Meet RAVIK — 8 Voices, 24 Engines & Generative Drum Sequencing

video upload by Våld Labs

"RAVIK is an eight-voice drum synthesizer from Våld Labs, built for everything from focused electronic drums to metallic, resonant and unpredictable percussion.

Every channel has its own synthesis engine, VEKTE-based algorithmic sequencer, pitch settings, modulation and effects. Build a kit, give each voice a rhythm, then explore how the parts interact.

Its 24 engines cover familiar drum sounds alongside FM, physical models, and uncoventional engines such as resonators, SID, bytebeat, GENDYN, VOSIM and more.

SEM and proprietary Polivoks-inspired filters provide another way to shape each voice, while SNAP controls the impact at the start of a hit.

Free Beta at https://valdlabs.com/ravik

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Sonicware Introduces ELZ_1 core

video upload by SONICWARE

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Retromulator for iOS

"Retromulator is a multi-core retro hardware emulation app and AUv3 plug-in that brings legendary synthesizer, sampler, and keyboard cores back to life through authentic low-level emulation. Each core runs its actual firmware, physical model, or sample data — delivering the unmistakable character of the hardware that defined electronic music from the early 80s through the 2000s.

— EMULATED CORES —

VIRTUAL ANALOG SYNTHS

Motorola DSP 56300 recreation (interpreter mode), built on the open-source Gearmulator by the dsp56300 team:

• Access Virus A, B and C
• Access Virus TI / TI2 / Snow
• Clavia Nord Lead 2X
• Waldorf microQ
• Waldorf Microwave XT

FM SYNTHESIS

• Yamaha DX7 — original chip set emulation, based on VDX7 by Charles Chiaccona

• Yamaha OPL3 — Nuked OPL3 cycle-accurate FM by Nuke.YKT

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Plus Legio: Full additive voice on the Legio platform

video upload by Noise Engineering

"Plus Legio is a full additive voice that combines harmonic control with built-in and external phase modulation.

Get a Legio module and swap to this firmware today:
https://noiseengineering.us/products/...

Let's start with Timbre. This changes the harmonic content of the oscillator.

Time controls the internal envelope, shaping how the sound evolves after each trigger.

Then there's the LFO switch. You can turn the internal LFO on for continuous movement, or use the envelope setting to tie that modulation to every hit.

The Mod switch changes the direction of that modulation, letting it move the sound in either direction or turn it off completely.

And if you want to bring in some outside influence, the inputs add phase modulation, opening up even more harmonic territory.

Plus transforms your Legio into a full additive voice. Swap firmwares over USB whenever you want to trade additive synthesis for percussion, physical modeling, effects, or something completely different.

23 Firmwares.One Legio.

Visit noiseengineering.us or your favorite retailer to get a Legio module in your case."

The Only Snare Module You'll Ever Need? | Shakmat Lancer's Lash

video upload by Braintree56

"The Shakmat Lancer’s Lash might be the only snare module you’ll ever need.

It features seven completely different synthesis models — Analog, Slap, Modal, Physical, FM, Granular, and Blend — covering everything from classic electronic snares to metallic hits, resonant percussion, noisy textures, and some seriously weird stuff.

For this video, I decided not to spend a ton of time talking about specs. Instead, I programmed seven different jams — one for each model — to give you a chance to actually hear what Lancer’s Lash can do in a patch.

00:00 Intro
00:45 Lancer’s Lash Sound Preview
01:40 How I’m Demoing the Module
02:51 Analog
04:42 FM
06:54 Modal
09:24 Physical
10:56 Grains / Granular
12:48 Blend
15:16 Slap
17:14 Final Thoughts"

Shakmat Lancer's Lash : Demo

video upload by Shakmat

"The Lancer’s Lash is a dedicated snare drum synthesizer built to cover everything from tight classic hits to completely off-the-map percussion. Compact and focused, it explores several approaches to snare synthesis, giving you a wide palette of strikes, from clean and punchy to fractured and experimental.

Multiple models sit at the core of the module, ranging from analog-style synthesis to physical modeling, granular textures, and FM percussion. Each engine brings its own character, letting you dial anything from familiar drum machine snaps to strange metallic bursts and evolving hybrid snares.

