At the beginning of May, The MIDI Association quietly announced MPE 1.1. What’s new? Absolutely nothing. It’s the same spec. So why the new version number? They listened to your questions, issues, and feedback, and made the whole document easier to read, understand, and implement. And that might be better than any new feature.

My favorite thing from Superbooth, the one thing I’d pull out a wallet right away and get? It’s none other than Dreadbox’s utterly brutal-sounding, wildly fun analog semi-modular groove synth for Eurorack or desktop.

A grid, sequencing, standalone operation – Polyend’s new Play, previewed at Superbooth, now looks like a familiar concept. But what makes Play look worth considering is right there in the name: fun and immediacy are the focus.

That’ll be just the right toppings. The latest from our friends at Bastl Instruments is an 8HP digital oscillator with hybrid synthesis and tons of patching options – three oscillators in one.

Spanning dance sets to gorgeous ambient music, mixing instruments and electronics and even some live dance (with JakoJako), here’s a window into the live sets from Superbooth Berlin in the fall as we gear up for this week’s spring edition.

The first new Oberheim instrument in 35 years is something special. So let’s get an exclusive tour of what this instrument is like to play — from one of the people who programmed some of its new sounds. And yes, we’ve got sound samples.

Do call it a comeback. Oberheim returns to the world of synthesizers – both for those who love the name, and a new generation discovering it for the first time. And the instrument to mark the occasion is an 8-voice dream synth. So for those deciphering the teasers and leaks, yes, the OB-X8 builds on […]

They’re smaller and cheaper than the Boutique series and first-gen AIRA, they’re battery-powered, and they pack a surprising amount of functionality and hands-on control. Roland has a new compact platform for the AIRA, and they look cute and fun.

It’s a modular in a modular. It’s a multitrack recorder. It’s a multi-channel audio interface. It’s a hub for CV. And now it does 3D graphics – and a plugin SDK has attracted well-known developer TheTechnobear.

Proper dub and experimental production will transport you to eerie otherworldly states of mind in this music from Kharkiv, Ukraine. And now the artist urgently needs our support, as he faces both urgent medical bills and Russian invasion.