Together with CKV teacher Marco Tenkink, René transformed 140 m² of former locker rooms into a venue built from reused factory parts, theatre curtains and metres of cable.
...a 'Tone and Texture' concept... Dedicated to Analogue Synthesis, Eurorack Modular and other Studio Gear...
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
ZeepLAB Crowdfunding: Celebrate bleeps, bloops & beams!
Together with CKV teacher Marco Tenkink, René transformed 140 m² of former locker rooms into a venue built from reused factory parts, theatre curtains and metres of cable.
Thursday, September 11, 2025
Video: DUTCH MODULAR FESIVAL 2025 by DivKid
But luckily, DivKid made the trip to the Netherlands and captured it all in his own unique way.
One of the people guiding him around the venue was Bart Wolff from Voltage Control Amsterdam.
DivKid’s report is a quick walkthrough of the festival location WORM in Rotterdam. It really gives you a feel of the atmosphere: the modular makers, the synth and soldering studios, and of course all the lovely people who make this community so inspiring.
DivKid
"Here's a video all about the Dutch Modular Festival for 2025 that's just happened with a huge collection of modular makers, synth studios, great people and plenty more. This is the first year the festival moves to Rotterdam into the venue WORM which is a cultural spot in the Netherlands with a whole range of related activity already going on before the festival moves in for the day. Check out some of the gear, people and stories in the video and links below to things mentioned in the video."
More DivKid videos at
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/divkidvideo/
DivKid on X: https://x.com/DivKid
Portable Eurorack Case DIY Project, Part One
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My old Doepfer G6 rack w. power supply 2 |
This weekend, I wasn’t able to go out much because of too much pain, so I decided to finally tackle a project that had been waiting in the corner for far too long: transforming my old, clunky Doepfer G6 rack (2 × 84HP) into a more portable case.
Yes, I know... there are already plenty of companies making beautiful cases ( Casefromthelake, 2egress, and so on). But this G6 had been lying around for ages, unsold, unused. And since I love recycling whenever I can... most of my art projects are made from reclaimed or leftover materials. It only felt natural to give it a second life.
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From 84HP to 126 HP wide |
My original plan was modest: one row, 126HP wide.
At first, I thought this would be enough for a small experimental rig. But then the big question came: where would I put the power supply? That’s when I noticed I could reuse a few more rails from the back. Why stop at one row when I could make it two?
So instead of downsizing, I ended up with a larger, more flexible case; two rows high, 1 x 126HP plus one 42HP wide = 168HP in total, while still recycling almost everything.
If I can find some nice wooden panels, the build should be finished in a few days. Maybe I’ll even paint this plywood case with a water-based color, but honestly, I already love the raw look it has now.
Sometimes staying home leads to unexpected creations, and I’m already looking forward to experimenting with this new recycled setup.
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
The Story of Inventing Eurorack: Dieter Doepfer by MylarMelodies
As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Eurorack, I’m currently working on a deeper article about its fascinating history. But in the meantime, there’s already something special to share.
In 2024, Mylar Melodies sat down with Dieter Doepfer himself, alongside Holger Zapf, who is gradually taking the reins at Doepfer HQ.
It’s a must-watch for anyone passionate about modular synthesis. You can find the video below— and don’t forget to follow Mylar Melodies on social media for more inspiring synth content.
Video: The story of INVENTING Eurorack: DIETER DOEPFER // Why We Bleep 55 by MylarMelodies
" A podcast about creating Eurorack modular synths in the 90s, collaborations with Kraftwerk, the 'red stripe' controversy (if you know you know) - in this episode we hear from Dieter Doepfer, in an interview at Machina Bristronica 2024, about how his Eurorack Modular format went from "Nobody
wants that sh*t" to a blossoming and diverse industry 30 years later.
This was filmed at the mighty https://machinabristronica.uk/ "
SPOTIFY: ▶︎ https://open.spotify.com/show/7geAIMt...
Tuesday, September 09, 2025
Amsterdam Dance Event ADE Lab 2025

Every year it transforms the city into a buzzing mix of conference, festival, and networking hub, where more than 2,500 international artists come together.
For me, the highlight will probably be the ADE Lab — four inspiring days at the cosy Westergas terrain in Amsterdam.
