Here is an overview of what articles we've got for you so far. We're working on adding content regularly – enjoy!
Celebrate Roland’s legacy with Inspire the Music – 50 Years of Roland History! Today only: get 25% off the stunning hardcover, plus free access to the complete eBook. Don’t miss this chance to dive into five decades of innovation, design, and sound.
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.
Allen Strange’s book “Electronic Music” became a landmark guide to modular synthesis in the ’70s, blending technical clarity with creativity. Decades later, its ideas still inspire. We take an introductory look...
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.
For Jermaine Dupri, the 808 is more than gear; it’s the soul of his sound. Here’s how its iconic punch powered hits from Kris Kross to Mariah Carey.
The Roland TR-808 gets celebrated each year on the 8th of August. Here's a roundup on some interesting articles we've gathered.
The TR-808 didn’t just mark Roland’s leap into the 1980s; it redefined what a drum machine could be. With its bold design, tweakable analog sounds, and easy TR-REC programming, it became the heartbeat of countless genres, from pop to hip-hop, and remains an icon in music technology today.
From pop ballads to electro, techno, and trap, the Roland TR-808 has powered countless genres since its debut. Born on stage with Yellow Magic Orchestra and immortalized in “Planet Rock,” its deep kicks and crisp snares still influence music today.
Curious how analog synths work? This quick primer uses the Minimoog Model D to explain subtractive synthesis and signal flow, from oscillators and filter, to envelopes and modulation. Understand how raw waveforms become rich, expressive sounds.
What makes a synth inspiring to play? Artists like Suzanne Ciani, DiViNCi, Dorit Chrysler, Larry Heard, and Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith share thoughts on interface design – from tactile control to visual flow – and how it influence their creativity, expression, and performance.
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.
What makes a synth feel right to use? Here are thoughts from five instrument creators on design, usability, and how we connect with electronic instruments. Not rules, but perspectives that might spark ideas or offer a new way to think about music-making tools.
Whether you're new to modular or a seasoned Eurorack head, VCV Rack offers a flexible, free way to patch, prototype, and explore anywhere. This guide shows how to get started, test ideas before buying hardware, or go deeper with powerful modules – no rack space (or budget) required.
Nicolas Bernier, Composer, producer, artist, and Professor at the Université de Montréal, shares five counterintuitive strategies for performative modular synthesis, including why you might not want to patch at all. A fresh perspective on composition, repetition, and live performance!
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.
In this Patch & Tweak Podcast episode, singer and multi-instrumentalist Kitty Liv talks with host JoE Silva about soulful songwriting, analog gear, and how the Minimoog Model D becomes a voice of its own in her emotionally driven creative process.
Meet the Wasp: bold, buzzy, and brilliantly ahead of its time. Explore this cult classic with exclusive photos, and a look at Cherry Audio’s Yellowjacket, a modern tribute to the Wasp’s legendary sound.
In this how-to article, Chris Meyer breaks down when to use linear vs. exponential VCAs and envelopes in modular synth patches. Learn how response curves shape loudness, mixing, FM depth, and modulation—and why combining exponential envelopes with linear VCAs often sounds most natural.
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.
A cool look into one of the most advanced semi-modular synths ever. Discover the story of the rare KORG PS-3300 with exclusive photos – plus a look at Cherry Audio’s PS-3300 software synth.
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.
Tired of static envelopes? Chris Meyer shows how to build Zadar-like, chaotic, smooth-random shapes with organic bumps and wobbles that evolve on every trigger. Three patch levels let you sculpt animated, expressive envelopes.
Discover incredible details of Yamaha’s groundbreaking GX-1 and the legendary CS-80 with exclusive photos – plus the Cherry Audio GX-80, blending both classics in a single software synth.
Explore the history, philosophy, and enduring legacy of Grant Richter’s Wiard modular synths, from the Wogglebug to the Borg Filters, in this unique email conversation with Chris Meyer. Learn how these unique modules informed modern formats and inspired generations of builders and musicians.
Explore polyphony in Part 3 of our synthesizer intro series: how many notes your synth can play at once, why it matters, and how it works. From monophonic classics to polyphonic giants and paraphonic tricks, learn how voice architecture shapes your sound.
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.
Discover the story of the rare Rhodes Chroma with exclusive photos not found in Synth Gems 1 – a cool look into one of the most advanced synths of its time.
Composer and synth enthusiast Alex Ball joins Nadia Struiwigh to talk creative workflows, why hardware still wins, and how his journey from guitars to modular has shaped his music – and his YouTube success.
Break away from keyboards and screens! Instruments from Ciat-Lonbarde, Leaf Audio, Playtronica, Clank, and others, invite you to create through touch, gesture, and chance – unlocking new sounds, ideas, and inspiration you won’t find in traditional music-making tools.
Exclusive Video Interview: Filmed on stage in late October 2024, just before the Moog Ensemble's show at The Anvil, Will Gregory (Goldfrapp) talks Minimoogs, synths with orchestra, and wind controllers. Don’t miss this behind-the-scenes chat ahead of the premiere of Heat Ray: The Archimedes Project.
