Melodic Techno V3 for Korg Minilogue XD by NatLife

video upload by NatLife Sounds

"Product Link: https://natlifesounds.com/product/mel...

Melodic Techno V3 is literally new creation of unique sequences, using only Korg Minilogue XD possibility, without external engines.

25 Presets with a 25 Sequences(MIDI) includes all sequencer possibility, where every patch have own history and deeply thought out motion sequences. From piercing Lead and Bass sequences to deep Pad atmospheres and non-standard synth sounds.

You will find the sounds in style of Ben Böhmer, Deadmau5, Trillucid, Martin Roth and to name a few. But it still has its own NatLife style.

Soundbank contains:

25 Minilogue XD Presets & Patches
25 Minilogue XD Sequences

mportant notes = Presets based in 24-49 slots."

Best Ambient Synth Shootout #151: SammichFM - Song 3

video upload by Christian's Sonic Spaces

"This is the third recording with the SammichFM. It is a streamlined, compact version of the MIDIbox FM synthesizer DIY kit. Designed around the OPL3 chip YMF262 (4-Operators with 4 different waves), which was a famous sound chip from the 8 bit computer era (e.g. Sound Blaster 16 soundcard), it can play 4-sounds with 6-voice polyphony each.

I used for the recording the following FX pedals:
Red Panda Raster 2, Pigtronix Echolution 2 Deluxe, GFI System Specular Reverb 2.

The signal went through a Presonus StudioLive 16.0.2 into the PC via USB for recording. To create the complete song I recorded consecutively several stereo tracks. On some tracks Compressor and EQ where added in Cubase 13. The final song was then mastered using iZotope Ozone.

Well, I decided to go back to the basics, but at the same time make something useful for the synth community and do a kind of competition (I like competitions;-). What's my best synth for ambient music :-)"

Sequential Prophet 5 - Synth Plugins still can’t do this?

video upload by Tenalock Audio

"There's something about the Sequential Prophet-5 that feels alive. The slight movement in the oscillators, the warmth in the chords, the way even simple patches seem to carry emotion without needing much processing.

Plugins have come so far and modern analog synthesizers have gone backwards without so much of their own character as they used to have.

I spent some time exploring softer pads, worn-out bass tones, drifting analog textures and a few more cinematic sounds in this session. Some patches lean into that classic late-70s / early-80s character, while others feel surprisingly modern.

It's easy to understand why the Prophet-5 became such an important synthesizer. A lot of newer synths can sound bigger or cleaner, but this has a character that sits differently in a mix.

Headphones recommended for this one."

MCO - Tonesum

video upload by ALM TV

See the ALM MCO announcement post here.

"「 MCO ToneSum 」🍃 Soft ambient tones with the MCO (mkII)’s ToneSum additive synth voice, a distinct voice that can produce anything from bright, glassy sounds to woody plucks or eerie inharmonic sweeps.

The MCO is triggered by a ‘Ramp Up’ gate sequence from Pamela’s PRO Workout, producing spontaneous ‘off the grid’ plucks from the ‘Warm 1’ preset of the ToneSum voice. A vocal pad sample from the Squid is mixed in to complement the MCO. The ToneSum’s various parameters are adjusted to alter the levels and dispersion of twelve sine waves that combine to produce the final sound. The Notch parameters have a particularly strong effect on the overall sound, acting like a parametric EQ band. Here the notch frequency is modulated by LFO 2, producing a subtle sweeping motion in the mellow tones. Finally, the ratio is changed to only Odd frequency bands, producing a more hollow and woody tonality. The ToneSum is a versatile and distinct voice that can produce a range of physical and organic sounding tones."

Redshift 6 DCO First Look — Supercritical’s Wild New Analog DCO feature

video upload by FutureMusic.es

"Recorded at Superbooth Berlin 2026, this video takes a closer look at the Supercritical Redshift 6, one of the most original analog synth designs on the show floor. The Redshift 6 is a six-voice desktop synthesizer built around Supercritical’s Demon Core technology, with each voice using a digitally controlled analog oscillator architecture that can generate up to 16 simultaneous analog oscillators per voice.

