He Hates This Synth Because…

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

"In this video, I pick one thing I think I hate about 12 classic synthesizers—and then follow that feeling wherever it leads.
We’re talking about legendary instruments:
Minimoog, MS-20, Prophet-5, Jupiter-8, ARP 2600, Moog IIIc ('Plantasia'), Oberheim 4-Voice, Oberheim OB-X, Synclavier III, Elka Synthex, and Yamaha CS-30.
What starts as frustration with a workflow choice, a knob, or a design limitation slowly turns into something else entirely.
Along the way, I realize this video isn’t really about hating synths at all. It’s about relationships.
Every one of these instruments has limitations—and so do we. In any good relationship, not everything is perfect. But when you stop fighting what something isn’t and start understanding what it is, those limitations can become the very thing that leads you somewhere creative and unexpected.
Instead of endless options, boundaries create focus.
Instead of frustration, they create identity.
And in learning to understand these instruments more deeply, I ended up learning something about myself.
This is a video about synthesizers—but it’s also a small morality tale about creativity, acceptance, and finding freedom inside constraints.
Let me know in the comments:
Which synth do you love… even though it drives you crazy? 🎛️"

https://anthonymarinellimusic.com/pages/about

ARP Foundation NAMM & Buchla & Friends Pics

via The Alan R Pearlman Foundation newsletter:

"Our West Coast Whirlwind!

Still feeling the synthesizer love from last month’s California visit to NAMM / Buchla & Friends!

At NAMM:

Anthony Marinelli visited our booth
The Blue Meanie was at our booth for a whole day!

ARP 2600: Drew Schlesinger demonstrated patches using the 2600 software included in the Korg Collection VST 6. 2 Lucky folks won a signed CD and poster from Martin Gore

And Congratulations to Violet Burns who won the Korg Collection 6!

Then it was off to Buchla & Friends – January’s biggest two-day collection of hands-on synths on the West Coast!

Remember: The Most Creative Part of an ARP synthesizer is You!

NAMM 2026 would not have been possible without the help of the following people and companies:

Thank you to Korg, Inc for the Korg Collection Giveaway and helping us make NAMM possible.

Thank you to Sean Weizmann of Arturia for the midi controller

Thank you to Beyer Dynamics for the headphones

Thank you to Ryan Hawkins of Hawkins Restorations for use of his Blue Meanie, Tonus 2600, OMNI and Odyssey, and for being the best Booth volunteer along with his assistant Miles.

Thank you to Julie Lewis for volunteering at the booth and for her donation last year of a rare ARP Soloist that was owned and played wonderful late husband synth legend Don Lewis.

Thank you to our Board Member and booth volunteer Stephen DeJesus for selfless assistance at both NAMM and Buchla & Friends.

Thank you also to Chris Cardone, Joe Castronovo, Tom Cusimano, Deanna DelVino, Rich Formidoni, Martin Gore, Andy Joyce, Brian Kehew, Ruperto Ifil, Mary Lock, Anthony Marinelli, Mark Marshall, Mike Metlay, LaMar Mitchell, Tony Notron, Drew Schlesinger, James Terris and Brianna Tortino,

View our West Coast photo dump!"



Pictured:

Top: The great Stevie Wonder w/ ARP Foundation's Dina Pearlman-Ifil.

Middle: "Richard Devine giving the Blue Meanie a run for its money." Check out the video here.

Bottom: ?! :)

Rhythmic Filter Sequencing With Oxi One MkII

video upload by Alec Sea

"Inspired by Anthony Marinelli's great video on rhythmic filter sequencing, I thought I'd show how to do a similar thing using the Oxi One MkII and my eurorack modular synth.

