The PlayStation Vita just got a new sampling groovebox and synth

Sony may have abandoned the PS Vita, but homebrew is ready to keep it alive. And the gorgeous handheld gaming console now gets a new identity as an all-in-one groovebox — with free, open-source software. It even supports multichannel audio over USB via a custom kernel plug-in. Meet DS-8 Drumstream, portable beatmaker.

A little-known Nintendo DS piano peripheral meets homebrew sound

Switch 2, sure, but — have you plugged a tiny piano into a Nintendo DS and used some powerful homebrew software and custom scripts to make a handheld experimental music instrument?

Peter Kirn - July 31, 2025

Nintendo DS as ultra-portable generative source, with homebrew and Lua

It’s generative music that can fit into a spare pocket of a backpack. Nintendo DS + CellsDS homebrew + a little Lua code hacking + Korg’s Pandora PX4D guitar multi-effects = pure bliss.

Peter Kirn - September 16, 2024

Game Boy Advance gets a new, free step sequencer, complete with p-locks

Peter Kirn - May 1, 2023

Polyend had a blissful 2020, but they’re not done yet – Tracker, Preset, Medusa updates

Peter Kirn - December 24, 2020

Now you can sync a Game Boy to a Korg volca or monotribe

Peter Kirn - November 8, 2015

Nintendo NES Does MIDI and Live Music, Integrated into Your Studio

- December 14, 2010

Pandora: Game Handheld with Real Linux, OpenGL ES, Video Out

Peter Kirn - October 4, 2010

ToneSynthDS: Promising New Nintendo DS Synth + Sequencer Homebrew

Peter Kirn - October 29, 2009