What makes this instrument stand out is Supercritical’s MDCO concept, or Multiperiod Digitally Controlled Oscillator, which goes beyond the usual idea of a classic DCO by allowing multiple analog waves with pitch and phase control from a single analog oscillator core. In practice, that gives the Redshift 6 a huge sonic range, from vintage-style poly textures and wide supersaw stacks to flanging, phase-based movement, and dense unison sounds across a fully analog dry signal path.

In this Superbooth 2026 video, we explore the synth’s sound, interface, and performance potential, while talking through the features that make it one of the most forward-thinking hybrid-controlled analog instruments available today. With six voices, an analog 4-pole multimode filter, and a design that can evolve through firmware-based engine expansion, the Redshift 6 is aimed at producers and sound designers who want a modern polysynth with a distinctive technical identity.

If you are into advanced synthesis, bold analog tone, and new approaches to oscillator design, this is one of the most interesting synthesizers to watch from Superbooth Berlin 2026."

Access Virus rack , beautiful Synth

video upload by itramtal

"Exploring the sounds of the Access Virus rack. A sonic journey through the possibilities of the Access Virus synthesizer in rack format, exploring textures, sequences, and unique atmospheres."

Modal Electronics Introduces Element One

video upload by Davide Puxeddu

"Put on your headphones 🎧. This is a pure, no-talking sound demo of the brand new Modal Electronics ELEMENT ONE synthesizer, an 8-voice virtual analog powerhouse.

I had the incredible honor of participating in the development and sound design of the Element One (created alongside the Hartmann Design team). In this video, I am jamming with the factory presets—which are actually the very patches I designed for this synth! I’m exploring random sounds, tweaking them on the fly to show you the true sonic potential of its 64 oscillators, morphable filters, and stereo FX. Everything is played live using the 37-key aftertouch keyboard and 4-axis joystick."

Modal Element One: a sophisticated synth 'repackaged' in an accessible keyboard – Sound demo

video upload by MusicRadar Tech



THE SYNTH FOR PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT TO PLAY

You’re a musician, not a computer programmer. Whether you’re a keyboard player who wants to fire up a searing solo, a guitarist looking for that perfect atmospheric pad, a drummer wanting to trigger massive electronic textures, or a vocalist needing a lush harmonic bed, you shouldn’t have to learn “synth science” just to get a great sound. Meet ELEMENT One—the 8-voice virtual-analog synthesizer designed to feel like an instrument, not a science project.

CLICK FOR MORE »

The Classic 80s Sound of a-ha - Train of Thought | Vintage Synth Recreation

video upload by RetroSound

"In this new video I recreate the sound of “Train of Thought” by a-ha from the album Hunting High and Low. Written by Pål Waaktaar, this track is one of the standout examples of 1980s synth-pop production, combining melodic hooks, layered textures, and distinctive Scandinavian pop atmosphere.

For this vintage synth recreation I focused on capturing the character, tone, and arrangement of the original recording using classic hardware synthesizers and samplers. My setup includes the Yamaha DX7 II FD and the Roland Juno-106 for the main synth parts and signature textures.

The bass, flute sound (Fairlight) and selected drum sounds were created with the E-mu Emulator II. I also used the PPG Wave 2.2 for additional digital bass layers, digital textures, and atmospheric effects.

My goal was to explore how the classic a-ha sound was built — from analog warmth and FM synthesis to early digital sampling and wavetable synthesis.

If you enjoy vintage synthesizers, 80s synth-pop, classic a-ha productions, and deep dives into iconic keyboard sounds, this recreation is for you."

