Music Production Forum

Behringer shared this first look at their upcoming copy of the Elka Synthex, an 8-voice DCO polysynth design from 1981.… Read More Behringer STX Synthesizer (Elka Synthex Copy) Live Demo View the full article

The National Association Of Music Merchants (NAMM) has raised concerns that new tariffs in the US will raise instrument prices for musicians and hurt music manufactures and retailers.… Read More National Association Of Music Merchants Warns New Tariffs Will Raise Instrument Prices & Hurt American ManufacturersView the full article

Everyone knows the Prophet-5 but it’s just one of the best synths from Sequential. Here are the company’s top five instruments. Few synthesizer companies can boast of a track record like Sequential. Founded by the late Dave Smith in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1974, the company would soon become world-famous thanks to its breakthrough product, the Prophet-5. Launched in 1978, the Prophet-5 would kick start five decades of synthesizer development, a legacy that continues to this day. However, we’re not here today to talk about the history of Sequential. You can read about that here as well as on the company’s own site. No, today we’re trying to choose just five…

Jamstik has introduced the MFC1 MIDI Floor Controller, a hands-free control platform that is compatible with any standard MIDI software or device, including keyboards, MIDI guitars, and more.… Read More Jamstik MFC1 MIDI Floor Controller Is A Fully Mappable MIDI Floor ControllerView the full article

Developer Klevgrand has released the SyndtSphere v2.0.0 Sound Surfer Synth, which is free to download for macOS and Windows. Syndtsphere, the Sound Surfer Synth is back and is now in version 2.0.0. Klevgränd released the original Syndtsphere around seven years ago (roughly), and it took an interesting approach to blending sounds. Version 2.0.0 features a [...] View post: Klevgrand releases FREE SyndtSphere v2 Sound Surfer Synth View the full article

Today, we’ll look at a bundle from Native Instruments, Brainworx, and iZotope that you can grab for only $49 for a limited time. Like the Softube Essentials Collection that we covered a couple days ago, the Native Instruments x Plugin Boutique Digital-Analogue Bundle can also be found on Plugin Boutique. It contains 5 products: Massive and [...] View post: Get this 5-plugin bundle from Native Instruments, Brainworx, and iZotope for $49! View the full article

Mangling your audio can become even more fun thanks to this $37 deal on Sugar Bytes’ Graindad granular effects processor (normally $99) at Audio Plugin Deals. The deal represents a 63% saving on the macOS and Windows plugin – a VST and AU release. The deal ends on February 20, 2025. Sugar Bytes introduced Graindad [...] View post: Sugar Bytes’ Graindad Granular Effects Processor is Just $37 in 63% Off Deal View the full article

Melodic Dubstep, a subgenre of the broader Dubstep music scene, has carved its niche by blending hard-hitting basslines with emotive melodies and harmonies. Emerging in the early 2010s, Melodic Dubstep has captivated fans with its ability to balance intensity and beauty, making it a standout style within the Electronic Dance Music (EDM) community. This blog explores the origins, key characteristics, and impact of Melodic Dubstep. View the full article

The Synthesizer Museum Berlin has announced its first exhibition, opening February 12, 2025, that will feature over 50 rare synthesizers and other electronic instruments.… Read More Synthesizer Museum Berlin Opens First Exhibition Feb 12, 2025View the full article

Native Instruments’ Komplete 15 – the latest version of its flagship production suite – is now available as part of three new bundles via Plugin Boutique, with 50 percent off for a limited time only. Komplete 15 landed in September last year, and these three new curated editions – Beats, Band, and Electronic – each feature 13 products bundled to suit specific genres and workflows. Ending on 28 February, each bundle is currently on sale for just £44.50… The post Plugin Boutique is offering 50% off these new Native Instruments Komplete 15 bundles appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

dBdone launched AI Chords, a plugin for generating chord progressions with a free tier. The plugin is available for VST, AU, and AAX on macOS (universal) and Windows (64-bit only). AI Chords is designed as a tool to spark inspiration for songwriters, producers, and beatmakers. dBdone offers three AI Chords tiers, namely the free tier [...] View post: dBdone’s AI Chords Plugin for Generating Chord Progressions Features a FREE Tier View the full article

