Royer R-10: a quality ribbon microphone that’s also affordable?

Aimed at both studio and live conditions, the R-10 can handle sound pressure of up to 160 dB, yet its compact size allows for "flexible positioning", apparently. And at $500, it doesn't break the bank ...

Akai VIP 3.0 gives control over your VST library from any controller

The new version of Akai's VIP virtual instrument host and performance software is no longer tied to their Advance keyboard range. Direct access over your entire VST library from any keyboard or DAW.

Shootout: Roland D-05 vs D50

Can you tell the difference between the classic presets of the original D-50 and the same sounds on the new Roland Boutique D-05? No, we couldn't either - but give it a go!

VCV Rack: a virtual modular Eurorack system that’s completely free

The beta version of VCV Rack offers 27 virtual Eurorack modules from the likes of Mutable Instruments, Befaco and Synthesis Technology. It's free and gives you an entire Eurorack modular system on the desktop.

HumBeatz browser app takes your hums, turns them into melodies and beats

Ever thought about how wickedly easy it would be if you could just hum some melody lines into the mic and have the computer play them with the sound of a particular instrument? Yeah, they made it happen!

KVgear Vixen: a mixer for all your Volcas

The Vixen mixer from KVgear will mix and power up to 8 Korg Volcas and is also the size of one. A neat idea coming to Kickstarter and synth jams everywhere.

Modal CRAFTrhythm DIY drum and percussion sampler

Modal Electronics announce the CRAFTrhythm, an 8-track drum and percussion sampler in the same DIY form as the CRAFTsynth. Good, cheap, fun.

The Roland TR-606 gets miniaturized on the iPhone and iPad

Roland's hardware has been faithfully translated onto the iPhone and iPad's screen and features a 16-step sequencer with song mode. Swing and tap tempo controls let you shuffle up the rhythms...

Roland Boutique D-05: a reimagined D-50 Linear Synthesizer

Roland take us back to the era of menu diving, painful programming and the pop music of the late 1980's with the Roland Boutique D-05 Linear Synthesizer.

Boss V-BDN: ‘That’ Strandberg guitar is finally released!

We saw the prototype back at the Winter NAMM Show and now the V-BDN is finally going on to general release, but will this modern take on guitar be welcomed by the guitar world?

Boss collaborate with JHS on Angry Driver JB-2 overdrive pedal

When two pedal companies work together, anything can happen. But will this new collaboration be the start of something special? Will it herald collaborations between Boss and other pedal makers?

NI Komplete Kontrol S49 and S61 MK2: how tickling the ivories looks in 2017

The Komplete Kontrol S49 & S61 MK2 update what is still one of the world's fanciest MIDI controllers with technology and enhancements familiar from the Maschine range of production stations...

Generate CV from plants with the Scion biometric feedback module

Instruo's Scion Biometric Feedback to CV module will produce random voltages influenced by the electrical currents detected on organic surfaces. So plug in your pot plant and let's get generating.

iZotope raises Spire, but how ‘no-hassle’ can wireless music recording be?

iZotope has announced the Spire Studio - a portable wireless system meant to let musicians "capture, edit, and collaborate" music on the spot - it also has a free iOS recording app...

Native Instruments Maschine MK3 announced: A whole new bag of tricks!

Today, Berlin-based Native Instruments took the wraps off of Maschine MK3, the third iteration of its software/hardware hybrid production system. This is the first major product upgrade since 2012's Maschine ...

The NDLR: Multi-part polyphonic arpeggiator and chord machine

The NDLR "Noodler" is an advanced arpeggiating box that will run up to 8 synthesizers with separate bass and lead patterns, 4 note pads and a drone root all from internal chords.

Gibson’s ‘not so secret’ Slash signature Firebird: Enter the SlashBird!

Is it a bird? Does it have a $1500 scrawl surcharge? Or is it the new Slash Signature model Firebird? This new SlashBird has just been 'leaked' via the man's own social media page...

NI Maschine MK3 and Komplete Kontrol S61 MK2 keyboard: could it be?

Casually strolling through the Native Instruments forum, we stumbled upon a thread showing what could be major upgrades to NI's Maschine system and Komplete Kontrol MIDI controller range...

Roland redefines the future with a D-50 Linear synthesizer experience

Roland hint at something to do with a D-50 Linear Synthesizer for 909 day this year. But they've already released the VSTi plugin version so why all the mystery?

Philips retools the portable recorder for musicians with the DVT7500

Billed as the musicians' portable recorder, the Philips DVT7500 has three (!) built-in mics and two XLR inputs, letting you record from the three microphones, the XLR and line-in inputs, or from both...

Generate frightening noises with the Evil Drum Oscillator module

The Evil Drum Oscillator captures the flatulence of demons, feasts on the possession of capacitors and laughs at the death throws of electronics. It's a beautifully scary module for your Eurorack.

MBS-100: Soviet-style monophonic bass synth from AVP Synthesizers

The MBS-100 is a classic looking bass synthesizer in a Soviet era style. Designed and built in Moscow does it have enough grit and character to penetrate the crowded mono-synth market? Now with video!

Kilohearts Phase Distortion: Get your frequency modulation on!

Instead of traditional waveform clipping and amplitude shaping, Phase Distortion modulates the phase of the input signal with its own amplitude. The effect gives the distortion a different flavor...

Gibson 2018 line-up: Are these enough to save the brand?

Is this new 2018 line-up enough to pull the American guitar legend out of the hole? Having not made much headway the last few years, will this range be the one to turn them around?