First leaked early in 2019, then evidently canceled, then leaked again this week – now here’s the official word on Maschine+ and what standalone NI hardware means for music making.

cables.gl, available as a free public beta, does materials and gestures, 3D models, VR, and even MIDI all in browser. So – why not build a whole live VJ tool in it?

It’s the ultimate open source ugly duckling story. Once an awkward, esoteric tool, Blender has grown into a 3D modeling and animation standard that’s slick and pretty – and free.

Beirut remains a city in pain following the August explosion in its port. A new crop of music compilations has arrived benefiting independent relief efforts, including from Lebanese and Arabic artists.

This year is a constant reminder that even in dark times, there are musical messages to hear. Bandcamp has extended their Fridays giving back commissions to artists, so it’s another chance to stock up on downloads and assemble a collection you’ll listen to on repeat.

In a rare 1991 film, Lev Sergeyevich Termen joined an all-star assemblage of composers from Russia and the US in Theremin’s Moscow apartment.

Imagining a future of instruments now can involve combinations of electronics, voltage, computation, and the physical. Grab a virtual seat at this talk from Ableton Loop for more.

It’s what The Guardian called the “Pulitzer of the new instrument world.” There are paid commissions and star judges. And this year is different, because (of course) the whole event goes online. Welcome to the 2021 Guthman Musical Instrument Competition.

An update to Zoom today helps address its woefully low-quality audio – essential, as classes, music rehearsals, and even conferences rely on this tool.

Experimental, “chaos”-driven, West Coast synthesis is now delightfully popular. And the creative folks at Newfangled Audio have developed a monosynth – free, and they’re quick to add, without iLok.