Music Production Forum

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

Cyber Weekend may be over, but there are still plenty of great deals on offer over at Thomann in celebration of the festive period, including a generous saving on Native Instruments’ Kontakt 8. This latest version of NI’s treasured sampling platform was described as its “biggest update in years” by us at MusicTech, and received an 8/10 in our review. We noted its updated interface and new additions such as Tools elevated Kontakt to an “idea generator”... The post Native Instruments’ Kontakt 8 marked its “biggest update in years” – and you can now get it for nearly half price appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

We’ve got something here we don’t come across too often: a Mac-only plugin. Analog Glow is a new saturation plugin from TonalMark, available in AU and VST3 formats for macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon). You can download the .pkg installer directly from Gumroad. If you want to support the developer, you can enter any amount [...] View post: TonalMark releases Analog Glow, a FREE analog-style saturation plugin for macOS View the full article

Synchro Arts is the name behind plugins like RePitch and the recently covered VocAlign Pro 6, and this December, the developer is spreading the joy with 12 Days of Free Plugins. The 12 Days of Free Plugins promotion will run from December 4 to December 15, 2025. It’s not like a mini Advent calendar where [...] View post: Synchro Arts 12 Days of Free Plugins: Get four FREE plugins for a limited time View the full article

Audio effects creator Soundtoys today launched a special "12 Days of Soundtoys" holiday promotion. The campaign offers six free plug-ins between December 8 and December 19. Each free plug-in will be available for 48 hours only, exclusively at soundtoys.com giving artists, producers, and sound designers powerful new tools to shape and enhance their creativity.… Read More 12 Days of Soundtoys Holiday Giveaways Offer Six Free Plug-ins, December 8-19View the full article

Why do some melodies live in our heads for weeks, while others disappear seconds after the song ends? It’s not luck — it’s science, pattern recognition, and emotional contour. Great producers don’t rely on guessing. They understand how the human brain processes melody — and they design hooks that feel instantly familiar, emotionally resonant, and impossible to forget. Let’s break down the psychology behind unforgettable hooks and how you can apply it in your productions. View the full article

With the Elektron Tonverk, the company recently released a polyphonic sampling workstation based on eight stereo tracks, modular routing structures, and a powerful sequencer. It combines multisampling, subtracks, granular sound generation, and performance features in a device that aims to be more than just a sampler. For years, Elektron has been known for its uncompromising hardware instruments that encourage creativity rather than dictate workflow. But how far does this claim really go, and where does the concept reach its limits? Here is my review... The post Elektron Tonverk: Granular Power and Sequencer Magic in One Box – Review! appeared first on gearnews.com. View t…

After what feels like an eternity of beta testing, u-he has published a new release candidate of Zebralette 3, possibly one of the most eagerly awaited free software synths. If all goes well, Zebralette 3 will be officially released very soon. But you can already try it today! u-he had first unveiled Zebralette 3 almost two years ago at NAMM 2024 (see below). The free software synth, which also serves as a testing ground for the upcoming Zebra 3, has since been making the rounds in the beta community. Now, u-he has published a new release candidate, stating that they “aim to officially release the little horse into the wild next week”... The post u-he Zebralette 3 Is Almo…

Pro Tools was my first DAW. Unlike many of my friends who first dabbled with FL Studio or Logic Pro, I went straight to acoustic recording and then worked my way backwards to MIDI. I clicked with the workflow then, and I still do now – it’s powerful, fast, and, for me, incredibly familiar. It’s also painfully expensive, pushes you toward annoying subscription models, supports only AAX plugins, and has an unabashedly steep learning curve. It’s a love-hate relationship, to be sure. So, like many Pro Tools veterans, my eye has been wandering – and what it found was Universal Audio’s LUNA. This fledgling DAW, first released in 2020, has been getting stronger every year, expan…