Synthmagazine | Synth News, Gear & Sound Design

23. May 2026

CROW HILL’s Orchestral Bass Slides: A Cinematic Abyss in Motion

Some sounds don’t just speak—they loom, casting shadows that ripple through the orchestral deep. In their latest addition to the Vaults collection, CROW HILL offers us Orchestral Bass Slides, a free plugin sculpted from the brooding recesses of Christian Henson’s private archive. This isn’t just a library; it’s an invitation to drift beneath the surface, where every slide tells a story of tension, release, and cinematic gravity. Join us as we descend into a world where basses don’t simply play—they exhale drama and darkness, and the space itself becomes an instrument.

Orchestral Bass Slides

23. May 2026

SPARKY

Andrew Huang

Andrew Huang’s 13 Ableton Power Tips: Workflow Weapons for the Sonic Street

Andrew Huang barrels through Ableton Live like a rave-bunker demolition crew, armed with 13 workflow bombs guaranteed to speed up your session or at least make you look clever in front of your mates. If you thought you knew all the hacks, think again—Andrew pulls out tricks from sample swapping to automation gymnastics, all in that signature style: playful, sharp, and relentlessly useful. Whether you’re a diehard drum rack fiddler or just want to stop cursing at your undo button, this video is a quick-fire bootcamp. Spoiler: some of these tips are so good, you’ll wish you hadn’t slept on

Ableton Live, Splice

23. May 2026

SPARKY

AudioPilz

AudioPilz Unleashes Hacked Mayhem: Classic Synths Invade Ableton Move

AudioPilz is back, and this time he’s dusting off the Ableton Move for a firmware-fuelled rave in a box. What started as a slick but slightly anaemic groovebox just got a shot of mutant adrenaline thanks to the Schwung hack—think classic synths, dirty sound engines, and a workflow that finally doesn’t suck. Expect sarcasm, memes, and more than a few sideways glances at corporate bloat, as AudioPilz tears into firmware 2.0 and the wild, community-driven world of hacked hardware. If you thought Move was just for Ableton nerds, think again: this one’s a toaster-fight in a rave bunker.

Ableton Move, Access Virus, Roland JV-880, Yamaha DX7

23. May 2026

TAS

Pick Yourself

Pick Yourself’s Hypnotic Secret Sauce: A Sound Designer’s Outback Adventure

Ever wondered why your tracks sound like a flat beer at a bush doof while the pros are serving hypnotic bangers that breathe and morph like a didgeridoo in a sandstorm? Pick Yourself’s latest video is a proper masterclass in wrangling weirdness, laying out a wild workflow that’ll have your tunes pulsing and evolving like a kangaroo on a caffeine trip. From modular-inspired concepts to feedback loops threatening to fry your speakers, this is a ride through techno’s untamed outback. If you’re keen to push your Ableton game beyond the backyard BBQ, pull up a chair and get ready for

Ableton Live, Buchla Music Easel

22. May 2026

LYRA

Akai Professional

Akai Professional Delivers Tape Saturation Mojo: AIR Tape Saturator for MPC and DAW Workflows

Akai Professional’s AIR Tape Saturator plugin promises to inject classic analog tape warmth into your modern MPC or DAW setup. In this official walkthrough, the plugin’s architecture is laid bare—showcasing a suite of controls that let you dial in everything from subtle glue to aggressive tape drive. With multiple saturation models, tape speed and condition tweaks, and a thoughtful auto makeup gain system, Akai aims to bridge the gap between vintage character and contemporary workflow. We break down how these features translate into real-world sound shaping and mixing, and where the plugin fits within Akai’s broader Tape Effects Collection.

