Soundwide = NI + iZotope + Brainworx + Plugin Alliance – what to know, what to grab for free

Music merger and acquisition season continues. The latest development is the addition of Brainworx and Plugin Alliance to the conglomeration of NI and iZotope. But there’s one important note you might have missed – and some software you should go download for free for the occasion.

Musical, powerful live coding in the browser is here with Strudel – child of Tidal

Imagine a no-install, browser-based, free tool that lets you express musical ideas elegantly by typing simple code. Or for those in the know – It’s Tidal Cycles in the browser. Meet Strudel.

Casio’s MT-100 toy keyboard is reborn as a free plug-in for macOS and Windows

Sample Science has a tasty freebie for us – Retro Cazio models the 1983 Casio Casiotone MT-100, for a very, very 80s drum kit, keys, and other instruments. Let’s revisit that source instrument.

You can already use the Steam Deck as a music machine, with Bitwig Studio, VCV Rack, more

It’s a portable gaming machine – but unlike other such devices, the Steam Deck is also an open, handheld, Linux-powered computer. And you know what that means: it’s a synth and a DAW, too.

Noise Engineering’s plug-ins are a dirty habit, start for free, and they keep coming

They started as terrific modules – now they’re available in plug-in form. Noise Engineering is on a roll. The free plug-ins are essential, and eventually, you may want everything, hardware and software. There’s just so much goodness here – all literally glowing and pulsing with a selectable color palette. (I mean, did I wind up […]

Pounding techno mix from inside Ukraine, by Northern Techno founder Alex Glass

From inside Ukraine comes driving techno to give you new strength. We welcome Alex Glass for a guest mix, recorded just hours before the invasion began – and talk to him about techno and feeling in times of war.

Dart, a line of open source MIDI and DMX controllers, in wonderfully wacky variations

The Dart line of controllers is an Arduino-powered array of devices, either for DIYers in shield form and with open software and specs, or mutated into a cornucopia of peculiar-looking devices. DMX and MIDI support and full customizability. This is old news, but now feels like the right time to rediscover them. It’s impossible not […]

Goldbaby’s Layered Drum Machine Claps are a machine-y sound design wonderland

What is the sound of one drum machine clapping? Well… that’ll be the bland sound you hear way too often. It’s time to layer up, get your claps out of isolation, and layered on thick. And Goldbaby’s latest might have you fall for the clap all over again.

Beirut and Berlin exchange artists, workshops, and music – listen to mixes and releases

For all the crises, Beirut’s international connections continue to grow. Next up is an extensive residency-exchange project, starting in Berlin this week and returning to Beirut later this month. And that’s an excuse to give you some music to check out.

Videosync, AV tool for Ableton Live, adds more shaders and formats and expressive tools

Quick! Make visuals for that track! Uh… yeah, normally visual tools aren’t nearly as immediate and playable as music ones. And that’s where Videosync comes in – now with a vastly expanded feature set belied by today’s 1.1 release.