Quincy Jones in four essential interviews

The world lost legendary multi-disciplinary musical powerhouse Quincy Jones yesterday. He was 91. Here’s his vision in his own words at different stages of his life and career.

Free Soundtoys PhaseMistress: here’s a complete tour and extra presets

Soundtoys has made their exceptional phaser plug-in PhaseMistress free for a limited time. Here’s how to get it, plus some CDM-exclusive presets and a crash-course tour.

Okay, the “frog” bass stabs on MJ’s Thriller is a Casiotone MT-60

Never underestimate the power of simple synthesis tricks, least of all in the hands of vintage Casio designers. The distinctive “frog” bass croak in Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” recorded in 1982, comes from a Casiotone MT-60. And it’s a sound you can patch up yourself.

Free SSL X-Orcism II plug-in will let you dial in sonic spookiness all year

Combining delay, pitch shifting, reverb, and noise generation, Solid State Logic’s Halloween giveaway is a surprising gem.

In Beirut and abroad, critical aid for Lebanon: music, events, interview

Music venues and artists in Lebanon continue to collect essential funds and supplies for forcibly displaced people. Here’s an update on how that’s going, a guide to fundraising events internationally, some music, and a conversation on community efforts at Nation Station.

Max 9: new coding and livecoding, new visuals, and Ableton’s sound tools

Max 9 is available today, bringing benefits for casual tinkerers and hardcore devs alike. There’s more code, more performance, more livecoding, more visual powers, and – one more thing: you get the building blocks Ableton uses for sound.

Baby Audio Transit 2 multi-effect: exclusive free presets, details

I’ve been working on exclusive free presets for you for the new Baby Audio x Andrew Huang Transit 2. The goal was to treat this like a multi-effect, not just a “transition” builder. Here’s that download, plus exact details of what’s new in this release and some answers to your questions.

MeeBlip geode is finding its way into jams with Nightshade Edition

Our MeeBlip geode Nightshade Edition has popped up in some of your hands. It’s time for another round-up of MeeBlip music! (And there are still a handful of geodes left, if you’re quick.)

Arturia’s take on Elka Synthex puts buttery layers, hypnotic arps in reach

SynthX V from Arturia may be the easiest way to bring the goodness of the rare Elka Synthex to your computer, with superb sound and push-button ease for cross-modulation and layering. And then you add the Multi-Arpeggiator to the mix…

20 years ago today, I published the first stories to Create Digital Music

October 27, 2004 is the beginning of the CDM story archive. That’s visible by going to page 1,150 (as I write this). And hello 2024: this is post 11,491.