How Honeysmack jams live techno — 303, 808, modular & more

video upload by Noisegate and Honeysmack

"David Haberfeld — better known as Honeysmack — is a live techno improviser. That means the tracks in his sets are built and arranged in real time in front of an audience rather than pre-sequenced in a DAW. In this studio tour he walks through the hardware he performs with and puts a track together from scratch on the spot.

The rig spans vintage and modern boxes: the Roland TB-303 (the synth-with-a-sequencer that anchors a lot of his sound), Roland's TR-808 and TR-909 drum machines, a Mackie 16-channel mixer, a DJ mixer he's come to use as a performance instrument, Behringer's RD-8 MKII and RD-9 (clones of the 808 and 909, both of which he beta tested), the Behringer Syncussion SY1, a Pro-1 synth and a modular system. Along the way he gets into why the 808 and 909 ended up defining whole genres — and argues it had less to do with how they sounded and more to do with what was simply available at the time.

Honeysmack has a new Live Techno Masterclass coming up on Sunday 26 July at Collingwood Yards, Melbourne:

https://events.humanitix.com/honeysma...
/ dz1kazpuoma

CHAPTERS
0:00 live techno improvisation
0:36 studio reveal
0:59 Roland TB-303
1:42 building a track from scratch
3:47 808/909
5:43 Performance
7:08 Synths, modular & sequencers
8:45 jam

GEAR FEATURED
Roland TB-303 · Roland TR-808 · Roland TR-909 · Behringer RD-8 MKII · Behringer RD-9 · Behringer Syncussion SY1 · Pro-1 · Mackie 16-channel mixer · DJ mixer · modular synthesizer

https://noisegate.com.au/

Noisegate is an Australian based collective of working musicians, producers, DJs, and live audio professionals dedicated to bringing you the latest music gear news, tutorials, interviews and more. We cover a range of categories including guitars, bass, synths, keyboards, pro-audio, DJ gear, live audio, industry news and all the ways we make and interact with music and sound."

Wildwood Lightning by Wildwood Soundworks

video uploads by Wildwood Soundworks


"Wildwood Lightning is a handmade digital sampler, sequencer and synthesizer designed and produced by Wildwood Soundworks in Penn Valley, California. It provides the following features:

Sampler - record your own samples or use standard WAVE files.

Sequencer - compose on up to 16 channels with channel mute and solo.

Synthesizer - produce polyphonic audio with a sample based synthesizer.

Touch Pads - play notes, select chord and drum patterns and strum with touch sensitive pads.

Display - view notes and channels or navigate menus to select from numerous features.

Multiple Views - create and update your songs using piano roll, song or step views.

Multiple Menus - discover features and create or edit your song with 14 menus.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Next Level Drum Modules A Perfect Pair // Bohm + Drum Farm

video upload by Starsky Carr

"Two of the most powerful drum modules in Eurorack, working better together than apart. In this review and demo I dig into the Knobula Drum Farm and the Ohmforce Bohm — and show how combining them gives you a complete, performance-ready techno drum setup in a single rack.

The Knobula Drum Farm is a drum synth AND sampler in one: 16 synth models (FM, Simmons, 808/909-style snares, toms, congas, claps, ring-mod tones, hats, cymbals and more), 16 onboard effects (reverb, delay, multi-tap, reverse, cymbal crash), plus two sample players and 256 factory samples across 16 banks. Sample your own synth tones on the fly, record straight into the module, and route everything through the main or aux outputs for instant variation.

The Ohmforce Bohm is a seriously deep kick drum module with FM, tube drive, bass and wavefolder shaping — but the Performer (DJ filter, beat roll, beat slice, ducking) and Groove (clocked rumble/reverb tails) expansions are what turn it into a room-filling techno machine. Duck the Drum Farm through the Bohm and the whole groove locks together as one living pattern instead of separate hits.

Together these run around £535 (Bohm + expansions) and £450 (Drum Farm) — close to £1,000 of drums — but if you're building a live, hands-on modular setup, they're stunning."

Over 600 Monster Kicks from the Bohm

▶ Patreon: / starskycarr
▶ Website: https://starskycarr.com

Sequential Fourm | Ambient synth performance

video upload by Jay Hosking

"Please support my work on Patreon: / jayhosking
A live synthesizer jam performed entirely on hardware, with the Fourm at the centre.

