A concise Streetwise style brand spotlight on Eko Guitars: Italian heritage, distinctive design, accessible pricing, and the lineup categories that make the brand appealing to a broad range of players.
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Polyend has released firmware version 1.2 for the Mess, introducing a range of new features that enhance creative flexibility, workflow, and performance control. This update focuses on expanding how effects interact within sequences, giving users more control over both sound design and live operation.
A key addition in this update is Per-Track Trails, available in Menu → Trails. Each track now includes three selectable modes, which are saved per preset:
These options provide greater control over how effects evolve over time, particularly when working with delays, reverbs, and other time-based processing.
A global Bypass Trails setting has also been added in the Trails menu. This allows users to determine whether effects should continue to decay naturally when bypassed or stop immediately. This feature is especially useful in performance scenarios where smooth transitions are important.
Firmware 1.2 improves sequencing workflow by preventing parameter resets when changing effects. Sequencer steps will now retain their parameter values, allowing for more seamless experimentation.
This behavior can be adjusted in Menu → Clean Seq on FX and is set to Off by default, meaning parameter retention is active.
The master output level can now be controlled directly from the device using the macro knob, MIDI CC#92, or an expression pedal. This adds a layer of flexibility for both studio use and live performance.
Users can now tap the Tempo encoder on the main screen to quickly view the current BPM. This provides a more immediate way to check tempo without interrupting workflow.
To install firmware version 1.2:
Firmware 1.2 introduces meaningful enhancements to the Polyend Mess, with a strong focus on control, flexibility, and creative workflow. The addition of per-track trails and improved parameter handling provides new opportunities for shaping sound within sequences, while performance-oriented updates streamline operation in both studio and live environments.
When it comes to live performance, reliability, flexibility, and simplicity are everything. That is exactly where M-Live comes in.
M-Live is a brand focused on creating innovative tools built specifically for musicians who perform live. Their approach combines hardware, software, and backing track services into one streamlined ecosystem, giving artists everything they need to run a performance without relying on complex setups or laptops.
At the heart of M-Live’s lineup are powerful standalone devices designed to handle multiple aspects of a live show in one place. These systems are built to replace traditional rigs, allowing performers to manage audio, MIDI, video, and mixing from a single unit.
Instead of juggling multiple pieces of gear, M-Live simplifies everything into an all in one workflow that is reliable and easy to control on stage.
M-Live’s lineup is centered around a few standout products that define their approach to live performance.
DIVO is a compact all in one workstation designed for solo performers and small groups. It handles backing tracks, MIDI, and video while also functioning as a digital mixer, audio interface, and recorder. With built in effects and vocal harmonizing, it allows performers to run an entire show without needing additional gear or a computer.
B.Beat is built more for bands and larger live setups. It focuses on multitrack playback, allowing users to run full stems directly from the unit while syncing audio, MIDI, and video. With integrated mixing, playlist management, and click track control, it is designed for tight, professional live performances where precision matters.
M-Live goes beyond simple playback. Their systems are designed to enhance the entire performance experience.
With support for multitrack audio, MIDI integration, and synchronized video, performers can build shows that feel polished and cohesive. Features like click tracks, real time mixing, and setlist management help keep everything running smoothly from start to finish.
These tools are designed to remove technical barriers so artists can stay focused on the performance itself.
One of the biggest strengths of M-Live is how everything works together. Their hardware is supported by software and a large backing track library, allowing users to prepare, organize, and perform their sets with ease.
This connected ecosystem makes it easy to move from rehearsal to stage without changing your workflow.
While the main focus is on performance systems, M-Live also offers accessories like foot controllers and expansion options. These allow performers to customize their setup without adding unnecessary complexity.
Whether you are a solo artist, part of a band, or looking to simplify your live setup, M-Live offers a modern solution.
Their all in one approach reduces technical stress and keeps the focus where it belongs, on the performance.
In professional audio, reliability and sound quality matter just as much as raw output. Whether the application is a touring production, club installation, house of worship, or portable PA system, the loudspeakers must deliver consistent performance night after night.
That philosophy has been at the core of Montarbo for decades. Known for its Italian engineering and musical sound signature, Montarbo has built a reputation for professional loudspeaker systems that combine clarity, durability, and intelligent system design.
Today, the brand continues to evolve as part of RCF Group, bringing additional manufacturing expertise and acoustic engineering resources to the Montarbo lineup.
From portable powered speakers to advanced line arrays, Montarbo offers solutions designed to meet the needs of modern performers, venues, and production professionals.
Powered point-source speakers remain one of the most widely used formats in live sound reinforcement. These all-in-one systems combine amplification, DSP processing, and optimized speaker components in a single enclosure.
