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 […]

Free GATE-12 gives you envelopes and patterns on Mac, Windows, and Linux

Trigger envelopes and synced patterns of shapes and gates on macOS, Windows, and Linux – for free. GATE-12 by tiagolr has some features you’ve probably seen before, but combined in clever ways and elegantly integrated, plus the price is right.

Peter Kirn - May 13, 2025

Mix and patch ChowDSP’s tape modeling for free in VCV Rack

No collection of DSP models for work, pleasure, and creative abuse would be complete without the Chowdbury DSP collection. You might know about the plug-in, but it’s also worth noting that these are available in VCV Rack and Cardinal, where you can patch them at will.

Peter Kirn - March 10, 2025

Befaco’s new, updated modules in hardware and free for VCV Rack

Peter Kirn - March 10, 2025

Linux DAW is a one-stop catalog of free and proprietary plug-ins for Linux

Peter Kirn - November 8, 2024

Free utility converts between multisample formats: ConvertWithMoss

Peter Kirn - November 20, 2023

Free sample mashing with samplebrain, by Aphex Twin and Dave Griffiths

Peter Kirn - September 25, 2022

The best free tools for working with modular synthesis and music

Peter Kirn - December 7, 2021

Audacity makers clarify data usage – and there’s not reason to dump the editor yet

Peter Kirn - July 5, 2021

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