Synthmagazine | Synth News, Gear & Sound Design

A band doesn’t just change course—it dissolves, reshapes, and breathes anew. In this immersive journey, Daniele Ippolito unspools the magnetic metamorphosis of Yes through ‘90125.’ We drift through shimmering echoes, fractured legacy, and the pulse of new machinery, exploring how a prog rock behemoth slid through the wormhole of pop modernity. This is the tale of risk, reinvention, and the spectral ghosts of sound that haunt every note.

Fairlight CMI, Les Paul, Marshall amplifier, Stratocaster, Synclavier

10. October 2026

Starsky Carr

Starsky Carr’s Serum 2 Vintage Synth Throwdown: Jupiter, Prophet, and Pure Mayhem

SPARKY

Starsky Carr’s taken Serum 2 and crammed it full of vintage synth attitude—Jupiter-8 brass, Prophet-5 grit, and enough Juno chorus to drown a disco. With a Max for Live chameleon skin, he matches old-school architecture, not just waveforms. If you think all softsynths sound the same, watch this before you slag it off in the pub. This is not your dad’s Serum.

DIGI-8K, OB-WAN, Serum 2, SUPITER-8, THEPRO-5, YOU-NO-6

10. October 2026

AudioPilz

AudioPilz vs. FM-1: Cheap FM Chaos That’s Got Big Brands Sweating

JET

AudioPilz, the king of meme-laden synth takedowns, puts the dirt-cheap M-VAVE FM-1 through his Bad Gear wringer. This isn’t just another pocket-sized plastic box—it’s a proper troublemaker, chucking FM madness for the price of a few pints. With a UI that doesn’t require a PhD, a swarm of hacked firmwares, and enough sonic carnage to give the old guard a headache, this synth’s shaking up the playground. If you want the nitty-gritty, or just fancy watching AudioPilz roast the industry, this one’s for you.

M-VAVE FM-1

10. October 2026

CROW HILL

CROW HILL and the Euphone: A Glass Instrument’s Sonic Mirage

LUMINA

In the hands of CROW HILL, the Euphone emerges from a decade-long slumber, radiating spectral resonance and glistening with sonic ghosts. This is no ordinary instrument; it’s a vessel of water and glass, a playground for light and vibration where each touch becomes a nebula of sound. As we drift through its story, the Euphone’s fragile beauty and avant-garde lineage reveal themselves like fog on a quiet morning, daring us to listen between the ripples. Prepare to wander through shattered reflections and magnetic harmonics—this is a journey of sound as space, and space as memory.

Crystal Baschet, Euphone

9. October 2026

Expert Sleepers

Expert Sleepers Gives Us ‘Forever’: Freezing Time in Eurorack

MILES

Expert Sleepers, helmed by Os, are known for bridging the gap between computer and modular worlds, but with ‘Forever’ they step squarely into the domain of hands-on sonic manipulation. In this manufacturer demo, Os walks us through the module’s freeze and infinite sustain tricks, showing how it handles audio like a modular tape loop with three independent voices. Modular heads will appreciate the dry, matter-of-fact approach to patching, layering, and those lovely detuned chords. If you like sculpting time and texture, this one’s for your rack.

9. October 2026

Alex Ball

Alex Ball vs. the EF-X3 Vintage Voice: Tape Echo Grows Fangs

SPARKY

Tape echo in 2024? Alex Ball throws the Echo Fix EF-X3 Vintage Voice into the sonic blender to find out if this modern Frankenstein of a tape machine is a studio kingpin or just retro cosplay. Expect vintage grit, modular mischief, and a few surprise punches. Ball’s deep-dive is part hands-on demo, part tape-obsessed rave – and not for the weak-willed or wallet-faint. If you want to know whether this box is a legit weapon or a boutique distraction, read on.

9. October 2026

LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER

LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER: VCS3 Clones, Mods & Voltage Mayhem

SPARKY

Ever wondered what happens when LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER gets his mitts on two VCS3 clones and a soldering iron? This video is a wild ride through synth history, chunky connectors, and voltage chaos. If you like your analog mods with a side of mayhem and a sprinkle of DIY attitude, you’re in for a treat. LMNC’s style? Fast, nerdy, and not afraid to get bloody knuckles. Don’t blink or you’ll miss the best bits.