https://wearethemusicmakers.co/latest Music tech and AI in music: the news that matters, what we think about it, and a directory of the tools. en-us Sun, 25 Oct 2026 05:30:00 GMT https://wearethemusicmakers.co/learn/eurorack-starter-guide https://wearethemusicmakers.co/learn/eurorack-starter-guide Eurorack is a format, not a product, and that is why it is so easy to overspend on. This guide walks through the standard itself (size, power, control voltage), how to test-drive modular for free in software, how to plan a first small case, and the power-budget mistake that damages modules. Manuals and specs checked on 25 Oct 2026. Sun, 25 Oct 2026 05:30:00 GMT We are the music makers synthesissound-designhardwareworkflows https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/10/behringer-jn-80-juno-60-clone-569 https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/10/behringer-jn-80-juno-60-clone-569 Behringer's JN-80, an analog Juno-60 recreation with eight voices, 49 keys and a BBD chorus, is now reaching buyers at about \$569 outside the US. It undercuts Roland's own Juno revivals on keys and voices, but Behringer's own spec sheet contradicts itself on memory and is vague about aftertouch. Sat, 24 Oct 2026 04:30:00 GMT We are the music makers releaseshardwaresynthsbehringerrolandworkflows https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/10/roland-jupiter-08-n-vision-boutique https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/10/roland-jupiter-08-n-vision-boutique Roland has added two Boutique synths, a JUPITER-08 that can run up to 32 voices and n/vision, the line's first wavetable synth, both with batteries, a speaker and a bundled K-25m keyboard. The JUPITER-08 is the polyphony fix the old JP-08 needed; n/vision is the more interesting buy. Tue, 20 Oct 2026 04:30:00 GMT We are the music makers releaseshardwaresynthsroland https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/10/arturia-astrolab-2-free-update-front-panel-editing https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/10/arturia-astrolab-2-free-update-front-panel-editing Arturia's free AstroLab 2.0 firmware adds front-panel sound editing and 60+ new sounds to a keyboard line that first appeared in April 2024. It's a good example of hardware getting better after purchase, and it shows that the real product is Arturia's software catalogue. Tue, 06 Oct 2026 04:30:00 GMT We are the music makers releaseshardwarearturiafirmwaresynths https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/10/elektron-outbox-8-syntakt-twinshot https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/10/elektron-outbox-8-syntakt-twinshot Elektron's $349 Outbox 8 adds eight audio or CV outputs to a groovebox, and free Syntakt firmware has added Twinshot, a two-sample player, plus Outbox 8 support. For a Syntakt owner the pairing fixes the two things the box couldn't do. If you record into a DAW, you can probably skip the breakout box. Thu, 01 Oct 2026 04:30:00 GMT We are the music makers releaseshardwareelektroncvfirmware https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/05/akai-mpc-xl-mpc-sample-standalone-beat-machine-price-range https://wearethemusicmakers.co/news/2026/05/akai-mpc-xl-mpc-sample-standalone-beat-machine-price-range Akai launched a $2,899 flagship MPC in January and a $399 battery-powered sampler in March, and two months later its parent inMusic agreed to buy Native Instruments. The two machines show how Akai is building a ladder into one software platform, and the NI deal raises the stakes on what runs on it. Sat, 09 May 2026 04:30:00 GMT We are the music makers releaseshardwareakaimpcnative-instruments