Let’s not get sucked into any mention of the “metaverse” – from the standpoint of pure graphics power on mere-mortal PCs, Unreal is one of the tools that is now seriously accessible for artists, even on a budget. And that’s worth celebrating, given it previously required getting a rare gig in a Hollywood VFX company.

For all the hardware and software out there, some tools just shine as dreams for sound design – and this particular update is well worth the wait. Pigments now adds cross-modulation, distortion, new filters and wavetables, and M1 native performance, but the sum is greater than those parts.

Patching for the people – there’s no reason cost or access has to keep you from the powers and fun of modular synthesis and music making. VCV Rack’s launch this month got lots of attention, but there are other options, too. Here the latest, best picks.

The anticipated VCV Rack 2 is here and out of beta. What will it support? What does the release mean for compatibility with modules? What will it cost if you opt for the ‘Pro’ version? All the details here – but yeah, you can finally run VCV Rack inside your DAW.

Creative visual software doesn’t get as much action in Black Friday / Cyber Monday sales – but don’t tune out, because it’s the only week of the year some major VJ tools get discounted. It’s a good thing, too, because with more global lockdowns looming, Earth needs visuals. Resolume is the biggest story here, with […]

If you need a break from big monolithic production environments, Bespoke wants to be your alternative – for free. Plenty of you liked that idea and responded, and the result hits this month with the major 1.1.0 milestone.

Another reason to switch search engines – privacy-centric alternative DuckDuckGo also has a clever little bpm calculator built in.

Next-generation wireless and motion-sensing technologies – they’re in your smartphone already, but they’re finally coming in usable form to your music rig. And that means new possibilities for using movement as an input.

Erica Synths’ Pico DSP is already a tiny wonder – a 120EUR, tiny 3HP module with deep custom effects. But the folks at Xodes will let you go even further – at your own risk.

Inspired by objects like wall clocks and reel-to-reel tape machines, Orbita is a sequencer whose interaction is physical and kinetic, via small discs placed on a turntable. The twist is, it’s not just a design demo – you’ll be able to buy one yourself.