teenage engineering op-xy added a drum synth, sound shaping, more

teenage engineering, the company that made news for slipping in an interview that it isn’t making new synths (maybe), might also make news for making its synths do new things. There’s an official (not hacked!) firmware update for the op-xy flagship, and it adds a new drum synth, multichannel audio, dynamic filter, and detune. The […]

Elektron is halting sharing of mods and hacks on its forums; official comments

Music gearmaker Elektron last week announced it would not allow sharing hacks and modifications for its devices on its official Elektronauts forum or social media channels. In a statement, the company says a sudden surge in firmware hacking, apparently driven at least in part by AI, helped motivate the decision. Here are the details.

Peter Kirn - September 23, 2026

Listen to three hours of “Mad” Mike Banks, plus a chat with Waajeed

Benji B did this interview in 2017, but it’s even more essential in 2026: Mike Banks talks about the meaning behind techno music, with legendary tracks mixed right in. And let’s go around the corner to hear from Waajeed and the Underground Music Academy from this summer.

Peter Kirn - September 1, 2026

The TR-808 is getting an MSW open-source firmware and a Tubbutec mod

Peter Kirn - August 11, 2026

Strange, wonderful #808day creations from Japan — and a DIY D-Beam!

Peter Kirn - August 9, 2026

The PlayStation Vita just got a new sampling groovebox and synth

Peter Kirn - August 6, 2026

VST is 30 years old, and Steinberg is giving away some of its earliest plugins

Peter Kirn - August 4, 2026

Unfiltered Audio Battalion drum synth, FX in VCV Rack are a revelation

Peter Kirn - June 9, 2026

dadamachines tbd 16: a groovebox that’s compact, capable, and open by design

Peter Kirn - May 5, 2026