Music Production Forum

UJAM and the Bob Moog Foundation have introduced Vox Humana, a recreation of the Polymoog 280A’s Vox Humana sound, immortalized in Gary Numan’s Cars and other legendary tracks.… Read More New Vox Humana Plugin From UJAM & Bob Moog FoundationView the full article

From the country that gave us synth-pop, this is the story of German synthesizers as told through the history of five groundbreaking companies. In this ongoing series, I’ve covered the history of synthesizers across a number of different countries, including Japan, America, the UK, and even Italy. One that I have yet to address, though, is Germany. Let’s fix that grave error today... For a country so inextricably linked with synthesizers and electronic music – it is the home of Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, and more techno artists than you can deny entry to Berghain to – Germany is not as much of a synth powerhouse as, say, Japan. However, what it lacks in numbers it has m…

Firmware for both devices has been updated to firmware 1.10, with some cross-pollination between the two, plus some 'tasty new additions'. … Read More Elektron Unleashes Double D Update, Bringing New Features To Digitakt & DigitoneView the full article

Here's new interview with pioneering ambient electronic composer and artist Brian Eno.… Read More New Interview With Brian EnoView the full article

Moog has teamed up with Rush’s Geddy Lee on a special edition of the Minimoog Model D. This custom-built version of the legendary analogue synth stays true to its classic sound while incorporating modern upgrades and a striking design inspired by the Rush frontman’s stage instruments back in the day. The post “The first synth that made dreaming big accessible to a schlub like me”: Rush’s Geddy Lee teams up with Moog Music on a special-edition, red-finish Minimoog Model D appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

We’re just a few months into 2025, and it’s already been a fantastic year for orchestral freebies with the latest offer Orchestral Tools’ Berlin Free Orchestra for SINE Player. Sonixinema’s Delicate Strings and Sona/Chroma by Tempest Audio are two real standouts. If we go back to the end of last year, we can throw in [...] View post: Orchestral Tools releases Berlin Free Orchestra for SINE Player View the full article

The classic soft synth TyrellN6 is known and loved by the audio community for its fat, gritty, analog-like sound and boundless retro appeal. Initially hosted as freeware at amazona.de, the synth is now at home at u-he.com with some brand-new features. TyrellN6 has an interesting origin story. It was supposed to end up as a [...] View post: FREE u-he TyrellN6 updated in new 2025 beta version View the full article

A recent court case affirms that works generated by AI, without human involvement, are not eligible for copyright protection. … Read More AI-Generated Works Are Public Domain, Court AffirmsView the full article

Brighten your innie’s day with eight hours of Severance synth music and more in this week’s Synth Journal. Dog Paw Music is ramping up to the Kickstarter release of its first product, Dog Paw. A unique hybrid affair, it’s both grid controller plus synth/sampler instrument. The difference between it and other, grid-based synths, however, is in its construction: the pads are weighted and support MPE. Imagine the Osmose Expressive-E but in a grid layout... The post Severance Gets Synthy, First Weighted Grid Controller, Modular News: Synth Journal appeared first on gearnews.com. View the full article

Brian Eno seemingly has a love-hate relationship with Auto-Tune, as the ambient music legend feels that sometimes it just “turns a voice into every other voice”. Auto-Tune, a plugin launched by Antares in 1997, is known for the way it distinctly processes vocals and adjusts pitch. Though some artists are happy to utilise the tech in their music (to much success), Eno feels it can sometimes contribute to a “super-pasteurised” sound... The post Brian Eno hates how Auto-Tune “turns a voice into every other voice” – but feels it can be useful for this one reason appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

Elektron has released OS updates for the Digitakt II and Digitone II. The latest Elektron update to OS 1.10 includes lots of new features for both machines that many users had requested. About a year after the launch of Digitakt II, Elektron has released the OS 1.10 firmware update for the sampling drum machine and its sibling, the Digitone II FM synth. Both machines receive some important new features, some of which were “borrowed” from each other... The post Elektron Update: OS 1.10 for Digitakt II and Digitone II appeared first on gearnews.com. View the full article

