Apple Music goes hi-def, adds lossless options and Dolby Atmos for no extra cost

Apple may upgrade its music streaming service with high fidelity and spatial audio options in the next few days - here's what we know so far.

Reason Studios gives us a peek at the upcoming Reason 12

Reason Studios has announced that Reason 12 will be released later this year. The new version will feature a high-res interface, a new Sampler and more.

sonicLab Thermo: thermodynamics meet audio synthesis

Four oscillators apply "thermodynamics" to squeeze previously unheard sounds out of standard waveforms and filters, in this cool new sound design tool.

Fender Final Fantasy XIV Stratocaster has built-in crystals and in-game features

Fender's Final Fantasy XIV Stratocaster has Crystals of Darkness and Light and a Limit Break pickup mode, giving FF fans a deep tie-in with their favourite game.

Tonesturm SPCTRL EQ review: equalizer plug-in

SPCRTL EQ: a mad scientist that lets you mould EQ shapes for both stereo channels independently, then modulate them into oblivion. EQs are fun again!

MDLR-37: hand crafted folding modular system from Love Hultén

The MDLR-37 pulls in a Korg Minilogue and Microkey, a Meris ENZO, T-Rex Duplicator and Doepfer A-199 for a perfectly poised folding synth station.

BeetTweek: Magical motorised multifunction knob for Eurorack

BeetTweek is a high-precision rotary sensor that moves itself in many modes of haptic force feedback. From returning to zero to spinning out modulations this is a new form of modular interaction.

Best free plug-ins this week: Stupid Compressor, SweepDelay and TAL-Filter-2 3.0

This weeks collection of free plug-ins is all about useful essentials: A no-fuss compressor, a filtered delay and a major update for a classic free filter plug-in.

Walrus Audio Polychrome Review: quality analog flanger tones?

Walrus Audio recently released its latest pedal, the Polychrome Analog Flanger. If you're a fan of flanger effects, then you need to check this pedal out!

Cherry Audio PS-20 takes the Korg MS-20 to polyphony and back

Cherry Audio continues its emulation line of vintage synths by taking on the growling Korg MS-20. The PS-20 soups it up, expands the voices and aims for unpredictability.

Herb and Stones announce Gentle Wham: 6 voice analog drum module

From the makers of Liquid Foam comes the analog Gentle Wham drum synthesizer module which you can play, trigger or drone. Sounds like fun!

Smooth Hound Innovations SIVA: A British alternative to the Helix?

The SIVA from Smooth Hound Innovations is a "Virtual Analogue" multi-effects platform with built-in wireless connectivity, made in the UK.

Phonolyth Velvet Machine: infinite reverbs and velvety sounds now on Windows and Mac

Phonolyth generates abstract reverberations and extremely long reverbs using impulse responses in conjunction with an envelope generator.

King Tubby Big Knob: A new hardware replica of the Altec 9069B filter

A Barcelona startup brings back a legendary piece of equipment used in Jamaican roots music from the 1970s and onwards, augemnted with digital tech.

Austrian Audio Hi-X65: Open-back reference headphones for mixing and mastering

Austrian Audio has announced the Hi-X65 reference headphones. The Hi-X65 features an open-back design for professional mixing and mastering applications.

GRAINSCAPE: Granular multiverse of infinite variations

Grainscape is a 4-channel granular synth and audio processor that plants and harvests grains like a granular farm. Grab your wellies and let's get stuck in.

Nermal: Destruction and distortion from Neutral Labs

From Neutral Labs who gave us the Elmyra drone synth comes a chewy distortion module for Eurorack with added bite, scratch, nibble and Ouch!

Up your 1U game with Mosaic Eurorack tiles

Mosaic 1U tiles are colourfully designed with white or black front panels and 18 modules to choose from featuring far more than the usual utilities.

VoidModular HexAR: 6 mixed and looped AR envelope generators

HexAR is a densely packed 6-channel AR envelope generator that loops when unoccupied and mixes into strange and interesting LFOs.

T-RackS Comprexxor: IK Multimedia models the Empirical Labs Distressor

IK Multimedia presents its long-overdue software take on the Empirical Labs Distressor hardware compressor in plug-in and T-RackS (standalone) form.

New DPA 4466 & 4488 Miniature Headset Mics offer IP58 protection

The new DPA 4466 and 4488 couple a 5mm capsule with new headset design and IP58 protection. Will these new mics uphold the DPA tradition? 

Express MPE – presets for MPE synths for any MPE controller

From Sensel the makers of the Morph MPE touch controller comes express MPE, free presets designed for a range of MPE software and hardware synths. NEW UPDATE!

Lunacy Audio CUBE: Another new way of making music

We love a bit of innovation and Lunacy Audio does it with their proprietary 3D sample engine that visualises and modulates samples in 3D space.

New details emerge on the Novation Circuit Rhythm

Novation has been a bit cagey about their new Circuit Rhythm due out in the summer but more details have appeared on a Dutch webstore - let's dig in.