2026: A Year in Gear (What You've Bought or Want to Buy in 2026)

[ghettosynth]

I've decided that 2026 is a No New Gear Year for me. (Terms and conditions apply.)

GAS for me isn't a problem, but I decided it's time to settle down with what I have. My hardware rig is full of favorites and things that warrant a lot more exploration. My software collection is full of awesome things and some of them have only got a tiny amount of play and deserve more. So it's time to put the brakes on gear churn.

Eurorack:
- I preordered Joranalogue Walk 4 and Fancy Synthesis K-Accumulator, and Aodyo Loom which looks like it's back on.
- I already have RYK Algo and Auza Wave Packets up for sale.
- Other than that I am going to allow myself to buy, at most, ONE new module in 2026. I'll allow myself to sell ONLY Xaoc Katowice to make room for that if needed. With just one shot, I need to make it count so I'll have to consider carefully.
- I won't say no to beta test opportunities.

Other Hardware:
- No. Not buying, trading, or selling anything in 2026. No controllers, pedals, desktop synths, basses, toys, etc.

Software (I know it's the hardware thread):
- Maximum of ONE new software synth in 2026.
- Maximum of THREE new FX plugins in 2026.
- I'll resist grabbing free plugins, but allow a little.

Yes, I'm going to do my best to be right there with you. Ok, well, so I did order a Four LFO in 2025, it arrived in 2026. It wasn't supposed to, it was supposed to get here before the new years. Oh well, it's here now. I will say that I like the design. I can see why they took the open source XAOC stuff. That's it, no more for me this year. Maybe some parts for building stuff, but no new gear. Nope, no gear, noneatall, nopesie dopesie, nadagranada.

[kritikon]

I'm not even going to pretend I'm going to fight GAS. I'm going to buy shitloads more stuff. When your studio's full, build a bigger one!

[Constructed Identity]

Bought most of the stuff I got last year on sale and will be selling what gets replaced, like my old Oxi One -SOLD. I may sell the STVC after the next synth comes.

[vurt]

I'm not even going to pretend I'm going to fight GAS. I'm going to buy shitloads more stuff. When your studio's full, build a bigger one!

i would normally agree with you, but im a bit more limited with space now, so my gas will have to be held in check.
unless i can devise a way of hanging shelves from the ceiling... hmmm...

[DrGonzo]

SOMA WARP!
I still haven't managed to get past the Shimmer Reverb haha

[seafire]

I'm not even going to pretend I'm going to fight GAS. I'm going to buy shitloads more stuff. When your studio's full, build a bigger one!

i would normally agree with you, but im a bit more limited with space now, so my gas will have to be held in check.
unless i can devise a way of hanging shelves from the ceiling... hmmm...

Years ago, the DJs in a goth club had a table hanging from the ceiling on chain's with the decks on. Stopped the records jumping

Worth thinking about

[McLilith]

the taiga is here

Woohoo!

[McLilith]

I'm not even going to pretend I'm going to fight GAS. I'm going to buy shitloads more stuff. When your studio's full, build a bigger one!

Studios are typically modest-sized spaces. If I ever get wealthy, I want a Synthesizer Hangar!

Yep, the size of a large commercial aircraft hangar, but filled with synths and all sorts of audio gear. I'll put my kitchen, laundry room, etc in the basement. As for a bedroom, I'll just sleep with my synths. You never know when musical inspiration might strike!

[McLilith]

I'm not even going to pretend I'm going to fight GAS. I'm going to buy shitloads more stuff. When your studio's full, build a bigger one!

i would normally agree with you, but im a bit more limited with space now, so my gas will have to be held in check.
unless i can devise a way of hanging shelves from the ceiling... hmmm...

In a perfect world, all wall studs, ceiling rafters, and floor joists would be spaced to accommodate 19" rack mount gear. I'd love to see a room where all the walls and even the ceiling were lined with rack mounted gear.

[chaocrator]

2026 gear plans:

• Launch Can’t Roll XL mk3
• maybe Waldorf Protein
• Behringer UB-1 micro (2 units)
• Behringer CZ-1 mini
• Sonicware CyDrums
• Behringer BDS-3
• Behringer LM Drum
• happy acidents

[BBFG#]

There are racks made to specifically hang from ceilings and walls. But there's a reason why house framing uses the common measure standard it does. (Apparently even in metric measure countries.) So in a closer to perfect world, the gear and racks need to conform to common measure.

[vurt]

the taiga is here

Woohoo!

indeed! its a monster!

[bmanic]

I need some kind of mixer for all my hardware as the audio interface inputs just don't cut it any more (got 12 inputs right now). I was thinking of the Behringer Wing Rack as a good option as it apparently has quite low latency, 24 inputs on combo XLR jacks and works as a USB-C class compliant sound card (meaning it'd work also with my MPC Live!), which in theory means it'll work nicely on my Mac together with the RME + Orpheus as a mega aggregated device thing.

I can also add even more inputs (or outputs) quite affordably with stage connect. And because it's a digital mixer at it's core, with very flexible routing and scenes, it's basically a glorified digital patch bay with tons of onboard effects to boot. As far as I can tell, this is right now the most affordable multi input/output solution when you need a ton of i/o.

It's also nice that it's a rack unit so it won't take up too much space either. I can't really add another huge piece of furniture to the living room corner where I have all my music gear.

.. but if anybody got a good alternative for around 1500 euros I'm all ears. I need a minimum of 20 inputs.

[Korg Supporter]

I just bought an Ensoniq ESQ-1 (plastic revision) at a store in Rochester, NY, for $210 plus tax! It would make a nice keyboard for my Novation Peak, and there is nothing that sounds like it! Unfortunately, the shop did not know that it had the low battery warning, as they didn't see it the last time they turned it on. The store only has a 7-day return window. While they can replace it, they are not allowed to because the keyboard was on consignment. Fortunately, my dad can get a battery for me and solder it, as long as he has the documentation. In the meantime, I may get a RAM cartridge so I can store sounds before having the new battery installed.

I may sell my Launchkey 49 Mk4 once I get a Sequential Fourm in June, which will be my new desktop MIDI keyboard (It has the same size as the Hdyrasynth Explorer!). The ESQ-1 takes up a lot of space, but its filter and saturation have characteristics and subtleties that my Novation Peak lacks. The Peak's filter is amazing too. Both wavetable synths sound great through the FAC FX on my iPad.

[thecontrolcentre]

i've bought a few UAD, SSL and Softube plugins in their winter sales. UAD Moog Minimoog, LA-6176 Signature Channel & UA 176-175B Tube Limiter Collection, SSL Harrison 32Classic Channel Strip & Softube 4ms Pingable Envelope Generator, 4ms Spectral Multiband Resonator & Intellijel uFold II ... no new hardware as I'm out of space.