Synths, drum machines, controllers, and studio gear.
Akai MPK Mini Plus II adds a color screen, aftertouch pads, MPC 3 control and generative arp tools to a 37-key controller with CV out. $139 at Thomann. Specs, rivals.
Behringer Polyeight is an 8-voice analog synth built on the Korg Polysix: 2044 filters, BBD chorus and ensemble, 49 keys with poly aftertouch. Specs and rivals.
Arturia MiniFreak 49 puts the six-voice hybrid synth on 49 semi-weighted keys with an XYZ touch matrix, Filter FM and 256 MB memory. Specs, prices and rivals.
Yamaha's CK76 brings a 76-key semi-weighted model to the CK stage keyboard line, with 363 voices, built-in speakers and OS v2.0's Advanced Split Mode.
Roland's two new Boutique synths cost $649 each with a K-25m keyboard. JUPITER-08 is the 32-voice Jupiter-8 tribute, n/vision a 56-voice wavetable synth. Which to buy.
FLEXFM pairs four-operator FM, sampling and an analog filter per voice with a joystick and USB multitrack. Preorder price, specs, Digitone II comparison, FAQ.
IK Multimedia ARC Studio+ adds standalone calibration, automatic sub alignment and digital I/O to hardware room correction. Specs, prices and how it compares.
AI coding agents have set off a wave of custom firmware for Elektron, Roland, Akai and CDJ gear. Here's what's real, what's risky, and where it goes next.
Squarp Core is a 6HP Eurorack MIDI-to-CV/Gate brain with 14 generative engines, driving up to 64 outputs through one or two xp32 expanders. From 190 euros.
Behringer JAM is a 32-key USB MIDI controller with a 64-step polyphonic sequencer, Chord Play, an arpeggiator, and CV/Gate plus Sync, at around £89.
UDO DMNO ON puts the full 8-voice, 2-part DMNO engine in a desktop box with an expandable ONM control system, binaural analog filters and eight Play Modes.
Arturia's free AstroLab 2.0 update brings front-panel Sound Edit, 60+ new sampled instruments and better sampler polyphony to the stage keyboard. Full details.
