Synthmagazine | Synth News, Gear & Sound Design

22. December 2025

Oscillator Sink’s Antilope: The Anti-Drum Machine That Eats Grooveboxes for Breakfast

Oscillator Sink, the master of calm synth explorations, takes a hard left turn into chaos with the Manifold Research Centre Antilope—a machine that refuses to pick a lane. This isn’t your dad’s drum machine; it’s a feedback-fuelled, semi-modular Frankenstein that blurs the lines between groovebox, FX mangler, and noise synth. In this deep-dive, Oscillator Sink methodically tears down the Antilope’s architecture, pokes at its analog guts, and shows off just how far you can push its experimental edge. If you’re bored of polite, grid-locked boxes, this one’s got enough attitude to start a toaster-fight in your rack. Dive in for

Manifold Research Centre Antilope

22. December 2025

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Starsky Carr

Starsky Carr’s Studio Essentials: Five Budget Weapons That Actually Matter

Starsky Carr is back in the rave bunker, torch in hand, digging up the unsung heroes of the studio—those sneaky little utilities that keep your synths and drum machines from eating each other alive. Forget the headline acts; this is about the gear that makes the rest of your setup actually work. From gain-staging ninjas to disco-flashing meters and a filter that growls like a warehouse sub, Starsky’s latest roundup is a love letter to the bits you didn’t know you needed. If you’re sick of signal headaches and timing tantrums, this one’s for you. Prepare for a tour of

Cre8Audio Assembler, DF Audio Nano U, Gnome II, Stylophone DF-8 Stereo Multimode Filter, Vaski Lights

22. December 2025

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SoulBrix Music

SoulBrix Music’s EP-40 Riddim: Reggae DNA, Rave Attitude

SoulBrix Music dives headfirst into the Teenage Engineering EP-40 Riddim, a groovebox that’s got reggae in its bones but enough attitude to crash any genre party. This isn’t your average DAWless toy – it’s a portable, self-contained beat machine with stock sounds that ooze grit and a workflow that’ll make you rethink your muscle memory. From punch-in effects that beg to be abused to a quirky mic sidekick, SoulBrix gives us a fast, honest, and sometimes hilarious first look. If you want the real dirt on whether this box slaps or flops, keep reading – but trust me, you’ll want

Teenage Engineering EP-40 Riddim, TingFX EP-2530

22. December 2025

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Voltage Labs

Voltage Labs Illuminates: LTJ Bukem’s Sonic Dreamscapes

Step into the luminous world of LTJ Bukem, where drum and bass dissolves into mist and melody. Voltage Labs, ever the cartographer of electronic music’s emotional landscapes, guides us through the story of a producer who painted breakbeats with jazz, ambient, and soul. This isn’t just a chronicle of a genre’s evolution—it’s a meditation on how sound can shimmer, breathe, and transform. Prepare to drift through nebula pads, underwater grooves, and the magnetic resonance of a movement that still echoes today.

22. December 2025

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The Unperson

The Unperson’s Live Rig: A Hardware Rave That Laughs in the Face of DAWs

Ready for a wild ride through the world of live hardware synth sets? The Unperson, that Glasgow-based sonic wrangler, takes us on a cheeky tour of his gig-ready setup—one that’s as hands-on as a sausage sizzle and twice as unpredictable. Forget your laptop and pristine studio: this is all about real-time mixing, sample-slinging, and a dash of live vocals for good measure. If you’ve ever wondered how to wrangle a pile of synths, samplers, and modular bits into a performance beast that’ll survive a sticky-floored club, this one’s for you. Grab a cold one and let’s dive in!

After Later Bartender, Echo Cinematic, Happy Nerding FX Aid, Instro Carn, Instro Cure, Instro Div Kid Oct, Mutable Instruments Beads, Pamela's Pro Workout, Pico Input, Squarp Rample Turbo, Teenage Engineering KO-2, VONGON Replay

22. December 2025

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SYNTH ANATOMY

SYNTH ANATOMY Unleashes the ESI Xsynth: The ROMpler-Virtual Analog Mashup Nobody Saw Coming

SYNTH ANATOMY is back in the rave bunker, this time with the ESI Xsynth—a portable all-in-one keyboard that’s part MIDI interface, part audio interface, and part 10-voice digital synth. If you’re nostalgic for 90s ROMplers but want a taste of early 2000s VA grit, this beast might just scratch that itch. Tom’s no-nonsense walkthrough skips the fluff and dives straight into the guts of the Xsynth, showing off its hands-on workflow, deep modulation, and a sound engine that’s more than just a pretty face. If you’re after a street weapon for your next live set or studio jam, keep reading—this

ESI XSynth

21. December 2025

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David Hilowitz Music

David Hilowitz Music Turns a Graphing Calculator into a Sonic Outback Adventure

Ever wondered what would happen if you handed a TI-83 calculator a didgeridoo and told it to join the band? Well, David Hilowitz Music has done just that—transforming a humble curbside find into a lo-fi music machine that’s as unpredictable as an outback storm. In this wild ride, David wrangles Houston Tracker software onto the calculator, battles tech gremlins, and emerges with a sound that’s pure retro chaos. But he doesn’t stop there—he codes up a plugin that lets you sculpt waveforms with maths, turning equations into earworms. Mate, if you reckon maths and music don’t mix, this video will

Equations Synth, Houston Tracker, TI-83 graphing calculator

21. December 2025

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The Midlife Synthesist

The Midlife Synthesist Unleashes the PolyBrute 12: One Year In, Still a Sonic Street Weapon

The Midlife Synthesist is back in the rave bunker, this time with a year-long verdict on the Arturia PolyBrute 12. Forget spec sheets and marketing fluff—this is a real-world, sweat-soaked review from someone who’s hammered the keys for twelve months straight. Expect sharp opinions, a few side-eyes at the synth’s bulk, and plenty of praise for its monstrous sound and tactile keybed. If you want to know whether this flagship analog beast is worth the studio space, strap in. The PolyBrute 12 gets the full, no-nonsense treatment—warts, wonders, and all.

Arturia Polybrute 12

21. December 2025

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Sanjay C

Sanjay C Drops Freebies and Fire: The Beatmaker’s Guide to This Week’s Plugin Gold

If you’re hunting for fresh sounds without torching your wallet, Sanjay C’s latest Music Production News is the mixtape you need. This week, he’s serving up cinematic guitar magic, a full-on wavetable synth for zero bucks, and a handful of tools that’ll make your DAW sweat. Sanjay’s signature style—clear, practical, and just nerdy enough—makes even the wildest plugins feel like street food for your beats. Whether you’re a bedroom producer or a studio vet, this roundup’s got the sauce. Don’t sleep on the free stuff—some of these deals vanish faster than cheap beer at a block party.

Opacity 2, Parrot, Pigments 7, Soundbox, Strum Plate, Synthmaster One

21. December 2025

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Scott's Synth Stuff

Scott’s Synth Stuff Unleashes a £100 Second Keyboard Hack for MODX & Montage

Ever felt your Yamaha MODX or Montage is one keyboard short of a proper rave bunker? Scott’s Synth Stuff is here with a cheeky workaround that turns a humble MIDI controller into a second board, all for less than the price of a dodgy night out. No need to remortgage for another flagship—just plug in, split, and layer your way to sonic excess. If you like your synth rigs flexible, budget-friendly, and a bit rebellious, this one’s for you. Scott’s direct, practical style keeps the nonsense out and the creativity in.

Novation Launchkey 37, Yamaha MODX, Yamaha Montage

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