Music Production Forum

The Roland S-1 Tweak Synth overlays let you mod your synth with a new front panel style, designed to improve usability, and make it easy to access shortcuts.… Read More Oversynth.com Intros Roland S-1 Tweak Synth OverlaysView the full article

Bevin's setup features the Osmose, his Apple Watch app MidiWrist Unleashed, and the CME WIDI wireless MIDI connector.… Read More Expressive E Osmose Expressive Performance Tips From MPE Master Geert BevinView the full article

Sky Blue EQ4 is a free and open-source EQ plugin by Aris Kiriki-Liszt. The Maag-like plugin pays homage to the EQ4M, Maag Audio’s successor to the original NTI EQ3. With the original NTI EQ3 proving hard to find nowadays, the more powerful EQ4M is a fairly sought-after piece of hardware. The significance of both hardware [...] View post: Sky Blue EQ4 is a new FREE tone-shaping EQ plugin for macOS and Windows View the full article

On Friday HY-Plugins launched the HY-MPS3 sequencer/arpeggiator plugin, plus a free version, for Windows, macOS and Linux. The HY-MPS3 block base sequencer/arpeggiator is available at an introductory price of $35 until July 4, 2024, down from the list price of $50. The free version is a complete plugin that is fully usable with limited features. [...] View post: HY-Plugins Releases FREE HY-MPS3 Sequencer/Arpeggiator Plugin View the full article

IK Multimedia’s massive bundle T-RackS 5 MAX v2 sells for $49.99 (83% OFF) at Plugin Boutique. This deal lasts until June 30. There have been many great sales on Plugin Boutique, and with the summer season, it’s safe to assume there will be more to come. Currently, they are running an IK Multimedia sale which [...] View post: Get 83% OFF IK Multimedia T-RackS 5 MAX v2 View the full article

Mannix Squared releases Mix Space, a FREE plugin that brings instant clarity to your mixes. Mix Space is a free plugin for macOS and Windows that ensures a cleaner mix by reducing frequency clashes between different tracks. Before getting into it, I’ve had trouble installing Mix Space on macOS Sonoma 14.4.1, but I’ll discuss the [...] View post: Mannix Squared Releases FREE Mix Space Plugin That Adds Clarity To Your Mixes View the full article

We look at different formats, designs, and programming styles to find out how to use a step sequencer in your music production setup. When you start out in music production, sooner or later you’ll be confronted with the blocks and numbered lanes of a sequencer. However, we’ll take you through the various functions of sequencers and find out how to use them in your creative process... The post The Building Blocks: How To Use A Step Sequencer appeared first on gearnews.com. View the full article

In his latest video, composer and instrument designer Roger Linn offer his take on the current MPCs, demoing and reviewing the Akia MPC Live 2.… Read More Roger Linn, The Father Of The MPC, Reviews The Akai MPC Live 2View the full article

Developer Momo Müller let us know that he's introduced a new VST and Standalone Editor for the Behringer PRO-VS mini synthesizer.… Read More Behringer PRO-VS mini Synth Gets Unofficial Patch Editor & ControllerView the full article

A new handheld device, Ferrous, offers a way to get new sounds from steel-stringed instruments like guitar, piano, bass, etc.… Read More New Device, The Landscape Ferrous, Coaxes New Sounds From Stringed InstrumentsView the full article

Johnson has chops to spare, and does a great job not just of showing what the Montage M8x is capable of, but showing the expressive possibilities of Yamaha's flagship synthesizer.… Read More Matt Johnson On The Yamaha Montage M8x Synthesizer At Superbooth 2024 View the full article

The Elka Synthex is an 8-voice polyphonic analog synth design. … Read More Behringer Copying The Elka Synthex Synthesizer From 1981View the full article

2B Played Music is offering the QFX Wax thickener for free (with coupon code use code 2BWAX) until June 20, 2024, down from a list price of €17. Enter the coupon code 2BWAX during checkout for the QFX Wax to access the deal for this Windows and macOS plugin. If you miss out on the [...] View post: 2B Played Music’s QFX Wax Thickener is Free Until June 20 View the full article

Plugin Boutique is giving away EXPOSE 2 from Mastering The Mix. It is priced at $57 but if you use coupon code EXPB100 before June 30, you can have it for free. EXPOSE 2 is the successor to the original EXPOSE from Mastering The Mix that has previously been covered here on BPB. While EXPOSE [...] View post: Mastering The Mix EXPOSE 2 FREE On Plugin Boutique Until June 30 View the full article

WIM Studio’s WoodScaper, the guitar effects plugin for macOS, is available for only $1 for a limited time. The last plugin I covered was solely for Windows users, so I guess Mac gets the spotlight today. Woodman’s Immaculate Maple Syrup Studio first came to my attention with its stellar library of iOS apps. Apps like [...] View post: Get WIMS Studio’s WoodScaper For Only $1 For A Limited Time (macOS) View the full article

Immerse yourself in the legendary sounds of Tangerine Dream with this free sound pack for the Korg Modwave.… Read More Free Tangerine Dream Sound Library For The Korg ModwaveView the full article

It's designed to serve as a universal learning tool for electronics engineering, and to create Eurorack-compatible voltages.… Read More Erica Synths Introduces EDU DIY LABOR, A ‘Fully-Featured Circuit Design Playground’View the full article

The cards could be used to restore vintage synths, used to improve on the original's tuning stability, or be used to create true Yamaha CS clones.… Read More New Project Clones Yamaha CS-80View the full article

