Free: 4ms VCV Rack ROMplers put gobs of drums under voltage control

The library for the free and open source VCV Rack has been on fire lately. But this one is a standout: 4ms has a sprawling library of ROMpler modules based on classic drum-machine samples. And don’t let the “ROMpler” part fool you: those samples are ready for full voltage control.

Akai’s current MPC matures as gear hub, with new MPC Live II hardware and 2.8 software

Akai’s recent 2.8 software offers some powerful new features – and a revised MPC Live II could be a sweet spot in hardware, with expanded connectivity and built-in speakers. And finally, you get MIDI multi capability, like on the classic MPCs. Here’s the rundown. The demands for a digital drum machine/production workstation are now pretty […]

Peter Kirn - May 14, 2020

Elektron Analog updates let you sequence other gear, add musical complexity

Elektron just revised their Analog Four and Analog Rytm MKI/MKII OSes. Finally: MIDI out. Wait, that’s cool: per-track scale, powerful macros, and more.

Peter Kirn - October 21, 2019

Reverb are giving away their complete $841.58 drum machine sample collection, free

Peter Kirn - August 27, 2019

The E-mu SP-1200 sampler is getting a reboot: SP 2400

Peter Kirn - June 17, 2019

It’s 606 day – remember when Roland made a drum machine like a 303?

Peter Kirn - June 6, 2019

Post-album techno: 9 years of live sequence data, from Shawn Rudiman

Peter Kirn - May 15, 2019

IK UNO Drum: portable, $249.99 analog-PCM drum machine

Peter Kirn - May 8, 2019

SOMA’s PULSAR-23 semi-modular drum machine sneak peak

Peter Kirn - May 1, 2019