Denon DJ has unveiled the PRIME 4 G2, and after spending a couple of months with an early unit, it feels like a pretty significant rethink of what a four-deck standalone DJ system can do. There’s more processing power, onboard stems rendering, OmniSource, Engine DJ 5.0 and a completely redesigned performance section built around Akai’s expressive MPCe pads. https://youtu.be/QZ-HTDFFY-A Key Features Four-deck standalone DJ system powered by Engine DJ 5.0. New MPCe expressive performance pads with multiple layers and quadrant-based control. On-device stems rendering with dedicated vocal, melody/bass and drum controls. 8-inch jog wheels with integrated stems and Hot Cue…
Author: Sam Maguire
Getting into DJing has become a little easier, with Numark introducing updated versions of two of its most accessible controllers. The new MixTrack Go and Party Mix III bring several features previously reserved for more advanced gear, including stem controls, USB-C connectivity and wireless Bluetooth support, making them compelling options for first-time DJs and experienced performers looking for a compact setup. Both controllers have received a refreshed design that aligns them more closely with the rest of the MixTrack family, but the biggest changes are under the hood. While they remain approachable for beginners, the added creative tools mean there’s…
Teenage Engineering has delivered substantial new firmware for its EP sampler family, with OS 2.5 arriving for the EP–133 K.O. II and EP–40 Riddim, alongside OS 1.5 for the EP–1320 Medieval. USB audio, sample reversing, longer mono recording, equal-length chopping, arpeggiation and a long list of sequencing and MIDI improvements make this a genuinely useful update cycle for the whole EP crew. Key Features USB audio input and output turn the EP-133 and EP-40 into class-compliant stereo audio interfaces for phones, computers and DAWs. Sample reverse, adjustable recording sample rates and up to 40 seconds of mono sampling expand the…
The new EP136 from Teenage Engineering takes the spirit of the company’s portable beat machines and pushes it into performance territory, combining a compact two-channel mixer, USB audio interface functionality, onboard effects, automation recording, and deep EQ shaping into one surprisingly flexible little box. Designed to sit alongside the EP series, the EP-136 feels less like an accessory and more like the missing performance brain the lineup has been waiting for. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSvUMqKg-pE Key Features Two-channel battery-powered performance mixer with cue monitoring Built-in USB-C class compliant audio interface functionality Three selectable EQ modes with adjustable EQ curves Six onboard performance effects…
The latest 1.7 OS update for the Teenage Engineering OP–1 Field quietly expands the instrument’s creative range by refining tape behaviour, expanding MIDI control, and addressing a long list of small but meaningful quirks that regular users will immediately recognise. https://youtu.be/ZSUwzu2pNQc?si=H3hIzK-vJzJGHCWg Key Features New Tape Undo function for faster workflow recovery Expanded MIDI controls and monitoring tools, including SPP support Improved BLE MIDI transport and device handling Sometimes it’s not the new gear that changes how you make music, it’s the moment your existing setup suddenly feels deeper, faster, and more alive. That’s exactly the kind of shift the OP–1…
With the arrival of the Roland TR-1000, analog drum machines are firmly back in the spotlight – but the real story lies in the sheer variety of instruments available today, from compact groove starters to full-blown studio centrepieces. https://youtu.be/V6OQV0weMsU?si=rK7QMxmfKMuCmD5e Key Features Wide range of analog drum machines across all price points Performance-focused workflows with minimal menu diving Hybrid machines combining analog, digital, and sampling engines Strong integration with live setups via MIDI, USB, and CV Unique sonic character across every unit due to analog circuitry There’s something about drum machines that never really leaves you. Maybe it’s the immediacy of…
The Polyend Tracker Plus takes one of electronic music’s most distinctive production methods and wraps it into a modern standalone instrument, complete with sampling, sequencing, synth engines and full song export capabilities. What might initially look like a cryptic grid of numbers quickly reveals itself as an intuitive and surprisingly powerful way to sketch ideas, manipulate samples, and build complete tracks without ever touching a computer. https://youtu.be/TFcxZw2kZsg?si=Whzdh5Za8q9t3NQg Key Features Standalone tracker-style music production workstation Eight audio tracks and eight MIDI tracks for sequencing Built-in synthesizer engines alongside sample playback Powerful fill conditions and randomisation tools for creative sequencing Direct song…
With the release of the new Teenage Engineering EP40, the EP Grid lineup continues to evolve – and it feels like the perfect time to dig into what really makes these compact samplers tick. From performance shortcuts to lo-fi workflow hacks, here are ten practical tips to help you get more out of the EP-133 KO II, EP-1320 Medieval, EP-134 Rhythm and now the EP40. https://youtu.be/7coCKzpYuv0?si=Dcm-dVZbpLodcDxT Key Features of the EP Grid Series Compact, battery-powered samplers with pad-based sequencing Per-unit character: KO II (classic sampling), Medieval (multi-sampled instruments), Rhythm (Super Tone synth engine) Scene-based arrangement system for live performance Resampling…
The RANE SYSTEM ONE just levelled up. With Engine OS 4.6.0, RANE’s motorised standalone DJ system now integrates seamlessly with Serato DJ Pro – letting DJs move between standalone media, streaming, and full Serato performance features without breaking the flow. https://youtu.be/csOsgF1LcOA?si=b7rNDqTeJyBhDUrT Key Features OmniSource lets each deck play from Serato DJ Pro, local media, or streaming simultaneously Full touchscreen Serato DJ Pro control directly from the SYSTEM ONE display Access to Serato expansions including Stems, Pitch Play, Scratch Bank and Serato Video Split Pad mode allows two pad modes at once on Serato-enabled decks Internal FX and Serato software FX…
Sydney-based builder Serendipity Synths has quietly released two Eurorack modules that rethink how Moog’s semi-modular instruments behave in real-world studio and performance setups. The D-Thing+ and L-Thing don’t try to reinvent Moog’s sound. Instead, they focus on timing, control, and musical flexibility, opening the DFAM and Labyrinths in ways that feel immediately practical. There’s a certain charm to Moog’s semi-modular range. Instruments like the DFAM and Labyrinth are deliberately opinionated. They encourage hands-on exploration and reward you for letting go of rigid structure. That freedom is part of the appeal, but it can also be where friction creeps in, especially…
