Roland TR-1000 1.5: keyboard mode, seamless kit switching, more

Roland has one more announcement — a 1.5 update for its flagship TR-1000 drum machine. That includes note sequencing, a must-requested keyboard mode for playing bass and melodic parts on the gear, the ability to swap patterns and kits with effects on without a hitch, and a lot of tweaks and UI improvements.

The world is your modular: Mulch Box, an all-jacks patch bay and multiplier

It’s the size of a standard guitar pedal. It needs no power It’s… covered in jacks. It’s Mulch Box, the first hardware from Go Outside, and it’s a stunningly simple idea for signal routing any of your gear, minijack and full-sized jack alike.

Peter Kirn - October 21, 2026

UA Volt Gen 2, Max: built-in dynamics and preamp tone, displays, more

What do you do when software is feeling a little, well, disposable? Hardware, for one. Universal Audio has updated its Volt line of USB audio interfaces with built-in processing for preamp tone and dynamics, and on the higher-end models, “smart” displays and extras like ADAT input. (Hint: that can solve some of your connection problems to outboard mixer/Eurorack modules/whatever.) And these interfaces are really not expensive, starting at $149.

Peter Kirn - October 13, 2026

x0xb0x, the synth that launched an open-source hardware boom, is reborn

Peter Kirn - September 17, 2026

Nuclear test equipment inspired this new Eurorack module

Peter Kirn - September 2, 2026

Last call on these summer sales on gear and software

Peter Kirn - July 27, 2026

AudioWanderer noise maker is a glitchy, gorgeous, mysterious gem

Peter Kirn - June 10, 2026

The best long weekend music gear deals you can get right now

Peter Kirn - May 25, 2026

Wish granted: VCV Rack’s Plateau is now a Eurorack module from 4ms

Peter Kirn - May 7, 2026