Synthmagazine UK | Synth News, Gear & Sound Design

1. April 2026

Nu-Trix The Synth Guy Unleashes the Cherry Audio Crumar DS2: Retro Rave Weapon or Just Odd?

Cherry Audio’s Crumar DS2 softsynth lands with a thud—equal parts retro obscurity and modern muscle. Nu-Trix The Synth Guy, always up for a deep-dive into the weird and wonderful, takes us through a guided tour that’s as much about sonic potential as it is about interface quirks. If you like your synths with a dash of history and a heap of tweakability, this one’s for you. Expect dual engines, modulation madness, and a jam that’ll make your headphones sweat. Don’t expect hand-holding—Nu-Trix keeps it brisk, nerdy, and straight to the point.

Cherry Audio Crumar DS2

1. April 2026

SPARKY

TAETRO

TAETRO’s Setup Showdown: DAW vs Sampler – Which Rig Packs the Punch?

TAETRO’s back in the bunker, pitting two music production rigs head-to-head: a slick MIDI/DAW setup versus a hardware sampler beast. Forget polite gear tours—this is a straight-up face-off, with the XTS Performance Stand flexing under the weight of both workflows. Expect rapid-fire controller swaps, cheeky cable wrangling, and a sampler rig that’s more than just a nostalgia trip. If you’re torn between Ableton Live wizardry and the raw, hands-on chaos of MPC sampling, TAETRO’s got you covered. Spoiler: there’s no single winner—just two street weapons ready for your next sonic throwdown.

AIAIAI TMA-2, Analog Cases XTS Performance Stand System, Astrolab 37, Bento, Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, iPad Mini, MPC Sample, Novation Launchkey 37 Mk3, Novation Launchpad X, Shure SM58, Synido TempoPAD C16

31. March 2026

LYRA

Synido Tech

Synido Tech’s TempoPAD P16: Four Ways a Pad Controller Shapes Modern Music Workflows

Is a MIDI controller still essential in today’s hybrid studio? Synido Tech dives into this question with a focused look at the TempoPAD P16, highlighting how a compact 4×4 pad controller can streamline everything from beatmaking to orchestral programming. The video walks through four core use cases—drum programming, melodic work, live performance, and advanced control—while also comparing pad and keyboard workflows. For anyone navigating DAWs like Ableton Live or FL Studio, this is a practical, architecture-minded guide to getting the most out of a modern MIDI controller, especially if you’re considering the leap from keys to pads.

Synido TempoPAD P16

31. March 2026

SPARKY

Starsky Carr

Starsky Carr Unleashes the Retroaktiv PatchGen: Instant Bangers for Your MKS-70

Starsky Carr is back in the rave bunker, this time showing off how the Retroaktiv MPG7X controller turns the Roland MKS-70 into a patch-generating beast. Forget endless menu-diving—this setup spits out pro-level sounds faster than you can type their names. Whether you’re after snappy basses, lush pads, or lo-fi organs, Patch Gen’s intelligent randomisation means you’re never more than a button-press away from your next sonic street weapon. If you think patch design has to be slow and painful, Starsky’s no-nonsense walkthrough will make you think again. Dive in, but don’t expect him to hold your hand—this is for synth

Retroaktiv MPG7X, Roland MKS-70

31. March 2026

JET

Metamyther

Metamyther Unleashes Industrial Mayhem: Four Bricks Rook vs Mystic Circuits IDUM

Ready for a proper sonic punch-up? Metamyther drags the Shakmat Four Bricks Rook and Mystic Circuits IDUM into the ring for a session of industrial IDM chaos. Forget polite, predictable beats—this is all about glitchy, unpredictable mayhem, the sort of racket that’d have your nan calling the council. Metamyther’s cinematic-industrial approach meets raw modular grit, and the results are as filthy as a Camden pavement after a Saturday night. If you’re after clean, safe techno, jog on. But if you want to see modular gear pushed to the edge of a nervous breakdown, this is your jam.

