Trance Supersaw for Arturia Minifreak 49/V/37 | Trance 90s-2000s presets

video upload by NatLife Sounds

"Buy Link: https://natlifesounds.com/product/tra...

Trance Supersaw for Arturia MiniFreak 49/V/37 – is a special Trance soundbank for MiniFreak synthesiser family.

In this bank you will find the most complete library of Trance Supersaws, incredible Trance Plucks, deep atmospheric Pads and, of course, Supersaw Pads.

In it, I tried to convey as best I could the spirit of that era of the late 90s and early 2000s. Of course, in the software version, I won’t hear the character you’ll get with the new Minifreak 49 and its Analog filters.

If you want to get a true Trance machine on your Minifreak, then the Trance Supersaw soundset will be your best choice.

The Trance Supersaw includes 50 presets & patches, which are:

20 Leads
19 Pads
11 Plucks
Compatible with Minifreak hardware and Minifreak V.

Timeline:
00:00 - Introduction
00:21 - NatLife - Krome 2019
01:44 - Rank 1 - Airwave
02:39 - System F - Out Of the Blue
03:33 - Megara & DJ Lee - Human Nature
04:30 - NatLife - Doroga
04:59 - NatLife - Thinking Of U
05:27 - ATB - Let U Go
05:55 - Ian Van Dahl - Castle In The Sky
07:00 - Outro"

SynthFest 2026 Walkthrough

video uploads by Molten Music Technology

"I visited SynthFest for the day in Sheffield and these were the bits of synth and modular that caught my attention."

You can use the player controls to skip around once started.

Playlist:

1. SynthFest 2026 Walkthrough

Sound On Sound magazine brought back SynthFest this year to delight us with synthesisers, modular and electronic music technology. It was filled with gear, seminars and a good dollop of community. Here's my walkthrough of the main expo in the hope of giving you some of the vibe of this fabulous show. Check out my handful of other videos getting closer in on some of the interesting bits that caught my attention. https://www.synthfest.co.uk/

2. SynthFest 2026 Noise Lab Beat Designer

To go along with their Drum Designer module, Noise Lab has come up with a fully featured drum machine called Beat Designer. https://www.noiselab.se/

3. SynthFest 2026 Orbiton

A remarkable new prototype instrument called Orbiton. It uses these twangy lamellas to physically modulate the sound. Currently the sound source is a DSP internal synth, but the intention is to be able to use the lamella vibrations as oscillators as the instrument develops. https://orbitonsynth.com/

4. SynthFest 2026 Delia Derbyshire Day

Grabbed a few moments at the Delia Derbyshire Day booth who are using Delia's legacy to empowered women in electronic music and technology. This was juston the Insta360 camera so the video and audio are a bit ropey, but it's a wonderful charity who deserve a shout-out. https://deliaderbyshireday.com/

5. SynthFest 2026 Half-Time Modular 8TR, 2TR and a Looper

Half-Time Modular are released a stereo, 2-track recorder module that will capture your performance at the touch of a button. Very neat in 2HP but also useful as a 1U tile. They also had a prototype looper - one to watch out for. https://www.halftimemodular.com/

6. SynthFest 2026 MidiCake Una

Una is a sort of build-a-band, hardware interactive composer that responds to what you play and jams around it. https://midicake.com/

7. SynthFest 2026 Rides in the Storm Rhythm Rides

Rides in the Storm were showing their not-quite-working drum machine Rhythm Rides. It's a massive source of modular drums, pattern generation and percussive grooving. Should be running at Superbooth next year. https://rides-in-the-storm.de/

8. SynthFest 2026 Bradshaw Instruments Drumkid

Sample-based drum module that's a whole kit to play with and includes lots of probabilistic messing about. https://bradshawinstruments.myshopify.com

9. SynthFest 2026 CLIP Photon Smasher

CLIP are a community-led project that brings people together over the generation of sound, and making and listening to music. They had two different Photon Smashers to show us. https://www.clipsoundandmusic.uk/

10. SynthFest 2026 Ian Helliwell

Discovered a superbly dressed man, showing some wondefully put together boxes, making some fascinating noises. That man is audio/visual artist Ian Helliwell. https://www.ianhelliwell.co.uk/

