Hardware

Synths, drum machines, controllers, and studio gear.

Akai MPC One G2 and MPC Key 37 G2 standalone grooveboxes

Akai MPC One G2 and MPC Key 37 G2: What's New and Is It Worth It?

Akai's MPC One G2 and MPC Key 37 G2 add an 8-core CPU, 64GB storage, and the MPC 3.9 OS synthesis engine. What's new, the price, and who should upgrade.

Dubspot TeamJun 22, 20263 min read

Korg phase8 acoustic synthesizer with steel resonators

Hardware

Korg phase8: What Is the Acoustic Synthesizer and Is It Worth It?

Korg phase8 is an 8-voice acoustic synthesizer that physically drives real steel resonators. Here's what acoustic synthesis is, what it does, and the price.

Dubspot TeamJun 22, 20262 min read

u-he CVilization eurorack module running the new free Quad VCO mode

Hardware

u-he CVilization Gets a Free Quad VCO Mode: What It Does

u-he added a free Quad VCO mode to CVilization, turning the eurorack module into four virtual analog oscillators with chords, PWM, and a sub. Here's how.

Dubspot TeamJun 17, 20263 min read

Arturia MicroBrute compact analog mono-synthesizer

Hardware

Arturia MiniBrute RED and MicroBrute RED: What's New?

Arturia's MiniBrute RED and MicroBrute RED bring the cult analog mono-synths back in striking red. Here's what's changed, what hasn't, and who they're for.

Dubspot TeamJun 16, 20264 min read

Arturia MiniLab 37 universal MIDI controller with 37 slim keys and RGB pads

Hardware

Arturia MiniLab 37: What's New and Is It Worth It?

Arturia's MiniLab 37 adds a 37-key slim keybed, 16 RGB pads, and a deep software bundle for $199. Here's what's new, what it includes, and if it's worth it.

Dubspot TeamJun 16, 20264 min read

Best Audio Interfaces in 2026 — Picks for Every Budget

Hardware

Best Audio Interfaces in 2026: Top Picks for Every Budget

Our honest 2026 guide to the best audio interfaces, from Focusrite Scarlett and SSL 2+ to Universal Audio Apollo, MOTU M2, and Audient. Picks by budget and use.

Dubspot TeamJun 12, 20268 min read

Hardware

Best Drum Machines and Grooveboxes in 2026: A Buyer's Guide

Our 2026 guide to the best drum machines and grooveboxes, comparing the Roland TR-8S, Elektron Digitakt II, Akai MPC One+ and more by sound, use, and price.

Dubspot TeamJun 12, 20268 min read

Best Laptops for Music Production — 2026 Producer's Guide

Hardware

Best Laptops for Music Production in 2026: A Producer's Buying Guide

The definitive 2026 guide to the best laptops for music production — MacBook Air/Pro M5, the M4 value pick, and top Windows machines, matched to your workflow.

Dubspot TeamJun 12, 202612 min read

Best MIDI Keyboards in 2026 — Picks for Every Studio

Hardware

Best MIDI Keyboards in 2026: Top Picks for Every Studio and Budget

An honest 2026 guide to the best MIDI keyboards, comparing Akai, Arturia, Novation and Native Instruments on keybed feel, pads, DAW control and MPE.

Dubspot TeamJun 12, 20267 min read

Best Studio Headphones 2026 — Open vs Closed Back

Hardware

Best Studio Headphones in 2026: Open vs Closed Back for Mixing and Tracking

Our 2026 guide to the best studio headphones for mixing and tracking. Compare Sennheiser HD 600/650, Beyerdynamic DT 770/990, AKG K371, and ATH-M50x.

Dubspot TeamJun 12, 20267 min read

Roland TR-808 drum machine, the source of the 808 sound

Hardware

What Is an 808? The Drum Machine and the Bass Sound, Explained

An 808 is two things: the Roland TR-808 drum machine and the tuned sub-bass kick named after it. The full story, the signature sounds, and how to make 808s.

Dubspot TeamMay 10, 202614 min read

Hardware

How to Route External Hardware Audio Effects in Your DAW (2026)

A practical guide to routing outboard analog effects through Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Cubase, and Pro Tools — send/return loops, plug-in delay compensation, and the gain staging that keeps everything clean.

Dubspot TeamMay 10, 20269 min read

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