Waldorf’s Crema presents itself as a compact string ensemble, but Starsky Carr is more interested in what lies beneath that label: wavetables, FM, and plenty of modulation. For this, he’s set up an external controller. His demonstration tells the story of an appealing instrument—and raises the question of how much groundwork musicians should do before hidden parameters become truly playable possibilities.

Waldorf Music Waldorf Crema

AutomaticGainsay – Behringer MS-5: Zwei Filter suchen eine Stimme

30. October 2026

Allgemein

Behringer MS-5: Two Filters in Search of a Voice

RILEY

Two oscillators, two bandpasses—surely there must be a voice in there somewhere? AutomaticGainsay searches for vocal-like sounds on the Behringer MS-5 and finds appealing approaches, but also a concrete limitation. Starsky Carr, in his earlier comparison with the Roland SH-5, demonstrates what the same architecture can do beyond the search for voices. What matters is not just which filters are present, but what you can move with them.

Behringer MS-5

30. October 2026

Expressive E

Expressive E Ctrl-e: One Platform, Many Engines – Seamless Expressivity in Focus

LYRA

Expressive E’s Ctrl-e aims to be the connective tissue for synth explorers, merging multiple engines and expressive presets into a single, performer-focused environment. In this video, Sam Gutman demonstrates how Ctrl-e acts as a hub, tying together analog icons, modern digital synths, and experimental sound design under the expressive control of the Osmose and Osmose CE. Highlights include the integration of Serum 2, GForce Prophet-5, and a staggering preset count in Vital, all curated for maximum musical gesture and instantaneous access.

Ctrl-e, Osmose CE

Nu-Trix The Synth Guy – Model:Cycles: Mehr Klang braucht mehr als einen Hack

29. October 2026

Allgemein

Model:Cycles: More sound needs more than just a hack

LUMINA

New engines, extra LFOs, six audio channels via USB: Modded Cycles promises a bigger sonic world for the little Elektron. Yet after his experiment, Nu-Trix wants to remove the alternative firmware again. Between CPU peaks and stubborn patterns, a more exciting question arises than just the longest feature list: How open can an instrument become without losing its musical reliability?

Elektron Model Cycles

Starsky Carr – 3rd Wave Terminal: Mehr Durchblick für tiefe Patches

29. October 2026

Allgemein

3rd Wave Terminal: More Clarity for Deep Patches

RILEY

A powerful synthesizer doesn’t always need more features. Sometimes, a better view of what’s already there is enough. In Starsky Carr’s Synthfest segment, Bob Coover demonstrates the free 3rd Wave Terminal: with piano roll, visible modulation connections, and graphical sound editing. Carr’s earlier review and Sam Gutman’s patch ideas show what this extra access can mean in everyday music-making—without making the knobs obsolete.

Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave

29. October 2026

OXI Instruments

OXI Instruments OXI One MKII: Rapid Lead Line Creation and Expressive Sequencing

LYRA

OXI Instruments steps up with a Playbook episode focused on the OXI One MKII, delving into real-world sequencing workflows. This video explores how a minimal three-step pattern can be transformed into sophisticated lead lines using the duplicate function, velocity and gate tricks, and randomization. The OXI team demonstrates how expressive sequencing and creative looping can be achieved with a few smart moves, underscoring the instrument’s philosophy of fast, hands-on music-making. For anyone curious about OXI’s approach to hybrid MIDI/CV sequencing and performance, this is a concise, practical showcase.

Arturia – MiniFreak 49: Führt die Touch-Matrix schneller zum passenden Sound?

28. October 2026

Allgemein

MiniFreak 49: Does the touch matrix lead you to the right sound faster?

TAS

Arturia’s MiniFreak 49 lays out its presets as glowing dots beneath your fingers. The new official tutorial shows how page switching and sound type filtering interact. In his own video, Starsky Carr wonders about the color logic. Meanwhile, Noisegate, while building a track, encounters a different limit: Bass, lead, or pad are useful categories—but whether a sound fits the arrangement is only decided when you play.

28. October 2026

Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers

Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers: Microvolt 3901 Virtual Analog Unveiled

MILES

Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers has rolled out the Microvolt 3901, a virtual analog synth aiming to bridge the worlds of classic tones and modern modular flexibility. Presented in their usual hands-on, exploratory style, the video promises a deep look at how this instrument can fit into both studio and performance rigs. The focus here is on sound character, patchability, and the practical workflow that modular users crave. Expect thoughtful patch demonstrations and a clear emphasis on integration and usability.