This week on TDL Synth Chat, Ian Dixon is joined by keyboardist, composer, and producer Beat Zimmermann for a deep dive into music, synths, and an exciting upcoming project. Beat shares his journey from classical piano training to jazz and fusion, his early passion for synthesizers, and his impressive collection of gear through the decades—from DX7s to JX-3Ps and beyond.

They explore the evolution of live performance setups, the shift from hardware to software, and Beat’s refreshing take on recording in the modern age. Plus, he discusses his ambitious new album project Unicorn Umbrellas, featuring Michael Sadler of Saga on vocals and Todd Sucherman of Styx on drums. Hear how the collaboration came together, the tech and instruments behind it, and how he’s handling production and remote recording.

It’s a conversation full of synth nostalgia, production tips, and inspiration for musicians at any level.

Topics include:

Beat’s transition from classical to prog and fusion

His vintage and modern synth setups

The use of AI in demo production

Building a personal studio

Collaborating remotely with legendary musicians

The making of Unicorn Umbrellas

More on Beat: https://beatzimmermann.com
Follow Unicorn Umbrellas on Facebook for updates.

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If you want more information about how to subscribe to podcasts read our Podcast How To page. Follow us on twitter @isdixon @garrywma @Thedigitallife

Synth Chat with Seth | From Teenage Engineering to Take 5 and Beyond
Welcome to this week’s episode of The Synth Show! Ian chats with Seth Weisfeld—a product designer, synth enthusiast, and founder of Function Health—about his synth journey, gear picks, and design philosophy.

Seth shares how his background at Facebook shaped his views on user experience in synths, why he’s drawn to the OP-1 and Hydrasynth, and how he’s chasing the perfect balance of playability and depth. We dive deep into gear he’s loved (and sold), why he’s back in love with the Take 5, and his hopes for a future synth that balances immediacy with innovation.

Topics include:

His synth journey from Nord to OP-1 Field

Thoughts on the MicroKorg 2, Multi/Poly, and synth UI design

Why build quality and playability matter more than ever

The magic of beginner-friendly synths that still go deep

The role of AI in shaping the future of music gear

What makes Behringer, Teenage Engineering, and Yamaha stand out (or fall short)

Why we’re all just chasing sounds we fell in love with decades ago

️ Whether you’re a vintage synth nerd or modern groovebox fan, there’s a ton to dig into. If you’ve ever debated keeping or flipping a synth, you’ll relate to this one!

Links:
Check out Seth’s music on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7FqwuGlrHQknBUbYX3xLMr?pi=fmyCc1vHT8m_6

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If you want more information about how to subscribe to podcasts read our Podcast How To page. Follow us on twitter @isdixon @garrywma @Thedigitallife

In this episode of TDL Synthchat, we dive into the world of Soviet-era synthesizers with special guest James Brennan. We explore the legendary Polivoks , a raw and aggressive analog synth known for its powerful filter and Cold War aesthetic. James shares his journey into electronic music, how he acquired his Polivoks from Ukraine, and the quirks that make this synth a unique piece of history.

We also discuss the broader landscape of vintage synth collecting, the resurgence of analog gear, and modern alternatives to the Polivoks . Plus, James gives a live demo of the synth’s brutal sound—despite a few technical hiccups! Whether you’re a synth enthusiast or just love hearing about rare and unusual gear, this episode is packed with deep-dive insights and sonic nostalgia.

00:00 Introduction

03:33 Background on James

07:40 First synth

10:47 Why Polivoks

14:08 Polivoks background

16:48 The look

28:16 Maintenance

35:13 Audio demo

45:05 What’s next for James?

49:20 Dreadbox

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If you want more information about how to subscribe to podcasts read our Podcast How To page. Follow us on twitter @isdixon @garrywma @Thedigitallife

Welcome to the latest edition of TDL Synth Chat! This week, I’m joined by experimental musician and synthesist Ever Orchid . Ever shares her journey into electronic music, how she got started with sound design, and the inspiration behind her unique approach to music creation.

We discuss her first synthesizer, the challenges of learning new gear, and how she’s evolved her setup over time. Eva also talks about the latest synths and effects in her studio, revealing how she uses them to craft atmospheric and immersive sounds. Whether you’re a seasoned synth enthusiast or just starting out, this episode is packed with insights into the creative process of an electronic artist.

