Using Ableton Push 3 to work with hardware, play live, and capture ideas

The excellent Nadia Struiwigh has taken out time from her busy production and live touring schedule to break down how she works with Push 3 standalone and hardware. There are tons of great ideas here – and while we’re on the topic, here’s a useful hardware accessory for expanding Push 3 with more CV outputs.

Maxell would like you to know that they still make audio cassette tapes

Memorex, Sony, TDK — most of the names once associated with selling blank compact cassettes to consumers have since discontinued production. But one holdout still making tapes is Maxell – and their social media manager does not what you to forget it.

Moog Music layoffs provoke dismay in synth community

Several reports have confirmed steep layoffs this week at Moog Music’s Asheville, NC headquarters, shortly following an acquisition by InMusic (parent of Akai, Numark, Alesis, and others). Even in a tough year, these cuts are uniquely significant, as they strike at the brand story of the single best-known name in synths.

“Exist is a feeling”: Organizers talk about their festival after losing Odai Masri

Palestinian-global festival and music platform Exist reached London this month at Cafe OTO, the latest triumph of adventurous programming and acrobatic work across borders and international challenges. Exist has always been abound reaching beyond boundaries, organizers say. This year, they have some poignant messages about what music can do to reach beyond the boundary between life and death. And they’ve shared some crucial thoughts and music with us as they reflect on that mission.

3rd Wave, wavetable synth beast, does MPE and is now in desktop form

Groove Synthesis, the instrument maker founded by veterans of Sequential and Oberheim, has taken their massive 24-voice wavetable synth and put it into a desktop form.

The greatest hits of Electro-Harmonix are now in pico-sized pedals: NYC Series

What could make pedals irresistible again? New York-based, independent Electro-Harmonix is squeezing their greatest hits and multi-functionality into 9 baby pedals. And they look adorable.

Pro Tools gets Ableton-style clips and a free iPad app: Sketch, 2023.9 update

Well, we expected this, though maybe expected it a bit earlier. Avid is adding what is essentially an Ableton Live Session clone to its UI, available both in the new Pro Tools update and in a free iPad app called Pro Tools Sketch. The iPad app, for its part, visually looks very much like Apple’s […]

Pulsar’s new w495 is a perfect Neumann EQ model – and it’s free right now

Having at least one really great 3-band EQ in your arsenal is a very good idea. Pulsar’s w495 looks like a must whether you’re a fan of the classic Neumann original – or you’re still a novice (but more on why I think that shortly). Now through October, this plug-in is free for macOS and Windows.

You die so many times: you need more of electronic pioneer Halim El-Dabh

“We evolve. Whatever I’m doing, I’m evolving – I’m learning more and more every time I do the passage.” Egyptian-American experimental legend and composer Halim El-Dabh is an essential part of the early history of electronic music – and is poised to see his works receive much-needed reissues.

Sonic Beds is a fuzzy ambient Ableton Live pack that doubles as stress relief

From the wonderful Jogging House – the producer behind Seil Records (Hainbach, etc.) – don’t miss Sonic Beds for Ableton Live (or WAV download). It’s a fuzzy, analog, modular and vintage and broken cassette analog pack so good, you could noodle with it like it’s a never-ending album and use it to lower your blood pressure.