Montarbo powered speakers are designed for a wide range of applications including:
With high-efficiency Class-D amplification and advanced DSP processing, these speakers deliver strong output while remaining portable and easy to deploy.
Column-style PA systems have become increasingly popular for mobile performers and venues that need wide coverage in a compact format.
Montarbo’s Nettuno series represents the company’s modern approach to this category, combining modular column arrays with powerful subwoofers for impressive output and coverage.
The Nettuno systems are designed for:
Several models in the Nettuno lineup are manufactured in Italy, reflecting Montarbo’s continued commitment to high-quality European design and production.
In an upcoming article, we will take a deeper look at the Nettuno series and how it compares to other column systems on the market.
For larger venues and touring productions, Montarbo offers scalable line array systems engineered to deliver consistent coverage and high sound pressure levels across large audiences.
Line arrays allow multiple speaker modules to work together as a unified system, creating a controlled sound field that distributes audio evenly throughout the venue.
These systems are commonly used in:
Montarbo line arrays are designed with flexible deployment options that allow systems to be flown or stacked depending on the venue.
Clear monitoring on stage is essential for performers to hear themselves and maintain accurate timing during live shows.
Montarbo stage monitors are built specifically for this environment, offering high output and clear vocal intelligibility even on loud stages.
Typical applications include:
Durable cabinet construction and optimized driver configurations allow these monitors to perform reliably in demanding touring conditions.
Across its entire lineup, Montarbo loudspeakers are designed with professional users in mind. Key design priorities include:
These characteristics make Montarbo systems suitable for everything from portable PA setups to large venue installations.
For performers, venues, and audio professionals looking for reliable sound reinforcement solutions, Montarbo continues to deliver loudspeaker systems built on decades of Italian engineering experience.
Interested dealers should contact their Streetwise Sales rep for more info.
Arturia’s popular MiniLab 3 MIDI controller is now available in two fresh new colorways: Rose Quartz and Aquamarine. These vibrant finishes give producers and performers a stylish new way to add personality to their setup while enjoying the same powerful controller that creators around the world rely on.
MiniLab 3 is designed to keep your workflow fast, intuitive, and portable. The compact 25-key controller features velocity-sensitive slim keys, responsive RGB pads, rotary encoders, sliders, and a clear mini display that provides real-time feedback while you adjust parameters. Built-in creative tools such as Chord mode, an arpeggiator, and Hold functions make it easy to spark new ideas and build musical sketches quickly.
MiniLab 3 also integrates smoothly with major DAWs and Arturia’s software ecosystem, giving producers hands-on control and access to a wide range of inspiring sounds right out of the box.
Whether you’re producing in the studio, performing live, or creating music on the go, the new MiniLab 3 Rose Quartz and MiniLab 3 Aquamarine bring a fresh visual style to an already versatile music production tool.
Key Features
• 25 velocity-sensitive slim keys
• 8 RGB backlit pads
• 8 rotary encoders and 4 sliders for hands-on control
• Built-in arpeggiator, chord mode, and hold functions
• Mini display with real-time parameter feedback
• Deep integration with major DAWs and Arturia software
The MiniLab 3 Rose Quartz and MiniLab 3 Aquamarine deliver the same creative flexibility and workflow that producers love, now with a bold new look.
ColorKey has introduced a new fixture designed to bring a lot of flexibility into a single lighting tool. The Inceptor Panel FX combines vibrant color washes, pixel mapped effects, and powerful strobe and blinder capabilities in a compact panel format that works well for stages, DJs, and production environments.
At the heart of the fixture is an RGB plus cool white and warm white LED engine. This combination allows the panel to deliver saturated colors while also providing tunable white light. Whether you need a clean white for stage lighting or warmer tones that resemble classic tungsten fixtures, the Inceptor Panel FX can easily adapt to the look you are trying to create.
One of the most interesting features of the Inceptor Panel FX is ColorKey’s ActiveFrost electronic diffusion. With the press of a button, the panel can shift from sharp pixel effects to a smooth, evenly diffused wash.
This makes it easy to move between detailed lighting effects and broader atmospheric lighting without needing separate fixtures. One moment you can create crisp LED patterns, and the next you can soften the output for a clean wash across a stage or backdrop.
The panel is built with a multi zone pixel layout that allows lighting designers to create movement and animation directly within the fixture. Independent RGB segments can produce chases, gradients, and motion effects that bring energy and visual interest to a lighting rig.
Along with these pixel effects, the fixture also includes smooth dimming and adjustable strobe control. When needed, the Inceptor Panel FX can also act as a bright blinder effect, adding dramatic impact during big moments in a performance.
The Inceptor Panel FX is designed to integrate easily into professional lighting systems. It supports multiple control modes, making it just as comfortable in a simple plug and play DJ setup as it is in a fully programmed lighting rig.
