The Patch Notes
History, buying guides, and the repairs that keep vintage hardware alive.
Article image
HISTORY · AUG 28, 2026Why the DX7 broke every studio's brain in 1983FM synthesis arrived with 32 algorithms, zero knobs, and a sound built from operators instead of filters. How one keyboard rewired pop music.
Article image
BUYING GUIDE · AUG 21, 2026Used polysynths for a first hardware setupUsed analog polys for a first hardware setup: common parts, documented sounds, and a technician's check before you buy.
Article image
REPAIR · AUG 14, 2026The Juno-106 voice chip problem: cause, diagnosis and repair optionsWhy the 80017A dies, how to diagnose a dead voice, and the usual repairs.