From Argentina, spectacular custom controllers and a DIY platform

Latin America has long been a source of creativity in electronic music. But a bright spot in growing its own electronic hardware comes from Yaeltex, and their vision of unique custom instruments.

Universal Audio get two Neve preamps – in two knobs

Turn a knob, dial in a sound – that particular magic associated with specific hardware is showing up in software, too. Or such is the promise of the latest Universal Audio mic model.

Oi, Kant! is a raunchy, glitchy, out-of-control patchable groove machine

Artist Ewa Justka has built a drum/bass machine that’s as chaotic as our times – a dirty, feature-packed, mayhem generator. And you can buy or build one for yourself, too.

Upcoming Dreadbox Medusa combines analog synth, grid sequencer

The boutique maker of synths, effects, and modular are teasing something new for May. And it looks like this compact analog synth is getting a grid sequencer, too.

Watch a VU meter turn into percussion, control voltage

Here’s a fun hack: a vintage-style meter needle turns into a source of percussion and signal for a modular.

This custom TR-09 controller is also a great starting point for DIYers

Sometimes, when manufacturers don’t give us exactly what we need, a wonderful thing happens: people invent something to make up the difference.

Control and unlock hidden features on Roland’s TR-08 (the small one)

While everyone is chasing after Roland’s new TR-8S (see our hands-on test), there are lots of the little TR-08s around. This tool will help you get more out of the Boutique 808.

A free download turns Reaktor into a powerful Buchla modular emulation

West Coast synthesis is yours for a song, by combining a free/donationware download with Reaktor. And now Cloudlab 200t just got a major V2 upgrade.

Virtuoso Commodore 64 composer Martin Walker is back

News for nerds: one of the musicians who was most adept at coaxing intricate music from chips is set to make a return. And that means it’s time for some chip music.

Blue’s new mic boom seems an obvious accessory for the DIY age

It’s a fairly mundane thing – it’s a boom arm for a microphone. But Blue’s latest accessory, aimed at desktop computer users, seems ripe as DIY publishing starts to think audio.