Latest articles by Si Truss
Best drum machine plugins 2025: Sample and synthesis VSTs for beatmaking
From 808 and 909 emulations to innovative drum synths and AI-assisted samplers
Best synth plugins 2025: Synth VSTs to suit all styles and budgets
From virtual analogue to wavetable, these are plugins you need on your hard drive
Klevgrand Tomofon
The Swedish developer’s ‘real audio synth’ is the company’s biggest release yet. We see what it can do…
Korg Drumlogue
Some two years after it was first announced, Korg’s hybrid drum machine is finally here. We find out if it’s worth the wait
Audiomodern Loopmix
A six-track looper with controlled randomisation at its heart. We get in the loop
Arturia MiniFreak
The MicroFreak gets a new, polyphonic sibling. We let the ’Freak off the leash
Cableguys ShaperBox 3
The modulation-focused multieffect hits v3. We examine what’s new in this box of tricks…
Best DJ turntables 2025: 8 top decks for vinyl DJs
Our pick of the best DJ turntables for all budgets and abilities
Best DJ speakers: Recommended monitors for home and the DJ booth
From stylish to portable – our pick of speakers to suit all DJ set-ups
Best DJ mixers 2025: Top choices for club, home and battle DJs
Our experts round-up the best DJ mixers for all budgets from Rane, Allen & Heath, Pioneer and more
Best beginner DJ mixers 2025: Affordable scratch, club and rotary mixers to get you started
Get to grips with the basics of mixing and scratching with these cheap and entry-level mixers
Best cheap synthesizers 2025: including the best synths under $500/£500
Portable, desktop and keyboard instruments for music-makers on a budget
Best MIDI pad controllers 2025: Our top pad controller picks for every budget and every task
Expert advice for buying MIDI pad controllers for studio and stage and for every budget – including kits by Native Instruments, Arturia and Novation
Arturia MiniFreak: 5 things you need to know
Some highlights from Arturia's newest 'Freak box
Ableton Note first look: the closest you’ll get to Ableton Live on your iPhone?
Here’s everything you can and can’t do with Ableton’s new music-making app
PWM Malevolent
This British brand’s debut instrument is a decidedly old-school semi-modular synth but it boasts character by the bucketload
Korg Volca FM2
The DX7-inspired synth gets a v2 upgrade with twice the polyphony and new effects. Let's go back to the ’80s
The best free VST compressor plugins 2022: must-have dynamics processors for your DAW
From vintage limiter emulations to transparent mastering tools
The best free VST synth plugins 2023: wavetable, FM, virtual analogue and more
These are the free electronic instruments you need in your DAW
The history of breaks in music production
We trace the influence of breaks in music-making from the birth of hip-hop through breakbeat hardcore, rave, jungle and DnB
Akai MPC One review
Akai’s MPC One was introduced back in 2020 and quickly made heads turn. How has it changed since its release?
Toolroom Academy Infinite
We test out the debut effect plugin from the brains behind venerated house label Toolroom
Reason Studios Chord Sequencer
The latest Rack Extension is an interesting take on automatic chord generation. We take it for a spin…
