Sure, the tariffs and shipping are a mess, but — you can still find some fantastic gear deals at the moment. That includes new gear and new modules, plus some unique used deals and special discounts. Here are a few of the best.

Bandcamp and Discogs are issuing warnings. Those involved in media are pointing out that US Presidential authority doesn’t apply to items like CDs and vinyl, publications, and other media. And Bandcamp is even offering sellers the chance to disable sales to the USA. The Trump Administration-induced trade chaos continues.

With Isotonik’s Darren celebrating his birthday this week, we’ve got an Isotonik Studios shopping guide, with favorite Max for Live add-ons, CDM reviews, and sound demos. Now with a special CDM-exclusive Labor Day discount code.

Electronic scores can evoke the dramatic wonder of nature, as composer Elizabeth Parker demonstrated in her score for the 1984 BBC David Attenborough classic The Living Planet. Here’s a look behind the scenes, as Parker imagines that soundscape with everything from a PPG Wave to a ketchup bottle. If you need a little extra imaginative inspiration back to the Earth, you’ll love listening to her talk about how she works.

We get it. After years of DAWs leapfrogging in similar directions, the new generation of music tools made it easier to start projects, get inspiration, and improvise. But sometimes they played catchup on editing and automation. Bitwig Studio 6’s details are here, and it feels like editing automation, clips, and more are looking as fresh as those other tools, all in an updated UI. The beta is out now.

Composers Desktop Project has been producing secret sauce of sound spelunkers since the cooperative began in 1986. But it’s receiving newfound attention — partly because of the revelation Aphex Twin used it, but mostly because we finally get a usable GUI. Here’s your guide to how to install this on Mac, Windows, or Linux, and how to dive into the rabbit hole.

The After Effects and Capcut alternative is starting to look like a real alternative. Pikimov v4 landed this month, no-signup, in-browser, and free for macOS, Windows, Linux, and (critical in education) Chromebook. And even alongside other tools, it’s an absolute joy.

The Trump administration’s trade policies do more than increase costs for US consumers. Their historic scale and disorganized rollout are causing global disruptions. That hurts independent music gear makers and label owners. It’s also ironically likely to cripple manufacturers trying to work in the USA. The only (sort of) good news: shippers and exporters are trying to find solutions, and at least some of the disruptions should be temporary. But those solutions won’t come free.

What can music do against darkness? It may be our one fuel for emotions, a weapon against depressive inertia. Today, on Ukrainian Independence Day, it’s a perfect day to catch up with Ukrainian label Prostir/I Shall Sing Until My Land Is Free — especially as these platforms have been a hub for solidarity with other resistance struggles worldwide.

Many tools can add gates, filter frequencies, or add envelopes. But few do it with the elegance and ease of Sinevibes’ Switch, Array, and now Inertia. These plug-ins were early favorites from Sinevibes for their simplicity, but UI overhauls make them look and work beautifully — especially as you get to Inertia.