Impactor, Rupture 2 by Rawton Forge are perfect percussion synths for Live

That’s it. Rawton Forge has nailed it. With the new Rupture 2 on the kick and bass drum synthesis side, and Impactor handling general-purpose percussion synthesis for kicks/toms/tonal, you have an ideal floor-rattling, punchy, snappy synthesis duo for Ableton Live.

Bastl Instruments Kalimba, acoustic-digital hybrid, is already a megahit

The best of show at Superbooth 2026 is an easy pick. Bastl Kalimba, with its combination of acoustic and physical interaction with fluid digital synthesis and sensing, is a triumph of instrument design.

Peter Kirn - May 14, 2026

Elastic OSC, Plaits-derived poly, is now a macOS and Windows plug-in, too

Elastic OSC expands on Émilie Gillet’s 24 original open-source Plaits oscillator models, adding 8-voice polyphony, expression (MPE), a modulation engine, and Elastic effects. And if that sounds like something you wish you had in your computer DAW and not just Android and iOS, now you’re in luck.

Peter Kirn - May 6, 2026

Zebra 3 is here, a sprawling semi-modular plug-in that runs deep

Peter Kirn - April 21, 2026

Massive power, every format: the BB-777 brings back a boombox icon

Peter Kirn - March 27, 2026

Inside the new modules in the free AAS Multiphonics CV-3 v3.1 update

Peter Kirn - February 25, 2026

PatchSeq puts a FM-filled, sequenced patcher inside your VCV Rack

Peter Kirn - January 11, 2026

Generative analog: Cyma Forma’s Alt soundscape synth takes shape

Peter Kirn - November 17, 2025

Guide: Creating instruments with Max for Live and Ableton DSP (pt. 3)

Peter Kirn - November 12, 2025