11. SynthFest 2026 F*ck With Sound

F*ck With Sound were showing three modules including a Ring Modulator, Distortion and Spatial mixing thing. https://www.fwithsound.com/

12. SynthFest 2026 Wonkystuff FluxMEMORY/h

Wonkystuff has pulled the FluxMEMORY out of the AE Modular format and put it into your hand. The handheld FluxMemory/h gives you four sample playback heads that you can mix and mess with. https://wonkystuff.co.uk/

13. SynthFest 2026 Eternal Research Demon Box

Strange triangulaar box that feeds of electromagnetic fields and outputs MIDI notes and other bits of data. https://eternalresearch.com/

14. SynthFest 2026 Transistor Sound Labs Bitloader

Bitloader is a sample-based drum module that's the perfect companion to the Stepper Drum which been in development for a very long time. However, Nina seemed to think that January could be the moment to get both of these modules released! https://www.transistorsoundslabs.com/

See the labels below for additonal posts on each.

Pro Synth Network at Synthfest UK: Vintage Yamaha Synths

video upload by Ian Dixon

"At the Pro Synth Network booth at Synthfest UK in Sheffield, Peter gives us a tour of a selection of vintage Yamaha synthesizers and keyboards.

The collection includes the Yamaha SK30, CS-5, CS-15, CS-15D and CS-20M. Peter explains the instruments' character, preset and memory features, gigging potential and their place in Yamaha's late-1970s synth history. The video also includes a short opportunity to hear the instruments being played.

Recorded at Synthfest UK in Sheffield on Saturday.

Chapters:
00:00 Pro Synth Network booth tour
00:28 Yamaha SK30
01:14 Yamaha CS-5 and CS-15
01:25 Yamaha CS-15D
01:42 Yamaha CS-20M
02:18 Vintage Yamaha design and presets
02:30 Playing the instruments"

Inside Hans Zimmer’s £15k Modular - 50 Years of History in One Case

video upload by Starsky Carr

CHAPTERS
00:00 Demo#1 Complex Arps
03:30 The history of the Radiophonic
08:16 Demo#2 Depp and Devastating Arp
11:00 Oscillators - seven transistor core VCOs
12:19 Filters
15:12 Sound manipulation
18:15 Demo#3 2 Notes is Enough...
22:51 Modulation & control
27:41 The STARSKYPHONIC!!!
27:58 Demo#4 Trance(ish) Arps and Beats

"History, passion, provenance and love. That's the AJH Synth Radiophonic in four words.

This isn't a performance video and it isn't a patch demo - it's the story of what's actually inside this thing, where every circuit came from, and why a cabinet of 48 modules ends up feeling like one complete instrument rather than a collection of parts.

The Radiophonic was commissioned by Hans Zimmer as the centrepiece for the resurrected BBC Radiophonic Workshop, and the lineage runs a lot deeper than the wooden case and the vintage lettering. The oscillators are built around the first-version Minimoog transistor core - the ones everybody says sound the sweetest - with the thermal drift finally sorted, and Alan went back to Jim Scott, one of the original version one designers, to get them right. The filters take in the Moog transistor ladder, the diode ladder that Gene Zumchak designed for the Musonics Sonic V to sidestep Moog's patents, a dual *SEM*, and the 914 fixed filter bank from the big Moog modular systems. The ring modulator is discrete transistor EMS Synthi circuitry sitting on top of a Moog CP3 style mixer. And none of it is a straight copy - there's a wave folder here, resonance compensation there, extra CV inputs everywhere.

So: seven transistor core VCOs, two transistor ladder filters, two diode ladder filters with wave shaping, a double SEM, the 914, the Ring SM, three noise sources, a 12-stage phaser, wave shaping, Tone Science collaborations with Ian Boddy, and more envelopes, LFOs and random voltage than you'll know what to do with.

A whistle-stop tour, and still an hour's worth of talking squeezed into twenty minutes. Stay to the end for the full track - everything you hear came out of this one instrument, with drums from the AJH Bullfrog."

Korg EXB-MOSS Explained: Physical Modelling Power

video upload by Ian Dixon

"The Korg KARMA normally works as a sample-based workstation, but with the EXB-MOSS expansion board installed it gains a completely separate physical modelling synth engine. In this video I explain what the MOSS board is, where the technology came from, and why it matters for Korg Prophecy, Z1, Trinity, Triton and KARMA users.

