The Digital Lifestyle Show

Hosted by Ian Dixon

Technology News

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Episodes

886

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Each week we release a new edition of The Digital Lifestyle Show a weekly podcast looking at the latest digital lifestyle news from the tech world. We talk Windows 10, Smart Home, Mixed Reality, apps and more!

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60 recent

June 10, 202644 min

Smart Home Tech, Retro Synths & The AI Debate (with Gary!)

Welcome back to the show! This week, Gary returns, and we're catching up on everything from smart home innovations to retro synth deep dives. Gary shares his latest find—an incredibly flexible and affordable LED panel that he's integrated into Home Assistant for custom notifications. We also dive into the world of 80s sound design, discussing my recent Tangerine Dream sound pack, a classic 1986 "synth bible" book, and the evolving role of AI in creative content like YouTube thumbnails and video generation. Plus, we touch on the latest EV news, from sub-£20k cars to the future of solid-state batteries. What we cover in this episode: Gary's flexible LED panel and Home Assistant integration. Recreating iconic 80s sounds (Tangerine Dream & Roland D50). The "Keyfax" synth bible from 1986. The impact of AI on YouTube: Thumbnails, deepfakes, and authenticity. EV updates: New affordable models and battery tech breakthroughs. Passive smart home sensors and the future of gadget power. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction: Gary's back! 01:52 – Gary's New Gadget: The flexible in-car LED panel 03:45 – Integrating the LED panel with Home Assistant 05:25 – Pricing and Bluetooth proxy setup 07:50 – Potential uses for music tech and rhythm displays 09:45 – Ian's Updates: Podcast guesting and 80s sound design 11:00 – Retro Review: Keyfax 2 (The 1986 Synth Bible) 12:40 – Rapid evolution of synth tech from '86 to '88 13:18 – Deep Dive: Recreating the Tangerine Dream sound pack 15:22 – Tutorial Updates: Toto's Africa brass and Roland D50 Fantasia 17:30 – The AI Debate: YouTube thumbnails and creator backlash 19:10 – Authenticity vs. Algorithm: Feeding the YouTube machine 21:35 – The rise of fully AI-generated video content and deepfakes 25:38 – Wearable tech? LED panels on clothing 27:00 – EV Life: Editing challenges and syncing multi-cam car reviews 30:05 – EV News: Charging regulations and affordable new models 31:55 – The future of batteries: Solid-state, sodium, and solar 34:53 – Smart Home: Passive vibration-based sensors 38:15 – Local AI: Using small language models for home summaries 42:00 – Wrap up and what's coming next Call to Action Enjoyed the catch-up? 👉 Subscribe to Ian Dixon for more smart home, EV, and music tech updates! 💬 Question of the week: How do you feel about AI-generated thumbnails on YouTube? Love the look or prefer the human touch? Let us know in the comments! 🔔 Turn on notifications so you don't miss our next deep dive!

June 3, 202627 min

The CS-80, SY2 & The Search for the Perfect Synth

In this episode of the TDL Synth Chat, I travel to Prague to speak with Marek Hradil, an electronic music composer and synth expert. We dive deep into his incredible collection of vintage gear—including classic Yamaha CS and DX synths—and explore his fascinating journey from using VSTs to repairing and even designing his own custom hardware. Marik shares insights into his workflow as a computer game composer, the unique expressivity of analog instruments like the Yamaha SY2, and how he balances the convenience of modern technology with the tactile inspiration of physical synthesizers. 🕒 Timestamps 0:00 - Introduction to the TDL Synth Chat 0:38 - Meet Marik: Composer and synth enthusiast from Prague 1:05 - Moving from VSTs to physical hardware (Novation Bass Station) 1:43 - Learning the art of synth repair: From Logan String Melody to Yamaha CS series 3:50 - Upgrading vintage logic: Bringing a Yamaha CS40 into the 21st century 4:30 - The philosophy of modding: Preserving the "soul" of the original design 5:40 - Exploring the collection: Roland System 100 & the Vangelis connection 6:40 - The Yamaha SY2: A monophonic piece of the legendary GX1 7:30 - Why analog? The unparalleled expressivity of aftertouch 9:19 - Composing for video games: Using analog gear in a professional workflow 11:06 - The Great Debate: Can you really tell the difference between VSTs and hardware? 13:48 - Hybrid workflow: Rapid composition with VSTs vs. final recording with hardware 15:02 - The "Weight Trick": Live performance tips inspired by Vangelis 16:45 - The Korg DSS-1: A 1980s sampling powerhouse 18:00 - From repair to design: Why Marik now builds his own instruments 18:50 - The "Holy Grail" search: Korg Trident and the Yamaha CS80 21:13 - Desert Island Synth: Which one would he take? 22:34 - Where to find Marik's music (Bandcamp & Voltage Control Romance) 24:12 - Showcase: Marik's custom-designed synthesizers 25:52 - Designing from scratch: The joy of original circuitry Connect with Marik: Bandcamp: Matt Maverick / Aist Train / Mariel Project: Voltage Control Romance If you enjoyed this chat, don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more synth deep dives! #Synthesizers #VintageSynths #MusicComposition #YamahaCS80 #SynthRepair #ElectronicMusic #TDLSynthChat