For mounting, the fixture includes a removable yoke with rubber feet that allows it to sit securely on the floor, while dual Omega bracket positions make truss mounting easy when used in larger production environments. Professional connections including 3 pin and 5 pin DMX along with PowerCON power connections ensure reliable operation in demanding setups.
With its ability to shift between bold pixel effects, smooth color washes, and high impact strobe or blinder moments, the ColorKey Inceptor Panel FX offers a lot of creative possibilities in a single fixture. For DJs, venues, and production teams looking for a versatile panel light that can handle both effects and wash duties, it’s a powerful new addition to the ColorKey lineup.
Arturia has leveled up one of the most loved compact controllers with the KeyStep 37 mk2, a next-generation sequencer and MIDI keyboard built to keep inspiration flowing without slowing you down. Designed for hybrid studios, DAW users, and modular enthusiasts alike, it bridges hardware and software in a way that feels natural and immediate.
At its core, the KeyStep 37 mk2 features a 37-note Slimkey keyboard with velocity and aftertouch, delivering expressive playability in a compact footprint. The updated interface includes a crisp OLED display, four mode-aware encoders, and dedicated transport controls, making it faster to navigate sequences, tweak arpeggios, and shape ideas without diving through menus.
This is where the mk2 expands the creative potential.
The Mutate, Spice, and Dice functions introduce musical variation and rhythmic movement on the fly, making it easy to evolve patterns or spark new ideas during a session. Chord and Scale modes help you stay in key while unlocking rich harmonies with minimal effort. The updated arpeggiator and sequencer support pattern chaining and real-time performance manipulation, giving producers and performers more flexibility when building arrangements.
These tools are especially powerful when sketching in Ableton Live, Bitwig, Logic, or when jamming with hardware and modular systems. The workflow encourages experimentation without breaking your creative flow.
The KeyStep 37 mk2 continues to shine as a central hub for modern and vintage setups alike.
USB-C provides reliable connection and power for DAW integration. Full-size MIDI DIN In and Out allow seamless communication with external gear. CV/Gate outputs and analog sync I/O make it a natural fit for Eurorack and classic hardware rigs. A sustain or expression pedal input rounds out performance options for players who want even more control.
The KeyStep 37 mk2 strikes a balance that many controllers miss. It is compact yet powerful, straightforward yet deep. With improved visual feedback, expanded creative tools, and flexible connectivity, it serves equally well as a studio sketchpad, live performance controller, or sequencing brain for a hybrid setup.
For producers looking to spark ideas quickly and keep momentum moving, the KeyStep 37 mk2 feels like a thoughtful evolution of an already essential piece of gear.
The EFNOTE PRO 500X is designed for serious players who want the feel of a real drum kit combined with the routing flexibility modern stages and studios demand. Positioned within EFNOTE’s professional PRO lineup, the 500X delivers a full performance layout, advanced trigger processing, and a dedicated stagebox system that separates it from traditional all-in-one e-drum kits.
This is a kit built for working drummers.
At first glance, the PRO 500X presents itself like a refined acoustic setup. Real birch shells in a Black Oak finish are paired with responsive mesh heads, delivering natural rebound and controlled stick response.
The snare and cymbals are sized for expressive playing and feature multi-zone triggering for detailed articulation. The layout includes splash, effect, and china cymbals alongside hi-hat, crash, and ride, giving players a wide tonal palette straight out of the box.
For drummers transitioning from acoustic kits, the experience feels familiar and comfortable. Dynamics translate smoothly, ghost notes respond naturally, and cymbal articulation remains consistent across zones.
What defines the PRO 500X is its system architecture.
The module features a full-color touchscreen designed for quick navigation and deep editing control. Players have access to:
23 preset kits
20 user kit slots
167 high-resolution multi-layer samples
12-channel bus mixer with EQ and compression
Master EQ and compressor
Tuning and muffling controls
Integrated metronome
EFNOTE’s ELISE Trigger Processor 2.0 ensures fast response and accurate tracking across the kit.
Rather than relying solely on outputs built into the module, the PRO 500X includes a dedicated stagebox. This allows for cleaner routing and expanded connectivity, making it ideal for professional live setups and multi-channel recording environments.
Connectivity is a major strength of the PRO 500X.
It includes:
Up to 12 balanced outputs via the stagebox
USB audio interface with 2 inputs and 12 outputs
Bluetooth audio and MIDI
USB MIDI
5-pin DIN MIDI out
Headphone output for silent practice
On stage, individual drums can be sent separately to front-of-house for independent mixing. In the studio, multi-channel USB recording makes it easy to capture each drum on its own track for detailed production control.
This flexibility makes the PRO 500X more than just a practice solution. It is designed to integrate seamlessly into professional performance and recording setups.