The amazing Devin Belanger (‪@devinbelangermusic‬) aka Miles Away (‪@thisismilesaway‬) was kind enough to lend me his Sequential Fourm. Thank you, Devin! If you haven't checked out Devin's amazing channel or his music, please do so!

The Fourm is Sequential's entry-level analog polysynth, as far as I can tell. It has four voices, which is somewhat limited but OK for many circumstances, and sounds (to my ears) as good or better than any other Sequential synth I've personally owned. (Note: I haven't had a Prophet 5/10 and Devin swears by that thing.) So if the sound and a decent workflow are all that matters for you, and four voices is enough, then this thing is a no-brainer.

That said, its main feature is its poly-aftertouch keybed, which allows for you to modulate sounds by pressing into each of the keys. I love polyAT, and the Hydrasynth's polyAT keybed was tremendously inspiring to me. That said, I really struggled to get the polyAT to feel right for my playing. The biggest issue was a discrepancy between how the black keys responded versus the white keys. For the white keys, I could get a great linear aftertouch response, but with the black keys, it would often quickly ramp from 0 to 100 in a way I couldn't control. This could be something I get better at, or maybe it's this particular unit, or maybe it's just an issue with my skills. But ultimately, I found that the polyAT wasn't for me.

The sound, however, most certainly was. This thing sounds amazing. Here, I ran it through the Walrus M1 Mk2 (for auto-panning) and the Empress Reverb (for reverb), and then into the Soma Cosmos for looping. The first half was the more traditional "song" aspect, but truthfully, the second half wandering was my favourite. I could listen to a synth like this all day.

Thanks for listening.

Recorded live to a stereo output, with EQ, compression, and limiting on the master.

https://jayhosking.bandcamp.com"

Modal Electronics ELEMENT One - Nice to meet you!

video upload by Modal Electronics

"It's finally here! Today, we are diving headfirst into the Modal ELEMENT One.

In this session, we will do two things: first, walk you through the physical setup and signal flow to get the ELEMENT One up and running in your studio; and second, conduct a detailed first-look tour of the front-panel controls. Our goal is to move beyond mere "button-pushing" and instead understand the philosophy behind the interface—why we placed certain controls where they are, and how that layout influences your creative workflow."

Element One - Advanced Editing with MODALapp

video upload by Modal Electronics

"Unlock the full potential of your Modal ELEMENT One! In this video, we move beyond the front panel to dive deep into patch editing with Modalapp.

While the ELEMENT One is designed as a hands-on performance synth, the app unlocks advanced parameters, modulation routing, and preset management that take sound design to the next level. The ELEMENT One is fully compatible with Modalapp, giving you a powerful software interface to complement the hardware controls.

Whether you're a beginner looking to understand synthesis or a pro wanting to streamline your workflow, this guide will help you get the most out of your ELEMENT One."

Sampling and sound design expert tips with the WoFi synth

video upload by Kiviak Instruments

"Create a track from scratch with the WoFi! Film composer Josh Madoff shows you how to sample and process sounds with the WoFi, creating a super moody lofi track.

Whether you’re just starting out or aiming to refine your sampling techniques, WoFi will help your creative flow with its direct sampling abilities, its built-in effects, and its mywo.fi companion app"

Video chapters:

00:00 Intro
00:18 Processing a breakbeat
01:33 Lo-fi snare overdub
02:22 Rimshot sound design
03:01 Direct sampling (ocarina)
05:43 Using the my.wofi app
06:14 Recording a bass line
07:17 Adding vintage strings
08:40 Food for thoughts
09:32 Full song

ASM Leviasynth: The Most Ambitious Synth of 2026?

video upload by Starsky Carr

"So much more than a DX7 on steroids. In this hands-on walkthrough I program the Leviasynth from scratch to show what Ashun Sound Machines' 16-voice hybrid synth (the long-awaited Hydrasynth successor) can really do: 8 oscillators per voice, 144 algorithms, 7 modulation types, I even demo wavetable-style tones, deep DHDSR envelopes and that gorgeous new analog filter.

