Harps with flowers that bloom and more fanciful creations of Monique Evette

If you don’t know her work, computer scientist Monique “Evette” Byars has built spectacular, animated instruments, merging digital modeling and fabrication techniques. Flowers bloom. Guitars are reimagined as koi ponds. Sounds get transformed into wearable resin structures. It’s enough to make you want to up your airbrush, math, and science games.

Mixxx could unlock free and open standalone DJing — but, like, stable

Daniel Schürmann of the long-running libre/free DJ software project Mixxx has a compelling proposal for uniting efforts to develop their DJ software on embedded hardware, from emerging cheap “open” hardware to DIY projects. It could mean a chance for openness to have a moment — while avoiding the chaotic slop of countless separate forks and hacks.

Peter Kirn - November 3, 2026

Devious Pocket: standalone, simple digital vinyl from any turntable

Skip the laptops and loads of proprietary hardware with an ultra-simple, portable, affordable add-on that turns any turntable into a digital vinyl turntable. That’s the pitch from NAP Works for crowdfunded, compact hardware built on open-source tech. It might do more than just impress digital vinyl DJs: this has the potential to win over even the CDJ crowd.

Peter Kirn - April 16, 2026

Here it is, a cover of Kendrick Lamar and more awesomeness for the Otamatone

Peter Kirn - February 14, 2025

What if modular cases were also modular? Geert’s 3D-printed solution

Peter Kirn - September 4, 2023

Wiggler is a bendy expressive DIY synth – and its creator is sharing their process

Peter Kirn - March 9, 2023

A bubble wrap-popping organ, by Simone Giertz and team, is sure to be your new favorite thing

Peter Kirn - September 12, 2022

Make your own MIDI-to-CV adapter in a skull, with a 3D printer and CircuitPython

Peter Kirn - August 10, 2022