While Doepfer is often credited with launching Eurorack, Analogue Systems, founded by Bob Williams, was right there from the start. In this article, Bob shares his story: from early filter banks to iconic modules, keyboards, and the legacy of a parallel modular path.
In this second part of our synthesizer introduction, we explore how core building blocks, such as VCOs, filters, envelopes, and modulation, work – using classic instruments like the Jupiter-8, Alesis Andromeda, Crumar DS2, and Moog Sonic Six to illustrate key concepts.
Think buffered mults fix everything? Think again. This follow-up dives into what they don’t solve – like poor tracking in oscillators and controllers – and unpacks the real science behind impedance, detuning, and why even one VCO connection can throw off your tuning.
Visionary, DIY pioneer, synth rebel. In this rare conversation, Serge Tcherepnin shares how communes, Buchla schematics, and artistic philosophy shaped the Serge Modular system. Discover the roots, design mindset, and evolution of one of modular synthesis’ most original thinkers.
Synthesizers may seem wildly different, but most follow the same core ideas. This beginner-friendly guide breaks down the basic building blocks – LFO, VCO, VCF, ENV, VCA – and shows how signal flow, control voltages, and front panel design come together to create sound from scratch.
When patching your modular synth, it's easy to overlook the quiet heroes: multiples. But choosing the right type – passive, buffered, or logic – can make or break tuning, timing, and signal integrity. Here's how to pick the right mults to keep your system sounding tight and working reliably.
In the premiere episode of the Patch & Tweak Podcast, legendary producer Gareth Jones (Depeche Mode, Wire, Erasure) joins us from his London studio to talk early electronic music, modular adventures, and his current work with Sunroof and ElectroGenetic.
Paul Schreiber is known for Synthesis Technology, but few may know how it all began. This detailed and personal history, told to Chris Meyer years before Paul's passing in March 2025, traces the story of MOTM – built on rare Curtis chips, audiophile dreams, and engineering passion.
Looking to create lush pads, evolving textures, and immersive soundscapes? These synthesizers – ranging from expressive hybrids to analog and digital engines – are made for ambient music. Explore some inspiring hardware options for spacious, atmospheric sound design.
Modulation is the secret force behind many evolving ambient patches. From classics like Batumi and øchd to fresh releases like MultiMod, here’s a personal roundup of Eurorack modules that can bring slow motion, subtle chaos, and deep flow to your modular system.
From early experiments with piano, tape decks, and video game melodies to building groove box-based live sets and a beloved YouTube channel, True Cuckoo talks to Nadia Struiwigh about his creative journey, performance style, and the joy of staying playful with music.
Curious about FM in modular synthesis? This deep dive breaks down the three main types – exponential, linear, and through-zero FM – with hands-on patch tips, sound examples, and a demo video. Learn how each type shapes your tone, harmonics, and tuning.
Your gear shapes your creativity. When the interface flows, so does your music — but when it doesn’t, even inspiration can stall. From DAWs to modular setups, we explore how workflows guide (or derail) your ideas – and how to challenge your habits to unlock better music-making.
From Moog schematics in a 1970 dorm room to the Prophet-5 with Dave Smith in 1977, and into the digital early '80s, Dave Rossum’s impact is profound. In this timeline, the E-mu Systems and Rossum Electro-Music founder shares how it all began – featuring Moog, Oberheim, Strange, Linn & more.
Whether you're building your first ambient patch or expanding a modular system for immersive textures and cinematic drones, these Eurorack modules are great tools for shaping sound into space.
Explore a curated selection of standalone devices perfect for ambient music – including granular synthesizers, loopers, and rich spatial effects. These tools help you transform simple sounds into immersive sonic landscapes.
Choosing your first Eurorack filter can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. This guide breaks down what filters do, how to understand terms like slope and topology, and offers beginner-friendly module suggestions to help you shape your sound and build your ideal modular rig.
A key choice when starting with modular, is whether to start with a semi-modular synth or build from individual modules. Chris Meyer walks you through some options and thoughts.
Choosing the right patch cables is crucial for performance, portability, and reliability in modular synths. Learn what to look for in plugs, jackets, lengths, and materials — and how the right cable choices can make patching faster, cleaner, and more creative.
Choosing the right utility mixers is key to unlocking creativity in modular synth patches. Learn why mixers matter, the difference between audio and CV mixing, and discover pro tips for bending the rules to create new sounds from your existing modules.
Random voltage generators bring organic variation to synth patches. Learn how smooth, stepped, and trigger-based randomness can add life, unpredictability, and evolving textures to your sounds.
LFOs bring movement to synthesis by modulating parameters like filter cutoff and pulse width. Learn about waveform types, sync, delay, and how to shape modulation for evolving, expressive sounds.
Envelope generators shape how a sound evolves over time – from percussive hits to swelling textures. Learn the basics of AD, ADSR, and looping envelopes, and how they control amplitude, filters, and timbre in a synthesizer.
