Casio’s expressive guitar strap controller was inspired by a chopstick case

Surprise! Casio has something unexpected — Dimension Shifter, a spring-powered expressive wireless controller that attaches to your guitar strap. And it was the invention of one employee, inspired by his kid’s school-lunch retracting chopstick and cutlery case.

GAS TV: these two gorgeous gear films can inspire experimental soundtracks

Cinematic Laboratory has produced two films that are so beautiful, you can almost put them on as a soundtrack and visual atmosphere. Meet VHIKK X by FORGE TIME / Glasgow Synth Guild, and Kharper from ERROR Instruments.

Peter Kirn - August 6, 2025

Essential Ableton Live M4L: bounce MIDI, use gamepads, acid synth

It’s a hot Max for Live summer: here are three more don’t-miss tools for Max for Live for you. There’s a tool to bounce MIDI without the usual manual legwork. There’s a controller app that lets you play Live with gamepads. And there’s the synth follow-up to the blockbuster acid sequencer Sting! Let’s go:

Peter Kirn - August 5, 2025

Still from Haken Continuum video with hands on the red-and-black horizontal ribbon controller of the Continuum Fingerboard; visualization above with Harmonic Resonator, circles overlaid on keyboard showing multi-dimensional expression.

Haken Continuum deep dive, as composition blurs with sound design

Peter Kirn - March 26, 2025

Muse Kinetics new moniker to carry on the Keith McMillen legacy

Peter Kirn - September 17, 2024

Osmose 2.0 makes this expressive MPE instrument more navigable, powerful

Peter Kirn - September 5, 2024

Keith McMillen, instrumental innovator, has died

Peter Kirn - August 31, 2024

Hakai Labs lets you connect your classic NES controller to Eurorack

Peter Kirn - August 12, 2024

Max 8.6: Samplers, gamepads, colors, Max for Live, and more

Peter Kirn - January 17, 2024

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