4. December 2025

LYRA

Bastl Instruments Kastle 2 Alchemist: Hybrid Synthesis, Modular Playfulness and Digital Depth

© Picture: Bastl Instruments (YouTube)

Bastl Instruments Kastle 2 Alchemist: Hybrid Synthesis, Modular Playfulness and Digital Depth

Bastl Instruments, known for their inventive and community-driven approach to electronic instrument design, present the Kastle 2 Alchemist—a portable, hybrid-synthesis powerhouse that invites deep exploration. This official video manual, hosted by Wes, walks viewers through the Alchemist’s five synth modes, macro envelope, and a patch bay that encourages hands-on, modular-style play. With features like morphing between engines, expressive arpeggiation, USB MIDI integration, and a companion app for firmware and scale management, the Kastle 2 Alchemist is positioned as a compact but surprisingly deep tool for sound designers and modular tinkerers alike. We dive into the architecture, workflow, and creative potential

4. December 2025

LYRA

OXI Instruments E16: Precision MIDI Control for the Modern Hybrid Rig

© Picture: OXI Instruments (YouTube)

OXI Instruments E16: Precision MIDI Control for the Modern Hybrid Rig

OXI Instruments steps boldly into the world of performance MIDI controllers with the E16, a device engineered for musicians who demand both expressive nuance and workflow efficiency. In this official walkthrough, OXI showcases how the E16’s 16 metal encoders, LED feedback, and deep mapping capabilities are designed to become the command center of any hybrid setup. The video focuses on how the E16’s scene system, grouping, snapshots, and real-world integration can streamline complex rigs and inspire creative play. As always with OXI, the emphasis is on hands-on immediacy—backed by a robust app for those who want to dig even deeper.

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4. December 2025

SPARKY

MusicRadar Tech Puts the AstroLab 37 to the Test: Small Keys, Big Moves?

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MusicRadar Tech Puts the AstroLab 37 to the Test: Small Keys, Big Moves?

Arturia’s AstroLab 37 just landed, and MusicRadar Tech wastes no time getting their hands dirty. This pint-sized performance keyboard promises the full Analog Lab experience in a form factor that won’t break your back or your bank. But does shrinking the AstroLab make it a street weapon for gigging producers, or is it just another plastic pretender? We dive into the quirks, the killer features, and the bits that’ll have you swearing at your Wi-Fi. If you’re after a no-fluff verdict on whether this synth is worth your hard-earned cash, you’re in the right rave bunker.

3. December 2025

LUMINA

Pick Yourself: Breathing Life into Flat Sounds—The Secret Modulation Nebula

© Picture: Pick Yourself (YouTube)

Pick Yourself: Breathing Life into Flat Sounds—The Secret Modulation Nebula

In the echoing corridors of modern electronic music, the difference between a flat, two-dimensional patch and a living, breathing sonic sculpture is more than just a matter of gear. Pick Yourself, a mentor for producers seeking emotional resonance, unpacks the secret modulation system that transforms ordinary synth lines into immersive, goosebump-inducing experiences. This video is not about what you play, but how your sound evolves—how it inhales, exhales, and shimmers with subtle imperfection. Prepare to drift through layers of movement, spatial depth, and dynamic storytelling as we explore the magnetic resonance at the heart of professional sound design.

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3. December 2025

TAS

Monotrail Tech Talk’s Cheater’s Pad Trick: Lush Sounds from Barebones Modulars

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Monotrail Tech Talk’s Cheater’s Pad Trick: Lush Sounds from Barebones Modulars

Ever tried coaxing creamy pads out of your modular rig and ended up with something drier than a sausage roll in the outback sun? Monotrail Tech Talk is here to flip that script with a duophonic patch trick that’s as clever as a magpie with a stolen chip. In this video, Monotrail ditches the polyphonic big guns and shows how a humble two-oscillator mono voice can bloom into pads lush enough to make your DAW jealous. If you reckon modular’s just for plucks and bleeps, mate, you’re in for a treat. Grab a cold one and get ready for a

3. December 2025

SPARKY

Espen Kraft’s QX7 Christmas: Sequencing 80s Cheer Like a Pro

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Espen Kraft’s QX7 Christmas: Sequencing 80s Cheer Like a Pro

Espen Kraft is back in the synth bunker, this time with the Yamaha QX7 at the helm, wrangling a herd of classic 80s boxes to resurrect a festive banger—dawless, of course. If you think sequencers are just for nerds in lab coats, think again: this video is a crash course in proper groove wrangling, Kraft-style. Expect tight MIDI syncs, punchy drum machines, and enough quantization to make Santa tap his foot. Don’t let the Christmas theme fool you—this is a masterclass in vintage hardware sequencing, delivered with Espen’s trademark retro flair.

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3. December 2025

SPARKY

Starsky Carr Unleashes the Erica Synths Hexdrums: Out-of-the-Box Mayhem

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Starsky Carr Unleashes the Erica Synths Hexdrums: Out-of-the-Box Mayhem

Starsky Carr grabs the Erica Synths Hexdrums and dives straight in—no manual, no mercy. This is a first look that skips the waffle and gets right to the punch: analog grit, digital brains, and a master section that’ll melt your face if you’re not careful. If you’re after a drum module that can go from polite to pure chaos in seconds, Starsky’s got your fix. Expect crunchy beats, live tweaks, and a healthy dose of British banter. If you think you know what a drum module can do, think again—this one’s got a few rave bunker tricks up its sleeve.

Verbos Electronics Voltage Multistage 16: Multistage LFO Mayhem in Eurorack

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Verbos Electronics Voltage Multistage 16: Multistage LFO Mayhem in Eurorack

Verbos Electronics, the Berlin-based purveyors of West Coast–flavoured Eurorack, return with a deep dive into the Voltage Multistage 16 as a multistage LFO generator. This official walkthrough showcases the module’s knack for conjuring complex, evolving modulation patterns—think nested LFO shapes, strobe-triggered voltage jumps, and hands-free time modulation. If you’re after modulation that’s more Buchla than basic, this video is a patch-oriented treat. Let’s see how Verbos’ outside-in design philosophy translates to dynamic voltage sculpting and real-world patching tricks.

2. December 2025

LUMINA

Metamyther Illuminates the Moog Mind: Stephen Petoniak’s Sonic Blueprints

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Metamyther Illuminates the Moog Mind: Stephen Petoniak’s Sonic Blueprints

Step into the dimly lit workshop where sound is sculpted, not just built. Metamyther, known for cinematic industrial explorations, brings us face-to-face with Stephen Petoniak—the mind behind Moog’s tactile dreams. Through this immersive conversation, we drift through the magnetic resonance of design philosophy, the tactile ghosts of hardware, and the evolving nebulae of instruments like Muse and Labyrinth. This isn’t just a talk; it’s a journey into the emotional architecture of synthesis, where every knob and menu is a portal to creative possibility. Prepare to see, feel, and almost taste the future of sonic storytelling.

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Kurzweil K2088: Bonedo Synthesizers Unleash a Workstation Beast

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Kurzweil K2088: Bonedo Synthesizers Unleash a Workstation Beast

Bonedo Synthesizers are back at it, this time dropping the Kurzweil K2088 into the sonic arena. Forget your average plastic-fantastic keyboard – this is a heavyweight workstation with more engines than a rave bunker generator. No talking, no fluff, just pure sound – Bonedo’s signature style. If you’re after a synth that can layer, split, and mutate sounds faster than you can say ‘V.A.S.T.’, this video is your ticket. Dive in for a taste of what happens when German efficiency meets American synth muscle, and prepare to have your presets blown wide open.