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This week we sit down after a full month with the MPC Sample to ask a simple question: what actually holds up once the novelty wears off?We compare it directly with the Roland SP-404MKII, exploring workflow, sampling approaches, creative limitations, and how each device shapes the way you make music.This isn’t a spec breakdown. It’s a conversation about lived experience: what feels fast, what feels inspiring, and where friction starts to appear.After that, we move into a round robin discussion:What’s one thing you’d like to unlearn in your DAW workflow?A conversation about habits, defaults, and the things we carry long after they’ve stopped serving us.Join the discussion in our Discord and let us know:MPC or SP? And what are you trying to unlearn?Willebrant has a new EP out, check it here:https://willebrant.bandcamp.com/album/castel-epThanks to our Patrons who support what we do:Audionauts: Abby, Bendu, David Svrjcek, Josh Wittman, Paul Ledbrook, Matt Donatelli and Stephen SetzepfandtLars Haur - Audionaut ProducerJonathan Goode - Audionaut ProducerJoin the conversation:💌 [email protected] 🐤 Twitter @Audionautic📸 Instagram: @audionauticsounds📡Discord: https://discord.gg/8FpkdFmx6Sunwarper: https://sunwarper.com​​​​​​Kh3rtis: https://kh3rtis.com

This week we’re taking a deep dive into some of the most underrated free plugins from u-he. We’re exploring Triple Cheese, Podolski, and the Tyrell N6, three very different instruments that cover everything from physical modelling to virtual analog and modular-style synthesis. These plugins have been around for years, but still hold up incredibly well across modern DAWs. We’re putting them to the test, demonstrating their sound, workflow, and asking why tools like these are often overlooked in today’s plugin landscape. Are free plugins being underestimated? Semiotic Ghosts has a new album out, you should check it out: https://cosmicwinnetou.bandcamp.com/album/be-not-entangled-cw74 Thanks to our Patrons who support what we do: Audionauts: Abby, Bendu, David Svrjcek, Josh Wittman, Paul Ledbrook, Matt Donatelli and Stephen Setzepfandt Lars Haur - Audionaut Producer Jonathan Goode - Audionaut Producer Join the conversation: 💌 [email protected] 🐤 Twitter @Audionautic 📸 Instagram: @audionauticsounds 📡Discord: https://discord.gg/ttuPYrcD Sunwarper: https://sunwarper.com​​​​​​ Kh3rtis: https://kh3rtis.com

This week we’re discussing the acquisition of Elektron by Bonnier Capital.Elektron says operations, products, and team structure will remain unchanged, with the goal of supporting long-term growth and expansion. But as we’ve seen across the industry, acquisitions often play out over time rather than immediately.We explore what this could mean for Elektron’s identity, product direction, and community, and whether this is a positive step forward or something to watch closely.Known Artiste has a new Album out, check it here:https://knownartiste.bandcamp.com/album/--21Thanks to our Patrons who support what we do:Audionauts: Abby, Bendu, David Svrjcek, Josh Wittman, Paul Ledbrook, Matt Donatelli and Stephen SetzepfandtLars Haur - Audionaut ProducerJonathan Goode - Audionaut ProducerJoin the conversation:💌 [email protected] 🐤 Twitter @Audionautic📸 Instagram: @audionauticsounds📡Discord: https://discord.gg/ttuPYrcDSunwarper: https://sunwarper.com​​​​​​Kh3rtis: https://kh3rtis.com

This week we’re discussing the growing issue of AI-generated deepfake music on streaming platforms.Sony Music claims to have removed over 135,000 tracks impersonating real artists, with major names already affected. These AI-generated songs are designed to mimic artists and take advantage of attention during release cycles.We unpack what this means for musicians, listeners, and the future of music platforms. Is this just the beginning of a much larger problem?Check out Kh3rtis' new album, 'In the Wake of Light' here:https://kh3rtis.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-wake-of-lightThanks to our Patrons who support what we do:Audionauts: Abby, Bendu, David Svrjcek, Josh Wittman, Paul Ledbrook, Matt Donatelli and Stephen SetzepfandtLars Haur - Audionaut ProducerJonathan Goode - Audionaut ProducerJoin the conversation:💌 [email protected] 🐤 Twitter @Audionautic📸 Instagram: @audionauticsounds📡Discord: https://discord.gg/63SkhVZrSunwarper: https://sunwarper.com​​​​​​Kh3rtis: https://kh3rtis.com

