Smart Home Upgrades, Local AI Automation & New Synth Packs – TDL Show
The Digital Lifestyle.com
Garry is back, and we're diving into a huge mix of smart home upgrades, local AI experiments, home renovation tech, synth sound design, and more. From underfloor heating challenges to ESP32 presence detection, facial recognition powered by CodeProject.AI, and new sound packs for the Korg Multipoly and PS-3300 – this episode is packed. We also talk about cloud outages, EV events, kinetic switches, IKEA’s shift to Matter/Thread, and even a cardboard wall discovery during home renovations. Plus: a tribute to Quentin Willson and a look at upcoming videos.
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Dan Phillips from Korg USA on the New PS-3300 Plug-in and Korg Collection 6
The Digital Lifestyle.com
This week on The Digital Lifestyle Show, I’m joined once again by Dan Phillips from Korg R&D in California. Dan returns to the show to talk about the brand-new Korg PS-3300 plug-in, part of the recently released Korg Collection 6. The PS-3300 is a recreation of one of Korg’s most ambitious and rare synthesizers — the original 1977 PS-3300, a huge polyphonic monster with 144 envelopes, 144 filters, and three complete synth panels. Only around 50 were ever made, but now Korg has brought it back to life as a software instrument. In this chat, Dan takes us behind the scenes of how...
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The Story of the Roland D-70 — A Flawed Genius? | TDL Synth Chat with Remco Kuhlman
The Digital Lifestyle.com
In this week’s TDL Synth Chat, I talk to Remco Khman — musician, sound designer, and Roland D-70 enthusiast. Remco shares his deep knowledge of this often-overlooked synth, from its rushed development and marketing quirks to its fascinating sound architecture and legacy. We also discuss how the D-70 fits between the D-50, U-20, and JV-80, and how it inspired later Roland instruments. If you’ve ever wondered why the D-70 is considered a flawed genius or want to hear from someone still programming new sounds for it, this is the chat for you.
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U6 MIDI Pro Review + Smart Home Automation & AI Chat | TDL Show
The Digital Lifestyle.com
Gary’s back! In this week’s episode, we catch up on smart home gadgets, MIDI gear, automation tools, and even dive into the world of AI and home assistants. Ian shows off the U6 MIDI Pro, Gary reviews Sonoff’s latest smart home gear, and the pair talk about AI voices, Wi-Fi presence detection, and much more. 👉 Subscribe for more weekly episodes covering smart home tech, MIDI, EVs, synths, and all things digital lifestyle! ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction & Gary’s return 00:50 – Catching up on Ollie Freke’s vintage drum machine chat 01:40 – Ian’s new gadget: the...
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Vintage Drum Machines with Oli Freke – TDL Synth Chat
The Digital Lifestyle.com
🎧 About This Episode In this week’s episode of TDL Synth Chat, I talk with Oli Freke, author of the acclaimed Synth Evolutions book, about his new project — a deep dive into the world of vintage drum machines. From the Korg Mini Pops and Roland TR-606 to the Boss DR-55 and Yamaha RX17, Oli explores how these classic rhythm boxes shaped the sound of pop, synthwave, and electronic music. We also hear demos, rare stories, and insights into how drum machines evolved from the 1960s through the 2000s — and how their influence can still be heard in today’s music production. If you’re a...
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From Juno-60 to Prophet-5 – Gilles Coudert’s Ultimate Synth Story & Shocking M1 Swap!
The Digital Lifestyle.com
Welcome to this week’s episode of TDL Synth Chat! In this episode, I’m joined by Gilles Coudert, who takes us through his incredible synth journey — from his first keyboard in the late ’70s to modern classics like the Korg Kronos and Prophet-5 Rev4. We dive deep into the Yamaha DX7, Roland D-50, DW-8000, and many more, sharing stories, regrets, and nostalgic memories from decades of synth exploration. 🎹 Gilles talks about the synths he loved, the ones he regretted selling, and how the DX7 changed his musical direction. We also discuss the evolution of FM synthesis, the return of...
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TDL Show: IFA 2025 Highlights: Robot Lawn Mowers, Smart Glasses & Future Tech
The Digital Lifestyle.com
🎙️ This Week on The Digital Lifestyle Show Gary’s back from IFA 2025 in Berlin, and we’ve got a packed episode full of the latest in consumer tech, smart homes, and gadgets! 🚀 We dive into the biggest trends at the show – from robot lawnmowers and smart glasses to portable projectors and next-gen smart home tech. Gary shares his highlights from the event, including some fascinating innovations from smaller tech companies that are shaking up the market. Ian also gives updates on his latest synth sound packs, new tutorials, and the classic CS-80 recreations he’s been working on....