MOSS gives the KARMA its own Bank F with 128 programs, six extra voices of polyphony and a set of oscillator models that go far beyond PCM samples. I walk through the MOSS history, show how the different models work, and demonstrate electric piano, VPM/FM-style tones, reed, brass, plucked string, sync, analog-style, organ and performance-controlled sounds using the KARMA and my editor.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Undersong, a walkthrough: turn audio into tuned particles (Max for Live and iPad)

video upload by ijo audio

"In this video I walk through Undersong, my audio effect that acts more like an instrument. It's out now as a Max for Live device and for iPhone and iPad.

Undersong is based on an idea I had for a live performance that ended up taking on a life of its own. Some of my past devices have been pretty immediate. You drop them on a track and they do the thing you're expecting. But this one really feels more like an environment that you have to get to know a little bit, kind of like a modular workstation full of ideas I like. They're often ambient leaning, but I think it's open to other types of music as well.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Korg multi/poly: Tangerine Dream PPG Lead Sound

video upload by Ian Dixon

"In this Korg multi/poly tutorial I show how to build a Tangerine Dream-style PPG lead sound from an initial program, using the built-in digital wave tables rather than imported PPG waves.

The patch starts with a choir-like digital wave, then uses a second detuned oscillator, effects, wavetable position and morph settings to get that wider, vocal, classic electronic lead character.

Chapters:
00:00 Tangerine Dream PPG lead demo
00:57 Choosing built-in PPG-style waves
01:45 Shaping the choir-like wave
02:30 Detuning two oscillators
03:16 Chorus, compressor and tape delay
04:02 Wave morph settings
04:51 Combining the oscillators
05:37 Reverb, detune controls and sound pack info
06:23 CTA and requests"

Free Korg NX5R Editor Librarian | Web MIDI Patch Manager

video upload by Ian Dixon

"The Korg NX5R is a very 90s multitimbral sound module, and in this video I demonstrate my free browser-based editor and librarian for it.

The editor runs locally in the browser using Web MIDI, so there is no cloud upload or server-side processing. You can connect to the NX5R, read the user bank, browse factory and user sounds, manage multitimbral parts, edit program parameters, work with filters, envelopes, LFOs, effects sends and oscillators, then save libraries or export SysEx for later.

It is still a beta tool, but it already makes the NX5R much easier to use for sound browsing, patch editing and library management.

https://thedigitallifestyle.com/w/TDL...

Timestamps
00:00 NX5R demo track and intro
00:15 Browser-based Korg NX5R editor overview
01:29 Connecting Web MIDI and reading the bank
02:18 Multitimbral mixer and MIDI parts
03:28 Browsing and playing programs
03:46 Editing sounds from the browser
04:14 Program settings, effects and samples
04:55 Filters, envelopes, LFOs and amp controls
05:53 Oscillator 2 and edit buffers
06:23 Exporting SysEx from edited sounds
06:47 Searching factory sounds and loading patches
07:25 Saving and opening local libraries
07:43 Importing SysEx and workflow wrap-up
08:00 Free local browser editor CTA"

E-mu Emax II Rack: Why He Bought a Vintage Sampler

video upload by Ian Dixon

"The E-mu Emax II Rack is a 1990 vintage sampler with 16-bit sampling, digital resonant filters, 16 voices and that classic E-mu sample-library character.

In this video I explain why I bought an Emax II Rack, how it fits into the E-mu Emulator family, and what makes this 2MB version with a Gotek drive interesting today. I look at the history from the original Emulator through to the Emax II, load sounds from the Gotek/sample library, play through factory-style patches, explore the filter and envelope controls, and talk about why vintage samplers still feel different from modern software.

This is partly a first look, partly a vintage sampler demo, and partly the start of a new Emax II journey: building a usable sound library, tagging useful sounds, sampling my own material and finding out what this classic rack sampler can add to modern tracks.

