Audio upcycling

As I write this, the annual NAMM show is wrapping up in California, bringing the curtain down on the year’s most significant outpouring of new instruments and studio gear (hence this issue’s bumper news section!) What trends can we divine from 2020’s forthcoming releases? Well, it looks like every MIDI controller has to have a sequencer built into it now (I can live with that), and synth brands are embracing the power of analogue-digital hybrids.

With all this gear news, it can be easy to feel like your current setup is dated or inadequate, but it’s important to remember you don’t need the latest gear to make great music. It’s all about making the most of what you have.

In a sense, that’s the heart of this issue’s resampling cover feature – learning how to take your existing material and create something new. Push your basic building blocks beyond what they once were to inspire new soundscapes and textures. Dive in and get creative – we hope you enjoy the issue!