<![CDATA[ Latest from MusicRadar in Drum-machines ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/drum-machines Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:12:51 +0000 en <![CDATA[ “Easily one of the most inspirational and accessible Elektrons we've used”: Elektron Tonverk review ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/samplers/elektron-tonverk-review h4FfRXdT4wzEZ8Bs6Kxaf4 Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:12:51 +0000 <![CDATA[ “A happy bending of the rules of nature”: Elektron’s latest Syntakt update adds sample synthesis and new sequencing tools to the hybrid drum synth ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/a-happy-bending-of-the-rules-of-nature-elektrons-latest-syntakt-update-adds-sample-synthesis-and-new-sequencing-tools-to-the-hybrid-drum-synth hb4cExSKZWDmg3SM85MDCA Thu, 05 Mar 2026 15:24:02 +0000 <![CDATA[ Behringer unleashes the BMX, its $459 clone of the Oberheim DMX ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/behringer-officially-releases-the-bmx-its-usd459-clone-of-the-oberheim-dmx zcrAv6Sfjsp8b4MYC4BhCE Fri, 06 Feb 2026 16:01:52 +0000 Fri, 06 Feb 2026 16:18:44 +0000 <![CDATA[ “An impressive percussion machine with raw analogue weight and manual control”: Erica Synths x Hexinverter Hexdrums review ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/drum-machines/erica-synths-x-hexinverter-hexdrums-review RdnTRaxQEWbyzBJXdwz9r8 Sat, 31 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ The best new music tech gear of NAMM 2026: Epic polys, acoustic synths, budget samplers, a Behringer Juno and much more ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/the-best-new-music-tech-gear-of-namm-2026-epic-polys-acoustic-synths-budget-samplers-a-behringer-juno-and-much-more JCWMAKugzvmgkizZ5be9J5 Sun, 25 Jan 2026 11:05:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ I can go for that: Roland releases an official plugin version of the CR-78 drum machine ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/i-can-go-for-that-roland-releases-an-official-plugin-version-of-the-cr-78-drum-machine xmkbBHEnoufDJvaBPRL8AS Wed, 21 Jan 2026 12:22:02 +0000 Wed, 21 Jan 2026 13:42:14 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Represents the evolution of everything we've learned from decades of innovation in music production”: Akai’s MPC XL is its new flagship – watch our first look review ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/represents-the-evolution-of-everything-weve-learned-from-decades-of-innovation-in-music-production-akais-mpc-xl-is-its-new-flagship-watch-our-first-look-review sn3UcMQmuUb7WUFALBerid Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:30:25 +0000 <![CDATA[ Music technology gear of the year 2025: Our favourite new synths, drum machines, plugins and more ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/music-technology-gear-of-the-year-2025-our-favourite-new-synths-drum-machines-plugins-and-more bGYRUjxyNsW4W97E82FbVS Mon, 29 Dec 2025 12:16:21 +0000 Mon, 29 Dec 2025 12:19:18 +0000 <![CDATA[ I went to the Kraftwerk auction to buy their chairs, but came back with loads of gear from Florian Schneider’s studio and a massive bill instead ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/i-went-to-the-kraftwerk-auction-to-buy-their-chairs-but-came-back-with-most-of-the-contents-of-florian-schneiders-studio-and-a-massive-bill-instead MeedNVUGTDHgWNz9DKECVS Fri, 21 Nov 2025 16:22:26 +0000 Mon, 24 Nov 2025 09:37:29 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Prince was always scared that we were going to give The Time’s sound away”: Prince’s close association with the LM-1 drum machine influenced Jam and Lewis’s decision to switch to the Roland TR-808 on one of their early ‘80s hits, says Jimmy Jam ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/prince-was-always-scared-that-we-were-going-to-give-the-times-sound-away-princes-close-association-with-the-lm-1-drum-machine-influenced-jam-and-lewiss-decision-to-switch-to-the-roland-tr-808-on-one-of-their-early-80s-hits-says-jimmy-jam