Synthmagazine UK | Synth News, Gear & Sound Design

4. January 2026

SpectreSoundStudios vs. Electronic Drums: The Alesis Strata Core Actually Slaps?

SpectreSoundStudios’ Glenn Fricker is back, and he’s got a bone to pick with electronic drums—or at least, he did. In a world where real drums are a luxury and neighbours are armed with noise complaints, Glenn puts the Alesis Strata Core kit through its paces. Expect brutal honesty, sharp humour, and a surprising twist: this kit might just be a proper sonic street weapon. If you think e-drums are still plastic disappointments, prepare for a reality check. This isn’t your dad’s microwave dinner drum set—let’s see if it finally deserves a spot in the modern music bunker.

Alesis Strata Core

4. January 2026

RILEY

Chris Sangster

Chris Sangster’s Logic Pro Toolbar Breakdown: The Secret Sauce You’ve Been Sleeping On

Ever spent hours lost in Logic Pro, clicking around like you’re searching for loose change in a couch? Chris Sangster—aka sangstersounds—just dropped a video that’ll slap your workflow awake. He’s digging into Logic Pro’s toolbar, that overlooked strip up top that most folks ignore for years (guilty as charged). If you’re tired of menu-diving and want to make beats faster than your pizza gets delivered, this one’s for you. Chris’s LA studio vibes and no-nonsense tips make this a must-watch for anyone who wants to stop fighting their DAW and start making music that actually grooves.

Logic Pro

4. January 2026

RILEY

Verysickbeats

Verysickbeats Digs Up 1925: Flipping Public Domain Gold Into Modern Slaps

Ever wish you could sample like a mad scientist without sweating copyright lawyers? Verysickbeats just cracked open a hundred-year-old vault and found beats that hit harder than a crate of dollar bin records. In this video, JFilt shows how 1925’s public domain jams are basically free cheat codes for producers who love boom bap, lofi, or anything sample-based. If you’re tired of the same old loops and want to dig deeper than your neighbor’s Spotify playlist, this is your ticket. Grab your shovel—there’s gold in them dusty grooves, and Verysickbeats is about to show you how to flip it.

Quick Sampler

4. January 2026

SPARKY

Sweetwater

Sweetwater & Josh Scott: Fuzz, Accidents, and the Sonic Uprising

Sweetwater brings in JHS’s Josh Scott for a wild ride through the twisted, fuzz-soaked history of guitar effects. If you think distortion was always cool, think again—Scott digs up the moments when fuzz was an accident, a scandal, and finally, a revolution. Expect tales of blown transformers, failed pedals, and the kind of sonic chaos that turned polite pop into a street fight. Sweetwater’s polished style meets Scott’s pedal-geek enthusiasm, and the result is a history lesson that kicks like a drunken horse. If you want every detail, you’ll need to watch the video—some sounds just can’t be described in

Big Muff, Fuzz Face, Gibson Maestro FZ-1 Fuzz-Tone, Octavia, Tonebender Mark I, Univox Super-Fuzz

3. January 2026

SPARKY

AudioPilz

AudioPilz vs. Korg M1: The Overused Legend Gets Roasted

AudioPilz is back in the Bad Gear bunker, this time dragging the Korg M1 out of its velvet-lined crypt for a proper grilling. The M1 is a synth that’s been everywhere, done everything, and probably soundtracked your nan’s aerobics class. But does it still slap, or is it just a nostalgia brick with a broken soul? Expect savage wit, meme-fuelled jabs, and a no-mercy breakdown of what makes this 80s icon both a hero and a headache. If you think you know the M1, think again – and maybe watch your cheese intake.

