Music tech Software Tech
Fractiv wants to make granular sound easier to shape, sculpt, and play
More, granular — less random. That’s the pitch from Fractiv, a new sampling granular instrument and effect from Sync Audio. Just when you thought you couldn’t squeeze more ideas out of granular sound, they’ve got some smart ideas, including a more playable, precise interface, and grain-based modulation. Mac, Windows, and Linux. Here’s a first look.
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What’s new in the DIY world of Music Thing’s Workshop System
It’s a Very Workshop System Jamuary. Music Thing’s patchable music lab-in-a-lunchbox has proved that small-batch personal hardware can attract a select, dedicated community sharing great stuff with one another. Let’s catch up with what’s been happening in that magical village of synth wonder in the past year. Don’t forget, the ideas and code here are all open — meaning this could inspire more.
Peter Kirn - January 7, 2026
DIY + Unusual Modular-Analog Music tech Stories Tech
JW-Modules free Grains, Buffer are must-downloads for VCV Rack
We’ve had a deluge of superb VCV Rack modules, carrying straight over into the first days of the new year. But let’s skip to this one: Jeremy Wentworth’s free Grains is the granular sampler you’ve been waiting for, now available for VCV Rack and 4ms MetaModule. Bonus: my guide to other granular modules in Rack… and a surprise teaser.
Peter Kirn - January 6, 2026
Modular-Analog Music tech Software Tech
Tweakbench plug-ins return after 20 years, from NES to ambient
Peter Kirn - December 18, 2025
Music tech Software Tech
Vara Osiria Belich is taking Phase Plant to gestural, mangled frontiers
Peter Kirn - November 20, 2025
Music Music tech Software Tech
How to get started with SoundThread and CDP: wild free sound tools
Peter Kirn - August 27, 2025
DIY + Unusual Music tech Software Step 1 Stories Tech
Torso S-4’s 2.0 OS makes it the performance sampler it wanted to be
Peter Kirn - June 18, 2025
Gear Music tech Tech
Live round-up: 12.2 is out, vids, a free Grain Slicer Rack, tuner, and more
Peter Kirn - June 12, 2025
Music tech Software Tech
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