Synthmagazine | Synth News, Gear & Sound Design

30. May 2026

AudioPilz vs. The Force: Groovebox or Glorified Doorstop?

AudioPilz is back in the rave bunker, tossing the Akai Force onto the Bad Gear chopping block. Is it a misunderstood groovebox hero or just another overhyped plastic slab with more updates than a dodgy Windows install? Expect plenty of jabs, a healthy dose of sarcasm, and the usual meme-fuelled chaos as AudioPilz puts the Force through its paces. If you’ve ever wondered whether you should trust a machine that can’t decide if it’s an MPC or an Ableton fever dream, this one’s for you. Don’t expect a love letter—expect the honest, hilarious breakdown only AudioPilz delivers.

Akai Force

30. May 2026

RILEY

Pick Yourself

Pick Yourself’s Guide to Kick Drums: From Sine Waves to Club-Ready Punch

Ever spent hours cycling through kick drum samples only to end up with a track that hits like a wet napkin? Same. In this slick tutorial, Pick Yourself takes us deep into the art of crafting mighty kick drums from scratch—no overpriced packs, just raw synthesis and some streetwise tricks. With a decade of club experience and a knack for making Ableton sweat, the creator lays out every step—from envelope shaping to phase-taming—without drowning you in theory. If you want your beats to slap in the club and on earbuds, strap in: this is the crash course your low end’s

Ableton Live, Serum, Vital

29. May 2026

LYRA

Arturia

Arturia Memory V: Digital Nostalgia, Analog Character

Arturia’s Memory V steps into the spotlight as a software instrument designed to channel the lush, unstable polyphony of classic analog synths—without ever needing to dust off a vintage unit. In this official video, Arturia’s Matt Paull walks us through building three foundational patches: a shimmering 80s pad, a responsive analog bass, and a sharp, moving lead. The focus is on layered oscillators, vintage drift, and modulation techniques that inject genuine movement and depth into each sound. If you’re interested in how digital design can capture vintage spirit, this workflow-centric session is a deep dive into the Memory V’s architecture—direct

Arturia Memory V

29. May 2026

SPARKY

Molten Music Technology

Superbooth Meltdown: Molten Music Technology’s May 2026 Gear Drop

The rave bunker’s still smouldering from Superbooth, and Robin Vincent of Molten Music Technology is here to shovel the freshest ashes onto your gearlust. He’s cherry-picked the real sonic street weapons—no time for useless tat, just the new stuff that actually matters. Expect tape machine nostalgia, Moog-flavoured emulations, AI-powered mayhem, and enough groovebox muscle to power a small festival. As always, Robin dishes the honest, nerdy, and occasionally sarcastic lowdown—if it’s naff, he’ll tell you. Grab a cold drink and brace yourself; this month’s round-up is hotter than the Berlin heatwave.

Arturia Memory V, EMR Music Group Tape 16, Nomn Reservoir, Polyend Drums, Shakmat Queens Court

29. May 2026

SPARKY

Monotrail Tech Talk

Monotrail Tech Talk: Voltage-Controlled FX Sends – The Dirty Details

If you think FX sends are just for polished DAW users, think again. Monotrail Tech Talk drops a modular bomb with voltage-controlled FX tricks that turn your rack into a sonic street weapon. Forget static reverbs and delays – this video is all about hacking your sends with LFOs, random voltages, and comparators for movement so dynamic it could dodge a punch. You’ll get patch ideas, slick demos, and a reminder that sometimes a VCA and a bit of attitude are all you need. Dive in if you want your modular to sound less like a polite dinner guest and

Comparator, CV sequencer, Granular effects processor, Reverb, Slew limiter, Stereo delay, VCA

29. May 2026

SPARKY

Tefty Music Tech

Tefty Music Tech’s Beat Kitchen: MPC Live 3 Retro vs Take 5 – Does It Slap?

Tefty Music Tech dives headfirst into the MPC Live 3 Retro and Sequential Take 5, whipping up a beat that’s half throwback, half future club weapon. The workflow? Fast, loose, and laced with character – just how we like it. This isn’t a dry walk through menus; it’s a hands-on jam with plenty of swing, dirty bass, and synth layers that actually breathe. If you’re tired of sterile demos, Tefty’s style is a breath of fresh, gear-obsessed air. And yes, you’ll want to watch the video for every knob twist and sonic surprise.

Akai MPC Live 3 Retro, Sequential Take 5

28. May 2026

LUMINA

Lodewijk Vos (LØ)

Lodewijk Vos (LØ): Broken Tape Decks and Sonic Ghosts – Scoring Horror With Fragile Hands

Step into the haunted dollhouse where sound itself drips from fractured tape and misfortune. Lodewijk Vos (LØ) invites us behind the velvet curtain of film scoring, where a broken Tascam becomes the unlikely engine of dread and beauty. In this video, LØ’s process is less about perfection and more about the magnetic resonance of error — a score born from tactile struggle and handmade textures. The lush, trembling world he conjures is built on real instruments, decayed loops, and the raw embrace of experimentation. Prepare for a journey where every sonic ghost tells a story, and the most powerful music

modular synth, Piano, Tascam Portastudio, viola, violin

28. May 2026

SPARKY

Andertons Synths, Keys and Tech

Andertons Synths, Keys and Tech Drop the Focusrite ISA C8X: Blue Steel Meets Brit Grit

The synth heads at Andertons Synths, Keys and Tech just got their hands on the Focusrite ISA C8X, and let’s just say, this interface is flexing more than just a pretty face. With Jack Duxbury holding court and Alex from Focusrite dishing the dirt, we’re treated to a no-nonsense tour of a box that combines classic transformer mojo with all the USB-C modernity you could want. Forget savings accounts—these ISAs mean business, and the C8X is ready to gatecrash your studio setup. If you want to know if this thing slaps or flops, keep reading. Spoiler: it’s bluer than your

Focusrite ISA C8X

27. May 2026

LYRA

Arturia

Arturia Memory V: Digital Heritage, Analog Soul

Arturia steps up to the challenge of reviving the legendary Memory-Mogue with Memory V, a virtual instrument that promises both historical accuracy and modern creative muscle. This official overview walks through triple-oscillator voicing, a meticulously modeled ladder filter, Multi-Arp sequencing, and a wealth of modulation and effects options—all delivered via Arturia’s TAE tech. Whether in the DAW or on stage, the Memory V aims to be a playground for evolving textures, lush pads, and punchy leads. But as always, the real test is how these digital architectures translate into actual workflows and sound design freedom, and this video gives us

Arturia Memory V

27. May 2026

LYRA

Yamaha Synths Official

Yamaha Synths Official: John Melas Tools Take Montage M Workflow to the Next Level

In this Superbooth 2026 spotlight, Yamaha Synths Official teams up with developer John Melas to showcase his latest suite of tools for the Montage M. Melas presents workflow upgrades for both live performers and deep-dive sound designers, with a strong emphasis on seamless integration and efficient organization. The session dives into the new Performance Editor, streamlined Live Set management, and a hardware-inspired AN-X editor, all designed to unlock the full multi-engine potential of the Montage M. For anyone obsessed with controller mapping, librarian functions, or MIDI 2 parameter depth, this video offers a precise look at how software can transform

John Melas Montage M Tools, Yamaha Montage M

« 1 … 22 23 24 25 26 … 241 »