Synthmagazine | Synth News, Gear & Sound Design

4. September 2026

Patrick Breen’s Reason Rack Plugin Review: Virtual Hardware Mayhem in Any DAW

Reason Rack as a plugin? Patrick Breen dives straight in, dragging Reason’s legendary rack workflow into Logic Pro and beyond. Forget DAW loyalty – this beast lets you bolt together wild signal chains, flip the virtual rack, and get lost in a playground of quirky synths and effects. If you like your production tools flexible and a bit unhinged, you’ll want to see what happens when Breen wires up Polytone, The Echo, and the Audiomatic. Spoiler: It’s not what he expected, and that’s a good thing.

Audiomatic Retro Transformer, Combinator, Polytone, Reason Rack Plugin, The Echo

4. September 2026

RILEY

Rapid Flow

Rapid Flow’s 2026 MIDI Controller Rundown: Real-World Rigs, No Mouse, No Nonsense

Ready to ditch the mouse and get your hands dirty? Rapid Flow (aka Erik) takes us on a wild ride through the 2026 MIDI controller jungle, torching bad picks and spotlighting budget gems. From his streetwise studio setup to hard-won advice, this ain’t your average gear guide—this is for beatmakers who want workflow, not headaches. If you’re sick of cheesy top-ten lists from folks who never gigged, you’ll want to grab a snack and tune in.

Ableton Push 3, AKAI APC40 MKII, Akai MIDI Mix, Arturia Beatstep Pro, Avid S1, Behringer X-Touch, DJ Tech Tools Midi Fighter, Elgato Stream Deck XL, Intech Studio controllers, Korg NanoKontrol, Nektar Panorama, Novation Launch Control XL, Novation Launchpad Mini, Omniclock, Softube Console 1, Torso T-1

4. September 2026

SPARKY

Andertons Synths, Keys and Tech

Andertons Synths, Keys and Tech: Denon DJ Prime 4 G2 – The Touchscreen Rave Weapon

Denon just threw down the gauntlet with their Prime 4 G2, and Andertons Synths, Keys and Tech are here to break it in. Harry spins through the monster touchscreen, deep-dive performance pads, and those tasty jog wheels. Is this the ultimate DJ street weapon, or just hype in a shiny box? Get your opinions ready—this isn’t your average DJ controller walkthrough.

Denon DJ Prime 4 G2

3. September 2026

LYRA

Yamaha Synths Official

Yamaha Synths Official: Jay Esplana on Montage M7, Expression, and Performance Workflow

What happens when a multi-instrumentalist and piano technician gets his hands on Yamaha’s Montage M7? Jay Esplana shares his personal rituals, favorite features, and how the MODX M and Montage M integrate into his workflow. Yamaha Synths Official brings us a peek at real-world stage and studio habits, from aftertouch and keyboard hold tricks to that infamous improvised sustain pedal moment. This isn’t just a feature rundown – it’s a tour through the architecture of musical expression and the nuances that matter most to a working player.

ESP plugin, Yamaha MODX-M, Yamaha Montage M7

3. September 2026

LYRA

OXI Instruments

OXI Instruments: Polyrhythmic Grooves with the OXI One mkII’s Decoupled Velocity and Gate

OXI Instruments returns with another Playbook deep-dive, this time unearthing the creative power of the OXI One mkII’s ability to decouple velocity and gate sequences. Through hands-on demonstration, the video shows how manipulating independent looping points for velocity and gate transforms basic drum patterns into complex, evolving grooves. For anyone obsessed with rhythmic detail, this workflow-focused walkthrough reveals the OXI One mkII’s unique approach to step sequencing and groove shaping, offering a glimpse of its architecture and live performance potential.

OXI ONE MKII

3. September 2026

MILES

MAKEN0ISE

Make Noise Bruxa Meets the Beast: Patchwork Mono Mayhem

In this Make Noise video, Bruxa—the mysterious mono signal processor—takes centre stage alongside its maximalist cousin N.U.S.S. We’re walked through how these two distinct personalities can be coaxed into a collaborative patch, with the jumbler and multi-mod providing motion and modulation magic. The result? A lively exploration of motion, filtering, and rhythmic mutation, all firmly grounded in Make Noise’s experimental ethos. For those who crave evolving sonic textures and real-time patching, this is a showcase of what happens when design constraints push creativity in unexpected directions.

Bruxa, GTE, Jumbler, Maths, Multi-Mod, Multi-Wave, N.U.S.S., Polymaths, QPOS, QXG, Tempi

3. September 2026

MILES

Bastl Instruments

Bastl Instruments Kastle 2: Open-Source Evolves the Pocket Synth

Bastl Instruments takes their cult Kastle 2 semi-modular synth deeper into community territory, spotlighting the v1.7 firmware update and a host of wild third-party firmwares. The video gives an in-depth look at new features like swing, humanize, and assignable modulation, while exploring the open-source ecosystem that’s grown around this pint-sized sonic laboratory. If you’ve ever wondered how far a pocketable synth can stretch when the code is open, Bastl’s latest show-and-tell is a goldmine of patch ideas and community-driven weirdness.

Bastl Instruments Citadel, Bastl Instruments Kastle 2

3. September 2026

SPARKY

Doctor Mix

Doctor Mix & Jam El Mar vs. Martinic Prodigy: One Synth, No Prisoners

What happens when you lock Doctor Mix and Jam El Mar in a studio with nothing but the Martinic Prodigy? Absolute techno carnage, that’s what. This isn’t your average synth demo—it’s a rave bunker masterclass, with two heavyweights swapping presets, slinging bass, and revealing what actually makes early-90s techno slap. Expect insider tempo hacks, kick drum philosophy, and hi-hats sharper than a broken pint glass. Buckle up and hit play—this one’s got grit.

Martinic Prodigy

2. September 2026

LYRA

RolandChannel

RolandChannel’s FP-40: Digital Piano Meets Smart Practice

RolandChannel presents the FP-40, a digital piano merging expressive sound with a forward-thinking practice ecosystem. The FP-40 draws on Roland’s latest sampling and speaker tech, aiming for both authentic performance and engaging daily use. With the Piano Sphere system built in, the FP-40 promises interactive feedback, lesson integration, and seamless app connectivity—all in a compact package. We examine how the video demonstrates the FP-40’s core architecture, user workflow, and the realities of its learning platform.

Piano Sphere, Roland FP-40

2. September 2026

LYRA

Akai Professional

Akai Professional Channels Vintage EQ Magic: The Stereophonic EQP Unpacked

Akai Professional takes a bold step with the AIR Stereophonic EQP, a plugin inspired by the musicality of classic Pultec EQs but reimagined for modern digital workflows. This official walkthrough dives into the architecture, controls, and practical applications of the EQP within the MPC environment and beyond. From subtle sweetening to assertive tone-shaping, the video demonstrates how the EQP’s expanded bands, tube warmth, and mid/side processing can transform tracks, buses, and mixes. We break down what’s actually shown—and where this plugin might fit in your hybrid or DAWless setup.

AIR Stereophonic EQP

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