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.

31. January 2026

Rapid Flow’s Quested H208: From Bedroom Bangers to Pro Studio Thunder

Ready to ditch your budget boxes and step into the big leagues? Rapid Flow’s Erik takes us on a wild ride through his studio monitor graveyard, landing squarely on the Quested H208s. This isn’t your average YouTube unboxing – it’s a no-holds-barred, brutally honest comparison of over 20 speakers, from plastic starter kits to pro-tier monsters. If you’re tired of tinny highs and gutless bass, or just want to know what actually slaps in a real studio, Erik’s got the answers (and a few spicy takes). Buckle up – this is speaker talk for serious heads.

Adam P11, Amphion 115, ATC 100, ATC 30, ATC 50, Auratone, Avantone Mixcubes, Dynaudio BM5 MK3, Dynaudio BM6A MK2, Dynaudio DM 601, Dynaudio LYD 48, Focal, Genelec 1030, Genelec 1031, Genelec 1032, Head Audio, IK Multimedia iLoud Micro, Kali Audio LP7, KRK RP5, M-Audio BX8, Mackie, MS Blues, Neumann O300, PSI Audio, Quested H208, Slate VSX, Yamaha HS5, Yamaha HS8

30. January 2026

TAS

Sam Gutman

Buchla & Friends: Sam Gutman’s Wild Synth Safari

Strap in, mates—Sam Gutman takes us on a synth-fuelled joyride through Buchla & Friends 2026, where the gear is as wild as a kangaroo on a Red Bull bender. From mind-bending controllers to volcanic sound machines, this video is a front-row seat to the most bonkers, experimental kit you’ll find outside a dust storm rave. Sam’s got the educator’s knack for digging into the details, but don’t expect a dry lecture—this is pure synth chaos with a side of cheeky banter. If you want to see what happens when tradition meets mad science, you’re in for a treat.

Buchla Music Easel by Buchla, Demonbox by Eternal Research, Dvina by Soma Laboratories, Erea 2 by Embodme, Flux by Soma Laboratories, Katla by Genki Instruments, Nymira by Terraphones, Omnisphere by Spectrasonics, Rhodes Piano by Rhodes, Uranograph by Clank

30. January 2026

SPARKY

Molten Music Technology

NAMM 2026: Molten Music Technology Drops the Gear Gauntlet

January 2026, and Molten Music Technology is back with a synth-stuffed, sarcasm-laced round-up of NAMM, Buchla & Friends, and a heap of gear that’ll make your wallet sweat. Robin Vincent’s no-nonsense style slices through the marketing fluff, spotlighting everything from Korg’s filter-happy interfaces to Behringer’s vaporware and Bastl’s modular mischief. If you want the real dirt on what’s hot, what’s weird, and what’s just plain unnecessary in the synth world, this is your rave bunker briefing. Spoiler: not everything gets a gold star, but you’ll want to watch the video for the full sonic mayhem.

Bastl Citadel Alchemist, Behringer JN80, Behringer JT2, Korg Filter Ark, Korg Kaoss Pad V, Korg microAUDIO722, Native Instruments (general)

30. January 2026

SPARKY

Signal Sounds

Signal Sounds Goes Deep: Smear by Smoothie Audio – The 98-Pole Phase Mutant

Signal Sounds isn’t here to sell you another polite filter – they’re unleashing Smear, a dual 98-pole allpass monster from Smoothie Audio that’ll twist your drums and synths into spectral origami. Tom dives in, showing off how this rare beast mangles phase, warps percussion, and turns even the driest saw wave into a mutant groove weapon. If you think you’ve heard every filter trick in the book, think again – Smear is all about unpredictable, mind-bending results. Strap in, because this module doesn’t just colour your sound, it shoves it through a wormhole. Curious? You’ll want to see (and hear)

Smoothie Audio Smear

30. January 2026

SPARKY

Vulture Culture

Vulture Culture Gets Hands-On: Yamaha URX44 – Touchscreens, Tank Build, and Studio Mayhem

Choosing an audio interface shouldn’t feel like picking a toaster in a blackout, but here we are. Vulture Culture dives headfirst into the Yamaha URX44—a touchscreen beast with the build of a rave bunker and the brains to match. Forget plastic tat: this thing’s metal, heavy, and unapologetically pro. If you’re after instant workflow, deep DSP, and enough I/O to run a small synth cult, this review is your backstage pass. Vulture Culture’s no-nonsense style slices through the hype, so expect sharp takes, real-world tests, and a few jabs at fiddly menus. Ready for a street weapon in interface form?

