A patchable solar-powered synth with a speaker; birds, hot dogs, and more

What a strange and wonderful bird this is: the Forever Grouse from MONAD comes with its own loudspeaker, banana plugs for patching, and solar panels for power. But maybe you’d rather watch a film about a heron. Or music with some hot dogs. Or set fire to electronics under an interstate overpass. Come along.

Optical analog video feedback in a massive, rotating 4K machine

It’s digitally controlled optical goodness: a humble Teensy translates analog knob turns into control of 4K displays, all built into beautiful mahogany enclosures and giant cranks. The result: elegant, precise fractals blossom out of 4K displays by literally tweaking the knobs on the units. Behold, The Light Herder!

Peter Kirn - August 31, 2026

A $5 modular drum circuit, a free online course, and how it grows into more

No need to brave the Arizona heat: Glitch’n is a course in electronics that even absolute beginners can enjoy, assembling oscillators, generative beats, filters, and noise on breadboard circuits. But it also helps young people to learn crucial skills that can lead to teaching others and getting jobs. And, for that matter, it could do the same for you. Let’s have a look.

Peter Kirn - August 21, 2026

Handmade experimental synths and DIY from Argentina’s Los Aparatos

Peter Kirn - August 17, 2026

The TR-808 is getting an MSW open-source firmware and a Tubbutec mod

Peter Kirn - August 11, 2026

Push Hack, very unauthorized access to Push 3’s display, files, MIDI, and more

Peter Kirn - August 3, 2026

Vintage Max patches revived: free downloads, Leafcutter John and Suren

Peter Kirn - July 31, 2026

Owen Lake and the Tragic Loves have the cutest dinosaur music video

Peter Kirn - July 28, 2026

Birds on guitars, in the zebra finch sound art of Céleste Boursier-Mougenot

Peter Kirn - July 27, 2026