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.

Audio Damage ShinRonin, now free, is a throwback to 2003 plug-in design

You wake up. It’s the year 2003. Some upstart software developer called Audio Damage wants to let you patch a combo filter-delay however you like, including ways that will break your ears. Ronin is reborn as ShinRonin, from a time when software developers let you run with scissors and do strange things. This is one […]

Peter Kirn - July 6, 2026

Free GATE-12 gives you envelopes and patterns on Mac, Windows, and Linux

Trigger envelopes and synced patterns of shapes and gates on macOS, Windows, and Linux – for free. GATE-12 by tiagolr has some features you’ve probably seen before, but combined in clever ways and elegantly integrated, plus the price is right.

Peter Kirn - May 13, 2025

This site is promoting Linux plug-ins with resources for developers and users

Peter Kirn - May 4, 2025

Linux DAW is a one-stop catalog of free and proprietary plug-ins for Linux

Peter Kirn - November 8, 2024

Audio Damage Replicant plug-in rebuilt in v3, looks great, does way more than stutter

Peter Kirn - March 15, 2023

CLAP is a new open-source plug-in format from Bitwig, u-he – do we need it, and who will use it?

Peter Kirn - June 15, 2022

LIRA-8 reimagines the LYRA-8 organismic drone synth in Pd, VST, AU free – donationware

Peter Kirn - December 30, 2020

Export to hardware, virtual pedals – this could be the future of effects

Peter Kirn - August 3, 2017