00:00 - Intro jam
01:34 - The purpose of this video
02:22 - Explaining the patch
05:12 - Settings on the Oxi One
07:25 - Demo
12:25 - Conclusion

Gear used in this video:

Oxi One MkII
Oxi Pipe
Native Instruments Kontrol S61 MkIII
Korg multi/poly module
DF Audio Minibay v2
ART MX822 Line Mixer
Behringer U-Phoria UMC204HD
Kenton MIDI Thru-12
Rode Wireless ME Microphone
Meris Mercury X
CIOKS DC7 Power Supply

Eurorack:
DIY Case
Intellijel: Quadra and Expander, Quad VCA, Triplatt
Befaco: DivKid Output Bus, ST Mix
Doepfer: A-111-4 Quad VCO
Joranalogue: Filter 8
Erica Synths Pico Input
4MS Row Power 45"

UVI Introduces Orbit - Advanced Rise, Impact, and Texture Designer

video uploads by UVI

"Orbit is an advanced cinematic sound design instrument built for creators who want more than instant hits. It’s a powerful, flexible engine for designing epic rises, impacts, and evolving textures with precision, nuance, and full creative freedom, whether you’re scoring, designing trailers, building transitions, or crafting signature moments for your tracks.

Also included in SonicPass ➡️ https://www.uvi.net/sonicpass

Video credits: ‪Anthony Hak
Music credits: Emeric Tschambser

Overview Video credits: ‪@VenusTheory‬

https://www.uvi.net/orbit

ARPf returns to the West Coast!

via The Alan R Pearlman Foundation

ARPf returns to the West Coast!

Yep - we're headed back to California for NAMM - and more! Here's the scoop:

Events

Thursday January 22:
Registration opens for our NAMM giveaway!
Friday January 23:
Anthony Marinelli at our booth

Blue Meanie All Day: See the rarest ARP there is! Nicknamed the "Blue Marvin" after ARP's CFO, Marvin Cohen, due to its bright blue metal case and unique features - while the actual name was "Blue Marvin," the nickname "Blue Meanie" stuck! Only about 25 were made in 1971, making them highly sought after.

ARP 2600: Drew Schlesinger demonstrates patches using the 2600 software included in the Korg Collection VST
Saturday January 24
Artists at our booth - TBA

Giveaways at 4:00pm:

Poster signed by Martin Gore
Soul of the Machine CDs

And one lucky person will win the full Korg Collection 6:

Magical sounds, authentically re-created by KORG.
The ultimate synthesizer suite for the ages.

The KORG Collection is a suite of software synthesizers that methodically and accurately recreates the authentic sound and behavior of legendary KORG synthesizers for the present day and beyond. The KORG Collection project began with analogue synths such as the MS-20, Polysix and Mono/Poly, and has steadily evolved to include digital synths such as the world’s most popular synth, the legendary microKORG, the workstation classics M1 and TRITON, and physical modeling synthesis from the renowned Prophecy. The KORG Collection even includes the ARP ODYSSEY and ARP 2600, both revived for the 21st century by KORG.

In 2025, KORG added three legendary instruments to the KORG Collection – each an icon of its era, celebrated for their distinctive presence and heard over decades in countless classic tracks. The TRINITY, PS-3300 and SGX-2.

As if NAMM weren't enough all on its own - there's Buchla & Friends on Sunday, January 24.

Buchla & Friends is January’s biggest two-day collection of hands-on synths on the West Coast! If you love creative sound, you need to be here. With a pre-party on Thursday, afterparty on Saturday, and two days of exploring all the greatest gear, Buchla & Friends is an essential start to the new year.

They're gathering over 90 synth makers in one awesome Downtown Los Angeles location so you can learn, listen, and live the latest in electronic music sound production. This hands-on, headphones-only gathering gives you a chance to hear the best sounds science has ever created. From additive to subtractive, analog to digital, keyboards to breath, audio to visual, modular to full-size polyphonic, eurorack to Serge to Buchla, you’ll meet synth makers and synth enthusiasts alike.

Register on eventbrite: https://bnf26.eventbrite.com

NAMMSALE!

We're celebrating NAMM with a sale - up to 15% off everything in the shop!

The Alan R Pearlman Foundation's Year in Review

video upload by Alan R. Pearlman Foundation

"From a Compilation to a Concert Celebration, our year celebrating our namesake's Centenary has been amazing! Share our journey!

Music by Lisa Bella Donna & Shawn Johnson

Purchase Soul of the Machine at https://alanrpearlmanfoundation.bandc...