Nonlinear Labs - C25 | SUPERBOOTH 26

video upload by Bonedo Synthesizers

"The C25 is our new performance synthesizer. Building on the expertise from the C15, it combines outstanding playability, an intuitive user interface and advanced signal processing.

The sound engine responds to every playing nuance with high expressiveness and has access to the huge preset library of the C15.

With the touring musician in mind, the C25 comes in a compact, lightweight and robust housing. Most of the components are manufactured in Europe with a passionate focus on durability and sustainability.

The C25 is designed to serve as a platform for future developments and will also support synthesis or effect engines from third-party developers. Therefore it remains adaptable and up-to-date in the long term.

Features

Expression
The high-quality Fatar TP/8S keybed is combined with continuous sensors developed by Nonlinear Labs. The keys become polyphonic modulation sources, offering control by the vertical position of the key, its velocity or the aftertouch pressure.

CLICK FOR MORE »

New Polyend Drums Analog / Digital Drum Machine Incoming

video upload by Polyend

"Drums is an analog and digital drum machine built for immediacy, depth, and performance."

Features.

Analog voices.
Four analog voices built on modern SSI chips create a dense, classic tone with modern flexibility. Each stacks dual analog VCOs, a dedicated noise source, and additional digital oscillator for hybrid layering or precise FM modulation. Each shaped through a multimode analog filter and VCA, giving you everything from tight percussion to evolving synth textures.

Instruments.
Multiple analog and digital synthesis methods, sample-based instruments, and eight independent LFOs give you the core tools for creating and modulating drum sounds. With over forty instruments, each containing its own sub-mode mutations, you get hundreds of options to choose from.

Live performance.
Drums is designed for real-time control. Use the X0Y fader to morph kits, trigger fills instantly, and switch between patterns or sound kits without stopping playback. Key parameters stay close, so changes can be made while the pattern is running.

Effects.
Drums includes three dedicated effects groups. Send effects for shared processing. Insert effects for individual tracks. A master chain for the final mix. Inserts can be sequenced per track, so effects become part of the rhythm rather than something added at the end.

Power
The device runs on a dual-core main CPU, with auxiliary processors handling peripherals and analog control. Internal audio processing is done in 32-bit floating point at 96kHz, with 24-bit/96 kHz DAC and ADC conversion for audio input and output.

Ins & Outs.
2 × 1/4” audio out jacks
8 × 1/4” individual track output jacks
1 × 1/4” stereo headphone jack
2 × 1/4” audio in jacks

1 x 1/8” MIDI In jack
1 x 1/8” MIDI Out jack
1 x 1/8” MIDI Thru jack

USB C

Size and Weight.
Height (w/ knob): 1.69 inches (4.3 cm)
Width: 17.56 inches (44.6 cm)
Depth: 11.50 inches (29.2 cm)

CLICK FOR MORE »

SONICWARE Introduces deconstruct MINIMAL | Hypnotic Groove Machine — LESS IS MORE

Playlist:

1. deconstruct MINIMAL | Hypnotic Groove Machine — LESS IS MORE - SONICWARE
2. deconstruct MINIMAL | Hypnotic Groove Machine [Official Demo Jam] - SONICWARE
3. Sonicware deconstruct MINIMAL - Factory Patterns (no talking) - Bonedo Synthesizers
4. SONICWARE deconstruct MINIMAL: Ambient Techno Jam - Freaky Tweaky
5. Sonicware deconstruct MINIMAL - Sound Demo (no talking) with custom patterns for Electronic Music - Limbic Bits




"The deconstruct series has arrived — redefining musical structure.
Limited introductory offer: $299 for the first 1,000 units. [see dealers on the right]

deconstruct MINIMAL is a groovebox combining a sampler-integrated drum machine and analog-modeling bass synthesizer, built for the hypnotic grooves of minimal techno and minimal house.

