The best holiday, end-of-year deals on software and gear you can still get

If some form of magical elves did not arrive with music tools you’ve had your eyes on, here’s some good luck: several big sales are still running, from Max for Live devices to gear. Whether they’re called “holiday” or “end of year” … let’s just call it the end. We have arrived at the terminus. […]

Super Massive 5 adds Sirius echo/reverb to the best free plugin in the galaxy

Valhalla isn’t done with reverb/echo blockbusters to reverberate through the end of 2025. The free plug-in — so good we really would pay for it — is back, and now it’s gotten Sirius. Welcome Super Massive 5.0.0.

Peter Kirn - November 28, 2025

Physical modeling, modular explorations with Adam Pietruszko and AAS’ CV-3

Those sprawling synths are great, but when it comes to exploring a sound design idea compositionally, there’s nothing quite like a modular patch. I’ve long admired Adam Pietruszko’s work for AAS, so it’s a treat to watch him break down a patch and hear what he did on Rotors, bringing those leftfield sounds to dancefloor contexts.

Peter Kirn - November 18, 2025

MPE meets modular, strings: AAS Multiphonics CV-3, Osmose, Soliste

Peter Kirn - September 29, 2025

Far beyond the Lounge, with Lounge Lizard EP-5’s new physical modeling

Peter Kirn - June 25, 2025

SpaceBlender, swarming experimental reverb, is something new

Peter Kirn - May 1, 2025

Expressive playing with MPE, demystified

Peter Kirn - February 20, 2025

AAS Multiphonics CV-3 modular review: an expressive and sonic landmark

Peter Kirn - February 18, 2025

It’s not too late to get these post-holiday deals on hardware, software

Peter Kirn - January 2, 2025

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