Music tech Software Tech
Scales among updates to the free Ardour DAW — with tuning on the way
Ardour 9.8 continues the rapid, detailed development of this free and open-source DAW, with improved session recovery and clip recording, expanded support for controllers and hardware, and an arpeggiator MIDI tool. The 9.8 update also adds scales and keys, but with a twist: unlike competing software, scales/modes will soon be tuning-aware.
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Free: 4ms VCV Rack ROMplers put gobs of drums under voltage control
The library for the free and open source VCV Rack has been on fire lately. But this one is a standout: 4ms has a sprawling library of ROMpler modules based on classic drum-machine samples. And don’t let the “ROMpler” part fool you: those samples are ready for full voltage control.
Peter Kirn - May 19, 2026
Gear Modular-Analog Music tech Software Tech
New free VCV Rack modules: chaotic oscillators, HP word generator, drums
It’s time again for that trip-to-the-candy-store feeling with VCV Rack: the Eurorack rush without spending anything at all. Since our last episode, we’ve gotten new 4ms Roland-style drums, some unique stuff from Venom, a trio of chaotic oscillators, and a sequencer inspired by the legendary HP 8006A Word Generator. Hands-on with these open-source creations — let’s go!
Peter Kirn - July 21, 2025
Music tech Software Stories Tech
Live coders from all over the world are playing music and visuals live online, right now
Peter Kirn - March 19, 2020
DIY + Unusual Motion Music Music tech Software Stories Tech Web
Free sound and music code environment SuperCollider is adding Ableton Link support
Peter Kirn - March 17, 2020
Music tech Software Tech
All about Mutable’s Marbles random sampler – and a clever, just-released update
Peter Kirn - March 7, 2020
Modular-Analog Music tech Tech