Scoring strings takes careful work. Sure, it’s not so hard to come up with a few chords. But getting your arrangement to really shine takes good technique and some clever scoring tricks. Instrument ranges, articulations, mixing, and more – there are a lot of aspects to consider. In this article, we’ll walk you through some helpful tips for getting your string scores to sound the best they can. Each tip will be demonstrated with screenshots and audio examples from Cremona Quartet Ensemble, an ideal instrument for composing with strings. It brings together four solo VSTs that sample extraordinary-sounding string instruments from the 16th and 17th Century. Co…

Moog overhauls your bottom end with the fat, punchy and dynamic Mariana bass synth. It borrows liberally from the Taurus, Sub Phatty, Minitaur and Model D and yet finds depth in its own identity. Now with 40 % off! The post Moog Mariana Bass Synthesizer – Monster tones with 40 % off! appeared first on gearnews.com. View the full article

Debuting as the electronic dance producer, Yuskek, multi-talented musician Pierre-Alexandre Busson knows how to captivate audiences with different projects. Now under a different pseudonym, DESTIINO, Busson is turning to heavier synth and drum machine-focused mixes, offering a darker string to his bow with club-inspired tracks released under Parisian label Lumière Noire, founded by Chloe Thevenin… The post DESTIINO: “I think it’s outdated now to mix on a desk; DAWs work well if you know how to use them” appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

The Tiptop Audio + Buchla 242t Programmable Pulser is now available to order.… Read More Tiptop Audio + Buchla 242t Programmable Pulser Module Now AvailableView the full article

If vintage synths are your thing, we’ve got you covered with a great deal on a huge library and some samples from the past! This week in Sounds and Presets we’ve got news of a limited offer on a huge library of vintage synths, a new preset pack for Xils-Lab’s latest CS-80 inspired instrument and a new piano for your Montage/Montage M and MODX/MODX+... UVI Vintage Vault 4 Galactic Tones for Xils-Lab The Eighty by Vicious Antelope Artefakt Guitar for HALion 7 and HALion Sonic 7 by Steinberg Italian Grand XL for Montage/M/MODX/MODX+ by ITB Music Classic PPG Waveterm Samples The post Pianos, Guitars and Vintage Synths: Sounds and Presets appeared first on gearnews.com. View t…

Sound design is the foundation that brings a track to life, shaping its atmosphere, energy, and emotional impact. This is especially true in organic house music, where the texture and vibe of the music is as important as its melodies, grooves, and impact. Sinca is a perfect example of an artist who is a complete wizard at making heartstring-pulling club music that hits hard on big systems just as much as her music and its melodies linger with you long after she’s mixed into another banger in one of her DJ sets. With releases on labels like Anjunadeep, All Day I Dream, and XYZ, her unique take on one of today’s hottest dance music genres has brought her millions of streams…

The Arcana Strum is an example of adaptive technology, designed to be able to be used by people with various types of physical and cognitive abilities.… Read More Arcana Instruments Strum Accessible InstrumentView the full article

Applied Acoustics Systems has announced Multiphonics CV?3, a major update to their modular synthesizer and effect processor for macOS and Windows.… Read More Applied Acoustics Systems Multiphonics CV?3 Modular Synthesizer Adds Polyphony & More View the full article

Arturia has introduced the DrumBrute Impact 1984, a retro-styled variant of their DrumBrute Impact analog drum machine.… Read More Arturia Intros Retro-Styled Drumbrute Impact 1984 View the full article

