AMBIENT SUNDAY [43]: TE OP-XY and Slate & Ash Halo by themselves

video upload by keinseier

"Still taking a break, but still doing stuff, of course.Trying out the new HALO by Slate & Ash with some semi-generative tracks with the OP-XY., I found the never-exactly-repeating background pretty nice and just let it run for some time.
Also: On the road, so the video format is different. Which is nice, for a change."

Temecula DSP RAD-68K: A recreation of the AKG ADR-68K. Coming late September / early October 2026

video upload by TemeculaDSP

"Temecula DSP RAD-68K: A recreation of the AKG ADR-68K. Coming late September / early October 2026"

External MIDI Amiga Synth? Wait, what?!

video upload by Jeremy Parker

"A few years ago I restored my childhood Amiga 500, and only recently found a way to use a soft synth, Aegis Sonix V2, with external MIDI control. I saw ‪@magicalsynthadventure3216‬ video on the topic a while back, and on a whim decided to revisit the idea of using my Amiga as a synth. Thanks to an Amibay.com forum thread, I learned that it's pretty easy to get Aegis Sonix V2 to respond to incoming MIDI, and so I was off to the races. Enjoy!

Magical Synth Adventures video: • Commodore Amiga Music Production: Modern S... [below]
Amibay thread: https://www.amibay.com/threads/aegis-...
Stone OakValley Studios info on Aegis Sonix: https://www.stone-oakvalley-studios.c...
OctaMED info: https://chipmusic.org/forums/topic/10...

00:00 Intro
02:28 The Solution
03:33 Sonix Demo
05:31 Sonix & Reaper
07:33 Amiga Groove

Commodore Amiga Music Production: Modern Sound Design on Retro Hardware

video upload by Magical Synth Adventure

"A delve into obscure software instruments on the Commodore Amiga. Here I look into both realtime & non-realtime varieties, covering a staggering array of synthesis types!

Additional attributions:

I forgot to give a shout out to uncle Brian! Sorry uncle Brian!
Endless Tunnel Animation: KRITRIMVAULT
Syndicate Intro: BullFrog Productions

Links:
SOFTWARE
http://old.exotica.org.uk/websites/dr...
http://ftp2.grandis.nu/turransearch/"

Update: An interesting side note is that Sonix was released in 1987 with a beta in 1986. That's 10 years earlier than Dave Smith's Seer Systems Reality, which was released in 1997. Seer Systems Reality is often credited as the world's first soft synth. Curious if the distinction was between an editor/interface for the existing Amiga sound chip vs. a self contained software synthesizer.  

I asked Google AI just to see what it would say. Here it is:

CLICK FOR MORE »

Unfiltered Audio's New Sinusoidal Run Rhythm plugin is crazy!

video upload by Richard Devine

"Unfiltered Audio's New Sinusoidal Run Rhythm plugin is crazy!"

Ocean Swift Releases New Expansions for Massive X

video upload by Ocean Swift / Faxi Nadu

via Ocean Swift

"We are thrilled to announce our latest expansions for Native Instruments Massive X. The 'Way Finder', and 'Massive In Psy'.

These expansions elevate the standard “Noisetables” section typically reserved for simple sound effects into a comprehensive, dual-layer melodic sampler. By cleverly embedding large, tuned and continuously looped samples directly into the preset files, we’ve transformed these basic noise modules into highly expressive, tuned oscillators. The result delivers 2 extra layers of deep, complex textures to your Massive X workflow!

The 'Way Finder expansion' takes this concept into deep cinematic and ambient territory with over 100 presets, while the 'Massive In Psy' focuses on trance and psychedelic sounds. Both these expansions can be acquired for 14.99€ each, intro offer until 21 August.

Featuring:
.2 Sound banks: Way Finder (103 Presets), Massive In Psy (90 Presets)
.Over 80 seamlessly looped and tuned samples
.NKS support: including audio preview when hosted in Maschine or Komplete Kontrol.
.Bank and presets organized with tags
.Expressive sound design: Full Aftertouch and Modwheel support"

https://oceanswift.net/product/way-finder/
https://oceanswift.net/product/massive-in-psy/
https://oceanswift.net/product-category/presetpacks/massive-x/

Testflight Betas: Vekte and Tresse for iOS

Tresse 1.2.0 for iOS, VST3, AUv3 and Standalone video upload by Våld Labs

"Now TRESSE is a 39-engine, dual-layer polysynth built around 24 Mutable Instruments Plaits engines plus 15 custom engines. It has two independent 8-voice synth layers, three LFOs, two generative modulation lanes, a dual-playhead arpeggiator, delay and shimmer reverb, and a deterministic generative sequencer derived from VEKTE.

