Beat Magazine #249 - October 2026

A Second Perspective on Your Mix – With Headphones

Headphones are flexible, precise and indispensable in the studio and on stage, but they can also fool you when mixing. In this masterclass, you’ll learn how to make targeted use of their strengths while avoiding common pitfalls. We’ll also show you workflows for more reliable mixes and provide a comprehensive market check of 25 current models. Plus: in-ear monitoring for the stage and DJ booth, headphone amps, and tools for calibration, virtual monitoring and immersive 3D mixes.

The 10 Biggest Problems When Mixing on Headphones – And How to Solve Them

Headphones eliminate room acoustics and ambient noise, reveal the finest details and allow you to work with focus almost anywhere. That’s exactly what makes them so useful – and sometimes tricky – for mixing. If you understand these characteristics and work with consistent checking routines, you can create reliable mixes on headphones, too.

Synthesizer V Studio 2 Core + Voice of Choice – Free With Beat 10/26

Melody and Lyrics become Vocals: Dreamtonics Synthesizer V Studio 2 Core uses its AI engine to generate astonishingly lifelike vocal performances directly within your DAW. In the piano roll, you can program notes and lyrics, optimize pronunciation and pitch, and use voice parameters, vibrato and unison to shape the desired character - from a powerful lead to a full backing choir. To get started, there are three expressive voices to choose from.

Test: Akai MPC One/Key37 G2 – the MPC becomes a synth

Akai Professional has always been a dominant force in the world of standalone production systems. With the launch of the second generation of its compact MPC range, this long-established manufacturer is breathing new life into the Entry-Level and Mid-Range segments of its hardware lineup – and adds oscillators, which make current MPCs to full-blown synthesizers ...

Discussion: Angine de Poitrine – Biography of a nose ...

I really didn’t want to write this article. Hasn’t everything already been said about this band? Weeks later, it dawned on me: It has – just not what really matters.

Higlights

• Prices, Uses, Strengths & Sounds – The Headphone Masterclass in Beat 10/26
• The 10 Biggest Problems When Mixing on Headphones – And How to Solve Them
• Synthesizer V Studio 2 Core + Voice of Choice – Free With Beat 10/26
• Test: Akai MPC One/Key37 G2 – the MPC becomes a synth
• Discussion: Angine de Poitrine – Biography of a nose ...
• The magical sounds of Freudenberg Castle: Of singing drums and screeching gongs
• Digital Culture: Club scene in 2026
• Portrait: Annie Hall – Emotion and atmosphere
• Behind the Beat Podcast #63 with Steve Wilson: Can you be a surround superstar?
• The rebirth of a legend: JoMoX AirBase 99 for Apisonic Speedrum & Akai MPCs
• Producing with Artificial Intelligence: Mix feedback from an AI expert
• More Reviews: Beyerdynamic DT 275 PRO, Modal ELEMENT One, Strymon StarLab, Steinberg SpectraLayers Pro 13, Carbon Electra 2, IK Multimedia Sunset Sound Reverb II, BOOM Library Transforce, Mixed In Key Wingman 2
• 16 GB of Plug-ins, Sounds, and Software for Inspiration and More Fun in the Studio

Extra Content

Create dynamic vocal performances right in your DAW with our full version of Synthesizer V Studio 2 Core from Dreamtonics – with an extra voice of your choice! You can program notes and lyrics with precision and perfect the pronunciation. Plus, we’ve included Steinberg Cubase LE 15, a complete recording studio DAW.

We’ve also put together a real treat for our Speedrum Beat Edition drum instrument and as an MPC expansion, featuring sounds from the JoMoX AirBase 99: 20 drum kits (16 pads/drums each). Thanks to the intuitive user interface, built-in effects, and flexible modulation options, you can trigger the AirBase 99’s tube and tape drums in seconds. Bonus: we’ve also adapted the drum kits for the MPC 1000.

As an extension of the sample library, there‘s an additional 7 GB of diverse sounds to explore – ranging from hard acid techno to laid-back piano sessions to psytech and Afrobeats. Have fun experimenting and creating!