As another eventful 12 months draw to a close, we’re reflecting on a year that saw a seemingly endless parade of incredible gear pass through the shop. From modules to MIDI controllers, desktop synths to drum machines, these are some of the highlights for the Signal Sounds team.

The best synth modules of 2025

It’s hard to believe that the Eurorack format is now 30 years old, and even more surprising that it’s still such a hotbed of innovation - surely everything has been done by now, right? Not if you ask Make Noise, who have refused to rest on their laurels and this year came out with a bold new mission statement: the New Universal Synthesizer System (NUSS). 

This is a growing family of modules loosely united by the concept of ‘from one come many’, which is exemplified in the biggest hit so far: MultiMod. This miraculous module transforms a single modulation (or audio!) source into a cascade of complex, interrelated signals. It was swiftly followed by Jumbler, a 6x6 signal router, PoliMaths, an octuple function generator, the QXG quad low-pass gate and finally the MultiWAVE wavetable oscillator.

It was a big year for sampling, looping and granular, too. RYK’s Time Slice pitch-shifting looper stood out with its typically sleek styling and powerful feature set, and Intellijel’s Multigrain became the granular processor to beat. They really nailed the interface on this one and it sold by the bucketload in 2025.

There were a couple of awesome digital oscillators, too - Knobula continued their quest for polyphonic dominance with their best module yet, Monumatic, while new Finnish brand Ferry Island Modular made a big splash with their Four Seas four-dimensional wavetable VCO, combining awesomely deep sound design capabilities with an inviting one-knob-per-function interface.

A couple of utilities stood out for us: Worng Electronics’ Quiver, a modulation powerhouse that’s a bit like what would happen if Ochd and Cold Mac had a baby, and ALM Busy Circuits’ Stem Ripper, a super-easy way to record multitrack audio in your modular for later editing in a DAW.

Eurorack staff picks

Aleks says: “The Venus Instruments Veno-Orbit was a long time in development (I first caught sight of it back at Superbooth 2023 IIRC?) but it’s been well worth the wait. It’s only the second module from Adam at Venus Instruments but it feels like it belongs to a far more seasoned modular manufacturer. Watching its development from the initially dubbed Veno-Looper, I saw the module add features without adding bloat or comprising the interface. Now better described using the moniker “experimental sampler”, Veno-Orbit is my favourite of the current clutch of audio and CV mangling, recording and looping modules out there. Big tip!

“Dubbed “infiniflange” by the inimitable Tom Churchill here at Signal Sounds, Ubique is the latest addition to the family of Manifold Research Centre modules. As always, it showcases their unique approach to sound and instrument design. Ubique is a flanger routed into a phaser and then back again and again and again and again and again into infinity. The first demos I listened to by the designer were full of good fun feedback and bonkers-sound design stuff but, when I watched a demo by the aforementioned Tom, the potential of what this module could achieve really dawned on me. It is capable of a much wider, more subtle and refined range of tones than the initial demos I saw suggested. Is it the best flanger/phaser design ever? Treat yourself and find out!”

Tom says: “For me one of the real winners was Xaoc Devices’ Samarkanda, aka the final boss of delays. It’s unapologetically large at 42HP, and exactly what I want from a Eurorack effects module: patch-programmable, open-ended, ergonomic and playable - not just a VST in a box. 

“Elsewhere, Smoothie Audio’s Smear shows that it's still possible to come up with something genuinely new and unexpected in Eurorack after all this time, a 98-pole dual all-pass filter! I'm still getting my head around it, but basically every time I patch it, I hear incredible things I've never heard before, from mad phasing effects to Autechre-ish percussion and comb filtering.

“Another one I can’t get enough of is the New Systems Instruments Discrete Map: a new vision of what an 8-step sequencer can be, from one of the smartest designers working in Eurorack. It feels very 'Serge' in spirit to me, and really invites experimentation.”

The best synths & drum machines of 2025

It was another exciting year for synth hardware. The most fun box was undoubtedly the Teenage Engineering EP-40 Riddim (and the accompanying Ting microphone). After last year’s Medieval-themed EP-1320, this version was loaded with sounds inspired by reggae and dub styles. The most eye-catching, meanwhile, was the Clank Uranograph - a beautifully made instrument with a focus on microtonality and performance that will appeal to Soma fans.

A couple of retro-inspired desktop synths got our full attention - the Suonobuono Polyvera makes a virtue of the lo-fi aliasing effects in vintage digital synths and samplers, while Waldorf’s Protein revives the 8-bit wavetables of the German synth giant’s influential heyday in their most affordable unit to date.