Each layer has its own synthesis engine, filter, envelopes and voice mode, so you can combine completely different synthesis methods in one patch and modulate the balance between them. It runs standalone or as an AUv3 in AUM, Drambo, GarageBand, Audiobus and other iOS hosts.

VEKTE is the other side of the idea: a 16-channel generative MIDI sequencer built around 36 deterministic algorithms, ranging from Euclidean rhythms, Fibonacci and random walks to cellular automata, logistic maps, harmonic systems, Tonnetz movement and more.

Each VEKTE channel contains a NOTE lane plus four independent MOD lanes. Those modulation lanes can control MIDI CCs, rhythm, harmony, probability, density, playback direction, algorithm parameters and even other generators, so patterns can evolve structurally rather than simply playing back notes.

A big part of both instruments is that their generative systems are deterministic. The same algorithm and parameters always reproduce the same result, so you can explore without losing something interesting you discover.

They also share a compact patch-sharing system.

With TRESSE, the entire patch, including both synth layers, all three LFOs, delay and reverb, the complete sequencer and both generative MOD lanes, can be encoded into a single TRS2 key of roughly 155 characters. TRESSE can turn that key into a QR code, export it as a 1080 × 1350 social card, or scan a patch directly from another screen or printed QR using the iPad/iPhone camera.

VEKTE uses the same idea for generative MIDI. A complete channel can be represented by a compact VKT2 Base62 key, typically around 43 to 130 characters. Because the patterns are deterministic, VEKTE doesn’t need to store every generated MIDI event in the key. It stores the recipe and reconstructs the exact pattern when it is loaded.

VEKTE can display those keys as QR codes, scan them directly with the iPad camera, and share individual channels or an entire 16-slot rig. It can also create 1080px Share Pattern cards containing the QR, key and caption, ready for the iOS Share Sheet, so patches and generative patterns can be exchanged through Messages, social media, forums or even from a screenshot.

That sharing system is something I’m particularly interested in developing further: instead of presets being files hidden inside an app, a sound or generative pattern becomes something you can post, photograph, print, send to somebody, and reconstruct exactly on another device.

The philosophy behind both instruments is the same: the art of shaping chaos. I’m interested in generative systems that can surprise you without taking control away from you. What you discover can be reproduced, edited, saved, performed and shared rather than disappearing into randomness.

They’re designed to complement each other as well: VEKTE can generate and evolve the musical structure while TRESSE turns that structure into sound, although both are complete instruments in their own right."

https://valdlabs.com

Synapse Audio Dune 3 - "Dreams" Soundset (50 Presets)

video upload by LFOstore

"'Dreams' is a captivating collection of 50 exclusive presets for the Synapse Audio Dune 3, crafted to transport you into a realm of ethereal beauty and cinematic wonder! This soundset is created by a renowned sound designer, Otto K. Schwarz, who has been working for years with leading companies - synth producers.

'Dreams' offers a complete toolkit for ambient, cinematic, meditation, and Berlin School-inspired productions. Sequences form the beating heart of this collection — slow, evolving, and hypnotic. These are not aggressive, driving patterns, but contemplative, textured journeys that unfold with grace. Combined with atmospheres, bells, leads, plucks, and arpeggios, this soundset may become a wonderful tool for your next production.

This soundset is a gateway to fantastical worlds — where presets are assigned with velocity, modulation wheel, expression and aftertouch. Gentle ARPs shimmer like starlight, deep sequences pulse with meditative rhythm, and lush pads breathe with the warmth of distant horizons. Every preset is designed to evoke the feeling of a lucid dream: serene, expansive, and filled with emotional depth!

Please find more details here - https://ottolfo.sellfy.store/dune/"

The Crow Hill Company Announces POCKET STRINGS Plug-in for Free

The Best Strings Plugin Money CAN'T Buy??? video upload by CROW HILL

Press release follows:

The Crow Hill Company announces availability of popular POCKET STRINGS plug-in for free, bringing broadcast-grade string possibilities to everyone

EDINBURGH, UK: around a year after its initial launch, not long after the Edinburgh-based enterprise effectively rebranded itself with an aesthetic that truly realises company co-founder and composer Christian Henson’s heartfelt dream of encouraging people to make music and help them on their journey, regardless of whatever point they were at and wherever their journey began, The Crow Hill Company is proud to announce that it has made its popular POCKET STRINGS — styled as a never-tried-before strings plug-in that aims to bring broadcast-grade string possibilities to everyone by combining live cinematic orchestral recordings of some of the best musicians working in the UK with some rarefied vintage synth classics made to measure for added body, depth, and character — available for free with no strings attached (but pun intended), as of August 6…

CLICK FOR MORE »

SynthEdit Is Finally on Mac... After 20 Years

video upload by Autodafe

"After what feels like an eternity, SynthEdit is finally available on macOS.