Korg Mono/Poly, Yamaha URX44

30. January 2026

SPARKY

DivKid

DivKid Unleashes Opalina: A Stereo Filter Network That Slaps

DivKid’s back in the rave bunker, this time with Hieroglyphic’s Opalina – a stereo triple filter network that’s part spectral playground, part modular street weapon. Forget polite EQs: this beast slices, dices, and pings your audio into multiband mayhem, with a resonator mode that’ll have your oscillators begging for mercy. In classic DivKid style, we get three punchy patches, a heap of practical tricks, and enough modulation to make your patch cables sweat. If you want to see a filter network do things most mixers only dream of, keep reading – but trust me, the real magic’s in the video

Hieroglyphic Opalina, OpEx Expander

30. January 2026

SPARKY

The Midlife Synthesist

The Midlife Synthesist Unleashes the Launch Control XL3: MIDI Mayhem on a Budget

The Midlife Synthesist is back, and this time he’s got his hands on the Novation Launch Control XL3—freshly updated and ready to throw down in your hardware or DAW setup. Forget the endless menu-diving and USB-only headaches of the past; this box now packs dual 5-pin MIDI outs and a firmware update that actually matters. Expect sharp takes, quick demos, and a wishlist for the next round of upgrades. If you want to see a MIDI controller get put through its paces by someone who actually knows their way around a groovebox, this is the one to watch. Spoiler: it’s

Novation Launch Control XL3

30. January 2026

TAS

Free Beat

Free Beat Unleashes KOII’s Live Sampling: A Kangaroo in the Sequencer Pit

Ever wondered if your sampler could keep up with your wildest live antics? Free Beat’s latest KOII trick is as wild as a kangaroo on a Red Bull bender—sampling on the fly while the sequencer’s still running! This isn’t just another gear demo; it’s a full-blown jam session with the KOII and Korg Volca Drum, showing off workflow hacks that’ll have your next rave set sounding like an outback storm. If you’re keen to see how fixed-length sampling can supercharge your live rig, grab a cold one and dive in. Just don’t expect a dry technical manual—this is Free Beat,

Korg Volca Drum, Teenage Engineering KOII

30. January 2026

SPARKY

Liam Killen

Liam Killen’s TR-1000: Three Months in the Drum Matrix

Liam Killen’s spent three months locked in a groove bunker with the Roland TR-1000, and he’s finally surfacing to spill the beans. This isn’t your average drum machine review – it’s a deep dive into the twisted, tweakable world of the TR-1000, with all the knob-fiddling, macro-mangling, and workflow head-scratching you’d expect from a box this complex. Liam’s signature clarity meets a machine that’s anything but straightforward, and the result is a tour for producers who want more than just another 4/4 banger. If you think you know drum machines, think again – this one’s got more directions than a

Roland TR-1000

30. January 2026

RILEY

Nu-Trix The Synth Guy

Nu-Trix The Synth Guy Gets Fast and Dirty with Polaris for iPad

If you’re on the hunt for a groovebox that lets you bang out beats on your iPad faster than you can order a slice of deep-dish, Nu-Trix The Synth Guy just served up a hot one. In his latest video, he dives into Polaris—a drum machine app that’s all about speed, flexibility, and keeping your workflow smoother than a fresh pair of sneakers. Expect quick tips, real talk, and enough hands-on action to make your sampler jealous. Nu-Trix’s laid-back, teacher-meets-beatmaker style makes this walkthrough a must-watch for anyone who wants to make music without getting lost in menus. Grab your

Polaris for iPad

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