KORG Brings Acoustic Synthesis to ADE Lab

Amsterdam Dance Event has always been one of those rare opportunities for producers to spend a few days surrounded by people who are just as interested in the equipment used to make electronic music as they are in the artists performing it. Between the parties, panels, and industry events, ADE Lab gives attendees a chance to actually get their hands on some of the hardware they’ve been watching videos about for the past several months.

KORG is returning to that part of the conference this year with a collection of synthesizers, effects processors, drum machines, and portable DJ equipment. The company will be exhibiting at the Gear Test Lab at Het Ketelhuis in Westergas from October 21 through October 23, with equipment available for attendees to try throughout the event.

The more interesting announcement, though, concerns the phase8, KORG’s eight-voice acoustic synthesizer. On Friday, October 23, the company will host a live sequencing demonstration that includes the first public look at its upcoming phase8 Companion App.

The software introduces a visual way to interact with the instrument’s parameters and sequencing capabilities, potentially opening up some interesting possibilities for musicians who have been following KORG’s experiments with acoustic synthesis.

The Live Demonstration Will Build a Performance Setup From Scratch

KORG is giving attendees a chance to see phase8 used within a larger electronic music setup.

The session, titled “Live Sequencing and Performance Technique with phase8,” will be hosted by Lukas Hartmann, Product Lead for phase8, and Iarla Scaife, the instrument’s Lead Embedded Software Engineer.

The 45-minute presentation will begin at 4:00 PM on Friday, October 23, in Room 2 at Het Ketelhuis.

Rather than presenting a collection of prepared sounds, the session will involve building a working electronic music rig from scratch, combining phase8 with additional hardware while exploring sequencing and performance techniques.

That’s probably the best way to demonstrate an instrument like this.

A standalone sound demo can tell you what a synthesizer is capable of producing, but seeing someone actually incorporate it into a working setup is often considerably more informative. How quickly can a sequence be developed? How does the instrument respond when another piece of hardware is added? How much of the performance involves programming, and how much happens when the musician starts interacting with the resonators?

Those are the kinds of questions that become easier to answer when you’re watching someone work with the instrument in real time.

The session also includes a Q&A, giving attendees an opportunity to speak directly with the team developing phase8.

How to Visit KORG at ADE Lab 2026

KORG will be exhibiting at the Gear Test Lab inside Het Ketelhuis, located at Pazzanistraat 4 in Amsterdam’s Westergas district.

The exhibition runs October 21–23, from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM each day.

This year’s Gear Test Lab is open to the general public free of charge, making it an accessible stop for producers and electronic musicians who want to experience the equipment without purchasing a separate conference pass for the exhibition.

The dedicated phase8 demonstration takes place Friday, October 23, from 4:00 PM to 4:45 PM in Room 2.

For anyone attending ADE this year, I’d make a point of checking out the phase8 demonstration. The instrument itself is already different enough to warrant a closer look, and the addition of software-based sequencing and modulation could make it considerably more interesting for producers considering how it might fit into their existing setups.

More information about the event is available through the official Amsterdam Dance Event website.