This week we’re taking a look at the new Akai MPC Sample, a portable standalone sampler that brings the classic MPC workflow into a compact, modern format.With built-in battery, speaker, sampling, sequencing, and performance effects, MPC Sample is designed as an all-in-one creative tool for making music anywhere. But where does it actually sit in today’s landscape?We compare it to devices like the Roland SP-404MKII and Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II, and explore whether this is a serious production tool, a sketchpad, or something in between.Is this the sweet spot for modern beatmaking, or just another box in an already crowded space?Pre-order Kh3rtis' - 'In the Wake of Light' here:https://kh3rtis.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-wake-of-lightThanks to our Patrons who support what we do:Audionauts: Abby, Bendu, David Svrjcek, Josh Wittman, Paul Ledbrook, Matt Donatelli and Stephen SetzepfandtLars Haur - Audionaut ProducerJonathan Goode - Audionaut ProducerJoin the conversation:💌 [email protected] 🐤 Twitter @Audionautic📸 Instagram: @audionauticsounds📡Discord: https://discord.gg/uTRbCmCjSunwarper: https://sunwarper.com​​​​​​Kh3rtis: https://kh3rtis.com

This week’s episode is a round robin conversation about the things we overcomplicate in the studio.Kick drums. Arrangement. Mix bus processing. Sound design. Workflow. We all have areas where we spiral — adding layers, tweaking endlessly, chasing perfection, or solving problems that didn’t exist in the first place.We’re unpacking why we do it, when complexity helps, and when it quietly holds us back.Sometimes improving isn’t about learning more. It’s about doing less.Join us for a thoughtful (and slightly confessional) discussion about creative overthinking in music production.Lars has a new single, check it here:https://errorpronerecords.bandcamp.com/album/completely-incoherent-dreamsThanks to our Patrons who support what we do:Audionauts: Abby, Bendu, David Svrjcek, Josh Wittman, Paul Ledbrook, Matt Donatelli and Stephen SetzepfandtLars Haur - Audionaut ProducerJonathan Goode - Audionaut ProducerJoin the conversation:💌 [email protected] 🐤 Twitter @Audionautic📸 Instagram: @audionauticsounds📡Discord: https://discord.gg/uTRbCmCjSunwarper: https://sunwarper.com​​​​​​Kh3rtis: https://kh3rtis.com

This week we’re exploring the most overrated advice in music production.Not bad advice. Not wrong advice. Just ideas that might be over-repeated, oversimplified, or applied without context.From “use reference tracks” to “you need analog warmth,” “limit yourself,” and “finish everything,” we’re unpacking why certain producer mantras stick — and when they genuinely help versus when they quietly hold us back.Sometimes growth isn’t about new plugins or new gear. It’s about re-examining the creative rules we’ve absorbed along the way.Join us for a round robin conversation about nuance, context, and finding your own working philosophy.Thanks to our Patrons who support what we do:Audionauts: Abby, Bendu, David Svrjcek, Josh Wittman, Paul Ledbrook, Matt Donatelli and Stephen SetzepfandtLars Haur - Audionaut ProducerJonathan Goode - Audionaut ProducerJoin the conversation:💌 [email protected] 🐤 Twitter @Audionautic📸 Instagram: @audionauticsounds📡Discord: https://discord.gg/uTRbCmCjSunwarper: https://sunwarper.com​​​​​​Kh3rtis: https://kh3rtis.comTIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 02:00 - What We Have Been Up To 07:00 - Band.Codes 18:00 - Good advice/ bad advice 24:00 - Marketing: The Grind 32:00 - 'Perfecting' the studio before your time 36:00 - Following the Crowd 45:00 - 'Knowing' the rules 51:00 - Bangers 62:00 - Promoting like the influencers tell you 72:00 - Reference Tracks

