Synthmagazine UK | Synth News, Gear & Sound Design

18. March 2026

Frap Tools Magnolia: Precision Meets Patchable Warmth

Frap Tools, the Italian maestros of modular design, take a scalpel to the myth that analog equals warmth in their deep-dive on the Magnolia polysynth. In this video, they address the instrument’s reputation for sounding ‘cold’ or ‘digital’—a side effect of its surgical precision and FM prowess—by demonstrating how to inject movement, drift, and character back into the mix. The walkthrough is a veritable patcher’s playground, showing how Magnolia’s control points can be nudged and wobbled to conjure everything from subtle instability to thick, vintage pads. For those who believe warmth is earned, not given, this is a masterclass in

Frap Tools Magnolia

18. March 2026

LYRA

Arturia

Arturia FX Collection 6 in Action: A Mix Architect’s Deep Dive

When Arturia drops a new version of their FX Collection, the studio world pays attention—and this official mix breakdown shows why. Producer Danny T takes us inside his session for CJ Mirra’s ‘I Feel Alive’, revealing how FX Collection 6 isn’t just a bundle of plugins, but a modular toolkit for shaping, saturating, and elevating every layer of a modern mix. From punchy drums to lush, processed vocals and creative feedback lines, this video is a masterclass in digital effects architecture and workflow. If you’re curious about how Arturia’s latest suite translates into real-world production, this is essential viewing.

Arturia FX Collection 6, DBX 160 (Arturia Emulation), Delay Tape 201, Dist Op Amp 21, Effects Ambient, Mixed Drums, Rev Plate-140

18. March 2026

TAS

HAINBACH

HAINBACH’s Kalimba of Doom: When Outback Vibes Meet Synth Mayhem

Ever wondered what happens when you toss a kalimba into a sonic blender with vintage synths and a dash of mad scientist energy? HAINBACH, the maestro of experimental soundscapes, takes us on a wild ride with his viral “Kalimba of Doom” patch. This isn’t your grandma’s thumb piano—think more along the lines of a bush doof after a thunderstorm, with resonators rattling like a ute on corrugated roads. If you’re keen for a peek behind the curtain of viral sound design, strap in—HAINBACH’s got tricks that’ll make your gear sweat.

Dingusvalju Yuma Chromatic Kalimba, Nebula Instruments Resonator, Redeco Diffuseur, TTSH (ARP 2600 DIY Clone by Patchpoint)

18. March 2026

LUMINA

Produkt Audio

Produkt Audio Illuminates the Shadows: A Sonic Dissection of Dark Synth-Pop Creation

Step into the twilight with Produkt Audio as they unravel the anatomy of a dark synth-pop song, guiding us from the first flicker of inspiration to the final, polished master. This is more than a tutorial—it’s a journey through vapor-lit corridors, where analog ghosts and digital phantoms intertwine. Produkt Audio’s signature blend of technical mastery and artistic subtlety is on full display, inviting us to witness every layer, every spectral shimmer, and every pulse of emotion. For those who see music as landscape and sound as story, this breakdown is a map to new sonic territories.

Cherry Audio Filtomica, Cherry Audio Mercury 6, Expand, Faster Master, Korg Wavestation, Noises by Heinbach, Roland Juno 60 Chorus, Shure SM58, Softube Model 84, u-he Diva, U-He Repro-1, Waldorf PPG, Waves Vocal Rider

17. March 2026

LYRA

Arturia

Arturia KeyStep 37 mk2: The Digital Conductor for Hybrid Synth Workflows

Arturia’s KeyStep 37 mk2 steps confidently into the world of hybrid music-making, offering a hands-on MIDI controller that bridges the gap between software, hardware, and semi-modular synths. In this official Arturia walkthrough, Leona demonstrates how the KeyStep 37 mk2 adapts to a variety of setups—whether you’re sequencing soft synths in your DAW, tweaking desktop hardware, or patching into a modular rig. The focus is on workflow clarity: each connection type is shown in isolation, highlighting the controller’s role as a versatile hub for modern producers who demand both immediacy and deep modulation control. This is not just a keyboard—it’s an

