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.

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

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 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.

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.

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.)

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…

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.

Imagine having access to a full original Moog modular system. Now imagine you could run the whole thing for free – and it won’t take up a wall of your home. Synthesizers.com has brought its MU East Coast-inspired modular to VCV Rack as freeware. It’s also a great place to begin with software modular synthesis.

It’s another key moment for the democratic movement championed by Tbilisi’s club scene. Georgia has a pivotal parliamentary election tomorrow – one seen as deeply connected to the country’s future and the ongoing war in Ukraine. That prompted the club Bassiani to put on the breaks for tonight. Here’s what music voices are saying about what’s next.