Synthmagazine UK | Synth News, Gear & Sound Design

30. May 2026

Scott’s Synth Stuff Dives Into the Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave: Polyphony Overkill or Wavetable Dream Machine?

Hold on to your filter caps: Scott’s Synth Stuff takes the Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave for a serious joyride, and this synth is no polite dinner guest. We’re talking 24 voices, real analog filters, sampling, and a wavetable engine that laughs in the face of nostalgia. Scott’s no stranger to hardware, but even he admits this blue beast is “a monster of a synth”. If you’ve ever wanted your stage rig to morph from gritty PPG classics to modern sonic chaos—with a secret weapon or two—this review is your ticket. Warning: you might want one after reading.

Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave

30. May 2026

SPARKY

CROW HILL

CROW HILL vs. The Gamechanger Recoder: Not Your Granddad’s Vocoder

Ready for a vocoder that doesn’t just sit there looking pretty? CROW HILL dives headfirst into the Gamechanger Audio Recoder, a box that lets you play both sides of the sonic chessboard—modulator and carrier, all at once. Forget your old plugin routines: this slab of hardware wants your hands, your voice, and maybe your soul. With tactile controls and a vibe that’s more rave bunker than spreadsheet, the Recoder promises to shake you loose from in-the-box boredom. If you think you know vocoders, think again. CROW HILL’s no-nonsense demo shows why this thing could become your next secret weapon.

Gamechanger Audio Recoder, Moog Vocoder, The Sh** Synth

30. May 2026

SPARKY

Bthelick

Bthelick vs. The Polished Crowd: When Grit Wins

If you think ‘high quality’ means ‘high interest’, think again. Bthelick, that sharp-suited dance music workhorse, drops a lesson in why your obsession with clinical sound is probably making your tracks boring. In this punchy tutorial, he dismantles the myth of perfection, shows off some grubby plugin alternatives, and even gives a quick recipe for homebrew textures using nothing but your DAW and a sprinkle of noise. If you’re tired of factory-fresh beats and want your music to slap, scrape and bite, this is a must-watch—though, trust me, some tricks are best heard, not read. Expect wit, wisdom and a

Ableton, Cassette 2 by Caelum Audio, IK Multimedia Tape, iZotope Vinyl, Origin by Cymatics, Pentamento, Tumult by Consistent Interruption

30. May 2026

SPARKY

AudioPilz

AudioPilz vs. The Force: Groovebox or Glorified Doorstop?

AudioPilz is back in the rave bunker, tossing the Akai Force onto the Bad Gear chopping block. Is it a misunderstood groovebox hero or just another overhyped plastic slab with more updates than a dodgy Windows install? Expect plenty of jabs, a healthy dose of sarcasm, and the usual meme-fuelled chaos as AudioPilz puts the Force through its paces. If you’ve ever wondered whether you should trust a machine that can’t decide if it’s an MPC or an Ableton fever dream, this one’s for you. Don’t expect a love letter—expect the honest, hilarious breakdown only AudioPilz delivers.

Akai Force

30. May 2026

RILEY

Pick Yourself

Pick Yourself’s Guide to Kick Drums: From Sine Waves to Club-Ready Punch

Ever spent hours cycling through kick drum samples only to end up with a track that hits like a wet napkin? Same. In this slick tutorial, Pick Yourself takes us deep into the art of crafting mighty kick drums from scratch—no overpriced packs, just raw synthesis and some streetwise tricks. With a decade of club experience and a knack for making Ableton sweat, the creator lays out every step—from envelope shaping to phase-taming—without drowning you in theory. If you want your beats to slap in the club and on earbuds, strap in: this is the crash course your low end’s

Ableton Live, Serum, Vital

29. May 2026

LYRA

Arturia

Arturia Memory V: Digital Nostalgia, Analog Character

Arturia’s Memory V steps into the spotlight as a software instrument designed to channel the lush, unstable polyphony of classic analog synths—without ever needing to dust off a vintage unit. In this official video, Arturia’s Matt Paull walks us through building three foundational patches: a shimmering 80s pad, a responsive analog bass, and a sharp, moving lead. The focus is on layered oscillators, vintage drift, and modulation techniques that inject genuine movement and depth into each sound. If you’re interested in how digital design can capture vintage spirit, this workflow-centric session is a deep dive into the Memory V’s architecture—direct

Arturia Memory V

29. May 2026

SPARKY

Molten Music Technology

Superbooth Meltdown: Molten Music Technology’s May 2026 Gear Drop

The rave bunker’s still smouldering from Superbooth, and Robin Vincent of Molten Music Technology is here to shovel the freshest ashes onto your gearlust. He’s cherry-picked the real sonic street weapons—no time for useless tat, just the new stuff that actually matters. Expect tape machine nostalgia, Moog-flavoured emulations, AI-powered mayhem, and enough groovebox muscle to power a small festival. As always, Robin dishes the honest, nerdy, and occasionally sarcastic lowdown—if it’s naff, he’ll tell you. Grab a cold drink and brace yourself; this month’s round-up is hotter than the Berlin heatwave.

Arturia Memory V, EMR Music Group Tape 16, Nomn Reservoir, Polyend Drums, Shakmat Queens Court

29. May 2026

SPARKY

Monotrail Tech Talk

Monotrail Tech Talk: Voltage-Controlled FX Sends – The Dirty Details

If you think FX sends are just for polished DAW users, think again. Monotrail Tech Talk drops a modular bomb with voltage-controlled FX tricks that turn your rack into a sonic street weapon. Forget static reverbs and delays – this video is all about hacking your sends with LFOs, random voltages, and comparators for movement so dynamic it could dodge a punch. You’ll get patch ideas, slick demos, and a reminder that sometimes a VCA and a bit of attitude are all you need. Dive in if you want your modular to sound less like a polite dinner guest and

Comparator, CV sequencer, Granular effects processor, Reverb, Slew limiter, Stereo delay, VCA

29. May 2026

SPARKY

Tefty Music Tech

Tefty Music Tech’s Beat Kitchen: MPC Live 3 Retro vs Take 5 – Does It Slap?

Tefty Music Tech dives headfirst into the MPC Live 3 Retro and Sequential Take 5, whipping up a beat that’s half throwback, half future club weapon. The workflow? Fast, loose, and laced with character – just how we like it. This isn’t a dry walk through menus; it’s a hands-on jam with plenty of swing, dirty bass, and synth layers that actually breathe. If you’re tired of sterile demos, Tefty’s style is a breath of fresh, gear-obsessed air. And yes, you’ll want to watch the video for every knob twist and sonic surprise.

Akai MPC Live 3 Retro, Sequential Take 5

28. May 2026

LUMINA

Lodewijk Vos (LØ)

Lodewijk Vos (LØ): Broken Tape Decks and Sonic Ghosts – Scoring Horror With Fragile Hands

Step into the haunted dollhouse where sound itself drips from fractured tape and misfortune. Lodewijk Vos (LØ) invites us behind the velvet curtain of film scoring, where a broken Tascam becomes the unlikely engine of dread and beauty. In this video, LØ’s process is less about perfection and more about the magnetic resonance of error — a score born from tactile struggle and handmade textures. The lush, trembling world he conjures is built on real instruments, decayed loops, and the raw embrace of experimentation. Prepare for a journey where every sonic ghost tells a story, and the most powerful music

modular synth, Piano, Tascam Portastudio, viola, violin

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