Akai’s pint-sized MPC Sample has already gotten a couple of updates

It seems like just yesterday we were ogling the launch of Akai’s inexpensive, ultra-portable standalone MPC …okay, three weeks. But Akai delivered some important updates in the 1.3 firmware, available today, on top of V1.2.1 (in case you blinked). Here’s what’s new.

Modor DR-2 – a delicious, overlooked drum machine – adds trig conditions

Massive sound, lots of unique tricks, hard-hitting personality, onboard basslines — more people should be talking about the Modor DR-2. And amidst the blizzard of news last month, you might have missed that it now does trig conditions. OS014 landed at the end of December, so we may have missed it while we were all […]

Peter Kirn - February 6, 2026

New, playful arpeggiator features for Sequential Take 5, Oberheim TEO-5

The 5-voice Sequential and Oberheim hybrid analog/digital synths each got an OS update last week, and their playful new arpeggiator features are a reminder of why we love both brands. Think ten new arp modes and a dizzying new feature called “whiplash,” plus other new firmware features.

Peter Kirn - November 10, 2025

Two by two: microKORG2 2.0 splits, slices, rewards — and does Sinevibes

Peter Kirn - October 9, 2025

Torso S-4’s 2.0 OS makes it the performance sampler it wanted to be

Peter Kirn - June 18, 2025

Free Roland SH-4d 2.0 update: new oscillator models, pattern chaining

Peter Kirn - May 12, 2025

Elektron’s new shiny: Digitone II hardware sequel, Syntakt 1.3 firmware

Peter Kirn - October 23, 2024

Modor DR-2, Belgian beast of a drum machine, now does basslines, too

Peter Kirn - October 14, 2024

Osmose 2.0 makes this expressive MPE instrument more navigable, powerful

Peter Kirn - September 5, 2024