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.

5. March 2026

TAETRO Drops the Beat: SONGBOY Turns Your PS5 Controller into a Studio

Ever felt like your DAW is just a glorified spreadsheet? TAETRO’s latest video is about to flip that script. He dives into SONGBOY, a wild new music game that lets you cook up beats with nothing but a PS5 controller and a little bit of gamer swagger. Forget the manual—this is about fun, flow, and instant groove, all wrapped up in a playful package that’s more street food than fine dining. If you’re tired of gear that costs more than rent, or just want to see how beatmaking can be as easy as button-mashing, this one’s for you.

DualSense Controller, Polyend Play+, SONGBOY

5. March 2026

SPARKY

Metamyther

Metamyther vs. Donner L1: Budget Banger or Plastic Pretender?

Metamyther takes the Donner L1—a budget SH-101 clone—out for a serious thrashing in the modular dungeon. This isn’t just another polite feature rundown; it’s a full-on stress test, with the L1 thrown into the Eurorack pit alongside some heavyweight modules. Expect industrial techno grit, experimental textures, and a few surprises as Metamyther pushes this cheap monosynth to its breaking point. If you’re curious whether the Donner L1 is a rave bunker weapon or just another plastic wannabe, you’ll want to read on (and maybe watch the video for the full sonic carnage).

Donner L1, Forge-TME Vhikk X, Isobar Umbra, Make Noise Mimeophon, Noise Engineering Versio, WMD Skorpion

4. March 2026

LYRA

chase bliss

Chase Bliss CHOMPI: TEMPO Firmware – Groovebox DNA for the Playful Sampler

Chase Bliss, known for their playful yet deep effects architecture, has dropped the TEMPO firmware for CHOMPI, transforming this quirky sampler into a hands-on groovebox with a syncable, pattern-driven heart. In this official overview, the team walks through how TEMPO reimagines CHOMPI’s workflow—bringing in intuitive pattern generation, new sound design tools, and a performance-focused interface that feels both familiar and refreshingly new. We dive into the firmware’s multi-engine approach, explore its pattern generator and slice engine, and examine how the new preset and snapshot systems empower live experimentation. If you’re curious about how digital groovebox concepts can be mapped onto

CHOMPI

4. March 2026

RILEY

Verysickbeats

Verysickbeats Schools Us on Beating Loop Fatigue Like The Alchemist

Ever get stuck in the four-bar loop trap, feeling like your beat’s just reheating last night’s pizza? Verysickbeats (aka JFilt) is here to break that cycle, dropping arrangement wisdom inspired by The Alchemist’s slickest tricks. In this video, he slices up the concept of loop fatigue and shows how to turn those tired loops into a full-blown banger, all with that signature laid-back, practical style. If you’re tired of unfinished beats stacking up like empty ramen cups, this one’s for you. Grab your notepad—or better yet, his PDF template—and get ready to flip your workflow.

FB-3300

4. March 2026

SPARKY

Woody Piano Shack

Woody Piano Shack’s TD-3 Review: Acid for the Masses, No Bank Loan Required

Woody Piano Shack takes the Behringer TD-3 for a spin, and let’s just say, this synth is about as subtle as a neon tracksuit at a funeral. If you’ve ever wanted that classic 303 squelch without selling your nan, this review is for you. Woody’s signature blend of hands-on honesty and dry wit slices through the hype, comparing the TD-3 to Roland’s own TB-03 and giving us the lowdown on build, sound, and the ethics of cloning. If you’re after a no-nonsense look at whether this plastic box is a rave weapon or a toy, you’re in the right bunker.

Behringer TD-3, Roland TB-03

4. March 2026

LUMINA

Voltage Labs

Voltage Labs: Techno’s Machine Dream – From Detroit’s Ruins to Global Pulse

Voltage Labs invites us to drift through the fog of history, tracing techno’s spectral journey from Detroit’s abandoned bones to Berlin’s concrete cathedrals and beyond. This is not a mere recounting of beats and machines, but a meditation on how sound becomes survival—a rebellion blooming in the cracks of industry and ideology. Through poetic narration and evocative visuals, Voltage Labs weaves a tale of sonic ghosts, magnetic resistance, and the persistent shimmer of community. Techno emerges as both artifact and atmosphere, a movement that exhales fractured light and refuses to fade.

4. March 2026

RILEY

Bolo Da Producer

Bolo Da Producer Breaks Down the Maschine Migration: Is It Time to Jump Ship or Double Down?

The streets are buzzing, and Bolo Da Producer is here to spill the tea on why so many beatmakers are packing up their Maschine Plus and heading for new sonic turf. In this no-nonsense, laugh-out-loud video, Bolo keeps it real about the flaws, frustrations, and flashes of brilliance in Native Instruments’ standalone groovebox. If you’ve ever wondered why your favorite producers are suddenly MPC-curious, or if Maschine still deserves a spot in your studio, this breakdown is for you. Grab a cheap beer, pull up a crate, and let’s dig into the migration that’s got the whole beat scene talking.

Maschine Plus, MPC (Akai MPC series)

3. March 2026

TAS

DivKid

DivKid Unleashes Luna: Lunetta Synthesis Goes Full Mad Scientist

If you reckon synths should sound like a robot’s fever dream after a night on the town, DivKid’s latest dive into the Luna from Neutral Labs is your ticket to sonic mayhem. Forget polite pianos and safe presets—this beast is all about Boolean logic, raw digital chaos, and rhythms that punch harder than a kangaroo on a trampoline. DivKid’s signature style—equal parts nerdy, cheeky, and hands-on—guides us through why Lunetta synths matter, and how Luna brings this wild DIY tradition into the modern modular world. Grab your headphones and maybe a fire extinguisher, because things get crunchy, noisy, and gloriously

Neutral Labs Luna

3. March 2026

TAS

Metamyther

Metamyther’s Prophet 12 Delay Hack: Reverb Like a Roo in a Rainstorm

Ever wanted to turn your Prophet 12 into a reverb beast without lugging around extra gear? Metamyther’s latest video is a wild ride through the synth’s four delay lines, morphing them into lush, atmospheric reverbs that’ll make your studio sound like the inside of a Melbourne warehouse rave. With his signature cinematic-industrial flair, Metamyther wrangles feedback, modulation, and stereo tricks until the Prophet 12’s onboard effects sound bigger than the outback. If you’re keen for cheeky sound design tips and a bit of synth wizardry, this one’s for you—just don’t blame us if you start eyeing your delays with fresh,

Dave Smith Instruments Prophet 12

3. March 2026

SPARKY

Liam Killen

Liam Killen Throws Down: TR-1000 vs TR-8S – Which Drum Machine Rules the Rave Bunker?

Liam Killen, Montreal’s groovebox guru, is back in the lab with a head-to-head drum machine brawl: the mighty TR-1000 versus the tried-and-tested TR-8S. This isn’t your average spec-sheet snooze fest—Killen slices through the hype, showing where each box slaps, where it stumbles, and why your wallet might cry. Expect sharp insights, hands-on demos, and a few curveballs as he puts both Roland beasts through their paces. If you’re torn between flagship firepower and portable punch, strap in—this one’s for the serious beat freaks.

Roland TR-1000, Roland TR-8S

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