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

No need to brave the Arizona heat: Glitch’n is a course in electronics that even absolute beginners can enjoy, assembling oscillators, generative beats, filters, and noise on breadboard circuits. But it also helps young people to learn crucial skills that can lead to teaching others and getting jobs. And, for that matter, it could do the same for you. Let’s have a look.

Remembering Kieran Foster; legendary Glitch2 effect now free

You may know Kieran Foster by his other aliases — illformed, dblue, MaDHaTTeR. That’s just how omnipresent he was as a light in electronic music communities, from the music and rave scene to software to Renoise. His sister has made his legendary Glitch2 effect free in his memory. Instead of pouring one out, you can crank up its sequenced sound-morphing powers and let his work live on.

Peter Kirn - August 2, 2026

Free BEAST Repeat for Ableton Live is so good, you’ll switch genres to IDM

Dillon Bastan, prolific Max for Live patch stylist to the stars, is at it again. BEAST Repeat takes the fun glitchiness of Ableton’s stock Beat Repeat and adds extensive new ways to re-pitch, fade, stretch, twist, gate, pan, filter, and generally mangle per-pattern and per-beat. And it’s free?!

Peter Kirn - July 22, 2026

Noiseferatu: open-source, 45 algorithms, like a KAOSS Pad from Hell

Peter Kirn - June 23, 2026

AudioWanderer noise maker is a glitchy, gorgeous, mysterious gem

Peter Kirn - June 10, 2026

Unfiltered Audio Battalion drum synth, FX in VCV Rack are a revelation

Peter Kirn - June 9, 2026

Essential mix: let an hour of tilde’s music energize you (then nerd out!)

Peter Kirn - February 27, 2026

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

Peter Kirn - November 12, 2025

Transform any binary file into sound and MIDI, right in your browser, free

Peter Kirn - November 11, 2025