Music Production Forum

The latest update turns your Intuitive Instruments Exquis into an MPE-equipped Ableton Live controller. There are lots of controllers out there but not all have MPE. Button-focused ones with MPE are even rarer. Exquis from manufacturer Intuitive Instruments is one such controller and with the latest update, it’s now optimized for Ableton Live... The post Intuitive Instruments Exquis: Is it Now the Best Controller for Ableton Live? appeared first on gearnews.com. View the full article

Techno lives and breathes through groove, swing, and space, and nothing locks that in better than delay. AM.I gets this on a deep level, leaning into plugins like Replika XT to make it happen. And the proof is all there – Tomorrowland 2023, launching her Luminate Productions studio in Antwerp, and leading one of the most forward-thinking event series with Luminate by Night. Even with everything she’s juggling, she took some time to break down how she uses delay, specifically Replika XT, to shape her sound. We got into why delay is essential in techno, the balance between atmosphere and rhythm, and the best modes inside Replika XT for keeping things groovy and driving... T…

While the Novachord does not offer deep synthesis capabilities, it's a powerful and unique instrument, featuring full polyphony, envelopes, LFO modulation and filters.… Read More Exploring The Hammond Novachord, A Polyphonic Synthesizer From 1939View the full article

Momo Müller’s KORG NTS-3 Kaoss Pad Editor gives you full DAW control over all the kaoss. And it’s so cheap! Getting the most out of your Korg NTS-3 Kaoss Pad Kit? Although it’s great for live use, you may want to incorporate it into your studio productions as well. While recording on the fly is always fun, now you can have more detailed control over it with the Momo Müller KORG NTS-3 Kaoss Pad Editor... The post KORG NTS-3 Kaoss Pad Editor Puts Your Kaoss Kit in Your DAW appeared first on gearnews.com. View the full article

The Bob Moog Foundation today announced its fundraising raffle for a brand new Geddy Lee Minimoog Model D synthesizer. The limited-edition synth, serial number GLMD-0233, was hand-built in Asheville, NC, and is one of 500 released by Moog Music on March 20, 2025. It comes with several exclusive items, including a certificate of authenticity signed by Geddy Lee.… Read More The Bob Moog Foundation Announces Fundraising Raffle for Geddy Lee MinimoogView the full article

From @synthandsoftware - The Bob Moog Foundation is excited to announce its fundraising raffle for a brand new Geddy Lee Minimoog Model D synthesizer, serial number GLMD-0233. The limited edition synth was hand-built in Asheville, NC, and is one of 500 released by Moog Music on March 20, 2025. It comes with several exclusive items, including a certificate […] The post The Bob Moog Foundation Announces Fundraising Raffle for Geddy Lee Minimoog appeared first on Synth and Software. View the full article

New plugins, sample libraries, and production tools drop every day, but only a handful of VSTs and soft synths keep showing up in producers’ go-to arsenals. One of those is Massive. It’s a staple – one that artists in our community keep coming back to and talking about almost every week. So what makes the original Massive so enduring? We sat down with Lawrence Hart, a UK-based DJ, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, to find out... The post Why Massive is still everywhere: Lawrence Hart on its ongoing influence first appeared on Native Instruments Blog. View the full article

In a bid to expand its reach into the plugin market, Splice has acquired British virtual instrument library purveyor Spitfire Audio for a reported $50 million, according to the Financial Times [via Music Business Worldwide]. In a press release shared with MusicTech, the company says its decision to purchase Spitfire comes as the plugin market is valued at $640 million, and the wider music software and services sector “exceeds $7 billion”... The post Splice acquires Spitfire Audio for a reported $50 million appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

Here's a live soundscape improvisation on a vintage Yamaha DX7 synthesizer.… Read More Live Soundscape Improvisation For Yamaha DX7View the full article

Developer Dirk de Bruin let us know that they've launched a Kickstarter project to fund production of a new line of Trilling Synth Eurorack modules.… Read More Trilling Synth Intros ‘Minimalistic, But Powerful’ Eurorack ModulesView the full article

The Balfolk Boombox is a custom hurdy gurdy that features a variety of Eurorack modules, allowing the instrument to play percussion, bass, leads and more.… Read More An Introduction To The Balfolk Boombox ‘Synthy Gurdy’View the full article

Check out the Beatboxer Mosaik, an upcoming sample-based groovebox with a 64-step sequencer arranged around the screen. Superbooth25 is coming up fast, and we’re already getting advanced news from the show. One that’s starting to make the rounds is Beatboxer Mosaik, a new groovebox with an unusual design... The post Beatboxer Mosaik: Exciting New Groovebox From Ex-Native Instruments Developers appeared first on gearnews.com. View the full article

The film captures the band’s three sold-out performances at the Foro Sol Stadium in Mexico City during their 2023-2024 Memento Mori world tour.… Read More Depeche Mode: M Concert Film Coming This FallView the full article

Looking for a one-stop-shop for your synth plugins? There are some very decent options out there, all with something to offer. We take a look and try and figure out which one is the best! Variety is the spice of life, so they say, and when it comes to synthesizers, we are truly spoiled for choice, particularly in the world of software plugin synths. So a number of developers have decided to help us out by curating their various plugins into vastly more affordable bundles or collections… The post 7 Huge Synthesizer Plugin Collections – Tops and Flops appeared first on gearnews.com. View the full article

