Sanjay C Drops the Absynth Bomb: Synth Legends, Reverb Wizards, and Gear for the Brave

Native Instruments is stirring up the synth world with a not-so-subtle tease: Absynth 6 is apparently clawing its way back from the grave. For those who remember, Absynth was the weird uncle of soft synths—deep modulation, evolving pads, and textures that made your DAW sweat. It got axed in 2022, and the internet’s sound designers have been sulking ever since. Now, a magazine leak and a suspicious countdown timer on NI’s own site are pointing to a December 9th drop. No official feature list, no GUI leaks—just hype and hope.

What’s actually coming? No one knows, but Sanjay C makes it clear: this isn’t just a patch job. The talk is of a full-on revival, maybe even a total redesign. If you’ve got ancient Absynth projects gathering dust, now’s the time to dig them up. The anticipation is real, and for once, it feels like Native Instruments might actually be listening to the synth nerds instead of the accountants. If you want the full flavour of the buzz, you’ll have to catch the video—there’s a certain sparkle in Sanjay’s delivery you can’t get from text.

Serato’s SLAB controller just landed, and it’s gunning for your sample-based workflow. This thing is all about focus: RGB pads for finger drumming and sequencing, velocity sensitivity, and a touch strip that actually does something useful (filter or pitch, take your pick). The real kicker? Focus Control Mode—hover over anything in Serato Studio and the SLAB takes over, no MIDI mapping faff required. Controls are minimal, but that’s the point. It won’t eat your desk, and it comes bundled with Serato Studio for a price that won’t make you cry. If you’re still banging out beats on a generic MIDI box, this is the upgrade that actually feels like it belongs.

Valhalla doesn’t drop plugins often, so when they do, it’s worth paying attention. FutureVerb isn’t just another reverb—it’s eight new algorithms covering everything from rooms to cathedrals, all with that signature Valhalla transparency. But the real sauce is in the echo section: twelve delay modes, from clean digital to tape warmth and granular chaos. You can route the echo before or after the reverb, or just use it solo if you’re feeling cheeky.

There’s also a colour mode to swing your sound from bright to dark in a snap. Sanjay C rates it as a no-brainer for ambient, cinematic, or just spicing up your tracks. Will it dethrone VintageVerb? That’s still up in the air. If you want to hear what this thing actually does to a mix, you’ll need to check the video—words don’t do those textures justice.

Moog’s Messenger just got a free preset editor, and it’s a proper workflow win. Tweak parameters, save and share presets, and dive into the sequencer—all from your computer. It’s standalone for now, but VST/AU versions are coming, so DAW-heads can get their automation fix soon. Just update your Messenger firmware and you’re off to the races.

Meanwhile, Expressive E’s Osmose is flexing with a 61-key version. That extra octave is more than just a stretch—it opens up new creative ground, especially with the unique keybed and synth engine inside. Firmware updates bring new presets and engine tweaks, making it even more of a standalone beast. If the 49-key felt cramped, this is your ticket to the big leagues. Both updates are about making hardware and software play nicer together, and Sanjay C’s coverage nails why that matters for anyone serious about their setup.