PwTQhvhQs8agur5aYUHywF Thu, 20 Nov 2025 17:19:59 +0000 <![CDATA[ “The Purple Rain guitar was in the corner, his lava lamps were everywhere and the mixing desk had been used by Sly and the Family Stone”: Fine Young Cannibals confirm that She Drives Me Crazy was recorded at Paisley Park using Prince’s studio gear ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/the-purple-rain-guitar-was-in-the-corner-his-lava-lamps-were-everywhere-and-the-mixing-desk-had-been-used-by-sly-and-the-family-stone-fine-young-cannibals-confirm-that-she-drives-me-crazy-was-recorded-at-paisley-park-using-princes-studio-gear 7N9ZZcUVPdE4JQqYcoh4ti Tue, 11 Nov 2025 13:59:19 +0000 <![CDATA[ “We would like to leave the verdict of price versus value to the customers”: Is the Roland TR-1000 really too expensive? ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/the-massive-sense-of-entitlement-of-those-who-think-roland-is-fleecing-its-customers-is-laughable-is-the-roland-tr-1000-really-too-expensive mYHKLaZ9jddfnYnkTckGBd Sat, 08 Nov 2025 12:00:00 +0000 Mon, 10 Nov 2025 10:01:21 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Promises a lot and mostly delivers – although it’s not without a few teething issues”: Roland TR-1000 Rhythm Creator review ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/drum-machines/promises-a-lot-and-mostly-delivers-although-its-not-without-a-few-teething-issues-roland-tr-1000-rhythm-creator-review WcvUhrqW7zoPk6BGXW5cyL Wed, 29 Oct 2025 15:53:25 +0000 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:12:33 +0000 <![CDATA[ "The iconic essence of analogue electronic drums in a practical form factor": HexDrums, Erica Synths' "mutant" analogue drum machine, is available for pre-order ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/the-iconic-essence-of-analogue-electronic-drums-in-a-practical-form-factor-hexdrums-erica-synths-mutant-analogue-drum-machine-is-available-for-pre-order BYmzaAuf29roM7dWgX5wMn Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:45:36 +0000 Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:59:48 +0000 <![CDATA[ With the TR-1000 Roland has finally given analogue purists what they want – so can we move on from 808 and 909 clones now? ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/with-the-tr-1000-roland-has-finally-given-analogue-purists-what-they-want-so-can-we-move-on-from-808-and-909-clones-now FcaXQZiFyybbKeqbxfGNP3 Fri, 03 Oct 2025 14:00:00 +0000 Mon, 13 Oct 2025 13:31:20 +0000 <![CDATA[ “A truly go-anywhere production box that’s determined to keep you away from a laptop at all costs”: Akai MPC Live III review ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/akai-mpc-live-3-review SCTihcoAS8tUiZYv548RLm Thu, 02 Oct 2025 14:00:00 +0000 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:12:30 +0000 <![CDATA[ “The first Roland drum machine in over 40 years with true analogue voices”: The TR-1000 combines analogue 808 and 909 recreations with the best parts of the TR-8S and more ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/the-first-roland-drum-machine-in-over-40-years-with-true-analogue-voices-the-tr-1000-combines-analogue-808-and-909-recreations-with-the-best-parts-of-the-tr-8s-and-more YY8KRngbW9r7kckxXAaHdK Wed, 01 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Tonverk is made for expansive sound design and immediate play”: Elektron’s stereo sampling workstation is real, and it’s out now ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/tonverk-is-made-for-expansive-sound-design-and-immediate-play-elektrons-stereo-sampling-workstation-is-real-and-its-out-now 6Mf6wuUgBrayEUCbAkbk96 Wed, 10 Sep 2025 16:30:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “The hardest hitting synthesized drums ever put in a plugin”: Baby Audio’s new drum synth Tekno isn’t pulling its punches ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/the-hardest-hitting-synthesized-drums-ever-put-in-a-plugin-baby-audios-new-drum-synth-tekno-isnt-pulling-its-punches r89CJgdk5KRanmiQ8Y3HcW Tue, 02 Sep 2025 15:10:48 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Kudos