Music Production Forum

Yes, you read the headline correctly. I first started creating music with Cubase all the way back in 1989 when, as a budding young music technology student, my college updated the MIDI sequencing software on its suite of Atari STs from Steinberg Pro24 to the new, shiny, and much more advanced Cubase. While I have acquired wrinkles and grey hair (and wisdom, I hope!) since that time, Cubase has remained evergreen, accumulating features and abilities that have kept it close to the cutting edge of technology... The post I’ve used Cubase for 36 years — here’s what I honestly think about Cubase 15’s AI tools appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

The Protein is an inexpensive, compact 8-voice polyphonic wavetable synthesizer, based on the original Microwave 1 ASIC oscillators and combined with modern features of Waldorf's Iridium heritage.… Read More Waldorf Protein Synthesizer Hands-On ReviewView the full article

While the ContinuuMini is a simpler, scaled-down version of Haken's Continuum, it's a unique, expressive instrument in its own right.… Read More Composing With The Haken ContinuuMini SynthesizerView the full article

In the video, Clevinger shares his take on the new version, highlights the new presets from Brian Eno, explores the Patch page and more. … Read More An Introduction To Absynth 6 With Creator Brian ClevingerView the full article

Faselunare has launched a crowdfunding campaign for Cosmolab, an open-source modular development platform for sound and multimedia. … Read More Cosmolab Open-Source Modular DSP Kit Now Available To PreorderView the full article

There isn’t much more to say about Zebralette; it has been among the best free software synths for a very, very long time, and the excitement about this new release is merited. For anyone new to Zebralette, it’s the much-loved little brother of u-he’s premium synth Zebra, and you can find out more about it [...] View post: u-he announces Zebralette 3.0 RC, improving one of the best FREE synthesizers View the full article

Celebrate your Absynth 6 purchase by adding a ton of brilliant presets to it for just €9.99! Plus we have free patches for Arturia Analog Lab V! It truly MUST be Xmas as Native Instruments brought back Absynth from the dusty plugin cupboard of history yesterday with the release of Absynth 6! There was a collective uproar followed by the five stages of grief when NI pulled the plug on Absynth back in September of 2022... The post Bought Absynth 6? Stack It Full of Great Patches! – Sounds and Presets appeared first on gearnews.com. View the full article

The Behringer Meatball is a clone of a classic 1995 boutique envelope filter, used by many famous players. Making a boutique, highly desirable pedal affordable for the masses, Behringer has created a spicy meatball for all! ... The post Behringer Meatball: Budget Take on a ’90s Classic appeared first on gearnews.com. View the full article

That time of year has come again, when you’re wracking your brain to come up with gift ideas for your music producer friend or family member. As a long-time producer myself, I can tell you that they probably have a very specific idea of the items they’d want when it comes to expanding their studio. Unless they’ve specifically asked for something, it’s probably not a good idea to take a chance on a random expensive synth or MIDI controller, as there are so many options out there. They probably don’t want an extra pair of budget headphones when they have a decent pair already… The post Best gifts for musicians and producers this holiday season appeared first on MusicTech. V…

When I visited Subtronics’ studio in his new home perched on a rolling peak of the Hollywood Hills, I expected to see hundreds of dancing lights and colourful knobs primed for the kind of eclectic, intense sound design that fuels his aggressive and diverse interpretation of dubstep. Instead, the only studio gear was his MacBook Pro and two PMC Micro Main 27 monitors. His computer is suitably stocked with plugins, but for Subtronics, real name Jesse Kardon, the speakers and a properly tuned room are the most important aspects of his creative process... The post Subtronics has a complex relationship with studio monitors: “I’m superstitious. Every speaker sounds a little bit…

Francis Cofone & Markus Reuter have released a unique new record, featuring electric guitar paired with the classic '70s string synth sound of the ARP Solina.… Read More New Album Features Classic ARP Solina String Ensemble SoundView the full article

All the band members play synths at various times during the performance, along with drums, acoustic guitar, Rhodes and more.… Read More Air Tiny Desk ConcertView the full article

