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News, reviews, and in-depth tutorials for music producers and DJs. Browse every article — sorted newest first.

Showing 1–12 of 140 articles

Chopgrid sampler plugin interface with a 16-cell grid and sound modules
Sound Design

Chopgrid Review: Sampling Built Around Chance

Chopgrid is a chance-based sampler that fills a 16-cell grid from random files, with 14 synthesis engines, a drum machine, and glitch FX. Specs and price.

Marcus FeldJul 12, 20267 min read
Korg NTS-4 Nu:Tekt performance mixer kit with six channels and effects
Hardware

Korg NTS-4 Review: A DIY Mixer for DAWless Rigs

Korg's NTS-4 is a $249 build-it-yourself performance mixer with per-channel send FX and a master FX engine. Full specs, price, and Volca Mix comparison.

Elena MarshJul 12, 20267 min read
Akai MPC 2026 lineup comparison showing MPC One G2, MPC Live III, MPC Key 37 G2, MPC XL, and MPC Sample standalone workstations
Hardware

Which Akai MPC Should You Buy in 2026? Complete Lineup Guide

Which Akai MPC should you buy in 2026? We compare the MPC One G2, Live III, Key 37, XL, and Sample by price, specs, and workflow to find your best match.

Elena MarshJul 11, 202612 min read
Lineup of the best hardware synthesizers of 2026, including the Korg Minilogue XD, Moog Messenger, and Sequential Take 5
Hardware

Best Hardware Synthesizers 2026: Top Synths for Every Budget

Best hardware synthesizers 2026: 10 verified picks from €249 to €2,555, with live Thomann prices, honest trade-offs, and the right synth for every budget.

Theo NakamuraJul 11, 202612 min read
Roland ZENOLOGY GX synthesizer app running on an iPad with the ZEN-Core interface
Software

Roland ZENOLOGY GX Brings ZEN-Core to iPad, Free for Now

Roland ZENOLOGY GX puts the full ZEN-Core engine on iPad with 4,000+ tones, 90+ effects, and AUv3 support, and it's free during the 2026 launch period.

Theo NakamuraJul 10, 20267 min read
Ultra synthesizer plugin interface showing its UltraWave oscillator and modulation section
Software

Ultra: One Synth, Five Engines, and UltraWave

Ultra is a flagship multi-synthesis plugin built around the UltraWave engine, with five sound sources, dual filters, 32 voices, MPE, and a perpetual license.

Marcus FeldJul 10, 20268 min read
FL Studio 2026 interface showing the rebuilt FLEX synth and piano roll chord tools
Production

FL Studio 2026: Rebuilt FLEX, Cloud Backup, New Chords

FL Studio 2026 is in public beta with a rebuilt FLEX synth, automatic FL Cloud project backup, and smarter chord tools — a free update for all owners.

Priya RamanJul 9, 20269 min read
Polyend Drums hybrid analog and digital drum machine in black aluminum chassis
Hardware

Polyend Drums Review: Analog and Digital in One Box

Polyend Drums review: an 8-track hybrid drum machine with four analog SSI voices, four digital tracks, deep sequencing, and $2,699 price. Full specs inside.

Elena MarshJul 8, 20267 min read
UVI Synth Anthology 5 software synthesizer plugin interface
Software

UVI Synth Anthology 5 Review: 300 Hardware Synths in One

UVI Synth Anthology 5 review: 300 sampled hardware synths, 100 new machines, 6,000+ sound layers, a new engine and filters, for $89 intro. Is it worth it?

Theo NakamuraJul 8, 20267 min read
AlphaTheta CDJ-1500X DJ multi player with 10.1-inch touchscreen and mid-size jog wheel
Hardware

AlphaTheta CDJ-1500X: The Flagship Player, Shrunk to Fit

The AlphaTheta CDJ-1500X brings the CDJ-3000X's 10.1-inch touchscreen, streaming, and new CoBeat feature to a smaller, booth-friendly DJ multi player.

Elena MarshJul 7, 20268 min read
iZotope Ozone mastering suite, part of the iZotope lineup now owned by Boris FX
Mixing & Mastering

iZotope Joins Boris FX: What It Means for RX and Ozone

Boris FX acquired iZotope on July 2, 2026, moving RX, Ozone, Neutron, and Nectar to a new owner. Here's what changes for your licenses and updates.

Marcus FeldJul 7, 20267 min read
Steinberg SpectraLayers 13 spectral audio editor interface showing a spectrogram display
Software

SpectraLayers 13 Adds AI Sound-Effect Unmixing

Steinberg SpectraLayers 13 arrives July 1, 2026 with Unmix Sound Effects, Reconstruct, and two-voice separation. Here's what changed, the €359 price, and how it stacks up to iZotope RX.

Theo NakamuraJul 5, 20268 min read