Ableton Live 12.4 is now in public beta, and this update is all about refinement, collaboration, and deeper workflow improvements.This week we break down Link Audio and what real time audio streaming between devices actually means for producers. We also explore the updated Erosion device, improvements to Chorus Ensemble and Delay, refinements to Stem Separation, and the new Learn View that replaces the classic Help panel.Is this a small quality of life update, or does Link Audio quietly change how we collaborate and jam in the studio?Join us as we unpack what matters, what feels incremental, and what could shape the next phase of Live.Stilhed has a new Album on the way, check it out here!https://stilhed.bandcamp.com/album/aeralisThanks to our Patrons who support what we do:Audionauts: Abby, Bendu, David Svrjcek, Josh Wittman, Paul Ledbrook, Matt Donatelli and Stephen SetzepfandtLars Haur - Audionaut ProducerJonathan Goode - Audionaut ProducerJoin the conversation:💌 [email protected] 🐤 Twitter @Audionautic📸 Instagram: @audionauticsounds📡Discord: https://discord.gg/FJ3KfCN7Sunwarper: https://sunwarper.com​​​​​​Kh3rtis: https://kh3rtis.com TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 01:00 - What we're up to 07:00 - Ableton 12.4: Initial Thoughts 19:00 - Ableton Link Update 33:00 - Plugin Upgrades: Erosion, Chorus Ensemble, Delay 50:00 - Learn View 63:00 - Upgrade Stem Separation 74:00 - Stilhead - Aeralis

There are a few technical difficulties this week, the internet was not our friend. We appreciate your patience :) ____________________________________________________________ This week we’re exploring Strum Plate by Gulf Coast Synthesis, a free MIDI effect that separates what you play from when you play it.Inspired by the touchplate interface of the Omnichord, Strum Plate lets you hold chords with one hand while manually strumming notes into existence using a mouse or pitch wheel. It’s less about precision and more about feel, gesture, and discovering new musical behaviours.Rather than reviewing features, this episode is about experimentation. We’ll be pairing Strum Plate with different synths and sounds, pushing it in unexpected directions, and seeing what kinds of rhythms, textures, and performance ideas emerge along the way.If you’re curious about alternative MIDI workflows, playful sound design tools, or finding inspiration in free plugins, this one’s for you.Check out the Strum Plate Here:https://www.gulfcoastsynthesis.com/strum-plate.htmlLars Haur has a new track out. It's lush, check it here: https://larshaur.bandcamp.com/album/everything-is-wrongThanks to our Patrons who support what we do:Audionauts: Abby, Bendu, David Svrjcek, Josh Wittman, Paul Ledbrook, Matt Donatelli and Stephen SetzepfandtLars Haur - Audionaut ProducerJonathan Goode - Audionaut ProducerJoin the conversation:💌 [email protected] 🐤 Twitter @Audionautic📸 Instagram: @audionauticsounds📡Discord: https://discord.gg/Sunwarper: https://sunwarper.com​​​​​​Kh3rtis: https://kh3rtis.com

This week we’re unpacking two very different sides of the music technology world.First, we look at the news surrounding Native Instruments entering preliminary insolvency proceedings. We break down what’s actually happening, what it means for musicians who rely on NI tools, and why this is more about financial structure than failing products.Then we shift gears into a post NAMM 2026 roundtable, sharing the gear releases that genuinely caught our attention. No hype cycles, no shopping lists, just thoughtful reactions to what felt meaningful, useful or creatively interesting this year.As always, this is an open discussion about tools, industry shifts and how we navigate them as working musicians.Thanks to our Patrons who support what we do:Audionauts: Abby, Bendu, David Svrjcek, Josh Wittman, Paul Ledbrook, Matt Donatelli and Stephen SetzepfandtLars Haur - Audionaut ProducerJonathan Goode - Audionaut ProducerJoin the conversation:💌 [email protected] 🐤 Twitter @Audionautic📸 Instagram: @audionauticsounds📡Discord: https://discord.gg/Sunwarper: https://sunwarper.com​​​​​​Kh3rtis: https://kh3rtis.com

This week we’re diving into Zebra 3 from U-He, exploring why it remains one of the most deep and flexible software synthesizers available today. Rather than a feature checklist, this episode is about discovery, approach and what it feels like to work inside a truly modular synth environment.We’ll talk through Zebra 3’s oscillators, spectral shaping, modulation system and sound design philosophy, focusing on how its design encourages intentional exploration rather than preset hopping. From subtle movement and organic textures to complex evolving sounds, Zebra 3 rewards time spent listening and experimenting.Along the way we reflect on what makes a synth feel inspiring in long term use, how depth can coexist with clarity, and why tools like Zebra 3 continue to resonate with sound designers and musicians years after their release.If you enjoy slower, more thoughtful discussions about synthesis and creative process, this one’s for you.Thanks to our Patrons who support what we do:Audionauts: Abby, Bendu, David Svrjcek, Josh Wittman, Paul Ledbrook, Matt Donatelli and Stephen SetzepfandtLars Haur - Audionaut ProducerJonathan Goode - Audionaut ProducerJoin the conversation:💌 [email protected] 🐤 Twitter @Audionautic📸 Instagram: @audionauticsounds📡Discord: https://discord.gg/Sunwarper: https://sunwarper.com​​​​​​Kh3rtis: https://kh3rtis.com

