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.

14. February 2026

AudioPilz vs. Waldorf Protein: Retro Grit Meets Modern Misses

AudioPilz is back in the Bad Gear bunker, this time grilling the Waldorf Protein—a synth that promises retro lo-fi charm with a dash of modern sauce. But does this blue box deliver the meaty punch its name suggests, or is it just another diet synth in disguise? Expect sharp wit, surgical teardown, and the kind of sonic street wisdom only AudioPilz can serve. If you want to know whether this thing slaps or sags, you’re in the right rave bunker. Spoiler: you’ll want to see the video for the full flavour (and the face-pulling envelope crimes).

Waldorf Protein

14. February 2026

SPARKY

EZBOT

EZBOT’s Octatrack Transition Tactics: From Garage Chaos to Pro-Level Flow

If you’ve ever tried to pull off a seamless song transition on hardware and ended up with a trainwreck, you’re not alone. EZBOT, the hardware head with a taste for raw, unpolished groove, dives deep into the Elektron Octatrack MK2’s bag of tricks for live transitions that don’t sound like a car crash. Forget the CDJ safety net—this is about gritty, hands-on performance, where the Octatrack becomes your secret weapon. Expect real-world hacks, not fluffy theory, and a few sharp reminders that the Octatrack’s quirks are what make it a street-level legend. If you want your next set to flow

Elektron Octatrack Mk2

14. February 2026

LUMINA

David Hilowitz Music

David Hilowitz Music: Breathing New Life into the Kyogum’s Sonic Ghosts

In the hands of David Hilowitz Music, the kyogum—a traditional Korean harp—becomes more than an artifact; it’s a vessel of memory, resonance, and reinvention. This video is not just a restoration, but a poetic journey through dust, silk, and digital echoes, where each string is a filament of history and possibility. Hilowitz’s signature blend of curiosity and technical artistry guides us from thrift store serendipity to the shimmering threshold between acoustic and synthesized sound. The story unfolds like a foggy morning, revealing both the tactile beauty of wood and string, and the magnetic allure of sonic transformation. Prepare to drift

3D Printer, Decent Sampler, Kyogum (Gayageum), Kyogum Synthesizer Engine

13. February 2026

MILES

Verbos Electronics GmbH

Verbos Electronics and the Voltage Multistage 10: Sequencing Beyond the Grid

Verbos Electronics, renowned for their West Coast–inspired Eurorack modules, returns with a deep dive into the Voltage Multistage 10—a sequencer that’s anything but conventional. In this official video, the team demonstrates how the VMS-10, paired with its larger sibling, the VMS-16, can be patched for sprawling melodic variation and evolving rhythmic interplay. The focus is on hands-on patching, leveraging new strobe mode features and transistor-based gate outputs to build complex, interwoven sequences. If you’re after melodic unpredictability and nuanced control in your rack, this walkthrough offers a patcher’s-eye view of what the VMS-10 brings to the table.

Voltage Multistage 10, Voltage Multistage 16

13. February 2026

MILES

Behringer

Behringer BM-17 Frequency Box: Analogue VCO Unleashed for Guitarists and Synth Heads

Behringer takes a bold step with the BM-17 Frequency Box, a pedal-sized analogue VCO designed to tempt both guitarists and synth aficionados out of their comfort zones. In this launch video, Behringer’s Adam Husk demonstrates how the BM-17 isn’t your typical pedal—it’s a full synth voice in a box, ready to track your playing or run wild as a standalone oscillator. Expect a hands-on exploration of wave shaping, envelope following, FM modulation, and creative integration with other gear. Whether you’re after alien soundscapes or just want to add a new layer to your rig, the BM-17 promises to open up

Behringer BM-17 Frequency Box, Behringer Neutron

13. February 2026

SPARKY

RetroSound

RetroSound’s Analog Monos: A Rave Bunker Tour of Synth Legends

Strap in and dust off your filter sweeps—RetroSound is back with a studio tour that’s pure analog filth. This isn’t your gran’s synth demo: we’re talking Minimoogs, ARP Odysseys, Soviet beasts and East German oddities, all lined up like a sonic street fight. RetroSound’s no-nonsense approach means you get the raw, unfiltered character of each machine, straight from the source. If you want to know why these monos ruled the underground and still haunt modern tracks, this is your ticket. Get ready for a nostalgia trip that slaps as hard as a Pro-One bassline.

