Max 9.2: V8 FFTs, better Windows support, Ableton abl goodies, more

Cycling ’74 has a surprisingly packed Max 9.2 update out now, with improvements and additions for Jitter, the Web, V8 (JavaScript), buffers, video on Windows, Gen, and the Ableton abl collection. It’s a slew of nice stuff for patchers.

UA Volt Gen 2, Max: built-in dynamics and preamp tone, displays, more

What do you do when software is feeling a little, well, disposable? Hardware, for one. Universal Audio has updated its Volt line of USB audio interfaces with built-in processing for preamp tone and dynamics, and on the higher-end models, “smart” displays and extras like ADAT input. (Hint: that can solve some of your connection problems to outboard mixer/Eurorack modules/whatever.) And these interfaces are really not expensive, starting at $149.

Peter Kirn - October 13, 2026

Pure Data (Pd) 0.57 inbound, enduring free software for tinkering with sound

Technology keeps asking us to speed up. Pd is happy to let you slow down: tinker, patch, make mistakes, obsess over a number or signal routing, and do it all visually. The free and open source software is getting a nice 0.57 update with new features, relevant to Pd and tools like libpd and plugdata that are based on it.

Peter Kirn - October 2, 2026

Mortal FM Kombat: Plogue’s meticulous OPMZ Yamaha emulation totally slaps

Peter Kirn - September 28, 2026

Agitate Ableton Live tempos, chop up YouTube slop, more with Oliver Torr

Peter Kirn - September 28, 2026

Cook every day: read Suzanne Ciani’s 1976 Buchla Cookbook, for free

Peter Kirn - September 21, 2026

Virtual rendering of the Sting UI with knobs, piano roll view, and smiley face, angled next to a Novation Launchpad controller with light-up grid.

Eminently controllable, accessible by design, Sting is now a plug-in

Peter Kirn - September 8, 2026

Audacity 4, free and open-source audio editor, arrives with a revamped UI

Peter Kirn - September 3, 2026

Elastic Melody now does bass and DFAM-style percussion, too (Mac, iOS)

Peter Kirn - September 2, 2026