Absynth creator Brian Clevinger on synths, emotions, and “weird-ass ideas”

We have updated hardware classics, so why not software? Absynth’s original creator, Brian Clevinger, weighs in on what motivates his instrument creations and what strikes emotional resonance. From Native Instruments, Hannah Lockwood joins to talk about the user interface and the collaboration.

Waldorf’s Protein: soul of Microwave in an 8-voice wavetable synth, €329

It’s Thanksgiving in the USA, but Germany’s got your Protein, and what a surprise. The classic Microwave 1 wavetable sound meets a tweakable, compact desktop housing and 4-layer, 8-voice architecture. A Keto diet has never sounded more appetizing. Price? €329 in Europe intro, incl. VAT (€379 after the end of the year.) Out now.

Peter Kirn - November 27, 2025

Live 12.3 final is here: what’s new that isn’t Splice or stems

Ableton Live 12.3 is here, and that means built-in Splice support, stem separation, and… uh… well, there was the tremolo thing… and… need a guide? We’ve got you. Here are the rest of the best features to try in 12.3 (and Push 2.3 with Live 12.3), at a glance.

Peter Kirn - November 25, 2025

GForce just made a West Coast, MPE-playable synth playground

Peter Kirn - October 28, 2025

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

Peter Kirn - September 29, 2025

Lush, warm Juno-style 6-voice for Ableton Live: Monomono Maya

Peter Kirn - July 25, 2025

Yamaha’s VL1 launched physical modeling; it’s time to give it its due

Peter Kirn - June 2, 2025

3D masses, springs, soundmakers: Anukari physics-based instrument

Peter Kirn - May 4, 2025

Knobula Monumatic module at angle and front-on view, with mode selectors for oscillator, filter controls, envelope controls, and CV and MIDI (MPE) inputs.

Knobula Monumatic, the 8-voice, multi-algorithm MPE polysynth in 12HP

Peter Kirn - April 16, 2025

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