I recently bought an LXR-02 because I wanted to make industrial music, and I’m really liking it. I’ve suffered from GAS for a while, but I finally feel like my gear setup is starting to settle down. I’m not buying anything else! (I say that every time, but this time I mean it lol)

Personally, I’m really into industrial and acid, and I’ve finally settled on the LXR-02, SP-404MKII, SH-4d, and T-8. Oh, and the PO-33.

For those of you with GAS, I’d love to know: what piece of gear finally made you think, “Yep, this is all I need”?

Also, I actually bought an Octatrack too, but after struggling with it for a month, I gave up and sold it. Apparently my IQ just wasn’t high enough for that thing lol.

P.S.
Thanks for all the comments, everyone! I honestly didn’t expect this to get so much discussion.

And some of your comments almost gave me GAS again, which surprised me lol.

Hmm… I’m definitely not buying any new gear for at least a year!

Because that’s what 90% of posts are

warning, volume jumps and clips a couple times shortly after the higher voice comes in

Had a lovely time learning this synth and being able to sequence all 3 of its oscillators with the Korg sq64. I'm using the envelope follower and ring mod to create an additional amp envelope

A little more context for anyone seeing this for the first time: this is OpenTracker, an alternative open-source firmware for the original Polyend Tracker.

It started from reverse-engineering with LLM the Tracker hardware and firmware interface, but rather than patching Polyend’s firmware, OpenTracker is a  reimplementation written from scratch - there is no vendor code in it. It runs directly on the original Tracker hardware and can be installed using the normal firmware update mechanism.

The goal was initially to reproduce the original Tracker functionality, but having a completely open firmware also means the hardware can now be taken in directions the original software never did.

Version 2.0.1 pushes that further with new synthesizer functionality and a new USB mode. So the original Tracker is starting to become much more than just a sample-based tracker - the same hardware can now be used as a platform for experimenting with new synthesis, instruments and workflows.

There are also quite a few changes under the hood: project loading/saving runs in the background, USB serial diagnostics are available, MOD/IT import and export have been expanded and fixed in a number of places, and there are various playback and workflow fixes compared with the original firmware.

Project / download / source:
https://github.com/sandlbn/polyend-tracker-re

Posting this since there's been some 3rd Wave discussion here before. Groove has sent out a message to mailing list subscribers that they will be launching their "Terminal" app next week. If you haven't received an email, it looks like you need to do some prep work by creating an account at https://groovesynthesis.com/support/ (which requires you to input the serial number of your 3rd Wave hardware) and to update your 3rd Wave hardware to the recently released 2.0d firmware.

This has been a long time coming and companion app support is something that Groove has sorely needed as a premium tier product and brand. Great to see that this is being delivered as a first party app with official support from Groove. Fingers crossed that this will also include an improved and expanded library of wavetables, samples, and patches.

Total newbie here in this world. Daughter has been playing piano for 12 years but as she goes to college even her keyboard will be tough to manage. She does plan on joining a band. Figure maybe a synthesizer is the way to go but like I said I know nothing. Any recommendation in the $400 range where she can continue making music?!!! She loves creating and DJing too but maybe a quality machine is what she needs. Thanks!!!

I apologize in advance, as I realize this question may sound "out there". I am looking to get a midi keyboard or a synth with weighted keys -- for my wife who plays, and to learn/experiment myself. I've initially set my mind on the Studiologic SL73 or 88 (or a kit that uses FATAR keyboards). Out of curiosity, I watched how these keyboards are made and I was very impressed. What got me worried was the grease they use for the keys which I did not know about before. Does anyone happen to know what that grease is? They had a bucket of it and were applying generous amounts to every key with a brush. I am sure it works great, but I have extreme allergies, and most kinds of synthetic lubricants/oils are sadly a trigger. Do they make keyboards w/o grease, but, say, using PTFE or other "naturally slippery", solid materials?

Thank y'all in advance!

First and foremost, this album is an absolute BANGER for an original sound track. A few songs have been sampled before. As a whole, a great mix of jazz, blues, funk, city pop, and instrumentals with inspo. from old Italian action film scores from the 70s and 80s.

On the first track there’s a really interesting synth patch around the 1:25 mark, trying to create a similar sound. Currently have a pro vs mini that should be able to shape the sounds as necessary.

Two years ago, we received roughly 2 posts marketing a software synth, VST, librarian software or otherwise per week.

In summer 2026, this was up to approximately 4 per day.

Today, we had a staggering 16 posts submitted on the topic of marketing software for synthesizers. It was substantial enough that I felt I should share the numbers with you.

Of those 16:

- 4 followed the rules and went straight to the megathread
- 4 asked permission first, 2 of which then posted to the megathread
- 8 posted to the subreddit without permission
- 3 of which were removed by automod for not having enough karma.

In addition, 4 firmware posts were made, 2 more submitted but did not meet the minimum karma requirement to post.

Listening to the community, we do not have plans to funnel posts regarding firmware hacks to the megathread at this time. Software promotion will be continually funneled to the megathread.

If you wish to receive updates on new software, you can subscribe to the megathread. There’s some genuinely good stuff in there, but there’s a lot to go through.

If you would like to share thoughts on the matter, kindly share your thoughts below. Please bear with us, we are sure you can understand this is a difficult task to navigate.

I got a used microfreak and its cool but I am not jiving with the keys or the mod matrix and want something more immediate. I found some videos showing the microbrute and it seems like just what I want and I would be set but there is also a used minibrute SE thats only slightly more expensive. From what I hear they are very similar but maybe the build quality on the micro isn't as good? Anyone have experience with these? Anything I would really miss getting the micro?

I am wondering if anyone knows what is causing this like ~11kHz static noise on the DFAM. I can’t seem to get rid of it.

It seems like yesterday he was learning how to walk, now he plays daddy's synths.

(He wasn't really playing, just randomly twisting knobs and playing keys, but I'm really proud of him)

Left part of the setup is a raspberry pi based midi translator to let the launchcontrol xl3 control my old XPS-30 (aka Juno-DS).

Jam I was working on this weekend.

KS5 drums across four midi channels and two channels of D-50 acid type patches.

MPC used for midi programming and track mutes.

This CD will never be leaving my changer. Ive spent the last hour going on an epic journey of sounds created on machines obsolete before I was even born nearly half a century ago. About to pour another one and play it again even louder. What's everyone else listening to this weekend?

Practice run for a show next week - wanted to try running some custom firmware (yes vibe coded) on the Ornate Criminal - the newest version has 8 outputs - and actually combining it with a Midi to cv converter it gave me another 12 outputs - most of these are powering the drums.

Curious what other mods (I guess like the ones for Elektron) are going to popup with so many people people able to vibe code.

Last track using the symetrix 501 on my bass lines its kinda ass 🙈 i didnt really love the compression style and you get a high pitched whine if you crank the limiter. Idk not for me

Ive been lurking on guitar center for a cheap dbx160a and I found one 😭😭 gonna be adding that to the rack to replace the symetrix

Might also be dropping the sde-1000 from the rack, its kinda antiquated to have effects in the rack since im working with a daw. But idk its got a really nice sound and very convenient. Its also fuckin huge tho.

Anyways, been sitting on this track for a week just released the vid for it yesterday, lmk what you think! Finding my way around the microwave xt a lot better now, wavetable synthesis is crazy.

Thanks for listening! Full vid is in the comments if you want

Channel: TheSynthFreq