Elsewhere the story was largely one of evolution rather than revolution - Groove Synthesis released the 8M, a more affordable 8-voice desktop version of the modern classic 3rd Wave; Arturia cut down their AstroLab performance synth to a 37-key version; and Sequential built on their illustrious Prophet heritage with the underrated Fourm, a great-sounding four-voice polysynth with polyphonic aftertouch.

Synth & drum machine staff picks

Luke says: “The surprise hit of the year for me was the Dubreq Stylophone CPM DS-2 - a really playable and great-sounding drone synth. I'd love to sit with a few of these in a big room and just melt away for a few hours!”

Kyle says: “The Erica Synths Hexdrums drum machine is a new release but it's already made its mark. It caught my eye at Superbooth for its large voice count and also the number of parameters per voice. This gives it loads of sonic possibilities paired with a familiar but powerful sequencer. The output section is based on the Hexinverter Hot Glue which was my main Eurorack mixer for a long time. It has drive and compression which can push the drums into a beautifully crunchy and distorted place.”

Jason says: “I've got a Roland TR-808… so why did I want the System80 880 Desktop so badly? Jeff at System80 has spent most of the last decade recreating some of Roland's most beloved circuits (including the Jupiter 6 filter) and marrying them to one of the nicest design aesthetics I've seen in a long time.  It's not that the packaging and branding in itself is important, but when someone goes to the level of detail that Jeff has on these things, you just know he's spent the same amount of obsessive energy on the contents of the box. This is a sonic boom of a miniature drum machine and somehow doesn't compromise on usability or interface despite its size - beautiful work.”

Tom says: “The only non-Eurorack synth I acquired this year was the Instruo Seashell, which I used extensively in my live set at Machina Bristronica. It’s actually insane how much power they packed into a device that fits in the palm of your hand! The sound is incredible, as you’d expect and the DAW integration is fantastic - it feels like a genuinely fresh approach.”

Aleks says: “Let’s talk about the Antilope. Yes, it is a drum machine. Well, sort of. The second standalone (i.e. not Eurorack) unit from the n-dimensional hyper interface design brain of Manifold Research Centre is the most fun noise-making box I’ve laid hands on this year. Dual pingable filters, distortion, dynamics control, a well curated selection of built-in FX and a CV pattern recorder that spits out one good idea after another from subtle percussive tones, moody, droney ambience to banshee screeching. If you’re into the designs of makers like Whimsical Raps, Peter Blasser or Meng Qi then this is well worth your time. Lots more of this in 2026 please thanks.

“Then there’s Instruo’s Pocket SCION. Not sure I expected one of my favourite instruments to be a mushroom-adjacent synthesiser but here we are. One of the things I love about Pocket SCION most is its immediacy and its ability to democratise the experience of making electronic music. I mean, my five-year-old son was able to entertain himself with it happily for a good 20 minutes! Don’t be deceived into thinking it’s a toy, though. Pocket SCION has full MIDI integration (over 3.5mm TRS and USB), a comprehensive software editor and Touch OSC message capabilities so, if you want to dive deeper and integrate this beautiful object as part of a larger family of hardware or software then fill yer boots. I imagine those boots will be mucky from all the mushroom foraging.”

The best studio gear of 2025

Oxi Instruments dropped the eagerly anticipated Oxi One MkII, which improves their already superb device in just about every conceivable way. It plays well with modular and has a strong claim to be the best desktop sequencer on the market right now.

Arturia dropped a steady stream of new and improved MIDI controllers in a host of sizes and colours, from the MiniLab 3 Champagne Edition to the fantastic KeyStep Mk2, which updates a genuine classic controller/sequencer for the modern era. They also rounded out the year with the innovative MiniFuse 2 OTG audio interface, boasting dual USB connections for streaming and recording simultaneously.

Talking of audio interfaces, Bitwig entered the fray with the Connect 4/12. With a host of 3.5mm connectivity, it’s the perfect way to interface your modular synth (and the rest of your studio) with your Bitwig DAW.

Studio gear staff picks

Kyle says: “I've spent a lot of time with the Melbourne Instruments Roto-Control this year! The versatility of this controller is its biggest superpower. I use it mostly to give hardware controls to other synths like the Expert Sleepers Disting NT, or VST plug-ins.”

Luke says: “The RODEC and Sherman Ministyler bundle offers lots of grit and character in a lovely form factor. It’s absolutely tons of fun to smash drums through and the envelope follower can get things sounding very mangled. I’m excited to see more 100 series madness in the future!”

Tom says: “I was seriously impressed with the original Zoom LiveTrak L-6, which packed a mixer, multitrack recorder and effects unit into a tiny space. Zoom went a step further this year though with the L6max - more channels, an OLED screen, AI noise reduction, a second headphone jack plus -20dB pads on inputs 5-8 for handling hot modular-level signals. It’s insane value for money.”