2025: A Year in Gear (What You've Bought or Want to Buy in 2025)

[WatchTheGuitar]

My wallet is delighted nothing on show at Superbooth so far has looked like a must have.
Seems a lot of very small iterations of existing gear for the most part.

[elxsound]

My ex and I sold our house in December and split the profits. I paid off my car and put a bunch aside for my kids' college. I have been spending the rest on hardware synths.

This year I've picked up the following (mostly used):

• Waldorf Iridium Core (bought as new, but was shipped a used one)
• Roland SH-4d (new)
• Roland Integra-7
• Roland JV-1080
• Roland XV-3080
• Roland U-110
• Roland U-220
• Yamaha FB-01
• Roland SE-02
• Roland SH-01A
• Roland VP-03

I've recorded a track with the Iridium, used the VP-03 in a couple, and am working on one for the SH-4d. (I get to take advantage of the new drawbar organ model Roland included with today's firmware update!) Planning to record tracks for the rest over the coming months.

I don’t have a SH-4d, but nice update. I’m always a fan of these kinds of surprises (continue support of existing products). Nice haul!

[foosnark]

Now that the Korg Phase 8 is getting close to being an actual product... I find myself a lot less interested in it than I did early on, when I thought it had potential for cool drones, resonator stuff, electromagnetic manipulation of harmonics etc. Now it just seems like an expensive kalimba with a sequencer on board.

Make Noise Polimaths seems cool and unique (it's not *that* similar to Just Friends or Tides 2018, it can't be duplicated with a regular Maths and a Multimod, and though it does share an idea from Wave Packets it's otherwise pretty different). I'll look forward to more in-depth explanation/videos when it gets closer to release, but I will probably pass on it.

Not really seeing anything else that is grabbing me. Which is good, because Make Noise has already done enough this year

[cryophonik]

Overall, there have been some pretty cool new toys announced at SB25. I'm over my limit in terms of space and inputs, so there's nothing that I'm going to rush out and purchase, but there are some very intriguing new toys, particularly the Moog Messenger, Groove Synthesis 8M, and the Polyend Mess. I'm also interested in seeing more about this Vermona drum machine prototype:



Annnnnnddddd.... then, there's this Novation BS2 Swifty edition that I can't wait to not purchase.

[elxsound]

Now that the Korg Phase 8 is getting close to being an actual product... I find myself a lot less interested in it than I did early on, when I thought it had potential for cool drones, resonator stuff, electromagnetic manipulation of harmonics etc. Now it just seems like an expensive kalimba with a sequencer on board.

Make Noise Polimaths seems cool and unique (it's not *that* similar to Just Friends or Tides 2018, it can't be duplicated with a regular Maths and a Multimod, and though it does share an idea from Wave Packets it's otherwise pretty different). I'll look forward to more in-depth explanation/videos when it gets closer to release, but I will probably pass on it.

Not really seeing anything else that is grabbing me. Which is good, because Make Noise has already done enough this year

I’m feeling pretty much the same way about Korg Phase 8. I love the concept of it, but it ultimately seems like it will be a very expensive way to play an acoustic instrument.

It looks absolutely amazing, but I can’t imagine getting lots of use out of it.

For the MN noise, I’m not sure I’ll be able to add Polimaths on release. It looks great and I love that it’s the first one that can be combined with Multimod as part of their new system. Still, I should probably focus on my idea for the new case first, but end of summer is both close and far enough away to change my mind many times.

[vurt]

not a new purchase, but i found my lost modules (mostly) found the 2 prsspnt and channel savers, the endless processor and expander, still missing error instruments lullaby. but can't see me just losing that, and it's not the end of the world if i have.

[vurt]

and i havent! ive now found all my modules

[pekbro]

I was gonna say, check the cat. They are known
to hide modular gear by burying it in the yard.

[vurt]

I was gonna say, check the cat. They are known
to hide modular gear by burying it in the yard.

he's the kind of little bugger thst would!!

[Shabdahbriah]

En-route... Sweetwater finally got these dual-case brackets, independent of the System 55 configuration (shown).

Behringer System 55.png

Behringer System 55 Complete.png

[1234Hi5!]

Looks like you could have got the tiptop mantis dual case bracket as a drop in replacement judging from those photos

[Shabdahbriah]

Looks like you could have got the tiptop mantis dual case bracket as a drop in replacement judging from those photos

I've read and seen that they (pretty-much) work, BUT the curved edge of the case itself (which extends ever-so-slightly above the nearest 'un-curved' modules face), and is subsequently mimicked on the horizontal leg of the brackets, is literally why I did not get them (cases) to begin with.

tiptop mantis dual case bracket.png

That 'curved-edge' also extends past the strait edge of the GO case, which even just aesthetically, would drive me out of my f'ing mind. If the 'peak' of the curve were the same height (relative to the top edge of the case) as the edge of the bracket just above those two screws near its end, I'd have no issue with them.

TipTop Brackets on a Behringer Eurorack Go Case Will It Fit01.png

... and I'll be painting the gaudy red Behringer brackets a nice matte black.

[DrGonzo]

I finally have the ZOOM L6 in my hands! I fully expect this little mixer to become a complete gamechanger for all my studio work.

[DrGonzo]

..and when still talking about mixers. This one is probably the only thing from Superbooth that caught my attention. Way way way outside my budget and needs, but damn what a cool idea. A modular mixing desk!

[McLilith]

... and I'll be painting the gaudy red Behringer brackets a nice matte black.

I like those cheerful red brackets.

If you prefer black, go ahead and paint them, but if you want a deep black don't use flat black paint. Flat black looks more like a dark gray than a true black. Use semigloss black instead. It yields a much richer black.