Boom, Debo Elia, Desmodus, Incas, Mystic Circuits IDUM, Noise Plethora, Pamela's New Workout, Percol, Percos, Shakmat Four Bricks Rook, Voltage Block, Zadar

30. March 2026

SPARKY

The Unperson

The Unperson Unleashes Alt Firmware: Mutable Rings Gets a Sonic Reboot

Just when you thought Mutable Instruments Rings had coughed up its last ghostly pluck, The Unperson drops a firmware bomb that turns this classic Eurorack module into a whole new rave weapon. We’re talking frequency locking, new chord charts, and a mini Elements mode that spits out textures your DAW can only dream of. If you thought Rings was just for polite ambient noodles, think again—this update is for the patch-hungry, menu-punching, chaos-loving crowd. The Unperson’s style is as sharp as ever, guiding us through the firmware’s quirks and showing why this module refuses to die quietly. Get ready to

Mutable Instruments Rings

29. March 2026

RILEY

sunwarper

sunwarper vs. the MPC Sample: One Sitting, Zero Manuals, All Groove

Ever wondered what happens when a seasoned SP-404 head dives headfirst into the MPC Sample with no manual and zero MPC experience? sunwarper, LA’s own beat scientist, takes the plunge and tries to wrangle a fresh Akai box into a working groove—all in one sitting. Forget deep dives and spec sheets; this is about getting from box to beat before your coffee gets cold. If you’re coming from the world of Koala or the 404, or just want to see if the MPC Sample slaps or flops, this video’s got you. Spoiler: there are happy accidents, a few facepalms, and

Akai MPC Sample

29. March 2026

LUMINA

Sweetwater

Sweetwater & Denis Kosiak: Sculpting Vocal Stories with the OptoFET

Step into the vocal nebula with Sweetwater and Denis Kosiak, where compression isn’t just a technical tool—it’s the brush that paints emotion into every phrase. In this immersive session, Kosiak, the sonic architect behind artists like Khalid and Tate McRae, reveals how nuanced compression can transform a vocal from mere signal to living narrative. With the Rupert Neve Designs OptoFET at the heart of the process, we witness how saturation, layering, and creative risk-taking breathe depth and character into every word. This isn’t just about making vocals louder—it’s about letting them bloom, shimmer, and haunt the mix with their own

Rupert Neve Designs OptoFET

28. March 2026

SPARKY

Optoproductions

Optoproductions Digs Deep: MIDI Amsterdam’s 30-Year Rave Bunker Legacy

If you’ve ever wondered how a synth shop can shape an entire country’s club culture, Optoproductions just handed you the blueprint. In this episode, we get a backstage pass to MIDI Amsterdam, the gearhead haven that’s been fuelling Dutch electronic music for over three decades. Expect tales of sleepless nights, classic machines, and the kind of community you only find when you mix obsession with a bit of Dutch stubbornness. Tim Niewenhuis, the shop’s founder, spills the beans on surviving tech revolutions, helping lost producers, and why personal touch still trumps online mega-marts. This isn’t just a shop – it’s

Akai S1000, Alesis MMT-8, Apple (early models), Atari (early computers), Bitwig, Nord Lead, Roland MC series

28. March 2026

RILEY

MALO BEATS

MALO BEATS Flips the Script: Why Chopping Samples on One Pad with the MPC Sample Just Hits Different

Ever tried chopping up a sample and ended up with more pads than pizza slices at a house party? MALO BEATS is here to show you why his MPC Sample workflow isn’t just a hack—it’s a whole vibe. In this video, he breaks down his go-to sampling method that keeps things tight, quick, and ready for the next beat battle. If you’re tired of tedious pad-by-pad tweaking and want to keep your groove flowing, this one’s for you. Trust me, you’ll want to see how he keeps it simple, organized, and straight-up efficient.

Akai MPC Sample

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