The Digital Lifestyle Show

This week, I chat with Alex Dalliance (aka Vulture Culture) to shine a light on the analog synths that deserve way more love. From the gritty charm of the DW-8000 to the overlooked brilliance of the Alpha Juno 2, we dig into the gear that delivers serious tone without the Continue Reading

This week on The Digital Lifestyle Show, I’m joined by Microsoft Surface MVP Rob Quickenden to dive into the latest Surface devices and what they mean for users. We cover the new Surface Pro 12 and Laptop 13 models, Snapdragon vs Intel processors, Copilot+ PCs, and what it’s like using Continue Reading

Coming Up This Week on The Digital Lifestyle Show This week, Ian and Garry catch up on the latest in gadgets, smart home tech, EVs, music projects, and more. From new portable chargers and Surface devices to custom synth sound packs and Ian’s brand-new album, there’s plenty to dive into! Continue Reading

This week on the Synth Chat Podcast, Ian catches up with Scottish sound designer and musician Marc Barnes.Marc returns to talk about his latest Korg Multi/Poly and Wavestate sound packs, programming tips, and his thoughts on the creative process. We dive deep into sampling workflows, vintage synths, and even the Continue Reading

Gary joins me as we catch up on our latest smart home projects, new tutorials for the Korg Multi/Poly and Wavestate, and take a quick first look at the newly announced Surface devices. Plus, we chat about automation, AI video creation, vinyl over Sonos, underfloor heating tech, and some not-so-great Continue Reading

This week on TDL Synth Chat, I’m joined by Chileas, a producer and synth lover from France, whose musical journey has taken him from beat-making in Paris to building a studio full of classic synths and exploring synth-pop sounds. Listen Now:Listen Here (download mp3) We chat about his early days Continue Reading

Welcome back to the blog! After a short summer break, we’re back with a packed tech discussion featuring Gary and Ian. From smart home automation using budget ESPHome devices to updates in Windows 11, CR-78 drum machine recreations, and the latest in EV charging policy — this week’s episode covers Continue Reading

This week on The Digital Lifestyle Show, Ian and Garry are back with a deep-dive discussion after a string of great guest episodes. From the creative impact of AI to hands-on synth sound design and smart home automation hacks — it’s a wide-ranging conversation packed with insights, demos, and gear Continue Reading

In this week’s episode of The Digital Lifestyle Show, I’m joined by none other than Daniel Fisher from Sweetwater. If you’re into synthesisers, programming, or live performance — this is a must-listen episode. Daniel has had a long and fascinating journey through music and synthesis, and in this episode, he Continue Reading

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of vintage synth firmware hacking with Thomas Janssen. Thomas has been developing new firmware for the classic 1986 Korg DW8000 synthesizer, adding features like enhanced unison detune, expanded filter resolution, random LFOs, and new modulation destinations — all while preserving the Continue Reading

️ New Episode of the TDL Podcast! This week, I’m joined by Peter Dowsett, a long-time synthesizer enthusiast, producer, and vintage sampler collector, for a deep dive into synth history, creative sound design, and studio setup secrets. Peter shares his journey from discovering synths in the early ’80s to building Continue Reading

️ This Week on the Show: Exploring the Octave Cat with James BrennanJames Brennan is back! Following his popular appearance discussing the Polyvox, James returns to dive deep into another quirky classic – the Octave Cat analog synthesizer. In this episode, we explore the history of Octave Electronics, how the Continue Reading

This week I’m joined by musician and synth aficionado Peter Teipe for a deep dive into decades of gear, sound design, and creative inspiration. From his early days on the Roland JX-10 and Yamaha RY30 to sampling with EMU samplers, gigging with the Virus TI, and exploring granular synthesis, Peter Continue Reading

Podcast 2025: New Surface Devices, Snapdragon Music Tests, & EV Show HighlightsThis week, Garry returns and we catch up on all the latest in tech and electric vehicles! ️ I dive into testing the new Snapdragon-powered Surface Pro 11, sharing my experience using it for music production with Cubase 14 Continue Reading

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 Continue Reading

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 Westfield—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 Continue Reading

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 Continue Reading

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, Continue Reading

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 Continue Reading

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 Continue Reading