Absynth creator Brian Clevinger on synths, emotions, and “weird-ass ideas”

We have updated hardware classics, so why not software? Absynth’s original creator, Brian Clevinger, weighs in on what motivates his instrument creations and what strikes emotional resonance. From Native Instruments, Hannah Lockwood joins to talk about the user interface and the collaboration.

Make doodles in Ableton Live, then animate them, with Klottra

Were you the type to draw elaborate doodles in your math class margins? Well, great news: Science now says that letting your mind wander is good for you. And indie Swedish design studio Henrik & Sofia went and made a Max for Live device that brings back your freedom to doodle and animates and exports your drawings. It’s a fabulously whimsical break from staring at colored rectangles and waveforms.

Peter Kirn - November 21, 2025

Roland’s pedal concept uses AI to let you process everything with anything

The concept prototype Project LYDIA by Roland Future Design Lab uses machine learning tech from Neutone to turn any input into a “tone.” But this isn’t just about “modeling” — far from it. It lets you process anything with anything else. Beatboxing, field recordings — anything becomes an input. That emphasis on sampling and messing around in the real world might make it the opposite of genAI sound. This is tech that demands you go out and play.

Peter Kirn - November 12, 2025

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