This week’s episode is about want vs need.We explore the internal dialogue that shows up when we feel the urge to buy new gear, plugins, or software. Where does that desire come from? Is it curiosity, FOMO, comparison, or a genuine creative requirement?We talk about:Recognizing the difference between wanting and needingWhen a purchase actually makes senseSocial media influence and comparisonPractical ways to pause, reflect, and detach from impulsive buyingGiving yourself permission to need something without guiltA thoughtful conversation about intention, creativity, and staying connected to why we make music in the first place.Thanks to our Patrons who support what we do:Audionauts: Abby, Bendu, David Svrjcek, Josh Wittman, Paul Ledbrook, Matt Donatelli and Stephen SetzepfandtLars Haur - Audionaut ProducerJonathan Goode - Audionaut ProducerJoin the conversation:💌 [email protected] 🐤 Twitter @Audionautic📸 Instagram: @audionauticsounds📡Discord: https://discord.gg/Sunwarper: https://sunwarper.com​​​​​​Kh3rtis: https://kh3rtis.com

We’re back for our first show of 2026.In this episode, we ease into the new year by reflecting on the winter break. We share what we got up to, highlight a few poignant moments in the studio, and talk about how time away shaped our thinking about music and creativity.We also look ahead to the year to come. Not resolutions, but intentions. What we’re excited about, what we want to protect, and how we hope to approach our creative lives moving forward.Thanks to our Patrons who support what we do:Audionauts: Abby, Bendu, David Svrjcek, Josh Wittman, Paul Ledbrook, Matt Donatelli and Stephen SetzepfandtLars Haur - Audionaut ProducerJonathan Goode - Audionaut ProducerJoin the conversation:💌 [email protected] 🐤 Twitter @Audionautic📸 Instagram: @audionauticsounds📡Discord: https://discord.gg/Sunwarper: https://sunwarper.com​​​​​​Kh3rtis: https://kh3rtis.com

This is our final episode before the winter break, so we’re taking a moment to look back.In this end of year retrospective, we reflect on our creative highlights, personal achievements, and the moments that shaped our musical year. From releases and conversations to lessons learned and unexpected wins, this episode is about acknowledging progress and sharing gratitude.No announcements, no hype, just a thoughtful conversation about creativity, growth, and what it means to keep showing up.Thank you to everyone who listened, joined the discussions, and supported the show this year. We’ll see you after the break, on 7th January 2026Thanks to our Patrons who support what we do:Audionauts: Abby, Bendu, David Svrjcek, Josh Wittman, Paul Ledbrook, Matt Donatelli and Stephen SetzepfandtLars Haur - Audionaut ProducerJonathan Goode - Audionaut ProducerJoin the conversation:💌 [email protected] 🐤 Twitter @Audionautic📸 Instagram: @audionauticsounds📡Discord: https://discord.gg/Sunwarper: https://sunwarper.com​​​​​​Kh3rtis: https://kh3rtis.com

This week we sit down with long-time Audionaut, patron, and ambient architect Survey Channel, diving deep into his new release Ecomediums — a sonic journey built from repurposed media, intuitive construction, and a fractured digital consciousness.Ecomediums questions the validity of repurposing art and media. Using fragments of MIDI, samples, layered ambient synthetics, and a (mis)guided intuition, Survey Channel creates an uninterrupted drift through a distorted digital “elsewhere” just beyond today’s technological distractions.We talk about:The philosophy behind repurposing artInspiration and conceptual underpinningsHis production workflowThe idea of the “economically creative”How fragments, leftovers, and recovered media can form something newJoin us for a deep, thoughtful conversation.Check out 'Ecomediums' here: https://surveychannel.bandcamp.com/album/ecomediumsThanks to our Patrons who support what we do:Audionauts: Abby, Bendu, David Svrjcek, Josh Wittman, Paul Ledbrook, Matt Donatelli and Stephen SetzepfandtLars Haur - Audionaut ProducerJonathan Goode - Audionaut ProducerJoin the conversation:💌 [email protected] 🐤 Twitter @Audionautic📸 Instagram: @audionauticsounds📡Discord: https://discord.gg/Sunwarper: https://sunwarper.com​​​​​​Kh3rtis: https://kh3rtis.com