Cook every day: read Suzanne Ciani’s 1976 Buchla Cookbook, for free

In 1976, Suzanne Ciani reported back to the USA’s National Endowment for the Arts with a report on her compositions, in the form of a modular cookbook. Now you can read her notes and follow along using entirely free software, complete with sound examples. I love overusing the cookbook metaphor, maybe just because food is […]

Scales among updates to the free Ardour DAW — with tuning on the way

Ardour 9.8 continues the rapid, detailed development of this free and open-source DAW, with improved session recovery and clip recording, expanded support for controllers and hardware, and an arpeggiator MIDI tool. The 9.8 update also adds scales and keys, but with a twist: unlike competing software, scales/modes will soon be tuning-aware.

Peter Kirn - September 7, 2026

Audacity 4, free and open-source audio editor, arrives with a revamped UI

It’s been a long time coming. Audacity, the ubiquitous open-source audio editor now owned by Muse Group, reaches version 4 with a reworked UI and enhanced usability. Here’s a look at what’s new and a first run. And there is one fork to consider, too.

Peter Kirn - September 3, 2026

Septabee, an insane-looking free Linux/Windows DAW with pomegranates

Peter Kirn - September 3, 2026

Reason now offers 15 Reason devices, plus Rack Extensions access, for free

Peter Kirn - August 27, 2026

Test what you’re hearing, scientifically: free ABX testing website

Peter Kirn - August 24, 2026

A $5 modular drum circuit, a free online course, and how it grows into more

Peter Kirn - August 21, 2026

The TR-808 is getting an MSW open-source firmware and a Tubbutec mod

Peter Kirn - August 11, 2026

808 Day: free Roland e-Bjook, NTS Radio jams, animation

Peter Kirn - August 8, 2026