● Legendary Groove DNA
● Deep 10-Track Drum Machine
● Sonic Expansion Sampler
● Elastic Bass Synth
● Live-Boosting Effects

● Legendary Groove DNA

Built on the rhythmic and pitch drift of the legendary drum machines — designed to create hypnotic minimal grooves

● Deep 10-Track Drum Machine

Intuitive, deep groove editing with fully per-track accents, random velocity, swing, sub-steps, and phrase rotation

● Sonic Expansion Sampler

Drum machine–integrated 4-track sampler with a 4-bar loop track — beyond drums through textures and phrases

● Elastic Bass Synth

Fluid analog-modeling bass synth delivering acid bass lines and driving techno leads

● Live-Boosting Effects

Live-focused real-time effects for dynamic groove control and performance intensity

Specifications
Drum machine with sampler and bass synthesizer featuring 11-track construction

[Drum Machine]
• Recreates the distinctive groove of legendary drum machines, shaped by subtle rhythmic and pitch drift
• 9 tracks
• 16 drum kits
• Instruments: 10 banks - 130 sounds
• Sample-based engine with dedicated edit parameters for each bank
• BD1 and SD each feature dedicated synthesis engines
• HH recreates the characteristic sound variations of analog drum machines
• Diverse groove edits: Accent, random velocity, swing, sub-steps, etc. can be set per track
• Supports real-time recording via pads, alongside fast step input
• Equipped with an isolator for bold boosts/cuts and delicate tonal adjustment

[Sampler]
• Supports sample import/export and sampling via LINE IN or USB
• 4 tracks: sample selection on drum machine tracks 7–9, plus dedicated loop track 10
• Preset samples: 3 banks - 48 sounds
Track 7–9

CLICK FOR MORE »

The synth that shapes SCALER’s sound

video upload by Novation

"*This video contains flashing images that may affect photosensitive viewers.*

We caught up with Bristol-based band ‪@SCALERBAND‬ to find out more about their sound and the workflow behind their live session.

We collaborated with SCALER to bring you performances of Broken Entry, Mirage, and Cold Storage from their latest record; watch via the link below.
But after the band’s live session, we spoke with Alex Hill and James Rushforth about their live electronic setup. In this video, the band explain in depth how they brought together this live setup and how it all works in unison, blending electronics, metal inspired guitars, and dreamy vocals. Featuring Peak as the beating heart of their live synth sounds, alongside the Launch Control and Launch Control XL they take you through their unique live session setup.

Watch the live session here: • Scaler - Endlessly Live Session" [below]

Discover the Peak: https://novationmusic.com/products/pe...
Explore our Launch Control range: https://novationmusic.com/launch-cont..."

Chapters:
0:00 - Introducing SCALER
0:23 - Alex from SCALER's Electronics rig
1:57 - Cold Storage Synth Sound
3:38 - How the Cold Storage arpeggiator line is made
4:46 - How the Novation Peak's Animate drives the performance in Broken Entry
6:47 - Using the Peak's oscillators and effects for Mirage's sound
8:47 - Blending the Peak with the Oberheim TEO-5
10:10 - Building SCALER's live rig

Scaler - Endlessly Live Session

video upload by SCALER

"This video contains flashing images that may affect photosensitive viewers.

Scaler live in session performing tracks from their second full length, Endlessly.

Tracklist:
00:00 Cold Storage
05:08 Mirage
08:46 Broken Entry"

Morphor ECHON 6 #2 | Winterdagen

video upload by Winterdagen

"This is one of the most beautiful synth sounds I've ever heard.

For this patch on the amazing ECHON 6 synthesizer by Morphor, I'm not using its exciter/synth section at all. The sound comes from its 6 BBD delay lines feedbacking indefinitely. The fact that the people at Morphor got to make BBD delay chips track pitch this well is already wild, but how they also managed to implement the super special glide you're hearing in this patch is beyond me. It sounds so alive!

