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.

Marvel at the gorgeous Nopia harmony instrument, now at MK1

It’s some serious experimental gear pr0n, if you’re in the mood. It’s mysterious. It’s the creation of Buenos Aires-based Martin Grieco, Rocío Gal, and team. And it seems it’s getting closer to reality, as glimpsed in a new site and teaser. It’s the Nopia, and creators hope it will help you unlock harmony. This video […]

Peter Kirn - December 16, 2025

A drum machine as a stick figure navigating a colored, pixellated grid with three rows.

10,000 Drum Machines is full of wild, weird, free Web music devices

Forget what you know about drum machines. You’re about to open up a browser tab and listen to a drum machine made with a bouncing DVD logo, or a game of Minesweeper, or seismic data, De Bruijn sequences, or pics of cats and boots. Okay, it’s fairly short of 10k — they’re at 48 so far — but if this is your first time, you’d better plan on not getting any more work done today anyway.

Peter Kirn - September 22, 2025

Three free spectral synths to try after the new Serum spectral oscillator

Peter Kirn - March 19, 2025

Leafcutter John takes you deeper into the strange, wonderful tool Forester

Peter Kirn - August 9, 2024

Dancing “vibes” and 2 more mood-elevating freebies for Live, DAWs

Peter Kirn - August 5, 2024

A very Unreal Halloween: playable Theremin, scenes from cinema

Peter Kirn - October 31, 2023

Sonification Tools for Live uses data for sound, offers educational potential

Peter Kirn - October 10, 2023

Synplant 2 is as close to an alien laboratory as a synth plug-in can get

Peter Kirn - October 4, 2023

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