Gear Music Music tech Tech

Reading Rainbow, the Buchla synth’s “MARF,” and a prototype’s live debut

Hold on for a wormhole between different nerd universes. Steve Horelick, the prolific composer behind the music for Reading Rainbow, meets the classic Buchla 200, meets a new prototype of an official recreation of the Multiple Arbitrary Function Generator (MARF). Also, Star Trek. Let’s explain what those things are for those who don’t know — and talk about how you can join a special event live online.

The techno originator, Juan Atkins, has died at 64

It’s a loss that’s beyond words. Juan Atkins, who coined the term “techno” and is often called “the originator,” has died at 64. My deepest condolences to friends, family, and so many people I know who worked with and were inspired by this singular human being.

Peter Kirn - November 1, 2026

Music Stories Tech

Listening to birdsong — and the instruments that mimic it

Okay, class: today’s reading includes a short but inspiring passage by Estevan Carlos Benson, who has lately been suggesting we treat our musical listening biome in the same way that we do our gut. Along the way, we get birdsongs and whistle bottles from Ecuador millennia ago and Peru today.