I'll show you how it sounds, how it's built and exactly how to start programming it — from a classic Prophet-5 patch to dirty FM basses, glassy vintage-digital pads and modular-style generative patches. By the end you'll understand the workflow and whether the Leviasynth deserves a place at the centre of your studio.

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
🎹 ABOUT THE LEVIASYNTH
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
The ASM Leviasynth is a 16-voice, 8-oscillator algorithmic hybrid synthesizer from Ashun Sound Machines — the team behind the Hydrasynth. It pairs an advanced digital engine (144 algorithms, 7 synthesis types, 300+ waveforms, FM, phase distortion, phase modulation, pulse-width modulation and sync) with a brand-new pure analog 4-pole resonant filter featuring custom pre-drive saturation. Add 13 envelopes, 5 LFOs, a deep mod matrix, a 3-track sequencer, arpeggiator, Polytouch polyphonic-aftertouch keybed and ribbon controller, and you have one of the most powerful synths released in years. Available in keyboard and desktop versions."

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
⏱ CHAPTERS
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
00:00 Intro — tracking shots & first sounds
00:32 First impressions & build quality
01:14 Spec overview: 16 voices, filters, envelopes & FX
02:37 The heart of it: a DX7 on steroids

CLICK FOR MORE »

3 Reasons Why Random Voltages are ACE!! // RANDOM8 from Mylar Melodies & Befaco

video upload by DivKid

"Here's a 3 patches series video that distils down many of the reasons I think random voltages are ace to just 3 examples. It's also a bit of a quick demo of the fantastic new RANDOM8, your new random mate from your pal and mine Mylar Melodies (and Befaco)."

*TIMING INDEX // CHAPTERS*
00:00 Hello & previews
00:50 What is Random8 & what are we doing here?

3 PATCHES WITH INCREASING AMOUNTS OF RANDOM
Patch 1 // Random for people that don’t like random (fools!)
02:58 Adding exciting movement to basic synth voices
Patch 2 // Looping random for melodies & riffs
07:17 Looping melodies & modulation for techno jams
Patch 3 // Embrace the random - let the random enter you, be you, surround you
14:54 Generative ambient Krell

THIS VIDEO IS NOT SPONSORED BY ANYONE I was sent the module by Mylar Melodies & Befaco to use as I like but they did not pay for, or have any say in this video. Any questions as always, just ask, clarity is always best."

A demo of RANDOM8: The world's most random module?

video upload by mylarmelodies

"Here's a demo of RANDOM8 (which is out now!) - it gives you 8 stepped or smooth random voltages in 8HP, with per channel looping & attenuator controls, pitch quantiser & more. It's designed to make your modular sound more alive & I designed it in collaboration with Befaco. First I'll explain it (2:33), then we'll Rings in to Clouds it (17:07), then we'll make drums and techno with it (27:42).

I managed to forget to show you how to reset channels to default settings! Just hold the channel button(s) down for 5 seconds. To reset all 8 channels, hold the top and bottom channels for 5 seconds."

CHAPTERS
00:00 - What is RANDOM8?
02:33 - Basic Looping & Evolving
05:35 - Menu Options Summary
06:30 - How to Enter & Edit Menus
07:06 - Steps Menu

CLICK FOR MORE »

Alesis NanoSynth - Rare Prototype Demo

video upload by John L Rice

"I thought I would document this prototype example of an Alesis NanoSynth I bought on eBay long ago, before I sell it. I didn't take the time to verify if the sounds are all the same as a production model or not, but I suspect there may be some differences? One thing not working as far as I can tell is the built in factory demo that all production versions of Alesis Nano synthesizers have. And yeah, that's not me talking, I wanted to learn how to use the AI text to voice feature in DaVinci Resolve. (sorry not sorry! 😁)

Index:
0:00 - Introduction
1:57 - Category Piano
4:09 - Category Chromatic
5:38 - Category Organ
7:32 - Category Guitar
8:34 - Category Bass
9:58 - Category Strings
11:35 - Category Ensemble
13:12 - Category Brass
14:16 - Category Reed
15:21 - Category Pipe
16:39 - Category SynthLead
18:29 - Category SynthPad
21:21 - Category SynthFX
23:57 - Category Ethnic
26:13 - Category DrumsPerc
28:37 - Category Effects
30:33 - Category Piano
30:54 - End"