2025 Sponsors:
Korg, Cherry Audio, Moog Music, Manny Fernandez, Tom Rhea, Rosen Sound

2025 Partners:
Bell Tone Synth Works, CMS, CatSynth TV, EMEAP/MMT, Eric Crawley/Dan Gilbert, Interage MediaWorks, Knobcon, Korg, Anthony Marinelli Music, Antonus, Mashina Bristronica, NAMM Museum of Making Music, Vito Nandi, New England Synth Fest, Projekt Records, Steve Roach, Round & Wound, the SynthCave, SynthCube, Synthtopia, Synthetic Dreamscapes, The Record Co. (TRC), Sharon Wasko Designs

Thank you to all of our donors, volunteers, interns, friends and partners including (but not limited to) Alex Ball, Antonus, David Baron, Lisa Bella Donna, Chris Cardone, Jon Carin, Alison Cassidy, Nick Carlisle, Phil & Linda Cirocco, Mike Cushing, Tom Cusimano, Eric Crawley, Stephen DeJesus, Rich Formidoni, John Foxx, Dan Gilbert, Patrick Gleason, Herbie Hancock, Martin Gore, Rupert Greenall, Ryan Hawkins, Mary Lock, Mark Marshall, Machina Bristronica, David Mash, Steve McQuarry, Bill T. Miller, LaMar Mitchell, Chris Meyer, NE Synth Festival, Nicola Joss, Ruperto Ifil, Brian Kehew, Anthony Marinelli, Tom Piggot,TRC (The Record Co). EMEAPP/MMT, Mary Lock, David Mash, Matrix Synth, Michelle Moog-Koussa, Tony Norton, Jim Michmerhuizen, Mike Metlay, C. Carl Peters, Rob Puricelli, ProSynth Network, Drew Raison, Steve Roach, Sam Rosenthal, Drew Schlesinger, Don Slepian, Steve Smith, SynthTopia, the NAMM Museum, the MiDI Association, Real World Studios, Gerson Rosenbloom, Collin Russell, James Thirlwell, Pete Townshend, the Townshend Studio, and Andrew Ward"

Adagio for Absynth 6

video upload by Anthony Distefano

"My first attempt at using Absynth 6. My version of Samuel Barber's Adagio for strings. This was all done using Absynth's envelopes. #Absynth #nativeinstruments #Absynth6"

Secrets to Steve Porcaro’s Sound: The CS-80 & More

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

"In this episode, I hang with Steve Porcaro for an up-close, hands-on look at the secrets behind his sound, with Toto and much more! Discover the musical thinking that shaped some of the most iconic synthesizer moments in pop history.
You’ll watch Steve perform on the legendary Yamaha CS-80, and demonstrate exactly why its polyphonic aftertouch changed everything. He shows how touch, phrasing, and pressure become part of the music itself, then recreates the iconic Africa brass sound, breaking down how it was programmed and performing it right before our eyes. We also pause to honor David L. Abell and Clark Spangler, two essential figures in synthesizer history whose whose work helped bring instruments like the CS-80 into the spotlight
Along the way, Steve shares stories from working with David Paich and David Foster, and how his collaborations shaped their sound. You’ll also see a beautiful portamento and glissando demonstration tied to "After the Love Has Gone" by Earth, Wind & Fire and 'Serious Music' by Hall & Oates, revealing how Steve approached expressive movement on the keyboard.
Steve then breaks open his 'go-to' CS-80 panel settings and shows how he used them on 'Rosanna' and 'Mama' by Toto, offering a rare look at the real-world musical decisions behind those songs.
Finally, Steve and I talk about the true secret sauce behind so many signature songs from the ’80s and ’90s, from Toto and beyond—the attention to detail, musical sensitivity, and collaboration between specialists, all working selflessly in service of a great song.
This is a rare, in-the-room masterclass with one of the great musical minds of our time."

Toto’s Steve Porcaro Shows How He Created the Synth Sounds on Africa, Human Nature, Rosanna, ...

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

"In this monumental video, I’m sitting down in Steve Porcaro’s studio for a rare, up-close demonstartions at how one of the true synth legends created some of the most iconic sounds in music history.