to Akai’s software team”: Roger Linn uploads video that praises the MPC Live II as “the ultimate looper” ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/kudos-to-akais-software-team-roger-linn-uploads-video-that-praises-the-mpc-as-the-ultimate-looper VLgyuJVsZzqB2gv78ywWSf Tue, 29 Jul 2025 13:24:55 +0000 Tue, 29 Jul 2025 13:41:14 +0000 <![CDATA[ "Some fresh and inspiring sequencing ideas, paired with an underwhelming sound engine": AlphaTheta Chordcat first look ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/drum-machines/some-genuinely-fresh-and-inspiring-sequencing-ideas-paired-with-an-underbaked-sound-engine-alphatheta-chordcat-first-look bKrADR2Rj8BBnaMpxudE4Q Thu, 10 Jul 2025 07:00:00 +0000 Thu, 10 Jul 2025 07:35:12 +0000 <![CDATA[ Visco 2.0 turns the boundary-pushing drum machine into a polysynth – and makes one of last year’s best plugins even more of a must-try ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/synths/visco-2-0-turns-the-boundary-pushing-drum-machine-into-a-polysynth-and-makes-one-of-last-years-best-plugins-even-more-of-a-must-try ShcYrQPtsuow3N7kMwSwS6 Tue, 08 Jul 2025 11:56:10 +0000 <![CDATA[ Digitakt II’s new firmware update adds a major user-requested feature – and finally lets it step out of the shadow of the original ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/samplers/digitakt-iis-new-firmware-update-adds-a-major-user-requested-feature-and-finally-lets-it-step-out-of-the-shadow-of-the-original PK6XSaupywX2F3uLL567JC Thu, 26 Jun 2025 13:23:27 +0000 Thu, 26 Jun 2025 14:14:05 +0000 <![CDATA[ "There's too much new gear!": The 12 best instruments, effects and innovations you need to know about from Superbooth 2025 ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/synths/theres-too-much-new-gear-the-12-best-instruments-effects-and-innovations-you-need-to-know-about-from-superbooth-2025 XzKyYGctf83XGnvGjgaXCh Mon, 12 May 2025 17:20:07 +0000 Tue, 13 May 2025 10:45:25 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Designed to replace your laptop and become the brain of your setup”: Bento is an all-in-one DAW in a box that does 'everything 1010music users have been asking for' ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/samplers/designed-to-replace-your-laptop-and-become-the-brain-of-your-setup-bento-is-an-all-in-one-daw-in-a-box-that-does-everything-1010music-users-have-been-asking-for NKLtB5mtUfE84tb6UWrXJf Wed, 07 May 2025 16:01:00 +0000 Thu, 08 May 2025 08:16:43 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I'm so glad that the Erica Synths crew was able to carry out the vision and finish the dream!": Hexinverter Électronique’s planned analogue drum machine never made it to market, but the HexDrums is set to put that right ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/drum-machines/im-so-glad-that-the-erica-synths-crew-was-able-to-carry-out-the-vision-and-finish-the-dream-hexinverter-electroniques-planned-analogue-drum-machine-never-made-it-to-market-but-the-hexdrums-is-set-to-put-that-right uEwQUWB3Gp3emngRcyMxgQ Wed, 07 May 2025 12:03:58 +0000 Thu, 08 May 2025 08:17:32 +0000 <![CDATA[ Ableton drops 1.5 update for Move, adding sample slicing, improved MIDI I/O and a new Auto-Filter device ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/daws/ableton-drops-move-1-5 aviMbb5STPz346Ukkxv7GV Wed, 07 May 2025 11:05:52 +0000 Thu, 08 May 2025 08:15:20 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Do you dare to ditch those ‘normal’ beats in favour of hands-on tweaking and extreme sounds? Of course, you do”: Sonicware CyDrums review ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/drum-machines/sonicware-cydrums-review zb6ri6ZopyHxmsF5M67aq7 Fri, 18 Apr 2025 11:00:20 +0000 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:12:04 +0000 <![CDATA[ Native Instruments updates Maschine software to 3.1 adding user chords, fullscreen mode, and clarifies compatibility ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/midi-controllers/native-instruments-updates-maschine-software-to-3-1-adding-user-chords-fullscreen-mode-and-clarifies-compatibility