Other Alesis Nano Demonstrations:

Alesis NanoTracker Demo

video upload by John L Rice

"This is a very brief demo of most of what I know how to do with the NanoTracker MIDI recorder. This is just for historical purposes and for when I put it up for sale on Reverb. ;-)"

Alesis NanoBass - Factory Demo

video upload by John L Rice

"I made this quick video for an Alesis NanoBass synth module that I'm going to be selling and decided to make it public just in case anyone is interested. I think all of the Alesis Nano synths are fantastic and very underrated and underestimated. I own a NanoPiano, NanoSynth, and two NanoBass units (that's why I am selling this one)"

Tesuque Synths 9

video upload by Mike Synth

"After four years, I'm back!

Time to stop buying synth modules and figure out how to use what I have."

How to Build a Krell-like Generative Patch with 5 Modules

video upload by Musical Miscellany & More

"My friend Barry, who passed away in 2023, showed me this trick. This simple patch requires a VCO, VCA, envelope generator, random source, and LFO.

NOTE: your EG must have an EOC output and be modulatable. Also, your random source must be externally clockable.

Intro - 0:00
Basic Patch - 0:43
Enhanced Patch - 2:09


See more Modular Synth 101 videos here:"



Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/musicalmisce...

Happiness is a warm chip | 8-bit Nintendo EP

video upload by Jay Hosking

Additional HapiNES posts

"Please support my work on Patreon: / jayhosking
Five chip tunes made with the limitations of the original NES.

00:00 - Stage 1
02:41 - Underworld
05:07 - Cutscene into battle
08:07 - Peace and war
09:55 - Overworld

I grew up on video game music, and it's probably a large part of why I love synthesizers today. What impresses me most about those old soundtracks is how much they can achieve with such a limited voice count and, to a lesser extent, sound palette. (I actually adore the sounds, so I don't see them as limiting.) The Nintendo Entertainment System had two mono synth square waves, one extremely chunky triangle wave mono for bass, and then a noise oscillator for percussion. There was also an extremely low-resolution sampler ("Blades of Steel!") but I chose not to reproduce that here.

For a while, I had been thinking about working within the limitations of the original NES. I could do that on any modern groovebox or synth, of course, but I wanted the limitations forced on me, and I wanted something that got me close to the original sound without a lot of work. Thanks to my Patreon community, I was able to pick up the Twisted Electrons hapiNES L, which emulates the old NES chip sounds, right down to the mono (not stereo!) out.

Once I had the sounds in place, I wanted a way to quickly write and structure songs. The Teenage Engineering OP-XY proved a good choice, because it's quick, has two octaves to play on, has a smart and creative transposition tool, and has an excellent song mode for structuring longer compositions. I also wanted to use some other sequencing tools, so I pulled out the Oxi One Mk2 for the final song. I didn't find it was quite as effective for the song-mode sequencing, but its new Chord Palettes mode led me in some extremely interesting musical directions.

I could have kept going, but five days seemed like a good haul of NES music for now, and proof to myself that I could do it again in the future. I know the music here might not be to everyone's tastes, but it satisfies the kid in me and makes me wish I had an 8-bit game to write a soundtrack for.

Thanks for listening.

https://jayhosking.bandcamp.com"

Buchla Sparkle | Music Easel

video upload by Akihiko Matsumoto

"Buchla Modular Synth Sample Pack
https://akihikomatsumoto.sellfy.store...

An inquiry into timbre shaped by the circuitry of a singular electronic instrument
A system built for exploration
Don Buchla’s electronic instruments can be understood as musical tools and as environments for exploration. They allow performers to play in a physical and expressive way, yet they also invite a method of working that resembles research into the behavior of voltage and timbre.
Buchla did not follow the conventions of keyboard based instruments. Instead he created systems in which sound could be shaped through touch sensitive controls, complex modulation, and freely arranged signal paths. As a result, each patch becomes both a performance setup and a place to investigate how tones, noise sources, control voltages and modulation can interact within an electronic space.

