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.

9. January 2025

Arturia’s Tape J-37: Craig Bauer on Analog Warmth in a Digital World

Grammy-winning mix engineer Craig Bauer brings his decades of experience to the fore in this official Arturia feature, diving into the sonic character and workflow of the Tape J-37 plugin. Arturia, renowned for their hybrid approach to classic and modern sound tools, lets Bauer demonstrate how this tape emulation plugin shapes vocals and drums, and how it fits into a broader palette of FX. The video isn’t just a product pitch—it’s a hands-on exploration of how digital plugins can channel analog warmth and creative flexibility, all from within a modern DAW environment. For those interested in the architecture and real-world

Arturia Dimension D, Arturia Distortion Coldfire, Arturia Plate 140 Reverb, Arturia Spring 636, Arturia Tape J-37

5. January 2025

LYRA

ROLI

ROLI Airwave: Unlocking Spatial Expression in Ableton Live

ROLI, renowned for its expressive controllers, dives into the world of spatial performance with Airwave—a hand-tracking system designed to inject real-time nuance into Ableton Live sessions. In this official walkthrough, ROLI sound designer Marcus Levy-Chance demonstrates how Airwave’s five Dimensions of Air can be mapped to everything from arpeggiator rates to plugin parameters, all within a DAW-centric workflow. The focus is on practical integration: mapping gestures, recording automation, and editing expressive curves after the fact. If you’re curious about how digital gesture control can transform your production and performance workflow, this video offers a clear, hands-on look at Airwave’s creative

Ableton Live, Arturia Pigments, Baby Audio Transit 2, Output Exhale, Phase Plant, ROLI Airwave

22. December 2024

MILES

Noise Engineering

Noise Engineering’s Toros Iteritas Alia: Phase Modulation, Evolved

Noise Engineering returns with the Toros Iteritas Alia, a multi-operator phase-modulation oscillator designed to turn your Eurorack system into a playground of immersive drones, clangorous textures, and everything in between. True to the brand’s reputation for immediate, performance-ready control, Toros strips away the menu-diving of classic FM and puts a unique Blend X routing system front and centre. In this video, Noise Engineering walks through the panel, demonstrates patch options, and shows how the Alia platform’s firmware-swapping keeps your rack as flexible as your imagination. Let’s see what this beast can do for modular sound designers and drone aficionados alike.

Ampla Legio, Fala Versio, Toros Iteritas Alia

21. December 2024

LYRA

Novation

Novation Launchpad: Unlocking Performance Mode with Components

Novation’s Launchpad has long been a staple for grid-based music making, but in this deep-dive, Novation’s official channel demonstrates how Custom Mode templates—built with their free Components app—transform the Launchpad into a truly versatile performance controller. From glitchy beats to expressive bass lines, the video walks through hands-on examples that showcase not just the hardware’s flexibility, but also the architectural thinking behind template design. If you’re curious about how digital controllers can be sculpted into bespoke performance rigs, this is a clear, workflow-focused look at what’s possible—no coding required, just drag, drop, and jam.

Novation Launchpad Mini, Novation Launchpad Pro, Novation Launchpad X

19. December 2024

LYRA

Arturia

Arturia MiniFreak 3.0: Granular Power Unleashed

Arturia’s MiniFreak just received a major firmware upgrade, and it’s all about granular synthesis. With version 3.0, this hybrid synth leaps into new sonic territory, packing seven granular engines and a classic sample player—each designed for immediate, hands-on exploration. The official Arturia walkthrough dives deep into these new engines, demonstrating how even users without granular expertise can conjure lush pads, glitchy rhythms, and cinematic textures. If you’re curious about how digital architecture and workflow meet creative sound design, this update is worth a closer look.

Arturia MiniFreak

19. December 2024

LYRA

Expressive E

Expressive E Osmose: Film Scoring in the Fast Lane

Expressive E’s Osmose takes center stage in this in-depth creative tutorial, where film composer Josh Madoff demonstrates how this MPE powerhouse can transform the art of scoring for film and video games. The video dives into the hybrid workflow of electronic and orchestral textures, showing how nuanced control and performance gestures translate into cinematic energy. From gritty bass pulses to lush string layers, the Osmose’s sound engine and expressive capabilities are put to the test in a cyberpunk chase scene scenario. If you’re curious about how digital expressivity and hands-on control can streamline your scoring process, this walkthrough is a

Expressive E Osmose, Spitfire Chamber Strings

19. December 2024

MILES

Qu - Bit

Qu-Bit Stardust: Unveiling the Cosmic Tape Looper’s Hidden Depths

Qu-Bit, ever the digital mavericks of Eurorack, return with a deep dive into the Stardust Cosmic Tape Looper’s lesser-known secondary features. In this no-nonsense walkthrough, the team eschews marketing fluff for a methodical exploration of shift functions, Narwhal-based configuration, and workflow enhancements. If you’re curious about how Stardust’s punch-in modes, loop import/export, and clock sync can reshape your modular rig, or how Narwhal unlocks further creative potential, this video is a must-watch. Expect a patch-oriented, detail-rich look at what Stardust really brings to the bench—beyond the obvious tape tricks.

Qu-Bit Stardust

18. December 2024

LYRA

Behringer

Behringer LM Drum: Reimagining Iconic Drum Machines for the Modern Studio

Behringer steps boldly into the world of hybrid drum machines with the LM Drum, a device designed to channel the unmistakable character of 1980s drum legends. In this official video, Behringer introduces the LM Drum as both a tribute and a modern tool, blending vintage 8–12 bit sampling with contemporary features like sample recording, a 64-step sequencer, and advanced sound shaping. The presentation leans into the historical weight of the sounds, referencing the classic tracks and artists that shaped pop and electronic music. True to Behringer’s ethos, the focus is on making these revered textures accessible to today’s producers and

Behringer LM Drum

18. December 2024

LYRA

WaldorfMusicChannel

WaldorfMusicChannel Blofeld Plugin: Preset Browsing and Sound Management, Reimagined

WaldorfMusicChannel dives deep into the Blofeld Plugin’s new Preset Browser, offering a digital workflow that extends the classic Blofeld hardware into a modern, organized sound design powerhouse. This official tutorial walks through group management, search filtering, sample and sound set import, and the plugin’s approach to multi-part layering—all with Waldorf’s signature focus on evolving textures and detailed synthesis. For both Blofeld veterans and newcomers, the video highlights how the plugin’s architecture supports complex, dynamic soundscapes while keeping user experience at the forefront. If you’re curious about how digital sound management can transform your synth workflow, this is a must-watch.

Blofeld Hardware-Synthesizer, Blofeld Plugin

18. December 2024

LYRA

Arturia

Arturia’s Tape J-37: Neural Nostalgia and Modern Mojo

Arturia’s Tape J-37 plugin is more than just another tape emulation—it’s a neural-modeled love letter to the legendary Studer J37, famed for its role at Abbey Road and on Beatles records. In this official Arturia video, a cast of seasoned engineers and artists dissect both the historical gravitas and the modern workflow of the plugin, revealing how it captures the tube-driven magic and modular quirks of the original hardware. We get a close look at its calibration options, sonic coloration, and creative applications, all wrapped in Arturia’s signature blend of technical detail and musicality. For those obsessed with digital authenticity

Arturia Tape J-37

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