Waveshaping alters the harmonic makeup of a waveform to create new timbres. Learn how techniques like saturation, rectification, and wavefolding shape sound, and how modulating these parameters brings movement and complexity.
Filter resonance – also called Q or emphasis – boosts harmonics near the cutoff point, creating vowel-like tones and dramatic peaks. Learn how resonance shapes sound and brings filters to life in expressive, musical ways.
A filter’s slope determines how steeply it removes harmonics beyond the cutoff point. Learn how 1-, 2-, 4-, and even 8-pole filters shape sound with increasing intensity – from subtle roll-offs to dramatic tonal sculpting.
Filters shape sound by removing or reducing harmonics. Learn how low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, and notch filters work – and how adjusting the cutoff frequency creates dramatic changes in tone and texture.
Noise in synthesis comes in many "colors" – from white and pink to blue, brown, and beyond – each with unique frequency content. Discover how different noise types sound and why no two noise modules sound exactly the same.
Explore how different oscillator waveforms – like sawtooth, pulse, triangle, and sine – affect the harmonic content and character of a sound.
Discover the core concepts of pitch and volume in this first installment of our Basic Concepts series. Learn how oscillators, frequency, amplitude, and voltage shape the sound in a synthesizer.
Lisa Molinaro explores the sonic potential of amplified viola and effects pedals in this in-depth interview from PEDAL CRUSH. From reverb-drenched pizzicato to synth-like textures, she shares how gear and technique shape her sound across Talkdemonic, Modest Mouse, and beyond.
Now you can enjoy SYNTH GEMS 1 as an ebook – right here on your screen, whether on your phone, tablet or computer – as long as you have an internet connection. Sign up for our Core membership where you get access to SYNTH GEMS 1 and six other titles.
Modular synthesis offers endless flexibility, but documenting patches can be tricky—especially when switching modules. A clear symbol system streamlines this process, using abstract icons and lines to represent functions and connections, making patches easier to share, understand, and recreate.
Since its beginnings in 1972, Roland has become one of the most influential music brands in modern history. In 400 photo-packed pages, this book tells the story of how they got there, and how they brought the music world along for the ride.
Get creative and inspired from 200+ tips and ideas and creator interviews. Learn about all the different effects types, what to get for your type of music, and how to get the most of what you already have.
Dive into the world of PATCH & TWEAK with 50 hands-on patches from the book available to download and explore in the free VCV Rack software.
PATCH & TWEAK introduces a fresh, symbol-based system for documenting modular synth patches. It's free to use under Creative Commons – download it and start sharing your own patches with a clear, unified visual language.
Step into the sonic world of Hainbach; musician, YouTube educator, and sound explorer. In this candid conversation, he shares early inspirations, creative evolution, rare gear, and advice for artists seeking their own path in music and sound design.
Known for his captivating synth performances and love of vintage gear, KEBU shares his creative journey, evolving setup, and deep passion for analog sound in this interview with Nadia Struiwigh. A must-read for fans of timeless electronic music and hands-on synthesis.
Andrea Cichecki’s journey through music has been anything but conventional. From her early days playing the clarinet in the Netherlands to her deep dive into Berlin’s electronic music scene, Andrea has carved a path that blends classical foundations with cutting-edge music production.
Discover the foundations of modular synthesis in this conversation with Patch & Tweak co-author Chris Meyer. From getting started and choosing modules to finding your creative path, this intro offers insights, tips, and inspiration for your modular journey.
Choose Your Path and Start Your Journey! The Patch & Tweak Club has something for everyone. Join Core for all seven Bjooks eBooks. Go Pro to unlock deep-dive articles, interviews, podcasts, short-docs, and more. Discover, learn, and get inspired – wherever you are in your synth journey!
After an awesome talk with Oora we're editing this long-form video interview about creativity, gear, production and sound – stay tuned for the release!
After an insightful, inspiring talk with Mark Verbos in his Verbos Electronics workshop in Berlin, we're editing this long-form video interview about Buchla, patching, gear, performance, and much more – stay tuned for the release!
We met with Robin Rimbaud (aka Scanner) in his UK studio north of London. We're editing this long-form video interview about inspiration, creativity, gear, production and sound – stay tuned for the release!
After a cosy talk with Roger Langer from Tangible Waves, we're editing this long-form video interview about the popular AE Modular format, technology, modular functions, entrepreneurship, community, and much more – stay tuned for the release!
After an awesome talk – and jam(!) - with Hannes Bieger in his Berlin studio, we're editing this long-form video interview about creativity, gear, production, and sound – stay tuned for the release!
After an insightful talk with Tatsuya Takahashi in KORG Berlin's space, we're editing this long-form video interview about their design philosophy, the Phase 8, and lots of other stuff – stay tuned for the release!
After an awesome talk with Danish artist Simon Littauer in his Copenhagen home studio, we're editing this long-form video interview with modular insights, cool tips, creativity, and pro sound – stay tuned for the release!
After a cosy afternoon in Copenhagen with Will Gunning from Teenage Engineering, we're editing this long-form video interview about synthesis, innovation, design, customer feedback, and much more – stay tuned for the release!