Vintage Synthesizers News

Mario Maggi’s One-Off MCS70, First Programmable Synth, Powered 1978 Automat

The one and only MCS70 - Mario Maggi’s memory-controlled synth with 64 presets - has been restored and was the sole sound source for the 1978 album Automat.

Jamie Taylor•2 min read•02:22 PM

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Releases

Mos‑Lab Releases Authentic E‑Mu Modular Clone, 1974 Dave Rossum Replica

Mos‑Lab has opened orders for a handcrafted, 1:1 replica of Dave Rossum’s 1974 E‑Mu Modular, a 21‑module system offered in two case sizes, available via info@mos‑lab.com.

Sam Ortega2m read

Releases

Michigan Synth Works unveils LRB-303 DIY kit and OS-303 Arduino-compatible 303 processor

Michigan Synth Works is selling a near-complete LRB-303 TB-303 DIY kit for $499 with SMD-populated boards and an MIT-licensed OS-303 Arduino-compatible processor available separately for $40.

Nina Kowalski3m read

Releases

Temecula DSP Releases Cycle-Accurate DEEP/4 Ensoniq DP/4 Emulation with All 46 Algorithms

Temecula DSP has released DEEP/4, a claimed cycle-accurate multi-FX plug-in that recreates the 1992 Ensoniq DP/4 and, in a development build, includes all 46 original algorithms.

Sam Ortega3m read

Releases

Neutral Labs Unveils Luna CMOS Lunetta Synth as Kit, Desktop, Eurorack

Neutral Labs launches Luna Lunetta in DIY kit, assembled desktop and 42 HP Eurorack forms; desktop ships with 12 braided patch cables and one source lists a $799 pre‑order price.

Jamie Taylor3m read

Releases

Korallum Atelier Unveils No.1 Nérée Touch-Driven Groovebox With Synth Engines

Korallum Atelier unveiled the No.1 Nérée, a whale-shaped PCB groovebox with 24 touch plates that sense notes, pressure, and movement for hands-on live play.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Updates

Isla Instruments Shuts Down US Operations; Brad Holland Announces Relaunch Plans

Isla Instruments LLC has permanently ceased operations; founder Brad Holland says, "Outstanding pre-orders will be taken care of by me, personally, once ready."

Jamie Taylor3m read

Releases

CHOMPI Club gets TEMPO firmware, adds pattern-based tempo-synced groovebox mode

TEMPO firmware turns CHOMPI into a tempo-synced groovebox with a Pattern Generator and 16-slice Slice engine, free to download for CHOMPI Club users.

Jamie Taylor3m read

Updates

Plugin Boutique cuts Roland TB‑303 plug‑in 67% for 303 Day, bonus plugins

Plugin Boutique ran a 303 Day promotion cutting Roland’s TB‑303 Software Bass Line 67% to $49 (local equivalents £43 / 47,77€) and bundled selectable free plugins; sale ends March 8.

Sam Ortega3m read

Releases

Liminal Sound Devices launches Burg analog semi-modular synth with touchpads, light sensors

Liminal Sound Devices has debuted the Burg, an 18-module semi-modular analog synth with touchpads, two light-dependent controllers, 55 patch points and a €650 assembled price.

Nina Kowalski3m read

Releases

Moog Music Releases Behind-the-Scenes Video and EP by Flight To London

Moog Music published "Face to Face with Flight to London," a studio video documenting Jimmy McGorman and Robb Vallier recording the two-song EP "The Moog Sessions."

Jamie Taylor3m read

Community

Keyboard Energies Concert Pairs Historical Keyboards with Minimoogs and Electric Pianos

Nine instruments, including vintage Minimoog Model D synthesizers and a clavichord, met in a compact concert at Cornell Tech, which paired five centuries of keyboard design and gave attendees hands-on time.

Jamie Taylor3m read

Updates

Minimal Audio launches Current 2.2 with Poly Flanger, new scales, streamlined activation

Minimal Audio has released Current v2.2, a free update for existing Current 2.0 users that adds a Poly Flanger, Phrygian Dominant and Melodic Minor scales, and single-click activation.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Home Vintage Synth Repair Guide: Safety, Soldering, Cleaning, When To Stop

Home vintage synth repair guide outlines safe starter steps for cleaning, soldering, and troubleshooting, and explains when to stop and hire a pro.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Community

Second Sunday Synthesizer Soundbaths and Hands-On Synthesis Workshop at Vintage Synthesizer Museum

Vintage Synthesizer Museum in Highland Park is running a $15 Second Sunday Synthesizer Soundbath with two time slots and a hands‑on synthesis workshop that offers oscilloscope work and a six‑person cap.