Korg M1

3. January 2026

SPARKY

Doctor Mix

Doctor Mix’s MIDI Rhodes Rave: One Keyboard to Rule Them All

Doctor Mix is back, and this time he’s armed with a custom MIDI Rhodes that’s been souped up at the Rhodes Factory in Leeds. Forget polite piano demos—this is a full-on live rig assault, with Camelot software pulling the strings and a stack of synths waiting for orders. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn a single keyboard into a five-headed groove monster, Doctor Mix’s energetic, sometimes over-the-top style is your ticket. Expect layers, splits, and a few cheeky tricks—plus a reminder that some sounds just have to be heard to be believed.

C15, Camelot, Minimoog (Geddy Lee Edition), Modi X, Rhodes MK8, Trigon

3. January 2026

TAS

Monotrail Tech Talk

Monotrail Tech Talk’s 11 Favourite Patches: A Modular Patch Party for 2025

Kick off 2026 with a modular bang as Monotrail Tech Talk takes us on a wild ride through 11 of his favourite synth patches. Forget shiny new gear—this video is all about clever tricks, envelope shenanigans, and patching wizardry that’ll have your rack sounding like a kangaroo on a caffeine spree. Monotrail’s style is all about clear visuals and patch ideas you can actually use, whether you’re a modular newbie or a patching veteran. If you’re keen for some fresh inspiration and a few cheeky surprises, this one’s a must-watch. Just don’t blame us if you end up patching till

Plasma Drive, Quad Resonator Aradea, Samarkand

2. January 2026

SPARKY

Tim Shoebridge

Dreadbox Artemis: Tim Shoebridge’s Double-Barrelled Polysynth Review

Tim Shoebridge dives headfirst into the Dreadbox Artemis, a flagship analog polysynth that’s got more twos than a bingo night. If you’re after classic Dreadbox grit, stereo spread, and an effects section that’s anything but polite, this one’s for you. Tim’s signature straight-talking style cuts through the hype, weighing up the Artemis’s strengths, quirks, and price tag with the kind of honesty we love. Is this synth a future classic or just another pretty face? Read on, but don’t expect any sugar-coating.

Dreadbox ARTEMIS

2. January 2026

LUMINA

Devin Belanger

Devin Belanger’s Cinematic Nebula: Sculpting Movie Scores with BEAM & CUBE

Step into the luminous fog of Devin Belanger’s sonic world, where cinematic synth scores are conjured not from towering analog walls, but from the magnetic resonance of two digital instruments. In this video, Devin—known for his evocative, story-driven approach—guides us through the process of weaving Hans Zimmer and Stranger Things-inspired atmospheres using Lunacy Audio’s BEAM and CUBE. Each sound blooms and fractures, revealing how narrative depth and emotional gravity can be achieved with a minimal toolkit. This is a journey for those who wish to drift inside the music, to feel the pulse of cinematic storytelling with every note.

Lunacy Audio BEAM, Lunacy Audio CUBE

1. January 2026

RILEY

Rapid Flow

Rapid Flow’s 2026 Studio Essentials: The Gear That Survives the Beatdown

Ever wondered what gear actually sticks around after the hype dies down and the dust settles in a real producer’s studio? Rapid Flow’s Erik lays it all out, showing off the boxes, knobs, and converters that have survived his relentless workflow and would get bought again in a heartbeat. This isn’t some gear-porn fantasy—these are the tools that keep the Techno and House grooves rolling, from hands-on controllers to synths that ooze inspiration. If you’re tired of endless gear FOMO and want to know what actually matters for 2026, Erik’s got the streetwise picks and a few curveballs you didn’t

ADPTR AB, AIAIAI TMA-2+ Wireless, AKAI APC40 MKII, Akai MIDIMIX, Arturia Beatstep Pro, Behringer TD-3-MO, DELL 4K Display, Digitech Talker, Flux Analyzer, MacBook Pro M1 Max, Multiclock, Novation Launchpad Mini V3, PreSonus Quantum Interface, Prism Orpheus Converters, Prophet 600, Sanwa Gravi Trackball Mouse, Slate VSX, Softube Console 1, Torso T-1, Waldorf Iridium

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