Reviews
V-MODA M-100 Pro Review: A Trusted DJ Pair of DJ Cans Just Got Even Better
Derek Oswald
I’ve been a fan of VMODA’s headphones for a long while. The first V-MODAs I ever owned were a ruby red pair of LP2s. They looked incredible, sounded even better (albeit very bass-heavy), and ...
Coheed and Cambria + Taking Back Sunday at The Mann (8/27/25): An Energetic Stadium-Sized Vision on the Skyline Stage
Derek Oswald
A Coheed and Cambria tour is something you must experience live at least once. Few other shows compare. With Foxing’s earnest opening, Taking Back Sunday’s nostalgic set filled with Fred-era songs, and Coheed’s dazzling ...
Unison Audio Plugins Review: Exploring Through the Hype – MIDI Wizard 2, Drum Monkey, Bass Dragon, Chord Genie
Derek Oswald
Unison Audio’s plugins spark spirited debate in all corners of the music world. I tested four of them: MIDI Wizard 2, Drum Monkey, Bass Dragon, and Chord Genie. First, A Note on the Aforementioned ...
Wavy Industries MONKEY Review: A Ridiculously Small MIDI Controller, With Massive Functionality
Derek Oswald
A €59/approx $70 USD (Altwire’s own conversion as of 09/05/25) two-octave BLE MIDI controller, powered by a coin cell, featuring 6 MIDI effects and a 16-beat looper that layers up to 10 instruments. Quick ...
M-VAVE SMK-37 Pro Review: A Bargain DX7 Tribute That Delivers
Derek Oswald
Portable DX color, real sequencing, and hands-on control in a compact 37-key board. Quick Take For those looking to replicate classic DX-7 sounds on hardware, but without the complexity of an original DX-7 (or ...
Minuendo Adjustable and LIVE Earplugs: 2 Of The Best Options for Protecting Your Ears
Derek Oswald
Two lossless approaches to hi-fi hearing protection: adjustable precision or set-and-forget clarity. USE CODE “ALTWIRE” FOR 15% OFF. Quick Take Minuendo’s hi-fi lossless earplugs come in two flavors. Their Adjustable model offers a stepless ...
Enya Cyber-G Review: A Fun Smart Guitar with 20 Voices, But Clear Limits
Derek Oswald
A hybrid instrument that works well for practice and casual jams, but reliance on app control and the absence of MIDI output hold it back from professional use. Quick Take The Enya Cyber-G is ...
Lunacy Audio CUBE Review: Innovative 3D Motion-Controlled Sampling for Modern Producers
Derek Oswald
Introduction Lunacy Audio’s CUBE takes a bold approach to sample-based synthesis. Instead of offering a traditional library of presets or another analog-style synthesizer, it introduces a 3D interface with eight parallel samplers that can ...
Sonicware SmplTrek in 2025 Review: A Productive & Compact All-in-One Music Workstation
Derek Oswald
Introduction: What is the Sonicware Smpltrek? When Sonicware first launched the SmplTrek, it was pitched as a handheld sampler and groovebox that could take you from idea to finished track without touching a computer. ...
The Fray Celebrate 20 Years of How To Save a Life at the Moody Theater
Daniel Benavides
Under the shimmering stage lights at Austin’s ACL Live at The Moody Theater, the intimate 2,750‑seat venue beloved by locals and touring acts alike, The Fray delivered a heartfelt, nostalgic journey through two decades ...
Donner Essential B1 & Essential D1 Review: Budget-Friendly Acid and Beats That Work Together
Derek Oswald
Donner has been expanding from entry-level pedals and beginner instruments into more serious production tools. The company, once best known for affordable guitar pedals and entry-level MIDI controllers, now has its sights on the ...
Donner Essential L1 Synthesizer: A Nostaglic Tribute to an Dance Music Legend
Derek Oswald
Introduction – From the SH-101 to the Essential L1 In 1982, Roland pitched the SH-101 as an affordable, portable monosynth for working musicians. Over time, its snappy envelopes, elastic bass, and resonant filter made ...
Decksaver Review: We Tried 10 Different Covers – And Their Superior Protection Stood Out
Derek Oswald
Get 10% off with the Decksaver discount code ALTWIRE by going here. “****, I Broke Something On My Synth, Now What?” …words you hope you never have to say! For any person who has ...
Plinky Synth Review: A Fearless 8-Voice Polyphonic Powerhouse of Mood and Motion
Derek Oswald
Introduction I don’t say this a lot about synthesizers I review, but with Plinky, it truly was love at first sight. There’s something so different about this device that once you’re lucky enough to ...
OWC Envoy Pro Elektron 4TB SSD: This Reliable SSD Speeds Up Massive Kontakt Libraries
Derek Oswald
Reviewing VSTs and libraries have left our laptop's internal hard drive crying for mercy. Can the OWC Envoy Pro Elektron 4TB SSD solve our woes?
Shure MV7+ Review: A Powerful Upgrade from The MV7
Derek Oswald
The Shure SM7B still sets the pro standard, yet many creators now want a mic that’s simpler, cheaper, and just as solid on sound. Enter the MV7+.
Ferrous by Landscape.fm: A New Way to Explore Sound
Derek Oswald
Landscape.fm and artist Victoria Shen's Ferrous helps you discover unfamiliar sounds via exploration, and the experience itself helps you view music in a new way, says our reviewer.
Polyend Tracker Mini: Our Honest Verdict Before the 10th Anniversary Limited Edition
Derek Oswald
The Tracker Mini is a compact music workstation built around a tracker interface: streamlined, portable, and shaped by deliberate design choices. It delivers serious production capabilities in a form that fits in the palm ...
Yamaha SEQTRAK Review: A Fast, Focused, and Fun Groovebox with Over 2,000 Sounds
Derek Oswald
Yamaha has a long history of blurring the line between groovebox, synth, and sketchpad with some of their flagship synths. But the SEQTRAK is something different. Both a purpose-built workstation and a sequencer, it’s ...
Ten Years On, And The Reface DX Still Impresses in 2025 (REVIEW)
Derek Oswald
Introduction In 2015, Yamaha introduced the Reface DX to make FM synthesis more approachable. It packs a four-operator engine, a Full-Dot LCD, and 37 mini keys. All fit into a chassis the size of ...
