Arturia’s new MiniFreak 49 synth is tactile, exploration-friendly: tested

It’s not just some extra keys or minor feature tweaks. Arturia’s MiniFreak 49 has evolved the range into a synthesizer you can freely explore just by playing, not programming. It’s a fusion of tactile experience and sound, right when we need that. Here’s a full hands-on test.

Beads, last of the Mutable Instruments modules, is now open source

Beads, the granular “texture synthesizer” that was Emilie Gillet’s follow-up to the legendary Clouds, is now fully open source. That completes the final missing piece in open-source code and free licensing for Mutable Instruments’ iconic and influential range of Eurorack modules.

Peter Kirn - October 12, 2026

Elastic OSC, Plaits-derived poly, is now a macOS and Windows plug-in, too

Elastic OSC expands on Émilie Gillet’s 24 original open-source Plaits oscillator models, adding 8-voice polyphony, expression (MPE), a modulation engine, and Elastic effects. And if that sounds like something you wish you had in your computer DAW and not just Android and iOS, now you’re in luck.

Peter Kirn - May 6, 2026

dadamachines tbd 16: a groovebox that’s compact, capable, and open by design

Peter Kirn - May 5, 2026

JW-Modules free Grains, Buffer are must-downloads for VCV Rack

Peter Kirn - January 6, 2026

Your iPad and iPhone just became a portal to endless DX7 sounds

Peter Kirn - September 11, 2025

Grayscale Nexus expands on Mutable’s keyframing – free now in VCV Rack

Peter Kirn - June 9, 2025

Elastic OSC is a Mutable Instruments-based polysynth voice for iOS: tested

Peter Kirn - May 5, 2025

Polyend Synth is a $499 polysynth with grid and a ton of synth engines

Peter Kirn - November 12, 2024