Arturia has introduced V Collection 11, a major update to their virtual instrument collection that adds 7 new instruments. … Read More Arturia V Collection 11 Adds 7 New InstrumentsView the full article

The 2-XM features two Synthesizer Expander Modules, each an all-in-one synth voice.… Read More Behringer 2-XM Synthesizer Hands-On ReviewView the full article

While the rest of the world struggles under the weight of high hardware prices, Japan’s domestic vintage synthesizer market is surprisingly cheap. The bad news is it’s something of a closed store. We tell you the best tips and tricks for buying synthesizers from Japan. As I sit here writing this, I’m surrounded by vintage Japanese synthesizers. I have something like 50 in my studio and that doesn’t count drum machines, outboard gear, and other random things. I’m not rich though. Far from it. My only secret is that I live in Japan, where vintage hardware prices are surprisingly lower than in the rest of the world. Lucky me, right? Well, there’s no reason why you can’t be l…

The describe Wonk as "a quad envelope generator with a twist."… Read More Scrapcode Modular Intros WONK, ‘A Quad Envelope Generator With A Twist’View the full article

Sound Magic has introduced Violin One, a free physical modeling violin virtual instrument plugin for Windows. A Mac version is also in the works.… Read More Sound Magic Releases Free ‘Violin One’ Physical Modeling Instrument Plugin For WindowsView the full article

GrainScaper is a new granular synthesis software synth, for Mac & Windows, that offers precise control over pitch, timing, density, and more.… Read More Sample Logic Intros GrainScaper Granular SynthesizerView the full article

The editor has two interfaces, one contains all the controllable settings of the NTS-3 and the second has only the controls that are important for live control, with a large x-y pad and x-y controls with which you can precisely set the x-y values or record an automation.… Read More KORG NTS-3 Kaoss Pad Gets Third-Party EditorView the full article

ToneLib is back with another freebie after updating popular plugins TL NoiseReducer and TL TubeWarmth late in 2024. The developer’s latest freebie is TL BaxEQ, which pays homage to the late Peter J Baxandall. Peter J. Baxandall developed the Baxandall EQ over seven decades ago, and although successful, he never quite received the credit he [...] View post: ToneLib releases TL BaxEQ, a FREE classic Baxandall EQ Plugin View the full article

In the run-up to Superbooth 2025, as every year, rumors of numerous new products are flying around. One particularly exciting product that has now been revealed by a short leak from an online retailer is the Launch Control XL3 controller from Novation. Many producers have been waiting a long time for a new version of this controller that can be seamlessly integrated into hybrid setups. And the first images already hint at some exciting features! … The post Leak: Novation Launch Control XL3 – New Controller for DAW and Hardware appeared first on gearnews.com. View the full article

Two new investors with ties to the music industry have entered an agreement to purchase Reverb from Etsy.… Read More Reverb To Go Private Again, Plans Site EnhancementsView the full article

Arturia has released V Collection 11, the latest instalment of its revered suite of plugins that emulate classic analogue synthesizers and acoustic instruments. Along with a handful of new emulations, V Collection 11 also introduces new additions to Arturia’s Augmented series and a new synth, Pure LoFi. Also new is the V Collection Intro bundle, which offers a slimmed-down version of the library at a lower price… The post Arturia V Collection 11: New plugins, price, V Collection Intro, and everything else you need to know appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

They say that Multigrain can "transform your audio samples into everything from ethereal ambient drones to sputtering, alien machine techno, and virtually everything else in between."… Read More Intellijel Multigrain Stereo Morphing Granular Sampler Hands-On DemoView the full article

BlepFX has released Filtrr, a versatile ladder filter and saturation plugin for free. We have written about the cool offerings by developer BlepFX here before, like the impressive companding distortion Destruqtor and lo-fi degrader plugin Crunchrr. BlepFX is known for making tools that are both aesthetically pleasing and easy to work with, and most importantly, [...] View post: Filtrr is a FREE Ladder Filter and Saturation Plugin by BlepFX View the full article

Bitwig's first hardware product is out now: Bitwig Connect 4/12. More than an audio interface, Bitwig Connect 4/12 is a class-compliant, 4?in/12?out CV and MIDI-enabled audio interface with monitor- and DAW-control functionalities and a unique Bitwig Mode. As a bridge between software and external gear, Bitwig Connect is the perfect device to mark our debut into hardware. … Read More Bitwig’s First Hardware Product, Connect 4/12, Is Now AvailableView the full article

Many times, the missing piece in a preset or patch is the right type or amount of movement. Modulation is what makes a sound feel alive, shifting dynamically in response to tempo, drum grooves, and other elements in a track. FRANCO BA is a producer who fully understands this and takes full advantage of Massive X’s modulation capabilities to create patches that feel organic and constantly evolving. By using LFOs, step sequencers, tempo-based modulation, and unsynced movement, he maximizes the expressive potential of every sound. His approach to modulation is what sets his productions apart, making each patch feel unique and deeply integrated into the track and can be heard…

Bitwig Studio entered the DAW scene in 2014 and, since then, has gained countless new fans, thanks to combining some killer features of other DAWs with innovative features that are all its own (and that are now being copied by those same competing DAWs). It’s a big success story that the company is aiming to replicate with the launch of its very first hardware product, Bitwig Connect 4/12... The post Bitwig Connect 4/12: Excellent for Bitwig users, still pretty good for everyone else appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article