Gabe Miller Music Puts the MPC Iona Plugin to the Test: SH-101 Vibes, No Acid Required

Gabe jumps into the presets like a kid in a candy store, showing off everything from low-key basses to mainstage-ready leads. He tweaks resonance, envelopes, and filter cutoff, flipping between subtle and in-your-face textures. The man’s not shy about pushing the envelope—literally—backing off modulation when it gets too wild, or cranking it up for that extra bite. Effects like reverb and delay get their moment in the sun, too, with Gabe keeping things tasteful but never boring.

There’s a streetwise logic to how he stacks sounds: a self-made kick, a rumble cooked up from scratch, and layers of Iona arps and basses. The lo-fi effect gets a special shoutout for its decimator and bit crusher, letting you dial in just the right amount of dirt. Gabe’s workflow is all about quick moves and happy accidents, which is exactly how you want to roll if you’re chasing unique rhythms without getting lost in the sauce.

Gabe’s not here to half-step—he throws Iona on nearly every synth track, even resampling patches to squeeze out more textures when he runs out of tracks. The plugin’s arps, basses, and weird little stabs all get their time to shine, proving Iona’s not just a one-trick pony. Even the drum tracks get a taste, with resampled Iona patches adding flavor to the groove. Gabe’s workflow is a mixtape of clever hacks: reversing sounds, layering, and using the MPC’s clip system to keep ideas flowing and arrangements tight.

He’s honest about what works and what’s just “skill issue,” but the takeaway is clear—Iona fits right into a modern beatmaker’s toolkit. Whether you’re after acid-adjacent basslines, modulated textures, or just want to sprinkle some synth magic on your drums, this plugin keeps up. Gabe’s style is all about maximizing what you’ve got, and Iona seems happy to play along.

Now, let’s get real—Gabe admits Iona doesn’t always nail that aggressive acid vibe. Sometimes the basslines come out a bit generic, and pushing it deep into acid territory takes more work than he’d like. He’s quick to own that some of it might be down to his own approach, but he’s not sugarcoating things: other synths might get you to that squelchy, face-melting place faster. Still, he’s vibing with the sequencer, the effects, and the overall sound quality. The plugin’s intuitive enough, though the UI sometimes throws a curveball by hiding useful settings behind a theme page.

If you’re a hardcore acid head, you might want to keep digging. But for everyone else, Iona delivers solid performance, inspiring presets, and enough flexibility to keep your tracks moving. Gabe’s verdict? It’s a fun ride, even if it doesn’t always hit every mark. Sometimes, that’s all you need to keep the beat alive.