If you've been making VST plugins since the early 2000s, you probably remember SynthEdit. It helped launch thousands of freeware plugins and introduced many people to plugin development—without writing much code.

The timing is almost ironic. After waiting around 20 years for a Mac version, we now live in a world of JUCE, modern C++ frameworks, and AI coding assistants that can dramatically speed up development.

Still... I think this is genuinely good news.

There are countless Windows-only SynthEdit projects that could now become available for Mac users, and that's exciting.

And yes... I guess I'll have to relearn SynthEdit too. I played with it years ago... and somehow managed to release exactly zero plugins. 😄

What about you?

Did you ever use SynthEdit?

Which old Windows-only plugin would you love to see finally come to macOS?

🌐 SynthEdit
https://www.synthedit.com"

U-He Hive-2 50 Dark Experimental Presets+Patterns Sound Demo

video upload by Anton Anru

🌋 Subterra Patterns is a bank of 50 presets + sequences for U-he Hive 2.
The collection is oriented toward a modular, experimental sound, often heard in dark techno or noise ambient. It includes both melodic lines and atonal FX‑like patterns.
Particular attention is given to the dynamic character of the patches—featuring a combination of sequencer and LFO running at different speeds.

📦 The download link: https://antonanru.sellfy.store/p/hive...
👤 The author of the soundset is skendi (Arseniy Pushkov).

💾 The soundset features a wide variety of timbres: from sharper and more aggressive to more lo-fi and atmospheric, from short and fast to slow blurry sounds. The presets are quite thick and sound high-quality and dense, despite the dirty timbres.

📻 The sounds are perfect for various genres: Techno, Industrial, Dub, IDM, Experimental, Cinematic and others

🎚️ The Modwheel makes the timbre brighter, while velocity affects both volume and brightness.

CLICK FOR MORE »

KHÔRA - Microtonal Soundscape Synthesizer

video upload by Laboratory 0

"KHÔRA is a drone-based harmonic instrument. There are no labels - every control is a living geometric object. The ring of stars is a map of just-intonation pitches. Star size represents consonance, while color represents harmonic families. Rather than relying on theory, a keyboard, or parameter lists, KHÔRA offers a new way to explore harmonic space through interaction.

Five built-in chord generators:
Click the Seed (center-left icon) to generate a chord. Right-click to switch modes.

1. Genesis: Generates a new just-intonation chord, favoring simple, consonant intervals while always retaining the root.

2. Metabole: Preserves some common tones from the current chord while regenerating the remaining voices, balancing continuity and change.

3. Topos: Moves the entire chord through just-intonation space while preserving its internal structure, revealing more distant microtonal colors.

4. Skia (Hidden): Explores dark, modal harmony over a fixed drone, with spacious minor voicings that return to the home chord every fourth generation.

5. Helios (Hidden): The only mode based on 12-tone equal temperament (12-EDO), featuring modern color harmony with smooth bass motion and a return to the home chord every 4th generation."

Laboratory 0 also brought us MORPH-6: Algorithmic Lifeforms Synthesizer and Carousel: Five-Voice Round-Robin Polyphonic Synthesizer.

"My Synthetic Garden" | Novation Summit & Hydrasynth Deluxe Live Performance (Bitwig Studio)

video upload by Paweł Spychała

"A live synth jam featuring the Novation Summit and Hydrasynth Deluxe, both running original custom multi-patches. Track title: 'My Synthetic Garden'. Everything was recorded live directly into Bitwig Studio.

Gear Used:
ASM Hydrasynth Deluxe (Custom Multi-Patch)
Novation Summit (Custom Multi-Patch)
DAW: Bitwig Studio (Live Performance Recording)"

Tone2 Releases Electra 3.5

Press release follows:

Tone2 Audio has released an update for their multilayer-synthesizer-workstation Electra. The update to v3.5 is a major update and is free for anyone who bought Electra 3.

It is downward compatible with previous versions. Existing song projects and patches can be loaded without any further steps necessary. They will benefit from the enhanced sound-quality.