The kit includes the necessary stands and mounting hardware to complete the setup:
Four cymbal boom stands
Snare stand
Tom holder
Splash holder
Module holder with integrated smartphone shelf
Kick pedal and hi-hat stand are not included, giving players the flexibility to use their preferred hardware.
The EFNOTE PRO 500X is well suited for:
Touring drummers needing reliable stage control
Studios requiring multi-output recording capability
Churches and houses of worship seeking controlled volume solutions
With its refined shell construction, expressive cymbal layout, touchscreen module, and dedicated stagebox routing system, the PRO 500X offers a modern electronic solution that feels purpose-built rather than compromised.
The future of event lighting is officially cordless.
Debuting for 2026, ColorKey introduces five powerful new additions to its wireless lineup. From all-in-one PartyBar systems to professional uplighting solutions and a performance-ready faze machine, these new releases are designed for fast setup, reliable performance, and real-world mobile use.
Whether you’re a DJ, live performer, production company, or venue designer, these tools are built to deliver maximum impact with minimal setup time.
Click on the product images below for detailed product information and full specifications.
The PartyBar Mobile 100 EL delivers true grab and go performance in a completely wireless package.
Featuring four 4 x 10W RGBW LED pars, built in wireless DMX, and IR remote control, this all in one lighting solution sets up in under a minute. With battery power and wireless control onboard, it eliminates the need for long cable runs while still providing vibrant, room filling color.
Perfect for mobile DJs, small bands, wedding professionals, and corporate events, the 100 EL keeps setups clean and efficient without sacrificing output.
The PartyBar Mobile 500 EL steps up in output for entertainers who need more intensity and wider coverage.
With four 7 x 10W RGBW LED pars, integrated wireless DMX, and intuitive IR control, this fully battery powered system delivers bigger and brighter performance without adding complexity. Setup still takes less than a minute, making it ideal for high efficiency event workflows.
It is well suited for larger wedding receptions, ballroom events, and medium to large mobile productions where impact matters.
Compact, versatile, and powerful, the MobilePar Mini Hex 4 MKII is designed for professionals who need strong color output in a smaller footprint.
Equipped with four 12W RGBAW UV LEDs, a crisp 15 degree beam angle, and an included 25 degree diffuser for wider wash coverage, it delivers smooth blending and vibrant tones across the full color spectrum, including UV accents.
Removable white shells allow the fixture to blend seamlessly into weddings and upscale decor environments while maintaining professional performance.
The MobilePar Pro Hex 6 is built for professionals who demand more power and broader coverage.
With six 12W RGBAW UV LEDs, it produces exceptional brightness and smooth color mixing across warm ambers, cool whites, and vivid UV effects. It is designed for larger venues, event designers, and production teams who require consistent, high output performance.
Like the Mini version, it includes removable white shells for decor friendly applications.
No lighting design is complete without atmosphere.
The VORTYX Faze 1200 enhances your lighting rig by revealing beams midair, adding depth and dimension to any production. From intimate venues to large scale events, controlled atmospheric haze ensures your lighting fixtures perform at their best.
It is the finishing touch that elevates a standard light show into a more immersive experience.
All new ColorKey products are expected to arrive at authorized dealers in the first quarter of 2026. Contact your sales representative or visit your preferred retailer for additional details as availability approaches.
Kurzweil has announced the new SP8 Stage Keyboard, a performance-focused instrument designed for players who need expressive sound, immediate control, and rock-solid reliability on stage.
Built on Kurzweil’s renowned V.A.S.T. engine, the SP8 delivers authentic acoustic realism, deep synthesis, and intuitive hands-on control in a streamlined keyboard made for modern performers.
The SP8 features an 88-key fully weighted hammer-action keyboard, giving players the feel and control they expect from a professional stage piano.
At the heart of the instrument are Kurzweil’s German D and Triple Strike piano sounds, enhanced with Kurzweil String Resonance (KSR) for natural harmonic response and realistic pedal behavior. Combined with 256-voice polyphony and half-damper pedal support, the SP8 is ready for expressive, dynamic performances.
Powered by FlashPlay technology, the SP8 includes 2 GB of factory sounds with no loading delays.
Many sounds are drawn from flagship Kurzweil instruments including the K2700, K2088, and PC4, bringing premium sound quality to the stage.
The SP8 goes far beyond piano sounds, offering a full palette of performance-ready instruments:
From vintage to modern, the SP8 is designed to cover an entire set.
The front panel is designed for real-time control without menu diving.
Everything you need is within reach during a performance.
In Multi Mode, the SP8 becomes a powerful performance hub.
With flexible pedal inputs and deep controller capabilities, the SP8 integrates easily into any live or studio rig.
The Kurzweil SP8 is built for performers who want inspiring sound, fast control, and dependable performance every time they step on stage.
More information coming soon.
