Synthmagazine | Synth News, Gear & Sound Design

20. June 2026

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

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 –

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

20. June 2026

SPARKY

AudioPilz

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

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

Yamaha FS1R

20. June 2026

SPARKY

Bounce Chord

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

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

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Rapid Flow

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

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

LYRA

Arturia

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

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.

Analog Lab Beyond Series Vol. 3 Electronica, Jupe 8000V, Mini Free V, Pigments

19. June 2026

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Lodewijk Vos (LØ)

Lodewijk Vos (LØ) Throws Down: 20 Ableton Tips That Actually Matter

If you think you’ve heard every Ableton trick, think again. Lodewijk Vos (LØ) comes out swinging with 20 tried-and-tested workflow tips, cut straight from two decades in the production trenches. No fluff, no recycled shortcut lists—just the real habits and hacks that make your sessions leaner, meaner, and infinitely more playable. LØ’s minimalist travel rig and brutally honest delivery are here to slap your DAW routine awake. Buckle up for racks, sidechain sorcery, pro-level automation, and a string sampler that’s more broken glass than velvet cushion. The only thing smoother than these tips is the comment section—if you’re brave enough

Ableton Live, Fragile Violins Sampler, SoundFlow, Stream Deck

19. June 2026

SPARKY

NOGASAYAN

NOGASAYAN’s Double-Decked MPC Live 3 Hack: Two Launch Controls, One Rave Bunker

Ever felt your MPC Live 3 was a little too polite for the warehouse? NOGASAYAN’s here to slap it silly with not one, but two Novation Launch Control XLs bolted onto the rig. This isn’t your basic template tweak – it’s a full-on live performance power-up, with MIDI mapping that would make even the most caffeine-fuelled controllerist sweat. Expect hands-on fader action, bread-and-butter drum sounds, and a brutally honest assessment of just how far you can push the MPC before it throws in the towel. If you think finger-drumming is the future, wait till you see this modular Frankenstein in

Akai MPC Live 3, Novation Launch Control XL, Novation Launch Control XL3

18. June 2026

RILEY

Verysickbeats

Verysickbeats Drops a Philly Soul Bomb: DJ Battlecat Formula Gets the Beatmaker Treatment

If you ever wished your beats had that Philly Soul bounce but your budget’s tighter than a drumhead, JFilt from Verysickbeats is your new best friend. In this video, he grabs inspiration from DJ Battlecat and breaks down a dead-simple formula to get those lush strings, buttery basslines, and vibey keys—without digging through vinyl or letting an AI steal your groove. Expect raw tips, honest hacks, and a workflow that’s more street food than fine dining. Trust me, this isn’t just another theory lesson—this is how you make your tracks slap like classic Philly soul, straight from your bedroom lab.

Novation Launchkey 49 MK4

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