What's new in Electra 3.5?

4 additional INSERT FX slots:

Each of the 4 layers has an additional insert effect slot. Here you can pick from from 64 different effect types.
20 additional MATRIX slots:

Each of the 4 layers now has 5 additional modulation matrix slots. They can be accessed by clicking on the '11-15' button.

9 new filter types:

LP MS-20: A screaming lowpass filter with self-oscillation. It sounds analog and uses 0-delay technology.

Phaser 2x: Analog 4-stage phaser with negative feedback.

Phaser 3x: Analog 6-stage phaser with positive feedback.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Panacousticon: Plugins Built for Dark Electronic Music

video upload by Metamyther

"Panacousticon by Emiliano Pennisi is one of the most unconventional plugin collections available for sound designers, electronic music producers, and experimental musicians. We explore the range of evolving textures, haunting ambiences, fractured rhythms, and cinematic industrial soundscapes it makes. Whether you're producing industrial techno, IDM, dark ambient, experimental electronic music, or searching for fresh sounds inside your DAW, this deep dive demonstrates inspiring ways to push your music beyond traditional means.

Check out Panacousticon: https://emilianopennisi.gumroad.com/l..."

Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 00:39 - 1991 01:44 - Atrax 03:16 - Divine Carceri 04:50 - Erased Head 06:48 - Tanatoprassi 10:52 - Meso Struttura 13:17 - Necro Box 15:19 - Paesaggio Sonoro 16:58 - PostRve 18:33 - RIP 19:53 - Rainforest 21:30 - Sickness Report 22:19 - Tape Reamp 23:00 - All Together...

JADE Is Here! | First Look at the Roland JD-990 Emulator

video upload by Autodafe

"Today I'm taking a first look at JADE, the brand-new Roland JD-990 software emulator developed by The Usual Suspects.

In this video I'll give you a quick overview of the project, explain how to get access to the current alpha, and let you hear a few sounds from this amazing emulation.

If you enjoy vintage Roland synthesizers, this is definitely a project worth following!

The Usual Suspects
https://theusualsuspects.io/

Donate to get access to the Alpha on Discord:
/ discord"

Roland JD-990 Lives Again! | JADE Demo Songs (No Talking)

video upload by Autodafe

New Free VCV Rack Modules / August 2026

video upload by Omri Cohen

Introduction - 00:00
Not Things - 00:11
SignalFunctionSet and Shortwave Labs - 02:59
Eternal Eclipse - 07:56
No Such and CV Funk - 11:21
Forsitan - 14:56
LydD and JW - 18:28
Misc - 21:02

EMW VPoly 6X: Pads, Strings, and Analog Sounds in a Brazilian VA Synth Module

video upload by Marcus Padrini

"The EMW VPoly-6X from @emwsynthesizers is a Brazilian polyphonic VA synthesizer, in module format, inspired by the classic Korg Polysix.

I had the opportunity to follow part of the development, test different prototypes, and contribute some ideas to the project. In this video, I show in detail how the VPoly works, its construction, its voice modes, effects, timbre editing, and, most importantly, how it sounds.

The VPoly 6X has six voices of polyphony, an oscillator with sub-oscillator, a multimode filter, envelopes, LFO, different polyphonic and monophonic modes, and an effects processor with chorus, ensemble, phaser, delay, and Bloom.

I also show the Spread, an independent feature that distributes the voices in the stereo field and adds small variations in pitch, creating broad and immersive sounds.

In this review you will see:

00:00 Introduction
01:03 What is the VPoly 6X?
01:51 Connections and Panel
02:52 Demo 1 - Valiente (Synth Keys)
03:20 Demo 2 - Deep in Mind (Pad)
04:03 Demo 3 - Soft Pad
04:47 Demo 4 - HPF Pad
05:38 Demo 5 - Bright Warm (Pad)
06:36 Demo 6 - Uni Bass
06:53 Demo 7 - Odyssey (Lead)
07:31 Demo 8 - 3OSC Lead
08:07 Demo 9 - Seasons Brass
08:38 Demo 10 - Synth Clav
08:58 Demo 11 - Saw Keys
09:44 Website with presets
10:22 Creating and editing sounds
13:55 Favorite Presets Function
15:08 Shameless plug! Synth Course
15:57 Voice Modes
19:11 Effects Processor
22:48 Spread is Life!

26:10 VPoly is Musical
27:50 Limitations
29:03 Conclusion
30:47 Acknowledgements

The unit shown in the video was still a prototype. Therefore, some details may be different in the final version sold by EMW.