What makes this so special is that Steve takes us step by step through the exact synthesizer techniques he used on massive hit records — including Michael Jackson’s 'Human Nature,' Toto’s 'Africa' and 'Rosanna,' as well as classic tracks for Hall & Oates, Don Henley, Donna Summer, and more. He also recreates these sounds on the same model vintage synthesizers he used on the original recordings.

As we dig in, Steve shares his personal approach to synthesis, how he builds multi-dimensional sounds, thinks about atmosphere and texture, and shapes parts so they serve the song emotionally, not just sonically. He also reveals how he writes out synthesizer parts on score paper, treating synths like orchestral instruments and arranging them with real intention.

This isn’t a preset rundown or surface-level demo. It’s a candid, in-studio conversation about process, musical thinking, with hands-on demonstrations from someone who helped define the sound of an era. If you’ve ever wondered how these legendary synth parts were truly made, now you can get it straight from the source, this is a moment you don’t want to miss!"

‪@PlantWave‬ Meets the “Plantasia” Moog Modular | Live Jam

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music and PlantWave

"Join me for a one-of-a-kind musical experience filmed inside the iconic Mickey Hargitay Plants in Hollywood. In this special session, I’m improvising on the legendary 1969 Moog IIIc “Plantasia” Modular Synthesizer—the same model used on Mort Garson’s Mother Earth's Plantasia—along with my Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave, while the plants themselves generate melodies through PlantWave.

How PlantWave Works
PlantWave is a bio-music device that connects to a plant’s leaves and measures subtle changes in electrical conductivity. Those fluctuations are translated into MIDI data, which then becomes musical notes, rhythms, and patterns. It’s not “the plant playing an instrument” in the human sense—it's more like the plant’s natural signals being converted into music we can hear and respond to.

The Jam
As PlantWave transforms real-time electrical signals from the plants into beautiful, evolving musical patterns, I’m tuning in, responding, and improvising on the Moog IIIc and 3rd Wave—matching their phrases with my own melodies and rhythms. Every moment emerges organically, completely unique, and impossible to recreate the same way twice.

About the Location
Mickey Hargitay Plants has been an LA landmark for decades, and creating this performance surrounded by their lush greenery made the experience even more magical.

This is a rare combination of vintage analog synthesis, modern wavetable power, plant-generated musical data, and real-time human improvisation. I hope you enjoy this unique collaboration between nature and machines."

The Most Misunderstood Knob On Your Synth

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

"Allow me to demystify one of synthesis’ most misunderstood controls: the resonance knob. Using a variety of examples, I’ll show you how adjusting resonance can add character, while also explaining how the loss of bass as you turn it up can even substitute for a high-pass filter.

Resonance can be used for vocal-like effects by creating a fixed-frequency formant in the filter, or by controlling the filter with an ADSR envelope generator to shape percussive attacks at the front of a sound.

Then I take things further by making subtle changes to the filter’s attack envelope, revealing how a sound can 'speak' with even more personality.

This video is perfect for synth learners or anyone looking to unlock the full creative potential of resonance!"

"🎛️ Think Like a Synth Learn the exact method I've used for decades on hit records & films
👉 https://anthonymarinellimusic.com/pro..."

The #1 Reason Your Basslines Don’t Hit

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

"Ever wonder why your basslines don’t hit the way they should? I’ve seen the same problem for decades—and in this video, I’ll show you the #1 reason it happens and exactly how to fix it.

I’ll walk you through some of the techniques I’ve used on hit records and film scores over the last 40 years—techniques you can apply on any synth to make your basslines punch harder and stand out in your tracks.

Whether you’re editing presets or creating your own sounds from scratch, I’ll show you how to craft memorable, expressive bass tones that fit the song and move people.

For a deeper understanding of these techniques and to learn about all the classic synth modules check out my method Think Like a Synth, my online course that helps you break free from presets and truly understand to create sounds that payoff in your music."

🎛️ Think Like a Synth Learn the exact method I've used for decades on hit records & films
👉 https://anthonymarinellimusic.com/pro...

Anthony Marinelli Music Synth Studio Revealed | Studio Tour 2025

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

"I finally agreed to make a video showing my synthesizer studio. I'm NOT a collector, so you'll see the instruments I've used for over four decades to do my work. It's also my space for composing. In this deep dive studio tour, I walk you through every corner of my space, showing how everything’s connected for performing, recording, and creative flow.