May 27, 202652 min

Keith Crossley on Omnisphere 3, Multisamples & the Future of Wavetables

In this deep dive, Ian Dixon sits down with sound design expert Keith Crossley to discuss his latest breakthroughs in the world of synthesis. Keith shares his recent work reverse-engineering Omnosphere 3's file formats, enabling the creation of custom multi-sampled sound sources—a capability previously exclusive to Spectrasonics. They also explore Keith's massive library of wavetables, created through machine learning and mathematical processes, and delve into the enduring appeal of wavetable synthesis. From vintage Roland D-50 sound design secrets to the future of Korg hardware, this conversation is packed with technical insights and creative inspiration for synth enthusiasts. Key Topics Covered: Omnosphere 3 Hacks: How Keith developed scripts to convert SFZ files into native Omnosphere sound sources. Legendary Synths: A look at Keith's collaboration with Vulture Culture to bring vintage hardware samples into the digital realm. Wavetable Evolution: Exploring the use of AI, variational autoencoders, and mathematical polygons to generate millions of unique waveforms. Modern Gear Talk: Thoughts on Korg's R&D lineup (Modwave, Wave State, Multi-Poly) and the "Super Synth" trend. Sound Design Philosophy: Why restrictions breed creativity and the differences between sampling and wavetable morphing. Mentioned in this video: Keith Crossley's Wavetables Vulture Culture's Legendary Synths 00:00 - Introduction and welcome to Keith Crossley. 01:15 - Omnosphere 3 deep dive: Reverse engineering multi-samples. 03:41 - Partnership with Vulture Culture: Bringing "Legendary Synths" to Omnosphere. 05:43 - Exploring Keith's massive wavetable collection: KRC MathWaves. 06:05 - Keith's content style: The "Talkie Synthesizer" format and guest interviews. 08:25 - Technical breakdown: How multi-sample mapping works in Omnosphere. 11:56 - Why Omnosphere 3? Layers, internal effects, and standalone plugins. 17:23 - Vintage Sound Design: Reverse engineering the Roland D-50's secrets. 22:18 - Restrictions and Creativity: Sampling in the 90s vs. today's unlimited RAM. 25:27 - Fairlight archives and the lost art of manual sample looping. 30:28 - The Math of Sound: Using Machine Learning and AI to generate waveforms. 34:54 - New Wave: Exploring Zebra 3, Bezier splines, and Wavefield filters. 36:46 - Ultra.audio and the legacy of Robert Bristow-Johnson (RBJ). 40:15 - Hardware Pet Peeves: Why some modern synths still struggle with wavetable import. 44:53 - The Future of Wavetables: Why the technology remains popular and enduring. 50:45 - Mystery Gear: Speculating on Korg's latest "poly-bag" teaser. 51:48 - Wrap up and future collaborations. #Synthesizer #SoundDesign #Omnosphere3 #Wavetables #MusicProduction #Korg #Spectrasonics