ADE 2025 takes place from October 22—26, 2025
This year, ADE Lab is expanding into its very own Lab Village, a creative playground dedicated entirely to sound. It’s a multi-day program where sound synthesis, audiovisual art, and innovative ways of making music are shared, demonstrated, and developed. Expect everything from artist and engineer talks, to immersive AV installations, live performances, DIY workshops, and the unveiling of new gear.
WestWeelde is the industrial heart of it all, where big ideas stick. Here you’ll catch plenary talks and masterclasses, then retreat into the cosy Lab Living area to recharge, meet peers, or simply take it all in.
Radio Radio, the iconic nightclub, will transform into a workshop playground. You can roll up your sleeves in the hands-on sessions or drift into the vinyl listening bar, where the turntable itself becomes the teacher.
Pacific Amsterdam is the place to dream big. This studio-like club will host intimate talks with some of the most influential names in the game. Plus, the Gear Test Lab and Workshop Room will let you try the newest tools yourself — brand reveals are still under wraps, but I can’t wait to see what’s coming.
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Me on the Verbos system |
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With Daniel from LiveStock Electronics |
To close the day, I headed back to the Compagnietheater for a showcase of Dutch modular artists — an unforgettable night of sound exploration.
Saturday, September 06, 2025
PatchPierre's Early Explorations in 5/4
The funny thing is, that spark really lit up when I started digging through my own YouTube archives.
Those tracks were built around a quintuple 5/4 rhythm, a deliberate experiment after being inspired by Dave Brubeck’s Take Five and Blue Rondo à la Turk. I wanted to see what would happen if I pushed that feel into my own analog world.
Listening back now, I realize how much I loved the tension between deep analog sounds and these off-kilter time signatures. It wasn’t about perfection but about exploring, stretching, and seeing where the groove would take me.
In the playlist below, you’ll find all three recordings. The first one in the playlist is/was the “final” take, the other two are raw sketches that show the idea taking shape.
Video Playlist: PatchPierre's Early Explorations in 5/4
Rediscovering these tracks has reminded me why I started sharing music in the first place. And with the new studio setup, I’m ready to pick up that thread again. If you’re curious where this journey leads next, follow me on YouTube—there’s much more to come.
VOSTOK Instruments Hive Quad Stereo Automated Mixer Demos by RaafModular and DivKid
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VOSTOK Hive |
At first glance, Hive might look like a straightforward four-channel stereo(!) mixer with CV-controlled panning, but as we’ve come to expect from VOSTOK, there are plenty of smart twists hiding inside.
Each channel can boost incoming signals, making it simple to balance different modules, or even bring your desktop synths and drum machines into the Eurorack world without extra gear.
Hive uses a custom panning law with a gentle -1.5 dB dip at center, ensuring that stereo movements feel natural and musical, whether you’re tweaking by hand or modulating with CV.
Hive modules can also be daisy-chained at the back, letting you build out larger mixers or submixers without taking up tons of rack space.
All of this is packed into a sleek 10HP design, making Hive just as at home as your end-of-chain stereo mixer, FX submixer, or even a creative stereo mangler.
It’s compact, it’s clever, and it’s ready to bring some serious buzz to your rack.
Check out the walkthroughs by RaafModular and DivKid below to really hear and see Hive in action!
" Discover the power of submixers in Eurorack with the new Hive module by Vostok Instruments.
More RaafModular on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@raafmodular/videos
give Raaf Modular a follow on your favorite social platforms.
Video: Eurorack Modular Mixing Tips with Hive from VOSTOK Instruments - by DivKid
" Here’s the new 10HP stereo Eurorack mixer ‘Hive’ from Vostok Instruments and with the opportunity to make a demo of it I ran with the idea of showing a series of patching making the most of basic features, how to patch them for more advanced exciting things and bringing larger, layered patches and mixes together in the modular format. It's packed full of tips, give them a go."
Thursday, September 04, 2025
Bjooks Returns to Dutch Modular Fest with PATCH & TWEAK Club
Kim Bjørn and co-author Chris Meyer at the launch of PATCH & TWEAK at Dutch Modular Fest in 2018 |
Festival attendees will have the chance to meet Bjooks founder and author Kim Bjørn, who will be on site for meet & greets and to personally sign copies of Bjooks titles, including PATCH & TWEAK, The Minimoog Book, and Synth Gems 1.