Full Bucket Music has introduced Paralogy, a free software synth for Mac & Windows that's inspired by the Crumar Trilogy and Stratus synths of the '80s.… Read More Full Bucket Music Paralogy Is A Free Software Synth Based On The Crumar Trilogy & StratusView the full article

It's free, but can it 'Blade Runner'?… Read More Free Software Synth ‘Closer To Classic Yamaha CS-80 Than Anything Out There’, But Is ‘Unstable’View the full article

In this BPB exclusive offer, you can download FKFX Audio’s LovPassFilter 2.0 filter delay plugin for free until February 12, 2025. LovPassFilter 2.0 is a macOS (AU, VST, VST3) and Windows (VST, VST3) release. To claim your free copy of LovPassFilter 2, hit the “Get The Plugin” button on the product page and sign up [...] View post: FKFX Audio LovPassFilter 2 Plugin is FREE for BPB readers until February 12 View the full article

Unstable from Morphoice is a free polyphonic synthesizer inspired by the legendary Yamaha CS-80 analogue synthesizer. The developer, Morphoice, describes Unstable as “in no way intended to be a CS-80 emulator, but still probably closer to the real hardware than anything out there”. In recent weeks, unstable is the second classic Yamaha-inspired synth after BaconPaul’s [...] View post: Morphoice releases Unstable (early beta), a FREE CS-80-inspired poly synth VST View the full article

Softube Essentials Collection is a bundle that includes five high-quality plugins: Tape, Model 84 Polyphonic Synthesizer, British Class A, FET Compressor MK II, and last but not least, Wasted Space. And for a limited time, you can get this $691 bundle for only $89 and save 87% on Plugin Boutique. Let’s check out the plugins [...] View post: Get 5 Softube plugins for $89 on Plugin Boutique for a limited time! View the full article

Developer Full Bucket Music has released Paralogy, a free Crumar Trilogy and Stratus emulation for macOS and Windows. Full Bucket Music is back with another vintage synth emulation after ending 2024 with Broken Mini (Minimoog) and Ragnarök 2.0 (custom synth built by Hans Peter). With this latest release, Björn (Full Bucket) turned his attention to [...] View post: Full Bucket Music releases Paralogy, a FREE Crumar Trilogy and Stratus emulation View the full article

The KORG collection 5 is clearly a must-have for any producer and sound designer. And now you can get it for half the regular price! This week’s edition of software deals also includes bargains from Cherry Audio, Toontrack, and ujam. The post Software Deals from KORG, Cherry Audio, Toontrack & More appeared first on gearnews.com. View the full article

The Behringer RD-78 isn't a straight copy of the original CR-78. Instead, it appears to essentially take the sequencing interface from their RD-8 and pair it with the drum voices of the CR-78.… Read More Behringer RD-78 Drum Machine Offers Updated Take On Roland CR-78 View the full article

While many producers lean on the well-known parameters of their favorite synths for pads, basses, and leads, some of the best parameters of your favorite soft synths often fly under the radar. Massive X is a synth with a lot going on under the hood, sometimes in obscure menus, and these hidden gems allow you to inject subtle motion, unpredictable variation, and experimental textures into your patches. This article breaks down five of Massive X’s most underrated parameters and shows how they can take your sound design to the next level. Whether you’re exploring custom noise layering, creating evolving modulations, or adding dynamic textures to your tracks, these tools are …

Arturia’s compact analogue drum machine gets a retro makeover. Introducing the DrumBrute Impact 1984. Arturia has never been one to shy away from a product makeover, and now it’s the turn of the DrumBrute Impact to get a shot in the arm visually. The DrumBrute Impact 1984 gives this little powerhouse a more retro visual feel with an all-new white case. Colour scheme aside, the DrumBrute Impact 1984 is identical to its darker brother in every way. Released after the successful DrumBrute, the DrumBrute Impact was a smaller, punchier device with a slightly reduced specification but retaining its hefty Brute-powered sound. Featuring 10 tweakable sounds, the Impact has all the…