Synthmagazine UK | Synth News, Gear & Sound Design

22. May 2026

Akai Professional Delivers Tape Saturation Mojo: AIR Tape Saturator for MPC and DAW Workflows

Akai Professional’s AIR Tape Saturator plugin promises to inject classic analog tape warmth into your modern MPC or DAW setup. In this official walkthrough, the plugin’s architecture is laid bare—showcasing a suite of controls that let you dial in everything from subtle glue to aggressive tape drive. With multiple saturation models, tape speed and condition tweaks, and a thoughtful auto makeup gain system, Akai aims to bridge the gap between vintage character and contemporary workflow. We break down how these features translate into real-world sound shaping and mixing, and where the plugin fits within Akai’s broader Tape Effects Collection.

AIR Tape Saturator

22. May 2026

LYRA

Yamaha Synths Official

Yamaha Synths Official Unveils KDx: A New Era of Visual Editing for Yamaha Synthesizers

KDx, Yamaha Synths Official’s latest software-based editor, aims to revolutionize how musicians interact with a broad range of Yamaha synthesizers. Presented by Kier Darby at Superbooth 2026, this web-based environment brings hands-on, visual editing to the AN-X, FM-X, and AWM2 engines, as well as expanded integration with devices like Seqtrak and Reface DX. The video walks through KDx’s real-time parameter control, live set management, and deep sound design workflows, all without generating sound itself. For anyone invested in Yamaha’s synth ecosystem, KDx promises a streamlined, visually rich approach to complex editing tasks—though, as always, the proof will be in the

KDx, Yamaha MODX, Yamaha Montage, Yamaha Montage M, Yamaha Motif XF, Yamaha Reface CS, Yamaha Reface DX, Yamaha SEQTRAK

22. May 2026

LYRA

Akai Professional

Akai Professional AIR Tape Echo: Digital Tape Magic for Modern MPC Workflows

Akai Professional’s AIR Tape Echo plugin brings the lush, unpredictable world of analog tape echo into the digital domain, designed specifically for MPC users and DAW producers alike. In this official walkthrough, Akai demonstrates how Tape Echo delivers not just classic delay, but a full suite of tape-inspired controls—preamp coloration, multi-head echo modes, spring reverb, and tape age artifacts—wrapped in a workflow that’s both performance-ready and deeply tweakable. The video methodically explores each section of the interface, showing how the plugin can add warmth, movement, and character to drums, vocals, and full mixes. For those obsessed with sonic detail and

AIR Tape Echo

22. May 2026

SPARKY

Devin Belanger

Devin Belanger’s Black Sheep Synths: The Underdogs That Changed the Game

Forget the safe bets and synth snobbery—Devin Belanger (aka Miles Away) is here to drag the unsung heroes of the synth world out of the shadows and onto your studio desk. In his latest video, Devin doesn’t just rattle off the usual suspects; he champions the weird, the misunderstood, and the downright controversial machines that secretly shaped modern music. Expect a tour through Roland’s forgotten middle child, Korg’s bipolar beast, and Moog’s maintenance nightmare, all delivered with Devin’s signature blend of deep knowledge and genuine passion. If you’re tired of the same old synth worship, this one’s a breath of

Dave Smith Instruments Poly Evolver, Elektron Monomachine, Korg MS-20, Moog Memorymoog, Oberheim Matrix 12, Roland Jupiter-6, Sequential Prophet VS

22. May 2026

SPARKY

Alex Ball

Alex Ball’s Drum Synth Odyssey: From UFO Pads to Modern Mayhem

Drum synthesizers: the weird, wild, and occasionally wobbly heart of electronic rhythm. Alex Ball, the maestro of vintage gear and cinematic jams, takes us on a no-BS sprint through the history of these sonic street weapons. From the first voltage-controlled disco toms to today’s hybrid monsters, this video is a rave bunker tour of the machines that made beats punch, snap, and go full sci-fi. Expect deep dives, rare demos, and a parade of gear that’ll make any drum nerd’s wallet sweat. If you think you know drum synths, think again – and don’t blink, or you’ll miss a hexagonal

