Music Production Forum

Roland has released GALAXIAS 1.5, the latest update to their software "Super Instrument".… Read More NAMM Show News: Roland Updates GALAXIAS ‘Super Instrument’View the full article

Music Tribe - the parent company of Behringer and other brands - plans to expand its distribution in the US. … Read More Music Tribe Expanding Distribution Of Behringer, Other Brands In USView the full article

Organizers of the Synth & Pedal Expo have announced that the London, UK edition will return March 22-23, 2025.… Read More Synth & Pedal Expo Returns To London, March 22-23, 2025View the full article

Reverb is absolutely essential in any mixdown, especially for in-the-box productions where most of the instrumentation comes from VST synths and sample-based drum loops. It not only ties these elements together by creating a shared sense of space but also adds movement, texture, and a lifelike quality to otherwise synthetic layers. Few understand this better than Shingo Nakamura, one of Monstercat Silk’s leading artists. Known for his progressive and melodic house tracks, his productions are driven by melody and emotion, always carrying a rich and evocative texture. Reverb plugins, particularly Raum, play a key role in shaping his sound. In t…

The free Giulioz RdPiano emulates vintage 80s Roland and Rhodes MKS digital pianos. Vintage SA-Synthesis (structured adaptive synthesis) e-pianos are all over 80s hit records, yet aren’t emulated as often as instruments like Yamaha’s DX7 or Roland’s TR-808 drum machine. Italian developer Giulioz is changing that with the free RdPiano plugin for macOS and Windows. [...] View post: Giulioz RdPiano (FREE) emulates vintage 80s Roland and Rhodes MKS digital pianos View the full article

Mouth of Sorrow ($15, less, or free) is the second addition to the Freakshow Industries Vaporware Series of mutated classics. This multi-voice chorus plugin comes after the similarly disturbing multi-delay, The Dream Eater. Freakshow Industries is also the company that gave us Pocket Dimension back in 2022. Mouth of Sorrow has three voices, each with [...] View post: Freakshow Industries Mouth of Sorrow chorus is available to buy or steal View the full article

Voice Align is a new web-based alternative to advanced vocal alignment plugins, currently in the early-access phase. The plugin version is coming soon. Vocal alignment is another one of those tasks that often gets little attention but makes a big difference. Industry favorites like VocAlign 6 by Synchro Arts do a fantastic job, but with [...] View post: Voice Align is a FREE web-based vocal alignment tool (plugin version coming soon) View the full article

NAMM 2025: Roland has unveiled its new pair of VMH-S100 studio monitoring headphones, promising “unparalleled sound fidelity, exceptional comfort and modern engineering”. The VMH-S100 headphones offer a flat and accurate sound profile and an ultra-wide frequency response of 5-40,000 Hz via custom-engineered 50mm drivers. They also feature a closed-back design for the cancellation of ambient noise... The post Roland’s new VMH-S100 studio headphones promise “unparalleled sound fidelity and exceptional comfort” appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

Polyend has introduced the Step, a fully programmable drum machine in pedal format. … Read More Polyend Step Puts Fully Programmable Drum Machine Into Compact Pedal Format View the full article

Polyend Step is a drum machine for those who want to play guitar, synths, or another instrument on stage or while practicing. A fully-featured, programmable drum machine in stompbox format, Polyend Step delivers inspiring grooves you can control with your feet. Available now! Polyend Step is a drum machine for your feet! The floor-based drum computer is loaded with professional features not commonly found in other drum stompboxes. Primarily designed as a stage and practice companion for performers, singer/songwriters, and loop artists, Step offers everything you need to create rocking beats with your feet... The post Polyend Step Is a Programmable Drum Machine for your Fe…

NAMM 2025: Roland has launched two new performance keyboards, with each featuring four sound engines and an ergonomic interface for smooth control when playing live. The V-STAGE Performance Keyboard is available in two models – the V-STAGE 88, for an “authentic acoustic piano experience” with an 88-note weighted keyboard, and the V-STAGE 76, featuring a newly developed 76-note semi-weighted waterfall keyboard for a traditional organ feel... The post Roland launches new V-STAGE Performance Keyboards with four independent sound engines appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

