Reason Studios have a small update to Reason 12, some updates on their roadmap for the year (like when to expect M1 support) – plus some offers for anyone in the market for an upgrade or new license.

Feedback networks, unstable oscillators, shaky fat quivering filters, distorted mayhem, a bunch of labels in Japanese, a bunch of switches and knobs and a tape recorder – Bentō is a delight of software madness. It’s a delicious meal of noise.

It’s the tracker software (Renoise) and sampler-sequencer (Redux) that bring those tools into the 21st century. And now Renoise delivers a ton of new native options for every platform.

It’s a sequencer. It’s a generative music maker. It’s microtonal. It’s packed with synth engines and effects. But if other tools get you stuck in presets, this world-builder for Reaktor makes each preset and parameter a gateway to something creative and unexpected.

Efx FRAGMENTS takes granular processing from niche effect to fully robust plug-in – and moves Arturia’s growing FX Collection into new creative territory. Today’s the last day of the intro pricing so let me make sure you get a quick review.

Here’s another essential batch of projects against war, in support of Ukraine, many of them centering Ukrainian artists’ music and organization. All represent global outcry, and organizers are also reporting significant funds raised for direct support.

Peope are finding new, organic inputs for synthesizers – the patterns of leaves, humidity and climate, and even electricity pulsing through your friendly neighborhood plants. It might be just the kind of Earth connection you need right now.

Resolume keeps plugging away at new features in their live visual / VJ tool. They went live from here in Europe this afternoon to show off what’s new in 7.10 – that’s seven-point-ten, in case you recall we just followed some new stuff from them.

Game music: it’s a spiritual thing. A body thing. A Dawn of Souls thing. And instead of letting the pirates run wild, Square Enix has posted a massive treasure trove of their game soundtracks from NES Final Fantasy to modern day – even with special mixes if you need to chill or give yourself an energy boost.

At last, Apple again has a full range of choices for desktop machines. But can the Mac studio woo away music and visual customers from the MacBooks Pro? Let’s have a look.