Music Production Forum

NAMM 2025: Upon its hotly-anticipated return to the NAMM Show, Behringer has debuted the BX1 synthesizer, inspired by Yamaha’s DX1 FM synthesizer and the Yamaha CS-80. We played the functional unit but we’re told that it’s on show only as a prototype. Behringer’s Pro-16 and JT-16 synths are also on show as prototypes… The post Behringer reveals the BX1 synth, inspired by the classic Yamaha CS-80 and DX1, with more teases at NAMM 2025 appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

2025 NAMM Show: Donner has announced that the L1 synthesizer - a unique new synth that has a removable keyboard - is now available to pre-order.… Read More Donner L1 Synthesizer Now Available To Pre-OrderView the full article

The Native Kontrol Standard (NKS) Hardware Partner Program from Native Instruments was just announced during NAMM ’25. Announced during NAMM 2025, Native Instruments sets out to make it easier for music producers to explore new sounds on their favorite controllers with the launch of their Native Kontrol Standard (NKS) Hardware Partner Program. Industry leaders Akai Professional, Novation, Nektar, Korg, and M-Audio are adopting [...] The post Native Instruments Launches Native Kontrol Standard (NKS) appeared first on DJ Life Magazine. View the full article

EARTH Piano is a powerful software-based musical instrument available on Roland Cloud.… Read More Roland EARTH Piano Software Instrument Debuts At 2025 NAMM Show View the full article

The update doubles the instrument's polyphony, adds new options for expressive control and more.… Read More Nonlinear Labs C15 Synthesizer Update Doubles Polyphony, Adds Polyphonic Aftertouch SupportView the full article

ROLI has unveiled the ROLI Piano at NAMM 2025. Featuring 49 colorfully illuminated keys, the new keyboard is a larger alternative to the tiny ROLI Piano M. When combined with the Airwave controller and the new Piano AI Assistant, it forms the ROLI Piano System – a complete, AI-enhanced system for learning piano. Has the piano of the future arrived? When ROLI announced the Airwave controller a few months ago, the manufacturer said that the AI-based system would continue to grow. At NAMM 2025, ROLI unveils a more suitable instrument: the ROLI Piano. After all, who would seriously consider trying to learn piano on the 25-key Piano M (previously LUMI Keys)? ... T…

NAMM 2025: Native Instruments has announced the Native Kontrol Standard Hardware Partner Program, joining forces with industry-leading brands including Akai Professional, Novation, Nektar, Korg, and M-Audio. Now, producers are able to use Native Instruments software with a range of controllers made by those companies – totalling over 2,000 instruments and effects from more than 250 brands. “This expansion highlights the impact of collaboration,” Simon Cross, Chief Product Officer at Native Instruments, says in a press release. “It marks an important milestone in our mission to provide musicians with an open, connected platform, making professional-grade tools, instruments…

Reloop has introduced the Keypad Pro, a compact control keyboard that features a 25-key mini keyboard, 16 velocity-sensitive drum pads, a mixer section with eight channel strips, dedicated DAW controls and wireless MIDI support.… Read More Reloop Intros Keypad Pro, A Compact DAW Controller With Bluetooth MIDI SupportView the full article

SEQTRAK OS V1.2 features a new Loop Mode, and workflow improvements, such as a count-in for recording and the ability to forward MIDI input to USB, Bluetooth, and MIDI outputs.… Read More Yamaha Updates SEQTRAK With New Looping Features & More View the full article

Here's a sneak preview of the latest version of Nanoloop One, a sequencer / synthesizer cartridge for the original Game Boy.… Read More Nanaloop One Update First LookView the full article

NKS is a technical standard, used by hundreds of developers across thousands of plugins, to 'pre-map' hardware devices to virtual instruments. … Read More Native Instruments Partnering With Akai Professional, Novation, Nektar, Korg & M-Audio On NKS Support View the full article

Chinese instrument maker Medeli - the parent company of Ashun Sound Machines - has announced plans to enter the US market with its lines of digital keyboards, drum machines and more.… Read More Medeli Enters US Market With Digital Keyboards & Drum MachinesView the full article

Bitwig has introduced its first hardware product, Bitwig Connect 4/12, a class-compliant, 4-in/12-out CV and MIDI-enabled audio interface. … Read More Bitwig Intros Bitwig Connect 4/12 Hardware Audio Interface At NAMM 2025 View the full article

Hot on the heels of RdPiano, we’ve got another 80s-inspired freebie as Bogren Digital offers Relab QuantX Essentials 80s-inspired reverb plugin for macOS and Windows for FREE. This time, it’s QuantX Essentials, a Quantec QRS emulation by Relab Development. QuantX Essentials is a streamlined version of Relab Development’s flagship QuantX Natural Resonance Reverb. The Quantec [...] View post: Bogren Digital offers Relab QuantX Essentials 80s-inspired reverb for FREE View the full article

Replicat Audio is offering the full versions of its Dolos distortion ($35) and LowFire multi-FX ($25) plugins for free until February 1, 2025. Both plugins are macOS and Windows releases for VST3 and AU. Normally both plugins are available in Lite (free) and full-priced versions, but currently, you can score the full versions for free thanks to the [...] View post: Replicat Audio Dolos and LowFire Plugins are FREE Until Feb 1 View the full article

All Digital Audio Workstations do essentially the same thing — let you record, create, produce and mix music. And while each has its own particular feature set, most can be categorised into one of two camps. On one side, we have the ‘traditional’ DAWs, conceptually similar to a pre-digital studio in which each stage and component in the recording process is a discrete entity – the synthesizer, the recorder, the mixing desk, and so on. The post Why Steinberg Cubase Pro 14 is the most significant update since 1997’s VST launch appeared first on MusicTech. View the full article

The P-6 packs Roland's sampling technology into a pocket-size gadget, with granular sound design options and a powerful sequencer.… Read More Roland Showcasing P-6 Creative Sampler At NAMM 2025 View the full article

Erica Synths has announced that the Perkons Voice, a Eurorack incarnation of the percussion voices from the PERKONS HD-01 drum machine, is now available to pre-order. … Read More Erica Synths Perkons Voice Module Now Available To Order View the full article

Here's an in-depth look at GForce Bass Station, a new virtual instrument based on the original Novation Bass Station.… Read More Gforce + Novation Bass Station Plugin DemoView the full article

Ahead of the 2025 NAMM Show, Roland has introduced V-STAGE, a new line of performance keyboard for professional musicians.… Read More Roland Announces V-STAGE Performance Keyboards at NAMM ShowView the full article

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

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

From @synthandsoftware - PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT Novation and GForce are proud to announce the release of the GForce Bass Station, a brand-new software version of the original analogue synthesizer. Bass Station is an iconic mono-synth, celebrated for its raw, punchy bass and distinctive analogue filter. First launched in 1993, it has been a core part of Novation’s brand ever […] The post Introducing the Bass Station VST appeared first on Synth and Software. 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…

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