They’re far more powerful and enjoyable than their low price implies, as shown in a photo by Terrence O’Brien for The Verge. If you frequent the r/synthesizers subreddit or watch many synth tutorials on YouTube, you’ve likely seen a surge in custom firmware for hardware synthesizers, samplers and grooveboxes. The common thread behind most of these projects is the rise of increasingly sophisticated vibe coding tools.
Before large language models entered the scene, creating custom firmware was a rare undertaking that demanded deep technical knowledge and a huge time commitment. Adding a modest feature such as velocity sensitivity to a Korg Volca could take weeks or even months. Today, hobbyist programmers can transform inexpensive Temu synths into fully featured grooveboxes in just a few days.
Read the full story at The Verge.