Scott Lee of PAiA Has Passed Away

Some sad news in via Joshua.

Scott Lee of PAiA has passed away.

Left: Scott Lee via https://www.dignitymemorial.com

"Raised in Oklahoma City, Scott attended Putnam City Schools K-11, and graduated from Sausalito High School in CA. Following service in the U.S. Army, he parlayed his interests in engineering, music, and electronics into a life-long career with PAiA eventually becoming owner of the Paia Corporation."

And via PAiA:

"In Memorium - Scott Lee

MARCH 13, 1958 – APRIL 21, 2026

Scott Lee passed away with his family by his side on April 21, 2026. He loved PAiA and helping others follow their passion with music. He would appreciate if we all kept the PAiA legacy moving forward. Paia.com will temporarily remain offline as his son, Nathan Lee, works to get PAiA back to operation in any way he can.

We appreciate your understanding and stay tuned for more updates to come. We look forward to being in touch soon.

Scott Lee Obituary — Gladstone, MO
Feel free to comment and share memories."

On a personal note, the PAiA Fatman was the first DIY synth I built. Like many, Scott Lee and PAiA were my first forray into the world of synth DIY. I am thankful for the help he gave me getting my soldering chops going. He will be missed by so many in the community.

LEVIASYNTH multi with big PWM bass

video upload by Paul Schilling

"#cinematic #Synth %Space #Demo"

Korg Microkorg2 Synthesizer Sound Design All In The Eyes Blade Runner style music

video upload by James Dyson

"Korg Microkorg2 , custom presets and Looper, played over the top Live.
I've just started doing some sound design/presets for the Synth and thought I would give the Looper a blast.

Great little Synth this totally underrated/used.

Music James Dyson
Clip from the opening credits to Blade Runner"

The depths in nothing | Ambient IDM with Cirklon, Prophet 10, Minimoog, machinedrum, JD990, SH-101

video upload by MIDERA

"I don't even remember the gear I used. I uploaded this weeks ago, but had too much stress to even publish it. So here it is now.

Uploaded April 21, 2026

Used Native Instruments RAUM for reverb.

#cirklon2 #sequentialprophet10 #machinedrum"

Spikes golden edition 15 years of errorthis is a special edition only 50 handmade in the Netherlands

video upload by errorinstruments paul tas

Spikes rain in an iPad

video upload by errorinstruments paul tas

via errorinstruments

"SPIKES GOLD. — 15 Years of Error Spikes is one of the earliest Eurorack-inspired instruments, born 15 years ago—back when the modular world was still small, led by pioneers like Doepfer and a handful of boutique makers. While many brands moved toward mainstream retail, Paul Tas of Error Instruments chose a different path: staying underground, raw, and experimental. Rooted in noise, dark techno, and avant-garde traditions inspired by Warp Records and musique concrète, Spikes remains true to its origins—focused on creativity over convention. Now, 15 years later, a new version is here. Spikes (Anniversary Edition) is a standalone analog instrument, expanded with a built-in delay FX processor that can also be used independently. It introduces a unique hybrid interaction: conductive touch, light sensor control, and hands-on manipulation come together to create unpredictable, expressive soundscapes. • Six conductive spikes allow touch-based sound shaping • Central mixing area blends signals into evolving textures • Oscillator controls (potentiometers) generate and manipulate tone • Dual middle controls adjust delay feedback and time—from short to endless • Light sensor adds performative modulation (switchable on/off) This instrument thrives in chaos—perfect for glitchy rhythms, skipping textures, noise explorations, and cinematic sonic journeys. As a fully analog device, it requires a bit of tuning and exploration, rewarding hands-on experimentation. Available in silver and gold, this is a strictly limited edition of 50 units, all handmade in the Netherlands. Release: Superbooth 2026, Berlin Availability: One-time release only For demonstrations and deeper insight, watch the video and explore the user manual. Spikes is not just an instrument—it’s a statement."

CLICK FOR MORE »

errorinstruments & This Is Not Rocket Science (TiNRS) SmartLab sounds machine prototype demo

video upload by errorinstruments paul tas

And an overview:

SmartLAB incredible machine prototype

video upload by errorinstruments paul tas

Knobcon Number Fourteen Set For Sept 11-13, 2026

Details follow:

"The World's Only
Synthesizer Convention Returns

Knobcon Number Fourteen
September 11-13, 2026
Hyatt Regency Schaumburg, Chicago

Buy your tickets today and save $25!