You’ll see icons like the 'Plantasia' Moog Modular IIIc, Synclavier II, Rhodes Chroma with Expander & Enabler, Oberheim Four Voice, Elka Synthex, Roland Jupiter 8, Sequential Circuits Prophet-5, ARP 2600s, Korg MS modular synths, some classic Minimoog — plus a few modern synths I’ve added as I look to the future. Alongside the synths are vintage drum machines, string machines, and rare electric keyboards including a 1973 Fender Rhodes Suitcase and Hohner Clavinet/Pianet Duo.

We'll also explore racks of outboard gear, vocoder units, tape echoes, and a vast array of my custom guitar pedal options, efx pedal boards and studio effects racks that make this room endlessly inspiring. I'll also reveal how my entire studio is designed for instant creativity, featuring 48 channels of synth drivers and stage boxes, so any synth can be patched and recorded on the fly."

https://anthonymarinellimusic.com/pages/about

CLICK FOR MORE »

Modern Synth Meets Vintage Sound | The 3rd Wave

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

🌊 Sign up for your chance to win a 3rd Wave
👉 https://anthonymarinellimusic.com/3rd...

🎛️ Think Like a Synth Learn the exact method I've used for decades on hit records & films
👉 https://anthonymarinellimusic.com/pro...

UVI Updates

video uploads by UVI

Playlist:

1. UVI Falcon 2026 | What's new?

Version 2026 introduces new and inspiring ways to explore, shape, and perform sound with precision and character. Discover 4 new oscillators, 3 new effects, 2 new modulators, a new script, numerous UI refinements, and 100 new exclusive presets showcasing all the new features.

2. UVI Falcon 2026 | Showcase

CLICK FOR MORE »

Bristronica 25 - Circle Instruments - the Circle Guitar & MIDI Controller

video upload by Stromkult

"Join us at Bristronica 2025 as we explore the innovative Circle Guitar with Anthony from Circle Instruments. Discover how this self-strumming, MIDI-enabled guitar opens up new creative possibilities ."

https://circleinstruments.com/

"The player can sequence the wheel's movement with a DAW or MIDI controller such as the Morningstar MC6 Pro and MC8 Pro. All external MIDI-enabled devices and effects can be synced to the wheel's speed to adjust dynamically together."


video uploads by Circle Instruments

Playlist:

1. Circle Guitar at Distillery 2 - Episode 2 - Medley
2. An introduction to Circle Guitar
3. Circle Guitar at Distillery 2 - Episode 1 - Theme Tune
4. Circle Guitar - Promo

Design Philosophy of Every Oberheim Synthesizer with Legend Marcus Ryle

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

"Marcus Ryle is one of the great heroes of synthesizer history. At Oberheim in the early ’80s, he worked side-by-side designing with Tom Oberheim on legendary instruments like the DSX Digital Sequencer, the OB-Xa and OB-8, the DMX drum machine, and the groundbreaking Xpander and Matrix-12 synthesizers. These innovations revolutionized electronic music and still define the sound of a generation.

In this video, Marcus shares the inside story of Oberheim’s design culture—why certain features appeared on some synths and not others—and how those choices shaped the future of music.

Beyond Oberheim, Marcus co-founded Alesis, where he helped create the groundbreaking ADAT digital recorder, Quadraverb and HR16 drum machine... and later Line 6, where he pioneered digital modeling amps and effects, including the legendary POD. He also played a pivotal role in helping Tom Oberheim reclaim the Oberheim name, and he continues to be actively involved in the design of today’s newest Oberheim instruments—ensuring the spirit of innovation carries forward.

