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 latest monosynth from Analogue Solutions combines some of the best features from the company's recent instruments into one Ample package.
Is it the one after 909? The long-awaited update for D16 Group’s Drumazon 2 will release this 909 Day, September 9, with effects, busses and more.
The 1983 Crumar Spirit, one of the wildest analogue synths ever made, is slated for a revival by the Italian company. Hold onto your hats!
We take a deeper look into the Roland System-100, an influential landmark semi-modular analogue synthesizer system still revered today.
Baby Audio BA-1 is the plugin company's first software instrument, an emulation of Yamaha’s criminally overlooked 1980s mini synth CS01.
NAMM
The Bastl Instruments Bestie is a mini analogue mixer that’s been designed to overload with up to 20dB of additional gain possible on every channel.
For every synthesizer that makes an immediate splash there are some that don’t make waves. Here are our picks for the most underrated synths.
Think you don’t need a hardware sampler? Sonicware’s Liven Lofi-12 sampling groovebox says otherwise and it makes some pretty convincing arguments.
Customize your Moog semi-modular synthesizers and 6mm shaft compatible Eurorack modules with Moog’s handy Knob Kit for Knurled Pots.
If you're searching for a versatile, affordable audio interface with premium audio processing then the Universal Audio Volt 476P could be for you.