Like something out of a (nerdy) magician’s library, Build Your Own Modular is a physical, ring-bound book that transforms into a complete Eurorack modular system. It’s both a printed instructional document and the thing you’re building — all in one.

Amidst the noise of end-of-year lists and Bandcamp Friday, here are two compilations rooted in the music scenes of Lebanon and Palestine and diaspora and allies, as well as organizing aid there and for Sudan and Congo.

It’s called “1.05.” But the update to this iconic free and open-source tracker is massive, with a new UI option, new built-in MilkySynth, new effects, and more.

You won’t fit more synths into 6HP of Eurorack (or VCV Rack module) than the newest ALM/Busy Circuits module, MCO v2. It’s a wavetable synth, an additive synth, a Roland JP8000 voice, a vocoder, a 90s VA, a bass and drum synth, and a SID chip emulation all in one.

Fall discounts have gotten hard to track, with most makers offering some discounts around now. But here is a select running list of some of the most exceptional deals.

The free/FLOSS DJ tool Mixxx has quietly evolved into a powerful software DJ tool that rivals commercial alternatives. And it’s open to whatever hardware controller you want, thanks to developer and community support. The just-released 2.4.2 for Linux, macOS, and Windows builds on that with new and updated controller compatibility.

Few plug-ins at any price can compare with the free Valhalla DSP Supermassive echo/reverb – and version 4 brings what might be its best mode yet. It’s smoother, more natural, more organic, more versatile than anything Valhalla has added before. Plus, let’s go visit that object cluster in space.

You may need to buy some new sneakers for this one. “Anthropologist-dreamer” Piotr “Gary” Gwadera has combined the intricacies of Polish folk rhythms with Chicago footwork grooves. Catch the CTA to some oberek, kids.

Today, Ukrainians marked 1000 days of terror across the whole country, following over a decade of war and multi-generational struggle. Now is no time to give up on listening to Ukrainians – or their music.

Every so often, you get something that’s clearly a labor of love. Apple has acquired the innovative digital reverb legacy of Quantec and its late founder Wolfgang “Wolf” Buchleitner and built it into Logic Pro for iPad and Mac. That joins some other welcome improvements to Logic’s Mixer and Bounce in Place in this release.