To keep patterns alive, Lancer’s Lash includes an onboard randomizer for subtle variations or more adventurous rhythmic outcomes. Velocity sensitivity adds expressive dynamics, while 256 preset slots keep your favorite strikes ready to fire again via CV or Select Bus.

CHAPTERS
---------------------------------------------------
00:00 Sound Excerpts
01:35 User Interface
03:13 Main Menu
04:44 Models
10:31 Classic Engine
16:39 Randomizer
19:24 Velocity
21:54 Memory
25:21 Global Options"

The M8 Tracker Continues To Blow His Mind // OS 6.6 Release

video upload by EZBOT

"Today I wanted to take a bit of time to explain my deep love for the Dirtywave M8 Tracker while going over the patch notes for the new OS that was released last week. The new OS brings a slew of upgrades to the device in both sound and presentation. Let's check it out and make some tunes."

EZBOT resources: https://www.patreon.com/ezbot, https://ko-fi.com/ezbot/, https://www.modbang.com

M8 Changelog on github

Makes for an intersting look back on the development history of the M8:

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KNOBCON FOURTEEN GUEST OF HONOR & an Update on Workshops and Informative Sessions

via KNOBCON

"We are delighted to announce Terry Michaels as our esteemed guest of honor. Join us at the annual banquet for his keynote address and to help us honor him.

Terry Michaels, AKA Terry Mikulic, designed the seminal relaxation-core oscillator published in Electronotes 62 by Bernie Hutchins: the highly accurate ENS-76. It is the most influential analogue oscillator design of the modern era. This circuit became the heart of hundreds of synthesisers, including Gene Stopp’s ASM-1, the Synthesizers.com Q106, and the muSonics Vanilla Oscillators. Through his synthesizer work, Terry founded a laser light show company called Laser Artistry in 1976. The company operated as one of America's elite laser show outfits until its final performance on December 31, 1999.

The annual catered banquet will be held Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 7pm in the Sapphire Pavilion. Tickets are available as an add-on to your Knobcon attendance. Seating is limited."

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AIR - Preset Expansion Sound Demos for Akai MPC & Desktop

video uploads by AIR Music Tech and Akai Professional

Playlist:

1. Hi Voltage for AIR Hype - Preset Expansion Sound Demo for MPC & Desktop

Hi Voltage is a preset collection built for modern Hip Hop, R&B, Trap, and contemporary production. Featuring powerful basses, expressive leads, lush pads, sparkling bells, keys, plucks, guitars, and more, Hi Voltage showcases the incredible flexibility of Hype's multi-engine architecture while delivering production-ready sounds from the moment you load them.

2. Midnight Moods for AIR Jura - Preset Expansion Sound Demo for MPC & Desktop

Inspired by the warmth and character of classic analog synthesizers, Midnight Moods was created for soulful beats, lo-fi hip hop, fusion jazz, chilled electronica, and beyond. Featuring expressive basses, rich pads, keys, leads, plucks, arps, and synth textures, this collection blends nostalgic analog character with modern versatility.

3. Phat Bottom Bass for AIR OPx-4 - Preset Expansion Sound Demo for MPC & Desktop

Phat Bottom Bass is dedicated to the foundation of modern music: bass. Featuring sub basses, synth basses, warm basses, hard basses, and glitch basses, this collection is built to add movement and expression to the low end of your productions. Many presets evolve through modulation wheel, velocity, and aftertouch, creating bass sounds that morph and interact with your performance.

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Buchla 259e & Music Easel | Drone

video upload by Akihiko Matsumoto

"The West Coast Legacy of Spectral Dynamics
In the history of electronic instrument design, Don Buchla represents a fundamental departure from traditional subtractive synthesis. While the East Coast sought to emulate the orchestra through filtered harmonic structures, the Buchla philosophy centered on the manipulation of complex timbres through Frequency Modulation and Waveshaping. This technical foundation prioritizes the physical behavior of sound. It treats electricity as a living organism rather than a static signal. The Buchla 259e Twisted Waveform Generator remains a pinnacle of this approach, utilizing digital wavetables and nonlinear feedback loops to create textures that defy conventional classification."