Learn about my subtractive synthesis course: https://www.udemy.com/course/sintetiz..."

Also see New EMW VPOLY-6X | Hands-On Demo & Sound Showcase

"Evolving Solitude" – Live Hardware Synth Performance | Hydrasynth Deluxe, Summit, Reaktor 6, Bitwig

video upload by Paweł Spychała

"'Evolving Solitude' is an original live hardware synthesizer performance featuring the Hydrasynth Deluxe, Novation Summit, Reaktor 6, Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S61 MK2, and Bitwig Studio.

Recorded completely live Sit back, put on a pair of good headphones, and dive into the sound.
Gear & Software Used in this Video:
Synthesizers: ASM Hydrasynth Deluxe Multi, Novation Summit Multi
MIDI Controller: Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol S61 MK2
Software & Plugins: Native Instruments Reaktor 6- rythm track
DAW: Bitwig Studio (Live Recording & Sequencing)"

Kepra - Circuit-Modeled Rhythm (demo)

video upload by Hügelton Instruments

"Kepra is a rhythm instrument developed through detailed analysis of an original Japanese vintage programmable rhythm machine.

Rather than relying on sampled sounds, Kepra recreates each instrument by studying the original analog circuits, measuring waveforms, analyzing spectral content, and reproducing their behavior in software.

Features

• Circuit-inspired drum synthesis
• 12 drum voices
• 16-step sequencer
• NOTE / FLAM / ACC layers
• 8 pattern banks
• Stereo mixer
• Drive and character section
• Internal, host, and external MIDI clock

Available for macOS (AUv2 / VST3) and Windows (VST3).

https://hugelton.itch.io/kepra"


"Hardware Archaeology

Developing Kepra felt less like sampling a drum machine and more like studying an archaeological artifact.

Every instrument was investigated through circuit analysis, waveform measurements, timing analysis, and spectral comparison to better understand how the original hardware produced its sound.

Rather than reproducing recordings, Kepra attempts to reconstruct the behavior behind them.

The Missing Instrument

One voice in Kepra did not exist on the original hardware.

The Shaker was designed as an 'imaginary expansion'—a voice inspired by the architecture and character of the original instrument.

Instead of adding a modern sample-based shaker, it was developed by asking a simple question:

'If the original designers had decided to include a shaker, how might they have built it using the same technology?'

The result is not a historical reproduction, but a speculative reconstruction that aims to remain faithful to the design philosophy of the original machine.

Not an Emulator

Kepra is not intended to be a museum piece.

It is a modern rhythm instrument built from careful hardware analysis, extending the ideas of a classic Japanese drum machine into new creative territory."

reFX Tutorial Videos & Upcoming Release

video uploads by reFX



"reFX, known for their Nexus and Vanguard virtual instruments, are releasing their new synth, Rippler, on Thursday morning.

Rippler combines physical modeling synthesis with more traditional synthesizer elements: additional synth oscillators, familiar modulation setup, effects and arpeggiation. With the exciter modules running through two resonators, you can create realistic acoustic sounds or hyper-realistic sounds when pushing the modules further.

Features

Dual-Layer physical modeling synthesizer plus traditional synth oscillators and filters.

441 Presets (Factory Bank July 2026).

Exciter with custom impulse, 32 samples, sample import or sidechain input.

Noise generator feeds into resonators, output, or both.

12 Acoustic-style resonator models: String, Beam, Squared, Bell, Membrane, Plate, Drumhead, Djembe, Vibraphone, Marimba, Open Tube, Closed Tube.

Manual resonator type for custom additive synthesis (change partials in frequency, level, and drag to 'paint' your pattern.

Resonators work in series or parallel, with bi-directional energy coupling.

Dual oscillators with Phase, Fold and Asymmetry.

27 Filter types including vintage, ladder and vowel.

Modulation from four LFOs, four envelopes, random generators, MIDI/MPE controllers, macros.

13 Effects in three chains (Layer A, Layer B, Master): EQ, Distortion, Stereoizer, Phaser, Compressor, Chorus, Magnetic, Tremolo, Delay, Bucket Delay, Reverb, Particle, Limiter.

Vibrato with Rate, Delay and Rise.

Arpeggiator with additional modifiers for pitch and velocity.

Modulation Matrix with custom mapping curves, power curve.

Preset Browser with Favorites and Type tags, random selection.

VST/AU/AAX plugin for Windows and Mac

https://refx.com/rippler/

CLICK FOR MORE »