Chopgrid sampler plugin interface with a 16-cell grid and sound modules
Sound Design

Chopgrid Review: Sampling Built Around Chance

Chopgrid is a chance-based sampler that fills a 16-cell grid from random files, with 14 synthesis engines, a drum machine, and glitch FX. Specs and price.

Dubspot TeamJul 12, 20267 min read
Trending Now
Software57Production18Hardware35Sound Design5DJing13Mixing & Mastering8Music Theory3Tutorials1Interviews

Latest News

Fast updates on tools, platforms, and the industry.

Ultra synthesizer plugin interface showing its UltraWave oscillator and modulation section
Software

Ultra: One Synth, Five Engines, and UltraWave

Ultra is a flagship multi-synthesis plugin built around the UltraWave engine, with five sound sources, dual filters, 32 voices, MPE, and a perpetual license.

Dubspot TeamJul 10, 20268 min read
FL Studio 2026 interface showing the rebuilt FLEX synth and piano roll chord tools
Production

FL Studio 2026: Rebuilt FLEX, Cloud Backup, New Chords

FL Studio 2026 is in public beta with a rebuilt FLEX synth, automatic FL Cloud project backup, and smarter chord tools — a free update for all owners.

Dubspot TeamJul 9, 20269 min read
Polyend Drums hybrid analog and digital drum machine in black aluminum chassis
Hardware

Polyend Drums Review: Analog and Digital in One Box

Polyend Drums review: an 8-track hybrid drum machine with four analog SSI voices, four digital tracks, deep sequencing, and $2,699 price. Full specs inside.

Dubspot TeamJul 8, 20267 min read
UVI Synth Anthology 5 software synthesizer plugin interface
Software

UVI Synth Anthology 5 Review: 300 Hardware Synths in One

UVI Synth Anthology 5 review: 300 sampled hardware synths, 100 new machines, 6,000+ sound layers, a new engine and filters, for $89 intro. Is it worth it?

Dubspot TeamJul 8, 20267 min read
AlphaTheta CDJ-1500X DJ multi player with 10.1-inch touchscreen and mid-size jog wheel
Hardware

AlphaTheta CDJ-1500X: The Flagship Player, Shrunk to Fit

The AlphaTheta CDJ-1500X brings the CDJ-3000X's 10.1-inch touchscreen, streaming, and new CoBeat feature to a smaller, booth-friendly DJ multi player.

Dubspot TeamJul 7, 20268 min read
iZotope Ozone mastering suite, part of the iZotope lineup now owned by Boris FX
Mixing & Mastering

iZotope Joins Boris FX: What It Means for RX and Ozone

Boris FX acquired iZotope on July 2, 2026, moving RX, Ozone, Neutron, and Nectar to a new owner. Here's what changes for your licenses and updates.

Dubspot TeamJul 7, 20267 min read

Software Spotlight

DAWs, plugins, and the software shaping modern production.

Steinberg SpectraLayers 13 spectral audio editor interface showing a spectrogram display
Software

SpectraLayers 13 Adds AI Sound-Effect Unmixing

Steinberg SpectraLayers 13 arrives July 1, 2026 with Unmix Sound Effects, Reconstruct, and two-voice separation. Here's what changed, the €359 price, and how it stacks up to iZotope RX.

Tracktion Waveform Free 14 DAW interface on a home studio screen
Software

Tracktion Waveform Free 14: Free DAW With AI Built In

Waveform Free 14 brings a built-in AI assistant, a redesigned interface, and refreshed stock plugins to Tracktion's free DAW. Full features, specs, and pricing.

Roland Melody Flip palette library showing creative palettes tagged by mood, BPM, and key
Software

Roland Melody Flip Review: AI Co-Writer Explained

Roland Melody Flip analyzes your audio and suggests melodies, chords, bass, and drums. Here's what it does, how it works, and who it's for in 2026.

