Speaking of BABY Audio, they’re up to five free plug-ins, each versions of their premium offerings. That includes several that feature quick-access randomization, which could be a source of inspiration when you’re stuck, adding some instant spice.

Atoms is a gem of a new physical modeling soft synth, built on a structure of masses and springs, with intuitive and expressive control of bowed, organic, and alien sounds alike. Here’s a hands-on with Baby Audio’s latest plug-in.

Cables (cables.gl), the powerful, completely free, browser-based, node-patching generative graphics tool, adds custom Ops and more in its February update. Even better, if you’re looking for how to work with this, they’ve got a profile of a user who built a concert-ready video mixer entirely in Cables, with tips on how to create your own.

From the creator of TouchOSC, Protokol is a perfect tool for monitoring MIDI, Open Sound Control (OSC), and gamepads – with more on the way. And not only is it free, but it runs on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android, desktop and mobile. Build 105 gets some nice updates, and it’s a good excuse to remind you of this utility.

Some tracks have a magic ability to smash the gas pedal. “Wait” by Zöe Mc Pherson gets a deeply satisfying treatment by aya that’s just too good not to share here right now. It just churns. And it drops atop a don’t-miss EP of remixes of Zöe’s Pitch Blender – so here’s your reminder to catch that.

Akai’s MPC Key 37 is now official – a standalone MPC/synth with onboard sampling and effects, all in a compact package with pads and 37 keys. That combination is likely to make this a hit at $899 list.

Dirtywave’s dedicated tracker hardware is getting a hardware refresh – including a built-in mic for sampling. Here’s what’s new.

The free audio editor now gets a suite of free AI tools from Intel, some competing with expensive paid subscription services. That covers useful stuff like noise suppression and transcriptions and music separation, plus more experimental generative features.

As so many friends and colleagues face ongoing warfare and violence, I hope we resist reducing them to victims – that we both keep active and keep their humanity in view. On this Bandcamp Friday, Gaza is again calling. From a mix last week for Refuge Worldwide, here’s an hour of Palestinian experimental producers and Palestinian labels and adjacent music and where to go support it.

Moog Music is putting the animation into Animoog for a new edition for Apple’s mixed reality headset, Vision Pro. It’s a stunning immersive spatial synth they’re calling Animoog Galaxy.