synthmagazine.com – Every day, synthmagazine.com publishes fresh articles, artist stories and gear news from the world of electronic music – your independent magazine for synth culture and sound design.

3. February 2026

Sineway’s Microcosm Mayhem: Turning Effects into Idea Generators with Digitakt II

Ever wondered what happens when you treat your effects pedal like a wild idea kangaroo instead of just a finishing touch? Sineway’s latest escapade is a ripper: Sequential Fourm, Hologram Microcosm, and Digitakt II all thrown into the ring for a no-prep, from-scratch track build. This isn’t your usual polite studio noodling—Sineway’s workflow is fast, hands-on, and full of surprises, with the Microcosm leading the charge as a chaos box for inspiration. If you’re keen to see a pro wrangle fresh sounds and build a club-ready groove before you can say “outback BBQ,” this one’s for you. Grab a cold

Digitakt II, Faderfox UC4, Hologram Microcosm, Sequential Fourm

3. February 2026

LUMINA

Underdog Electronic Music School

Underdog Electronic Music School: Feedback Delays as Sonic Storytellers

What if the heart of your synth patch wasn’t an oscillator, but a feedbacking delay—a living, wailing entity that breathes instability into every note? In this immersive exploration, Underdog Electronic Music School guides us through a decade-long search for a sound that slips, slides, and howls with magnetic resonance. We drift through modular landscapes and digital realms, chasing the spectral textures that once haunted Kangding Ray’s productions. Prepare to unmoor your expectations: this is sound design as narrative, where each drone is a nebula and every pulse a flicker of fractured light.

Ableton Echo, Ableton Shaper, Chakmat Triple Steeple, Knight's Gallop, Pit Viper by Animo Factories, Sarajevo delay line, Steve's MS-22 by Three Tom Modular

2. February 2026

LUMINA

HAINBACH

HAINBACH and the String Armonica MK2: Overtone Dreams and Sonic Glasswork

Step into a mist-laden soundscape where resonance shimmers and history hums beneath your fingertips. HAINBACH, ever the explorer of sonic oddities, invites us to drift inside the String Armonica MK2—a modern vessel inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s glass armonica, yet reborn for today’s ambient voyagers. This is not just an instrument; it’s a magnetic bridge between ancient psalter and futuristic shimmer, where every note blooms like fractured light through fog. Prepare to be enveloped by overtone-rich textures and the peculiar beauty of a machine that feels as much spirit as circuitry. The real magic, as always with HAINBACH, is best experienced

String Armonica MK2

2. February 2026

SPARKY

Woody Piano Shack

Woody Piano Shack’s Minilogue Review: Four Notes, One Big Rave Bunker Question

Woody Piano Shack dives headfirst into the KORG Minilogue, the synth that’s been haunting budget-minded analog lovers for nearly a decade. Is it still worth your hard-earned cash in 2026, or is four-note polyphony just a cruel joke in a world of digital giants? Woody’s signature blend of hands-on honesty and gentle sarcasm slices through the hype, giving us a no-frills look at what slaps, what sucks, and why this synth might still have a place in your studio—if you can live with its quirks. Grab a cuppa, because this review doesn’t pull any punches.

Korg Minilogue

1. February 2026

TAS

sunwarper

NAMM 2026’s Wildest Rigs: Sunwarper’s Top Gear Picks That’ll Make Your Studio Roar

Strap in, mates—Sunwarper’s just come back from NAMM 2026 with a swag of synths, samplers, and oddball contraptions that’ll make your head spin faster than a turntable at a bush doof. From retro-styled samplers with a mind of their own to AI pedals that sound like they’ve been cooked up after a late-night servo run, this isn’t your average gear roundup. Sunwarper’s keen ear for workflow and weirdness means only the most bonkers, inspiring, and genuinely useful kit made the cut. Whether you’re a seasoned beat butcher or just want a rig that survives a dust storm, this list is

