synthmagazine.co.uk – Every day, synthmagazine.co.uk publishes fresh articles, artist stories and gear news from the world of electronic music – your independent magazine for synth culture and sound design.

21. April 2026

DivKid Drops the Plinky 12 Trio: Toadstep, Chords & Blocks – Modular Mayhem Incoming

DivKid’s back at it, this time with the Plinky 12 series – a triple threat of expressive, feature-stuffed instruments that look like they’ve rolled straight out of a rave bunker. We’re talking Toadstep, Chords, and Blocks: three distinct beasts, each primed for different kinds of sonic mischief. As always, DivKid’s style is equal parts nerdy deep-dive and playful poking, with no patience for faff or fluff. If you’re after groovebox chaos, harmonic wizardry, or just want to slap some polyphonic joy into your modular rig, this video is your first taste. Don’t expect a bedtime story – expect a fast,

Plinky 12 Blocks, Plinky 12 Chords, Plinky 12 Toadstep

21. April 2026

RILEY

Underdog Electronic Music School

Underdog Electronic Music School Drops Truth Bombs: How to Not Suck at Making Music in 2026

If you’re thinking about making beats in 2026 and hoping for a shopping list, Underdog Electronic Music School is here to flip your script. Oscar doesn’t just hand out gear tips—he hits you with the real questions that’ll shape your whole music journey. From setting intentions to avoiding rookie mistakes, this video is a streetwise guide for anyone tired of getting lost in the sauce. Expect hard truths, a little tough love, and plenty of wisdom that slaps harder than a busted 808. If you want to make music that actually means something (and not just fill your room with

Ableton Live, Adam A7X speakers, Adam S3V speakers, MacBook

20. April 2026

SPARKY

The Unperson

The Unperson’s Braids Banger: Mutable’s Macro Monster Still Slaps

Mutable Instruments Braids: the digital macro oscillator that rewrote the Eurorack rulebook and still kicks like a drunken horse. The Unperson dives into his favourite Braids engines, showing off filthy chords, crunchy wavetables, and the kind of modulation tricks that’ll make your rack sweat. No hand-holding, no endless menu-diving—just straight-up patch action and hard-won opinions. If you think Plaits is the only game in town, think again. This is a rave bunker tour of Braids’ dirtiest, most musical sides, with enough patch ideas to keep your modular rig up all night.

ALM Busy Circuits MFX, Happy Nerding FX Aid, Make Noise Maths, Mutable Instruments Beads, Mutable Instruments Braids, Mutable Instruments Plaits, Pamela's New Workout

20. April 2026

LUMINA

Martin Stürtzer

Martin Stürtzer and the DMNO: Sculpting Sonic Nebulae with UDO

Step into Martin Stürtzer’s studio, where the UDO DMNO becomes a vessel for ambient storytelling. In this immersive session, Martin reveals how textures emerge from silence and how each patch is a landscape waiting to be explored. The DMNO’s hybrid heart—half analog, half digital—serves as a portal to lush pads, subterranean bass, and shimmering sequences. Here, sound is not just heard but felt, drifting like fog through a cathedral of echoes. For those who crave music as atmosphere and synthesis as narrative, this walkthrough is a masterclass in sculpting space and emotion.

UDO DMNO

20. April 2026

LUMINA

CROW HILL

CROW HILL’s Sonic Time Capsule: Sampling the Soul of a Piano

Step into the resonant chambers of Castlesound Studios, where CROW HILL embarks on a sampling odyssey that blurs the line between technology and romance. In this immersive behind-the-scenes journey, the team faces the daunting challenge of capturing the ephemeral spirit of a piano—its quirks, ghosts, and the poetry of its mechanics. Guided by Christian’s reverence for detail and the fleeting nature of sound, we witness a process that is as much about emotion as it is about engineering. This is not just sampling; it’s a love letter to the piano’s ever-changing voice, a sonic time capsule crafted with care and

