Free Alesis MIDIVERB impulse responses: pristine 80s trash

The 1986 Alesis MIDIVERB has a unique and fabulous sound – peak budget 80s digital reverb preset trash in just the right way. So why not recreate it for free with some high-quality impulse responses?

How to make Transformers and Generators for Ableton Live 12 (ES)

Even with the feature still evolving in Ableton Live 12, there’s already a tutorial on creating your own Transformers and Generators for unique ways of making and altering patterns. This time, it’s in Spanish – because the first certified trainer from Latin America is also first out with a video. Here’s Joaquín Jiménez-Sauma with the scoop.

Cologne, on the outskirts of Tehran: Timcheh Music Festival this week

As an Iranian diaspora meets overlooked German scenes – as Cologne artists play alongside Iranian artists making unique appearances in Europe – Timcheh is another meeting point of new sound beyond borders. It’s in Cologne this week, but here’s some don’t-miss music if you can’t make it in person.

MINIDEXED puts 8 DX7 emulators on a USB stick

It’s a TX816 on a keychain! Someone (“Kevin”?) has put together a Raspberry Pi Zero-based build that lets you carry around eight DX7 emulator instances on a USB stick.

Erica Synths LXR Drum and Pērkons HD-01 each get big updates

Drum machine November continues. Erica Synths also dropped big updates for not one but two of their drum machines. Here’s what’s new, in case you missed it late last week.

Mindmeld Shapemaster LFO-MSEG for VCV Rack and creating drums

Mindmeld Shapemaster Pro is a must-have add-on for the VCV Rack modular environment. It’s a multi-stage envelope generator, VCA, and complex VCO, and for starters, a video out today will show you how to use it to make drums.

The best deals on music software and gear you still can get right now

The avalanche of sales can be overwhelming, and Cyber Monday sounds like a weird themed costume night, but here are some top picks to grab musical tools and toys. And it’s great to be able to support folks making business around music making, so I’ve highlighted some small and independent makers where I can, plus the shops where their stuff is sold.

Free Valhalla Supermassive Reverb/Delay 3: Leo and Virgo

That invaluable reverb/delay we’d probably buy if it cost money, except it’s free, has gotten yet another landmark update. Leo and Virgo rising: it’s the densest yet and the sparsest yet.

“High” and “low” pitch are not universal; sometimes there are crocodiles

“High” and “low” pitch are universal, right? Wrong. Try large and small, thick and thin, and among Zimbabwe’s Shona people, even crocodile and … those who follow crocodile. A newly updated online resource is collecting variants.

Freakshow Industries wants you to know you can’t preorder Dicksmasher

Dicksmasher, the upcoming “weaponized distortion technology” from Freakshow Industries, can’t be preordered and you’ll have to “wait 1000 years” or something. Also, sadly, Freakshow Industries seems not to be doing their usual Black Friday sale where they make everything more expensive. But we do have teasers.