NI after NI: which brand is where, and who owns whom

Native Instruments, iZotope, Plugin Alliance, and Brainworx being part of inMusic? That was early May; now only NI remains at inMusic. 2026′ mergers and acquisitions have come so fast, you practically need a reference to keep up. So… let’s do just that. It’s part of a larger pattern of ownership changes and layoffs across every part of the music instrument business.

iZotope is now joining founder-owned AV software house Boris FX

iZotope is now coming to rest post-Native Instruments as the music software maker is acquired by Boris FX. And when they say founder-owned, they mean it: the guy’s name is actually Boris (Yamnitsky). The pairing frankly makes more sense than either NI/Soundwide or inMusic. It makes Boris FX the most interesting software house to watch right now. Here’s why.

Peter Kirn - July 2, 2026

Absynth 6.1: Audio modulator, LFO retrigger, sound content, more

If you need an excuse to suit up for an extravehicular activity in the cosmos of sound, Absynth is back again. Native Instruments quietly dropped Absynth 6.1, with oft-requested LFO retrigger and undo/redo, plus a surprise: a new audio modulator.

Peter Kirn - April 17, 2026

Native Instruments statement on continued support for customers and partners

Peter Kirn - January 29, 2026

Plugin Alliance says it is “business as usual”

Peter Kirn - January 28, 2026

Native Instruments GmbH is in preliminary insolvency

Peter Kirn - January 27, 2026

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

Peter Kirn - December 9, 2025

Alien resurrection: Absynth 6 delivers a powerful update to a futuristic classic

Peter Kirn - December 9, 2025

Can OneLibrary unite DJ tools? USB export from your DJ tool of choice

Peter Kirn - October 22, 2025