Semi-modular is the new modular. Intellijel is still in the business of making modules, but they now also offer the Cascadia desktop synthesizer. It’s one box, but packs loads of controls and 101 patch points.

Now that machines can employ their own scores, perhaps it’s a perfect time for scores that are imaginative, graphical, uncertain – human. Graphème is a new magazine celebrating these creations, and one composer is even making the process of printing part of musical creation.

As they promised, Polyend has made a handheld follow-up to their standalone Tracker hardware. It’s now in a handheld form factor, and includes enhancements to the original model.

Bitwig Studio 5 focuses on creating curves and envelopes and working with modulation. That includes new envelope generators – but works the new possibilities deep into the tool, from the ability to modulate more of the DAW to the Grid modular system underneath. There are some new ideas for what clips can do, too.

There’s now a bevy of mobile gear that runs on batteries – but how to mix it? That’s where Bastl’s new Bestie mixer comes in, with full stereo operation, mute switches with pre-listen, USB-C and battery operation – and the option to add distortion and even zero-input feedback. With summer coming to the northern hemisphere, this could be just the park / beach gadget we want.

It’s not just static anymore. Noise can be a source of pattern and shape, sound colors, and variety. Intellijel’s Flurry builds on the company’s previous outing in noise – and it adds a whole lot more. Here’s a first look.

The Pulsar is a mostly forgotten preset drum machine from Zhytomir, Ukraine’s Elektrovimiruvach military plant. Now this unique device gets a second life on iOS.

It’s often Eurorack and something else that makes a workable live rig. Here’s the wonderful Trovarsi showing off some ideas working with the Novation Circuit Rhythm and Circuit Tracks.

The Take 5 is something special – all the goodness of the Sequential range in one balanced, affordable, compact package. And now the polysynth for the rest of us adds a ton of sounds and sound features, like envelope repeat, LFO slew, tuning choices, Lo-Fi effect, and more.

Iftah Gabbai has a new freebie, and it’s a total gem – a polyphonic modeled string instrument that pairs perfectly with his Microtuner (or other tuning tools).