Fender’s MIDI Moves & Korg’s Kaoss Comeback: Sanjay C Drops the News

Fender is out here making more than just guitars—they’re dropping the Motion 16 and Motion 32 MIDI controllers, and honestly, it’s about time someone shook up the controller game. Sanjay C lays it out: these boxes are built for both the DAW diehards and the live set hustlers, with tight integration for the new Fender Studio Pro (formerly Studio One), but they’ll also play nice with any other DAW you throw at them. The Motion 16 packs 16 polyphonic touch pads, nine touch knobs, a color display, and even a perpetual Studio Pro license—no subscription headaches here. There’s a touch strip, scale and chord features, and transport controls, all in a slick package that won’t eat your whole paycheck.

The Motion 32, on the other hand, is flexing with a keyboard-style layout, 32 pads, pitch and mod strips, and a bigger screen with those sweet contextual buttons. Sanjay C hints there’s a lot more under the hood, but you’ll have to wait for his NAMM coverage to see it in action. Price-wise, $270 for the 16 and $330 for the 32 means these aren’t just for the trust fund kids. If you want a controller that’s more than just a pretty face, Fender’s making moves. And let’s be real, seeing a guitar brand go full MIDI is the kind of plot twist that keeps this scene spicy.

Korg’s Kaoss Pad V is back, and it’s not just a nostalgia trip—it’s a full-on reinvention. Sanjay C breaks down the headline feature: two-finger control on the touch surface, letting you mess with two parameters at once. Imagine tweaking filter and delay at the same time, or pitching and reverberating your sounds like you’re DJing with both hands in a bowl of chili. That’s the kind of hands-on chaos (pun intended) that makes this box a live performer’s dream.

But Korg didn’t stop at party tricks. There’s a new voice effects engine for vocals, rap, and spoken word, with harmonies, vocoder vibes, and pitch effects. Plug your guitar or bass straight in—thanks to the Hi-Z input, no DI box needed. Plus, it doubles as a USB audio interface, so you can record or stream straight to your DAW. With 300 programs, SD card support, and MIDI in/out, this thing is more than just a toy. Whether you’re cooking up beats in the bedroom or flipping sets on stage, the Kaoss Pad V is ready to get weird. For the full flavor, though, you gotta see Sanjay C’s video—some things just can’t be explained, they gotta be heard.

Velvet Guitars by E-Instruments is not your average guitar plugin—it’s all about vibe, not virtuosity. Sanjay C spotlights how this instrument leans into mood and texture, perfect for cinematic scores or those late-night lo-fi jams. You get five guitars, two vintage amps, and real spring reverb, all recorded through actual hardware. No fake amp sims or impulse responses—just pure, buttery tone that’ll melt into your mix like cheese on street tacos.

The interface is simple and playable, borrowing its look from Desolate Guitars, so you won’t get lost in a sea of key switches. Use the mod wheel to blend articulations, swap chord flavors, or dial in extra movement. This isn’t just for guitarists—it’s for anyone chasing that cinematic, atmospheric sound. At $99 (or $79 if you already own Desolate Guitars), it’s a steal for the kind of texture it brings. If you want to hear how it really sits in a track, though, you’ll want to check Sanjay C’s demo—words can only take you so far when it comes to lush guitar tones.

Apple’s dropping Logic Pro 12, and Sanjay C’s got the scoop: it’s Apple Silicon only, so Intel Mac users are out of luck. The big news is the AI-powered features—Synth Player for electronic and synth bass parts that follow your song’s harmony, and Chord ID that turns audio or MIDI into chord progressions. There’s also a new subscription bundle, but you can still buy Logic outright. This is Apple leaning hard into the future, and whether you’re hyped or skeptical, it’s gonna shake up how folks make music. If you want the nitty-gritty, Sanjay C promises more coverage soon.