Synthmagazine UK | Synth News, Gear & Sound Design

30. June 2026

Starsky Carr Gets Brutal: Erica Synths Razornator Demo’d and Destroyed

Who needs polite reverb when you can weaponise resonance? Starsky Carr dives face-first into the Erica Synths Razornator, a Karplus-Strong mutant that turns basic noise into dripping stabs, warped bass, and metallic percussion. Forget your safe presets – this box is a rave bunker in disguise. Starsky’s no-nonsense style slices through the hype, giving us a taste of chaos, shimmer, and thunder. If you think resonators are just for pretty pads, buckle up.

Dreadbox ARTEMIS, Erica Synths LXR-02, Erica Synths Razornator

30. June 2026

SPARKY

Signal Sounds

Signal Sounds’ Hardware Hype: Synths, Scoring & Studio Mayhem

No guests, no mercy – just pure synth banter from the Glasgow bunker. In this Signal Flow episode, Luke spills the beans on the highs and headaches of scoring films with hardware, while Tom dives deep into the tactile world of moving studios and wrangling new gear. Expect honest talk about why hardware still slaps, how to actually record your synths without losing your mind, and why Signal Sounds are the local heroes of utility modules. If you like your synth chat dry, British and a bit cheeky – this one’s for you.

Earthlink Modular Trails, Elektron Syntakt, Fairfield Circuitry Placeholder, MOTU Ultralite, Sequential Prophet X, Serge Modular, Sixty Four Pixels CVOCD-X, UDO Super 6

30. June 2026

SPARKY

Metamyther

Metamyther’s Modular Mayhem: Traffic & Vic-X Take the Fast Lane

Metamyther isn’t here to play it safe—this time, it’s all about sending the Jasmine & Olive Trees Traffic module headfirst into wild modular territory alongside not one, but two Vic-Xs. Expect percussive chaos, algorithmic weirdness, and proper CV abuse. If you think you know what Traffic does, think again. Ready for a modular joyride where rules are left at the door? Buckle up.

AuxiOne sequencer, Boom, Electus Versio, iDOM, Incas, Jasmine & Olive Trees Traffic, Percons, VIC X, Zadar

29. June 2026

SPARKY

The Unperson

Loop Liberation: The Unperson vs. The Eternal 8-Bar Trap

Ever feel like your tracks are stuck in an endless rave bunker of 8-bar loops? The Unperson is here with a hardware-heavy rescue mission, dragging jams from modular chaos and OP-1 mischief into actual, finished tracks. No fairy dust, just honest talk, practical workflow, and a healthy dose of British self-deprecation. If you’re tired of loop purgatory, this one’s for you—expect modular grit, Ableton tricks, and a blunt kick against procrastination.

Ableton Live, Arturia MiniFreak, Audio Punks, Ladybug Lo-Fi Reverb, Massive X, Nobula Monumatic, Platz Oscillator, RYK M185 Sequencer, Sketch Cassette 2, Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II, Teenage Engineering OP-1, Valhalla Supermassive

29. June 2026

SPARKY

Voltage Labs

Voltage Labs Unleash the Arturia AstroLab: Stage Weapon or Studio Sidekick?

Voltage Labs take the Arturia AstroLab for a spin, dragging its not-so-humble stage keyboard credentials into the producer’s den. Forget the polite recital hall – this thing packs Arturia’s entire sonic arsenal under one hood and dares you to tweak, twist, and mash it into your next set. With macros, chord magic, and effects on tap, is it all just flash or does it slap? Let’s get our hands dirty.

Arturia Astrolab

29. June 2026

SPARKY

Rapid Flow

Rapid Flow Dials In: Dirty House Presets on the Zensphere V2

Rapid Flow’s Erik is back in the lab, flinging presets at the Zensphere V2 like a man possessed. No scripts, no fluff—just raw, unscripted knob-twiddling and a deep dive into what makes a techno or house synth sound pop in a real mix. If you want to see how reverb, delay, and sidechain can turn dry noodles into club bangers, this one’s for you. Don’t expect a bedtime story—expect real workflow, cheeky tricks, and a walkthrough that’s as useful as it is unfiltered.

Zensphere V2

29. June 2026

SPARKY

sonicstate

sonicstate Unleashes the Chandler Abbey Road REDD Mixing System: Vintage Guts, Modular Mayhem

If you thought boutique mixing consoles were all hype and no substance, sonicstate just proved you wrong. At GearExpo UK 2026, they got up close with the Chandler Abbey Road REDD Mixing System—a Frankenstein’s monster of EMI-era valves and TG transistors, dressed up for the 21st-century studio. Expect modular options, hand-built circuits, and more sonic flavours than a dodgy kebab van at 3am. It’s not cheap, but it’s a showstopper for anyone craving classic Abbey Road tones with modern workflow muscle.

Chandler Abbey Road REDD Mixing System

29. June 2026

SPARKY

sonicstate

sonicstate Gets Gritty: Detroit Drums by Iconic Instruments at GearExpo UK

If you’re after that dusty, big-smoke 1960s drum vibe, sonicstate’s latest hands-on with Iconic Instruments’ Detroit Drums plugin will hit your sweet spot. Forget clinical, modern kits—this one brings flab, funk, and plenty of ‘who let the toms out’ energy. From authentic S and L type kits to a wicked vintage processing chain, there’s enough grime and groove here to turn your DAW into a Motown tape machine. And yeah, there’s a bargain to be had if you’re quick. Strap in for sweaty drum rooms and even sweatier breakbeats.

Detroit Drums

28. June 2026

SPARKY

tafony

tafony Unleashes the WMD Kraken: Snare Modelling for the Modular Masses

Ever wanted a snare module that doesn’t just slap but morphs, grinds and shape-shifts? tafony dives headfirst into the WMD Kraken, a physical modelling snare that ditches tired synth clichés for something way more alive. Expect crunchy realism, glitchy weirdness, and the kind of parameter wrangling only true rack heads will appreciate. tafony’s signature deadpan delivery and honest tinkering make this a must-watch for anyone bored of basic drum modules. Spoiler: it’s not just another static box – this thing’s a sonic street fighter.

WMD Kraken

28. June 2026

TAS

True Cuckoo

True Cuckoo Gets Unruly: Phase8 Mods That’ll Shock Your Sound System

Strap in, mates! True Cuckoo takes the Phase8 from polite to full-blown unruly with wild mods, oddball objects, and a dash of Nordic mischief. If you reckon you’ve heard it all, wait till you see magnets and 3D-printed bits turn this synth into a raving beast. Whether you’re into sonic experiments or just love chaos in your rigs, this one’s a ripper from the synth world’s most creative mad scientist.

Phase8

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