AIR Tape Saturator

22. May 2026

LYRA

Yamaha Synths Official

Yamaha Synths Official Unveils KDx: A New Era of Visual Editing for Yamaha Synthesizers

KDx, Yamaha Synths Official’s latest software-based editor, aims to revolutionize how musicians interact with a broad range of Yamaha synthesizers. Presented by Kier Darby at Superbooth 2026, this web-based environment brings hands-on, visual editing to the AN-X, FM-X, and AWM2 engines, as well as expanded integration with devices like Seqtrak and Reface DX. The video walks through KDx’s real-time parameter control, live set management, and deep sound design workflows, all without generating sound itself. For anyone invested in Yamaha’s synth ecosystem, KDx promises a streamlined, visually rich approach to complex editing tasks—though, as always, the proof will be in the

KDx, Yamaha MODX, Yamaha Montage, Yamaha Montage M, Yamaha Motif XF, Yamaha Reface CS, Yamaha Reface DX, Yamaha SEQTRAK

22. May 2026

LYRA

Akai Professional

Akai Professional AIR Tape Echo: Digital Tape Magic for Modern MPC Workflows

Akai Professional’s AIR Tape Echo plugin brings the lush, unpredictable world of analog tape echo into the digital domain, designed specifically for MPC users and DAW producers alike. In this official walkthrough, Akai demonstrates how Tape Echo delivers not just classic delay, but a full suite of tape-inspired controls—preamp coloration, multi-head echo modes, spring reverb, and tape age artifacts—wrapped in a workflow that’s both performance-ready and deeply tweakable. The video methodically explores each section of the interface, showing how the plugin can add warmth, movement, and character to drums, vocals, and full mixes. For those obsessed with sonic detail and

AIR Tape Echo

22. May 2026

SPARKY

Devin Belanger

Devin Belanger’s Black Sheep Synths: The Underdogs That Changed the Game

Forget the safe bets and synth snobbery—Devin Belanger (aka Miles Away) is here to drag the unsung heroes of the synth world out of the shadows and onto your studio desk. In his latest video, Devin doesn’t just rattle off the usual suspects; he champions the weird, the misunderstood, and the downright controversial machines that secretly shaped modern music. Expect a tour through Roland’s forgotten middle child, Korg’s bipolar beast, and Moog’s maintenance nightmare, all delivered with Devin’s signature blend of deep knowledge and genuine passion. If you’re tired of the same old synth worship, this one’s a breath of

Dave Smith Instruments Poly Evolver, Elektron Monomachine, Korg MS-20, Moog Memorymoog, Oberheim Matrix 12, Roland Jupiter-6, Sequential Prophet VS

22. May 2026

SPARKY

Alex Ball

Alex Ball’s Drum Synth Odyssey: From UFO Pads to Modern Mayhem

Drum synthesizers: the weird, wild, and occasionally wobbly heart of electronic rhythm. Alex Ball, the maestro of vintage gear and cinematic jams, takes us on a no-BS sprint through the history of these sonic street weapons. From the first voltage-controlled disco toms to today’s hybrid monsters, this video is a rave bunker tour of the machines that made beats punch, snap, and go full sci-fi. Expect deep dives, rare demos, and a parade of gear that’ll make any drum nerd’s wallet sweat. If you think you know drum synths, think again – and don’t blink, or you’ll miss a hexagonal

AltSound DS4, Elektron Analog Rytm, Elektron Machine Drum, Impakt Drum Synthesizer, Nord Drum 3P, Pearl Syncussion SY1, Pollard Syndrum, Roland TR-1000, Simmons SDS-3, Simmons SDS-5, Star Instruments Synare, Tama Sniper DS-200, Vermona DRM-1

21. May 2026

LYRA

Elektron

Elektron Tonverk in Action: Jogging House’s ‘Stenography’ Workflow Dissected

Jogging House takes us deep into the architecture of his ambient track “Stenography,” crafted entirely on Elektron’s Tonverk using only kalimba samples. In this official Elektron walkthrough, we get a rare, methodical look at how a digital groovebox can be pushed for nuanced, evolving soundscapes—no granular engines, just careful looping, modulation, and effects routing. For those interested in the intersection of digital sampling, polyphonic engines, and hands-on performance, this video is a masterclass in subtlety and workflow. We break down the session, highlighting the Tonverk’s strengths and the creative decisions that shape Jogging House’s long-form compositions.

Elektron Tonverk

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