The Strangest, Most Interesting Synth He's Played This Year (Morphor Echon6)

video upload by Starsky Carr

"The Morphor Echon6 is the world's first analog modal polysynth — a genuine departure from the wall of subtractive synths flooding the market right now. In this review and demo I dig into its Karplus-Strong-based exciter and resonator, six voices you can split into six independent monosynths, and a modulation system so intuitive it doesn't need a menu. Full raw demo at the end so you can hear it completely unprocessed.

WHAT IS MODAL SYNTHESIS?
Modal synthesis uses a Karplus-Strong oscillator — an exciter (like a pluck, bow, or hammer) run through a resonator (like a string or instrument body) — to fake physical, plucked/struck sounds. First proposed by Kevin Karplus and Alexander Strong back in 1982, you'll recognise the concept from modules like Mutable Instruments Plaits, Rings and Braids, and digital oscillators in synths like the Arturia MiniFreak and Korg Minilogue XD. The Echon6 takes that same idea and builds it entirely in analog circuitry — as far as I know, the first synth to pull that off.

CHAPTERS
0:00 What's coming up
1:43 DEMO JAM #1 - glitchy ambient
5:40 What is modal synthesis? (Karplus-Strong explained)
6:53 Front panel overview
7:52 Six voice groups patch demo
9:53 DEMO JAM #2 - as an FX unit on drums
12:20 SIx voices in unison - CHORD MODE?
13:06 DEMO JAM #3 - 6 unique voices
13:48 Exciter section deep dive
21:15 BBD resonator deep dive
25:47 Modulation section deep dive
36:22 Building a musical patch from scratch
41:16 DEMO JAM #4 - A Love Story ;) IYKYK
43:15 Echon6 vs Erica Synths Steampipe
45:00 Final thoughts
45:40 Patreon & website
46:13 DEMO JAM #5 Intro raw (maybe a little reverb at the end)

MY TAKE
The Echon6 is a genuinely fresh alternative to the current glut of subtractive synths — your Jupiters, Junos, Prophets, and OB-style clones. It felt natural within minutes, the modulation is some of the cleverest I've used on any hardware synth, and the build quality is excellent. Compared to the Erica Synths Steampipe (digital modal synthesis), the Echon6 is easier to learn, while the Steampipe can get more chaotic, faster, thanks to its distortion and reverb. Both are worth a look if experimental modal synthesis is your thing — but the Echon6 gets a big thumbs up from me.

GEAR MENTIONED
Morphor Echon6 (analog modal polysynth, reviewed here)
Erica Synths Steampipe (digital modal synth, comparison)
Mutable Instruments Plaits / Rings / Braids
Arturia MiniFreak
Korg Minilogue XD

MORE PATCHES, SAMPLES & TUTORIALS
Patreon: www.patreon.com/starskycarr - patches, samples, tutorials and more
www.starskycarr.com - patches, samples, free and cheap goodies"

External MIDI Amiga Synth? Wait, what?!

video upload by Jeremy Parker

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

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

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

Commodore Amiga Music Production: Modern Sound Design on Retro Hardware

video upload by Magical Synth Adventure

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

Additional attributions:

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

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

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

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

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Baloran The River in White SN 00026

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this Reverb listing

Additional SYNTH CITY Listings

"This show piece is sure to take the cake when it comes to insane! With 8 Moog inspired voices and on board effects, this synth is going to blow your head off."

Specs From Baloran's Website:

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reFX Tutorial Videos & Upcoming Release

video uploads by reFX



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

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

Features

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

441 Presets (Factory Bank July 2026).

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

Noise generator feeds into resonators, output, or both.

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

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

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

Dual oscillators with Phase, Fold and Asymmetry.

27 Filter types including vintage, ladder and vowel.

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

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

Vibrato with Rate, Delay and Rise.

Arpeggiator with additional modifiers for pitch and velocity.

Modulation Matrix with custom mapping curves, power curve.

Preset Browser with Favorites and Type tags, random selection.

