C25, from Nonlinear Labs and Stephan Schmitt, is all about performance

It’s not lost on me that the same week InMusic announced its acquisition of Native Instruments, NI’s original founder, Stephan Schmitt was busy showing off new ideas about what a digital instrument can be.

Next-gen MPE: Expressive E adds smarter control, $999 MIDI keyboard

Expressive E is making its expressive, multi-dimensional keyboards more accessible, with 49- and 61-key controller Osmose options starting at $/€999. And across the full range, the company’s sound ecosystem is expanding with updated software, including the new Ctrl-e platform for sound. That means it’s easier to afford and get started with these unique MPE keyboards, and you’ll more quickly find ready-to-play sounds.

Peter Kirn - April 29, 2026

Generalmusic revives GEM and LEM, legendary Italian music tech brands

GEM and LEM are the lost Italian legends you may not know, but should. Toto, Rick Wakeman, Keith Emerson, Italian icons — all users. But the moniker was retired, and most of us assumed we’d never see it again. Surprise: Generalmusic (now Finnish-owned) just announced it’s making GEM and LEM gear again with an Italian leadership team, starting early this year. No idea what any of this us? Don’t worry — just 90s the **** out anyway!

Peter Kirn - January 26, 2026

Marvel at the gorgeous Nopia harmony instrument, now at MK1

Peter Kirn - December 16, 2025

New, playful arpeggiator features for Sequential Take 5, Oberheim TEO-5

Peter Kirn - November 10, 2025

Two by two: microKORG2 2.0 splits, slices, rewards — and does Sinevibes

Peter Kirn - October 9, 2025

MPE meets modular, strings: AAS Multiphonics CV-3, Osmose, Soliste

Peter Kirn - September 29, 2025

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

Peter Kirn - September 23, 2025

No one shreds on keys like Mauritania’s Ahmedou Ahmed Lowla

Peter Kirn - September 5, 2025