PH4TcnPrKREAMgicVATb8A Mon, 24 Mar 2025 12:13:08 +0000 <![CDATA[ “The perfect environment for creating iconic drum sounds, which have scope to move beyond their original sonic remit”: GForce Software IconDrum review ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/plugins/gforce-software-icondrum-review vzt8X9RNfnWi6W3xjx3MPi Thu, 20 Mar 2025 17:40:22 +0000 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:11:55 +0000 <![CDATA[ "The bass drum is a total bad-ass, while the potential for Aphex-style bleeps and mayhem is available": Cherry Audio KR-55C Software Drum Machine ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/plugins/cherry-audio-kr-55c-software-drum-machine pscLiupnnsjLYLyk5GfBmL Tue, 11 Mar 2025 18:28:48 +0000 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:12:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ How a lone Bee Gee became the first person to use a drum machine on a pop hit ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/its-some-of-the-weirdest-most-fascinating-music-of-the-sixties-how-a-lone-bee-gee-became-the-first-person-to-use-a-drum-machine-on-a-pop-hit fTq8Zs3QSLcJnF8JnsLtTd Mon, 10 Mar 2025 16:18:26 +0000 Tue, 11 Mar 2025 09:08:31 +0000 <![CDATA[ Arturia's limited-edition DrumBrute Impact 1984 gives its analogue drum machine an '80s facelift ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/arturias-limited-edition-drumbrute-impact-1984-gives-its-analogue-drum-machine-an-80s-facelift 2EYez3VnuMTPUWHiNUy4fH Wed, 05 Feb 2025 14:13:09 +0000 Wed, 05 Feb 2025 14:45:38 +0000 <![CDATA[ Behringer releases RD-78, a $199 Roland CR-78 clone that promises to "bring the magic of the '70s and '80s back to life" ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/behringer-releases-rd-78-a-usd199-roland-cr-78-clone-that-promises-to-bring-the-magic-of-the-70s-and-80s-back-to-life hEGLd3mG793GWS6QkEPcVZ Tue, 04 Feb 2025 12:41:22 +0000 Wed, 09 Apr 2025 10:38:55 +0000 <![CDATA[ NAMM 2025: Feel the rhythm in your feet with Polyend Step, “the first fully programmable drum machine in guitar pedal form” ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/drum-machines/namm-2025-feel-the-rhythm-in-your-feet-with-polyend-step-the-first-fully-programmable-drum-machine-in-guitar-pedal-form zB5MKoZ5jFATGVffHzXdBY Tue, 21 Jan 2025 15:00:10 +0000 Wed, 09 Apr 2025 10:39:12 +0000 <![CDATA[ "We’re here to break the barriers and put powerful instruments into the hands of real musicians, not collectors": Here's the 2025 update on all the synths and drum machines that Behringer has announced that aren't in the shops yet ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/synths/were-here-to-break-the-barriers-and-put-powerful-instruments-into-the-hands-of-real-musicians-not-collectors-heres-the-2025-update-on-all-the-synths-and-drum-machines-that-behringer-has-announced-that-arent-in-the-shops-yet o5XMJYe3jS2pL7CcnPUmzk Tue, 07 Jan 2025 17:14:04 +0000 Thu, 06 Feb 2025 16:50:47 +0000 <![CDATA[ Sonicware CyDrums is a "next-gen digital drum synth" that promises four-dimensional sound ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/sonicware-cydrums-is-a-next-gen-digital-drum-synth-that-promises-four-dimensional-sound 4tKZKkkdJ2suqpAZDr6GA3 Mon, 06 Jan 2025 12:01:58 +0000 Mon, 06 Jan 2025 15:14:22 +0000 <![CDATA[ Music technology gear of the year 2024: The 10 best new synths, samplers and drum machines ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/synths/music-technology-gear-of-the-year-2024-the-10-best-new-synths-samplers-and-drum-machines 6eJxaaUw64fbuvmZicwfYQ Thu, 26 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +0000 Thu, 26 Dec 2024 11:27:06 +0000 <![CDATA[ Behringer releases LM Drum, a $399 LinnDrum clone that it's calling "the rebirth of a legend" ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/drum-machines/behringer-releases-lm-drum-a-usd399-linndrum-clone-that-its-calling-the-rebirth-of-a-legend 9V7XdTJBKLRkgBJDvSaVLT Wed, 18 Dec 2024 10:49:12 +0000 Wed, 09 Apr 2025 10:38:56 +0000 <![CDATA[ “We think there were probably less than 50 of these ever produced”: Are these the strangest synths in Korg’s 70 year history? ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/synths/korgs-strangest-synths ecAAAQaTmpX3dvqMD2bPiQ Thu, 12 Dec 2024 12:14:13 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I'm not afraid of breaking the rules": Viral 67-year-old producer The Last DJ shares his essential techno tips ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/artists/the-last-dj-techno-tips y9qxKXrPkdUhdYPXLtdRTm Tue, 10 Dec 2024 14:57:28 +0000 Tue, 10 Dec 2024 14:59:12 +0000 <![CDATA[ Picture this: you’ve got $/£200 to spend on synths. Now I think I’ve found the best deals for you this Cyber Monday ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/synths/picture-this-youve-got-usd-gbp200-to-spend-on-synths-now-i-think-ive-found-the-best-deals-for-you-this-cyber-monday WzU3QA8dAugUgS6yrEgSJb Mon, 02 Dec 2024 19:25:12 +0000 Mon, 02 Dec 2024 19:29:58 +0000 <![CDATA[ I absolutely love this Cyber Monday deal on the Yamaha Seqtrak, it’s giving Teenage Engineering features on Behringer money vibes ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/synths/yamaha-seqtrak-teenage-engineering-features-on-behringer-money eTrBzpo8JBWmy8PAUShzYY Mon, 02 Dec 2024 13:43:15 +0000 Wed, 09 Apr 2025 10:38:55 +0000 <![CDATA[ FYI: Black Friday or not, you don’t 'need' a new synth... But if you’re really craving one, I get it – these are the deals I’d go for ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/synths/black-friday-synths-2024 zDywk2RUUZUCL5SszNM9aZ Sat, 30 Nov 2024 16:59:11 +0000 Sat, 30 Nov 2024 17:20:25 +0000 <![CDATA[ I had mixed feelings about this Korg synth but it's had such a price drop this Black Friday that I’d even consider changing our review score and there are more savings on Korg synths at Sweetwater ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/synths/best-savings-on-korg-synths-at-sweetwater wi78qi8u26axPwLmTHi7PR Fri, 29 Nov 2024 23:28:20 +0000 Sat, 30 Nov 2024 00:03:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ Roland’s SH-4d was one of my favorite instruments of last year – and it’s down to a bargain price this Black Friday ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/synths/roland-sh4d-deal CrkY9RppBXDxtzGgugPHzc Fri, 29 Nov 2024 18:53:26 +0000 Fri, 29 Nov 2024 19:14:55 +0000 <![CDATA[ Zildjian at Recording Week 2024: Introducing the ALL-NEW lineup of Zildjian ALCHEM-E Series electronic drum kits ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/zildjian-at-recording-week-2024-introducing-the-all-new-lineup-of-zildjian-alchem-e-series-electronic-drum-kits aSP7hntnKaSxaCecemecKM Wed, 13 Nov 2024 13:55:08 +0000 Wed, 13 Nov 2024 13:55:19 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Pull your sound through the prism and into a spectrum of dazzling tones”: Elektron’s Digitone II adds FM drums, phase distortion, comb filters and more ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/synths/pull-your-sound-through-the-prism-and-into-a-spectrum-of-dazzling-tones-elektrons-digitone-ii-adds-fm-drums-phase-distortion-comb-filters-and-more rFiW6g36NK4tHzwtbQEnBE Wed, 23 Oct 2024 17:00:00 +0000 Wed, 23 Oct 2024 17:35:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Spreads those SidStation ripples even further”: Elektron’s Syntakt gets new sounds and a Euclidean sequencer ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/synths/spreads-those-sidstation-ripples-even-further-elektrons-syntakt-gets-new-sounds-and-a-euclidean-sequencer viWefn59aTrxmRTkevMjmD Thu, 17 Oct 2024 09:14:30 +0000 Thu, 17 Oct 2024 19:35:13 +0000 <![CDATA[ “An all-round upgrade to the formula of the original, but it’s unlikely to convince any sceptics”: Elektron Digitakt II review ]]> https://www.musicradar.com/music-tech/samplers/an-all-round-upgrade-to-the-formula-of-the-original-but-its-unlikely-to-convince-any-sceptics-elektron-digitakt-ii-review QbaKBXDLDn4hXECy62QPqh Wed, 16 Oct 2024 17:53:40 +0000 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 16:11:40 +0000