PhD researcher and TiME Ambassador Matt Shuttleworth reports from Superbooth 26, one of the world's leading music technology events.
Matt Shuttleworth - PHD Researcher and TiME Ambassador
Author: Matt Shuttleworth - Superbooth 2026
From its humble beginnings over two decades ago as part of Musikmesse in Frankfurt to the three-day standalone music technology trade show it is today, Superbooth has come far, attracting music technology enthusiasts and synth nerds from around the globe who flock in droves to FEZ-Berlin year after year in search of their utopia — finally owning the coveted Mario Maggi MCS70 (okay, perhaps that’s just my utopia!).
Superbooth is more than a traditional trade show showcasing the latest developments in music technology; it combines hardware, software and instrument exhibits from both bespoke and established manufacturers with hands-on demonstrations, workshops, and live music events to create an experience that is incredibly unique and memorable. It is no wonder that it is one of the cornerstone events of the Electronic Music calendar. Whether you are a EuroRack and modular enthusiast or are simply keen to check out the latest developments in accessible hardware and software (like me), Superbooth has something for you.
Images courtesy of Matt Shuttleworth. A three-panel collage from Superbooth 26 in Berlin. On the left, a large green welcome sign outside FEZ-Berlin displays greetings in multiple languages. In the top-right panel, the entrance to the venue features the Superbooth 26 banner mounted on a distinctive wooden building. The bottom-right panel shows visitors gathered inside the exhibition hall, exploring displays beneath large windows and modern architectural features.
This year, I had the immense privilege of making the pilgrimage from my home in the ever-so-sunny United Kingdom to the vibrantly urban metropolis of Berlin to examine the latest developments in accessible music technology. After waking up and enjoying a hearty helping of the cured meats and traditional cuisines my hotel offered its guests for breakfast (meatballs for breakfast was a new experience for me and one I would most definitely recommend), I made my way to the venue.
Walking up to the venue, my ears were immediately soothed by the tinkling of the bell and tine-inspired tones of an electric piano, crafting melodies that lilted over a trap-like percussive accompaniment, luring me into a momentary state of calmness before the onslaught of networking and hands-on demoing began. Upon entering the venue, my eyes and ears were assaulted by a mass of people and exhibitors at every turn. The exhibitors were often grouped by theme and occupied the main building and the outside foreground. As a venue, FEZ-Berlin is expansive, and I would be lying if I said I didn’t get a little lost at times or that I saw all 328 exhibitors. However, what I did see greatly impressed me.
The Bettermaker Mastering Limiter
Cranbourne Audio - Brick Lane MC4 Dynamics Processor
While there were numerous products to look at and manufacturers to talk to, these products were particular highlights for me. First, there were the analogue hardware units by BetterMaker. While the hardware units function independently, delivering a completely analogue signal path, each parameter is controllable via software and communicates with your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) of choice. If one parameter is changed in the software, it will also change it on the analogue hardware unit. The seamless integration with your DAW also means that if you switch between projects, the settings are adjusted automatically, so spending hours recalling them is no longer necessary (as demonstrated in this video). For someone who is physically and/or motor-impaired, the ability to control hardware via software not only saves time, as recall is no longer necessary, but it also makes the unit accessible to them (even on days when their motor function is less than ideal). The second product that greatly impressed me was Cranbourne Audio’s ‘Brick Lane MC4 Dynamics Processor’. Like BetterMaker, the product features full DAW integration, allowing you to control, automate and recall settings from your DAW.
Dialr controller
The third product that caught my eye was Producely’s ‘DialR’, which uses AI to analyse the structure of the plugin you are using to build a logical profile, assigning each parameter to one of twelve analogue knobs on the unit, allowing you to simply plug and play, so there is ‘no learning curve. No menu diving, just turn a knob and hear the results’. As someone who appreciates working with physical hardware, I welcome the ability to interact with the digital realm of plugins haptically. Having briefly demoed the unit, I found it very accessible, easy and intuitive to use.
Rodec MX Modular desk
The final product I would like to spotlight is Rodec’s ‘MX Mixer’. While Rodec’s primary demographic concerns live performance, something that greatly impressed me was the layout of the modular desk; the adequate spacing between each parameter means that, when using the desk, you needn’t worry about accidentally hitting the wrong button or turning the wrong pot. For someone who struggles with fine motor control, the addition of extra space is most welcome. I also really liked the use of vintage computer keys, which were easy to use and function as ‘On’ and ‘Solo’ switches on their modular channel strips.
While the focus of my visit was to check out the Pro Audio Equipment, I did spend some time checking out of some the synthesizers as well and I was very impressed with the synthesizer, ‘Nina’ by Melbourne Instruments, which features motorised encoders which allow the physical response of the knobs to change from reacting like a smooth traditional potentiometer pot to reacting using stepped intervals (detents), the use of motorised encoders allows you to control how the encoder responds when used.
Nina by Melbourne Instruments
As a physically and/or motor impaired person myself, the choice of having either stepped or unstepped pots that I can adjust at the click of a button, depending on whether I want more or less resistance, really impressed me, and I think, as various YouTubers have said, it’s a game-changer. Suffice to say, if you have a vested interest in music technology, it’s definitely worth making the trip to Superbooth next year if you are able.
Matt Shuttleworth is currently pursuing a PhD in Music (AHRC funded through the White Rose College of the Arts and Humanities [WRoCAH]) at the University of York, examining how hardware and software used in music production can be made more accessible to physically and/or motor impaired audio and music producers, this research is inspired by his own lived experience as a disabled multi-instrumentalist and producer.