Once I’d heard ‘Are Friends’ Electric?” by Tubeway Army, I knew synthesizers would be a huge part of my life. Despite drums becoming my main instrument for many years, I dabbled and lusted after countless pieces of gear and started using computers to help me make my own music with a Commodore 64 and a copy of Electrosound.
Over the years, I eventually progressed to more professional tools and began to truly indulge my love of electronic music making, slowly building a collection of gear that covered most synthesis methods, from sampling to physical modelling and beyond. However, my love of the gear that soundtracked my formative years was strong and I was fortunate enough to be asked to work with the inventor of the Fairlight CMI on their more recent projects. This then led to me restoring Fairlight CMI’s, something I still do to this day.
My home studio is now filled with classic vintage gear of the 80s and 90s, as well as modern classics. In recent years, I have been producing podcasts for Sound On Sound, as well as writing articles for them and I also present a weekly live stream for the Pro Synth Network. I still drum, albeit now on e-Drum kits, which are far easier to move around and a lot quieter when practising! You can often find me delivering seminars & lectures and at various synth shows around the world, talking about and demonstrating iconic synths.
GForce Software's OB-EZ aims to make your OB-E experience more streamlined with a full OB-E engine wrapped in a minimal skin.
IK Multimedia's new ARC Studio hardware and ARC 4 software might be setting a new benchmark for room correction software.
Some great savings this week for rhythm junkies with superb deals on a quality e-Drum kit, a legendary pad unit and a unique drum machine.
Keytars come in for some serious stick so how about a shift in the paradigm and have a synth you can strum instead?
Popular indie plugin developer TAL Software launches TAL-Pha which emulates the late 80s Roland classic and its rack-mounted sibling
The innovative Polyend Play+ and Tracker Mini are now available for a limited time with €100 off each at Thomann, whilst stocks last!
Cherry Audio tackles its very first drum machine plugin with a recreation of the first programmable, microprocessor-controlled analog CR-78!
The Boutique Call nobody asked for is happening as fashion house Supreme lend their design skills to a couple of mini Roland units.
Three great deals from two of the market leaders in e-Drums, Alesis & Roland, with two kits and a really useful trigger pad!
The Linn LM-1 was truly a game-changing piece of technology. How much do you have to spend to get that sound and feel in your music?
Does the Mk.III Loop4Live looper pedal make Ableton Live more appealing for guitarists or can any musician make use of this?
The Bob Moog Foundation's latest amazing raffle gives you the opportunity to win a classic Moog The Source, signed by Bob Moog himself!
Hammond organs were never the smallest instruments, but over the years, technology has shrunk them. The Hammond M-Solo is the smallest yet!
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A selection of new finishes for some of Ludwig's most popular ranges of drums were announced at NAMM 24, some of which are limited editions!
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Size isn't everything, or so they say, and the new EFNOTE Mini certainly supports that claim. How cute can an e-Drum kit be? Very!
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Yamaha Drums have launched a range of new finishes to their entry-level Rydeen range of kits, plus a new and versatile Hi-Hat stand.
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Previewed at the back end of 2023, the new 'American Format' muSonics modular synthesizer from STG Soundlabs is available to order now!
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Arturia's Pigments 5 is their flagship soft synth that is a sound designer's dream which now comes with more grunt for less effort
The SONICWARE LIVEN Mega Synthesis recreates the iconic YM2612 FM sound chip found in the Sega Mega Drive with all the extras of a LIVEN box.
Ignoring the maxim of "Just because you can doesn't mean you should", Tim Alex Jacobs' quest to build the world's smallest synth continues!
GForce Software's Axxess is to their Oddity3 what the ARP Axxe was to the ARP Odyssey. How have GForce built on this single-serving synth?
2023 delivered some great software synthesizers for us to play with but which made our Best Software Synths 2023 list and do you agree?
Arturia V Collection X, the latest incarnation of their collection of plugins, arrives with new instruments and some welcome rebuilds.
Looking to buy the best when it comes to e-Drum kits? Look no further. Here's our guide to the top-rated electronic drum kits available today.