Two legends collide as Moog Music announces the release of a custom Minimoog Model D in honour of Geddy Lee, the legendary bass and synth player with iconic Canadian prog rockers, Rush. You don’t get much more iconic in the world of synthesizers than the classic Minimoog Model D. Equally iconic is one Mr. Lee of Rush. Up there in the pantheon of prog-rock bands, Rush are rock royalty and, as with many prog bands, loved by synth heads as much as traditional rockers... The post The Geddy Lee Minimoog Model D – Two Great Legends Collide appeared first on gearnews.com. View the full article

It’s never been easier to explore unique harmonic structures in your music. The new User Chords feature in Maschine 3 lets you easily craft unique chords and tailor your sound, all with an easy-to-use interface, real-time preview and editing, and more. See User Chords in action with Product Specialist Matt Lara... The post Introducing custom User Chords in Maschine 3 first appeared on Native Instruments Blog. View the full article

The Geddy Lee Minimoog Model D features custom styling, aftertouch, a dedicated LFO and more.… Read More Moog Music Unveils Red Geddy Lee Minimoog Model D Synthesizer View the full article

PTNSHIFT is a generative music performance instrument for Ableton Push and Native Instruments Reaktor that's inspired by Autechre’s generative live performances.… Read More Tim Exile Intros Autechre-Inspired PTNSHIFT Generative Instrument For Reaktor & Ableton PushView the full article

London-based producer and DJ Clive From Accounts has revealed his ultimate dream synth – and it’s a big one. Speaking to MusicTech about the making of his latest record, The Very Best of Clive From Accounts, the musician – real name Richard Day – discusses his gear choices and the one synth that sits atop his wishlist... The post “There are so many synths I lust over, but this is the ultimate!”: Clive From Accounts on his dream piece of gear appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

Musik Hack made waves with its first plugin, Master Plan in 2024, praised for its simple, intuitive controls and loud, transparent sound. The brand is the brainchild of Grammy-nominated producer Stan Greene and composer/developer Sam Fischmann, and its new plugin crams a wealth of loudness and saturation know-how into a single, simple-to-use package. Fuel combines several go-to loudness processes including clipping, compression, saturation and limiting into a single plugin with stripped-back controls. What it lacks in precision and visual feedback, it makes up for in speed and sonic quality... The post Musik Hack Fuel review: Polishing a mix isn’t supposed to be this easy…

KORG has reduced the prices of the opsix SE and wavestate SE synthesizers – by a lot! The 61-key versions of both synths are now available for up to 46% less than the original prices. Does this mean they’re about to be discontinued? KORG launched the opsix SE and wavestate SE in 2023 as an alternative for keyboard players who weren’t satisfied with the measly 37 keys of the standard versions. In addition to 61 keys with aftertouch, both synths offer more polyphony than their smaller siblings. Both were also available in exclusive Platinum variants with shiny aluminum enclosures and stainless steel sides... The post KORG opsix SE and wavestate SE Price Drops: Save up to 46…

UJAM has partnered with the Bob Moog Foundation and synth ace Alex Ball to release Vox Humana, a recreation of an iconic Polymoog 280A preset. The Vox Humana soft synth is available for $19, and 100% of proceeds go directly to the Bob Moog Foundation. The Polymoog 280A hit the scene in 1978, and around [...] View post: UJAM releases Vox Humana ($19), a legendary synth for a great cause View the full article

Ink Audio has released Alt Tines for Kontakt, introducing a different take on classic electric pianos. Ink Audio offers a diverse range of Kontakt libraries, from slide guitars to synth pads and vocal rhythms. If you’re in the market for new Kontakt sounds, Ink Audio is having a sale with 50% off all individual libraries [...] View post: Ink Audio releases Alt Tines for Kontakt, a different take on classic electric pianos View the full article

After widespread rumours in recent months, this week saw the release of Serum 2, the second edition of the hugely popular soft synth from Xfer Records. Serum Creator and Xfer Records co-founder Steve Duda has long been a venerated figure in the world of software synthesizers, and earned himself a new level of respect when he revealed Serum 2 – which adds new oscillators, sequencers and hundreds of presets – would be free for owners of the first edition of Serum. The post “I respect the f**k out of this”: Fans are tipping Steve Duda and Xfer Records for making Serum 2 a free upgrade appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

