Ben Rogerson

Ben Rogerson

I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it. 

Articles by: Ben Rogerson

AudioThing Mantis

AudioThing strikes again with Mantis, a plugin emulation of a rare BBD echo/delay from Carlsbro

By Ben Rogerson published

Now there’s no need to pray for a hardware revival

Klevgrand Speldosa

Klevgrand and Wintergartan have created Speldosa, a magical music box plugin

By Ben Rogerson published

The man behind the marble machine gives you his “secret sauce”

Dave Smith Mopho

NAMM 2023: MIDI’s 40th anniversary is set to be celebrated at the 2023 NAMM Show, and MIDI 2.0 is also being previewed

By Ben Rogerson published

Plus, Chuck D will be on hand to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop

Tony Banks

Tony Banks on why he would have “screwed up” In The Air Tonight if Phil Collins had given it to Genesis

By Ben Rogerson published

“I bet I would’ve said, ‘Phil, what are you doing, you can’t use just three chords in a song”

The writing of Fragments Of Time

Daft Punk and Todd Edwards take you back to the writing of Fragments of Time in previously unheard studio conversations

By Ben Rogerson published

The tape was running as they worked on the track, which appeared on the soon-to-be-reissued Random Access Memories

Miley Cyrus on stage

Watch Miley Cyrus’s Flowers being recreated in GarageBand for iPhone in less than 10 minutes

By Ben Rogerson published

The smash hit self-affirmation anthem gets a mobile makeover

Tubbutec MC-2oh2

Turn your Roland MC-202 into a 21st century groovebox with the MC-2oh2 upgrade kit

By Ben Rogerson published

The SH-101, TB-303 and MicroComposer mash-up gets even more features

Roland

Roland’s Zenology Pro plugin hits version 2.0: more sounds and a refined user interface

By Ben Rogerson published

The Zen-Core-powered soft synth gets an update

Madonna at the Grammys 2023

Madonna posts photo of her working in the studio with Max Martin

By Ben Rogerson published

The pop legend and Swedish super-producer join forces

Yamaha DX9

A firmware update for the cut-price Yamaha DX9 synth makes it more like a DX7

By Ben Rogerson published

40 years after its release, an alternative ROM removes some of the DX9's artificial limitations

Pixel Music

Music to your eyes: Pixel Art is a new app that creates MIDI sequences from your photos

By Ben Rogerson published

Use the built-in synth or trigger your own instruments

Behringer BMX drum machine

The Oberheim DMX drum machine is set to ride again as Behringer wheels out its BMX “homage”

By Ben Rogerson published

An emulation of the ‘Blue Monday drum machine’ is on the way, but you can’t place a new order just yet

Peter Gabriel

Peter Gabriel on music and AI: “I think you do better if you work with a powerful new tool than just grumble or pretend it doesn’t exist”

By Ben Rogerson published

Of the end of Genesis, he says: “I had been there at the beginning, so I should be there at the end”

Snoop Dogg with bagpiper

Drop it like a Scot: Snoop Dogg greeted by gangsta bagpiper as he touches down at Glasgow Airport

By Ben Rogerson published

US rapper was happy to cut a rug on the tarmac as piper played Still Dre

Max Martin

Max Martin on his approach to songwriting and production: “I’m trying to make every part good… I think every second needs to be awesome”

By Ben Rogerson published

“My intentions are pure: I want to just create something that we love in the room”

M83

M83’s Anthony Gonzalez on the success of Midnight City: “EDM is probably one of the styles of music that I hate the most. All of a sudden, I have these bro EDM DJs playing my music, and I just can’t even care less”

By Ben Rogerson published

French artist describes new album Fantasy as “the beginning of the next chapter of my career”

Kiviak Instruments WoFi

Kiviak Instruments is drip-feeding us information on its WoFi sampling keyboard

By Ben Rogerson published

When will we get the full reveal, though?

Jacob Collier and Quincy Jones

Jacob Collier on his relationship with Quincy Jones: “I said ‘I don’t want any help with mixing, I want to do it all myself’... he really respected that”

By Ben Rogerson published

There’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to make music, adds Collier: “It’s all just made up. You have to find your own way”

Chompi sampler

Chompi is a super-cute sampler that was inspired by the Casio SK-1 and looks like a kid-friendly OP-1

By Ben Rogerson published

“Magical, tape music instrument” also features effects and a looper

Lang Lang

“Parents are putting less pressure on their kids,” says Lang Lang, as he prepares for the final of The Piano by playing at St Pancras station

By Ben Rogerson published

Watch his performances of Flight of the Bumblebee and Liszt’s Liebesträume on the concourse

Sampleson Sandstorm

Sampleson’s Sandstorm plugin could be a cheat code for creating epic, evolving soundscapes

By Ben Rogerson published

Zimmer-esque atmospherics in seconds?

Groovifi

Groovifi is a free app that promises a better way to create Spotify playlists by letting you decide the mood, BPM, key, rhythm and genre of your songs

By Ben Rogerson published

If the algorithm isn’t cutting it, maybe it’s time for you to take control

Bizarrap and Shakira on Jimmy Fallon

Bizzarap sat at his desk staring at FL Studio when he performed Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53 with Shakira on Jimmy Fallon

By Ben Rogerson published

He brought a Moog Subsequent 37, Korg Minilogue and Sequential Prophet-6 along with him, too

Toneworks Catalyst

Catalyst is an idea-inspiring MIDI sequencing plugin designed to keep you away from your piano roll

By Ben Rogerson published

Use it for basslines, melodies, chord progressions and arpeggios

Yamaha CK88 and CK61

Yamaha’s CK88 and CK61 aren’t just stage pianos - they’re portable keyboards that you can play anywhere

By Ben Rogerson published

Lightweight models inherit sounds from the CP and YC ranges

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