May 13, 202638 min

Smart Home AI, Electric Everything & Synth Sound Design

In this catch-up episode of the Ian Dixon podcast, Gary joins the show to discuss his recent trip to the Everything Electric exhibition. We dive into the latest in EV technology, including test drives of the MG4 Urban and a look at the massive BYD and Tesla ecosystem packages. Beyond cars, we explore Gary's latest smart home gadgets, like the GeekMagic TV Ultra—a tiny, customizable display for home automation alerts—and his experience with local AI agents in Home Assistant. Ian also shares insights on his new OneOdio Studio Pro wireless headphones for lag-free music production and his deep dive into deconstructing classic Roland D-50 sounds. Topics covered in this episode: EV News: Insights from Everything Electric, test driving the MG4 Urban, and Tesla's new solar/battery packages. Smart Home Tech: A hands-on look at the GeekMagic TV Ultra and automating with local AI agents in Home Assistant. Music Production: Reviewing ultra-low latency wireless headphones and recreating D-50 factory presets on the Korg WaveState and Multi/Poly. Upcoming Events: Details on the upcoming SynthFest in Sheffield. 00:00 - Intro: Catching up on gadgets, EV news, and music tech. 00:46 - Gary's experience at the Everything Electric exhibition. 01:32 - Smart home tech at the EV show: Tuki light switches and energy management. 03:33 - New battery tech: First look at sodium batteries. 03:57 - "Robots Live" and Robert Llewellyn's commentary. 04:50 - EV Highlights: BYD, Geely (Volvo/Polestar), and the X2 city car. 06:10 - Test driving the MG4 Urban and impressions of modern EV interfaces. 07:44 - Why the show moved outdoors and the value of physical events. 09:18 - Tesla's new all-in-one solar, battery, and car packages. 09:55 - The booming secondhand EV market. 12:13 - The importance of hands-on showrooms for tech and music gear. 14:50 - Recreating the "flagship" experience: From the D-50 to modern synths. 16:13 - Gadget Reveal: The GeekMagic TV Ultra tiny display. 17:25 - Using tiny displays for smart home indicators and notifications. 19:53 - Headphones: OneOdio Studio Pro wireless with ultra-low latency. 21:45 - The importance of zero latency for sound design and mixing. 23:40 - Music production: Deconstructing Roland D-50 sounds for the WaveState. 25:29 - Rotating camera views and info screens on tiny displays. 27:12 - The future of local AI agents in home automation. 28:22 - Remote access and AI voices in Home Assistant. 29:58 - Comparing Alexa Plus to standard smart home voice control. 33:50 - Automation vs. AI Learning: Lights that "know" your routine. 34:32 - The struggle with managing thousands of devices in the Alexa app. 36:44 - Where to find Gary and Ian's upcoming sound packs. Don't forget to subscribe for more tech, music, and smart home updates!

