Sonicware SmplTrek in 2025 Review: A Productive & Compact All-in-One Music Workstation
Derek Oswald
Introduction: What is the Sonicware Smpltrek? When Sonicware first launched the SmplTrek, it was pitched as a handheld sampler and groovebox that could take you from idea to finished track without touching a computer. ...
Donner Essential B1 & Essential D1 Review: Budget-Friendly Acid and Beats That Work Together
Derek Oswald
Donner has been expanding from entry-level pedals and beginner instruments into more serious production tools. The company, once best known for affordable guitar pedals and entry-level MIDI controllers, now has its sights on the ...
Donner Essential L1 Synthesizer: A Nostaglic Tribute to an Dance Music Legend
Derek Oswald
Introduction – From the SH-101 to the Essential L1 In 1982, Roland pitched the SH-101 as an affordable, portable monosynth for working musicians. Over time, its snappy envelopes, elastic bass, and resonant filter made ...
Decksaver Review: We Tried 10 Different Covers – And Their Superior Protection Stood Out
Derek Oswald
Get 10% off with the Decksaver discount code ALTWIRE by going here. “****, I Broke Something On My Synth, Now What?” …words you hope you never have to say! For any person who has ...
Goo Goo Dolls Release “Not Goodbye (Close My Eyes)”, Announce Summer Anthem EP, Out August 22
Derek Oswald
Goo Goo Dolls have announced Summer Anthem, a seven-track EP set for release August 22 via Warner Records. The launch aligns with the band’s sold-out Summer Anthem Tour.
Plinky Synth Review: A Fearless 8-Voice Polyphonic Powerhouse of Mood and Motion
Derek Oswald
Introduction I don’t say this a lot about synthesizers I review, but with Plinky, it truly was love at first sight. There’s something so different about this device that once you’re lucky enough to ...
Brendon Small Opens Official Reverb Shop Featuring Guitars from Metalocalypse and Beyond
Derek Oswald
Metalocalypse creator and Dethlok guitarist Brendon Small is launching an official Reverb shop featuring stage-used guitars, rare prototypes, and instruments tied to the show’s development.
Rock Icon Ozzy Osbourne Dies at 76, Weeks After Final Farewell Show
Derek Oswald
Ozzy Osbourne, known globally as the “Prince of Darkness” and founding vocalist of Black Sabbath died July 22 at the age of 76.
OWC Envoy Pro Elektron 4TB SSD: This Reliable SSD Speeds Up Massive Kontakt Libraries
Derek Oswald
Reviewing VSTs and libraries have left our laptop's internal hard drive crying for mercy. Can the OWC Envoy Pro Elektron 4TB SSD solve our woes?
Shure MV7+ Review: A Powerful Upgrade from The MV7
Derek Oswald
The Shure SM7B still sets the pro standard, yet many creators now want a mic that’s simpler, cheaper, and just as solid on sound. Enter the MV7+.
Alan Robert on The AltWire Podcast (2025) – Exploring His Dual Talents: From Music to Horror Art
Derek Oswald
What was expected to be a six-month detour became a thirty-year run on stages worldwide. Throughout it all, Alan Robert never set down his pencil.
Geddy Lee Launches Signed, Limited Tech 21 MP40 Charity Pedal on Reverb
Derek Oswald
The Rush frontman has released a Special limited Charity Edition of his Tech 21 MP40 Signature SansAmp pedal, available exclusively through Reverb.
Ferrous by Landscape.fm: A New Way to Explore Sound
Derek Oswald
Landscape.fm and artist Victoria Shen's Ferrous helps you discover unfamiliar sounds via exploration, and the experience itself helps you view music in a new way, says our reviewer.
Juan Alderete to Sell Over 700 Pieces of Gear on Reverb
Derek Oswald
Renowned bassist Juan Alderete is preparing to opening his personal gear archive to the public. More than 700 items will be available through the Official Juan Alderete Reverb Shop.
Pet Symmetry and Damnation Audio Unveil Limited-Run ‘BIG’ Pedal – 100 Units Only
Derek Oswald
Reverb has announced the release of a limited-run effects pedal created by rock band Pet Symmetry and boutique builder Damnation Audio. Designed for bass guitar, the BIG pedal combines fuzz and clean boost functionality ...
Polyend Tracker Mini: Our Honest Verdict Before the 10th Anniversary Limited Edition
Derek Oswald
The Tracker Mini is a compact music workstation built around a tracker interface: streamlined, portable, and shaped by deliberate design choices. It delivers serious production capabilities in a form that fits in the palm ...
Yamaha SEQTRAK Review: A Fast, Focused, and Fun Groovebox with Over 2,000 Sounds
Derek Oswald
Yamaha has a long history of blurring the line between groovebox, synth, and sketchpad with some of their flagship synths. But the SEQTRAK is something different. Both a purpose-built workstation and a sequencer, it’s ...
Ten Years On, And The Reface DX Still Impresses in 2025 (REVIEW)
Derek Oswald
Introduction In 2015, Yamaha introduced the Reface DX to make FM synthesis more approachable. It packs a four-operator engine, a Full-Dot LCD, and 37 mini keys. All fit into a chassis the size of ...
Timetosser MK2: Bold Time-Slicing Wizardry in a Compact Tool
Derek Oswald
Introduction The Timetosser MK2 is a compact, button-driven box built to reshape audio in real time. No screens, no saved loops—just rhythm manipulation at your fingertips. This device focuses on one thing: cutting and ...
OP–XY Review: What Would Happen if The OP-1 Field and OP-Z Had a Love Child?
Derek Oswald
Since launching the game-changing OP-1 in 2014, Teenage Engineering has carved out a reputation for marrying playful design with pro-grade functionality, from the pocket-sized OP-Z to the OP-1 Field workstation. With the OP–XY, they’ve ...
