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.

1. May 2024

Arturia Augmented YANGTZE: Where Tradition Meets Synthesis in a Modern Trap Breakdown

Arturia’s Augmented YANGTZE isn’t just another sample library—it’s a software instrument that fuses the nuanced timbres of traditional Chinese instruments with the power and flexibility of modern synthesis. In this official track breakdown, Lena walks us through a Raven Bush production, dissecting how evocative presets, layered engines, and expressive patterns come together to form a contemporary trap arrangement. As is typical for Arturia’s presentation style, the focus is on workflow: how each layer, from airy melodies to rhythmic plucks, is constructed using a blend of acoustic samples and digital engines. This video is a deep dive into the architecture and

Arturia Augmented YANGTZE

1. May 2024

MILES

Frap Tools

Frap Tools: Tactile Dialogues and Modular Free Will – An Interview with Isabella Forciniti

In this deep-dive episode from Frap Tools, Italian sound artist Isabella Forciniti takes centre stage, exploring the fertile intersection of modular synthesis, environmental data, and interactive performance. Known for her hybrid setups and a penchant for tactile control, Isabella discusses her artistic journey from southern Italy to Vienna’s experimental scene, her patching philosophy, and the societal themes woven through her work. The conversation, true to Frap Tools’ detailed and design-driven style, offers a rare glimpse into the mindset of a performer who treats limitations as creative fuel and views modular synths as instruments for both sonic and social exploration. If

ALM Dual 12-bit Digital Wavetable Drum Voice, Batumi LFO, Erica Synths Blackhole DSP 2, Erica Synths Sample Drum, Frap Tools Brenso, Frap Tools Falistri, Frap Tools Kunsa, Mutable Instruments Plaits, MUX Slicer, Pamela's Workout

27. April 2024

MILES

Joranalogue Audio Design

Joranalogue Audio Design: Sequencing Alchemy with STEP 8 and ROUTE 4

Joranalogue Audio Design, the Belgian purveyors of precision Eurorack, return with a patch walkthrough that’s all about wringing extra mileage from your sequencer. In this video, Simon demonstrates how to conjure two related—yet distinct—melodic lines from a single STEP 8 sequencer, using the ROUTE 4 module as a clever signal extractor. The approach is classic Joranalogue: clean, methodical, and brimming with modular potential. If you’ve ever wondered how to multiply your patching options without multiplying your modules, this is a deep dive worth your voltage.

Bias 2, COMPARE 2, Delay 1, Filter 8, Generate 3, Orbit 3, ROUTE 4, STEP 8, Volt 6

27. April 2024

LYRA

Novation

Novation and Ableton Live 12: Workflow Synergy Unleashed

Novation’s Launchkey 25 meets Ableton Live 12 in a hands-on exploration of next-gen music-making. In this official NovationTV walkthrough, the Launchkey is positioned not just as a MIDI controller, but as a tactile extension of Live’s new synths, effects, and creative tools. From granular sound design with Granulator III to custom MIDI workflows and microtonal adventures, the video demonstrates how hardware and software can merge for a more intuitive, experimental process. We break down what’s actually shown, how the Launchkey’s interface supports these new features, and where the real creative potential lies.

Ableton Live 12, Novation Launchkey 25

26. April 2024

LYRA

Korg

Korg KAOSS Replay 2.0: A Digital Powerhouse Evolves

Korg’s KAOSS Replay just received a major 2.0 firmware update, and it’s not just a handful of tweaks—it’s a full-on transformation into a more advanced performance and production hub. With a focus on workflow, expanded effects, and deeper sampling/looping, this update aligns with Korg’s pragmatic, musician-first ethos. The official video walks us through everything from customizable wallpapers to expanded quantization, all while minimizing menu-diving and maximizing hands-on control. Let’s dissect how these new features reshape the KAOSS Replay’s architecture and what they mean for real-world creative workflows.

Korg KAOSS Replay

25. April 2024

LYRA

Elektron

Elektron Digitakt II: A New Era of Digital Drum Collage

Elektron’s Digitakt II arrives as a formidable leap forward in the world of digital drum machines and samplers, carrying the Swedish brand’s signature groovebox DNA into new territory. This official walkthrough highlights the expanded power under the hood: 16 stereo-capable tracks, a modular sampling workflow, and a sequencer that’s doubled in length. As always with Elektron, the focus is on creative manipulation, deep modulation, and performance-centric features. We take a closer look at how Digitakt II’s architecture and interface aim to reshape sample-based production for the modern studio and stage.

Digitakt II

24. April 2024

MILES

Frap Tools

Frap Tools CGM Insert: Expanding Eurorack Mixer Connectivity with Stereo FX

Frap Tools, the Italian maestros of modular mixing, have unveiled the CGM Insert module—a long-awaited addition that brings true stereo effect integration to their acclaimed Eurorack mixer system. This official video takes us through the Insert’s dual approach to routing: both series and parallel, with hands-on examples that show off its flexibility in real-world patching. As always with Frap Tools, the focus is on sonic quality, modular workflow, and user-driven design, with the Insert module promising to become a key utility for anyone looking to sculpt complex soundscapes or streamline live rigs. Let’s see how this new tool slots into

Frap Tools CGM Insert

23. April 2024

LYRA

Arturia

Arturia AstroLab in the Hands of Kerri Chandler: A Performance Keyboard for the Hybrid Age

Arturia’s AstroLab steps into the spotlight as a next-generation performance keyboard, and who better to put it through its paces than house music luminary Kerri Chandler? In this official Arturia feature, Chandler explores how AstroLab bridges analog warmth and digital flexibility, all without the need for a computer tether. The video dives into the keyboard’s tactile keybed, innovative chord button, and streamlined layering workflow, revealing how these features empower Chandler’s creative process both in the studio and on stage. For those curious about how digital architecture meets hands-on performance, this is a revealing look at AstroLab’s ambitions—and the real-world workflows

Arturia Astrolab

20. April 2024

MILES

Joranalogue Audio Design

Joranalogue Audio Design: Patch Experiments with On-Grid Random Gates

Randomness is all well and good, but in modular, chaos without a clock is just anarchy. In this latest Joranalogue Audio Design video, Simon dives into the art of generating random gates that remain obediently tethered to your rhythmic grid. Using a backbone of classic Joranalogue modules—Orbit 3, Compare 2, and Step 8—he demonstrates how to wrangle chaos and probability into musically useful, quantized triggers. If you’ve ever wondered how to inject controlled unpredictability into your patches, this is a deep, patch-oriented exploration that’s sure to inspire both seasoned Eurorack heads and curious tinkerers alike.

COMPARE 2, Filter 8, Generate 3, Orbit 3, STEP 8

20. April 2024

LYRA

Isla Instruments

Isla Instruments S2400 DSP Card: Plug-in Power and Digital Mixing for a Classic Sampler

Isla Instruments, renowned for their S2400 sampler’s blend of vintage grit and modern workflow, now ups the ante with a dedicated DSP card upgrade. This official video dives into the architecture, workflow, and sonic capabilities of the new card, which brings industry-standard plug-in support, real-time effects, and a digital mixing console to the S2400. We break down how Isla’s approach goes beyond the typical afterthought FX, focusing on integration, flexibility, and performance. If you’re curious about how a hardware sampler can morph into a plug-in powerhouse without losing its character, this is essential viewing.

S2400, S2400 DSP Card

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