By the Zonagirante.com team @spinning zone
Cover art by Zonagirante Studio
Every year, as happened a few months ago, Berlin becomes the epicenter of sound experimentation thanks to Superbooth, the fair where manufacturers large and small present their new ideas to expand the limits of musical creation. Amid modular synthesizers, drum machines, effects, and artifacts impossible to classify, the event functions as a laboratory that anticipates where the next trends in electronic music, sound design, and independent production will move.
The problem—if you can call it that—is overabundance. With so many new products, it's easy to get lost or be seduced by expensive and overly technical equipment. That's why, instead of listing everything that appeared in Superbooth 2025, After a reasonable amount of time for analysis, we selected five releases that stand out for Its reasonable price, its genuine innovation, and its potential appeal to independent musicians. These are tools that not only promise great sounds, but also new ways to create, play, and experiment.
1. Moog Messenger
The arrival of the Messenger marks a special moment: Moog is once again launching an analog monosynth, designed for musicians and sound designers who appreciate classic sounds but don't want to be stuck in the past. Presented at Superbooth 2025, this synthesizer is positioned as a relatively affordable option within the Moog range (around US$1 TP4T899) and combines two shapeable oscillators, a modern ladder filter, and a straightforward interface that encourages playing and exploring, not getting lost in menus.
For an independent musician, it's interesting because: a) it gives you that "Moog" sound that often seems unattainable, b) its format is manageable for home studios or live sessions, and c) its simple yet powerful approach allows creativity to flow without getting bogged down in technique. In short: a bridge between analog pedigree and contemporary usability.
2. Cre8audio Boom Chick
Here we have a gem for rhythm lovers: the Boom Chick is a pure analog drum machine, developed by Cre8audio (together with the Pittsburgh Modular team), with five handcrafted analog voices (kick, snare, hats and two multi-functional ones) and a sequencer of up to 64 steps with generative functions such as Euclidean, probability and polyrhythms.
The price is quite attractive (starting at ~US$1,439) for what it offers. For an independent musician, it's especially relevant because it allows them to create their own rhythms without relying on samples or plugins; the experience is hands-on, physical, and direct, which can inspire different creative routines. Furthermore, its modular-friendly design makes it scalable if you want to integrate it into a larger setup in the future.
3. 1010music Bento
If you love working with samples, clips, loops, and live performance, the 1010music Bento is designed as a complete desktop studio. It features a 7″ touchscreen, 16 velocity-sensitive pads, eight infinite encoders, a built-in battery for portability, and ample inputs and outputs. MusicRadar+1
The price range is around ~US $899 / ~€1,049. Hispasonic For an independent musician, it's an incredibly useful tool: it allows you to do everything from building beats to working with samples, creating loops, and organizing song structures without a computer. This represents a freedom that goes beyond the traditional studio—ideal for those who produce, cover, or perform live and seek uninterrupted workflow.
4. Polyend Mess
The Polyend Mess appears as a device that is neither a synthesizer nor a drum machine in the usual sense, but a sequenced effects machine: more than 120 algorithms ranging from delays, reverbs, glithes, spectral modulations, to 4-track sequencers that allow you to automate and modulate the effects in real time.
Although technically not a "traditional instrument," its value for an independent musician lies in its ability to transform sound: voice, guitar, synthesizer, loops—everything can be run through the Mess and acquire unexpected textures. It's the kind of gear that opens up creative avenues, rather than simply replicating what's already been done.
5. (Next release) Korg Berlin Phase8
Although it is not yet in commercial distribution (launch planned for early 2026 for under €1,000), the Phase8 deserves attention because it opts for a hybrid between electronic synthesis and physical metallic resonators: eight electromechanical voices that vibrate like real objects, combined with modulation, waves, sequencer and tactile manipulation.
For an independent musician with an experimental appetite, this type of instrument is an invitation: not just to "make another sound," but to explore the physical, the gestural, the hybrid between hardware and mechanics. Although it requires patience (and planning ahead in purchasing), it's a concept that can create a unique identity.
Closing
Amidst the technological whirlwind that Superbooth presents each year, these five releases serve as a reminder that true innovation doesn't always depend on budget, but rather on the ability to inspire new ways of creating. Today, more than ever, independent musicians can access tools that once seemed exclusive to major studios or legendary brands. The important thing isn't having everything, but finding the equipment that resonates with your musical style, sparks ideas, and supports your sonic exploration.
In the end, the best machine is still the one that pushes you to play more, record more, and keep discovering your own sound.
P.S. The next Superbooth Berlin will be in May 2026. Stay tuned!