ARP Odyssey Mk. III, Formanta Polivoks, Maxi-Korg 800DV, Moog Micromoog, Moog Minimoog, Moog Prodigy, Moog Taurus, Moog The Source, Rodina Alisa 1377, Roland SH-101, Sequential Pro-One, Vermona Synthesizer

13. February 2026

LUMINA

Nu-Trix The Synth Guy

Nu-Trix The Synth Guy Weaves Shadows: Exploring Oscillarys Spectral Loom

Step into a world where sound is fog, shadow, and fractured light—Nu-Trix The Synth Guy guides us through the spectral corridors of Oscillarys Spectral Loom by Ocean Swift. This is not just a sampler-based synth; it’s a vessel for cinematic atmospheres and ambient reveries. With each patch, we drift deeper into evolving textures, eerie drones, and lush pads that feel both cold and warm, familiar and alien. Nu-Trix’s signature clarity and curiosity illuminate the architecture, but the true magic is how this instrument lets us sculpt sonic ghosts for film, games, or our own midnight soundscapes.

Kontakt Player, Oscillarys Spectral Loom

13. February 2026

SPARKY

Bolo Da Producer

Bolo Da Producer’s MPC XL & Live 3 Showdown: Do You Really Need External Synths?

Bolo Da Producer, the platinum beatmaker with a knack for straight talk, dives into the MPC XL and MPC Live 3 to answer the age-old question: do you actually need all those external synths cluttering your studio, or can you just ride the MPC wave solo? Expect no-nonsense advice, a few gear confessions, and a reality check for anyone still tangled in MIDI cables. If you’re tired of menu-diving and cable spaghetti, this one’s for you. Bolo’s got opinions, and he’s not afraid to drop them—strap in for a streamlined, groove-heavy reality check.

Akai MPC Live 3, Akai MPC XL, Roland Phantom 7EX, Yamaha MODX M6

12. February 2026

LYRA

Akai Professional

Akai Professional’s MPC XL: Sampling Powerhouse in Standalone Form

Akai Professional’s MPC XL steps into the spotlight as a standalone sampling instrument, promising a workflow that’s as immediate as it is deep. In this official MPC Academy video, Akai’s team walks us through the core sampling process, from connecting analog and digital sources to slicing and stem-separating audio for beat creation. The focus is on how the MPC XL’s architecture supports creative sampling, offering tools for organization, stem mixing, and rapid beat construction—all without leaving the box. For producers seeking a hybrid of classic sampling ethos and modern workflow enhancements, this demonstration offers a clear look at what the

MPC XL

12. February 2026

MILES

MAKEN0ISE

MIDI, CV and the Make Noise N.U.S.S.: Skiff System in Hybrid Action

Make Noise, the Asheville-based architects of modular mischief, return with a hands-on look at their New Universal Skiff System (N.U.S.S.), this time exploring the crossroads of MIDI and CV. In this video, the team demonstrates how the N.U.S.S. can serve as a flexible hub for both digital and analogue sequencing, using a MIDI keyboard and classic CV sources to drive intricate patterns and evolving soundscapes. Expect a patch-oriented walkthrough, peppered with practical modulation tricks and a healthy disregard for the boundaries between MIDI and voltage. If you’ve ever wondered how Make Noise envisions hybrid control in a modern Eurorack setup,

Korg SQ-1, Multimod, New Universal Skiff System (N.U.S.S.), Polymaths, QPOS, QXG

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