Synths
Maschine+ 3 Is Coming: Get Excited for Kontakt 8 Support, New Effects & Stem Separation
03 Feb · Native Instruments announces plans for Maschine+ 3, including Kontakt 8 support and the much-requested bounce-to-audio feature.
DX7 ALTERNATIVES
Classic FM Synthesis: Yamaha DX7 Alternatives
03 Feb · Want to build classic FM sounds from the 1980s and beyond? Here are some of the best Yamaha DX7 Alternatives to take you to FM heaven.
Full Bucket Music Paralogy: FREE Software Synth Emulates the Crumar Trilogy & Stratus
03 Feb · Paralogy by Full Bucket Music brings the Crumar Trilogy and Stratus synths to your DAW for FREE! Travel back in time with this free software synth.
MAKING AMBIENT MUSIC
Making Ambient Music: How to Earn $3000 a Month From Spotify
03 Feb · Ambient is more popular than ever. Six professional musicians give advice on how you can earn money by making ambient music.
AudioThing SX1000: Spot-On Plugin Emulation of a Classic ’70s Synth Boosted With Polyphony, Mods & Effects
03 Feb · Italian synth fans, take note! The AudioThing SX1000 is a software version of the Jen SX1000, one of the first affordable analog synthesizers.
Free Plugins
Six Sines, RRV-10, State Machine Playtime: Free Plugins of the Week
02 Feb · Six Sines is an awesome open-source FM synth by Surge XT developer BaconPaul. Check it out in our round-up of the best free plugins here!
TOPS AND FLOPS
The Best and Worst of NAMM 2025 in Synths: Tops and Flops
01 Feb · With NAMM 2025 behind us, I take a look at the synth-related high and low points of another momentous week in Anaheim and beyond!
HARDWARE VOCODERS
5 of the Best Hardware Vocoders: Sing the Body Electric With These Fun Voice Synths
31 Jan · Want to transform your voice into a robot or heavenly synth choir? Look no further than these five best hardware vocoders.
Synth Journal
Best of Buchla & Friends 2025: Synth Journal
30 Jan · Buchla & Friends is the place to be for synth fans at NAMM time. In this week’s edition, we check out some of the new gear announced at this year’s event.
Superposition by Dillon Bastan: A Brilliant Multisampling Device for Ableton Live with a Creative Twist
30 Jan · Dillon Bastan Superposition is a new Max For Live sampler that uses Markov systems to create randomized but controllable sample sequences.
SOUNDS AND PRESETS
Chiptune Patch-Fest: Sounds and Presets
29 Jan · NAMM had been and gone for another year. We get back to our sounds and presets with a selection of goodies covering lots of bases, including Chiptune!
Network MIDI 2.0: MIDI over Ethernet – What Are the Benefits?
28 Jan · Network MIDI 2.0 is a new standard that defines how MIDI devices can communicate over Ethernet and WiFi. What are the advantages?
Software Deals
Software Deals: IK Multimedia, iZotope, GForce & More
28 Jan · IK Multimedia and iZotope both have amazing offers for studio owners and music producers right now – but you’ll need to be quick!
REVIEW
Arturia Pigments 6 – A La Modal
28 Jan · Arturia's flagship soft synth returns for its latest iteration, Pigments 6, and introduces a new Modal engine, new filters, a vocoder effect and more!
Beetlecrab Tempera: Firmware Update 2.1 Adds Real-Time Granular Processing
28 Jan · The Beetlecrab Tempera just got a major firmware update! The new version adds live grains for real-time granular processing. But that’s just the beginning.
Mellotron Micro Module! Is There a New Mellotron on the Way?
28 Jan · Save space in your studio for the Mellotron Micro Module, which the company may have inadvertently leaked on Instagram.
Genki Instruments Katla: Analog Digital Hybrid Polysynth With Surprising Chaotic Parameters
28 Jan · Genki Instruments Katla is the first synthesizer from Iceland and it has some wild synthesis parameters.
Black Corporation Expander MK2: Black Corp’s Massive Multi-Effects Rack Is Shipping Soon
28 Jan · The Black Corporation Expander MK2 is almost ready to ship. The latest information plus a new color.
SEMI-MODULAR SYNTHS
The Best Semi-Modular Synths for your Studio Setup
27 Jan · Modular without the modules? Here's a convenient way to get into modular synthesis. We're looking at some of the best semi-modular synths!
Nektar Impact LX MK3: New MIDI Controllers Offer Deeper DAW Integration, NKS Support, Amazing Price
26 Jan · Need a MIDI controller to work with your DAW? Get excited about the new Nektar Impact LX MK3 keyboards with 25, 49 and 61 keys.
ESI Xsynth: Cute Digital Synth With Strange Waveforms, Polyphonic Aftertouch
25 Jan · Use field recordings as oscillators with the ESI Xsynth, a cute little digital synth that’s also an MPE controller!
u-he Zebra 3: “Like Photoshop for Synthesis”
25 Jan · It’s only in alpha but u-he Zebra 3 is already shaping up to be a sound design playground with vector synthesis and other new modules.