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

We’re awash with emulations at the moment, but this one is on another level. The chip that powered everything from Yamaha’s little-known CX5M computer to the best 80s FM synths and video game masterpieces gets a long-awaited (unofficial) rendition on your computer, and it’s just about perfect — both as a instrument plug-in and an ultra-authentic player for classic games. And where this emulation started was physical, not virtual: a workbench, vintage gear and documentation, research, and physical labor.

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

Oliver Torr is disrupting your sound waves, mangling your Ableton Live tempo (alongside the awesome duo MIRA新伝統), and assembling drum kits out of AI-surfed YouTube chaos. The Glazmo Network founder has been doing deep research into “sonic mythologies,” and that includes two tools that are must-have for fans of uncertainty, glitch, and general inspiration. Plus, you should look into Oliver’s and Mira’s recent albums if you missed them.

Peter Kirn - September 28, 2026

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

In 1976, Suzanne Ciani reported back to the USA’s National Endowment for the Arts with a report on her compositions, in the form of a modular cookbook. Now you can read her notes and follow along using entirely free software, complete with sound examples. I love overusing the cookbook metaphor, maybe just because food is […]

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

MIDI Tape Recorder, precise capture, now standalone for macOS, iOS

Peter Kirn - August 31, 2026

Lucinate video synth animates and live-codes visuals on Mac and iOS

Peter Kirn - August 28, 2026

Organismi OR—1, free for iPad: breathing, stochastic pattern generator

Peter Kirn - August 18, 2026