Latest articles by Adam Douglas
In today’s attention economy, what role does slowly evolving, ambient music serve? We explore the modern state of the ambient scene
A growing body of research is showing that psychedelics may deliver quantifiable boosts to both creativity and cognition. Could tripping out really help us make better music?
It's time to separate fact from fiction. We demolish ten hot takes persistently spouted by purists, gatekeepers and overzealous Redditors
Noise music can be powerful and unpredictable. Learn how to bring noise techniques like feedback and extreme gain into your own productions
Browser-based music production has come along in leaps and bounds, with everything from effects and instruments to even full-on DAWs now possible, and much of it for free
Curious about how to make music with raw oscillators and other pieces of exotic Cold War-era test equipment? Don your lab coat and find out how you can incorporate old gear into your own productions. Just beware of high voltage
Ever seen a video that convinced you "your mix sucks"? Brands and influencers are chasing engagement by telling amateurs their music isn't good enough – but this anxiety-inducing messaging can damage confidence as it drives clicks
AI-powered plugin generators like Amorph and Pluginmaker.ai promise to democratiSe development – but is vibe coding really the future of plugin design, or just hype?
Rent-to-own is often touted as the good alternative to plugin subscriptions but there are still reasons to be wary. Here are seven things to consider before signing on the dotted line
The key to more powerful plugins may be the graphics processor that you already have in your computer. We discover how three developers are making this happen right now
We speak to some of the people who are crafting bold instruments and effects processors inspired by the fundamental laws of physics
If you’ve never given Reaper much thought, it might be time to look again. The DAW is gaining fans at remarkable speed and it’s all happening by word of mouth
Rent-to-own is often touted as the good alternative to plugin subscriptions but there are still reasons to be wary. Here are seven things to consider before signing on the dotted line
These are the synthesis types that didn’t make it into the big time, from Vector to Vocal and so many unique points in-between
This is the complete history of China’s synthesizer industry, from Cultural Revolution to globalisation
This is the history of Native Instruments’ massively influential wavetable instrument, from development and release to its rebirth as Massive X Player
AI is making the jump from software to hardware with a plethora of smart effects pedals. Is it just another gimmick or will AI-based hardware finally legitimise the controversial technology?
Some products take off, some land with a thud, and some stir up so much controversy they become their own memes. These are the synths, drum machines, and grooveboxes you love to hate
Are musicians and other music industry professionals really at greater risk of an early death than the general public? Studies say it’s true
With bedroom-produced DIY tracks topping the streaming charts and explosive distortion the new norm on TikTok, is sound quality becoming irrelevant in 2026?
Dealing with an addiction can be a harrowing experience. Thankfully, making music and music therapy can assist with the process
At $2,699, Roland’s new analogue drum machine is certainly not cheap. But does the TR-1000 deserve the backlash against its price? We spoke to Roland, its customers and other manufacturers to find out
Few pieces of production gear are as influential as Akai’s MPC series. We trace the MPC's journey through its phoenix-like birth from the ashes of the LinnDrum 9000 to the latest apex-hitting incarnation
