“MIDI” the word has become almost part of culture at large. But with MIDI 2.0 arriving, the MIDI Association decided it needs a new look – and sound.

For all the many soft synths out there, maturity and depth matter – and few tools offer those quite like the almighty Serum. Whether you’re just getting around to trying it – or you already think you know all there is to know – sound maven Francis Preve is the perfect guide.

It’s synthesis from paper – sounds crafted quite literally by hand, using drawn animation, then optically synthesized. But after this 4K restoration, it’s clear how much these 1930s inventors were ahead of their time.

Vinyl? CDJ? Meh. Hand-mixing and “scratching” karaoke cassette tapes on hacked machines as a new form of strange pop music DJing? Now we’re talking. Behold the YouTube channel of 大江戸テクニカ (Ōedo tekunika).

If you want a premium synth and don’t need the keyboard or want it to fit into a little less space, Sequential has made desktop renditions of both Prophet-5 and Prophet-10.

Able to roll through chords, make organic arpeggiations, and spin out hypnotic melodies, Strum looks like the most addictive Max for Live device in recent memory.

Roland’s latest outgrowth from their shared hardware platform is a groove machine, song arrangement tool, and looper – one that acknowledges some people want to do both beats and vocals.

Chicken and egg problem, no more. MIDI Polyphonic Expression is now in commonly available controller hardware and software like Ableton Live 11. So let’s check in at the synth maker of the father of MIDI – Dave Smith’s house Sequential and see what happens when you add it to classic synthesizers.

When you feel like you’re out of ideas, when you’ve obsessed over that edit and that knob, when your mood has gone south… it’s time to stop everything and jam. January doldrums, meet Jamuary bliss.

Let’s give New Year’s Day one more try. Over three hours of live-streamed pristine ambient delicacy from rising star KMRU should fit the bill. Immerse yourself, and then if you feel the need to make your own sounds, catch a workshop or other inspiration, too.