Time-bending, granular-powered HyperWarp: hands-on, free pack

The granular engine in Baby Audio’s HyperWarp can bend time along graphical paths you create with curved and stepped drawing tools. The result: glitches, timbres, and grooves, rhythmic chops, sweeping pitch shifts, rich coloration, and stasis-leak madness when you want it. I’ve got a hands-on, plus a big CDM-exclusive bank of free patches.

West Coast, with penguins: Aaltoverb on Linux; Aalto 2 coming soon

Madrona Labs’ patchable West Coast synth is one of the most playable, exploration-friendly, unique instruments around — a piece of software to last. And it comes with a reverb companion, now on Linux, too as a free demo you can beta-test. The big news: Aalto 2 is coming this fall for macOS, Windows — and Linux, too.

Peter Kirn - October 4, 2026

Mortal FM Kombat: Plogue’s meticulous OPMZ Yamaha emulation totally slaps

We’re awash with emulations at the moment, but this one is on another level. The chip that powered everything from Yamaha’s little-known CX5M computer to the best 80s FM synths and video game masterpieces gets a long-awaited (unofficial) rendition on your computer, and it’s just about perfect — both as a instrument plug-in and an ultra-authentic player for classic games. And where this emulation started was physical, not virtual: a workbench, vintage gear and documentation, research, and physical labor.

Peter Kirn - September 28, 2026