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Synthesist Nan Tang (aka tamiX) let us know that organizers have announced plans for Modular Commune Festival 25.

This year, Modular Commune celebrates 10 years, with a wide range of events, scheduled for November 12-16, 2025. This will be the second year since organizers made the show international, but it has been running locally since 2015.

The Beijing-based electronic music festival will feature performances from more than 140 modular artists, 60+ synth exhibitors, 4 master classes, 41 workshops and 2 modular after-parties.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary, organizers have put together a special show, with a fully-loaded non-stop schedule schedule and the largest exhibition they have had to date.

Here are the highlights of the schedule:

Performances will be held continuously on two stages – Modular live stage and Ambient stage in Dolby Atmos. The event will feature 141 artists, with 123 performances over three days, or about 47 hours of modular madness.

For the first time, the event will feature four international “heavyweights of synthesis”, giving sharing their expertise in 3-hour long master classes. They include HATAKEN, Julia Bondar, Gervis, and Tatsuya Takahashi.

The event will feature developers from around the world, showcasing their gear, along with 18 local indie developers. Organizers expect that there will be several new product announcements at the event.

For people new to modular synthesizer, organizers have planned a Novice Village, for learning about the basics of modular synthesis; an Artists’ market for creators’ showcase; DIY workshops by Error Instruments, Bastl, Making Sound Machines, Meng Qi Music, and Mad Kids Empire;  a pop-up museum of samplers; and 41 product demo sessions/workshops from exhibitors and artists.

Finally, there will also be two afterparties, ambient on Friday and techno on Saturday.The lineup includes a list of artists from 4 continents and 16 countries. They say it may be the “most epic modular party of the year”.

The festival will be held in a 3600m² venue called Gearing Space in 798 Art District.

Gearing space is a refurnished old gas production facility, and some gas production equipment are still preserved there, forming a unique architectural style.

For details on the event, visit the Modular Commune site.

ELTA Music shared this sneak preview of the Polivoks-8, an eight-voice polyphonic, dual-VCF, bi-timbral analog synthesizer. They plan to make it available in both desktop and 4U rack-mount formats.

Inspired by the soviet Formanta Polivoks, they say that “the Polivoks-8 combines authentic analog circuitry with modern flexibility and control, delivering a bold, distinctive sonic character for the studio or stage.”

Here’s what they’ve shared about the Polivoks-8:

Features:

• Oscillators – Each of the eight voices features two fully analog oscillators with FM, Sync, and Ring Modulation capabilities, plus a dedicated sub oscillator per voice. Choose from the classic trio of analog waveforms with PWM and fixed pulse options. An analog noise generator provides both white and pink noise.
• Filters – Each voice is equipped with two analog voltage-controlled filters that can be freely routed in serial, parallel, or any blend in between.
  • VCF 1: A classic Polivoks-type filter, originally designed by Vladimir Kuzmin for the iconic Formanta Polivoks synthesizer. Built around genuine soviet K140UD12 OTAs, it delivers a distinct character – aggressive, expressive, and alive. It features 12 dB low-pass and 6 dB bandpass responses, controllable input saturation, and true analog FM for deep timbral shaping.
  • VCF 2: An improved ladder-style filter offering a 24 dB low-pass response with resonance drop compensation, ensuring smooth, consistent behavior across all resonance settings.
• Amplifier Section – Each voice includes three VCAs: one master VCA plus a stereo pair for pan modulation, enabling dynamic spatial movement and immersive sound design.
• Envelope Generators – Three independent envelope generators per voice are pre-routed to the VCF, VCA, and VCO. Each can be freely re-patched, with multiple curve types available for precise control over contour and its response.
• LFOs – The Polivoks-8 features one global analog LFO (modulated triangle waveform)and eight per-voice LFOs with a wide selection of waveforms – including the ability to create and save user-captured waveforms per patch, offering limitless modulation potential.
• Arpeggiator & Sequencer – Each patch or timbre includes a classic arpeggiator and step sequencer, both fully programmable for intricate rhythmic and melodic motion in bi-timbral mode.
• Joystick Modulation – A built-in analog joystick allows expressive real-time control. Movements can be recorded and replayed as modulation sources or even used as custom LFO waveforms, adding another layer of performance creativity.
• Sound Storage – Store up to 1024 patches (256 factory + 768 user slots) across eight sound banks with 128 patches per bank.
• Connectivity
  • Audio: Mono input for external signal processing, stereo main output, and stereo headphone output.
  • MIDI: Classic 5-pin DIN I/O/T plus high-speed
  • USB MIDI I/O for seamless integration with modern setups.
• Control Panel – The interface features high-quality, 360° endless encoders for all parameters and a dedicated master volume potentiometer. Durable Digitast-type switches ensure a solid, tactile feel. Crisp 3.2-inch monochrome OLED for clear visual feedback rounds the control.

Details on pricing and availability are to be announced.

The Alan R. Pearlman Foundation is celebrating the centennial of its namesake, ARP founder Alan R. Pearlman, with a new 36-track album, Soul Of The Machine.

Soul Of The Machine is a 2-CD set of tracks featuring the sounds of classic ARP instruments, ranging from the powerful ARP 2500 modular system, to the 2600, Odyssey, Pro Soloist and Omni.

The album, curated by Steve Roach and Chris Meyer and mastered by Robert Rich, features music by a “Who’s Who” of synthesists.

Martin Gore’s “Kino” combines Depeche Mode’s signature rhythmic power with a uniquely lyrical and sweet atmosphere. “Mr. No” reveals the classic electro-pop sound of John Foxx.

Soundtrack composer Mark Isham showcases his signature pulsating energy and evocative moodscapes in the mini-suite “Musings – in Two Parts.” Lisa Bella Donna takes listeners on an extended journey into timeless wonder in the epic “Conclusions.” JG Thirlwell’s “Sphere” is a synth freakout ricocheting between ominous sci-fi atmospheres and searing beats. And Panic Girl offers “Drifting Whispers,” a somber and uplifting neo-retro journey into a past that never was.

Other artists on the collection include Michael Brückner, Phil Cirocco, Rupert Greenall, LaMar “Kronick” Mitchell, Jeff Rona, Drew Schlesinger & David Torn, Don Slepian, as well as tracks by the collection’s curators Steve Roach and Chris Meyer of Alias Zone.

Roach mapped out the music so that CD 1 represents a sonic journey and CD 2 provides a showcase of the depth and breadth of what ARPs can do. After both CDs were finalized, there were more tracks than room on the CDs. These additional songs are collected as a bonus digital supplement to the physical CDs.

You can preview Soul of the Machine below, and purchase it at Bandcamp:

The compilation supports the Alan R. Pearlman Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that celebrates the legacy of inventor, musician, entrepreneur and engineer Alan R. Pearlman by making his innovative inventions publicly accessible and by inspiring future generations to imagine and create.