Reverb has announced the release of a limited-run effects pedal created by rock band Pet Symmetry and boutique builder Damnation Audio. Designed for bass guitar, the BIG pedal combines fuzz and clean boost functionality and will be available exclusively through Reverb beginning July 8. Only 100 units will be produced. The launch coincides with Pet … Read more
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 designed to get music out of your head and into your hands, fast. With three synth tracks, a full sample engine, … Read more
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 a laptop controller. Ten years on, the Reface DX is still in production and has not waned in popularity. In this … Read more
Introduction The Timetosser MK2 is a compact, button-driven box built to reshape audio in real time. No screens, no saved loops—just rhythm manipulation at your fingertips. This device focuses on one thing: cutting and rearranging live audio while staying on beat. It’s not a sampler, sequencer, or loop station. It’s built for one job: real-time … Read more
Since launching the game-changing OP-1 in 2014, Teenage Engineering has carved out a reputation for marrying playful design with pro-grade functionality, from the pocket-sized OP-Z to the OP-1 Field workstation. With the OP–XY, they’ve distilled that ethos further, packing a 16-track, 64-step sequencer, eight independent synth engines, and motion-sensing gesture controls into an aluminum chassis … Read more
Reverb is celebrating two big things this week. Not only is Independence Day around the corner, but the company itself is now independent again. And to mark the occasion, it’s throwing a major sales event. From now through July 7, Reverb is hosting its Independents Day Sale, featuring big discounts on music gear from trusted sellers. No … Read more
Why Strumstick? Learning the guitar can feel like a slow-motion car crash. Your fingertips go numb. Your chords sound like furniture falling down the stairs. You realize playing “Wonderwall” takes weeks, not hours. Worst of all? You can hear yourself struggling in real time. As we’ve all found out at some point in our journey, … Read more
Around for over a decade, the Novation LaunchKey line has long been a preferred MIDI controller for those looking for a cost-effective way to control their DAW, especially Ableton Live users. Now in its fourth iteration, the MK4 update, especially in its 49 and 61-key formats, introduces enough fun upgrades to make it more than … Read more
First Impressions It’s not every day you stumble across a synthesizer that looks like it was carved from a tree trunk, but that’s exactly what the Daydreamer Synth 1 feels like at first glance. Its unique design philosophy makes an immediate impression—and one that sets it apart from everything else on the market. It’s a … Read more
It was a night of torch-passing at the Moody Center as Wu-Tang Clan brought their farewell tour to Austin, with Run the Jewels setting the stage for a show that felt like both a celebration and a send-off.
The Michigan Synth Works MSW-810m is a modern tribute to the rare Roland CMU-810—a synthesizer that, while largely forgotten outside niche circles, represents an intriguing chapter in the history of music technology. Originally released in 1983, the CMU-810 was a part of Roland’s Computer Music System. It was designed to work with software and hardware … Read more
Amanda Achen didn’t plan to become one of the most distinctive voices in video game music. In fact, she’s not even a gamer. But that’s exactly what makes her work feel so otherworldly.
New RX11 deal launches today with 40% off. Native Instruments and iZotope have kicked off their annual summer promotions, delivering significant savings on software bundles, instruments, and hardware for music producers and audio professionals. Currently running now through June 30, both sales present an ideal moment to upgrade production tools and expand creative possibilities, whether you’re … Read more
Some gear seems unassuming until the moment you lay a finger on it. While attractive to the eye even without its power on, Beetlecrab Audio’s Tempera is one of those devices. Encased in a small but sturdy metal enclosure that is about the size of an average paperback novel, but somehow extremely light given all … Read more
Even more than a decade after their final live performance, Sonic Youth remains one of the most influential bands to ever emerge from the underground rock scene. Now, fans and fellow musicians have another chance to own a piece of that legacy. On May 21st, the band is reopening their Official Sonic Youth Reverb Shop, … Read more
Let’s be honest, arpeggiators can sometimes feel like an afterthought. Many synthesizers include them, but more often than not, they’re simple, one-trick ponies with limited control and little personality. They’ll feel tacked on and not something that was truly given any thought in the first place. So when the passionate and creative Chris Brown (no, … Read more
Some effects pedals are designed to color your sound. The Chroma Console is designed to transform it. From the moment I unboxed the Chroma Console, it was clear this wasn’t just another multi-effects unit. Created by boutique builder Hologram Electronics, this dreamy, visually striking pedal is a full stereo sound-shaping workstation that fuses vintage charm … Read more
Raj Thomas sits down with Grammy-winning producer Young Fyre to discuss Audeobox, the world’s biggest beat battle platform.
What happens when you take ancient instruments, capture them in stunning high-definition audio, and then run them through a synth engine inspired by video games and nonlinear storytelling?
What if your pitchwheel never hit a wrong note again? What if a simple chord could evolve into an entire melody? What if your rhythm section could swing, shuffle, and surprise—without hours of programming? That’s not a wishlist—it’s exactly the kind of creative freedom Pitch Innovations is chasing. With a growing suite of plugins built … Read more