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.

Algoriddim’s djay line of DJ tools is getting a lot more Apple-y. That includes a native spatial version for Apple Vision Pro. Since very few of you likely have that, the more pressing news may be complete integration with Apple Music – including your uploaded personal library.

Iconic 80s Japanese synths like the SH-101, JUPITER, JUNO, and TR drum machines were defined by both their filters and the engineering around them. We’re fortunate to get to talk about Vostok Instruments about the design of their new four-channel Atlas filter module – what it learns from the 80s classics, and what it adds to the equation.