Timestamps
00:00 Intro and music
00:15 E-mu Emax II Rack overview
00:39 Emax and Emulator history
01:03 Emax II specs and 16-bit sampling
02:06 Front panel and loading sounds
02:37 Gotek drive workflow
03:30 Sampling rates, filters, SCSI and MIDI
04:23 Exploring the sample library
05:08 Loading Grey Sounds Volume 1
06:45 Brass sounds and loading workflow
07:10 Emulator library sounds and synth-style editing
07:55 Digital resonant filter and Q
08:34 Filter envelope experiments
09:50 Synth-style modulation and envelopes
10:14 Sampling, looping and editing options
10:57 Piano, guitar, vocal and classic library sounds
14:26 Building a personal Emax library
15:08 Tagging sounds and using the library tool
15:48 Reflections on vintage digital samplers
16:26 Comments, resources and wrap-up"

The Sounds We Forget To Hear

video upload by Starsky Carr

"The joy of sound, before it becomes music. A wind chime looping in the woods at Superbooth, La Monte Young's Composition 1960 No. 7 in a Liverpool theatre, and one thick, warm tone from the AJH Synth RadioPhonic that I couldn't stop playing.. 🎧 Put this on headphones or big speakers - the bass is lovely.

Why do we remember a melody but not a sound? Why is Superstition not Superstition without the clav, or In the Air Tonight without those drums? And when did we stop just listening?

Which single sound gives YOU a physical reaction? Tell me in the comments - I read every one, and I'm collecting favourites.

🎛 GEAR IN THIS VIDEO
AJH Synth RadioPhonic: https://ajhsynth.com/
AJH Synth MiniMod (mentioned)
Ian Boddy helped design the Chance Delay on the RadioPhonic

🔗 MORE FROM ME
Presets, sample packs and Decent Sampler libraries: https://starskycarr.com"

Free Roland D-110 Editor Librarian | Web MIDI Patch Manager

video upload by Ian Dixon

"A hands-on walkthrough of my free Roland D-110 Editor Librarian, a browser-based Web MIDI tool I developed to make the D-110 much easier to manage and edit from a modern computer.
https://thedigitallifestyle.com/w/TDL...

In the video I show how the editor reads the D-110's tones, patches, rhythm setup and system settings, then saves everything into a reusable library. I also go through tone editing, partial mute/solo style workflow, PCM sample selection, synthesis partials, envelopes, filters, patch editing, multi-timbral setups, SysEx import and why the D-110 can be more flexible than a D-50 when you want layered parts and MIDI-channel based arrangements.

The editor runs locally in the browser, uses Web MIDI, and does not send your synth data to the cloud. It is part of my free editor/librarian tools for bringing classic synths back into a modern workflow.

Timestamps
00:00 Why I am building modern editors for vintage synths
00:47 Introducing the free Roland D-110 editor
01:17 Web MIDI setup and reading tones
01:48 Reading patches, rhythm and system settings
02:23 Saving and reopening a master library
02:47 Loading presets and sending sounds to the buffer
03:14 D-110 architecture, partials and PCM/synthesis structures
04:17 Editing PCM samples and synthesis partials
05:09 Filters, envelopes and shaping the sound
06:16 Saving edited tones back to the synth
06:39 Editing multi-timbral patches and MIDI channels
07:39 Layering D-110 sounds in a way the D-50 cannot
08:25 Why editing from the front panel is fiddly
09:21 Importing SysEx and expanding the library
10:06 Managing patches, running locally and wrap-up"

Roland D-50 vs D-110: Can You Hear the Difference?

video upload by Ian Dixon

"The Roland D-50 and Roland D-110 both come from Roland's late-80s Linear Arithmetic synthesis era, but do they actually sound the same? In this blind comparison I play similar D-50 and D-110 sounds side by side, including warm pads, Soundtrack, synth bells, electric pianos, synth brass, Fantasia/Fantasy style patches, and dual-layer sounds, then reveal which synth was which.

The D-50 is the classic performance synth behind so many iconic digital sounds, while the D-110 is the rackmount, multi-timbral workhorse built for MIDI studios. This test is about the real character of each instrument: the modulation, the shimmer, the effects, the PCM attack, and how close the D-110 can get to the D-50 in practice.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Free Roland D-50 Editor & Librarian – Edit Patches in Your Browser

video upload by Ian Dixon

"My free Roland D-50 Editor Librarian is a browser-based Web MIDI tool for backing up, browsing, importing and editing D-50 sounds without sending your patch data to the cloud.