Estonia Piano

20. April 2026

LUMINA

Voltage Labs

Voltage Labs: Space Dimension Controller and the Ghosts in the Akai Machine

In a dim-lit Amsterdam studio, Voltage Labs invites us to drift alongside Space Dimension Controller as he rekindles his romance with vintage Akai samplers. These machines—S900, S1000, and their kin—aren’t just tools, but portals to unpredictable sonic realms, shaping the very fabric of his new album. With every sample, the air thickens with nostalgia and creative electricity. Voltage Labs’ signature documentary style captures not just the gear, but the emotional undercurrents and tactile rituals of sound design. Prepare to witness how these samplers breathe grit, randomness, and spectral beauty into modern music.

Akai S01, Akai S1000, Akai S2000, Akai S3000, Akai S900

19. April 2026

SPARKY

EZBOT

EZBOT’s Elektron Sampler Showdown: Which Box Belongs in Your Rave Bunker?

Before you drop your hard-earned cash on an Elektron sampler, you’d better strap in for EZBOT’s no-BS masterclass. This isn’t some spec-sheet snooze fest—EZBOT dives deep into the Octatrack, Digitakt, and Toneverk, slicing through the hype to show you what actually matters for live performance, beatmaking, and sound design. Expect sharp comparisons, real-world workflow tips, and a few hard truths about what each box does (and doesn’t) bring to your table. If you want your next groovebox to slap, not suck, this is essential viewing.

Elektron Digitakt II, Elektron Octatrack MKII, Elektron Toneverk

19. April 2026

RILEY

Sanjay C

Sanjay C Drops Freebies, Dream Pop Vibes & Streetwise Plugin Deals: Don’t Sleep!

If you’re the type who’d rather snag a killer plugin bundle than pay rent, Sanjay C’s latest news roundup is your new mixtape. This week, he’s serving up Universal Audio’s iconic emulations for free (yeah, you read that right), dreamy new sounds for the ambient heads, and AI sample wizardry that actually pays the original creators. Plus, there’s a Minimoog Model D tribute that’ll make synth nerds drool and some plugin deals so hot they’ll melt your credit card. Sanjay’s got the scoop, the hacks, and the hustle—so tune in and upgrade your studio game without selling your sneakers.

Audio Modern Soundbox, Audio Modern Wired, DS-10, Luna DAW, Minimoog Model D Bob Moog Tribute Edition, Soundtoys, Splice Plugin, UAD Explore Free, Ujam Dandy

19. April 2026

TAS

sunwarper

sunwarper Turns Koala Sampler Into a Hardware Beast: MIDI Mayhem Unleashed

Ever wished your phone or tablet could morph into a hardware sampler tougher than a ute at a bush doof? sunwarper’s latest video is a ripper, showing how Koala Sampler goes from touchscreen toy to hands-on performance weapon with a few clever MIDI hookups. From the official SP-404 integration to wild custom grid mapping and classic keyboard tricks, he’s got the workflow hacks to make Koala feel like a real bit of kit. If you’re keen to ditch the glass and get your fingers dirty, this one’s for you. Grab a snag, crack a cold one, and let’s see how

203 Mystrix Pro, Koala Sampler, MIDI Keyboard, Roland SP-404

18. April 2026

JET

AudioPilz

AudioPilz vs. Make Noise 0-Coast: A Beautiful Mess or Just a Muddle?

AudioPilz is back with another Bad Gear episode, this time taking the Make Noise 0-Coast to the pub for a proper scrap. Is it a Buchla-Moog lovechild or just a synth with identity issues and a font only a mother could love? Expect modular flatulence, cryptic controls, and a healthy dose of irreverence as Florian Pilz puts this so-called influencer must-have through its paces. If you like your synths weird, divisive, and a bit dysfunctional, you’ll want to see how this one fares under AudioPilz’s merciless gaze. Grab a pint, brace yourself, and let’s see if the 0-Coast is a

Make Noise 0-Coast

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