OB-Xf, free and open-source Oberheim-inspired synth, is now in beta

Here’s a good way to start 2026: the folks at Surge Synth Team now have their free and open-source OB-Xf synth in beta status in nightlies, with 1.0 just around the corner. And that means this long-running project is just about ready for primetime, bringing a fully open instrument inspired by the 1979 Oberheim OB-X. […]

Tau5 will be a hub for live coding music, visuals, and art with friends – or bots

Sonic Pi creator Sam Aaron is building something new. It’s early days, but Tau5 promises to be a “next-gen” creative coding environment. You can use it with your favorite tools, including Ableton Live, hardware, TidalCycles, Hydra, and others. And you never have to feel alone: you can jam with others, code with friends, and even code with AI — or keep it all-human if you prefer. Let’s explain.

Peter Kirn - August 11, 2025

Unofficial “Move – Extended” hacks extra powers for Ableton Move, free

It’s unofficial. It’ll void your warranty. But – that adds to the fun, right? Move-Extended gives you a companion website for Ableton Move that adds new features, including sample reverse, a Drum Rack Inspector, Macro editing for synths, kit slicing, chord kits, and MIDI import. It’s free, open source, and fully documented.

Peter Kirn - May 30, 2025

bop: free, fast, friendly, fun music stuff for Pd, old CPUs and RasPi

Peter Kirn - February 5, 2025

Zoe McPherson track Thumb Governance loaded in Bandcamp with Bandcamp Tempo Adjust plugin controls available - CDJ-style bpm detection, range toggles, and master tempo toggle visible.

Bandcamp and Discogs Tempo Adjust has a new UI, Master Tempo

Peter Kirn - November 20, 2024

Super Synthesis is taking their excellent Eurorack modules open-source

Peter Kirn - April 12, 2024

LFO device in Max over top an Ableton Live session, showing the Presentation view. The Freeze button (set to unfreeze to allow editing).

Ableton has a new free guide to making better Max for Live devices

Peter Kirn - March 12, 2024

Deluge synth-sequencer-sampler open-source community firmware is here

Peter Kirn - December 4, 2023

Could a new DAW file exchange format help you move projects around?

Peter Kirn - September 27, 2023

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