May 6, 202658 min

From Minimoog to Modern Hybrids: Kurt Ader's Synth Story

A deep‑dive conversation with legendary sound designer Kurt Ader, whose 40‑year career spans factory presets for Roland (Jupiter‑8), Moog, Korg, Waldorf, Sequential, Emu, and more. He's collaborated with Jordan Rudess, Johannes Schmoelling (Tangerine Dream), and worked on iconic synths from the Prophet VS to the Moog One. "Roland… told me they were making a new synthesizer with eight voices… and they asked me to do a European sound set." "I sampled the Mannheim philharmonic orchestra… the whole project took two years." This episode is a tour through synth history, sound‑design craft, and Kurt's incredible studio. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Intro: Kurt Ader joins TDL Synth 00:31 – Kurt's 40‑year sound‑design pedigree 01:02 – Studio tour: drum machines, SP‑series, Sigma, DW‑8000 01:34 – Waldorf, Sequential, Prophecy, SH‑series 02:01 – Korg 700S, Moog Grandmother, EMS loaners 02:23 – DeepMind, vintage organs, Valhalla hardware 03:04 – Main workspace + Wavestate 03:24 – ARP 2600, modular, Minimoog signed by Bob Moog 04:00 – MS2000, Radias, KingKORG, Jupiter‑80, Juno‑60 04:26 – Voyagers, VL‑1, Kronos collection 04:41 – Wavestate, Modwave, Moog Sub Phatty prototype 05:03 – SE‑1, XT, JP‑8000, Mackie desks, Microwave #1 05:55 – Kurt's first synth: Minimoog (1977) 06:38 – How Rick Wakeman inspired everything 07:15 – Analog vs digital: Kurt's philosophy 07:43 – Sound design beginnings + preset era 09:23 – Roland hires Kurt for the Jupiter‑8 preset bank 10:26 – Cassette‑based preset transfer 11:20 – Studio sound‑design work in the early 80s 11:36 – Sequential: Prophet 2000, 2002+, Studio 440 12:18 – Prophet VS + wavetable discovery 12:39 – Sequential bankruptcy → Emu Systems 15:33 – Emu Emulator II, Emax, E3, E4 17:23 – Rise of commercial patch libraries 18:10 – DX7 + FM synthesis 19:11 – Vintage Keys Plus with Dave Bristow 20:11 – Discovering the Korg OASYS 21:04 – Early band + chart success 22:23 – Musical influences: Yes, Genesis, Tangerine Dream 23:01 – Blade Runner + film scoring inspiration 23:38 – Meeting Johannes Schmoelling 24:45 – Prophet VS + wavetable era 25:48 – Moog: Voyager → Sub 37 → Moog One 26:24 – Creating 80% of the Moog One factory presets 27:03 – Roli, Yamaha Montage, Model D app 27:32 – Korg: Opsix, KingKORG, Modwave, Kronos 28:20 – Designing classic vs modern Moog sounds 29:43 – Waldorf Microwave, Iridium, Quantum 30:07 – Korg Radias appreciation 31:02 – OASYS engines + orchestral sampling 32:23 – Founding KApro 33:07 – Artist work: Saga, Nightwish, Jordan Rudess 34:23 – NAMM Sound Designer of the Year 35:01 – Workshops + live performance 36:15 – Freedom when designing for Korg 37:01 – PS‑3300 recreation 38:11 – Working with Johannes on the SAW project 39:45 – Live setup + Tangerine Dream recreations 41:27 – Tangerine Dream sequencing secrets (delay‑based) 43:18 – Recreating TD for live shows 44:03 – Why TD's 80s sound is timeless 45:01 – Upcoming concerts + new album 46:27 – Desert‑island synth: Kronos 49:22 – Favourite analogs: Voyager, Moog One, Poly Pro 12 50:04 – Rhodes Chroma restoration 52:04 – Playing a real CS‑80 53:45 – Studio routing + master keyboard workflow 56:12 – New solo album + collaborations 57:00 – Where to find Kurt's sound libraries 57:42 – Closing thoughts 🎧 Check out Kurt Ader's work KApro Sound Libraries: Kurt Ader – EN - Kurt Ader - Sound-Design SAW (Schmoelling / Ader / Waters) Project: Concert SAW : Tangram - Tangerine Dream 👍 Enjoyed the episode? If you love synth history, sound design deep dives, and studio tours, hit Like, Subscribe, and drop a comment telling us: Which synth from Kurt's studio blew your mind?

April 15, 202659 min

Visiting Pete Coates: Guitars, Synths and a Lifetime of Sound

In this episode, I head up the A59 to Yorkshire to visit guitarist, guitar‑builder, synth fan, and all‑round studio tinkerer Pete Coates. What starts as a relaxed catch‑up in his workshop turns into a deep dive into his lifelong relationship with music, electronics, DIY gear, and the blend of guitars and synths that shaped both of us. Pete talks about how it all began for him: sneaking his sister's acoustic guitar, destroying it with an early homemade amplifier, and getting hooked on sound and circuitry. He grew up on Deep Purple, Zeppelin, Sabbath, and The Who, but also fell in love with the synth‑pop world of Human League, ABC, Thompson Twins, Trevor Horn productions, and all those iconic 80s textures. We get into his years playing in 80s bands with Simmons drums and a Roland D‑50, his obsession with building pedals and rack gear, and his more recent experiments with Raspberry Pi synth projects like MiniDexed. He also explains how he moved from player to builder—crafting guitars by hand, learning from online communities like The Fretboard, and eventually building 17–18 custom instruments inspired by classic 50s Gibson construction. We also talk about writing and recording his own music as Rain Machine, the joy of combining guitars and synths, and the satisfaction of creating something from scratch—whether it's a track, a guitar, or a piece of studio hardware. It's a warm, geeky, nostalgic conversation that anyone into guitars, synths, DIY electronics, or music‑making will enjoy.

