The making of Sequential’s all-analog, polyphonic, expressive Fourm

Sequential’s new Fourm is a 4-voice polysynth with an all-analog signal path and polyphonic aftertouch and a price under a grand. To pull it off, Sequential designed an all-new expressive keybed and adapted their signature analog circuitry from the Prophet-5 (and Prophet-10). I spoke to Sequential about their instrument and the engineering that made it all happen.

Roland’s Tadeo Kikumoto on 808, part by part: the ukiyo-e drum machine

You think you know the 808? Listen to how Mr. Tadeo Kikumoto, Roland’s lead developer at the time, talks about what went into the machine. That walks through origins, from kick to claps, in this excerpt from the book Inspire the Music: 50 Years of Roland History, thanks to publisher Bjooks.

Peter Kirn - August 8, 2025

Therminator, with a curvy abstract glyph of a box with cables and a dot in the center engraved into the 3D-printed case, USB-C and jack connections

Ther’minator by Eric Singer transforms LIDAR to modular, CV

Eric Singer is back. The interactive artist and inventor helped the idea of robotics and alternative interfaces break out to wider audiences over the past decades – and now he’s gearing up to put LIDAR in your modular rig or other devices with analog CV inputs.

Peter Kirn - April 4, 2025

Sequencing with light on an alien-looking instrument by Kacper Ziemianin

Peter Kirn - January 10, 2025

Alternative histories, realized: someone built a working 80s Apple prototype

Peter Kirn - December 9, 2024

CRUM2 “generative percussive harmonic device” with lush design

Peter Kirn - May 21, 2024

Sarah Sommers’ debut is a deep journey through live sets, all in custom pink

Peter Kirn - March 9, 2024

Field system, completed: Teenage Engineering TP-7 recorder test

Andreas Roman - December 27, 2023

Finally, a silly synth so small you could swallow it (but please don’t)

Peter Kirn - December 19, 2023

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