GForce Software, in collaboration with Novation, has introduced GForce Bass Station, a plugin-in version of the original Bass Station hardware synthesizer from 1993.… Read More GForce & Novation Intro Bass Station Virtual InstrumentView the full article

NAMM 2025: MQA Labs is launching new studio tools enabling engineers to employ previously unavailable methods for improved impulse response and noise shaping. In a technical whitepaper shared with MusicTech, the brand has teased information about two new plugins – the Input Plugin and the Output Plugin – with the former designed to tackle unnatural time domain effects of the analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) to preserve resolution, and the latter for use on the Output Bus to enhance an entire mix... The post MQA Labs’ new mixing and mastering tools employ “previously unavailable methods” for noise shaping appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

NAMM 2025: Since hitting the market way back in 1993, the Bass Station has been a staple of the low end of many synth nuts’ setups. Now, that classic piece of hardware is now available as an official software version, thanks to a collaboration between Novation and soft synth purveyor GForce. Though an “exact emulation of the original Bass Station”, the new software version also crams in a series of features not possible with the original, including wider 16-voice polyphony – where the original was monophonic – and unison modes... The post The official Bass Station plugin is here thanks to a collaboration between Novation and GForce appeared first on MusicTech. …

The original Novation Bass Station sought to fill the shoes of the rare and expensive TB-303 at a time when squelchy bass was all the rage. Now it’s back, bigger & better than ever. There’s a good chance that a significant bunch of you lovely readers were barely out of your diapers when the original hardware Novation Bass Station launched in 1993. For those of you who were significantly older, like me, you will recall the massive buzz around this beauty... The post GForce Software Novation Bass Station – Ol’ Bluey Returns! appeared first on gearnews.com. View the full article Novation Bass Station · Source: GForce Software

Pro-Q 4 is the latest version of the gold standard plugin for dynamic EQ. Because of the competition and the scores of copycats in the market, FabFilter has been forced to innovate to stay ahead of the pack — which is good news for producers. With Pro-Q 3, the renowned plugin developer added dynamic EQ features, allowing users to hone in and shape parts of the frequency spectrum. Now, in Pro-Q 4, these features have been expanded, and FabFilter has added spectral dynamic processing capabilities... The post Here’s why FabFilter Pro-Q 4 is almost the only EQ you’ll ever need appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

Korg has introduced the KRONOS, a new version of the workstation keyboard that originally debuted in 2011.… Read More Korg Intros Updated KRONOS Workstation Keyboard At 2025 NAMM ShowView the full article

£80 / £30 upgrade from Kick 2, sonicacademy.com Sonic Academy’s Kick 2 has been ruling the land of kick drum synth plugins since its release in 2016. Precision pitch and envelope editing combined with sample layering make it the go-to for fine-tuning the perfect kick sound. Now, the long-awaited update — Kick 3 — allows even more control, extra effects and a snazzy new AI import feature. However, the 2020s have seen new kick contenders enter the fray, so are these new updates enough for Kick 3 to retain its crown? The post Sonic Academy Kick 3 review: I’ve got 909 problems but a kick ain’t one appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

Here's an in-depth look at the new KORG miniKORG 700Sm, which is being introduced at the 2025 NAMM Show.… Read More KORG miniKORG 700Sm Synthesizer ReviewView the full article

NAMM 2025: Nord has added a new model to its flagship Nord Piano range, the Nord Piano 6. Chief among its new features is advanced layering functionality, which enables the player to two independent piano or sample-based synth layers at once, with each layer controllable via an LED-equipped fader. As with prior models in the Nord Piano range, sounds in the Nord Piano 6 are sampled using a wide range of real-world instruments. In the piano section, those instruments include a range of grand, upright and electric pianos from Nord’s Piano Library – with new features like Dynamic Compression and Unison – while the synth section emulates sounds from guitars to orches…

In addition to the new Nord Organ 3, Nord Keyboards is set to unveil the new Nord Piano 6 at NAMM 2025. The new generation of the stage piano offers an improved dual-layer workflow for easier handling of split and layer sounds. What’s new in the Nord Piano 6 – and do you still need the Nord Grand 2? Nord Piano 6 It’s been four years since Nord brought the dual-layer architecture from the Nord Stage to the Nord Piano line. The new Nord Piano 6 offers the same structure with two independent piano layers and two sample synths. However, the panel has been redesigned to make it easier to adjust layers on the fly on stage. With these workflow improvements and a slew of…

