I’d always loved music but it was hearing Prince - and more importantly seeing his video for “1999” with the prominent placement of Oberheims - that I fell in love with synthesizers. My first was a Korg Poly-800 and I haven’t looked back since. These days my studio is full of mostly Japanese synths from the 1980s (I live in Japan, after all) but really, I love all kinds. Analog, digital, whatever.
My musical tastes tend towards the electronic. The first record I released was a Chicago acid throwback in 1993. Since then, I’ve done techno, breaks, drum and bass, dubstep and even Krautrock but the genre I keep coming back to is ambient. Leave me alone with a droning synth and I’m endlessly happy.
The Roland System 100M remains a high-water mark for both the company and analogue synthesizers in general. And yet its success was far from guaranteed. Read on to find out why.
Thinking about making the switch to knobs or looking to upgrade for better sound? Read on to find out which are the best rotary mixers.
The EX Upgrade now comes pre-loaded in the new flagship Roland FANTOM 6 EX, FANTOM 7 EX and FANTOM 8 EX synthesizers - including the JX-3P ACB Expansion!
This week’s deals on DJ gear at Thomann include great savings on products from Numark, Ecler, Ortofon, Alto and UDG.
New kids on the block Wee Noise Makers want to put their beginner-friendly and hackable PGB-1 groovebox into your hands. The device has 19 sound engines, a sequencer and open-source code, and is crowd-sourcing ...
The Raspberry Pi micro computer is finding its way into more and more synthesizers. Do your synths have a slice of Pi inside? Read on to find out.
Stop just admiring the covers of your record collection and get to listening with these five best USB turntables.
The Korg Poly-800 is about as ‘80s as they come. Here’s how it broke the $1000 price barrier and became a runaway hit.
Suzuki’s new Omnichord OM-108 combines the best of the old models with modern new features. And yes, you can play the Gorillaz on it.
You don’t have to splash out for Eurorack to get some of its benefits. Here are some of the ways that modular has changed traditional synths for the better as well as recommendations for Eurorack ...
Cutting, scratching and soldering: Mixing console experts Audiotonix announce USB-powered educational STEAM two-channel mixer kit.
Two full-range speakers and two subs join the Pioneer DJ XPRS2 series, expanding the AlphaTheta arsenal to six units.
Attention DJs! It’s time to update your headphones with one of these. From beginner spinner to chief party rocker, there’s something here for you.
Europe’s largest music store is celebrating Thomann 70th anniversary, that means deals, limited editions and promotions! Updated in April!
It’s a sad day as Sequential announces the end of the Prophet X: “We'll be waving goodbye to new Prophet X units.”
Virtual analogue gets a bad rap but it has plenty to offer above and beyond traditional analogue. Let’s dive into the history of VA, look at where it excels and try to dispel some myths along the way.
Denon DJ has two standalone DJ systems on sale right now. Hercules, AKG, UDG and Decksaver get in with fantastic deals as well. Can your credit card handle it?
The latest from the leftfield plugin company is AudioThing Dub Filter, an emulation of the Altec 9069B high-pass filter made famous by reggae legend King Tubby.
The VCS3 launched one of the most influential musical instrument companies ever, the groundbreaking EMS. This is their highly experimental story.
In the late-‘80s, D-50-style sample synthesis was too expensive for most. Enter the Kawai K1. Is this 8-bit oddity still relevant today?
D16 Group Sigmund 2, the sequel to the company’s digital delay, ups the modulation count to one per delay line and beefs up the filter section in the process.
England’s Novation have been shining bright in the synthesizer firmament for 30 years. Here is the Bass Station maker's star-studded story.
Roland’s little silver box became a must-have synth on the used market - but was it a failure the first time? All about Roland's TB-303.
A surprising number of synths use the same oscillator and filter Curtis chips. Yet they don’t sound the same. Why is that? Read on to find out.
