Thank you Buchla and Friends 2026 for having us
We were there with Fraptools, Clank, Endorfines, Ohmforce, Teaching Machines, Animal Factory, Tobinsky, and Doepfer – reconnected with old friends, made some new ones. That's how it should be.
A shout-out to the organizers for creating the space where the synthesizer community can actually gather. To all the artists who reminded us that we're talking about musical instruments here and to everyone who stopped by our booth with questions, ideas, and genuine enthusiasm: those conversations are exactly why we do this.
This was the second year of Buchla & Friends in Los Angeles. The event runs parallel to the well known NAMM-Show but is far more specialized – it's about modular synthesis as an art form. Not just another synth meetup, but the central gathering point for the modular and synth community in the US. A whole weekend where enthusiasts, developers, and manufacturers come together, organized by the Buchla brand.
The trade fair will be framed by an accompanying pre-event and an official after-show party, both organized by the SoCal Synth Society – with a focus on dance music, modular techno, and all kinds of groovy electronic sounds.
This year, everything took place at C&I Studios in Downtown LA – a creative space with an industrial setting. Food trucks out front, cold brew coffee at the entrance, sunshine, and everywhere people who actually wanted to talk to each other. The energy felt different. Real questions, genuine curiosity, an honest desire to understand what these instruments can do.
In between, there was the Sonic State Greenscreen Booth showcasing the latest products. In the evening, concerts by inspiring artists like Suzanne Ciani and TamiX.
And in between? You could try out synths at your own pace. Have direct conversations with manufacturers. Watch showcases by the developers themselves. From classic hardware synthesizers to Eurorack modules to controllers and effects – the product range was massive.
What makes Buchla and Friends special is the atmosphere. While NAMM is a huge commercial trade show with high admission prices and access restrictions, Buchla and Friends offers you free entry. For exhibitors, participation is also significantly less expensive. The result? An accessible, open event that's genuinely about community – not polished product presentations. Here you can still feel what electronic music is really about: creativity, dialogue, and the joy of experimentation.
Buchla and Friends has already established itself as an indispensable gathering for sound synthesis in the USA. May the third year be even more remarkable.
See you in 2027 @buchla_n_friends.