Latest articles by Adam Douglas
Thinking of making your next music tech purchase on a rent-to-own plan? Read this first
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
Seven weird synthesis types that died on the vine
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
The revolutionary history of Chinese synths
This is the complete history of China’s synthesizer industry, from Cultural Revolution to globalisation
How Native Instruments’ Massive became the go-to bass synth for a generation of music-makers
This is the history of Native Instruments’ massively influential wavetable instrument, from development and release to its rebirth as Massive X Player
Inside the new wave of AI tools turning prompts into plugins
AI-powered plugin generators like Amorph and Pluginmaker.ai promise to democratize development – but is vibe coding really the future of plugin design, or just hype?
Exploring the new industry of AI-integrated hardware effects pedals
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?
"Boy, do people hate it": 10 of the most divisive products in music tech history, from iLok to the Akai Timbre Wolf
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
Science indicates that musicians do actually die younger - but why?
Are musicians and other music industry professionals really at greater risk of an early death than the general public? Studies say it’s true
“I put a pitch-shifter on the master bus!”: In the era of lo-fi beats and bedroom recording, does sound quality even matter anymore?
With bedroom-produced DIY tracks topping the streaming charts and explosive distortion the new norm on TikTok, is sound quality becoming irrelevant in 2026?
How making music can help in addiction recovery
Dealing with an addiction can be a harrowing experience. Thankfully, making music and music therapy can assist with the process
“We would like to leave the verdict of price versus value to the customers”: Is the Roland TR-1000 really too expensive?
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
“It’s the heart of my studio”: The story of the Akai MPC, from the MPC60 to the MPC Live III
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
Is it OK to never complete your tracks?
Free yourself from the unrealistic expectation that you have to always be finishing songs and embrace all the different ways there are to be a musician and producer
Exploring the link between spirituality and synthesizers
Why has the synth has become a key navigational aid for those seeking deeper truths?
From Nazi rockets to drone motors, the secret military history behind the studio gear we use today
How military conflict has fuelled the development of technology that’s now essential in modern music production
We investigate the claim that harnessing GPU can unlock limitless music production potential
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.
Predicting the future evolution of plugin design
It's out with hardware replication and in with simplification, with a considerable heap of AI on the side - we ask the experts to foresee the plugin experience of tomorrow
Exploring the rise of plugin subscriptions and possible alternative models
“I think the dislike of subscriptions is almost universal”
“We're talking about measurable increases in dopamine, reduced anxiety, and better emotional resilience”: Why making music is actually good for you
AI is pushing us to cut corners, but the evidence is very clear: playing and making music is a powerfully healthy activity, one that humans evolved to do
How the effects of Long COVID have harmed professional musicians and DJs
Though the 2020 COVID pandemic had many negative effects on the music industry, an underreported aspect is how Long COVID has left some professional musicians unable to continue with their careers
“There’s a freedom of thought that doesn’t exist elsewhere”: How and why California became the heart of the synthesizer world
Many of the biggest players in the genesis of modern music-making hailed from California, but just what made the state such fertile ground for the synth pioneers to flourish?
I tried a music tracker and it rewired my brain (in a good way)
Beloved by artists from Aphex Twin to Deadmau5, trackers swap the trusty piano roll for a text-based, vertically-scrolling interface that looks like something out of The Matrix. Let's find out how deep the tracker rabbit hole goes
The groundbreaking tech that will shape the future of music production
This isn’t sci-fi. We look at five areas where the future of music production might evolve based on very real technology