Few designers have influenced so many eras of music technology—Oberheim, Alesis, Line 6, Sequential, Focusrite and now the reborn Sequential/Oberheim. Marcus Ryle’s story is a masterclass in how his innovation changed music forever."

https://anthonymarinellimusic.com/pages/about

Update: The Oberheim Secret Genius Who Changed Synth History | Marcus Ryle

UVI Introduces Augmented Choirs

video uploads by UVI

Playlist:

1. UVI Augmented Choirs | Trailer

Introducing Augmented Choirs
Pristine Voices Reimagined

https://www.uvi.net/augmented-choirs

A breathtaking fusion of authentic choirs and modern sound design, delivering a vast hybrid vocal palette crafted to elevate your music. With over 500 unique sources, a powerful 4-layer hybrid engine, and 800+ handcrafted presets, Augmented Choirs gives composers and musicians a flexible and inspiring tool to create vocal emotion in any production.

#weareUVI #musicproduction #sounddesign

Video credits: Anthony Hak
Music credits: Harel Tsemah

2. UVI Augmented Choirs | Showcase

Video credits: Théo G.
_________
00:00 - Choral
00:25 - Heavy Synth
00:41 - Cinematic Scoring
00:55 - Hybrid Trap
01:11 - Natural Ensemble
01:22 - Electronic Pop
01:51 - Vocal & Cello
02:05 - Vox Beat
02:32 - Grand Opening

3. UVI Augmented Choirs | Overview

DELIA Phrase Looper Guide with Mikki From Preston

video upload by Melbourne Instruments

"Mikki From Preston aka Michael Cooper demonstrates the DELIA hybrid polysynth and how he uses the 'Phrase Looper' feature to develop music and sound design ideas. Mikki takes you on a funky music journey demonstrating how quick and easy it is to craft an idea using DELIA's phrase looper. Michael is a fantastic keyboard player with a passion for music, and a wonderful sense of humour. Attention to detail is core to his work, watch how he produces great ideas in a flash on DELIA.

All sounds created in this video are from DELIA and available as part of Mikki's DELIA preset pack.

Check out DELIA here: https://www.melbourneinstruments.com/...

00:00 Intro
00:20 First Jam - Sizzling!
01:57 West Coast Funk
03:07 Take Me to the Club Jam
04:18 Using a Bi-Timbral Split
06:01 Outro Jam

Download the 'Mikki From Preston' DELIA preset pack here: https://www.melbourneinstruments.com/...

ABOUT Mikki From Preston:
Michael Cooper is a versatile producer, musical director, songwriter, and mix engineer based in Melbourne, Australia. With more than 15 years of experience, Michael has made his mark in the music industry, contributing to over 100 songs across a wide range of genres. Mikki has collaborated with acclaimed artists such as Kaiit, The Dili Allstars, Anthony B, Thando, Dub Princess and Kian, helping shape their unique sounds and elevating their music to new heights. In addition to his work with artists, Michael has partnered with leading brands such as Libra, Aldi, and Carlton Football Club, providing expert music production and sound design. His talents also extend to the world of film, where he has composed scores and handled audio editing for various projects, demonstrating his broad skill set and ability to adapt to different creative mediums. Michael’s passion for music and attention to detail are at the core of his work, ensuring that every project he touches resonates with precision and authenticity.

Follow Michael here:
/ mikkifrompreston
/ @howtosynth
/ mikkifrompreston

Discover more at Melbourne Instruments
https://www.melbourneinstruments.com/"

Why Most People Use Sequencers Wrong (Do THIS Instead)

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

"Are you making this BIG sequencer mistake? Most people use sequencers to control pitch—but that’s not the only approach, especially if you want your synthesizer to sound alive and musical when spontaneously creating new music. In this video, I'll reveal one of my favorite sequencer tricks: using sequencers for accent and rhythm, while controlling pitch directly from the keyboard.

This technique lets you stay spontaneous with the notes and adds real-time surprises when creating songs or performing live (as opposed to working in a more controlled DAW enviornment). I'll wals you through the patch, gives step-by-step sequencer tips, and plays musical examples so you can hear exactly how it transforms a sequence into something dynamic and expressive.

✨ What you’ll learn in this video:
• How to use a sequencer for rhythm and accents instead of pitch
• Why controlling pitch on the keyboard in real-time can make your sequencer playing more musical
• Patch examples and live demonstrations on vintage synthesizers
• A mindset shift that will change how you think about sequencers forever"

🎛️ Think Like a Synth Learn the exact method I've used for decades on hit records & films
👉 https://anthonymarinellimusic.com/pro...