Gear Music tech Software Tech
A free emulator of Roland JP-8000 and the love of supersaws and trance
Digital preservation is the new challenge for synths, just as it is in areas like games. And the Roland JP-8000 got a big leg up with a free and open source release from The Usual Suspects available this month, the JE8086. It’s one of several recent emulations, so let’s talk about why the 1998 synth […]
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Etsuko’s Eterna for monome norns, an elegant 6-voice slice instrument
In its bones, Eterna for monome norns returns to some of the original success of monome: doing imaginative, intuitive, musical things with slices. A single audio file transforms via 6-voice sampler/sequencer and 12-page interface into everything from delicate ambient textures to detailed grooves.
Peter Kirn - December 26, 2025
Gear Music tech Tech
Open Steinberg: VST3 and ASIO SDKs now have open source licenses
Open licensing for proprietary audio and plug-in standards could enable the entire industry to move forward on some critical work. So it’s great news that Steinberg this month announced not one but two big licensing announcements: first, a dual-licensing model for their ASIO audio driver protocol for Windows (including an OBS collaboration), and now a permissive MIT license for the mighty VST3 plug-in spec.
Peter Kirn - October 29, 2025
Motion Music tech Software Tech
Free GATE-12 gives you envelopes and patterns on Mac, Windows, and Linux
Peter Kirn - May 13, 2025
Music tech Software Tech
Ardour, the free and open DAW, is better than ever – and Ardour 9 is coming
Peter Kirn - April 8, 2025
Music tech Software Tech
Surge XT hybrid synth is now a free set of modules for VCV Rack
Peter Kirn - January 27, 2023
Modular-Analog Music tech Software Tech
VCV Rack 2 teaser gives us reasons to be excited about Rack again
Peter Kirn - September 14, 2021
Modular-Analog Music tech Software Stories Tech
SuperCollider 3.12 updates massively powerful, free sound synthesis coding environment
Peter Kirn - August 4, 2021
DIY + Unusual Music tech Software Tech
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