OB-Xf, free and open-source Oberheim-inspired synth, is now in beta

Here’s a good way to start 2026: the folks at Surge Synth Team now have their free and open-source OB-Xf synth in beta status in nightlies, with 1.0 just around the corner. And that means this long-running project is just about ready for primetime, bringing a fully open instrument inspired by the 1979 Oberheim OB-X. […]

FL on the Web: hands-on, Image-Line tells us what it all means

A Web-native version of FL Studio generated a lot of buzz — and some confusion. Was this replacing the desktop version? (Absolutely not.) Was it part of some larger AI play? (Mostly Suno users seemed to think that.) Image-Line responded to my questions with their side of this — and I took the new Web UI for a spin.

Peter Kirn - December 22, 2025

Fruity Loops Web! FL Studio arrives in a browser beta, with full compatibility

Mark your calendar: in the year of our Lord 2025, FL Studio is the first “legacy” production software to arrive with a full Web version, complete with native FL plug-ins. Start projects in your browser, and complete them in FL desktop software. It’s an installation-free FL, and that’s a big deal.

Peter Kirn - December 15, 2025

Ableton Live 12.3: Stems, Splice, more Bounce, Auto Pan-Tremolo, and more

Peter Kirn - September 2, 2025

Bitwig Studio 6 details revealed, and editing gets a big boost

Peter Kirn - August 27, 2025

New in Bitwig land: Brazilian beats, controller tips, v6 beta this month

Peter Kirn - August 15, 2025

Serato DJ 4.0 public beta finally makes crates make sense

Peter Kirn - August 4, 2025

Ableton Move 1.5 beta: full MIDI I/O and clock, sample slicing, Auto Filter, more

Peter Kirn - May 7, 2025

Vela reverb, now in open beta, opens up rich reverbs you can reshape

Peter Kirn - April 14, 2025

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