Music with larvae, animism, low-tech soul, and Tad’s post-colonial guide to the Philippines

We get a deep decolonialist reflection on the Philippines, music, technology, and identity from new media artist Tad Ermitaño. And yes, some larvae make music as they eat their way through a log. Tad is a leading media artist from Manila; I got to know him through his participation in one MusicMakers Hacklab with us […]

closecontact contact-sharing app: the latest tool in the fight to keep Berlin clubs open

With backing from the Berlin Club Commission and an experienced development team, closecontact is a simple but promising solution to pandemic contact sharing in the German capital.

Unreal Engine is bringing tons of tutorials, from virtual concert halls to immersive eye candy fx

Some events translate poorly online. But making worlds in Unreal Engine has always involved sitting behind a display – so these tutorials prove essential. And they might just help audiovisual producers create new immersive creations.

No more generic synth sounds: excellent tutorial on sampling sound design on Prophet X

Sequential continues a grand tradition of analog/digital hybrid instruments. And a major advantage to that – you’re not restricted to the sonic colors of just the analog sound sources. Prophet X is a 50GB custom multisampler, too.

SOMA’s ORNAMENT-8 isn’t a sequencer, it’s an analog computer and behavior synthesizer

Its independent cells are delay lines creating a dynamic equilibrium. It represents a temporal dimension and an “infinite now.” Okay, mainly, it’s covered in a whole lot of metal patch points you use with alligator clips to f*** up patterns and time. Let’s do the simple take first. Inventor Vadim Minkin has developed the ORNAMENT-8, […]

Native Instruments exec shakeup: Daniel Haver and Mate Galic are out as CEO and President

It’s the end of an era. After more than 20 years leading the company, both CEO Daniel Haver and CIO/President Mate Galic are out of their roles.

The Sacred Rage, an all-star compilation for Beirut, as Lebanese fundraisers find an audience

When words fail, perhaps there is music. Morphine Records dropped its compilation The Sacred Rage last night, a profoundly personal LP. And even with a storm of crises the world over, these projects find receptive music lovers. On this moment, and the music it is assembling:

Live strategies for playing with Arturia KeyStep Pro and hardware: must-see videos

Arturia’s BeatStep Pro has long been a hub of choice for live performance, including with modular. But the KeyStep Pro actually does more – and these videos explain how. That could help answer how to play live with your gear (and apps).

Roland TR-8S 2.0 firmware is huge: FM synth engine, tons of new FX features

Forget 808 day – sorry. The really good news from Roland this month is that their current drum machine just got a whole lot more powerful, with a free update.

The Amiga just got a new, open 8-bit hardware sequencer cartridge you can build

There’s a new, open-source sampler – for the Commodore Amiga. Yes, as in you’ll be building your own DIY cartridge to run it. Brace yourself – 90s. Music. Incoming.