Synthmagazine | Synth News, Gear & Sound Design

27. September 2026

Dirtywave M8 on iOS: sunwarper Dives in Headfirst (No Manual, No Mercy)

What happens when sunwarper, LA’s master of warped electronics, throws himself headlong into the tracker world of the Dirtywave M8 on iOS—without so much as a glance at the manual? Expect confusion, happy accidents, and a beat that slaps harder than your mate’s old 909. In true sunwarper style, menus are bashed, synths get mangled, and the learning curve turns into a rave bunker rollercoaster. If you’re tracker-curious or just love watching someone wrestle a new groovebox into submission, this one’s for you.

Dirtywave M8, Polyend Tracker+

26. September 2026

JET

AudioPilz

AudioPilz vs. cyma forma RND: The One-Button Synth That Flips the Bird to Tradition

AudioPilz dives headfirst into the wild world of the cyma forma RND, a synth that’s got less respect for convention than a punk at a wine tasting. It’s a one-button wonder (or disaster, depending who you ask) that spits out random patterns and sounds like a slot machine wired to a broken Speak & Spell. In typical Bad Gear style, expect brutal honesty, sharp gags, and a teardown of whether this device is a meme, a miracle, or just musical ragebait. If you like your synths unpredictable and your reviews with extra bite, this is your jam.

cyma forma RND

26. September 2026

LUMINA

MusicRadar Tech

Kairos as Living Sculpture: MusicRadar Tech Enters Laura Misch’s Sonic Sanctuary

Step inside a realm where time is both a stone and a cloud, as Laura Misch invites us into the luminous evolution of ‘Kairos’. Through MusicRadar Tech’s lens, we wander her South London studio, where field recordings, saxophone improvisations, and earthy synths entwine. Here, the world breathes into the music—wind, water, moss, and the pulse of memory converging into a soundscape as tactile as it is ephemeral. Prepare to dissolve into layers of raw performance, organic textures, and voices that echo like ancient weather.

Ableton Live, Novation Bass Station, Shruti Box, Strymon Big Sky, Strymon Timeline, Tremolator, Valhalla

25. September 2026

LYRA

Expressive E

Expressive E Osmose Firmware 2.3: DAW Control, Ctrl-e and the Next Level of Expressive Integration

Expressive E’s latest firmware update for the Osmose transforms this already boundary-pushing instrument into a serious hub for expressive digital workflows. With version 2.3, the Osmose now offers advanced DAW integration and access to the Ctrl-e platform, giving musicians hands-on control over both software and hardware setups. The update focuses not just on more sounds and presets, but on refining the user experience—streamlining MIDI, adding workflow shortcuts, and making the Osmose an even more compelling centerpiece for creative studios and stage rigs.

Ctrl-e, Expressive E Osmose

25. September 2026

LYRA

Behringer

Behringer DICE: Architecting Your Recording Workflow

Behringer’s DICE audio interface family aims to demystify the leap from casual recording setups to serious studio environments. In their latest video, Behringer walks through the DICE lineup—from the compact 1U2 to the versatile 4U4—highlighting features like MIDAS preamps, loopback, and flexible direct monitoring. The focus is on intuitive design and workflow enhancements that cater to evolving needs, whether you’re a bedroom producer or assembling a small band. We analyze the architecture, hands-on control, and the subtle decisions that shape your creative journey.

Behringer DICE 1U2, Behringer DICE 2U2, Behringer DICE 2U4, Behringer DICE 4U4

25. September 2026

RILEY

Rapid Flow

Rapid Flow’s One-Hour Track Cookup: MIDI Mayhem and Real-Time Grooves

Ever tried cooking up a full track in less time than it takes to order delivery? Rapid Flow’s Erik throws down a one-hour, no-mouse-in-sight session that’s all about letting hardware and smart MIDI tricks do the heavy lifting. Forget endless click-fests—this is workflow for beat junkies who want more groove, less grid. With tools like omniGRID, The DNA Suite, and some serious Oberheim sauce, Erik flips between modular, software, and controllers like it’s nothing. If you’re itching for live energy and practical hacks, you’ll want to peep this session.

Ableton, APC 40 MKII, API 2500, Digitech Talker, Eventide DSP 4000, FabFilter, Glitch 2, MIDI Mix, Novation Launchpad Mini, Oberheim Matrix 1000, omniGRID, Roland RSP 50, Specular Tempus, Submission Audio tuner, Swayman BLD, The DNA Suite, Zensphere V2

24. September 2026

MILES

Verbos Electronics GmbH

Verbos Electronics Haas Zone Processor: Short Delay, Deep Modulation

Verbos Electronics, ever the champions of West Coast modular quirks, unveil their Haas Zone Processor—a clocked multi-tap digital delay bank with a twist. In this first demo, the focus is on short delay times and the subtle (or not so subtle) ways these can warp, flange, and phase your signals. Expect comb filtering, feedback through a bandpass filter, and clever normalled routings that encourage experimental patching. It’s not just another delay; it’s a playground for time-domain mischief, as demonstrated with precision and a dry sense of humour.

Verbos Electronics Haas Zone Processor

24. September 2026

SPARKY

Espen Kraft

Espen Kraft vs. Ensoniq Fizmo: The Last Pink Warrior

Espen Kraft drags the Ensoniq Fizmo out from synth purgatory for a proper grilling. It’s the company’s final hurrah, packed with oddball trans-waves and a reputation for being either a rare gem or a stinking relic. Is it worth your hard-earned rave tokens or should you just leave it to the vintage synth fetishists? Let’s crack open the pink beast and find out why some call it the worst synth ever, but others still chase it like a unicorn with MIDI sync.

Ensoniq Fizmo, Ensoniq Fizmo Rack

23. September 2026

SPARKY

DivKid

DivKid’s MELT Drum Synthesis: Filter Pings & Kick Mutations That Slap

DivKid’s back at it, diving into u-he’s MELT for a dose of drum synthesis that’s anything but routine. If you thought filters were just for squelching, think again—here, they’re the backbone of gritty kicks, snappy snares, and low-end rumbles. Expect filter pings, FM tricks and enough patching flair to make your modular sweat. This isn’t preset territory—it’s DIY drum science with a proper British wink, straight from the bunker.

u-he MELT

23. September 2026

RILEY

Verysickbeats

Verysickbeats Flips Madlib’s India Formula on the SP-404MKII: A Beatmaker’s Field Guide

Ever wonder how to slap some real Madlib-style Bollywood flavor onto your beats without breaking the bank? Verysickbeats, the king of lo-fi grooves and laid-back wisdom, cracks open the SP-404MKII for a wild ride through nasally resonators, funky tremolos, and tape echo that drips with vintage charm. If you’re hunting for that streetwise Madlib vibe, this video’s got tips hotter than a Chicago sidewalk in July. Don’t blink or you’ll miss a killer tweak.

Roland SP-404MKII

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