With Latent Terrain, crack open AI and explore neural synthesis in Max

“I’m not particularly interested in typing prompts to make stuff, I’m interested in breaking them and dissecting them,” writes Jasper Shuoyang Zheng as he introduces Latent Terrain. Now using an intuitive, elegantly designed open-source Max external and UI, you can play the weird world of neural audio codecs like an instrument, transforming your own sounds into new textures.

Francisco Partners exits Muse Group (Audacity, Hal Leonard, MuseScore)

Francisco Partners, the private equity firm, is now exiting Muse Group amid 2026’s financial maneuvers. Muse Group is the Cyprus-based conglomerate that owns the publishing giant Hal Leonard, audio editor Audacity, notation software MuseScore and StaffPad, and the online platform Ultimate Guitar.

Peter Kirn - June 3, 2026

Basil stereo delay completes Bastl’s PIZZA trio on VCV Rack — all for free

The freeware VCV Rack ports of Bastl’s delicious PIZZA family now include the original Pizza oscillator, Crust drum/percussive voice, and Basil stereo delay. Endless patching pleasures await with these (and don’t forget the free and open source KOMPAS “probability navigator,” too).

Peter Kirn - February 22, 2026

Airwindows VerbThic, VerbTiny let you go even more rabid for reverb, for free

Peter Kirn - December 3, 2025

SuperSonic: SuperCollider synth is fun, playful, colorful, free, in any Web page

Peter Kirn - November 15, 2025

plugdata 0.9.2 is huge update for this free sound exploration powerhouse

Peter Kirn - September 24, 2025

MiilkyTracker screenshot featuring new UI, CYCLE synth running.

MilkyTracker, legendary free music tool, just got a huge update

Peter Kirn - December 4, 2024

Tired of controller lock-in? Mixxx is a free DJ alternative; 2.4.2 out now

Peter Kirn - November 27, 2024

SuperCollider 3.12 updates massively powerful, free sound synthesis coding environment

Peter Kirn - August 4, 2021