Molten Music Technology Brings the Heat: Synth East, Gear Oddities & Community Vibes

Synth East isn’t just another gear expo—it’s a full-on community rave for synth heads. Robin Vincent paints a picture of the Norwich Arts Centre packed with punters rummaging through modulars, trading patch tips, and downing the odd scotch egg. The vibe? Electric. Performances, patch-offs, and spontaneous jams break out everywhere, with both seasoned pros and newcomers getting their hands dirty.

What makes Synth East tick isn’t just the kit, but the people. The venue’s got character, and the crowd brings the energy. Robin’s quick to point out it’s not about him—it’s the community that makes it magic. From Friday night vinyl podcasts to DIY workshops on Sunday, the event pulses with a sense of belonging. If you’re after the real heart of UK synth culture, this is where it beats loudest.

FlatSix Modular’s Shroud of Turin is a generative sequencer that’s as much about happy accidents as it is about control. Robin’s clearly smitten—this thing loops, shifts, and spits out patterns you didn’t know you needed. It’s a proper playground for anyone who likes their melodies unpredictable but musical.

Then there’s the Musical Beings Tembo—a drum machine disguised as a board game. Magnetic counters, wooden grids, and a built-in sampler make it tactile and immediate. Sure, it’s a bit over-marketed and probably pricey, but it’s got that hands-on, anti-menu-diving vibe. If you want to make beats by literally moving pieces on a board, Tembo’s your jam. Both devices invite you to get stuck in and mess things up—in the best way possible.

GRM Tools Atelier lands like a UFO in the plugin world—modular, visual, and packed with sound-mangling power. Robin reminisces about glitching up dance pieces with the original GRM, and the new Atelier looks even more bonkers. If you want to warp, granulate, or just obliterate your audio, this is your new toy.

Eventide’s Music Mouse gets a modern reboot, bringing Laurie Spiegel’s generative ideas into the now. It’s mouse-driven, weird, and perfect for those who want to make music by wiggling a cursor. And let’s not forget NOMN FOAM’s bubble synthesis—16,000 voices of liquid chaos. Robin’s not sure if it’s genius or just fancy noise, but it’s definitely not boring. These tools are for the adventurous, the restless, and anyone bored of vanilla plugins.

Synth East isn’t just about gear—it’s about people and stories. The big news? Sam Battle (Look Mum No Computer) is the UK’s Eurovision entry. It’s bonkers, it’s brilliant, and Robin’s all in for the chaos. The synth community’s got its eyes on Vienna, hoping Sam brings modular mayhem to the world stage.

Beyond Eurovision, the calendar’s stacked: Synth South West, Synth Picnic, and more. These aren’t just trade shows—they’re cultural meetups, a chance for local makers and global nerds to swap ideas, eat sausage rolls, and keep the scene alive. If you want to feel the pulse of UK synth culture, these events are where the blood’s pumping.