When:
Saturday, September 6, 2025
Festival Hours: 12:30-22:00
To learn more about PATCH & TWEAK Club, visit
https://www.patchandtweak.com/join-the-club/
To learn more about Dutch Modular Fest, visit: https://www.dutchmodularfest.com/
Wednesday, September 03, 2025
Dutch Modular Fest 2025
The annual Dutch Modular Fest (DMF) is happening this Saturday September 6th, at WORM in Rotterdam.
This festival, a cornerstone for the modular synthesizer community in the Netherlands, is a celebration of sound, technology, and creativity.
What started in 2017 as Ginkofest, organized by Jan Willem Hagenbeek of Ginkosynthese, has grown into a vibrant event that brings together makers, musicians, and artists from the modular synth world.
This year's festival is packed with activities for everyone, from beginners to seasoned pros.
You can attend talks and masterclasses, browse the Makers Market, or get hands-on with a DIY-workshop where you can build your own modules. And of course, there will be plenty of live performances to inspire you.
One of the most anticipated events at the festival is the Mutable Challenge, a special tribute to the groundbreaking Eurorack company Mutable Instruments, which closed its doors in 2022.
This unique competition honors their legacy by showcasing the enduring power of their modules.
Participants will start with a rack full of only Mutable Instruments modules and have just one hour to create whatever they want—a tune, a soundscape, or even pure noise.
The challenge is to demonstrate the unique and creative potential of these iconic modules.
The festival is excited to welcome Gaz Williams to host this special project and already announced the four artists who will take on the challenge: Jungle of Wires, Yonga Sun, Paul Tas and Oğuz Büyükberber.
Each of these artists will bring a unique perspective on sound, improvisation, and expression.
Tickets are still available at https://www.dutchmodularfest.com/
The Makers Market will be filled with some already established brands like Erica Synths, This is Not Rocket Science and ErrorInstruments, but there's also place for lesser known brands that will showcase their latest inventions...
Monday, September 01, 2025
Polaxis Talko Is Back!
The original Talko was their very first speech synthesizer, later followed by Emy, which added an OLED screen, SD card support, and a whole new level of control.
This new-generation Talko(2?) stays true to its raw, charming character, but now comes packed with fresh features.
It’s designed to be DIY-friendly and will be available both as a Eurorack module or in a quirky standalone “bricky” format (a nod to @errorinstruments).
🔊 Want to hear it live? Come check it out at Dutch Modular Fest, Saturday September 6th in Rotterdam!
Raul's World Of Synths Returns
Dtronics DT-303 Distortion/Overdrive
I've had a lot of fun playing with the new Dtronics DT-303 that I bought a few months ago.
The Dtronics DT-303 is a small analog distortion and overdrive desktop unit (non-eurorack) made by Dutch company Dtronics.
The DT-303 changes your sound by adding distortion and overdrive .You can make it sound a little rough, or very dirty and aggressive, depending on the settings.
The unit itself is small and strong, with it's metal case and rubber feet it sits sturdy on flat surfaces. Mono In- and Output are on the backside. The unit comes with a 9V power supply.
3 buttons to select types of distortion Classic / Turbo / Overdrive or Bypass.
It also has 3 knobs for Distortion level, Filter cutoff and Volume
The sound is warm and full and doesn’t make the bass disappear like some cheaper distortion boxes do.
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My own TB-303/DT-303 Combo |
"On a rainy Sunday in January 2023 we were brainstorming about new products.
Until then, we had mainly made programmers for synthesizers. examples of this are the DT7, DT-300 and DT-200.
We thought it would be nice to broaden it and see if we could create a distortion.
While we were talking, we came up with the idea of a distortion that could adjust the nuances and that would fit well with the appearance of the 303.
We were also bothered by variants where the connections were not at the back, causing the wires to run over the instrument.
Step by step the project became clearer and took more shape. We have been busy fine-tuning the parameters so that it matches our expectations as closely as possible.
We also enlisted the help of several good friends who have a lot of knowledge and expertise in the field of distortions and of course experience with the Roland TB-303."
"We started designing the hardware and the casing. An important part was the recognizability and the connection to the Roland TB-303. We used custom buttons and pots for this.
Funding was realized within a month via Kickstarter. The first modules were shipped in early 2024
If you like acid music or 303-style basslines, it’s a great way to get that extra drive and grit.
It only works in mono, but for what it’s made to do, it does an excellent job.