I made use of ECHON 6's super intuitive and extensive mod section to give this patch some movement; with some LFOs I'm slowly opening and closing the filter in the feedback path and moving the voices in the stereo field. I applied keytracking to the LFO speeds making sure that each voice has different movements and a different place in the stereo field. I love that you can route keytracking to anything on ECHON 6.

I did use a fair bit of Valhalla Vintage Verb for this patch as the synth doesn't have an internal reverb. A gliding patch like this really benefits from some time based effects.

Every time I sit down with ECHON 6 for a bit, a new sound that I've never made on any other synth arises, it's so cool! I've made a lot more music with it and I'm super exited to show you.

I'm off to Superbooth now, I''ll be back with a new video next week! If you happen to be at Superbooth as well and want to say hi, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram."

Plinky 12 Chords: Ramp Arpeggios

video upload by Making Sound Machines

"On our way to #Superbooth 2026! Really excited to see all our friends and fellow makers again!

This year, we will be showing the Plinky 12 family of expressive polyphonic touch synthesizers.

In this video, Enrica, engineer and musician of Düsseldorf-based synth maker Making Sound Machines, explores the new Plinky 12 Chords play surface.

The built-in sequencer produces a calm pulse, triggering an Arpeggio ramp at the beginning of each bar. With her left hand, Enrica selects which harmonies to arpeggiate from the rainbow chord palette at the bottom of the instrument.

With her right hand, she plays an expressive melody on the polyphonic play surface. The notes in this view are arranged in a tetrachord layout and adapt automatically to each harmony selected.

All sounds are produced with Plinky 12's internal synth engine."

Native Instruments Introduces Komplete 26

video upload by Native Instruments

"Get everything you need to take your music from first idea to finished master, including instruments, effects, and sounds trusted by the pros. Komplete 26 gives you synths, sampled instruments, drums, sound design tools, and studio effects – all in one complete music production bundle.

Whether you're composing, producing, or designing sound, Komplete gives you the tools to follow your ideas wherever they lead."

Press release follows:


Berlin, May 05, 2026 – Native Instruments today released Komplete 26 — everything a music producer needs to take a first idea to a finished, release-ready track. With over 190 premium instruments, professional mixing tools from iZotope and Brainworx, and more than 180,000 sounds, it's the most definitive music production collection NI has ever made.

Trusted by the producers behind the records you know Komplete is used by millions of producers, composers, and musicians every month — from bedroom studios to Grammy-winning sessions. It's the instrument collection behind some of the most iconic tracks you know, and the ones you're about to make.

"I use Komplete in every single session. It lets me stay focused on the music instead of the tools, and whether I'm writing or tweaking, it's a fast way for me to transform my idea to something that feels finished." — Butch Vig (Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth)

“Komplete has been part of my production journey since day one. I know I can open it and get exactly what I need, every time.” — Nick Hook (Run The Jewels, Hudson Mohawke)

"Komplete is a must-have for me in my studio. As someone who is always blending genres and pushing the edges of sound design, the versatility of Komplete allows me to have an entire sonic world at my fingertips at all times." — Malibu Babie (Megan Thee Stallion, Shania Twain, Sia)

New additions: sounds for every style and stage Newly added is the legendary semi-modular synth, Absynth 6, known for its evolving, otherworldly tones. Also included are Noire and Claire – sampled from rare grand pianos – and the ethereal vocal soundscapes of Moments: Vocal Clouds.

CLICK FOR MORE »

PolyFreq Introduces Phonon Plug-In Debut as Precision Granular Laboratory for Sonic Alchemy

video upload by PolyFreq

Press release follows:

PolyFreq pitches availability of Phonon plug-in debut as precision granular laboratory for sonic alchemy

BRISTOL, UK: boutique musical tools-maker PolyFreq is proud to announce availability of Phonon as its debut plug-in — pitched as a precision laboratory for sonic alchemy, built around a high-quality sample granulation engine with root note detection, four keyboard follow modes, and legato giving it real versatility as a playable instrument — as of May 5…

Acting as a musical synthesiser first and foremost, Phonon is designed for very intentional, controllable reconstruction of one source, leaning into synchronous granular or ‘graintable’ synthesis. Sub-sample grain scheduling and separate grain rate and density controls open new vistas of repeatable, controllable timbre and tempo across macro and micro parameter ranges. Reality dictates that where other granular synths default to randomisation or multiple sources, Phonon provides users with complete control over every grain — from classic textural clouds to malleable ‘grainwave’ synthesis. Indeed, it is equal parts laboratory and playground.

