KORG’s phase8 “acoustic synthesizer” is now a product for sale

The experimental electromechanical 8-voice instrument, after a long gestation period at KORG Berlin’s skunkworks R&D, is now going public. That means this unique set of sequenced steel resonators is making its way off the laboratory table and into the wild.

As much triggering as you can handle: Noise Engineering Multi Repetitor

Tough times and tight spaces call for deep algorithmic generative triggers. So now is a great time for Noise Engineering to reimagine their trigger module. Tap a tempo, patch a cord, and instantly spin up percussive patterns you can freely modulate — the best of what the company gave us before, but now with live performance transformations and more possibilities. It’s Multi Repetitor. It’s Multi Repetitor. Sorry.

Peter Kirn - January 22, 2026

Bastl’s Kastle 2 and Citadel Eurorack are now DIY kits, open source platforms

It started with Kastle 2, Bastl Instruments’ cute and clever handheld. It could be a multi-effect, a sample player, a synth. Then Citadel modules came along and did those things in Eurorack. Now, Bastl’s got a surprise: you can buy these as DIY kits, and a big chunk of the Raspberry Pi-powered platforms are being released as open source. Here are all the details.

Peter Kirn - January 21, 2026

Reason perpetual licenses now $199 for Rack, $299 for Reason

Peter Kirn - January 21, 2026

CR-78, more BOSS pedals: Roland adds more software for this Mad World

Peter Kirn - January 21, 2026

Yep, Akai has a honkin’ huge new flagship MPC XL — gallery

Peter Kirn - January 20, 2026

Stylophone Voice, AA-powered sound-bending sampler + sequencer + FX

Peter Kirn - January 19, 2026

ANIMEVOX by castpixel is a free retro anime-style sound fx generator

Peter Kirn - January 18, 2026

littlescale’s Simple Audio Editor: a free, no-install audio editor in your browser

Peter Kirn - January 18, 2026

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