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 […]

Sinevibes Quarta: 10 FX, 4 zones on the pocket-sized NTS-3 kaoss pad

Korg’s NTS-3 is an absolute joy — a cute, pocket-sized, inexpensive kit that you can load up with custom effects. But that gets even more interesting once you add Sinevibes’ library of effects. And now you get one especially created for the X/Y pad. I’ve been testing a prerelease build, and this is a return to everything that I love about kaoss. And oops — here’s the perfect pocket live/DJ effect.

Peter Kirn - July 2, 2026

Sequential Prophet-5 gets an official software remake by GForce — tested

Following GForce’s official renditions of Oberheim instruments, now we’re treated to an official Sequential synth in plug-in form. This Prophet-5 combines painstaking recreations of the various revisions with new features like MPE, a dual-layer architecture, and lush effects. I’ve been testing it and got some behind-the-scenes details from the devs. It’s such a total pleasure to bring that Sequential sound into the box.

Peter Kirn - June 16, 2026

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

Peter Kirn - June 9, 2026

Kaximia on channeling aggression, soldering into survival; VCF giveaway

Kaximia - June 1, 2026

FFAB unlocks the batch audio powers of the free ffmpeg with a GUI

Peter Kirn - February 12, 2026

Novagrid, sequenced multi-effect with bitcrusher, sonic motion plug-in

Peter Kirn - February 11, 2026

The best holiday, end-of-year deals on software and gear you can still get

Peter Kirn - December 29, 2025

Rage with the machine: Pigments 7 with new filters, new FX, sound features

Peter Kirn - December 16, 2025