Soundbites: the music inventions of NAMM, Buchla and Friends

Gear-mas comes but once a year. But with swirling doom and gloom, just how is the world of making musical instruments? We sent Nadia Says, along with Burak Yerebakan, Portrait XO, Franck Martin, and Mehdi Hassine to find out, at the mighty NAMM show in Anaheim — and the indie Buchla & Friends in LA, too. Here’s the show viewed through artists and makers alike, one portrait at a time.

GForce just made a West Coast, MPE-playable synth playground

GForce’s MAP is all new — it’s not a recreation or a collaboration with other brands. But this synth has been to history class, studying modular designs by Serge Tcherepnin, Random*Source, and Buchla USA. Put that in a very modern interface, add MPE expression, and you get what feels like Massive X or Serum from an alternate universe where they’re all about West Coast synthesis.

Peter Kirn - October 28, 2025

Here are the best Labor Day Weekend deals right now, shipped in USA

Sure, the tariffs and shipping are a mess, but — you can still find some fantastic gear deals at the moment. That includes new gear and new modules, plus some unique used deals and special discounts. Here are a few of the best.

Peter Kirn - August 30, 2025

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