Synthmagazine | Synth News, Gear & Sound Design

2. June 2026

Underdog Electronic Music School Chains Sequencers For Infinite Techno Mayhem

Ever felt your step sequencer running circles like a hamster on Red Bull? Underdog Electronic Music School is here to slap your loops awake with the dark art of daisy-chaining sequencers—both in Eurorack and Ableton Live. Oscar’s got his modular in rave bunker mode, tossing clocks and resets around like cheap glowsticks, and the results are anything but predictable. If you’re after endless techno patterns that evolve, mutate, and refuse to sit still, this is the street weapon you need. Don’t expect hand-holding or basic theory—just pure, dirty groove science, explained with Underdog’s trademark energy and zero nonsense.

Ableton Live, Metropolis, Mimeophon, Moog Defam, Schachmann Ballista Blast, Steps (Max for Live device)

1. June 2026

SPARKY

The Unperson

The Unperson Throws Down: Polyend Tracker+ From Zero To Chaos

Ready to ditch the piano roll and dive into the vertical vortex? The Unperson takes the Polyend Tracker+ for a test drive, with absolutely no tracker experience in the tank. What starts as alien territory quickly becomes a playground for brutal beats, gnarly step effects and synth engine shenanigans. Expect fast moves, honest confessions, and a few moments where the manual gets a side-eye. If you think trackers are just for chiptune nerds, this one might just slap you upside the head. We’re in for a ride – and trust me, this groovebox doesn’t wait for stragglers.

Polyend Tracker+

1. June 2026

SPARKY

Voltage Labs

Voltage Labs Drops In: Joris Voorn’s Studio Is a Hybrid Rave Bunker

If you think pro studios are all about endless racks of intimidating hardware, Joris Voorn’s Amsterdam lair might just knock that thought sideways. The Voltage Labs crew takes us on a whirlwind tour through a space that’s equal parts analog sanctuary and digital war room, with Joris riffing on how his workflow’s flipped over the years. Expect tales of tactile gear, hybrid mixing, and a DJ setup that would make most club owners weep. If you’re after clean lines, brutal honesty, and a few surprises hiding in plain sight, this studio walkthrough is mandatory viewing. Don’t expect a dry tech

Alicia X-Filter 500, Alicia X-Maxx, Nord Grand, Pioneer V10, PMC Monitors, Roland Juno-106, Roland MC-303, Roland SH-101, SSL 4K Compressor, Technics 1210 MK7

31. May 2026

SPARKY

sunwarper

sunwarper vs. the Woovebox: Beatmaking with One Hand Tied Behind Your Back

sunwarper ditches the gear mountain and heads straight for the creative jugular in this one. Armed with nothing but the micro-sized Woovebox, he shows how stripping things back can punch your inspiration into overdrive. It’s a video that tears up the myth that more gear equals better tracks, instead proving that a tiny groovebox and a ruthless workflow can cook up a storm. If you’re tired of option paralysis and want to see how a real producer turns limitations into street weaponry, this is your jam. Don’t expect endless gear worship – expect fast moves, clever tricks, and a workflow

Maono P1, Woovebox

31. May 2026

SPARKY

The Midlife Synthesist

The Midlife Synthesist Raises the Game: OXI ONE MK2 2.0 – Sequencer Mayhem Unleashed

OXI ONE MK2 just got a firmware adrenaline shot, and The Midlife Synthesist is here to show us why we should care. If you thought sequencers were getting stale, think again – Domino and Saga drop in with moves that could shake your DAW off the desk. Add a Chord Palette that actually nudges you out of your harmonic rut, and you’re looking at a groovebox that refuses to play it safe. The Midlife Synthesist brings his trademark charm and clarity, slicing straight to the weird, wild core of these updates. Strap in – this isn’t your nan’s step sequencer.

