Vintage Synthesizers News

Mike Dean’s DLP releases free Smoke Mono 1 monophonic synth

Mike Dean’s DLP Audio has dropped Smoke Mono 1 as a free macOS monosynth, with 50 presets, ladder-filter tone and no demo limits.

Jamie Taylor•2 min read•06:59 PM

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FutureRetro opens FR-777 pre-orders, limited-run acid bass synth returns in 2026

FutureRetro has opened FR-777 pre-orders at $1,299.99, bringing a cult 303-style bassline machine back as a limited 2026 run.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Five Vintage Synths That Defined Modern Electronic Music

These five synths still shape what players buy, patch, and clone, from a 500-unit Minimoog tribute to the DX7's 200,000-plus reach.

Jamie Taylor4m read

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Behringer JT-2 channels Jupiter-8 vibe in compact Euro rack monosynth

Behringer’s JT-2 moved from tease to tone test, bringing Jupiter-8 styling, dual oscillators, and a desktop-to-Eurorack format into one compact voice.

Jamie Taylor2m read

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Cherry Audio’s Crumar DS-2 gets fresh demo from Andi Vax

Andi Vax’s April 17 demo gives Cherry Audio’s $59 Crumar DS-2 emulation a fresh outside read, spotlighting the 1978 Italian hybrid’s mono-plus-paraphonic oddness.

Jamie Taylor2m read

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This Is Not Rocket Science unveils BigFish, a standalone polyphonic synth

BigFish pushes TiNRS from modular boxes into a self-contained polyphonic synth. The keybed, editor and DSP-first architecture all point to a Nord Modular-style reboot.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Vintage Synthesizer Museums Guide: Restoration, Sourcing, Storage, Hands-On Education

Museums and collections are preserving analog character through targeted restoration, component sourcing, climate-controlled storage, and hands-on exhibits that teach repair and patching skills.

Jamie Taylor2m read

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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.

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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

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.

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Analysis

RL Music Highlights Kent Spong’s World-Class CS-80 Level-2 Restorations with Multi‑Month Warranties

RL Music highlights Kent Spong’s KSR Level-2 restorations for Yamaha CS-80s, detailing full operational overhauls and multi-month warranties that boost reliability and resale confidence.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Community restoration logs deliver practical guidance for vintage synth repairs

A hands-on community project published detailed restoration logs with photos and step-by-step repair notes, giving readers practical instructions for safe basic synth servicing.

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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.

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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

Solidtrax launches Analog Octane X preset bank for TAL-J-8X

Solidtrax’s first TAL-J-8X expansion adds 151 mix-ready presets, 13 skins and MPE support for instant JX-8P color.

Sam Ortega2m 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

Releases

Synth Gems 1, A Photographic Guide to Vintage Synthesizers

This article breaks down what makes Synth Gems 1 an essential visual reference for collectors, restorers, researchers, and players interested in vintage synths. You will learn the book’s key features, signature instruments covered, practical value for the community, and why the photographic and editorial approach matters.

Jamie Taylor3m read

Releases

AIR Music Tech launches Fabric Vintage Synths Vol. 1, three classic polysynths in one

AIR put Prophet, Jupiter, and Memorymoog character into one Fabric collection, built from multisampled hardware and aimed at modern MPCs and DAWs.

Sam Ortega2m read

Releases

Pylobolus unveils Alkove, 12-voice binaural hybrid synth at SynthFest France 2026

Pylobolus’s Alkove brings 12 voices, binaural stereo and hybrid formant synthesis to SynthFest France, turning a boutique tease into a serious new instrument.

Nina Kowalski2m read

Releases

Michigan Synth Works MSW-820 revives Roland CMU-800 spirit with flexible filter

Michigan Synth Works’ beta MSW-820 brought a two-VCO Roland CMU-800 riff to Sonicstate, but its 16-mode filter and pending third VCO made it feel like more than a clone.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Releases

DAWJunkie revives Casio MT-600 tones with DT-600 synths

DAWJunkie sampled the 1987 Casio MT-600 and split it into a paid DT-600 and a free Mini, turning preset-keyboard grit into a DAW-ready tool.

Sam Ortega2m read

Releases

Audiomodern Wired brings vintage synth warmth to Soundbox, now on sale

Audiomodern’s Wired packed 40 dream-pop presets into Soundbox for €19, leaning on tape-tinged analog mood instead of hardware-accurate polish.

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

Analysis

Complete Toolkit and Safety Guide for Restoring Vintage Synthesizers

Wrong tools ruin more vintage synths than age does. Here are the 12 tools and 8 consumables that prevent 80% of beginner mistakes.

Nina Kowalski6m read

Analysis

ROM-Based Synth Emulators: Legal and Practical Guide for Hobbyists

Owning the hardware doesn't mean you own the ROM. Here's the cleanest legal path to SD-1 and classic ROMpler tone without triggering a takedown.

Sam Ortega6m read

Analysis

Essential Buyer’s Guide for the Roland Juno-60 Synthesizer

The Roland Juno-60 remains a sought-after 1982 analog polysynth, but older electronics and decades of use create risks for buyers. This guide lays out practical pre-purchase checks, common red flags, sourcing options, and maintenance reminders to help collectors and players reduce risk and make informed acquisitions.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Vintage Synth Explorer Gives Collectors Timelines, Glossaries, and Studio Guides

Before you bid on that Prophet or Juno, Vintage Synth Explorer's free glossary, timeline, and studio guides prevent the rookie mistakes that cost real money.

Jamie Taylor6m read

Releases

French Boutique Builder NRSynth Unveils Analog Oberheim Four-Voice Clone, the Quatuor

NRSynth's hand-built Quatuor clones the Oberheim Four-Voice with what the original never offered: MIDI, a five-octave FATAR keyboard, and a Eurorack patch bay.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Electric Druid surveys rare high-pass filter circuits in vintage synths

Electric Druid published a deep technical post on February 27, 2026 that catalogs the surprisingly rare dedicated high-pass circuits in classic instruments such as the Roland Jupiter 4 and the Boss DR-110.

Sam Ortega3m read

Releases

Moog Launches Limited Bob Moog Tribute Minimoog Model D for Collectors

Moog’s 500-unit Bob Moog Tribute Model D pairs a quartersawn oak case with the classic all-analog path, and each sale sends $500 to the Bob Moog Foundation.

Jamie Taylor2m read