In this video I show the full workflow from the YouTube transcript: connecting the D-50 over MIDI, enabling SysEx, reading the current edit buffer, opening a patch library, sending sounds to the synth, receiving a full bulk dump from the D-50, saving a library backup, importing SysEx banks, and editing classic D-50 patches such as Fantasia. The editor also makes it easier to work with the D-50's upper and lower tones, partials, PCM and synthesis structures, ring modulation, filter and amp envelopes, reverb, tuning and patch management.

The aim is to give the Roland D-50 a modern librarian/editor workflow: build a large library of card sounds and custom patches, search for sounds quickly, send patches to the edit buffer when recording, and avoid constantly swapping cards or managing small internal banks by hand.

https://thedigitallifestyle.com/w/TDL...

CLICK FOR MORE »

Vice Operators – Miami Vice-Inspired Synth Performance | Each Machine a Voice

video upload by Ian Dixon

"Vice Operators is a Miami Vice and Jan Hammer-inspired instrumental from my new album, Each Machine a Voice.

The track combines the Korg opsix and modwave, Uno Drum and a couple of other synths to create an atmospheric 1980s-style soundtrack featuring digital textures, sequences and expressive lead sounds. This video is a full performance of the track using the synths behind the music.

Each Machine a Voice explores the different character that every synthesizer brings to a piece of music. Some tracks focus on one particular machine, while others combine several synths as an ensemble.

Read about the album here:
https://thedigitallifestyle.com/w/202..."

Free Yamaha TX7 Editor Librarian | Web MIDI Patch Manager

video upload by Ian Dixon

"In this video I demonstrate my free browser-based Yamaha TX7 editor and librarian, built to make it easier to manage patches, load SysEx banks, edit voices and send sounds to the TX7 over Web MIDI.

The Yamaha TX7 is effectively a DX7 in a desktop module, originally designed as an expander for the DX7, but it has its own function memory differences that make a dedicated editor useful. This tool runs locally in the browser, reads voices from the TX7, saves full libraries, loads DX7 SysEx banks, edits six-operator FM voices visually and lets you send individual sounds when you need them.
https://thedigitallifestyle.com/w/TDL...

Chapters:
00:00 Yamaha TX7 editor librarian intro
00:26 What the TX7 is and why it needs a dedicated editor
00:45 Browser-based Web MIDI setup
01:08 Reading voices from the TX7
01:24 TX function memory explained
01:49 Saving the full TX7 library
01:58 Loading DX7 SysEx banks
02:20 Auditioning loaded patches
02:39 Visual TX7 / DX7 voice editor
03:05 Algorithm, feedback and operator controls
03:27 TX7 function editor and patch settings
04:04 Using it as your main patch library
04:27 Sending individual patches and editor requests"

Free Yamaha DX100 Editor Librarian | Web MIDI Patch Manager

video upload by Ian Dixon

"In this video I demonstrate my free web-based Yamaha DX100 editor librarian, which should also work with the Yamaha DX27. It runs locally in your browser using Web MIDI, so your patch data stays on your own machine.

The editor can read the internal voices from the DX100, show the selected patch in real time, edit algorithms, feedback, LFO settings, pitch bend, operator levels, envelopes and frequency settings, and then send edited patches back to the synth. I also show the librarian side, including saving and loading SysEx libraries so you can build up a bigger DX100 patch collection.

https://thedigitallifestyle.com/w/TDL...

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro and DX100 / DX27 compatibility
00:31 Web MIDI setup and reading voices
01:01 Real-time editor overview
01:34 Operators, carriers, modulators and envelopes
02:02 Velocity sensitivity and live parameter changes
02:32 Randomize and taming new patches
03:32 Editing and renaming a patch
04:01 Downloading and storing the patch
04:25 Saving the DX100 library
04:48 Loading SysEx and building larger libraries
05:15 Sending patches back to the DX100
05:45 More synth editors and wrap-up"

Free Korg MS2000 Editor Librarian | Web MIDI Patch Manager

video upload by Ian Dixon

"In this video I demonstrate my free browser-based Web MIDI editor and librarian for the Korg MS2000, built to make it easier to manage patches, audition sounds, load SysEx banks and edit programs in real time.