The mighty DX7 lives on. Smackos (aka Legowelt) & Dim Garden have created a new album using one and you can have the sounds for free! It’s all about the numbers this week! Lush 2, Oddity 3, Pigments 6 and the DX7. Let’s see how they all add up ... The post New Sounds for the DX7, Oddity 3 and Pigments 6 – Sounds and Presets appeared first on gearnews.com. View the full article

Synthetic Sound Labs has introduced The Matrix, a deterministic algorithmic sequencer for Eurorack systems that's inspired by the rare Triadex Muse.… Read More Synthetic Sound Labs The Matrix Algorithmic Sequencer Now Available In Eurorack FormatView the full article

Music creation platform and sample library Splice has launched Splice Mic, a new update to Splice Mobile which allows creators to record vocals over instrumentals created within the app. Since its revamp in 2023, users have been able to use Splice Create’s AI power to generate arrangements – or Stacks – using loops and sounds from the Splice library. Now, Splice Mic enables producers to record vocals or other instruments over the top of those Stacks, using the microphone built into their smartphone... The post Splice Mobile users can now record ideas using Splice Mic: “Before we even get to the studio, we can sketch out melodies and even hooks” appeared first on MusicTech…

Audio mastering is the final step that transforms a track from good to great, ensuring it sounds polished, powerful, and ready to shine on any sound system – from intimate settings to massive festival stages. While some producers prefer to hand off this crucial stage to experts, others, like Avoure, take full creative control, mastering their own tracks with precision and intent. With tools like iZotope Ozone, mastering has never been more accessible, allowing producers to harness the power of digital and analog techniques in one streamlined package without breaking the bank by investing in thousands of dollars of analog hardware... The post Achieving analog warmth in the…

According to Tom Oberheim, good design isn’t just about catering to what a musician thinks they want, but about offering something that opens their eyes to new possibilities. The legendary inventor and engineer recently sat down with Attack Magazine to discuss the creative process behind some of his most iconic synths and the design philosophies that fuel much of his work... The post “The SEM is nothing but a copy of the Odyssey or a copy of the Minimoog, or a little mixture. But I loved it, and so I wanted to do it”: Tom Oberheim on designing synths appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

Thirsty for new creative ideas in your music-making? A little extra knowledge, a fresh perspective, or simply a spark of inspiration can make all the difference. Sure, the web is packed with freely available resources from YouTube videos to deep-dive production forums. But, sometimes, the best way is the old way — and nothing beats sitting down with a great book... The post Best books for music producers in 2025, from synth exploration to creative techniques appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

Clive From Accounts AKA Richard Day is not a producer to put in a box. He prides himself on being able to tap into myriad genres and styles from around the world, while still honing in on his love of 90s hip hop and house, something that is evident through his new record, The Very Best of Clive From Accounts. Born in London, the self-described “stationary cupboard loiterer” offers synth-heavy releases which are famously meticulous yet detailed, offering very precise music-making that he’s previously admitted can drive him slightly insane. The new album follows the ‘Alan EP’, a record composed almost entirely from Alan Partridge samples. If that doesn’t demonstrate someone…

Take it to the stage! Tim Exile PTNSHIFT is a generative performance instrument that you play with Ableton Push. When I first saw the demo for musician/developer Tim Exile’s Scapeshift, I thought it looked and sounded really cool – but I had trouble imagining how I might incorporate it into my workflow. That conundrum has been solved with his latest app, Tim Exile PTNSHIFT… The post Tim Exile PTNSHIFT Turns Your Ableton Push Into a Generative Madhouse appeared first on gearnews.com. View the full article

Iconic Instruments has introduced Levine's Machines - Drum Machine, a new virtual instrument, made in collaboration with UK Producer/Engineer Steve Levine.… Read More Iconic Instruments Intros Levine’s Machines – Drum MachineView the full article