NI after NI: which brand is where, and who owns whom

Native Instruments, iZotope, Plugin Alliance, and Brainworx being part of inMusic? That was early May; now only NI remains at inMusic. 2026′ mergers and acquisitions have come so fast, you practically need a reference to keep up. So… let’s do just that. It’s part of a larger pattern of ownership changes and layoffs across every part of the music instrument business.

Black Friday: pimp my Live with the best add-ons

Ableton Live 12.3 is out of beta; it’s time to liven up your Live setup (plus Ableton Move and Push and Novation Circuit Tracks). Black Friday deals have these at the lowest prices you’ll see all year, so if you’re stocking up for winter or holiday breaks, we’ve got you. These are tools to solve some problems, add some inspiration, and even just make your Live setup look better.

Peter Kirn - November 28, 2025

Ableton Live Suite now has a rent-to-own, installment payment option

It’s not a subscription. And Ableton is still offering their existing “buy now” licenses and upgrades. But if you don’t want to pay for the flagship Ableton Live Suite all at once, you now have the option of a rent-to-own plan. That could be a way for more folks to take advantage of Suite features like full Max for Live support. Here’s how it works.

Peter Kirn - September 30, 2025

The Blaster Beam, a massive instrument invented by Captain Kirk’s nephew

Peter Kirn - September 17, 2025

El Jaguar: re-amped Colombian Picó sound systems as instrument

Peter Kirn - May 22, 2025

Three speculative designs on white pedestals with a white background. A quipu-powered drum machine with knotted pieces of rope, a viola da gamba with a hollow body and amplification, and a skull-and-bone horn.

Imagining an alternate history of music instruments, quipu to skulls

Peter Kirn - November 20, 2024

Tour Superbooth with Afrorack – featuring the show’s best instruments

Peter Kirn - May 22, 2024

Landscape’s Ferrous, an electro-mechanical resonator for strings

Peter Kirn - May 16, 2024

D16’s Drumazon 2 review: a must-have 909-inspired drum machine plug-in

Peter Kirn - November 2, 2023