Topics Covered in This Episode: How Eva got into electronic music and sound design

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If you want more information about how to subscribe to podcasts read our Podcast How To page. Follow us on twitter @isdixon @garrywma @Thedigitallife

Links from this week’s show:

In this episode, Ian Dixon and Garry Whittaker catch up on various topics, including recent music interviews, travel experiences, and the efficiency of charging networks. They discuss Ripple’s receivership and its impact on investors, as well as Garry’s home projects like a rain sensor with impressive battery life. Ian shares his work on programming drum machines and recreating sounds from various artists, while Garry talks about AI integration in his smart home system. They also touch on the latest builds of Windows 11 and the functionality of Copilot in Visual Studio. The episode concludes with plans for future shows and guests.

Thanks to my Patreon supporters. https://www.patreon.com/c/IanDixon

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If you want more information about how to subscribe to podcasts read our Podcast How To page. Follow us on twitter @isdixon @garrywma @Thedigitallife

This week on the show, I’m joined by Carlo from Audiothing to talk about his recreation of the classic monosynth, the Jen SX1000. Carlo’s love for this budget-friendly 1978 mono synth inspired him to bring it back as a plugin.

We discuss how he got into synthesizers and why the Jen SX1000 was his first analog synth. Carlo shares his approach to designing the plugin, what makes the Jen SX1000 a great synth to recreate, and the design choices he made—including some added functionality. We also chat about the new synth projects he’s currently working on.

Check out my comparison video, where I put my original Jen SX1000 side by side with the plugin.

The Jen SX1000 plugin is available for €69, with a free trial for those who want to try it out first.

Thanks to my Patreon supporters. https://www.patreon.com/c/IanDixon

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If you want more information about how to subscribe to podcasts read our Podcast How To page. Follow us on twitter @isdixon @garrywma @Thedigitallife

Welcome to this week’s podcast!

TDL Show #978

On the show this week, we are joined by Mark Pigott, sound designer and musician, to talk about his love of sound design. Mark has created many video tutorials on using the Waldorf Blofeld, Korg Modwave, and Korg Multi/Poly.

We discuss how he got into synthesis, the art of programming wavetable synths, and much more!

Thanks to my Patreon supporters. https://www.patreon.com/c/IanDixon

Listen Here (download mp3)

If you want more information about how to subscribe to podcasts read our Podcast How To page. Follow us on twitter @isdixon @garrywma @Thedigitallife

TDL Show #984

This week on the TDL Show, we have a synth modulation master class from Peter “Ski” Schwartz, an expert sound designer and the creator of many classic synth sounds, including many of the presets on Korg synths like the Wavestation, Z1, Modwave, and the Multi/Poly.

Using Modwave Native, Peter explains the principles of synth modulation and how you can use the Mod Processors on synths like the Modwave, Wavestate, and Multi/Poly to create rich and evolving sounds. Peter knows all the tricks and gives us a live demo of expert synth design.

Unfortunately, Teams reduced the audio quality (and the stereo field) of the Modwave, but it’s still a great lesson in synth design.

Thanks to my Patreon supporters. https://www.patreon.com/c/IanDixon

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If you want more information about how to subscribe to podcasts read our Podcast How To page. Follow us on twitter @isdixon @garrywma @Thedigitallife

TDL Show #976

Welcome to this week’s TDL Show! Garry talks about low-cost home security cameras and how to integrate them into your home security system. I explore a new plugin that recreates the classic Jen SX1000 and compare it to my own Jen. I also discuss the new MIDI stack in Windows 11 and revisit my old Korg NX5R. Plus, I launch my new community sound bank project and much more!

Links from this week’s show:

Mastering Ratcheting Sequencing with Korg Wavestate: A Berlin School Tutorial

Jen SX1000: Vintage Analog vs. AudioThing Plugin – How Close Is It?

Classic Prophet Sounds for the Korg Multi/Poly – Now Available!

Thanks to my Patreon supporters. https://www.patreon.com/c/IanDixon

Listen Here (download mp3)

If you want more information about how to subscribe to podcasts read our Podcast How To page. Follow us on twitter @isdixon @garrywma @Thedigitallife

TDL Show #975

Welcome to this week’s Synth Chat!

This week on the show, I’m joined by keyboard player MarQ Speck from SWEET CRYSTAL. He’s celebrating 50 years with the group and has played an incredible range of synths over the years.

We discuss his journey, from starting out with organs to acquiring his first Minimoog and other classic synths. We also talk about the regret of letting go of potential classics and the differences between studio needs and live performance requirements.

Plus, we dive into synth clones, new synths, and much more!

Links from this week’s show:

Thanks to my Patreon supporters. https://www.patreon.com/c/IanDixon

Listen Here (download mp3)

If you want more information about how to subscribe to podcasts read our Podcast How To page. Follow us on twitter @isdixon @garrywma @Thedigitallife