Music tech Reviews Software Tech
Audacity 4, free and open-source audio editor, arrives with a revamped UI
It’s been a long time coming. Audacity, the ubiquitous open-source audio editor now owned by Muse Group, reaches version 4 with a reworked UI and enhanced usability. Here’s a look at what’s new and a first run. And there is one fork to consider, too.
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Open Steinberg: VST3 and ASIO SDKs now have open source licenses
Open licensing for proprietary audio and plug-in standards could enable the entire industry to move forward on some critical work. So it’s great news that Steinberg this month announced not one but two big licensing announcements: first, a dual-licensing model for their ASIO audio driver protocol for Windows (including an OBS collaboration), and now a permissive MIT license for the mighty VST3 plug-in spec.
Peter Kirn - October 29, 2025
Motion Music tech Software Tech
plugdata 0.9.2 is huge update for this free sound exploration powerhouse
plugdata, the visual programming environment for sound and media based on Pure Data (Pd), is becoming its own scene. It’s a great place to start patching your own sonic experiments, and if you haven’t already done that, you should. But it’s also becoming a treasure trove of free and paid tools and toys for musicians even if you never touch the wires inside. v.0.9.2 makes that better for developers and users alike. And did I mention it’s free, on Mac, Windows, Linux, and iOS/iPad?