Akai MPC Live 3, Casio SX-C1 Sampler, Erica Synths Hexdrums, Erica Synths Steampipe, Roland Project Lydia, Yamaha SEQTRAK

1. February 2026

SPARKY

Andrew Chapman Creative

Andrew Chapman Creative Digs Into the RND 535: Clean Intentions, Dirty Results

Andrew Chapman Creative isn’t here to sell you a fairytale about vintage Neve mojo. In this punchy breakdown, he tears into the Rupert Neve Designs 535 Diode Bridge Compressor, exposing the myth that Rupert Neve was chasing ‘vibe’ when he built his legendary boxes. Instead, Chapman gives us the real story: accuracy, neutrality, and a compressor that’s more utilitarian than unicorn dust. Expect gritty bass, snappy snares, and brutally honest takes on whether this 500-series slab deserves a slot in your rack. If you think all Neve gear is just character in a box, buckle up – this one’s got

Black Lion Audio Bluey 500, Neve 2254 Compressor, Rupert Neve Designs 535 Diode Bridge Compressor

1. February 2026

TAS

Blairy's Beatlab

Blairy’s Beatlab Unleashes the Hydrasynth: Sequencer or Secret Weapon?

If you reckon the Hydrasynth is just another pretty face with no sequencer, Blairy’s Beatlab is here to flip that idea on its head, mate. Old Uncle Blairy dives deep into the Hydrasynth’s wild sound design tricks, showing off how its LFOs moonlight as sneaky step sequencers—no menu-diving headaches, just pure creative chaos. With a DIY spirit and a knack for turning happy accidents into bangers, Blairy samples his Hydrasynth patches straight into the Octatrack, then spices things up with drums and a dash of outback unpredictability. This is hands-on hardware jamming at its finest—grab your coffee and get ready

ASM Hydrasynth, Behringer 2600, Elektron Octatrack

1. February 2026

SPARKY

Doctor Mix

Doctor Mix at NAMM 2026: Korg Phase 8 & Black Panther System – Synths and Stands That Actually Slap

Doctor Mix storms NAMM 2026 with his trademark enthusiasm, but this time even the most jaded synth-heads should pay attention. The Korg Phase 8 isn’t just another plastic box—it’s an acoustic synth with real metal tines, shaking up the floor with physical sound you can actually feel. Meanwhile, Black Panther System’s modular stands are less furniture, more fortress, ready to handle your heaviest gear and wildest setups. If you think you’ve seen it all, think again: this episode is a rave bunker tour of gear that doesn’t just look cool, it rewrites the rulebook. Dive in for a taste—just don’t

Black Panther System modular keyboard stands, Korg Phase 8

1. February 2026

SPARKY

Free Beat

Free Beat Unleashes the KOII Fader: Finally, Some Real-Time Mayhem

Free Beat’s finally cracked the KOII fader, and it’s about time. If you’ve ever stared at that slider wondering if it’s just a volume knob in disguise, prepare to have your mind (and maybe your jam sessions) blown. This video is a crash course in real-time sound mangling, fader assignments, and the kind of performance tricks that make the KOII a proper street weapon. Free Beat’s practical, hands-on style means you get the dirt, not the brochure. If you want to see the KOII fader actually earn its keep, this is your ticket.

Teenage Engineering KOII

31. January 2026

SPARKY

AudioPilz

AudioPilz vs. M-Audio VENOM: Synth Infamy, Dirty Secrets, and a Sonic Redemption

Is the M-Audio VENOM really the worst synth ever, or is it just the misunderstood villain of the music tech world? AudioPilz, the maestro of meme-fuelled gear takedowns, drags this notorious plastic beast out of the bargain bin and into the harsh rave bunker lights. Expect sharp wit, brutal honesty, and a few sonic surprises as he puts the VENOM through its paces. If you think you know bad gear, think again—this episode might just change your mind, or at least make you laugh while you reconsider.

M-Audio VENOM

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