdown of a track crafted by Noe Barcza. Through Rose’s walkthrough, we get an inside look at how presets, modulation, and diverse engines converge to sculpt evolving electronica textures. The focus lands squarely on practical patch construction, granular and FM engine interplay, and how Arturia’s instruments enable a journey from introspective pads to euphoric peaks. If you’re curious about how sound banks can architect a detailed, modern electronica track, this video lays out the workflow and sonic tools on offer.