Synthmagazine | Synth News, Gear & Sound Design

2. April 2026

MusicRadar Tech’s Modulation Mayhem: Ableton’s Chorus, Phaser & Flanger Get the Rave Treatment

Ready to turn your static tracks into a swirling, stereo rave bunker? MusicRadar Tech teams up with Ableton Certified Trainer Tom Glendinning to put Live’s built-in modulation effects through their paces. Forget third-party plugins—Tom shows how chorus, ensemble, phaser and flanger can inject serious movement and width straight from Ableton’s own arsenal. If you’re after gritty bass, lush chords, or drums that actually move, this is your street-level guide. Don’t just read about it—some of these tricks need to be heard to be believed. Let’s dive in before your next track flatlines.

Ableton Live, Chorus-Ensemble, Echo, Phaser-Flanger

1. April 2026

MILES

Frap Tools

Frap Tools Magnolia: Reverse Engineering Presets Without a Screen

Factory presets on digital synths often feel like locked vaults, especially when the interface is as minimal as Magnolia’s seven-segment display. In classic Frap Tools fashion, this video walks through a methodical, patch-oriented approach to dissecting any Magnolia preset—no screen required. The focus is on understanding the architecture, modulation routings, and parameter values that shape each sound, using only the instrument’s LEDs and tactile controls. For those who thrive on signal flow and crave a deeper connection with their synth, this is a masterclass in analytical patchwork, revealing how Magnolia’s interface can become a powerful tool for sonic investigation rather

Frap Tools Magnolia

1. April 2026

LUMINA

Starsky Carr

Starsky Carr and the Sonic Volcano: Genki KATLA Erupts Beyond Convention

From the land where fire and ice entwine, Starsky Carr brings us a synth that doesn’t just break the mold—it melts it. The Genki KATLA, inspired by Icelandic volcanoes, is no ordinary polysynth. With its rotating voice architecture and hybrid signal path, KATLA invites us to drift inside a world of unpredictable textures and evolving harmonics. Starsky’s signature clarity guides us through this landscape of sonic magma, where each note blooms and mutates, and the boundaries of synthesis dissolve. This is not a review for the faint of heart, but for those who seek new sound worlds—where the ground rumbles

Genki KATLA

1. April 2026

TAS

DivKid

DivKid Goes Walkabout: Poly Effects TRAILS Pedal Unleashed

If you reckon pedals are just for guitarists, DivKid’s latest deep-dive into the Poly Effects TRAILS will have you rethinking your whole rig, mate. This box isn’t just a pedal—it’s a sonic bush bash, loaded with seven wild FX modes that’ll make your synths, drum machines, and even your nan’s dusty Rhodes sound like they’re lost in an outback storm. DivKid’s signature style—equal parts nerdy, cheeky, and hands-on—guides us through a playground of resonators, granular madness, vinyl crackle, and more. Whether you’re after shimmering pads or filthy distortion, this video is a ripper for anyone keen to get weird and

Poly Effects TRAILS

1. April 2026

SPARKY

Nu-Trix The Synth Guy

Nu-Trix The Synth Guy Unleashes the Cherry Audio Crumar DS2: Retro Rave Weapon or Just Odd?

Cherry Audio’s Crumar DS2 softsynth lands with a thud—equal parts retro obscurity and modern muscle. Nu-Trix The Synth Guy, always up for a deep-dive into the weird and wonderful, takes us through a guided tour that’s as much about sonic potential as it is about interface quirks. If you like your synths with a dash of history and a heap of tweakability, this one’s for you. Expect dual engines, modulation madness, and a jam that’ll make your headphones sweat. Don’t expect hand-holding—Nu-Trix keeps it brisk, nerdy, and straight to the point.

Cherry Audio Crumar DS2

1. April 2026

SPARKY

TAETRO

TAETRO’s Setup Showdown: DAW vs Sampler – Which Rig Packs the Punch?

