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.
The new Boards of Canada album is here. We explore their sound and the gear behind that iconic lo-fi electronica aesthetic.
Ableton Push started as a Lego prototype: Jesse Terry, Head of Hardware at Ableton, reveals the origins of the Push controller and the thinking behind it.
Korg phase8 review: Acoustic Synthesis, 8 electromechanical voices, polymetric sequencer. Is €969 worth it? Here's what I found in the studio.
Cherry Audio Rhodes Chroma, Eventide SplitEQ, and Output Portal on sale: vintage polysynth, innovative EQ, and granular effects at deal prices.
Roland Spring Sale 2026: Up to 80% off JUNO-106, Jupiter-8, TR-808 and more at Plugin Boutique. Available until May 31, 2026 only.
The Thomann Live Days 2026 come with serious Live Deals: up to 50% off mixers, PA, mics and more. Our personal best-of of the highlights worth checking out.
Does vintage sound actually exist or is it all in our heads? We dig into the myth, the psychology, the survivorship bias, and what modern gear gets right.
Voice as instrument: Use it with this hardware Perfect Match: Shure SM58, Elektron Tonverk and Zoom V3 for complete tracks without a DAW or plugins.
The best guitar intros of all time: Sweet Child O' Mine, Master of Puppets, Crazy Train and more, plus the gear behind each iconic sound.
Antares AutoTune Pro 11, SSL Native Bus Compressor 2, and D16 Group TotalBundle on sale. Three strong plugin deals for producers this week.
Available now!
oeksound soothe3 is available now: rebuilt algorithm, low latency mode and multichannel support up to 9.1.6. Upgrade from soothe2 for just $55.
FREEWARE
Unfiltered Audio BattleFX brings the send effects from Battalion to a free standalone plugin: Shatter Delay, Headspace Reverb, Choke and euclidean patterns.
How to Use a Reference Track Effectively: Here’s how to compare your mix strategically and improve loudness, balance, and energy much faster.
Sampler meets drum synthesis: Elektron Digitakt II, cre8audio West Pest and Behringer Edge make a Perfect Match for custom beats without a drum machine.
u-he Repro, GForce OB-X, and Synchro Arts VocAlign Pro on sale: vintage synth emulations and pro vocal tools at a serious deal price.
Beatport Track ID is a new free feature in the Beatport app that identifies tracks in real time, even in live mixes, edits, and mashups.
The IK Multimedia Brown Sound Bundle bundles all three TONEX collections with 206 Tone Models at a special price. Available at Thomann until May 31, 2026 only.
Pink Parrot Studio QuadTrack is a 4-track Amiga groovebox for Mac, PC and real Amiga hardware, from Cenk Sayinli, formerly of Elektron.
FREEWARE
Goodhertz LA-210 is a free plugin with an opto compressor, soft clip saturation, and cassette tape model for Mac and Windows. Currently in beta.
Thomann Live Days bring workshops, an expo, and live performances together. Test gear on site, talk to pros, and get hands-on - free entry included.
SUPERBOOTH
Elektron Outbox 8 is an 8-output interface for all Overbridge-compatible devices, spotted at Superbooth 2026. Price expected between €249 and €299.
Mobile beatmaking in 2026: AKAI MPC Sample, KORG handytraxx play, and the right headphones make a perfect portable setup for producers on the go.
SUPERBOOTH
Roland Project LYDIA Phase 2 uses neural sampling to transfer any sound onto other signals in real time. Prototype on show at Superbooth 2026.
SUPERBOOTH
Teenage Engineering's EP-136 K.O. Sidekick combines a two-channel mixer, audio interface, and effects processor in one compact, battery-powered package.