“Synths, synths, synths, synths, synths & synths” The synthesiser is the one instrument that you could argue is responsible for the success of computer music making as we know it today. As the reality of in-the-box music production dawned at the end of last century, so the synth – previously analogue, then digital, but always as hard as nails – became the software instrument at its core, and to many its major selling point. The first softsynths truly gave us all belief that music making in a virtual studio was possible. I recall a much younger me unboxing – remember boxes? – and installing early softsynths from the then young Native Instruments and not so young Steinberg and hearing decent analogue-style growls emanating from my Creative Labs speakers. I was hooked.…