April 8, 202630 min

EV Road Trips, Opsix Sound Packs, D‑50 Programming & Smart Home Upgrades — This Week's Digital Lifestyle Roundup

This week's episode was a busy one: Gary returned from a family road trip with real‑world EV charging insights, Ian dove deeper into the Roland D‑50, a brand‑new Opsix sound pack dropped, and we explored everything from handmade guitars to next‑gen smart‑home sensors. If you love synths, tech, EVs, or maker culture, this one's packed. 🚗 Gary's EV Road Trip: Charging Hubs Are Changing Fast Gary spent the week driving from Peterborough to Alnwick, and the biggest surprise wasn't the scenery — it was how quickly the UK's EV charging infrastructure is expanding. "Last time I stopped there… it had two chargers. Now it's got 26." Two years ago, a stop meant hunting for a free charger. Now, entire hubs are appearing seemingly overnight. Even so, Good Friday traffic meant full services and queues, but turnover was fast thanks to rapid charging. The hidden cost of running a charging hub One standout detail: operators aren't struggling with electricity prices — it's the standing charge. Some hubs have seen daily standing charges jump from £30 to nearly £1,000, making profitability a challenge unless chargers stay busy. The good news? They are staying busy. 📺 In‑Car Entertainment Hack: Fire TV via CarPlay To keep the kids entertained during charging stops, Gary used a clever adapter that emulates a CarPlay device but accepts HDMI input. He plugged in a Fire TV Stick, connected it to the car's internal Wi‑Fi, and streamed shows while parked. A simple trick, but a game‑changer for long trips. 🌲 A Week Off‑Grid The family stayed somewhere with: No Wi‑Fi No mobile signal No power A rare digital detox — and a reminder that sometimes the best tech break is no tech at all. 🎹 Ian's Synth Week: Roland D‑50 & New Opsix Sound Pack Back home, Ian spent the week deep in synth territory. Roland D‑50 Programming The D‑50 continues to impress with its unmistakable LA synthesis character. Ian's been learning the programming workflow and has already released a couple of tutorial videos. New Opsix Sound Pack Released A big highlight: the release of a 40‑patch Opsix sound pack, all hand‑programmed from the INIT patch. It includes: FM classics Analog‑style patches Hybrid textures Pads, bells, basses, and motion sounds If you're an Opsix user, this is a strong addition to your library. Modeling Synths inside the Opsix New tutorials also show how to build full synth architectures within the Opsix engine — a powerful but under‑explored feature. 🎸 Handmade Guitars: A Visit to Pete Coats' Workshop Ian also visited luthier Pete Coats, who hand‑builds guitars using reclaimed hardwoods. One standout detail: The mahogany for a guitar neck came from a staircase in Bradford. A perfect blend of sustainability, craftsmanship, and musical heritage. A full workshop tour video is already live, with an interview coming soon. 🎛️ Should We Start a Synth Meetup in the Northwest? There are synth meetups in the South, Southeast, and Southwest — but nothing in the Northwest. Ian floated the idea of a headphone‑based synth meetup, where everyone brings a synth and their own headphones for a silent‑disco‑style jam. The biggest challenge? Finding a venue with: Power Parking Enough space No noise issues If there's interest, this could become a summer project. 🎤 SynthFest Returns This Year SynthFest UK is back at the Sheffield Octagon later this year. After taking a year off, it's returning as one of the best places to meet synth makers, try new gear, and connect with the community. 🏠 Smart Home News: New mmWave Sensor Kickstarter Gary highlighted a new Kickstarter from Linkind/Link+, featuring a battery‑powered mmWave presence sensor with Zigbee support. The Air Plus version includes: mmWave presence Temperature Humidity Ambient light Smart button At around £8 for the basic model, it massively undercuts existing options. Why this matters mmWave solves the classic PIR problem: Lights turning off when you sit still. mmWave detects micro‑movements like breathing, making it ideal for: Offices Studios Living rooms Home automation scenes Given ongoing reliability issues with Matter over Thread, Zigbee remains the more stable choice for many setups. 🧠 Home Assistant Gets More Conversational Gary's been experimenting with a new LLM integration in Home Assistant, giving it: Better conversational flow Follow‑up questions Context‑aware prompts Presence‑based greetings He also showed a £7 "Home Assistant ball" — a small animated display orb that connects to HA and responds to voice commands. 💿 Vinyl Find: Clockwork Orange OST A great charity‑shop discovery this week: an original vinyl copy of the Clockwork Orange soundtrack, featuring Wendy Carlos' iconic synth‑driven classical interpretations. A perfect addition to any synth lover's collection. 🎬 Watch the Full Episode If you want the full conversation — EVs, synths, smart homes, guitars, and more — check out the full episode on YouTube. 📢 Want More? Download the Opsix Sound Pack Watch the D‑50 programming tutorials See the Pete Coats guitar workshop tour Subscribe for weekly synth + tech content