This sample pack carries that spirit forward through recordings made with the Buchla Music Easel Modern. It offers a survey of sonic behavior, inviting listeners to study the subtle warmth that emerges when complex oscillators interact. It highlights the characteristic percussive transients of low pass gates. It captures broadband noise shaped by minute spectral movements. It presents drones formed by slow feedback interactions and microscopic frequency shifts. The goal is to provide raw material for creators who wish to work closely with the textures that define this family of instruments."

Bastl Citadel Alchemist - inkl. Transformation to Wave Bard (sound.report english)

video upload by Heiner Kruse - The Green Man(TGM) - sound.report

Timestamps
00:00-05:32 Alchemist and its Synth modes, explaiining how to create sequences
05:32-06:53 Webapp and Firmware Change
06-53-09:32 Wave Bard explanation
09:32-11:20 Musical example with Knobula Monumatic, Vermona Melodicer, Forge TME VHIKK X

Mighty Synth Sampler for iOS and Mac Released

video uploads by Moby Pixel

"Mighty Synth Sampler is out now, FREE on iPhone, iPad, and Mac!

In this video, I share the story behind the app, demo the sounds, and discuss the four pillars of Mighty Synth Sampler: Synth, Sampler, Sound Packs, & AUv3 Support. The app plays sound packs, SF2s, SFZs, and your own custom samples in standalone or as an AUv3 plugin. I can't wait to hear what you all make with it!

🚀 Mighty Synth Sampler is officially LIVE on the App Store!: https://apps.apple.com/app/id64458980..."

Playlist:

1. The Story Behind Mighty Synth Sampler | FREE Synth & Sound Packs Demo
2. Mighty Synth Sampler | Complete Guide
3. How To Make Instruments in Mighty Synth Sampler + DMT Cymatics Presets Demo
4. Mighty Synth Sampler Update | New Arpeggiator & More | AUv3 Demo in AUM & Koala
5. iOS Mighty Synth Sampler, free Sound Bank - mller30161

Exploring the Percussive and Acoustic Side of Windang [LFSR NOISE SYNTH | DEMO 2]

video upload by Gen Thalz

"Exploring the percussive and acoustic side of Windang. In this video, i demonstrate and share some tips and tricks on how to access its metallic sounds.

//All sounds in this video were generated entirely by WINDANG. No external effects pedals or post-processing were used except on one part of the video where i demonstrate how it sound with a reverb effect.. Recorded directly through a Behringer mixer into a GoPro Hero10, with all mixer parameters set to center.

Visit my website for more info: https://www.genthalz.com/"

He made an entire album with one synth

video upload by Julian "J3PO" Pollack

"In this video, I share the story behind A Brief Odyssey: an ambient synth album I created entirely with a single synthesizer: the Sequential FOURM.

What started as a simple experiment in creative limitation quickly became one of the most rewarding musical projects I’ve ever completed. By removing almost every option from my studio and focusing on one instrument, I found myself working faster, trusting my instincts more, and spending less time chasing ideas and more time actually making music.

Along the way, I discuss the creative process, sound design, poly aftertouch, improvisation, ambient music production, and why limitations can sometimes be the key to unlocking creativity. I also demonstrate several of the patches used throughout the album, many of which became factory presets on the FOURM itself.

Stream the album here (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/album/2mHASY...
Stream the album here (Apple Music): / a-brief-odyssey
Buy the album here: https://j3po.bandcamp.com/album/a-bri...
Get the J3PO FOURM presets here: https://www.julianpollack.com/shop/p/...

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction
00:52 Why I made an album with one synth
02:15 How the album was made
03:04 Poly aftertouch explained
04:37 Sound design examples
09:43 The story behind A Brief Odyssey
12:22 Final thoughts"

The Story Behind the 3rd Wave Synth - Interview with Bob Coover

video upload by Music Journey with Paul

"The Story Behind the 3rd Wave Synth - Interview with Bob Coover

Robert Coover, founder of Groove Synthesis and the mind behind the 3rd Wave synthesizer, shares the story of how this instrument came to life at Superbooth 2025 event in Berlin.