“Phonon’s development was inspired by the great creativity of early granular work from composers such as Wishart and Roads, and the deep listening of Oliveros, with a desire to make this wild, creative territory more accessible to electronic music production and sound design, without stripping away what makes it strange and inspirational.” So says PolyFreq founder Nick Mariette by way of an illuminating introduction. It aims for ease of use, with a simple drag-and-drop workflow for modulation, and most features are immediately visible, with minimal menus or hidden options. And a flexible array of audio-rate modulation sources provide huge scope for patches that respond and evolve, including LFOs (Low Frequency Oscillators), envelopes, sample metadata, sequencers, MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) control data, and various noise flavours.

Features additionally worthy of the edited highlights treatment here include Phonon’s granular engine — eight voices of polyphony with up to 256 grains per voice and sub-sample precision that bridges the gap between classic textures and sharp ‘graintable’ synthesis; effects — shape sounds with a character-driven signal chain, from saturating drive to resonant filtering, as well as a utility reverb for glue or depth; presets — easily capture, export, evolve, and share sonic creations with sample embedding and eight-way snapshots; and drag-and-drop workflow in a resizeable interface for easy enjoyment as a standalone instrument or for plug-in-based DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) production.

Phonon’s uses are almost endless — think time stretching; pitch shifting; sample mangling; sound design; classic textural, granular clouds; synchronous, tuned granular tone creation; creating a synth from any sample; rhythmic grain generation, synced to host; beat retiming and timbre distortion; and more besides. Back to Nick Mariette: “Phonon is intended for reshaping beats and designing synth leads as much as for losing time in ethereal granular atmospheres; I hope it will connect people to listening differently, discovering the sounds within sounds.”

Anyone attending SUPERBOOTH26, May 7-9, FEZ-Berlin, Germany is hereby encouraged to swing by Booth H116 there, where PolyFreq will be showcasing Phonon to the musical masses assembled and Nick Mariette himself will be on hand to personally provide a warm welcome with an open invitation to discover those sounds within sounds. Spanning chaotic clouds to precise synthesis, controllable sonic alchemy is there for the taking so why not take this hands-on opportunity to discover and delight in vibrating matter differently with Phonon!

Phonon is available to buy as a standalone or VST3 plug-in for macOS (10.13 or later) and Windows (10 or later) at a 33% launch discount — duly rising thereafter to its full price of $89.00 USD (excluding tax)/€76.00 EUR (including tax)/£68.00 GBP (including tax) — directly from PolyFreq here: https://www.polyfreq.com/products

For more in-depth information, please visit the PolyFreq products webpage here: https://www.polyfreq.com/products

New from 4ms Company, the Leveling EQ Amplifier!

video upload by 4ms Company

"Announcing the Leveling EQ Amplifier: stereo widening, Neve 1073 style EQ, and LA-2A style optical compression in 14hp. $345 available June 30th from your favorite synth retailer."

The Leveling EQ Amplifier is an end-of-chain audio processor designed to polish individual elements of a patch, stereo bus, or full master bus.

Inspired by the simple interfaces and pleasing sounds of two cornerstones of mixing, the LA-2A optical compressor and the 1073 EQ, the LEQA combines a compressor, an equalizer, and a modern Stereo Width Processor in one 14HP package.

