Synthesizer Evolution: a hand illustrated homage to the humble synth

Illustrated by Oli Freke this poster maps out the history of production synthesizers from 1960 to 1995. It's a stunning work that radiates the illustrator's affection for these revolutionary instruments.

Infected Mushroom presents Gatekeeper, a do-it-all gate plug-in with a trippy GUI

Developer Polyverse Music and producer duo Infected Mushroom have teamed up for another plug-in. It's called Gatekeeper, a volume modulator designed to pull off tricks like sequenced volume patterns.

Akai turns its MPC 2.0 software into (almost) a full DAW

Akai has announced the release of MPC 2.0, a long-awaited update that turns its MPC software into a DAW (well, nearly). Will NI Machine users be eating their heart out?

Ecosystem: Semi-modular environment for Max For Live

Ecosystem contains an organic, interconnected array of oscillating waveshapes, modulatable effects and automatable controllers. Patch it together into an evolving environment of sounds and discovery.

Eowave Capsule Titan MkII Eurorack synth-voice revealed in Tokyo

The Eowave Capsule Titan desktop semi-modular synthesizer voice gets an upgrade with sub sounds, noise generation, more envelops and VCA's. It can stand alone or be dropped into a larger Eurorack setting.

Sublime Guitars’ new Tomcat Deluxe: Roasted maple necks and offset waists

The US guitar company has just announced yet another well-priced 'globally sourced' guitar, and this time it is a solid-bodied offset with some nice design features.

Bluetooth your iPad into your modular with 8 channels of CV with Mi.1e

Fresh out of the Tokyo Festival of Modular is an 8 channel Bluetooth-to-CV module. The Mi.1e and iPad app offers CV/Gate sequencing, gate sequencing or LFO modulation wirelessly into your Eurorack.

Audiority Echoes T7E plug-in: a vintage Italian disc echo for your DAW

Audiority has a brand new analog simulation plug-in out. It's called Echoes T7E and it recreates a vintage disc echo unit from Italy. The gizmo is based on a magnetic spinning drum with record and playback ...

Rock N Roll Relics Jet: Boutique mojo and cool vintage vibes

If you are looking for a cool vintage American guitar, then this boutique guitar company should be on your radar. Plenty of option permutations to drool over here!

C Quencer DLX oscillator and sequencer from Tokyo Festival of Modular

A multi-functional module featuring two wavetable oscillators and a quantizer based sequencer and rhythm pattern generator with the ability to record all knob movements into the pattern.

Taurus Stomp-Head 3 pedalboard guitar amps: Classic or High-Gain?

Two new mini versions from the Polish amp company that brought us the Stomp-Head 5 are available as two separate amps - Classic and High-Gain. Will you want to stomp on one?

OWOW Wiggle controller – shake your hands, get rad vocal FX!

Wiggle Kit is a combination of tiny handheld controller and smartphone app. The former has technology to make it respond to hand movements, as well as four control buttons.

Is MIDI getting an upgrade at last? ADC pushes for MIDI HD

In February we ran an article called "MIDI sucks", and the net went (slightly) bonkers. At Audio Developers Conference 2017, a ROLI designer set out his ideas for the future of this ageing technology.

Spotify buys SoundTrap: A new age in online music production and streaming?

Not content to own the streaming rights to all our music Spotify wants to own the tools that create the music. SoundTrap is a cool online DAW that runs on everything - I can see why they like it.

KHDK Ghoul Jr Mini Overdrive guitar pedal: A purple monster?

A new mini version of the original Ghoul Screamer overdrive pedal, will Kirk's new mini monster have enough gain to make your pedalboard quake in fear?

Best free plug-ins this week: Snapshot, U-He Repro 5, Stagecraft Infinity

This week, we are blessed with an useful tool - Snapshot - along with two superb synthesizers. One's the Repro 5 by U-He, the other is Stagecraft Infinity, a thoroughly modern sample-based synth...

Is Old Blood Noise Endeavors’ Excess the most flexible guitar pedal out there?

With high gain distortion, lush chorus and slapback delay in a series or parallel signal path, does the Excess have it all? Well, it sure does cram a lot into one pedal...

Eddie Van Halen’s $100k FrankenStrat stolen!

Eddie Van Halen's iconic striped Franken Strat has been stolen whilst on display at the Hard Rock Cafe in San Antonio USA.

Manson MD-2 Mikey Demus Signature: Crushing orange tones?

Available in both left and right-handed models and a beautifully bright Satin Orange Candy that will make your mouth water, this new Mansons Guitar Works model looks very tasty indeed.

Erica Synths release limited edition Acid Simona VCF based on Polivoks

To celebrate an awesome classical and electronic collaboration in Latvia's first techno opera Erica Synths have released a startling limited edition of their Polivoks VCF - meet Acid Simona VCF.

Fender and Ed O’Brien from Radiohead launch EOB Stratocaster with Sustainer

At times ethereal and ambient, at others dystopian and aggressive, Ed O’Brien’s contributions to Radiohead's music has been made on a guitar just like this

Launchpad Arcade: blast some loop action in your browser

Now you can remix other people's loop packs on any computer in the cool, browser-based Launchpad Arcade from Novation Music. You can even use it with the hardware Launchpad if you have it.

Abletunes EQ WISE+ is a parametric EQ with built-in frequency cheat sheets

EQ WISE+ is an 8-band parametric equalizer with an educational purpose - it's got built-in interactive instrument frequency charts to help you with the delicate task of equalization...

Black Rooster Audio VPRE-73: a very affordable Neve 1073 preamp emulation

Black Rooster Audio released a very affordable emulation of the classic Neve 1073 pre-amp. Though it's not a one-on-one clone, the VPRE-73 Silk Edition aims to deliver the same enhancements to the sound...