Vulture Culture isn’t here to coddle your plugin collection or stroke your vintage synth ego. In this barnstormer of a shootout, he lines up classic analog beasts against their Arturia software clones and asks the question that’s split studios and forums for decades: can you actually hear the difference in a mix, or is that just synth snobbery? Expect blind tests, brutal honesty, and a few sacred cows getting roasted. If you think the average listener can’t tell hardware from software, prepare for a reality check—served with Vulture Culture’s signature clarity and a side of sarcasm. This one’s for the … Read more

Arturia CS-80 V, Arturia Jun-6 V, Arturia Matrix-12 V, Arturia MiniFreak, Arturia TAPE-201, Ensoniq ESQ-1, Korg DW-8000, Oberheim Matrix 12, PWM Malevolent, Roland Alpha Juno, Roland Juno 6, Roland RE-501 Tape Echo, Yamaha CS70M

14. April 2026

HAINBACH

HAINBACH’s Sonic Alchemy: Octaves and the Art of Passive Bandpass Filters

LUMINA

Step into HAINBACH’s world, where sound is sculpted by the weight of metal and the hush of electricity’s absence. In this immersive exploration, we drift through the magnetic resonance of passive bandpass filters—those spectral tools that once haunted the laboratories of audio pioneers. HAINBACH, ever the sonic storyteller, reveals how these relics inspire the new AudioThing Octaves plugin, a digital echo of analog ghosts. Prepare to witness frequencies sliced and reshaped, not by force, but by the gentle gravity of coils and the poetry of stepped selection. This is not merely a demo—it’s a meditation on the tactile soul of … Read more

AudioThing Octaves

13. April 2026

The Unperson

The Unperson’s FM Street Fight: DX7 Dreams and Eurorack Mayhem

SPARKY

FM synthesis: the sound of the future, or the reason you nearly threw your synth out the window in 1987? The Unperson dives headfirst into the digital jungle, dragging the Yamaha DX7’s legacy into the Eurorack rave bunker. Expect glassy bells, dirty basslines, and a parade of modern FM modules that actually make sense. If you’re tired of menu-diving and want to see FM get hands-on, this is your ticket. Don’t let the nostalgia fool you – these modules slap, and The Unperson’s jams prove it.

Blaknblu Oscar DSF, Mutable Instruments Plaits, Mutable Instruments Rings, RYK Algo, Yamaha DX7

12. April 2026

Intellijel

Intellijel Swells: A Reverb Odyssey for Modular Patchers

MILES

Intellijel’s Swells module lands as a reverb powerhouse for Eurorack, promising hands-on control and a buffet of spatial flavours. In this first part of their official video manual, Intellijel walks us through Swells’ main reverb controls, from its eight tactile sliders to the model selection switches and performance-oriented features. As ever with Intellijel, the focus is on practical patching, immediate feedback, and creative sound shaping. If you’re after a reverb that’s as tweakable as it is musical, this deep-dive is worth your patch cables’ attention.

Intellijel MultiGrain, Intellijel Palette Case, Intellijel Stereo I/O, Intellijel Swells

12. April 2026

Sanjay C

Sanjay C’s Drum Butter Breakdown: One Plugin to Rule Your Drum Chain?

RILEY

If you’re tired of stacking plugins like a triple-decker sandwich just to get your drums slapping, Sanjay C’s latest video might be your cheat code. This week, he dives into XLN Audio’s Drum Butter—a plugin promising to replace your whole drum chain with one slick interface. Sanjay’s signature blend of clear explanations and streetwise gear picks makes this a must-watch for anyone who wants big sound without a PhD in knob-twiddling. From quick fixes to deep dives, he’s got the scoop on what’s hot, what’s cheap, and what’s just plain dope. Grab your headphones and your favorite cheap beer—this one’s … Read more

Mastering The Mix Reference 3, TAL J-8X, UDO DMNO, XLN Audio Drum Butter, XLN Audio DS-10 Drum Shaper

XNB’s Arturia KeyStep 37 Deep Dive: From MIDI Minion to Sequencing Street Weapon

11. April 2026

XNB

XNB’s Arturia KeyStep 37 Deep Dive: From MIDI Minion to Sequencing Street Weapon

SPARKY

If you think the Arturia KeyStep 37 is just another MIDI plank, XNB is here to slap you awake. In this marathon deep dive, XNB tears the lid off every sequencer, arp, and chord trick the KeyStep 37 can throw at your DAWless bunker or studio cave. Expect no-nonsense walkthroughs, clever hacks, and a few moments where even the manual gets nervous. If you want to push past vanilla MIDI and unleash the KeyStep’s full mutant potential, this is the video—and the guide—you need. Spoiler: this thing can mutate, strum, and chain patterns like a synth possessed. Grab a coffee, … Read more

11. April 2026

Optoproductions

Optoproductions Illuminates the Sonic Tapestry of Allert Aalders: A Journey Through Dutch Synth Lore

LUMINA

Step through the forest haze and into the Sonar Traffic studio, where Allert Aalders—sound sculptor, teacher, and Dutch synth legend—spins tales of circuitry and memory. Guided by Optoproductions’ inquisitive lens, we drift through Allert’s creative odyssey: from the pulse of Human Beings to the magnetic resonance of rare machines, and the nebulae of modular gatherings. This is not just a studio tour; it’s a meditation on legacy, collaboration, and the ghosts that flicker in every oscillator. Prepare to lose your sense of time and let the story of sound unfold, one luminous patch at a time.

11. April 2026

Doctor Mix

Doctor Mix Goes Full Outback: Rebuilding Enigma’s ‘Sadeness’ with UVI Vintage Vault 5

TAS

Strap in, mates! Doctor Mix is back at it, this time wrangling the legendary Enigma track ‘Sadeness’ and rebuilding it from the ground up using nothing but his ears, modern plugins, and a healthy dose of caffeinated enthusiasm. Forget MIDI files and original synths—this is pure, hands-on sound design, with every element painstakingly recreated using UVI’s Vintage Vault 5. Expect cheeky banter, deep dives into iconic drum samples, and enough synth nerdery to make your head spin. If you’re keen on seeing a master at work (and a few glorious stumbles along the way), this one’s a ripper.