In the late ’70s, when modular synths were for the rich or reckless, a Dutch DIY magazine offered a third option: build your own. Mostly forgotten, the Elektor Formant now returns — revived by tinkerers, YouTubers, and Erica Synths — as a living piece of solder-scarred synth history.
From a spare-time experiment to a mythic modular reborn again and again, the Fénix defies extinction. Meet the makers, builders, and players behind each resurrection—and hear how a hobby project rose into one of synthesis history’s most singular cult instruments.
Thirteen years after his passing, Pete Namlook still feels ahead of us – merging vintage synths, early digital tools, and live computer recording long before the rest caught on. This is the gear and restless creativity behind the Fax Records ambient visionary.
For Saytek, Jeremy Arndt, and Chihei Hatakeyama, playing live is about striking a balance between planning and improvisation, connection and control. Here, they share their gear, setups, and philosophies on bringing electronic music to the stage.
The Otamatone may look like a quirky toy, but its company, Maywa Denki, is anything but ordinary. From surreal instruments to art-as-commerce performances, Adam Douglas delves into their playful, puzzling world in a conversation with President Novmichi Tosa.
Guide to Hamamatsu, home to Yamaha, Roland, and Kawai, Japan’s true synthesizer city. See legendary synths at Yamaha, Korg’s first prototype, and hunt for treasures at Sonix and Hard Off, or stop by Kawai’s showroom. This UNESCO City of Music is a pilgrimage for synth fans.
Psychedelic pioneer Sonic Boom (Spacemen 3) reveals his love for synthesizers, fixed-format modulars, and the magic of tremolo. From rare EMS Synthis to Casios, he blends experimentation and melody, shaping modern psych for artists like MGMT, Beach House, and Panda Bear.
A pan-Asian family trio blending synths, harmonium, and spirit, TENGGER creates deeply meditative music rooted in nature and love. We spoke with the group about spirituality, breath, family, FM synthesis, and their evolving sound after separation and reunion.
Arabic music’s rich scales demand synths beyond Western tuning, like the mythic Juno-106A, vintage Korg Sigma, modern Minilogue XD, and vintage Casios. Explore how these instruments, hardware mods, and modern microtonal tools support authentic Arabic melodies and traditions in electronic music.
South Korea’s electronic scene is surging, with Eurorack rigs, vintage samplers, and gritty drum machines at the core. Meet four artists, Mount XLR, Go Dam, Mono Lens, and Mogwaa, plus modular maker Holocene Electronics, all shaping a uniquely Korean sonic culture.
From Afrobeats to Singeli, Africa’s electronic music pulses with polyrhythms, local textures, and bold sonic experiments. Artists like KMRU, Mikael Seifu, and Gafacci fuse tradition with cutting-edge production, proving the continent’s vibrant future in global electronic music.
Japan’s modular scene is thriving thanks to standout artists like Hataken, Yumi Iwaki, Bucketbd, Yebisu303, and Doltz, plus makers such as Hikari Instruments and Sdkc. Discover who’s shaping a uniquely Japanese modular movement, from techno to experimental soundscapes.