Ableton Live 11 has its final release on Tuesday, 23 February. Near-release beta is available, too. Here’s a refresher on what’s new – and an open thread on what you might like to know.

How do you set the mood to concentrate, especially in times of distraction and anxiety? Adjust the light, open a window to allow some air flow? Here’s a unique set of sound design tools and music to match that accomplishes that with audio.

Analog synth + Sinevibes digital effects – the Dreadbox Typhon is one of the most compelling synths of the moment. So we turn to one of its bug testers to let us know how to get the most out of this week’s big new update.

Novation’s Circuit Tracks is out now – I’ve got one to test. Circuit Rhythm is coming in summer. It’s the one that samples directly; here’s what we know so far.

Okay, everybody’s been seeing their computer too much lately. So Novation’s Circuit Tracks does stuff with no screen, no menus, even no power plug – and squeezes tons of musical power for the money, at US$399 (about 399 EUR with VAT).

“It’s very brave to look complex things in the eye and say, calm down.” Some Björk TV clips from the 90s explore minimalism, immediacy, tiny handheld instruments, and the work of the late Mika Vainio.

Forget what platform it’s on for a moment – a Friday is a perfect time to support independent DIY music production, by directly supporting the artist and downloading something that you can come back to again and again.

In self-released sounds emanating from the state of Virginia, glia’s studies in rhythm and phrase are absolutely essential.

With a panner that can be flown with a joystick – even for surround sound – and loads of other inventions, Erica Synths and Liquid Sky’s Ingmar Koch are boldly going deeper in Dada.

Crowds of people, bright lights piercing the darkness, techno bouncing against cavernous industrial concrete – oddly the game Hitman 3 is a refuge for people who miss clubbing. Heh, even the early morning open-air birdsong is familiar. Daniel D has made a loving tour of the place. It’s uncanny valley clubbing therapy for anyone experiencing […]