Rather than being fully parametric, pre-defined curves and frequency selections make the art of mixing intuitive. Very little effort is needed for great sounding mixes.

The compressor mimics optical compression, which is a beautifully simple concept that yields incredibly musical results.

The EQ section is built to help accentuate and excite your mix, clear up muddled sounds, and increase the overall headroom.

The Stereo Width Processor adjusts the stereo image, letting you dial back a wide image into a cohesive sound, or push a normal stereo signal into "super stereo" territory. When used with mono sources, it can widen mono sources into stereo using a combination of psychoacoustic techniques.

The Leveling EQ Amplifier excels in live performances, studio work, subtle utility tasks, extreme sonic sculpting, audio "glue" to hold a patch together, and as an effect in its own right.

Global release date: June 30th, 2026.

$345.00

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!"

Genki's CEO On How The €4990 KATLA Synthesizer Was Made

video upload by mylarmelodies

"Here's how KATLA was made - recorded at the Synth & Pedal Expo London (plus sounds at the end!). Katla is a unique synth - inspired by a titanic volcano in Iceland, with a huge gritty vibey sound. It literally has volcano in it(!) And after this interview, I thought about it a lot. Because behind the scenes, I've been working on a product and so much of what Óli said here resonated with my own experiences. I was really struck by how open, candid and frank Óli was, and I think there's huge value in learning from their journey. Hope you find this interesting!

Note that there was the Hackney half marathon happening in the background with people shouting and whooping constantly throughout the chat - but Izotope RX to the rescue!"

MORE ON KATLA
▶︎ It's since sold out, but there is a waitlist! https://genki.is/katla

VISIT THE LONDON SYNTH & PEDAL EXPO NEXT YEAR?
▶︎ https://synthandpedalexpo.com/london-...

CHAPTERS
0:00 A Volcano In A Synthesizer?
01:03 Depression, Iceland & A Big Idea
02:11 Nobody Knew What They Were Building
04:31 Fake Deadlines & Soccer Moms
06:09 The Godfather Of The Project
08:00 How Do You Sound Like A Volcano?
09:32 Spending Big & Hoping It Works
11:20 Linux, ARM Chips & Why Digital?
12:45 Who Actually Has Final Say?
15:50 4:30am Hack Sessions In Iceland
18:16 Trusting Creatives When Life Hits
21:28 We Were Beginners. We Didn't Know.
23:48 The Secret Ingredient: Grease
26:16 Where Does The Lava Come From?
29:23 Why Does This Cost £5,000?
34:11 Two Years, 100 Units, A Baby
36:50 Mylar Playing Katla Afterwards

Audio Computer Interview London Synth and Pedal Expo 2026

video upload by Take the Fear out the Gear

"Hi everybody this time we bring you the Audio.Computer Interview at the London Synth and Pedal Expo 2026 talking about the beat friend drum machine

Beat Friend is the first offering from audio.computer, a UK-based duo making ‘benevolent, semi-autonomous music machines’. Beat Friend is an analogue drum machine, using circuits based on the ‘twin-t’s from the legendary Roland CR-78. Each drum has a slider that changes the drum’s complexity within one of the 30+ preset patterns, which already allows hundreds of variations on any given beat.

But wait! There’s more! Turning the Enthusiasm knob allows Beat Friend to add or subtract notes from the pattern as it sees fit, either keeping the pulse of the pattern or going completely off piste. It's like having an enthusiastic robot Labrador playing a 70's electronic drum kit just for you.
All the sounds are routed through a Triforce of digital and analogue effects, which...well, you just have to turn knobs to find out what they do. If you’ve ever wanted to base a track on a 7/8 samba through a bit-and sample crusher, then this is the unit for you.
And, sure, if you’re a control freak who absolutely must design every bar, you can control the drums individually via MIDI. It even includes a letterpress-printed manual, numbered to match your unit.
Beat Friend plays in glorious mono and is powered by a universal 12V power supply (included in the box)."