Synthmagazine UK | Synth News, Gear & Sound Design

24. January 2026

Sam Gutman at NAMM 2026: Synths Gone Walkabout

Strap yourself in, mates—Sam Gutman’s NAMM 2026 roundup is a wild ride through the synth jungle, where tradition gets tossed out like a burnt snag at a bush BBQ. With his educator’s eye and a knack for sniffing out the oddballs, Sam dives headfirst into a showcase of gear that’s as unpredictable as Melbourne’s weather. From biofeedback gadgets that make mushrooms sing to synths that look like video games, this is no ordinary stroll through the keyboard aisle. If you’re after gear that’ll survive a dust storm and still turn heads at your next warehouse rave, you’ll want to see

3D Physics Synthesizer, ASM Leviasynth, Korg Phase 8, Pocket Scion

24. January 2026

SPARKY

Starsky Carr

Starsky Carr Takes Beyerdynamic Headphone Lab for a Spin: Flat or Flop?

Starsky Carr, the synth world’s straight-talking gear guru, dives headfirst into Beyerdynamic’s new Headphone Lab software—a tool promising to flatten your cans and teleport you into a pro control room. He’s not just twiddling virtual knobs; he’s pitting four classic Beyerdynamic models against each other to see if this software can really turn budget headphones into studio heavyweights. Expect honest opinions, a few sonic curveballs, and the kind of practical insight only Starsky delivers. If you mix on headphones and want to know if this is the next must-have, buckle up—this is no sales pitch.

Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII, Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro, Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X, Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro X, Beyerdynamic Headphone Lab

24. January 2026

JET

AudioPilz

AudioPilz vs. Waldorf Microwave XT: Orange Fury Unleashed

AudioPilz is back with another episode of Bad Gear, and this time he’s got his hands on the Waldorf Microwave XT—a synth that’s as orange as a traffic cone and twice as likely to cause a scene. Forget polite, beige workstations: this is a digital beast from 1998, dripping with attitude and ready to mangle your mix. Expect a proper AudioPilz roasting, some sharp technical digs, and a few laughs at the expense of synth snobbery. If you like your gear with a side of chaos and a dash of nostalgia, this one’s for you.

Waldorf Microwave XT

24. January 2026

LUMINA

Tonepusher

Tonepusher Illuminates the Kawai K4: Industrial’s Digital Ghost

In the shadowy corridors of 90s industrial music, some machines whisper rather than shout. Tonepusher, with his signature blend of precision and reverence, invites us to drift through the spectral world of the Kawai K4—a synth that exudes frost and fractured light. This is not the story of a headline-grabbing legend, but of a digital specter whose textures haunt the edges of genre and memory. Through Tonepusher’s lens, we glimpse the K4’s magnetic resonance, its role in shaping sonic atmospheres, and the creative spirits who coaxed its cold beauty into the world. Prepare to feel the chill and the pulse

Kawai K4

23. January 2026

SPARKY

Oscillator Sink

Oscillator Sink Unleashes the Korg Phase 8: A Sonic Street Weapon with Untapped Chaos

Korg’s Phase 8 isn’t your average synth—it’s a rave bunker in a box, and Oscillator Sink is the calm voice guiding us through its wildest corners. Forget your standard filter sweeps; this beast fuses electronic impulses with real-world resonance, making the air in your studio vibrate for real. Oscillator Sink, known for his chill, forensic explorations, gets hands-on with the Phase 8’s physical and sonic trickery, poking at its limits and hacking out new sounds. If you’re after polite presets, look elsewhere—this one’s for the heads who want to bend the rules and break a few tines along the way.

Korg Phase 8

23. January 2026

SPARKY

Captain Pikant

Captain Pikant Spins the Drum Machine Mystery: Dissecting ‘You Spin Me Round’

Captain Pikant dives headfirst into the neon-lit labyrinth of 80s synthpop, taking on the iconic drum patterns of Dead or Alive’s ‘You Spin Me Round’. With his signature high-gloss production and a knack for cutting through the hype, Pikant unpacks what made this beat so addictive—and why Stock Aitken Waterman weren’t just a law firm with a killer snare. Expect sharp analysis, gear sleuthing, and a few surprises about those legendary drum sounds. If you think you know the LM-9000 from your LM-2, think again. This is synth archaeology with a groovebox attitude.

Arturia Keystep, Dübreq Stylophone 350S, Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol M32, Squarp Hapax

23. January 2026

SPARKY

DivKid

DivKid’s SW3 Splice: The Smart Switch That Makes Your Patch Scream

DivKid’s back in the bunker, this time with the DPW SW3 Splice – a dual-channel switch that’s smarter than your average toaster and twice as dangerous. Forget boring mute switches; this beast slices, dices, and splices audio and CV with zero-crossing finesse and slope-detecting wizardry. In classic DivKid fashion, we get three killer patches, a couple of bonus curveballs, and enough modulation mayhem to keep your rack sweating. If you’re craving click-free switching and stereo chaos, strap in – this is not your gran’s utility module.

DPW SW3 Splice

23. January 2026

SPARKY

Espen Kraft

Espen Kraft’s 80s Funk Resurrection: Sophisticated Pop Gets a 2026 Makeover

Espen Kraft is back in the bunker, dusting off a 90s classic and giving it a fresh coat of 80s funk-pop paint—with all the lush chords and sampled brass you could want. This isn’t just a nostalgia trip; it’s a masterclass in how to drag a song from the past into the future without losing its groove. Expect tales of band days, gear confessions, and the kind of chord wizardry that would make Quincy Jones nod in approval. If you want to know how to make your pop slap with soul and sophistication, Espen’s got the blueprint. But trust me,

Arturia MiniMoog V, Korg TR-Rack, PG-8X, Roland D-50, Roland S-10, UVI Emulator II+ library

23. January 2026

TAS

LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER

LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER Hacks a Moog Keytar: Aussie-Style Mayhem Meets Synth Wizardry

Ever wondered what happens when you hand a Moog keytar to LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER and let him loose with a soldering iron? Mate, it’s a wild ride! In this cheeky episode, our favourite mad scientist takes on a classic synth axe, tackling its quirks head-on and giving it a proper Aussie-style mod to make it actually playable on stage. Expect plenty of circuit sleuthing, a few classic blunders, and a final result that’s as expressive as a kangaroo on a caffeine binge. If you’re into DIY synth chaos, this one’s for you—just don’t expect a dry technical manual!

Moog Liberation Keytar

23. January 2026

LUMINA

Alex Ball

Alex Ball Illuminates: The Sonic Mirage of Acid House’s Indian Genesis

Step into a world where tabla ghosts swirl with neon circuitry, as Alex Ball unravels the story behind Charanjit Singh’s enigmatic 1982 album, ‘Synthesizing – Ten Ragas to a Disco Beat.’ This is not just a tale of machines and melodies, but a journey through cultural echoes, technological serendipity, and the spectral overlap of genres. Ball, with his signature cinematic lens, explores how Singh’s fusion of Indian classical ragas and early Roland synths conjured a soundscape decades ahead of its time. Prepare to drift through a narrative where history, myth, and magnetic resonance blur, inviting us to question where Acid

Roland Jupiter-8, Roland TB-303, Roland TR-808, Roland VC-10, Roland VP-330

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