Casio’s expressive guitar strap controller was inspired by a chopstick case

Surprise! Casio has something unexpected — Dimension Shifter, a spring-powered expressive wireless controller that attaches to your guitar strap. And it was the invention of one employee, inspired by his kid’s school-lunch retracting chopstick and cutlery case.

Marvel at the gorgeous Nopia harmony instrument, now at MK1

It’s some serious experimental gear pr0n, if you’re in the mood. It’s mysterious. It’s the creation of Buenos Aires-based Martin Grieco, Rocío Gal, and team. And it seems it’s getting closer to reality, as glimpsed in a new site and teaser. It’s the Nopia, and creators hope it will help you unlock harmony. This video […]

Peter Kirn - December 16, 2025

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.

Peter Kirn - September 23, 2025

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

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

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

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