Native Instruments revives its iconic semi-modular instrument with modern performance features, AI-powered navigation, and expanded creative depth. Native Instruments has officially unveiled Absynth 6, bringing back one of electronic music’s most influential soft synths with a fully modernized design. Developed in partnership with original creator Brian Clevinger, the latest version preserves Absynth’s unmistakable identity – [...] The post Absynth 6 Marks the Return of a Legendary Soft Synth for a New Generation appeared first on DJ Life Magazine. View the full article

From @synthandsoftware - SpringVerb enables producers to tap into the authentic tone and texture behind countless classic recordings across rock, pop, electronic music, reggae/dub, and more. PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT Solid State Logic announces the launch of SpringVerb, part of the SSL ‘Verb’ collection of plug-ins, which now features SpringVerb, PlateVerb, and GateVerb. SpringVerb imparts the unmistakable vibe of classic […] The post Solid State Logic Introduces SpringVerb Plug-In appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

From @synthandsoftware - The new FURNACE plug-in from THE/AUDIO/FIRM company is a three-way saturation processor with mid-side processing. PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT The new Furnace plug-in is a collaboration combining the real-world experience of veteran mix/mastering engineer Sean J Vincent and advanced world-leading DSP developments of Vic Lewis of Fazertone. FURNACE makes much use of Fazertone’s famed DSP developments, delivering […] The post New FURNACE Plug-in appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

Developed in partnership with Absynth creator Brian Clevinger, Absynth 6 adds an AI-powered browsing experience and modern compatibility.… Read More Native Instruments Absynth 6 Returns, With Presets By Brian Eno, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith & Richard DevineView the full article

Synth-shopping is one of those delightful rabbit holes where technology, creativity, and philosophy collide. Yamaha’s MODX M8 and Montage M8X share the same genetic code — three powerful sound engines — but they live in different worlds when it comes to feel, performance depth, and long-term ambition. If you’re torn between them, this breakdown should make your choice a whole lot easier.... https://jamesm.blog/music-production/modx-m8-vs-montage-m8x/ Choose MODX M8 if… You want a powerful, modern workstation. You want most of the Montage’s sound engines at a lower cost (~ £1,593). You prefer something lighter for gigging or home use. Choose Montage M8X if… You care about …

If you’re looking to start recording your own music, things can quickly get overwhelming. There are hundreds of audio interfaces on the market today, with various specs and capabilities that, to beginners, often seem like a foreign language. PreSonus, the name behind the growing Studio One DAW, may have the answer with Quantum. A streamlined family of affordable next-gen interfaces, the Quantum ES and HD range connect via low-latency USB-C to both Mac and Windows setups... The post Ready to start recording? PreSonus’s Quantum ES and HD interface ranges give you everything you need to lay down your ideas appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

Absynth 6 is the latest version of the legendary semi-modular hybrid synthesiser – and it’s more powerful and easier to use than ever before. Offering unparalleled sound-sculpting capabilities, Absynth is the ideal instrument for sound designers looking to push the envelope and create unique, evolving soundscapes for film, television, or games. In this guide to Absynth 6 sound design, we’ll show you how to make an evolving soundscape from scratch, master flexible modulation with an MSEG tutorial, and discover polyphonic aftertouch assignment... The post How to design evolving soundscapes: a sound designer’s workflow with Absynth 6 first appeared on Native Instruments Blog…

Absynth has a long, storied history of surreal sound. The strange textures and dreamlike tones return with Absynth 6, the latest in this prestigious line of semi-modular synths. This version keeps the heart of the hybrid engine you know. It combines subtractive, FM, wavetable, and granular synthesis into one flow that makes unusual sounds feel natural to create. A refreshed interface, a new waveform editor, and an intuitive visual browser make it easier than ever to craft otherworldly soundscapes. So what’s new in this reimagined classic? Let’s break it down... The post Introducing Absynth 6: The iconic hybrid synth returns with unprecedented depth and expression first ap…

