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.

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).

Kiloheart’s unique semi-modular soft synth now adds a granular synthesis engine in its granulator section – and since you’ll need it, a new audio editor. That adds to this toolbox of sound creation goodies. So, while we’re being spoiled for choice, let’s be… even more spoiled for choice. This is a free update for Phase […]

AAS has updated Multiphonics CV-1 to CV-2. There are new modules, some workflow improvements, new sound packs, and crucially – you can finally use it with inputs and as an audio effect plug-in. That’s important news from the creators of the unparalleled Objeq filter.

It’s 404 Day – in the more-overlooked of the Roland-themed faux holidays! And what way better to celebrate than with some sound tips from CDM editor-at-large David Abravanel. They add to the evidence that the SP-404MKII is capable of way more than lo-fi beats, just in case you weren’t already among the converted.