Equipment News, Leaks and Tips
Ibanez Steve Vai JEM JR: the cheapest JEM ever?
15 Sep 2017 · Featuring the iconic 'Monkey Grip', 'Lions claw' and `Tree Of Life' inlay, plus shocking neon '80s colours, where exactly are Ibanez cutting the cost of this budget Steve Vai signature model guitar? We reveal ...
G&L Doheny – A modern-day take on the Jazzmaster?
14 Sep 2017 · G&L has just presented the Doheny, an offset guitar very reminiscent of the Fender Jazzmaster. Is this the rebirth of the Jazzmaster that offset fans have been waiting for?
Bitwig Studio gets Ableton Link with 2.2 update
14 Sep 2017 · Bitwig Studio reaches version 2.2 and joins the Ableton Link party for instant networked tempo sync to other software and devices. There are also new modulators, time shifting and 3GBs of new content.
Synthbox: Touchscreen, polyphonic, wavetable synthesizer for Eurorack
14 Sep 2017 · 1010music release a complete polyphonic wavetable synthesizer voice for Eurorack. Synthbox shares the same touch-screen hardware as the Fxbox and Bitbox and can also share the firmware.
Audio Damage Axon 2 drum synth driven by Artificial Intelligence
14 Sep 2017 · In the Apocalypse to come, they'll say it started with a plug-in. Axon 2, gifted with intelligence to birth new patterns, learned exponentially and soon all rhythmic decisions were taken out of human hands.
B.C. Rich Kerry King Signature KKW30: A Slayer!
14 Sep 2017 · Slayer's main man Kerry King gets a new uber metal machine, designed for crushing riffs and huge solo tones, this axe is not subtle at all, but then would you expect it to be?
Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone X: full of potential for new music apps, but are they worth the upgrade?
13 Sep 2017 · Apple's new iPhones certainly look great in the hand, but do they offer any meaningful value to the discerning musician? Well, they do happen to pack some impressive and forward-looking technology, so...
V-Combo VR-730 and VR-09-B live performance keyboards from Roland
13 Sep 2017 · The V-Combo VR-730 and VR-09-B are vintage looking keyboards for live performance with the sort of organ, piano and synth sounds the gigging keyboard player needs. Light, portable and very useful.
Yamaha tease a ghostly digital workstation called Genos
13 Sep 2017 · Yamaha has a go at being mysterious with a handful of tease videos about a forthcoming Digital Workstation called Genos. Is it more of the same or is Yamaha about to break out of its box?
Keeley mods a mod with Germanium Super Phat Mod 16th Anniversary overdrive
12 Sep 2017 · With saturated amp-like tones from this 'new' limited run overdrive pedal, this is based on a modification to a Blues Driver pedal from 16 years ago and now tweaked for 2017.
Royer R-10: a quality ribbon microphone that’s also affordable?
12 Sep 2017 · Aimed at both studio and live conditions, the R-10 can handle sound pressure of up to 160 dB, yet its compact size allows for "flexible positioning", apparently. And at $500, it doesn't break the bank ...
Akai VIP 3.0 gives control over your VST library from any controller
12 Sep 2017 · The new version of Akai's VIP virtual instrument host and performance software is no longer tied to their Advance keyboard range. Direct access over your entire VST library from any keyboard or DAW.
Shootout: Roland D-05 vs D50
12 Sep 2017 · Can you tell the difference between the classic presets of the original D-50 and the same sounds on the new Roland Boutique D-05? No, we couldn't either - but give it a go!
VCV Rack: a virtual modular Eurorack system that’s completely free
11 Sep 2017 · The beta version of VCV Rack offers 27 virtual Eurorack modules from the likes of Mutable Instruments, Befaco and Synthesis Technology. It's free and gives you an entire Eurorack modular system on the desktop.
HumBeatz browser app takes your hums, turns them into melodies and beats
10 Sep 2017 · Ever thought about how wickedly easy it would be if you could just hum some melody lines into the mic and have the computer play them with the sound of a particular instrument? Yeah, they made it happen!
KVgear Vixen: a mixer for all your Volcas
09 Sep 2017 · The Vixen mixer from KVgear will mix and power up to 8 Korg Volcas and is also the size of one. A neat idea coming to Kickstarter and synth jams everywhere.
Modal CRAFTrhythm DIY drum and percussion sampler
09 Sep 2017 · Modal Electronics announce the CRAFTrhythm, an 8-track drum and percussion sampler in the same DIY form as the CRAFTsynth. Good, cheap, fun.
The Roland TR-606 gets miniaturized on the iPhone and iPad
09 Sep 2017 · Roland's hardware has been faithfully translated onto the iPhone and iPad's screen and features a 16-step sequencer with song mode. Swing and tap tempo controls let you shuffle up the rhythms...
Roland Boutique D-05: a reimagined D-50 Linear Synthesizer
09 Sep 2017 · Roland take us back to the era of menu diving, painful programming and the pop music of the late 1980's with the Roland Boutique D-05 Linear Synthesizer.
Boss V-BDN: ‘That’ Strandberg guitar is finally released!
08 Sep 2017 · We saw the prototype back at the Winter NAMM Show and now the V-BDN is finally going on to general release, but will this modern take on guitar be welcomed by the guitar world?
Boss collaborate with JHS on Angry Driver JB-2 overdrive pedal
08 Sep 2017 · When two pedal companies work together, anything can happen. But will this new collaboration be the start of something special? Will it herald collaborations between Boss and other pedal makers?
NI Komplete Kontrol S49 and S61 MK2: how tickling the ivories looks in 2017
08 Sep 2017 · The Komplete Kontrol S49 & S61 MK2 update what is still one of the world's fanciest MIDI controllers with technology and enhancements familiar from the Maschine range of production stations...