Marcus works in the software, recording and synthesizer worlds. In addition to writing for GEARNEWS (editor-in-chief of GEARNEWS.com & GEARNEWS.de), bonedo and DJ Mag, he is a music producer, mix & mastering engineer, sound designer, live performer, DJ and lecturer (including SAE). Based in Mainz, Germany, the music producer brings decades of experience and a diverse musical background to his various music projects. He has had countless releases on various prestigious labels and produces music for film, radio and advertising companies in genres such as pop, dance, techno, house, downbeat and more. Marcus has toured as a solo artist and under various pseudonyms such as Broombeck and Guardner. He has over 30 years of professional studio experience, plays numerous instruments and has made a name for himself in the field of electronic music with hits such as "Alone" by 2pole, which spent several months at number one on the Beatport Top 100 chart, as well as gold records. His technical skills and deep understanding of musicality are unmistakable in his productions, and although he already has an impressive career and some early successes behind him, the story of Marcus Schmahl is far from over.
Analog vs. digital in the home studio: what really makes a difference, where outboard gear changes the creative process, and why the song always wins.
Bitwig Summer Sale 2026: Up to 25% off Bitwig Studio 6, Producer and Essentials until August 4. Bitwig Connect 4/12 comes with a free software bundle.
Deezer released a free AI Music Detector that identifies AI songs in playlists across all streaming platforms. The numbers behind it are alarming.
So many options for a Perfect Match! Here's how to build a portable pocket studio for creative jams anywhere with compact battery-powered gear.
PhenoType is a free extension for Sonic Charge Synplant 2 that generates new patches from simple text descriptions. Is this the future of sound design?
MacBook Ultra with touchscreen and tandem OLED expected in fall 2026 or spring 2027. macOS 27 already shows multiple hints. What it means for music producers.
A leak on Arturia's website confirms a new drum machine called DrumFreak with a sample-based foundation. What the community hopes for.
Rosetta 2 ends with macOS 28 in fall 2027. What it means for audio plugins, VST2 and DAWs, and what Mac music producers need to do before the deadline hits.
Elektron releases OS 1.55 for Analog Four and Keys: Euclidean Sequencer, Control All, Page Loop and Rotate Arpeggiator Sequence. Free update, available now.
Roland Cloud JUNO-60 V2, JUNO-106, Sonarworks SoundID Reference, and Steinberg WaveLab Pro 13 on sale: vintage synths and mastering software at a discount.
Price Reductions part 9: Now even more Behringer synths have been reduced in price!
Live techno with hardware: here's a solid starting point for a DAWless setup with real room to grow, plus some ideas on how to make it work live.
IK Multimedia ARC ON-EAR 1.5 adds calibration support for 50 in-ear monitors. Free update for all registered users, now available via IK Product Manager.
Squarp Hermod+ OS 3.0 is the biggest update yet: Mod Interpolation, Custom Scales, Jitter Monitor, new effects and a rewritten USB driver. Free download now.
Baby Audio Humanoid, Moog Moogerfooger Effects Plugins, and Native Instruments Traktor Pro 4 on sale: vocal FX, analog pedals, and DJ software at a discount.
Ableton Extensions SDK is now available as a free public beta: a JavaScript toolkit for building custom Live Suite extensions. Requires Live 12 Suite 12.4.5.
Embodme Erae Sound: new synth engine for Erae 2 and every MPE controller, 84 presets, virtual analog engine and nine effects. One-time purchase: $89.
Juno Download shut down after more than 20 years without any warning. What the closure of this cult electronic music download store means for the scene.
Teenage Engineering EP-136 K.O. Sidekick: mini mixer, audio interface, effects unit and MIDI controller in one battery-powered package. Reviewed.
Rapid Flow Omniclock is a MIDI clock plugin with 0.25ms precision, vintage shuffle profiles and DAW integration for hybrid setups. Intro price: €49.
Thomann Live Days 2026: Up to 50% off PA, lighting and stage gear from May 12 to June 2. All deals and event highlights in one place.
SUPERBOOTH
Superbooth 27 is coming to the FEZ Berlin from May 6-8, 2027. All news, rumors, announcements and videos about the synth festival in one place.
Europe's largest guitar show: Guitar Summit 2026 runs September 25-27 at Rosengarten Mannheim.Europe's largest guitar show: Guitar Summit 2026 runs September 25-27 at Rosengarten Mannheim. First artists ...
The new Boards of Canada album is here. We explore their sound and the gear behind that iconic lo-fi electronica aesthetic.