VST/AU/AAX plugin for Windows and Mac

https://refx.com/rippler/

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Kurzweil K2600XS 88-Key Digital Sampling Workstation Synthesizer SN S3999AQS0054

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this Reverb listing

Additional SYNTH CITY Listings

"This was the flagship synth way back when, with beautiful pianos, strings, powerful sequencing, sampling and in a very nice blue tint, however it weighs a lot. Used on countless albums thoughout the 90's and early 2000's.

The Kurzweil K2600XS is an 88-key professional music workstation and sampling synthesizer featuring Variable Architecture Synthesis Technology (VAST), built-in sampling hardware, and onboard KDFX digital effects

Key Specifications

Keyboard: 88-note fully weighted action with velocity and aftertouch.

Polyphony: 48 voices, 4 oscillators per voice.

Sound & Sample Memory: 12MB base ROM (expandable to 44MB via four internal slots) plus the SMP-2X advanced sampling option with digital/optical I/O.

Controllers: 8 physical sliders, 2 ribbon controllers, and extensive pedal/breath inputs.

Physical Profile: Weighs approximately 80 pounds, making it a heavy stage and studio instrument."

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Coming Soon: RIPPLER – Preset Showcase

video upload by reFX

"Find out more at https://refx.com/rippler

Our forthcoming physical modeling synthesizer is nearly here! Rippler (VST/AU/AAX) emulates acoustic instruments both real and imagined, and adds a layer of subtractive synthesis to blend, enhance or solidify your sound.

Add expressive modulation, a storehouse of high-quality effects, performance controls and hundreds of presets make Rippler your go-to synth for realistic and hyper-realistic sounds alike!

In this video, you'll hear a few of Rippler's patches, demonstrating the wide variety of sounds that are possible with this synth."

phase8 | Discover Acoustic Synthesis

video upload by KORG

"Discover phase8, an eight-voice acoustic synthesizer built on KORG’s Acoustic Synthesis technology.

Using physically vibrating steel resonators paired with electronic control, phase8 responds to touch, acoustic feedback, and real-time interaction. Designed for exploration, it invites musicians to discover new sounds through physical interaction, performance, and the world around them."

KORG Z1 - 64 Contemporary Presets - The MOSS Sessions (Sound Library)

video upload by RM Studios

"The KORG Z1 remains one of the most ambitious and expressive synthesizers ever created. ​

Powered by Korg’s legendary MOSS (Multi-Oscillator Synthesis System) engine, the Z1 pushed physical modeling and virtual analog synthesis far beyond the standards of its era, delivering an extraordinary range of sounds with unmatched depth, movement, and playability. ​

Yet, despite the instrument’s incredible capabilities, most available sound libraries still rely on programming approaches and sonic aesthetics dating back to the late ’90s.
We felt it was time to give this iconic synth a fresh voice. ​​​

"The MOSS Sessions” is a completely new sound collection designed specifically to showcase the real power of the MOSS engine with a modern production approach. This library delivers 64 contemporary, inspiring, and instantly usable programs for both studio production and live performance. ​

If you are one of the lucky musicians owning this legendary synthesizer, this collection was made for you. ​

The soundset can be purchased through the following link:
https://robertomacri.wixsite.com/home..."

Also for the KORG EXB-MOSS expansion board:

KORG EXB-MOSS - 64 Contemporary Presets - The MOSS Sessions (Sound Library for Korg Triton & Karma)

video upload by RM Studios

https://robertomacri.wixsite.com/home/the-moss-sessions

NF-1K First Look: Modor's New Keyboard Synthesizer | Superbooth 2026

video upload by Milk Audio Store

"See the Modor NF1K in action at Superboot 2026. This video provides a close look at the new keyboard version of the NF1 digital subtractive synthesizer.

Marcel from Modor presents the NF1K, detailing the physical integration of the keyboard with the established NF1 synthesis engine.

By watching this demo, you get a clear view of the Modor NF1K build quality and control layout. We focus specifically on the tactile experience of the new keyboard and how the Modor NF1K maintains the core sound generation capabilities of the original unit while adding a performance-focused form factor."

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."