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2026 NAMM Show: Polyend has released Synth 2.0, a major firmware update that expands the sound design depth, performance workflow, and creative potential of the Polyend Synth.

Available as a free update for all users, Synth 2.0 introduces Dirt, a new synthesis engine added to the Polyend Play+ late last year, quickselect scene loading, and continued refinements.

New in Polyend Synth 2.0:

Dirt — A Character Driven Synthesis Engine

At the core of Synth 2.0 is Dirt, a synthesis engine focused on waveshaping and warping.

• Five blendable oscillator shapes with sub-oscillator mix
• Bi-directional waveform warping modulated by envelopes or LFOs
• 13 waveshaper modes, spanning saturation, distortion, fuzz, bit-crush, and hybrid textures
• 60+ new factory presets and scenes showcasing Dirt’s aggressive, lo-fi, and expressive sounds
• Aftertouch control of all Dirt parameters

Dirt expands the Polyend Synth engine family with a distinctly bold sonic identity — ideal for gritty basses, leads, experimental drones, and textures.

Quickselect — Instant Scene Recall from the Grid

Synth 2.0 introduces Quickselect, transforming the grid into a visual scene launcher to pair with a MIDI controller live or quickly audio presets:

• Assign and recall up to 60 scenes directly from the grid
• The active scene is indicated at full brightness; unused pads remain partially lit
• Reorder and manage scenes quickly with simple commands

Quickselect reduces menu navigation, making live performance patch changes more immediate and fluid.

Performance and Stability Enhancements

Synth 2.0 also delivers under-the-hood improvements for a smoother, more expressive instrument:

• Improved filter performance and modulation resolution
• More stable pitch modulation at high LFO speeds
• Fixes for rare audio dropouts, chord truncation, and edge-case stability issues

Synth 2.0 is available now as a free update.

Ahead of the 2026 NAMM Show, Roland has announced Zenology GX for iPad, bringing the same advanced engine behind Roland’s flagship instruments, like FANTOM and JUPITER-X, to Apple’s popular tablet platform.

Roland introduced Zenology GX for Mac & Windows late last year.

Here’s what they have to say about the upcoming iPad version:

“ZENOLOGY GX for iPad is coming soon—sign up now to be among the first to get your hands on it.

Launching on the Apple App Store as an extended free experience with every feature unlocked, this standalone software synthesizer delivers the full power of Roland’s ZEN-Core Synthesis System in a mobile format.

Built on the same advanced sound engine and core feature set as ZENOLOGY GX for desktop, this iPad version offers a massive, ever-expanding library of inspiring sounds and deep editing tools with a touch-friendly interface—ideal for DAWless setups or your studio workflow. It’s Roland’s history and future at your fingertips.”

Roland has a sign up page to get more information at their site.

Ahead of the 2026 Winter NAMM Show, Casio has introduced the Dimension Shifter – a wearable wireless controller that translates your motions into control over any effects that have an Expression In jack.

They say that the Dimension Shifter can be used to provide “more nuance and precision than an expression pedal” and can also be used to change presets or toggle effects off and on.

Yvette Young Dimension Shifter Performance Demo:

The Dimension Shifter is available now for $299.99