Early bird pricing means tickets are just $50 through May 31, $75 at the event

Experience as little or as much Knobcon as you can handle! It all starts on Friday evening, September 11th, with the welcome reception featuring live music, video art, and a cash bar. Saturday, September 12th is packed with exhibits and workshops, followed by a banquet featuring our guest of honor. Multiple live music and immersive video spaces round out the evening. Sunday, September 13 brings another full day of exhibits, workshops and camaraderie.

Make it a weekend by booking a hotel room for only $144 per night. Check-in as early as Thursday, September 10 and enjoy the same room rate through Monday, September 14. By booking a room at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg, you'll be on-site for the full event so you're sure not to miss any of the excitement and the only traveling you'll have to do is riding the elevator!

HOTEL RESERVATIONS
Make your room reservations now to ensure your stay on-premises to extract the full Knobcon experience! The Hyatt sold out again last year and were directing attendees to nearby hotels for accommodation.

Sponsor and Exhibitor Registration is open, too! The exhibit hall will fill up quickly, so don't hesitate to book your table or booth! Learn about all the opportunities available on the Knobcon website.

Knobcon - the world's only synthesizer convention - is now in its fourteenth year and going strong. Held just outside Chicago near O’Hare International Airport, this convention brings exhibitors and attendees from all over the world. Knobcon exhibitors run the gamut from manufacturers and retailers to DIY enthusiasts, makers, artists and more!

If you are interested in electronic-based or experimental music and the tools used to create it, this is the place for you. The diversity and passion of those at Knobcon make it enjoyable for all experience levels.

Learn more about Knobcon at our website knobcon.com"

UDO DMNO

video upload by Infested Alien

"And finally it arrived!
A masterpiece of a special poly synth (dual module) :-)
I seriously cannot stop play the UDO synths they are just so fun and special.

These sounds are custom made and no external FX being used, not even compression just to give you a more honest point of view of this machine.
Since this is a crazy machine when it comes to signal path flexibility then patches will jump in volume from patch to patch :-)

This synth will easily push out some of my other synths with all it's right of being an engineering-art literally.

Thank you UDO team for making ground breaking machines and above all keeping your production in UK and the outstanding high quality!"

Virtual Schmidt Synthesizer & "deck" controller Incoming

"The legendary Schmidt Synthesizer has been on the market for twelve years now and is used by many prominent musicians and studios.

After a year of development, we are excited to present the Schmidt Vi, the Schmidt synthesizer as a digital plugin, at Superbooth 26.

Through close collaboration with our partner UJAM, we have created an instrument that is sonically on par with the original Schmidt hardware.

In addition, we are introducing the virtual instrument deck, on which sounds created on the Schmidt can be played. These sounds can be manipulated using simple, Minimoog-style controls.

The Schmidt Vi and Schmidt deck will be available in mid-2026 as VST3, AU and AAX.

Prices for the plugins will be announced in due course."

deck pictured bottom right below. The big question: is it hardware or virtual as well? The description above can be interpreted as either a virtual-instrument deck, or a deck for the virtual-instrument.

ETCHES | Soundscape Palette by Puremagnetik

video upload by Puremagnetik


via Puremagnetik

"Etches is a layered soundscape synthesizer. It's a palette for playing with sound, sketching melodic sections and building evolving tapestries. It moves between cinematic washes, percussive pizzicatos, and atmospheres worn smooth through ambient processing.

Inspired by live modular techniques, Etches is built upon classic synthesis and tape music traditions. Etches’s main engine includes a complex oscillator, a splice recorder and built in space processing.

We designed Etches to be performed. Every control is on the surface, and every gesture is audible the moment you make it. There are no traditional envelopes or filters here. You shape the timbre as you play.

Pick a root note and choose from twelve scales and modes and the pads stay locked to that key while you move. It's hard to play a wrong note, which means you can focus on phrasing instead of finger positions.

At the center is a monophonic voice generator and a splice recorder with overdub, so you can layer sounds into something bigger than individual patches. An internal LFO moves against each splice, modulating where the recording starts and ends. It's a behavior we first used in our LAPS and JOTS pedals. Around all of that: a tape-style delay, and a stereo space processor you can get lost in.

Etches Features:
• Four articulation pads that control contour, timbre-shaping and animation
• Musical overdrive with soft clipping
• 80-second multi-splice recorder for capturing ideas and layering sounds
• Stereo space processor with tape-style delay and a pristine reverb.
• Stereo output
• Runs on a standard Boss-style 9V power supply"

You can find a link to the manual and addtional details at Puremagnetik