Ableton Push 3, OXI One MK2

31. May 2026

RILEY

Verysickbeats

Verysickbeats Schools Us: Why Auto-Tune Can’t Hang With a Vocoder

Alright, fam—strap in. Verysickbeats just dropped a lesson that slices straight through the confusion: Auto-Tune and vocoders are not the same beast, and he’s here to show you why. JFilt brings his signature laid-back, no-nonsense style, laying out why vocoders slap harder than your average pitch-fixer. From crusty dry vocals to transformer-level soundscapes, he puts gear like the MicroKorg and Koala Sampler to work, showing off flavors that Auto-Tune just can’t season. If you’re ready to level up your beats and want to know why your next lofi banger needs a vocoder, this is the breakdown you don’t want to

Bleass Voices, EVOC 20 Polysynth, Koala Sampler, Logic Pro, MicroKORG, Vocoder V, Vocodine

31. May 2026

SPARKY

Sanjay C

Sanjay C Drops the Latest: Plugins, Poly Synths, and a Free Slice of Roland

Sanjay C is back on his news grind with a fresh roundup of music production toys that’ll make your wallet sweat and your DAW cry for mercy. This week: the long-awaited Soothe 3 update for all you resonance haters, Arturia’s turbocharged take on the Memorymoog, and a shocker—Roland’s ZENOLOGY GX synth for iPad, free for a hot minute. SSL’s got a new box for solo heads, and Unfiltered Audio’s Battle FX is out to glitch up your sound for nothing. If you like your news fast, punchy, and full of actual opinions, Sanjay C’s got the goods—just don’t expect any

Arturia Memory V, Roland ZENOLOGY GX, Soothe 3, SSL-1, Unfiltered Audio Battle FX

30. May 2026

SPARKY

Scott's Synth Stuff

Scott’s Synth Stuff Dives Into the Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave: Polyphony Overkill or Wavetable Dream Machine?

Hold on to your filter caps: Scott’s Synth Stuff takes the Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave for a serious joyride, and this synth is no polite dinner guest. We’re talking 24 voices, real analog filters, sampling, and a wavetable engine that laughs in the face of nostalgia. Scott’s no stranger to hardware, but even he admits this blue beast is “a monster of a synth”. If you’ve ever wanted your stage rig to morph from gritty PPG classics to modern sonic chaos—with a secret weapon or two—this review is your ticket. Warning: you might want one after reading.

Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave

30. May 2026

SPARKY

CROW HILL

CROW HILL vs. The Gamechanger Recoder: Not Your Granddad’s Vocoder

Ready for a vocoder that doesn’t just sit there looking pretty? CROW HILL dives headfirst into the Gamechanger Audio Recoder, a box that lets you play both sides of the sonic chessboard—modulator and carrier, all at once. Forget your old plugin routines: this slab of hardware wants your hands, your voice, and maybe your soul. With tactile controls and a vibe that’s more rave bunker than spreadsheet, the Recoder promises to shake you loose from in-the-box boredom. If you think you know vocoders, think again. CROW HILL’s no-nonsense demo shows why this thing could become your next secret weapon.

Gamechanger Audio Recoder, Moog Vocoder, The Sh** Synth

30. May 2026

SPARKY

Bthelick

Bthelick vs. The Polished Crowd: When Grit Wins

If you think ‘high quality’ means ‘high interest’, think again. Bthelick, that sharp-suited dance music workhorse, drops a lesson in why your obsession with clinical sound is probably making your tracks boring. In this punchy tutorial, he dismantles the myth of perfection, shows off some grubby plugin alternatives, and even gives a quick recipe for homebrew textures using nothing but your DAW and a sprinkle of noise. If you’re tired of factory-fresh beats and want your music to slap, scrape and bite, this is a must-watch—though, trust me, some tricks are best heard, not read. Expect wit, wisdom and a

Ableton, Cassette 2 by Caelum Audio, IK Multimedia Tape, iZotope Vinyl, Origin by Cymatics, Pentamento, Tumult by Consistent Interruption

« 1 … 21 22 23 24 25 … 241 »