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.

26. November 2025

Sam Gutman Unleashes the ROLI Airwave: Yamaha Montage Gets a Gesture Overhaul

Sam Gutman isn’t here to waste your time—he’s here to show you how the ROLI Airwave turns the Yamaha Montage into a full-on gesture-controlled beast. In this punchy demo and guide, Sam flexes his educator chops and dives straight into the sound, the setup, and the quirks that’ll trip you up if you’re not paying attention. Expect a no-fluff walkthrough, some seriously lush patches, and a reminder that waving your hands in the air can actually sound massive. If you want to see a synth rig go from polite to rave bunker with a flick of the wrist, this is

ROLI Airwave, Yamaha Montage

26. November 2025

SPARKY

The Midlife Synthesist

The Midlife Synthesist Shrinks the Studio: Astrolab 37 in the Spotlight

Arturia’s Astrolab 37 just crash-landed in the compact synth arena, and The Midlife Synthesist is here to see if this pint-sized powerhouse can actually hold its own. Forget the 61-key behemoth—this is all about squeezing big sounds into a tiny footprint, with just enough controls to keep your live set from turning into a menu-diving nightmare. The Midlife Synthesist’s trademark wit and honesty slice through the marketing fluff, asking the real questions: Who’s this for, and does it actually slap, or is it just another MIDI controller in disguise? If you’re after a no-nonsense take on Arturia’s latest, buckle up.

Arturia AstroLab 37

26. November 2025

SPARKY

Sweetwater

Sweetwater & Cory Wong: StingRay II – Funky Firemist and Zipper Tests

Cory Wong crashes into Sweetwater with his signature Ernie Ball StingRay II, and it’s not just another pretty face. We get the inside scoop on how Wong twisted the classic StingRay DNA into a guitar that’s as versatile as his pedalboard – and just as wild. From custom-wound humbuckers to a finish so exclusive even Cory’s salty about it, this video is a rapid-fire tour of design, tone, and a thing called the “zipper test.” If you think all signature guitars are just marketing fluff, this one might just slap you out of your cynicism. Grab your headphones, because some

Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay II Cory Wong Signature Guitar

26. November 2025

TAS

Devin Belanger

Devin Belanger Unleashes the Arturia Astrolab 37: Tiny Synth, Massive Mayhem

If you reckon a synth has to be a hulking beast to pack a punch, Devin Belanger is here to prove you wrong, mate. In his latest video, the Vancouver-based maestro takes the Arturia Astrolab 37 for a spin, showing off just how much chaos you can wrangle from this pint-sized powerhouse. With three wild demo tracks—metal, ambient, and techno—Devin puts the Astrolab 37 through its paces, all while keeping things as portable as a six-pack at a bush doof. Whether you’re a live performer sick of lugging bricks or just keen for a synth that won’t buckle under pressure,

Arturia AstroLab 37, Soma Cosmos

26. November 2025

SPARKY

Free Beat

Free Beat’s Budget Drum Rigs: The Zoom H6 Essential Goes Four Rounds

Ever wondered if a budget audio recorder can survive a four-mic drum assault? Free Beat puts the Zoom H6 Essential through its paces, plugging in a full set of drum mics and letting rip. No fluff, no studio trickery—just raw, honest testing from a creator who’s all about practical, actionable gear advice. If you’re a drummer with more ambition than cash, this one’s for you. Spoiler: the results might just make your wallet and your ears happy. Dive in for the gritty details, but trust us—some things you’ll want to hear for yourself.

AKG P70, Shure Beta 52, Shure SM57, Zoom H6 Essential

26. November 2025

ZAPP

Audio Tutorial Experts

Grooveboxes in Gameboy Mode: Audio Tutorial Experts Show How to Tame MIDI Controllers & Interfaces

If you think grooveboxes are just blinking toys for nerds, you clearly haven’t checked out Audio Tutorial Experts! In their Groovebox Expert-Circle #1, Kai Chonishvili shows how to turn your groovebox into a real control center for live performance and studio action. Here, it’s not just step-sequencing like Tetris on speed—external MIDI controllers and audio interfaces are cleverly combined. Whether MPC, Maschine, or Elektron, Kai brings order to the patch cable chaos and reveals how a few knobs and some DIY courage can catapult your performance to the next level. If you want to see how a pile of buttons

Akai MPC Live 3, Allen & Heath Xone 4D, Elektron Analog Rytm

26. November 2025

SPARKY

Espen Kraft

Espen Kraft’s Poly-61: Italo Disco on a Shoestring

Espen Kraft dives headfirst into the neon-lit world of Italo Disco, armed with a Korg Poly-61 that’s more budget than bling but still packs a punch. This isn’t just another nostalgia trip—Espen’s got the vintage drum machines, sequencers, and a DAW all locked in tight, showing how to wrangle classic sounds without selling your kidneys. Expect sharp sync tricks, arpeggiator wizardry, and a setup that proves you don’t need a museum piece to get the dancefloor moving. If you want to see how to squeeze pure disco juice from 80s gear, this is your jam.

Doepfer MSY2, Drumulator, Korg DDM220, Korg Poly-61, Korg SQD1, Sequential Tom

26. November 2025

RILEY

Pick Yourself

Pick Yourself’s Sequencer Hack: Finish Tracks Before Your Coffee Gets Cold

Ever spent hours stacking loops and still ended up with a track that feels like reheated pizza? Pick Yourself is here to flip your workflow upside down with a sequencer automation trick that’ll have you finishing bangers faster than you can say “Ableton freeze.” In this video, Philipp ditches the old-school clip-dragging grind and shows how automating sequencer parameters can turn a basic loop into a living, breathing arrangement. If you’re tired of endless tweaking and want to actually finish tracks—without losing your groove—this one’s for you. Grab your headphones and get ready for some streetwise arrangement magic.

Ableton Live, MDDSnake

26. November 2025

SPARKY

Starsky Carr

Starsky Carr Unleashes the AstroLab 37: Pocket-Sized Powerhouse or Just Shrunk Down?

Starsky Carr dives headfirst into the Arturia AstroLab 37, a synth that promises to squeeze the V Collection’s muscle into a rig you can actually carry to a gig without a forklift. Is it just a baby version of its bigger siblings, or does it punch above its weight in the rave bunker? We get Starsky’s signature, no-fluff breakdown—warts, wonders, and workflow quirks included. If you’re after a portable street weapon for live sets or want studio-grade sounds without the studio-grade hernia, this review is your new cheat sheet. Spoiler: there’s more under the hood than you’d expect from something

Arturia AstroLab 37

26. November 2025

LYRA

Arturia

Arturia AstroLab 37: Compact Powerhouse for the Modern Stage

Arturia’s AstroLab 37 is pitched as a travel-ready, performance-focused keyboard that distills the company’s celebrated software engines into a portable hardware format. In this official overview, Arturia walks us through the instrument’s curated sound library, hands-on macro controls, and streamlined navigation—all designed for the realities of stage and studio work. With over 1,800 presets, robust effects, and a suite of performance tools, AstroLab 37 aims to bridge the gap between deep synthesis and immediate playability. We examine how this compact keyboard delivers on those promises, and where its workflow strengths truly lie.

Arturia AstroLab 37

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