Sam Ortega2m read

Analysis

Technical Checklist for Collectors Buying Vintage Synthesizers Online

Use this technical checklist when buying vintage synthesizers online to demand a power-up video, PCB photos, serial numbers, and service-history proof before payment.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Vintage Synth Buying Guide: Trusted Markets, Inspection Checklist, Pricing, Shipping

Practical buyer's guide for vintage synths explains trusted markets, inspection checklist, pricing benchmarks, and shipping rules to cut GAS-driven mistakes and costly repairs.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

MatrixSynth Summarizes RetroSound Studio Tour of 1980s Samplers That Shaped Synth-pop, Hip-hop

MatrixSynth posted a summary of RetroSound Studio's March 5, 2026 video tour of 1980s hardware samplers that helped define synth-pop, early hip-hop, industrial and experimental electronic sounds.

Nina Kowalski2m read

Analysis

Essential KSR Restorations and SynthXL Resources for Vintage Synth Care

Two practical resources, KSR Restorations (Kent Spong / KSR80) and the SynthXL service-manual and parts index, offer a clear starting point for buying, maintaining, and restoring vintage analogue synthesizers. These resources clarify common maintenance tasks, help locate manuals and part numbers, and indicate when to hire a qualified technician, making them immediately useful to anyone working on classic synth gear.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Releases

Open-Source OB-Xf Beta Brings Community OB-X Recreation to Desktop

Surge Synth Team and related maintainers released OB-Xf beta/nightly builds on January 2, 2026, providing free installers for macOS, Windows and Linux under the GPLv3 license. This community-driven, open-source implementation of the 1979 Oberheim OB-X architecture adds MIDI Program Change support and offers a preservation-minded alternative for users and developers seeking a modifiable OB-X-style synth.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Releases

Gotharman Unveils Tuul: 4‑Channel Eurorack Multi‑Function Workhorse Module

Gotharman of Denmark revealed the Tuul on January 6, 2026, a 12HP, 4‑channel Eurorack module that can configure each channel independently as an effects processor, oscillator, filter, or an 8‑step modulator. Its compact footprint, deep feature set and four CV inputs position Tuul as a potential all‑in‑one alternative to small utilities such as Expert Sleepers’ Disting and FX Aid.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Releases

ACME Synthworks unveils working fully discrete 8-voice Jupiter-8 clone prototype

ACME Synthworks published a sneak-preview video on February 23, 2026 showing a working, fully discrete 8-voice clone of the Roland Jupiter-8, described by the builder as "95% finish".

Nina Kowalski1m read

Updates

Aqusmatiq Opens Beta Sign-Ups with Marche Synth Museum for Rare Italian Synths

Aqusmatiq opened beta sign-ups in late January for near-complete VST3/AU/AAX emulations of rare '70s/'80s Italian synths, modeled with the Marche Synth Museum.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Collector's primer for buying and restoring vintage synthesizers safely

A practical primer identifies key vintage synth models and gives hands-on buying and restoration tips that matter to collectors and players.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Practical Power Supply Diagnostics and Fixes for Vintage Synthesizers

This hands-on guide explains how to diagnose and repair common power-supply failures in 70s-90s vintage synthesizers and why those failures matter to collectors, restorers, and players. It lays out the essential tools, step-by-step inspection and measurement techniques, typical repairs like recapping and regulator replacement, and clear safety guidance so you can make informed decisions about when to tackle a fix yourself and when to call a professional.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Releases

Modulaire Maritime Phosgène: 2HP Wavetable/FM Oscillator Delivers Industrial Low-End

Modulaire Maritime's tiny 2HP Phosgène combines 60 wavetables, wavefolding and a 100 Hz-centric FM engine to deliver gritty, industrial low-end in a pocket-sized oscillator.

Jamie Taylor2m read

News

Six Minimoog Model Ds Chained Into Monstrous Six-Voice Polysynth

Reverb News hooked six Minimoog Model D units together on camera to make a literal six-voice Moog polysynth, while a separate Teensy-based MiniTeensy project offers a six-voice VA alternative.

Nina Kowalski2m read

Releases

Intellijel begins shipping Jellymix five-channel stereo mixer for live electronic musicians

Intellijel began shipping the Jellymix on February 21, 2026, a compact five-channel stereo performance mixer now listed as available on the manufacturer product page and distributor listings.

Nina Kowalski2m read

Releases

VNL Works' YeetzSynth Generates Complete Playable Patches From Minimal Prompts

VNL Works' YeetzSynth builds full, playable patches from a single Generate action across 24 instrument types, using a hybrid engine with subtractive, 4-op FM and wavetable synthesis.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Practical Techniques and Professional Notes for Restoring Vintage Analogue Synthesizers

Juno 106 fixes and Roland‑stocked clones change the restoration playbook: expect VCF/VCA and PSU failures, pre-order parts, and lean on community clones where original ICs are unobtainable.

Jamie Taylor5m read