Tony De vit gives a tour of his studios which were situated in the Custard Factory in Birmingham

Got itchy fingers? Come down with a bad case of sampleritis? We have the cure for what ails you: the best standalone beat makers – for a variety of budgets. What Are Standalone Beat Makers? Working with a DAW is all well and good but sometimes you just want to get away from the computer and make some music. You’ve been clacking keys and pushing a mouse around all week, after all. I’ll bet your back hurts. Probably your wrist too. Forget that mess. It’s time to stretch out on the couch with a self-contained, sampled-based device and bang out some beats. Where we’re going, we don’t need DAWs. I’ve put together a list here of some of the best standalone beat ma…

Erica Synths EDU DIY Labor is a synth DIY playground that makes it easy to experiment with your own circuit designs. The kit includes everything you need to design, prototype, and test your own synths and modules. Erica Synths EDU DIY Labor Have you always wanted to get into designing your own synthesizers or Eurorack modules, but didn’t know where to start? Maybe you’ve even built some of the brilliant EDU DIY modules by Erica Synths and Moritz Klein and feel ready to experiment with your own circuits. If that sounds like you, the new Erica Synths EDU DIY Labor is just what you need... The post Erica Synths EDU DIY Labor: Design Your Own Synth! appeared fir…

Ableton today released a new podcast series called Doing Music, which explores the techniques and strategies that artists use to generate their musical ideas. In each episode, host Craig Schuftan interviews an artist about the hands-on approaches they use to spark ideas in their work – and try to challenge the myth that creativity is something that some people have and others don’t.… Read More Ableton Announces New ‘Doing Music’ PodcastView the full article

Welcome to Synth Journal! This new weekly column from the GEARNEWS team of synth writers brings you all the latest stories, news, and gossip from the wonderful world of synthesizers. From fascinating inventions to sound demos to Eurorack modules that venture off the beaten path – Synth Journal is your weekly roundup of everything synth-related. Enjoy! Synth Journal: Love Hultén Y-17 Ferrofluid Synth Let’s kick off this edition of Synth Journal with the latest mesmerizing creation from Love Hultén. We don’t know exactly what’s going on inside of the Y-17 Ferrofluid Synth, but like all of the Swedish designer’s fascinating contraptions, it sounds just as unique as …

“To create great sound design for video games, you need to capture not only the essence of the game itself, but also the expectations of the genre – but what does that look like in practice? In this webinar hosted by sound designer Giorgio Vezzini (Baldur’s Gate 3), and composer Michael Worth (Rush Hour 3), we will create laser weapon sounds in a few different genres – Sci-fi, Retro, and JRPG – showing you how to build a sound pallet for your game that reflects the world you're immersed in.” https://thinkspace.ac.uk/free-sound-design-webinar/

Traditionally, polyphonic synthesizers were priced on the expensive side. Even the DX-7 – which was regarded as more affordable – cost close to $2000 when it was launched back in 1983. Times have changed however and we show you our pick of the best budget polysynths. Browsing the Best Budget Polysynths is a pastime that didn’t always exist! Thankfully in recent years, manufacturers have taken major steps toward making these instruments more accessible. Moreover, the home recording and content creation revolution we are currently experiencing means that the demand for quality at the budget end of the market creates healthy competition. This means we will continue…

Behringer today teased its upcoming 16-voice Sequential Prophet-5 copy, the Pro-16.… Read More Behringer Teases 16-Voice Prophet-5 CopyView the full article

Vocals in Electronic Dance Music (EDM) serve not only as a lyrical narrative but also as a crucial sonic element that can define the vibe and memorability of a track. Whether through sampling iconic hooks or synthesizing vocal-like textures, EDM producers employ various techniques to integrate vocals creatively. This post explores how vocals are used in EDM to enhance musical storytelling and emotional impact. View the full article

Beatmaking plug-ins and hardware drum machines can be tricky the first time around. We look at how to use a drum machine in your studio. In the early 1970s and perhaps even before this time, musicians started using drum machines differently. Initially, drum machines were designed as nothing more than accompaniment tools for musicians. Although the range and functionality of these instruments were limited, pioneering artists such as Sly Stone began layering loops from drum machines as textural and rhythmic elements within their compositions. Most 1970s-era and earlier drum machines offer preset rhythm patterns with extremely limited programmability. Moreover…

This week I want to showcase the work of HyperSynth who make modern storage cartridges for classic vintage digital synths such as the DX1, M1 and D-50! Every week I trawl the interwebs for some great sounds and presets for all manner of synths but this week I wanted to shine a light on a company that not only make presets, but also the cartridges to store them on. In fact, one of the cartridges we will be looking at contains the very first commercial bank of presets for a synth that was released in 1983! HyperSynth has been in business since 2008 and began making and selling hardware and software products. But it was in 2019 that they started producing the …

This week, in our new installment of synth deals, we’ve gathered three pretty nice deals at Thomann! To start with, two editions of the Roland Juno-DS are on sale. Furthermore, Novation’s MiniNova can still be had for a rather steep discount. In addition, Udo Audio’s Super 6 Blue is available at 14 percent off! Roland Juno-DS is 20 percent off! Roland’s Juno series is one of the most popular and legendary synthesizer range ever. And in 2015, the Japanese giant returned with a renewed version of its classic, the Roland Juno-DS. Slated as a successor to the Roland Juno-DI and Juno-D, this new version brings not only the classic epic pad sounds, Juno has always bee…