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OP-6, Hydrasynth & More! Chalkwalk Music Talks Sound Design & Gear
The Digital Lifestyle.com
🎹 Welcome to this week’s TDL Synth Chat! In this episode, I talk to Daniel from Chalkwalk Music about his journey into synthesis, sound design, and creating inspiring YouTube tutorials. We dive into his background, favorite gear, live improv sessions, sound design philosophies, and even DIY Eurorack projects. Whether you’re into the Korg OP-6, Hydrasynth, MicroFreak, or modular gear, you’ll find loads of insight into sound design, improvisation, and the creative process. 👉 Check out Daniel’s channel here: 👉 Follow me for more synth chats, tutorials, and sound packs: [Your...
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Yamaha DX7 History & Legacy | Rob Puricelli on FM Synthesis, Classic Sounds & Synth Evolution
The Digital Lifestyle.com
The Yamaha DX7 is one of the most iconic synthesizers of the 1980s, shaping pop, electronic, and film music with its groundbreaking FM synthesis engine. In this video, I sit down with Rob Puricelli (Pro Synth Network, Gear News) to explore the history, legacy, and lasting influence of the DX7 and its family of FM synths. We cover everything from the origins of FM synthesis at Stanford University to Yamaha’s early GS models, the launch of the DX7, and how it changed the sound of an era. Rob shares insights on programming, presets, and why the DX7’s electric piano patch remains legendary. We...
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Underrated Synths You Need to Hear: DW-8000, Alpha Juno 2 & More
The Digital Lifestyle.com
This week, Ian sits down with Alex Dalliance (aka Vulture Culture) to shine a light on the analog synths that deserve way more love. From the gritty charm of the DW-8000 to the overlooked brilliance of the Alpha Juno 2, we dig into the gear that delivers serious tone without the boutique price tag. If you’re tired of hearing about the same five synths over and over, this episode is your antidote. We cover real-world usability, sonic character, and why limitations can be a creative superpower. ⏱️ Timestamps – Synth Spotlights & Deep Dives 00:00 – Intro: Why underrated synths...
info_outlineWelcome back! After a short break, we're back discussing the latest in smart home automation, AI integration, electric vehicles, Windows 11 builds, music tech, and more. Join Ian and Gary for a packed episode covering gadgets, home automation experiments, and future tech.
👇 Timestamps & Topics:
00:00 – Welcome back & holiday recap (Surface Go, Kindle, suitcase trackers)
01:48 – Capturing field sounds for future projects
02:01 – Gary’s smart home experiments with Xiao AI device
03:12 – Flashing ESPHome firmware & integrating Google Gemini
04:00 – Voice assistant demo: "Who is Ian Dixon?"
05:01 – Studio lights control via AI assistant
06:00 – On-device voice processing using Home Assistant
07:04 – Controlling blinds with voice commands
08:02 – Future of voice AI vs Alexa limitations
09:00 – Using wake word detection and custom voices
10:02 – Natural language commands for smart home tasks
11:00 – Smart assistants learning from user habits
12:06 – Blink camera battery extender & long battery life
13:04 – AI voice assistants mimicking human-like behavior
14:02 – Large language models vs real intelligence
16:00 – AI’s impact on job roles & skill development
18:00 – Copilots and code suggestions: useful or misleading?
19:04 – AI visual detection to monitor gate state
20:34 – Using LLMs for natural alerts & prompts
21:07 – Smart homes that ask questions & respond with context
22:07 – Predictive automation and habit learning
23:02 – Microsoft Copilot and smart features in Windows
24:15 – Podcast AI show notes automation
25:15 – New Windows 11 features & UI tweaks
26:01 – Windows machine recovery improvements
27:09 – Is Windows 12 coming or not?
28:24 – New MIDI 2.0 and audio stack in Windows
29:18 – YouTube videos: CR-78 recreations, Modwave tutorials
30:09 – Ring modulation on Korg Multi/Poly explained
31:09 – Upcoming synth album inspired by '80s vibes
32:02 – Blink camera usage and extended battery life
33:35 – Blink vs Arlo cameras & integration with Home Assistant
36:02 – EV updates: new government grants & EV signage
37:49 – EV grant details, new MG IM range
40:00 – Solid-state battery revolution: watches, GPS, trackers
42:58 – Cooling tech advancements: Peltier effect, nano AC
45:02 – Future possibilities in fanless laptop cooling
46:09 – EV Driver YouTube channel info & upcoming guest
46:48 – Show wrap-up & how to get in touch
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📺 Check out our other videos on Modwave patches, synth sounds, CR-78 recreations, and more.
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