Oldest recorded voices, haunted dolls, and more from Tempest Instruments

New sound technologies? Sure, okay, I guess. But haunted dolls of the 1890s as made by Thomas Edison? Oh, now you’ve got my attention. So in case you haven’t discovered this before, Tempest Instruments, a “small team” led by TV/film and video game composer Alex Davis, has been collected strange sound ephemera of the 19th […]

Optical analog video feedback in a massive, rotating 4K machine

It’s digitally controlled optical goodness: a humble Teensy translates analog knob turns into control of 4K displays, all built into beautiful mahogany enclosures and giant cranks. The result: elegant, precise fractals blossom out of 4K displays by literally tweaking the knobs on the units. Behold, The Light Herder!

Peter Kirn - August 31, 2026

Handmade experimental synths and DIY from Argentina’s Los Aparatos

From Tucumán, Argentina, Los Aparatos are constructing handmade synths and electronics education and DIY projects. And now you can ship their experimental synthesizer, Auduina MK2, internationally. Plus, those pink controls and creative projects are just irresistible. Let’s take a look.

Peter Kirn - August 17, 2026

Listen to the analog BBD sounds of Morphor; Echon 6 poly is shipping

Peter Kirn - May 14, 2026

Buchla Ziggy: the complex oscillator gets a friendly standalone synth

Peter Kirn - May 5, 2026

Endless joys of the Open Reel Ensemble and reel-to-reel performance

Peter Kirn - March 2, 2026

From Tehran’s Bernisaun, dreams, cortisol reduction, and analog rituals

Peter Kirn - March 2, 2026

Modor DR-2 – a delicious, overlooked drum machine – adds trig conditions

Peter Kirn - February 6, 2026

As much triggering as you can handle: Noise Engineering Multi Repetitor

Peter Kirn - January 22, 2026