Synthmagazine UK | Synth News, Gear & Sound Design

19. June 2026

Architecting Electronica: Arturia’s Beyond Series Vol. 3 Sound Bank in Action

Arturia returns with a deep dive into the Electronica sound bank from the Beyond Series Vol. 3, offering a hands-on breakdown of a track crafted by Noe Barcza. Through Rose’s walkthrough, we get an inside look at how presets, modulation, and diverse engines converge to sculpt evolving electronica textures. The focus lands squarely on practical patch construction, granular and FM engine interplay, and how Arturia’s instruments enable a journey from introspective pads to euphoric peaks. If you’re curious about how sound banks can architect a detailed, modern electronica track, this video lays out the workflow and sonic tools on offer.

Analog Lab Beyond Series Vol. 3 Electronica, Jupe 8000V, Mini Free V, Pigments

19. June 2026

SPARKY

Lodewijk Vos (LØ)

Lodewijk Vos (LØ) Throws Down: 20 Ableton Tips That Actually Matter

If you think you’ve heard every Ableton trick, think again. Lodewijk Vos (LØ) comes out swinging with 20 tried-and-tested workflow tips, cut straight from two decades in the production trenches. No fluff, no recycled shortcut lists—just the real habits and hacks that make your sessions leaner, meaner, and infinitely more playable. LØ’s minimalist travel rig and brutally honest delivery are here to slap your DAW routine awake. Buckle up for racks, sidechain sorcery, pro-level automation, and a string sampler that’s more broken glass than velvet cushion. The only thing smoother than these tips is the comment section—if you’re brave enough

Ableton Live, Fragile Violins Sampler, SoundFlow, Stream Deck

19. June 2026

SPARKY

NOGASAYAN

NOGASAYAN’s Double-Decked MPC Live 3 Hack: Two Launch Controls, One Rave Bunker

Ever felt your MPC Live 3 was a little too polite for the warehouse? NOGASAYAN’s here to slap it silly with not one, but two Novation Launch Control XLs bolted onto the rig. This isn’t your basic template tweak – it’s a full-on live performance power-up, with MIDI mapping that would make even the most caffeine-fuelled controllerist sweat. Expect hands-on fader action, bread-and-butter drum sounds, and a brutally honest assessment of just how far you can push the MPC before it throws in the towel. If you think finger-drumming is the future, wait till you see this modular Frankenstein in

Akai MPC Live 3, Novation Launch Control XL, Novation Launch Control XL3

18. June 2026

RILEY

Verysickbeats

Verysickbeats Drops a Philly Soul Bomb: DJ Battlecat Formula Gets the Beatmaker Treatment

If you ever wished your beats had that Philly Soul bounce but your budget’s tighter than a drumhead, JFilt from Verysickbeats is your new best friend. In this video, he grabs inspiration from DJ Battlecat and breaks down a dead-simple formula to get those lush strings, buttery basslines, and vibey keys—without digging through vinyl or letting an AI steal your groove. Expect raw tips, honest hacks, and a workflow that’s more street food than fine dining. Trust me, this isn’t just another theory lesson—this is how you make your tracks slap like classic Philly soul, straight from your bedroom lab.

Novation Launchkey 49 MK4

18. June 2026

RILEY

Pick Yourself

Pick Yourself’s Drum Hack: How MDD Snake Makes Your Beats Bite Back

Tired of drums that sound like they’re stuck in traffic? Pick Yourself rolls through with a Max for Live trick that’ll have your beats ducking, weaving, and grooving like they just heard payday is early. In this video, the creator drops the traditional MIDI grind and hands you the secret sauce: MDD Snake—a freebie that turns robotic patterns into straight-up street food for your ears. Get ready for a wild ride through custom mappings, velocity madness, and enough groove to break your gridlines. If you’re after that pro feel without the PhD, this video’s got the goods.

Ableton Live, MDD Snake

17. June 2026

SPARKY

Vulture Culture

Vulture Culture vs. the GForce Prophet-5: Vintage Synth, Modern Mayhem

GForce Software have just lobbed the official Prophet-5 plugin into the synth battlefield, and Vulture Culture is here to see if this digital beast can really wear the Prophet crown. We’re talking authentic analog attitude, feature upgrades that would make a hardware snob blush, and a pile of custom patches that drip with grit and cinematic drama. Vulture Culture’s signature style cuts through the fluff—no nostalgia goggles, just sharp ears and sharper opinions. If you want to know whether this plugin slaps or sags, buckle up. Spoiler: this isn’t your dad’s polysynth—and you’ll want to hear it roar.

GForce Prophet-5, Sequential Prophet-5 plugin

17. June 2026

SPARKY

Starsky Carr

Starsky Carr’s Prophet 5 Showdown: The GForce VST Throws Down with Hardware

When Starsky Carr puts the GForce Prophet 5 VST up against his own Sequential hardware, it’s not just another plugin demo—it’s a full-on rave bunker lab test. He slices through vintage mode, filter revisions, and oscillator shapes like a DJ with a grudge. This isn’t your usual “is it analog enough?” hand-wringing. Starsky’s clinical, brutal, and just cheeky enough to call out subtle quirks and proper wins. If you think all Prophet 5 emulations are the same, you’re about to get schooled. Grab your headphones, mind your CPU meter, and prepare for a synth face-off that’s as nerdy as it

GForce Prophet-5, Sequential Prophet-5

17. June 2026

SPARKY

Espen Kraft

Espen Kraft vs The DAW: How the Yamaha QX3 Becomes a Sonic Street Weapon

Feeling like your DAW is just a glorified template factory? Espen Kraft takes the Yamaha QX3—an absolute 80s tank of a sequencer—and uses it to smash right through creative blockades. Forget endless plugin tweaks and let’s get back to banging out tunes the old-school way: melody first, polish later. This isn’t just gear nostalgia—it’s about breaking out of the rut and getting some actual music down. Espen’s style? Fast, practical, a bit nostalgic and loaded with those glorious ‘happy accidents’ you’ll never find in a menu. If your workflow needs a kick in the teeth, this one’s for you.

Kawai K3, KORG DSS-1, Roland D-550, Yamaha QX3, Yamaha TX802

« 1 … 12 13 14 15 16 … 240 »