OverviewWrite your next House track within 22 minutes, no music theory required. HouseEngine turns your chord progressions into expressive piano rhythms, deep basslines, catchy melodies, and sparkling arpeggios. Feed HouseEngine with your chords and the plug-in generates authentic and professional MIDI patterns for you. No fiddling around with mismatching MIDI packs anymore. All output will be in tune with your original chords! Fast results, easy to use Have you ever struggled with writer's block when you wrote your next House track? Did the basslines feel weak? Were the keys "somewhat OK" , and the melodies only so-so? You can leave all this behind. HouseEngine is a plu…

Stylophone has introduced the CPM DF-8 Analog Dynamic Multi-Filter, the second in their Compact Portable Modular line.… Read More Stylophone CPM DF-8 Analog Dynamic Multi-Filter Coming To 2025 NAMM ShowView the full article

The Nord Piano 6 is available in 88- and 73-key editions, and feature a new panel design with LED faders, dual layers for Piano and Synth with independent effects and a premium Triple Sensor keybed.… Read More Nord Piano 6 Features Dual Layers For Piano & Synth With Independent EffectsView the full article

The Viscount Legend One is designed for live performance, and covers organ, acoustic & electric pianos, synths, strings and more.… Read More Viscount Legend One Stage Keyboard Debuts At 2025 NAMM ShowView the full article

One of their most successful digital synths, the KORG multi/poly module delivers it in a compact 19″ rack mount/desktop unit. It’s only been about three months since KORG dropped their rather fabulous multi/poly synth and, as expected, they’ve followed it up with a module version, as they did with the wavestate, opsix and modwave... The post KORG multi/poly module – The Mono/Poly Inspired Synth In Your Rack appeared first on gearnews.com. View the full article KORG multi/poly module · Source: KORG

The new Roland V-Stage about to be unveiled at NAMM 2025 sounds like a live performer’s dream: With four independent sections based on Roland’s latest and greatest piano, organ, and synth engines, could the V-Stage 76 and V-Stage 88 be the manufacturer’s most powerful keyboards for gigging performers ever? Roland helped pioneer the modern stage keyboard with the V-Combo VR series, a range of gig-friendly keyboards built around the Virtual Tone Wheel organ emulation. However, the last V-Combo VR model came out in 2017 if I’m not mistaken, so it was high time for something new. At NAMM 2025, Roland unveils the all-new V-Stage, a top-of-the-line stage keyboard available with…

If you’ve got keyboard skills, or even if you don’t, workstations provide an amazing set of tools for creating music. To help you navigate this process, we’ve selected some of the best workstation keyboards under $2500. Workstations became extremely popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when producers like Timbaland and Scott Storch dominated the charts with the sounds from workstations from Yamaha and Korg. As music moved into the button-bashing phase, the keyboard-driven production style waned in popularity. It’s still, however, a very effective way to get a unique and dynamic feel into the core of your tracks... The post The Best Workstation Keyboar…

When it comes to achieving premium sound quality, desktop streamers and headphone amp/DACs (digital-to-analog converters) play a crucial role in bridging your computer or audio system with your high-end headphones or speakers. These devices improve audio fidelity, allowing you to hear every detail of your favorite music, whether it’s high-resolution audio or your favorite streaming service. The right setup will provide enhanced clarity, deeper bass, and more immersive sound overall. In this guide, we’ll explore the seven best desktop streamer and headphone amp/DACs of 2025, perfect for anyone looking to upgrade their audio system with an all-in-one solution. Let’s dive in…

Yamaha has announced plans to invest $50 million in startups in the music tech and audio space. The investment will be the first initiative from the Yamaha Music Innovations fund, which was established in December. According to Yamaha, the corporate venture capital (CVC) fund comes as part of the company’s mission to “explore innovation opportunities with startups and other companies.” The main aim is to “contribute to the well-being of people around the world through sound and music”... The post Yamaha to launch $50 million music tech investment fund appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article