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2. April 2026

RolandChannel Unveils SPD‑SX PRO Version 2.0: Sampling Pad Power, Reimagined

RolandChannel returns with a deep dive into the SPD‑SX PRO Version 2.0 update, promising a host of workflow and creative enhancements for the flagship sampling pad. This update is pitched as a game-changer for both live performers and studio producers, with new features like real-time time stretching, advanced muting options, and assignable master effects. The video walks through each addition, showing how Roland aims to streamline sample management, performance control, and integration with broader setups. As always, the focus is on making the SPD‑SX PRO more flexible and responsive to the demands of modern musicians—though, as ever, the real test

Roland SPD-SX, Roland SPD-SX Pro

2. April 2026

SPARKY

Sam Gutman

Sam Gutman vs. Yamaha Montage: The Workstation Roast We Needed

Sam Gutman, the educator with a touring pedigree and a sharp tongue, takes the Yamaha Montage to task in a video that’s equal parts synth therapy and stand-up roast. If you’ve ever looked at a flagship workstation and thought, “Why does this sound like a 2004 office printer had a baby with GarageBand?”, you’re in the right rave bunker. Sam’s blend of brutal honesty and cheeky redesigns will have you questioning why your own rig isn’t covered in tiger print and loaded with Spitfire choirs. If you want a no-nonsense, laugh-out-loud critique of the Montage’s design crimes, workflow sins, and

Yamaha Montage

2. April 2026

RILEY

Bolo Da Producer

Bolo Da Producer Flips Bloom Ensemble Strings: Strings for the Streets

If you think string plugins are just for orchestra nerds, Bolo Da Producer is about to flip your whole mixtape. In this wild ride, Bolo dives into Bloom Ensemble Strings—a plugin that’s less tuxedo, more trap house. He’s breaking down how this thing makes lush, cinematic strings stupid easy for beatmakers who’d rather finger drum than sight-read. Expect jokes, real talk, and a workflow that’ll have you stacking string layers faster than you can say “808 bounce.” If you want to see a platinum producer cook up a crazy beat with a fresh tool, this one’s got the sauce.

Bloom Ensemble Strings

2. April 2026

SPARKY

MusicRadar Tech

MusicRadar Tech’s Modulation Mayhem: Ableton’s Chorus, Phaser & Flanger Get the Rave Treatment

Ready to turn your static tracks into a swirling, stereo rave bunker? MusicRadar Tech teams up with Ableton Certified Trainer Tom Glendinning to put Live’s built-in modulation effects through their paces. Forget third-party plugins—Tom shows how chorus, ensemble, phaser and flanger can inject serious movement and width straight from Ableton’s own arsenal. If you’re after gritty bass, lush chords, or drums that actually move, this is your street-level guide. Don’t just read about it—some of these tricks need to be heard to be believed. Let’s dive in before your next track flatlines.

Ableton Live, Chorus-Ensemble, Echo, Phaser-Flanger

1. April 2026

MILES

Frap Tools

Frap Tools Magnolia: Reverse Engineering Presets Without a Screen

Factory presets on digital synths often feel like locked vaults, especially when the interface is as minimal as Magnolia’s seven-segment display. In classic Frap Tools fashion, this video walks through a methodical, patch-oriented approach to dissecting any Magnolia preset—no screen required. The focus is on understanding the architecture, modulation routings, and parameter values that shape each sound, using only the instrument’s LEDs and tactile controls. For those who thrive on signal flow and crave a deeper connection with their synth, this is a masterclass in analytical patchwork, revealing how Magnolia’s interface can become a powerful tool for sonic investigation rather

Frap Tools Magnolia

1. April 2026

LUMINA

Starsky Carr

Starsky Carr and the Sonic Volcano: Genki KATLA Erupts Beyond Convention

From the land where fire and ice entwine, Starsky Carr brings us a synth that doesn’t just break the mold—it melts it. The Genki KATLA, inspired by Icelandic volcanoes, is no ordinary polysynth. With its rotating voice architecture and hybrid signal path, KATLA invites us to drift inside a world of unpredictable textures and evolving harmonics. Starsky’s signature clarity guides us through this landscape of sonic magma, where each note blooms and mutates, and the boundaries of synthesis dissolve. This is not a review for the faint of heart, but for those who seek new sound worlds—where the ground rumbles

Genki KATLA

1. April 2026

TAS

DivKid

DivKid Goes Walkabout: Poly Effects TRAILS Pedal Unleashed

If you reckon pedals are just for guitarists, DivKid’s latest deep-dive into the Poly Effects TRAILS will have you rethinking your whole rig, mate. This box isn’t just a pedal—it’s a sonic bush bash, loaded with seven wild FX modes that’ll make your synths, drum machines, and even your nan’s dusty Rhodes sound like they’re lost in an outback storm. DivKid’s signature style—equal parts nerdy, cheeky, and hands-on—guides us through a playground of resonators, granular madness, vinyl crackle, and more. Whether you’re after shimmering pads or filthy distortion, this video is a ripper for anyone keen to get weird and

Poly Effects TRAILS

1. April 2026

SPARKY

Nu-Trix The Synth Guy

Nu-Trix The Synth Guy Unleashes the Cherry Audio Crumar DS2: Retro Rave Weapon or Just Odd?

Cherry Audio’s Crumar DS2 softsynth lands with a thud—equal parts retro obscurity and modern muscle. Nu-Trix The Synth Guy, always up for a deep-dive into the weird and wonderful, takes us through a guided tour that’s as much about sonic potential as it is about interface quirks. If you like your synths with a dash of history and a heap of tweakability, this one’s for you. Expect dual engines, modulation madness, and a jam that’ll make your headphones sweat. Don’t expect hand-holding—Nu-Trix keeps it brisk, nerdy, and straight to the point.

Cherry Audio Crumar DS2

1. April 2026

SPARKY

TAETRO

TAETRO’s Setup Showdown: DAW vs Sampler – Which Rig Packs the Punch?

TAETRO’s back in the bunker, pitting two music production rigs head-to-head: a slick MIDI/DAW setup versus a hardware sampler beast. Forget polite gear tours—this is a straight-up face-off, with the XTS Performance Stand flexing under the weight of both workflows. Expect rapid-fire controller swaps, cheeky cable wrangling, and a sampler rig that’s more than just a nostalgia trip. If you’re torn between Ableton Live wizardry and the raw, hands-on chaos of MPC sampling, TAETRO’s got you covered. Spoiler: there’s no single winner—just two street weapons ready for your next sonic throwdown.

AIAIAI TMA-2, Analog Cases XTS Performance Stand System, Astrolab 37, Bento, Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, iPad Mini, MPC Sample, Novation Launchkey 37 Mk3, Novation Launchpad X, Shure SM58, Synido TempoPAD C16

31. March 2026

LYRA

Synido Tech

Synido Tech’s TempoPAD P16: Four Ways a Pad Controller Shapes Modern Music Workflows

Is a MIDI controller still essential in today’s hybrid studio? Synido Tech dives into this question with a focused look at the TempoPAD P16, highlighting how a compact 4×4 pad controller can streamline everything from beatmaking to orchestral programming. The video walks through four core use cases—drum programming, melodic work, live performance, and advanced control—while also comparing pad and keyboard workflows. For anyone navigating DAWs like Ableton Live or FL Studio, this is a practical, architecture-minded guide to getting the most out of a modern MIDI controller, especially if you’re considering the leap from keys to pads.

Synido TempoPAD P16

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