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.

21. January 2026

Akai Professional MPC XL: Teddy Riley’s Legacy Meets Next-Gen Production Power

Akai Professional’s MPC series has long been a cornerstone for beatmakers and producers, and with the new MPC XL, the brand aims to bridge its storied past with cutting-edge production capabilities. In this official video, legendary producer Teddy Riley revisits his creative roots, sharing how the MPC’s workflow shaped his sound and continues to inspire him. The MPC XL is presented as a powerhouse for both nostalgia and innovation, promising full-scale instrument support, enhanced speed, and standalone performance. We dive into how Akai’s latest flagship is positioned to empower the next chapter for creators—whether you’re a seasoned MPC veteran or

Akai Professional MPC XL

21. January 2026

SPARKY

Andertons Synths, Keys and Tech

Rane System One: Andertons Synths, Keys and Tech Unleash a Standalone DJ Street Weapon

Forget laptops and cable spaghetti—Andertons Synths, Keys and Tech just threw the Rane System One on the table, and it’s a proper rave bunker upgrade. Motorised platters, onboard effects, and enough connectivity to power a small festival—all without a laptop in sight. Jack Duxbury and crew put this beast through its paces, showing off why it’s not just another shiny box but a real contender for DJs who want to ditch the screen and get their hands dirty. If you’re after a DJ system that actually feels like DJing, this one’s got some serious bite.

Rane System One

21. January 2026

SPARKY

Andertons Synths, Keys and Tech

AKAI MPC XL: Andertons Synths, Keys and Tech Drop a Standalone Bomb

The AKAI MPC XL has landed, and Andertons Synths, Keys and Tech are here to show us why this beast is more than just another MPC. Jack Duxbury and Andy Mack get their hands dirty, tearing through features, flexing the new expressive pads, and showing off workflow tricks that would make your DAW cry. If you thought standalone production was already wild, the XL just turned it up to eleven. This isn’t your dad’s sampler – it’s a rave bunker in a box, and Andertons’ no-nonsense approach means you get the real story, warts and all. Ready for a proper

Akai MPC XL

21. January 2026

SPARKY

MusicRadar Tech

MusicRadar Tech’s MPC XL Review: Studio Heavyweight or Overpriced Dinosaur?

MusicRadar Tech have dragged Akai’s new MPC XL into the bunker for a first look, and let’s just say, this thing isn’t here to play nice. With double the RAM, a heap of new controls, and those expressive MPCe pads, the XL is gunning for studio dominance. But is it a true upgrade, or just a big, expensive brick? We break down the key features, the workflow tweaks, and why you might still want to grab an MPC Live instead. If you’re after a portable groovebox, look away now – but if you want a centrepiece that could anchor your

Akai MPC Live III, Akai MPC X, Akai MPC XL

20. January 2026

SPARKY

Bounce Chord

Bounce Chord’s Modulation Mayhem: Drum Machines Get Twisted

Bounce Chord is back, and this time they’re dragging the Arturia Drumbrute Impact through a gauntlet of bargain modulation pedals. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when you shove analog drums through chorus, flanger, tremolo, phaser and a univibe, this is your rave bunker field report. Expect dry wit, hands-on knob-twiddling, and a no-frills approach to pedalboard chaos. The results? Sometimes subtle, sometimes gloriously weird, and always a reminder that gear is meant to be pushed, not pampered. Dive in if you like your beats mangled and your pedals cheap.

Arturia Drumbrute Impact, Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble, Guptek V.D. Vibe, Ibanez Mini Tremolo, MXR Micro Flanger, MXR Phase 90

20. January 2026

LUMINA

DivKid

DivKid and Todd Barton: Krell Patches, Cinematic Echoes, and the Art of Touching Sound

Step into the nebula where film history and modular synthesis entwine. DivKid, ever the sonic cartographer, invites Todd Barton to trace the spectral origins of the Krell patch—a generative marvel inspired by the haunting score of Forbidden Planet. This is not just a technical walkthrough; it’s a poetic meditation on randomness, feedback, and the tactile act of shaping sound. As Barton shares his journey from accidental discovery to intricate expansion, we’re reminded that true synthesis is as much about listening and touch as it is about voltage and wire. Prepare to drift inside a world where every note is a

Buchla Modular-Synthesizer

20. January 2026

TAS

Metamyther

Metamyther Unleashes Esu’s Trifecta: Triple Trouble for Modular Maniacs

Ready to turn your modular rig into an outback rave with a side of sonic mayhem? Metamyther dives headfirst into Esu’s Trifecta, a triple-effects Eurorack beast that’s as wild as a kangaroo on a Red Bull bender. This isn’t your average FX box—it’s a stereo monster built for stacking, mangling, and modulating your sounds into alien territory. If you’re keen on cinematic industrial textures or just want to fry your patch in a dust storm of stereo weirdness, Metamyther’s got the goods. Grab your sunnies and buckle up, because this demo is a proper sonic joyride.

Esu Trifecta

20. January 2026

LUMINA

Underdog Electronic Music School

Underdog Electronic Music School: One Note, Infinite Stories – The Delta Sound Challenge

What if a single note could unfold like a cinematic landscape, shifting its shape and color as it drifts through time? In this poetic exploration, Underdog Electronic Music School invites us to master our synthesizers not through complexity, but by sculpting a solitary sound into a living, breathing entity. The One Note Challenge, inspired by the evocative concept of Delta Sounds from acousmatic music, becomes a canvas for sonic storytelling. Here, modulation is not just a tool, but a brushstroke, painting emotion and movement into the very fabric of a tone. Prepare to step inside the nebula, where envelopes, LFOs,

Ableton Live, Wavetable Synth

20. January 2026

SPARKY

Produkt Audio

Produkt Audio’s Kobol Expander Deep Dive: No Knob Left Unturned

Ready to wring every drop of filth and finesse out of the Behringer Kobol Expander? Produkt Audio delivers a full-on rave bunker tutorial, pulling apart every knob, switch, and patch point with the kind of technical swagger that makes manuals look like bedtime stories. Expect a relentless, feature-by-feature breakdown—no cable left dangling, no waveform un-swept. If you think you know this synth, think again. This is the unofficial manual your patch cables have been begging for, and Produkt Audio’s methodical-yet-musical approach means you’ll actually want to watch (and re-watch) every minute.

Behringer Kobol Expander

19. January 2026

SPARKY

The Unperson

Tides Unleashed: The Unperson Turns Mutable’s Modulator into a Sonic Street Weapon

Mutable Instruments Tides v2: you know it as a modulation workhorse, but The Unperson isn’t here for polite envelopes. This video rips Tides out of LFO duty and shoves it straight into VCO territory, wringing out every last drop of oscillator juice. Expect a hands-on, no-fluff tour through its output modes, pitch tracking, and a few patches that’ll have your rack sweating. If you think Tides is just for wobbly modulations, prepare for a rude awakening. The Unperson’s style is all about direct action—no endless menu-diving, just raw, musical experiments.

Mutable Instruments Tides v2

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