TAETRO’s back in the bunker, pitting two music production rigs head-to-head: a slick MIDI/DAW setup versus a hardware sampler beast. Forget polite gear tours—this is a straight-up face-off, with the XTS Performance Stand flexing under the weight of both workflows. Expect rapid-fire controller swaps, cheeky cable wrangling, and a sampler rig that’s more than just a nostalgia trip. If you’re torn between Ableton Live wizardry and the raw, hands-on chaos of MPC sampling, TAETRO’s got you covered. Spoiler: there’s no single winner—just two street weapons ready for your next sonic throwdown.

AIAIAI TMA-2, Analog Cases XTS Performance Stand System, Astrolab 37, Bento, Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, iPad Mini, MPC Sample, Novation Launchkey 37 Mk3, Novation Launchpad X, Shure SM58, Synido TempoPAD C16

31. March 2026

LYRA

Synido Tech

Synido Tech’s TempoPAD P16: Four Ways a Pad Controller Shapes Modern Music Workflows

Is a MIDI controller still essential in today’s hybrid studio? Synido Tech dives into this question with a focused look at the TempoPAD P16, highlighting how a compact 4×4 pad controller can streamline everything from beatmaking to orchestral programming. The video walks through four core use cases—drum programming, melodic work, live performance, and advanced control—while also comparing pad and keyboard workflows. For anyone navigating DAWs like Ableton Live or FL Studio, this is a practical, architecture-minded guide to getting the most out of a modern MIDI controller, especially if you’re considering the leap from keys to pads.

Synido TempoPAD P16

31. March 2026

SPARKY

Starsky Carr

Starsky Carr Unleashes the Retroaktiv PatchGen: Instant Bangers for Your MKS-70

Starsky Carr is back in the rave bunker, this time showing off how the Retroaktiv MPG7X controller turns the Roland MKS-70 into a patch-generating beast. Forget endless menu-diving—this setup spits out pro-level sounds faster than you can type their names. Whether you’re after snappy basses, lush pads, or lo-fi organs, Patch Gen’s intelligent randomisation means you’re never more than a button-press away from your next sonic street weapon. If you think patch design has to be slow and painful, Starsky’s no-nonsense walkthrough will make you think again. Dive in, but don’t expect him to hold your hand—this is for synth

Retroaktiv MPG7X, Roland MKS-70

31. March 2026

JET

Metamyther

Metamyther Unleashes Industrial Mayhem: Four Bricks Rook vs Mystic Circuits IDUM

Ready for a proper sonic punch-up? Metamyther drags the Shakmat Four Bricks Rook and Mystic Circuits IDUM into the ring for a session of industrial IDM chaos. Forget polite, predictable beats—this is all about glitchy, unpredictable mayhem, the sort of racket that’d have your nan calling the council. Metamyther’s cinematic-industrial approach meets raw modular grit, and the results are as filthy as a Camden pavement after a Saturday night. If you’re after clean, safe techno, jog on. But if you want to see modular gear pushed to the edge of a nervous breakdown, this is your jam.

Boom, Debo Elia, Desmodus, Incas, Mystic Circuits IDUM, Noise Plethora, Pamela's New Workout, Percol, Percos, Shakmat Four Bricks Rook, Voltage Block, Zadar

30. March 2026

SPARKY

The Unperson

The Unperson Unleashes Alt Firmware: Mutable Rings Gets a Sonic Reboot

Just when you thought Mutable Instruments Rings had coughed up its last ghostly pluck, The Unperson drops a firmware bomb that turns this classic Eurorack module into a whole new rave weapon. We’re talking frequency locking, new chord charts, and a mini Elements mode that spits out textures your DAW can only dream of. If you thought Rings was just for polite ambient noodles, think again—this update is for the patch-hungry, menu-punching, chaos-loving crowd. The Unperson’s style is as sharp as ever, guiding us through the firmware’s quirks and showing why this module refuses to die quietly. Get ready to

Mutable Instruments Rings

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