The MS2000 is a brilliant virtual analogue synth, but managing lots of patches from the front panel can be slow. This editor lets you enable Web MIDI, read the programs from the synth, save and reload larger patch libraries, load compatible MicroKorg SysEx banks, send sounds to the MS2000 without overwriting memory, tweak oscillator, filter, envelope, LFO, effects and motion sequencer settings, and try controlled randomisation for new happy-accident sounds.

https://thedigitallifestyle.com/w/TDL...

Chapters:
00:00 Korg MS2000 editor-librarian intro
00:31 Free browser-based Web MIDI tool
00:56 Enabling MIDI and choosing ports
01:08 Reading programs from the MS2000

CLICK FOR MORE »

Korg DW-8000 Editor Librarian

video upload by Ian Dixon

"In this video I demonstrate my free Web MIDI editor and librarian for the Korg DW-8000, built to make it easier to manage patches, audition sounds, edit parameters in real time and keep a larger library of DW-8000 sounds ready to use.

The DW-8000 is a brilliant hybrid digital/analogue synth, but managing lots of patches from the front panel can be slow. This browser-based editor lets you enable MIDI, read the programs from the synth, load SysEx banks, remove duplicates, build a large patch library, send sounds to the DW-8000, tweak filters and waveforms, view envelopes visually and save your own libraries without installing anything.

https://thedigitallifestyle.com/w/TDL...

Chapters:
00:00 DW-8000 editor-librarian intro
00:13 Why I built the editor
00:42 Browser-based Web MIDI setup
00:53 Choosing MIDI ports
00:59 Reading programs from the DW-8000
01:12 Selecting patches and sending to the edit buffer
01:25 Real-time editing
01:38 Filter, waveform and envelope controls
02:02 Viewing real-time parameter changes
02:13 Loading SysEx banks
02:42 Auditioning imported sounds
02:52 Removing duplicates and building a library
03:16 Working like a modern patch browser
03:25 Saving and loading libraries
03:44 Free browser-based tool
04:05 More editors planned and feature requests"

Kawai K1m Editor: Edit Patches, Manage SysEx & More

video upload by Ian Dixon

"In this video I show my free Web MIDI editor and librarian for the Kawai K1, K1m and K1r, designed to make it easier to manage patches, build libraries, send sounds to the synth and edit programs from a browser.

The Kawai K1 family is easy enough to program from the front panel, but the limited memory slots make patch management awkward once you start collecting SysEx banks or creating your own sounds. This editor lets you load and save libraries, import SysEx files, remove duplicates, read patches from the K1, send sounds back to the synth, mute individual sources and edit key parameters with a visual envelope display.

Get the editor at:

https://thedigitallifestyle.com/w/TDL...

Chapters:
00:00 Kawai K1 editor-librarian overview
00:37 Free Web MIDI tool and why I built it
01:00 Enabling MIDI and choosing ports
01:15 Reading patches from the K1
01:28 Importing SysEx and building a library
02:02 Loading a full patch library
02:13 Sending sounds to the K1
02:48 Editing patches and viewing envelopes
03:19 Muting sources for sound design
03:43 Choosing waveforms and samples
04:15 Real-time editing and saving changes
04:48 Searching patches
05:08 Free download, feature requests and DW-8000 editor preview"

The Gritty 80s Digital Synth Nobody Talks About | Kawai K1m

video upload by Ian Dixon

"The Kawai K1m is a 1988 digital synth module with no resonant filters and no built-in effects, but it still has a distinctive late-80s character that makes it much more interesting than the spec sheet suggests.

In this video I take a first look at my Kawai K1m, explore the four-source sound architecture, PCM samples, additive-style wave building, joystick control, factory presets, multi mode and external effects, then try building a new patch from scratch.

Chapters:
00:00 Why the Kawai K1m is interesting
00:24 K1m overview and why I bought it
01:38 Dry sound and synth architecture
02:28 Four-source patches and muting parts
03:20 Waves, PCM samples and additive-style synthesis
05:10 Drum samples and looped waveforms
06:55 Programming controls, envelopes and joystick
07:59 Polyphony and the gritty K1m character
08:56 Factory sounds and D-50-style bells
09:59 Vocal sounds, effects and Miami Vice references
12:56 Editing patches with the software editor
14:10 Multi mode and layered performances
15:02 Building a new K1m patch
17:57 Is the Kawai K1m worth buying today?
19:08 What should I do next with the K1m?"