NI’s new Massive XL is nicely overstuffed but easier to morph, mutate, and play

What do you get the music synth user who’s got everything? Here’s what: mutation and generation options that actually lead you into more tweaking, not away from it. Plus goodies from the original Massive and PPG, and some of our favorite NI effects. Massive XL feels like the sequel Massive X wanted to be. Here’s a first hands-on — at just the right time, with a $99 intro price.

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.

Peter Kirn - July 17, 2026

inMusic will acquire Native Instruments, as NI joins brands from Akai to Moog

inMusic Brands, the US-based owner of Akai, Moog, Denon, Numark, Rane, and M-Audio, announced today that it will acquire Native Instruments. That puts NI tools like Traktor and Kontakt under the inMusic umbrella along with Plugin Alliance, iZotope, and Brainworx.

Peter Kirn - May 8, 2026

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

Peter Kirn - April 17, 2026

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

Peter Kirn - December 9, 2025

Free deals: UA PolyMAX synth, iZotope Ozone Imager, Tonal Balance Control

Peter Kirn - May 25, 2025

NI has new Kontrol S-Series MK3 keyboards with polyphonic aftertouch

Peter Kirn - September 12, 2023

Traktor X1 MK3 is NI’s compact DJ controller, refined: hands-on

Peter Kirn - August 29, 2023

Native Instruments and iZotope now sister companies, with backing from Francisco Partners

Peter Kirn - March 11, 2021