Native Instruments’ Absynth 6 has arrived after a week of teasers from the brand. The hybrid, semi-modular soft synth boasts a powerful system of effects, synth engines, and a new AI-powered preset browser, which all help bring this revered classic into the modern era of music production. Granular, FM, subtractive and wavetable synthesis are all on board Absynth 6, with presets created by Brian Eno, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith and Richard Devine. NI’s messaging of Absynth 6 is that it’s “weird by design,” with digital artists Weirdcore and Swarmm contributing to the visual design of the new soft synth. Here’s what you need to know about the revival of Absynth... The post Everyt…

Strum Plate is a free Omnichord-inspired MIDI effect plugin from Gulf Coast Synthesis, available in AU, VST3, and AAX formats for macOS and Windows. If you’re wondering what on earth an Omnichord is, you’re likely not alone. If you already know, then you’re one of the lucky ones! Well, perhaps saying one of the lucky [...] View post: Gulf Coast Synthesis releases Strum Plate, a FREE Omnichord-inspired plugin View the full article

Absynth was a truly groundbreaking synth when launched in 2000, way back at the advent of the soft-synth. It was designed to be an entirely original instrument to showcase the phenomenal potential of real-time, computer-based synthesis. By the time its fifth version rolled around in 2010, Absynth’s unique character and astonishing sound-design prowess had gained it many adherents and fans, yet there it stayed at version 5, developmentally dormant and falling ever further behind the technological curve. Despite the writing on the wall being written in metre-high text, it still came as a shock when, in 2022, NI announced its decision to retire Absynth. Roll the clock forwar…

As 2025 comes to a close, Reverb has revealed its best-selling synths, drum machines, controllers and samplers of the year. “As musicians, we utilise Reverb’s data, from the Price Guide to our indexes, to make decisions when buying and selling gear – and our best-selling gear lists have become a fun tradition that allows us to see where our favourite synths, pedals and more fit into the grand scheme of things each year,” says Joel Handley, Reverb News Editor-In-Chief. “By expanding our coverage and digging into our data, we’re giving musicians everywhere the ability to do the same.” ... The post These are the best-selling synths, drum machines and controllers at Reverb in…

Ocean Swift has released Tyrian Tine, a free Kontakt Player instrument that blends metallic chimes, wavetable motion, and controlled instability into an expressive sound-design tool. I like how Tyrian Tine combines two very different layers: an intentionally unstable wavetable oscillator and a curated sample engine built from bells, kalimbas, music boxes, and other metallic percussive [...] View post: Ocean Swift releases Tyrian Tine, a FREE unstable chime engine for Kontakt Player View the full article

Erica Synths has announced Xenodrive, a new stereo distortion/overdrive/waveshaper FX unit, developed in collaboration with 112db.… Read More Erica Synths Xenodrive FX Box Now AvailableView the full article

Tiptop Audio has introduced the TRIAX8, an eight-voice, triangle-core analog oscillator for Eurorack systems.… Read More TipTop Audio Intros Triax8 Eight-Voice Eurorack OscillatorView the full article

Five 12 has announced new firmware updates for their Vector sequencer (both mkI and mkII) and QV-L Quad LFO for Eurorack. … Read More Five12 Releases New Firmware for Vector, QV-LView the full article

NoiseAsh offers Backs EQ as a limited-time free download for macOS and Windows. The EQ is normally priced at $90 but is currently available at no cost. Backs EQ combines Baxandall-style curves with a few modern twists. The main idea here, though, is that the workflow is straightforward enough that you could get around it [...] View post: NoiseAsh offers Backs EQ as a free download for a limited time View the full article

As a thank-you to customers for a fantastic 2025, Soundtoys is giving away six free plugins in the 12 Days of Soundtoys promotion. The 12 Days of Soundtoys promotion starts today (December 8, 2025) and ends on December 19, 2025. Just a reminder that December 8 is the last day to pick up the MoogerFooger [...] View post: 12 Days of Soundtoys: get six FREE plugins starting with Little PrimalTap View the full article