Synthmagazine | Synth News, Gear & Sound Design

3. November 2025

Voltage Labs & Djebali: Cooking Up Grooves in the Limelight

Ever wondered how a Parisian groove chef like Djebali whips up a dancefloor banger? Voltage Labs takes us deep into the kitchen with their Between The Lines series, serving up a behind-the-scenes look at the making of ‘Limelight.’ This isn’t your average gear rundown—think more late-night studio confessions, spicy sample flips, and workflow hacks that’ll make your DAW sweat. Djebali’s blend of structure and off-the-cuff magic is on full display, and Voltage Labs’ signature storytelling keeps it all vibey and visual. If you’re after that sweet spot between nerdy detail and pure groove, you’re in the right place.

Ableton Live 12, MPC-3000, Omnisphere, Rob Papen SubBoomBass

3. November 2025

SPARKY

The Unperson

The Unperson’s OP-1 vs Modular FX: Turning a Cult Classic into a Sonic Street Weapon

The Unperson is back in the rave bunker, this time dragging the Teenage Engineering OP-1 into a modular FX cage match. Love it or loathe it, the OP-1 is still a cult favourite, but let’s be honest: it’s got some gaping holes, especially if you crave stereo and proper effects. Instead of moaning, The Unperson wires up a Eurorack FX rack and shows how to make this plastic legend punch way above its weight. If you’re into glitchy textures, filthy delays and unpredictable radio sampling, this one’s for you. Don’t expect hand-holding—expect inspiration, chaos, and a few sharp elbows.

ALM Busy Circuits MFX, Bastl Instruments Citadel, Erica Synths Pico Input, Happy Nerding FX Aid, Mutable Instruments Beads, Pamela's Pro Workout, Qu-Bit Data Bender, Shakmat Dual Dagger, Teenage Engineering OP-1, Tiptop Audio Z5000

2. November 2025

RILEY

David Hilowitz Music

DavidHilowitzMusic Takes Us Back with a Lo-Fi Microcassette Adventure

Ever thought a microcassette from the ’80s could be your secret weapon in music? David from DavidHilowitzMusic flips the script with this $12 lo-fi machine, blending nostalgia with modern beats. Dive into a world where old tech meets new sounds and see how a dusty relic becomes a musical marvel.

Decent Sampler, Microcassette Recorder

2. November 2025

RILEY

Sanjay C

SanjayC’s $100K Synth Reality Check

SanjayC drops a doozy as he explores the Korg PS3300, a synth worth nearly $100,000, now available for a cool $99 as a plugin. Dive in as he juggles between unbelievable deals and freebies in the world of music gear.

Antelope MG4+ EQ Plugin, G-Force MAP Synth, Korg PS3300, Playtronica Orbita, Selene Reverb, Sennheiser E835 Mic, Sennheiser E845 Mic, Shaper Box 3, Slower Fragment Plugin, Waves Factory Re-Esser

2. November 2025

SPARKY

Scott's Synth Stuff

Scott’s Synth Stuff Storms Sweetwater: 2025’s Top 20 Synths Get the Rave Bunker Treatment

Strap in, synth heads – Scott’s Synth Stuff takes us on a whirlwind tour through Sweetwater’s synth mecca, cherry-picking the best (and calling out the worst) keyboards you can buy in 2025. Forget polite demos – this is a no-nonsense, hands-on, and occasionally savage rundown of poly and mono beasts from Moog, Korg, Roland, Sequential, Behringer, and more. Expect brutal honesty, cheeky jabs at mini keys, and enough gear lust to melt your credit card. If you want to know which synths slap, which ones suck, and which are just overpriced nostalgia, this is the only tour you need. But

Akai MPC Key 61, ASM Hydrasynth, Behringer Cat, Behringer DD3, Behringer Linn Drum, Behringer Model D, Behringer Neutron, Behringer Pro 1, Behringer Pro-800, Behringer RD9, Behringer Toro Pedal, Behringer UB-Xa, Behringer WAVE, Expressive E Osmose, King Korg NEO, Korg MicroKorg 2, Korg Minilogue XD, Korg Multi/Poly, Korg Volca, Korg Wavestate, Malevolent, Modal Cobalt8x, Moog Messenger, Novation Mininova, Oberheim Teo-5, Roland 06A, Roland 6S, Roland 8S, Roland Fantom-06, Roland GAIA 2, Roland Juno-X, Roland SH4, Roland TR-1000, Roland TR08, Sequential Fourm, Sequential Take 5, Yamaha MODX-M, Yamaha Reface

2. November 2025

LUMINA

Bahadırhan Koçer

Bahadırhan Koçer: The Kick Drum as Sonic Lawgiver

What if the heartbeat of electronic music was more than just a pulse? Bahadırhan Koçer, philosopher of sound and architect of groove, invites us to drift through the molecular fog of the kick drum. In this immersive exploration, he unravels the kick’s role as both a physiological anchor and a cultural architect, tracing its journey from primal thud to programmable code. Prepare to feel the resonance in your bones and the architecture of time itself shift beneath your feet. This is not just a tutorial—it’s a meditation on the very laws that govern movement, meaning, and the magnetic pull of

Ableton Live, Operator

2. November 2025

RILEY

sunwarper

Sunwarper’s Roland P-6 Beat Flip: Cheap Box, Big Moves, No Auto Chop Needed

Sunwarper’s back at it, showing us how to squeeze a killer beat out of the Roland P-6 without breaking the bank—or your brain. This time, he’s ditching the usual auto chop for a wild parameter lock workflow, pairing the P-6 with a Polyend Synth for some next-level sample slicing. If you think cheap gear can’t slap, you haven’t seen this. Sunwarper’s laid-back, LA-drenched style makes the whole thing feel like a jam session at your buddy’s place, but with a few clever tricks you’ll want to steal. Trust me, you’ll want to watch the video to catch all the gritty

Polyend Synth, Roland P-6

2. November 2025

TAS

Free Beat

Free Beat’s Mad Scientist Rig: When the Polyend Mess Meets the Roland E-4 and TempoKey W25

Ever wondered what happens when you throw a MIDI controller, a vocal FX box, and a chaos pedal into a blender? Free Beat’s latest session is a wild ride through the outback of electronic music gear, wrangling the Sinido TempoKey W25, Roland E-4, and Polyend Mess into a combo that’s as unpredictable as a kangaroo on a Red Bull bender. With his signature practical flair and a dash of cheeky experimentation, Free Beat dives headfirst into sonic weirdness, showing off the kind of creative chaos you only get when you’re not afraid to make a mess. If you like your

Polyend MESS, Roland E-4, Sinido TempoKey W25

1. November 2025

JET

LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER

LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER’s Electrostatic Odyssey

As LOOKMUMNOCOMPUTER dives into the world of the Mackinn organ, we get a ringside seat to a project as mad as a box of frogs. Marvel at the seemingly endless tangle of wires, the guttural growl of the tone wheels, and the vintage charm that threatens to blow a fuse or two. Prepare for a hands-on exploration through the eyes of a creator who treats synths like an artist in a mechanical brawl. Pass me a pint and let’s dig in.

Compton Mackinn Organ

1. November 2025

RILEY

Tonepusher

Tonepusher’s Take on the Donner Essential L1: Budget Synth with Industrial Might

Hold on to your beat-making hats, folks, because Tonepusher is digging into the Donner Essential L1, promising that industrial punch on a budget! Can this synth reincarnate the legendary SH-101 vibes? Let’s find out!

Donner Essential L1

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