Music Production Forum

Woodman’s Immaculate Maple Syrup Studio let us know that they've released WoodSynth 4.0, a major update to their software synthesizer for MacOS & iOS.… Read More WoodSynth Updated With New Tube Oscillators & MoreView the full article

Rhodes Introduces the Stage 61: A Compact Passive Tine Piano for Stage and Studio Rhodes Music has announced the Stage 61, a fully passive 61-key tine piano that captures the signature touch, feel, and sound of a Rhodes in a compact, gig-ready design. Built for touring musicians yet equally suited for studio environments, the Stage… Read More Rhodes Introduces Stage 61 View the full article

Like to travel light? A portable keyboard controller fits in your hand luggage and lets you get creative in your favorite DAW software wherever you are. These are our favorite portable keyboard controllers in 2025. If you travel a lot, but don’t want to haul your full-size MIDI controller around every time you hit the road, a small portable keyboard controller is the way to go. While these don’t offer all the bells and whistles of bigger models for studio use, many of them are surprisingly capable and let you take control of software synths and your DAW. What better way to pass the time on the plane, train, or tour bus than to get creative? ... The post Best Portable Keyb…

Paul Schreiber - founder of Synthesis Technology, creator of the MOTM synthesizer, and designer of the Moog/Realistic MG-1 synthesizer - has died.… Read More Remembering Paul Schreiber Of Synthesis Technology View the full article

After the launch of the Regen, Synclavier Digital have revealed a forthcoming keyboard version, the Synclavier ORK II, with added functionality! After returning to the digital instrument music market with their unique Synclavier Regen unit, it seems that Cameron Jones and his team have heard the call for a more conventional instrument that more closely resembles the original Synclaviers of old. The post The Synclavier ORK II Keyboard appeared first on gearnews.com. View the full article

Get creative with Babylon 2, a powerful wavetable synth, ChromaBox, a multi-effects powerhouse, TrapTune, a vocal tuner, and InstaComposer 2, a chord creator. With much, much more inside, this bundle takes you from idea generation to mixing to mastering. https://www.image-line.com/specials/friends-of-fl-studio-bundle

The u-he Tyrell N6 is a long-standing freeware favorite. After years of neglect, the developer has finally released a long-awaited update to bring it up to modern specs. Other freebies this week include an 8-voice soft synth for “contemplative sounds” and a 3D panner. u-he Tyrell N6 began its life more than 15 years ago as a collaboration project by readers of the online magazine Amazona. The ultimate goal was to eventually turn it into a hardware synth, which never materialized. Tyrell N6, however, quickly became one of the most popular free software synths, especially since Urs Heckmann of u-he was in charge of programming the synth engine. As it shares some DNA with ea…

Korg shared this new interview with Fumio Mieda, creator of the original PS-3300 synthesizer, and technical supervisor for their updated take on the classic synthesizer.… Read More Interview With Korg PS-3300 Synthesizer Creator Fumio Mieda View the full article

The Suonobuono Polyvera sounds incredible, Tim Exile is back with a hugely inspiring generative instrument, and Serum gets a massive free upgrade: here are my personal highlights of the week at GEARNEWS… The post Polyvera, PTNSHIFT, Serum 2: Highlights of the Week appeared first on gearnews.com. View the full article

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

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

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

From @synthandsoftware - How many banjo players does it take to create four different sample libraries? The historical scarcity of decent, playable convincing banjo libraries for electronic musicians is a personal matter. That’s because I’m both a professional 5-string banjo player (you’ve probably heard me on many jingles, perhaps on stage or recordings with renowned artists), and a […] The post The Great Synth and Software Sampled Banjo Roundup appeared first on Synth and Software. 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

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

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

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

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

Here's an in-depth look at the Casio MT-70, a 'forgotten gem' electronic keyboard/synthesizer from the early '80s.… Read More Casio MT-70 – A ‘Forgotten Gem’?View the full article