How to get into a creative flow with FL Studio – and what could make it worth it

FL Studio’s reputation is deceiving: this is one of the richest, most surprisingly open-ended tools for music-making. But long-time users may miss some of its recent improvements – and newcomers may not be clear on how to start.

The newest sound-making device is the trampoline – and here’s a synth made for bouncing on it

Buttons, knobs, faders – yes, they’re decent. But you can’t jump on them, not without serious consequences. What you need is a trampoline.

From the far edges of experimental electronic compositions, inside Elli Records’ In the Room

Radical times call for fearless experimentation – and fast. Elli Records bends polyrhythms, noise, and custom software to the breaking point. The toolmakers and sound alchemists talk to us about just what they’ve been building in there.

Free modular recipes for sound and sequence in VCV Rack, with the creator of JW-Modules

Part of the beauty of software modular is the ability to share ideas. Here are just those kinds of tips and tricks, and you can try them right now – free.

Electronic virtuoso Thomas Piper’s insistent voice delivers in honest, powerful “Permission to Live”

Thomas Piper’s Permission to Live is a powerful, personal statement. It comes from one of the few people who plays Ableton Push like his main instrument, from an artist who draws from a hundred skills.

Real relief: Music releases to go discover now, in days of pleas for equality

Part II – more music from black artists and organizing around social justice and racial quality, of course on Bandcamp. These are selections that really moved me today; I hope some do the same for you.

Music lovers are sharing black artists, labels, and causes today on Bandcamp

Alongside protests and conversation, it’s a moment for black artists and labels to make themselves visible to one another – and for allies to amplify their voices and help organize, too.

Pd patching, IRL: 3dPdModular is a modular synth with Pd, RasPi inside

Hard patching, meet soft patching: it’s Eurorack modular, but with a Raspberry Pi and Pure Data inside each module – which means you can mod and make your own modules, too.

Ballroom energy, in a beautiful film about Shaun J. Wright, and more EPs

When it comes to musical inspiration and radiant humans, we’re really lucky to have people like Shaun J. Wright. A poetic short film gives you some window into who he is – and the music will move you to a dance floor even when there’s no dance floor there. Alinka reminds me of this, Shaun’s […]

Chilled, trippy live sets and albums from JakoJako, Lucrecia Dalt, more

While clubs are empty, we’ve been getting an intimate look at how people play and imagine ideas. And one of the best sets from FACT’s new Patch Notes series features the excellent JakoJako – just when you might need some music that lets you calm your head.