DIY + Unusual Gear Music tech Stories Tech
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.
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GForce just made a West Coast, MPE-playable synth playground
GForce’s MAP is all new — it’s not a recreation or a collaboration with other brands. But this synth has been to history class, studying modular designs by Serge Tcherepnin, Random*Source, and Buchla USA. Put that in a very modern interface, add MPE expression, and you get what feels like Massive X or Serum from an alternate universe where they’re all about West Coast synthesis.
Peter Kirn - October 28, 2025
Music tech Software Tech
Akai MPC Live III: expressive pads come to the MPC grid; $1699 with new core
Akai’s MPC Live III hits the same week as Roland’s new analog-digital flagship. This new standalone box has an updated 8-core processor and specs, enabling new features — but the biggest story here is expressive pads with 3D sensing.
Peter Kirn - October 4, 2025
Gear Music tech Tech
The making of Sequential’s all-analog, polyphonic, expressive Fourm
Peter Kirn - September 23, 2025
Gear Music tech Stories Tech
Wiggler is a bendy expressive DIY synth – and its creator is sharing their process
Peter Kirn - March 9, 2023
DIY + Unusual Tech
Roger Linn shares hidden settings and more gems from the LinnStrument
Peter Kirn - December 2, 2022
Gear Music tech Tech
Top music gear news from Superbooth 2021 – the CDM monster guide
Peter Kirn - September 22, 2021
DIY + Unusual Gear Modular-Analog Music tech Stories Tech
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