Gearjunkies

After the Metal Fetishist, Ody Synths is back with something that leans even harder into experimentation. The Laboratory isn’t just an effects box. It’s a dual-channel feedback instrument that can generate its own sound, process external gear, and push everything into unpredictable territory. If you’re into feedback loops, self-oscillation, and textures that evolve on their own, this is clearly aimed at you.

There’s no shortage of MIDI controllers out there, but finding one that matches your exact workflow is still a bit of a unicorn hunt. Tubbutec is taking a different route: instead of selling you a fixed box, they let you design your own controller from the ground up—and then build it for you. The Controller Designer is a web-based tool where you lay out everything: faders, knobs, buttons, LEDs, even the panel artwork. Think less “preset hardware” and more “modular control surface tailored to your setup.”

Finishing a plugin is one thing—getting it out into the world is another. Licensing, installers, updates, user management… it adds up fast. With Gorilla Engine 26.03, UJAM is trying to simplify that entire second half.

Roland Future Design Lab and Tokyo-based AI music tech company Neutone are back with Project LYDIA Phase 2, the latest version of their AI-powered neural sampling pedal. After first showing the concept in late 2025, the team has now refined the hardware into something that feels much closer to a real-world performance tool instead of just an experiment.

Austrian synth builder Mayer EMI just announced Aurora, a major free firmware update for the MD850 Vibes hybrid desktop synth, unveiled during Superbooth 2026. And honestly, this feels less like a maintenance update and more like a full refresh of the instrument.

Rob Papen has officially launched eXplorer-11, the newest version of its long-running plug-in bundle, now packing 36 instruments and effects plus optional legacy titles. The headline additions this time are RAW-Kick 2 and FilterField — two tools clearly aimed at producers who spend serious time shaping drums, textures, and movement inside a mix.

KOMA Elektronik just dropped Monoplex, a new 42HP Eurorack sequencer built for producers who like their sequences alive, evolving, and patchable from every angle. Inspired by the larger Komplex Sequencer, Monoplex focuses on a single-channel workflow while going deep on modulation and performance control.

Big news in the music tech world: inMusic has officially signed an agreement to acquire Native Instruments, the Berlin-based company behind some of the most-used tools in modern music production and DJ culture.

Artinoise is back with another take on the digital wind instrument, and this time it’s going even smaller. The new trillo is a 22cm pocket-sized digital flute built for instant playability, but with enough MIDI depth to fit into serious studio and live setups too.

Arturia is diving deep into vintage Moog territory with Memory V, a software recreation of the legendary Memorymoog — one of the most massive and unpredictable poly synths ever made. If you’re into towering analog brass, aggressive leads, and thick cinematic pads, this is one to keep on your radar.