April 1, 202632 min

Developing a Signature Sound with Analog Gear — Panos Gounas

In this episode, we sit down with Panos Gounas, a passionate electronic music producer based in the Netherlands, whose journey into music began in the kitchen — literally. Trained as a chef, Panos discovered music production through SAE Athens and private mentorship, eventually diving deep into analog synthesis and sound design. He shares how the Moog Grandmother and Roland Alpha Juno 2 shaped his creative process, why he believes limitations fuel innovation, and how he's building a signature sound rooted in tactile gear and happy accidents. We explore: His transition from chef to producer The difference between DJing and music production Why analog synths sparked his inspiration His workflow with hardware and plugins Releasing music through Big Mama's House Records and independently His dream synth (hint: it's a Prophet) Advice for beginners starting with limited gear Whether you're a seasoned synth head or just starting out, Panos' story is a reminder that creativity can come from anywhere — and that gear is only part of the journey.

March 25, 202644 min

Smart Home Chaos, D‑50 Magic & Windows Fixes We've Waited For

In this episode, Gary's back and we dive into a packed show: vintage synth goodness, Windows' biggest UX shake‑up in years, smart‑home automation breakthroughs (and disasters), plus new sound design tutorials and Tangerine Dream sound packs. If you enjoy deep‑dive synth chats, home‑automation nerdery, and weekly tech updates, you're in the right place.

March 18, 202654 min

The Magic of the Roland D‑50: Architecture, Envelopes & Sound Design

🎹 Synth Legends and Repair Stories This week on TDL Synth Chat, Ian welcomes special guest John Sepúlveda for a deep dive into the Roland D-50—one of the most iconic digital synthesizers of the 1980s. From its groundbreaking LA Synthesis engine to its cinematic presets and onboard effects, the D-50 changed the game. John brings a unique perspective as both a sound designer and engineer, having personally revived a dead D-550 rack unit using component-level diagnostics. Listen Now: Listen Here (download mp3) 🛠️ Engineering Meets Music John shares his journey from RF/microwave engineering to industrial music and film scoring. His technical background helped him repair a non-booting D-550 by replacing capacitors, tracing dead ICs, and even upgrading the display to OLED. His studio setup includes modular gear, vintage samplers, and creative workflows like resampling microcassette recordings into samplers for added texture. 🔍 D-50 Architecture and Sound Design The conversation explores: LA Synthesis: Combining short PCM attacks with synthesized sustain Multi-stage envelopes: Time/level control for pitch, filter, and amplitude Built-in effects: Reverb and chorus per patch, rare for its time Partial layering: Four partials per patch for deep sound sculpting Memory cards: Patch storage and modern DIY upgrades John and Ian compare the D-50's realism to the DX7, noting how the D-50's effects and sample-based attacks gave it a cinematic edge. They also discuss iconic patches like Fantasia, Digital Native Dance, and Soundtrack, and how those sounds defined an era. 🎛️ Programming and Preset Culture They reflect on the accessibility of D-50 programming versus FM synthesis, the role of the PG-1000 programmer, and how modern synths often lack the envelope complexity of vintage gear. John praises the Blade Runner-inspired patch pack Neon Chronicles and shares his excitement about creating new sounds using the D-50's unique architecture.