SYNTH ANATOMY

Akai MPK Mini Plus II is the 2nd gen of its 37-key MIDI and CV/gate keyboard controller, with new features, improvements, and a big change.

Roland TR-1000 Rhythm Creator hybrid drum machine: firmware 1.5 brings new features and improvements How time flies—the Roland TR-1000 has been around for a whole year already.

M-VAVE FM-1: the new official firmware v16 turns the $70 box into a 20-voice multi-timbral FM Synthesizer with a better sequencer and more.

Atomosynth Mochika X7 is the latest version of its semi-modular analog Synthesizer, with two oscillators, a delay, and a sequencer.

GForce Software has relaunched its website and identity and is celebrating with two free plugins for a limited time: Axxess and M-Tron Select 2.

Arturia MiniFreak 49 delivers the full-size, polyphonic Freak Synthesizer experience in true stereo, with edges and more performance controls.

Roland n/vision is the first bi-timbral wavetable Synthesizer in the Boutique format with two oscillators, FX, and a step sequencer.

Roland JUPITER-08 brings back the Boutique Jupiter-8 as a bi-timbral Synthesizer with up to 32 voices, built-in FXs, and a sequencer.

Zynthian Vangelis is the new major OS update for its open-hardware synth platform, featuring a new clip launcher, new instruments, and more.

Mayer EMI MD850 Vibes: the new Aurora 5.0 firmware, announced at SB 2026, is now available, with SFZ support, a redesigned UI, and more.

The ACME Synthworks XP60 revives the Oberheim Xpander Synthesizer in a compact design, staying true to its original architecture.

With the FM-1 Open, M-VAVE welcomes developers creating alternative firmware and offers them a dedicated space to bring their ideas to life.

Canunda Synthesis Mx1K is a new free Oberheim Matrix 1000 Synthesizer emulation and hardware editor for macOS (for now).

Central Processing Unit CPU Micron is a new Roland MC-202 Synthesizer emulation plugin for macOS, Linux, and Windows.

RYK Modular Side FX is a new Eurorack multi-FX processor with four FX slots, multiple algorithms, and built-in modulation.

Fred’s Lab Töörö mkII: the unique multi-timbral hybrid MPE polyphonic Synthesizer with its digital oscillators gets a second generation.

The Stylophone Mini is a pocket-sized, fully playable miniature version of Dubreq’s iconic Stylophone Stylus Synthesizer, available in three colors.

Olydian Musical Instruments VC-01 Voicecrafter is a new hardware hybrid vocal Synthesizer with two distinct voice engines and a built-in sequencer.

Imaginando Colapso is an atomic additive Synthesizer plugin for macOS and Windows that turns the light of chemical elements into evolving sounds.

Aqeel Aadam Outgrowth is a new sample-manipulation instrument for macOS, Windows, and iOS, featuring multiple engines.

Delta Sound Labs Stream Pro, announced at NAMM 2026, is a new spatial live granular MPE Synthesizer plugin for macOS, Linux, and Windows.

UVI Falcon 2027 is another free update to its flagship hybrid synth workstation plugin, supercharging it with new oscillators, effects, and more.

Map Audio has teamed up with Big Tick Audio to revive its original Rhino FM additive Synthesizer in an overhauled 3.0 version.

Rob Papen QUAD 2 is the successor to the QUAD phase distortion waveshaping Synthesizer plugin with new features and more.

Native Instruments has released Maschine+ 2.3.0, bringing the new features of Maschine 3.7 software to the standalone.

Cherry Audio Pentaphonic brings the ultra-rare “plexiglas” Gleeman polyphonic analog Synthesizer to your DAW as a plugin.

Charles Vestal has published OMNI on GitHub, a custom firmware that turns the M-VAVE FM-1 Synthesizer into an Omnichord.

UDO Audio DMNO ON is the desktop version of its dual-layer DMNO hybrid Synthesizer, expandable in controls with the ON System.

Arturia AstroLab 2.0 is a free major update that improves the balance between Stage keyboard and Synthesizer thanks to new synth controls.

Baby Audio HyperWarp is a new time-bending granular FX plugin for macOS and Windows designed for glitch, stutter, and warp effects.

Behringer Jam & Jam Play are two new Keystep-like MIDI CV keyboard sequencers, with and without built-in sounds.

Squarp Instruments Core is a new, powerful, expandable MIDI-to-CV/gate interface for Eurorack with built-in generative engines.

Hügelton Instruments Felucca is a new custom M-VAVE FM-1 firmware that turns it into a multi-engine Synthesizer.

Charles Vestal, creator of Move Schwung, has released X0X, a custom firmware that turns the M-VAVE FM-1 into a Rebirth-like groovebox for your pocket.

Stryde Audio Swayed is an authentic emulation of the Yamaha SY77 from 1989, featuring FM synthesis and sample-based content.

Våld Labs Tresse is a new dual-layer 39-engine Synthesizer plugin for macOS, Windows, and soon iOS with a built-in generative sequencer.

BLEASS has released a spectral reverb for desktop and iOS that lets you create fascinating, otherworldly, vast spaces.

3dSam Sloop is a new free, open-source custom firmware that turns the M-VAVE FM-1 into a 4-track groovebox.

Groove OS is a new custom firmware for the M-VAVE FM-1 that turns the 60€ FM Synthesizer into an 8-track groovebox.

Justin Joe Blackbox Mod is a new custom firmware for the original 1010music Blackbox sampler with new features, including an SP-1200 mode.

The Usual Suspects JE-8086 is an upcoming free Roland JP-8000 Synthesizer emulation for macOS, Linux, and Windows, using its DSP chip emulation method.

Intech Studio ZONA is a new customizable XY expressive touch controller with a 9×9 RGB LED matrix for the GRID controller ecosystem.

TinyGreg Model-TG is a new custom Elektron Model:Cycles firmware that adds a sampler with various playback engines and more.

FRCTL Audio GRNi Lite is a new free granular sampler plugin for macOS, Linux, and Windows based on the full version GRNi.

Benjamin Dehli Overtonium is a new free 32-channel additive Synthesizer plugin for macOS, Linux, and Windows with MPE support.

18nelli18 Modded Cycles is a new custom Elektron Model: Cycles firmware that adds new synth engines, USB audio, and more.

Klangfeld Labs DOOM OS is a new custom firmware for the Roland SP-404MKII that adds features like a graphical sequencer and improves workflow.

Superbooth 2026: AnalogFX Larynx is a new keyboard version of the SER-2020 formant analog Synthesizer with neat extras like a stereo delay.

Jun Murakami Synth81Z is a new authentic emulation of the legendary 4-operator Yamaha TX81Z hardware FM Synthesizer.

Temecula DSP NIBBI is a free plugin (mac/win) that brings the open-source CHOMPI sampler to your DAW.