Waldorf Microwave 1 Plugin Version 2 wavetable synthesizer interface
Software

Waldorf Microwave 1 Plugin V2: From 8 to 32 Voices

Waldorf Microwave 1 Plugin V2 quadruples polyphony to 32 voices and adds two arpeggiators, a new delay, and Robin modes. Here's what changed and the €99 price.

More software articles →

Production

Workflow, technique, and the craft of finished tracks.

Forma Labs Filament real-time orchestration plugin interface
Production

Forma Labs Filament: Real-Time Orchestration Plugin

Forma Labs Filament hosts up to 64 instruments and voices your chords into a live orchestra. Full breakdown of features, pricing, and who it's for in 2026.

Dubspot TeamJun 30, 20268 min read
Akai MPC 3.9 oscillator synth engine update on a standalone MPC
Production

Akai MPC 3.9: The Update That Turns Your MPC Into a Synth

Akai MPC 3.9 adds a built-in oscillator synth engine, hybrid keygroups, new Arrange tools, and flexible time signatures. Here's what's new and if it matters.

Dubspot TeamJun 23, 20263 min read
Best Sample Pack Sites in 2026 — Loopmasters, Loopcloud, Splice, ADSR + Free Sources
Production

Best Sample Pack Sites in 2026: Loopmasters, Loopcloud, Splice, ADSR + Free Sources

An honest 2026 guide to the best sample pack sites. We compare Loopmasters, Loopcloud, Splice, and ADSR on price, library size, licensing, and value.

Dubspot TeamJun 12, 20267 min read
From AI Sketch — To an Arrangement You Own
Production

How to Turn an AI Track Into a Real Arrangement You Own (2026)

A 2026 workflow for taking an AI-generated track, exporting stems, and rebuilding it in your DAW into an arrangement that's genuinely yours.

Dubspot TeamJun 12, 20268 min read
Suno AI music generator interface representing the AI music lawsuits with Warner, Universal, and Sony
Production

The Suno & Udio Lawsuits, Label Settlements, and What 'AI Music Tags' Mean for Producers in 2026

Warner settled with Suno, Universal settled with Udio, and Sony is still fighting. Here is what the AI music lawsuits, Deezer's tagging system, and Spotify's verified badge mean for producers in May 2026.

Dubspot TeamMay 19, 20267 min read
Hip-hop culture - DJ, turntable, graffiti and microphone
Production

Hip-Hop Culture: A Producer's View of the Four Pillars and the Music That Came With Them

A producer's overview of hip-hop's four pillars (DJing, MCing, breakdancing, graffiti) — how each shaped the music, the equipment, and the production techniques that followed.

Dubspot TeamMay 10, 20269 min read
All production →

Stay in the mix

Weekly picks from the editors — gear drops, production tips, and the stories shaping music tech.

DJing

More DJ Culture →

Hardware

More Hardware →

Sound Design

Synthesis, sampling, and the architecture of sound.

Anukari 3D physics synthesizer interface showing masses and springs
Sound Design

Anukari 3D Physics Synth: Build Sound From Springs

Anukari is a GPU-powered 3D physics synth that builds sound from masses and springs. Our guide covers its features, specs, pricing, and who it's for.

Dubspot TeamJun 30, 20268 min read
d16 Group PunchBox 2 kick drum design plugin interface
Sound Design

d16 PunchBox 2 Adds a Wavetable Engine for Kick Design

d16 PunchBox 2 adds a wavetable engine, four sound generators, and 1,100+ presets to the kick-design plugin, launching at €79. Here's what changed.

Dubspot TeamJun 28, 20263 min read
The Best Free Synth VSTs in 2026 — That Actually Compete With Paid
Sound Design

The Best Free Synth VSTs in 2026 (That Actually Compete With Paid)

The best free synth VSTs of 2026, tested honestly: Vital, Surge XT, Dexed, OB-Xd, Odin 2, and Tunefish. Synthesis types, CPU load, sound, and real limits.

Dubspot TeamJun 12, 20268 min read

Start learning

Structured courses built by the producers, engineers, and DJs who shaped the scene. Free preview — deep dives unlock with enrolment.

Browse Courses →