A free, open-source collection of building blocks unlocks expressive motion in Houdini

It’s powered by math but doesn’t require you to remember your, uh, linear algebra. It’s not a set of presets, but it’s accessible to newcomers and experts alike. MOPs is a free entryway to treating motion like an expressive instrument, and it radically changes the experience of using Houdini for the first time.

Remembering dub innovator Lee “Scratch” Perry

We overstate the impact of a lot of musical legends. But then there’s Lee “Scratch” Perry, and overstatement is a challenge.

Playtronica’s Orbita explores sequences on physical, kinetic turntable, launching soon

Inspired by objects like wall clocks and reel-to-reel tape machines, Orbita is a sequencer whose interaction is physical and kinetic, via small discs placed on a turntable. The twist is, it’s not just a design demo – you’ll be able to buy one yourself.

Inside the Reese’s Puffs cereal beatboxes – and yeah, they made real instruments

It must be the future because your cereal box is also an augmented-reality drum machine or synth. We talked to the creative team about the project, plus the full-featured “pro” models.

Dorico, scoring for iPad, already has massive 1.1 update and unlimited players

I had to check the calendar. It’s only been two weeks – and Steinberg has a massive update for Dorico, their powerful scoring tool for iPad.

Go watch techno’s Lisa Smith talk about the power of being Noncompliant

“You have more power than you did then – and you can keep finding your power.” Producer, DJ, writer Noncompliant is featured in a film out this week talking about refusing to comply.

Get more doom harp in your life with this harpist’s distortion pedal reviews

Harpist Emily Hopkins is a runaway harp YouTube sensation – yes, those are still being born. A high point: reviewing “the heaviest distortion pedal I could fine” on not one but two harps.

Unreal Engine 4.27 out now with goodies like Web UI; early-access UE5 MetaSounds makes noise

It was the dawn of the third age of audiovisual creation.* Yes, Unreal keeps adding eye-popping, ear-bursting media powers, both in its stable 4.2x branch and early-access UE5. That makes this free-to-use game engine a must for futuristic artists.

Cassette turntablism is a thing, and you need to watch more tape DJ videos from Japan

DJing was born in hacks, DIY spirit, counterculture – in artists reinventing how machines work. So enough of DJs all using the same machines the same way. Watch what happens when your deck is a deconstructed DIY cassette machine.

Error Instruments’ Loopman is an experimental cassette Walkman instrument

Also from the mad genius of Error Instruments – Loopman is a Walkman-style tape record player-looper, modded for speed manipulation, recording, and CV input.