AltSound DS4, Elektron Analog Rytm, Elektron Machine Drum, Impakt Drum Synthesizer, Nord Drum 3P, Pearl Syncussion SY1, Pollard Syndrum, Roland TR-1000, Simmons SDS-3, Simmons SDS-5, Star Instruments Synare, Tama Sniper DS-200, Vermona DRM-1

21. May 2026

LYRA

Elektron

Elektron Tonverk in Action: Jogging House’s ‘Stenography’ Workflow Dissected

Jogging House takes us deep into the architecture of his ambient track “Stenography,” crafted entirely on Elektron’s Tonverk using only kalimba samples. In this official Elektron walkthrough, we get a rare, methodical look at how a digital groovebox can be pushed for nuanced, evolving soundscapes—no granular engines, just careful looping, modulation, and effects routing. For those interested in the intersection of digital sampling, polyphonic engines, and hands-on performance, this video is a masterclass in subtlety and workflow. We break down the session, highlighting the Tonverk’s strengths and the creative decisions that shape Jogging House’s long-form compositions.

Elektron Tonverk

21. May 2026

SPARKY

Nu-Trix The Synth Guy

Nu-Trix The Synth Guy Unleashes Roland Zenology GX on iPad: A Sonic Street Weapon?

Roland finally drops a proper synth bomb on the iPad, and Nu-Trix The Synth Guy is on the front line, poking, prodding, and layering like a mad scientist in a rave bunker. Zenology GX isn’t just another port – it’s a full-fat, four-partial beast, dripping with classic Roland DNA and enough patch power to keep your thumbs busy until the next firmware update. Nu-Trix’s style is all about deep dives and practical hacks, so expect a no-nonsense tour through the app’s architecture, modulation mayhem, and a preset parade that’ll make your old JV-1080 weep. If you want to know whether

Roland ZENOLOGY GX

21. May 2026

RAUMKLANG

FRANK AND FREE

FRANK AND FREE in the AI Spotlight: Antiquity Meets Algorithm with DJ SPHAEROS

When Byzantine choral tradition collides with digital beat architecture, a sonic space unfolds like origami from history and the present. FRANK AND FREE puts DJ SPHAEROS, aka Brigitte Tannich, in the spotlight—a musician who fuses ancient musical traditions with AI-driven production, unafraid of Latin lyrics or danceable rhythms. The result: a concept album that is not only musicologically grounded but also aesthetically idiosyncratic. If you want to know how apocalypse and Byzantine avant-garde meet in the Suno studio, you’re in the right place. The details? They’re so multi-layered that they’re best experienced in the video itself.

Suno Studio

21. May 2026

RILEY

Verysickbeats

Verysickbeats Flips MF DOOM’s Drum Bounce: Gated Reverb, Streetwise Hacks, and That Signature Swing

If you ever wanted to snatch MF DOOM’s drum bounce and twist it into your own flavor, Verysickbeats just dropped a video that’s basically a masterclass in groove-jacking—Chicago style. JFilt breaks down the iconic pattern from “The Mic,” then flips it with his own drums, sample chops, and a healthy dose of gated reverb. The man’s workflow is smoother than a fresh pair of kicks, and he’s not shy about showing every little cheat code. If you’re after that 80s snare, streetwise arrangement tricks, and a beat that slaps like a late-night taco run, this one’s for you.

Serato Sample, Very Sick Drums 2

20. May 2026

LYRA

Yamaha Synths Official

Yamaha Synths Official: Seqtrak as a Tone Generator with YC88 – Expanding Live Keyboard Architectures

Yamaha Synths Official brings us a hands-on demonstration of the Seqtrak, not just as a groovebox, but as a flexible tone generator and sound expander for the YC88 stage keyboard. This video dives into how Seqtrak’s multi-engine architecture and recent OS updates unlock new possibilities for live keyboardists, enabling seamless layering, splits, and MIDI control. With a focus on workflow, expression assignments, and practical stage integration, the session walks through real-world setups—showing how pads, brass, leads, and backing tracks can be woven into a live rig. If you’re curious about hybrid performance setups and how Yamaha’s digital instruments talk to

Yamaha SEQTRAK, Yamaha YC88

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