In this 9-minute interview he talks about:
working with Dave Smith at Sequential,
why he wanted to revive the iconic PPG Wave sound,
how four synthesis methods (wavetable, analog, FM, sampling) came together in the 3rd Wave,
the challenges of creating a high-end synth as a small team,
the evolution from the keyboard version to the desktop module,
what’s next for Groove Synthesis – a new product so unique it may even get a patent.

💡 If you’re into synth history, sound design, or want to know what drives independent makers to create instruments at this level – this is for you.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:23 Working with Dave Smith at Sequential
02:07 The ambition behind the 3rd Wave
03:57 The start of Bob's career
04:38 The launch of the 3rd Wave and Groove Synethesis
05:28 3rd Wave Keyboard and Desktop
06:28 Expanding the 3rd Wave with sampling
07:19 About the built-in sequencer
08:15 The new mystery product coming in 2026!"

Redshift 6: Can This Analog Synth Replace Your VSTs?

video upload by Music Journey with Paul

"At Superbooth 2026, I spoke with Timo from Supercritical Synthesizers about one of the most ambitious analog polysynths on the market today - a unique 6-voice analog polysynth from Finland that takes a very different approach to synthesis.

With 96 analog oscillators, multi-timbral architecture, MPE support, evolving firmware updates and a variable character engine that can shift between different vintage-inspired flavors, Redshift 6 blurs the line between traditional analog hardware and modern software flexibility.

In this interview and sound demo we talk about who Redshift 6 is for, how its unusual interface works, the latest firmware innovations, and why some of its sounds might make you think you’re listening to a DX-style digital synth - even though the signal path remains analog.

Chapters:
00:00 Demo #1
00:13 What is Redshift 6?
00:55 Demo #2
02:14 More About Specs
02:43 Who Is It For?
03:48 The Unique User Interface
05:14 Firmware Updates & New Features
05:54 The New Delta Wave Oscillator Engine
06:28 Demo #3
08:24 The Best Of Both Worlds: Hardware & Software
09:15 Summary from Timo
03:33 Demo #4 - Starting with the Init patch"

Curves & Membranes - Software Bézier Monosynth w. Orbital Modulators & Membrane Filter

video uploads by Unusable Engineering

Note this is the first post to feature Unusable Engineering. You'll find additional plugins by them below.

Playlist:

1. Curves & Membranes - Software Bézier Monosynth w. Orbital Modulators & Membrane Filter - Walk Through
2. Curves & Membranes - Sound Demo and Patch Ideas - No Talking
3. Curves & Membranes | Synthesizer Patch Creation & Sound Design Walkthrough
4. Curves & Membranes v1.1.0 | New Features and Sound Examples
5. Curves & Membranes Filter Walkthrough | Understanding the Membranes
6. Unusable Engineering Jam | Curves & Membranes in a Different Context
7. Unusable Engineering Update | Curves & Membranes Features and Grain Discharge
8. Unusable Engineering Breakfast Jam | Curves & Membranes + Full Bundle

"Curves & Membranes is a focused mono synth built around a shapeable Bézier oscillator, two visual modulation systems, and a membrane-based filter. In this full walkthrough I go through the core ideas behind the instrument, how the oscillator works, how the preset morphing and orbital modulators create movement, and how the membrane filter shapes the sound.

The goal with Curves & Membranes was not to make a do-everything synth, but to build something more specific: a synth where sound, shape, and motion are tightly connected, and where the structure stays easy to understand while still allowing a lot of character and timbral movement.


More info: https://www.unusable.net/"

And a playlist of addtional plug-ins by Unusable Engineering:



Playlist:

1. Synaptic Resonance | Neural Vocoder Walkthrough

Synaptic Resonance is a neural vocoder-style effect where incoming audio, or an optional sidechain, excites a two-dimensional neural simulation. That simulation is then read back somewhere else and used to animate a bank of forty steep resonant band-pass filters.

In this walkthrough I go through the basic idea behind the plugin, show how the Stim Plane and Read Plane shape the behavior, and explain how the neural controls affect the way the model reacts, spreads, remembers, recovers, and settles.

The core idea is fairly simple: the input excites the model, and the output is affected by reading the model. That is what gives the plugin its character. It can behave like a vocoder, a resonant filter instrument, or something more unstable and alive depending on how it is set up.

CLICK FOR MORE »