Arturia KeyStep 37 mk2

17. March 2026

SPARKY

Molten Music Technology

Molten Music Technology Unleashes the Ballista Blast: Hybrid Mayhem in a Module

Molten Music Technology’s Robin Vincent dives headfirst into the Shakmat Modular Ballista Blast, a synth voice that’s got more tricks than a rave in a phone booth. This isn’t your average oscillator – we’re talking classic waveforms, wavetables, and filthy FM algorithms all crammed into one compact street weapon. Robin’s signature hands-on, no-fluff style slices through the menu-diving and gets right to the sonic carnage. If you want to know whether this hybrid beast is worth squeezing into your rack, strap in – this review doesn’t pull any punches.

Shakmat Modular Ballista Blast, Shakmat Modular Ballista Blast Expander

17. March 2026

LUMINA

Metamyther

Metamyther Illuminates: Drew Schlesinger and the Sonic Cartography of Preset Design

Sound is memory, and in this luminous interview, Metamyther guides us through the nebulae of Drew Schlesinger’s creative mind—a master whose fingerprints haunt over 230 instruments. Schlesinger’s journey is not just a chronology, but a story of magnetic resonance: from the spectral glow of early synth heroes to the tactile ghosts of analog circuitry. Here, sound design becomes a cinematic landscape, and every preset a portal. For those who drift in search of new timbres, this conversation is a rare invitation to witness the emotional architecture of synthesis, as told by one of its most evocative architects.

Ableton Live, ARP 2600, Casio CZ-1, Casio CZ-101, Cherry Audio GX-80, Erica Synths Syntrx, Eventide DSP 4000, Eventide H3000, Kurzweil K2000, Micro-Moog, Moog Messenger, Moog Modular, Moog Muse, Soundtoys Effect Rack

17. March 2026

SPARKY

Starsky Carr

Starsky Carr’s Hexdrums Deep Dive: Analog Mayhem in a Box

Starsky Carr is back in the bunker with the Erica Synths Hexdrums, and he’s not here to play nice. This isn’t your dad’s drum machine – it’s a snarling, fat, and gloriously gnarly analog beast that wants to punch holes in your mix. Starsky’s signature deep-dive style rips through every voice, pattern trick, and performance hack, showing off just how far this box can go beyond the usual 808/909 clichés. If you’re after crisp hats, dirty snares, and walls of distortion, buckle up – this is a rave weapon with teeth.

Erica Synths Hexdrums

17. March 2026

RILEY

Nu-Trix The Synth Guy

Nu-Trix The Synth Guy Flips 6 Minutes into 400 Kicks: Sample Chopping with ReCycle

Ever wish you could turn a boring six-minute kick drum session into a mountain of one-shots before your pizza gets cold? Nu-Trix The Synth Guy is here to show you how to slice, dice, and serve up hundreds of drum samples in less time than it takes to find your lost aux cable. This video isn’t just about speed—it’s about wringing every last drop of flavor from your own recordings, using the free ReCycle app like a true sample chef. If you’re into beatmaking, cheap gear hacks, and want your sample packs to slap harder than a Chicago winter, you’ll

Korg Drumlogue, ReCycle

16. March 2026

SPARKY

The Unperson

The Unperson’s Mini Modular FX Rack: Small Case, Big Chaos

Ever wondered what happens when you stuff a bunch of wild Eurorack FX modules into a tiny 40HP rave bunker? The Unperson is back with episode two of the Mini Modular series, and this time it’s all about twisting, mangling and elevating your sounds with a dedicated modular effects rack. Forget polite pedalboards—this is about stacking glitch, delay, and reverb until your drums and synths are unrecognisable (in the best way). If you’re after inspiration for compact, punchy FX chains and want to see modulation used as a weapon, this one’s for you. Prepare for sonic mayhem, British sarcasm, and

ALM MFX, ALM Pamela’s Pro Workout, Behringer CP1A power supply, Happy Nerding FX Aid, Pico Input, Qu-Bit Data Bender, Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II, VONGON Replay

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