Make doodles in Ableton Live, then animate them, with Klottra

Were you the type to draw elaborate doodles in your math class margins? Well, great news: Science now says that letting your mind wander is good for you. And indie Swedish design studio Henrik & Sofia went and made a Max for Live device that brings back your freedom to doodle and animates and exports your drawings. It’s a fabulously whimsical break from staring at colored rectangles and waveforms.

Boards of Canada played in lightbulbs: restored 1959 PDP-1 performance

This is truly haunting — the sound of a vintage machine’s lightbulbs hooked up to audio inputs, proving it can be more Boards of Canada than the actual Boards of Canada. Even the sound of loading up the punch cards and flipping the switches is oddly soothing. And more rabbit holes await.

Peter Kirn - October 13, 2025

The best Microsoft Songsmith mash-ups, from an age before generative AI

Wait – maybe that’s the worst mash-ups. They’re so bad they’re good, though. Microsoft Research Songsmith, a 2009 automatic accompaniment software that worked with monophonic vocal input, was best known for its viral, cringeworthy promo video. But long before generative AI came on the scene, Songsmith also gave us these. Queen – I’m sorry. Rewind/flashback time…

Peter Kirn - May 30, 2025

That time Jem and The Holograms went synthesizer shopping

Peter Kirn - January 30, 2025

Hakai Labs lets you connect your classic NES controller to Eurorack

Peter Kirn - August 12, 2024

Teenage Engineering’s new Medieval drum sampler – no, not a joke

Peter Kirn - August 6, 2024

Dancing “vibes” and 2 more mood-elevating freebies for Live, DAWs

Peter Kirn - August 5, 2024

1Uesday: BBCV FM Radio module, 29€ infrared KMNDR, more

Peter Kirn - March 19, 2024

Finally, a silly synth so small you could swallow it (but please don’t)

Peter Kirn - December 19, 2023

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