OB-Xf, free and open-source Oberheim-inspired synth, is now in beta

Here’s a good way to start 2026: the folks at Surge Synth Team now have their free and open-source OB-Xf synth in beta status in nightlies, with 1.0 just around the corner. And that means this long-running project is just about ready for primetime, bringing a fully open instrument inspired by the 1979 Oberheim OB-X. […]

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

Back in green: three years after Native Instruments announced its demise, Absynth 6 makes an unexpected return from the dead. What we get is not just a rerelease, but the biggest update for the polysynth in its history, with everything from new filters and engine enhancements to a new UI and MPE. Early review: this is a polysynth you need to explore all over again — or discover for the first time.

Peter Kirn - December 9, 2025

The making of Sequential’s all-analog, polyphonic, expressive Fourm

Sequential’s new Fourm is a 4-voice polysynth with an all-analog signal path and polyphonic aftertouch and a price under a grand. To pull it off, Sequential designed an all-new expressive keybed and adapted their signature analog circuitry from the Prophet-5 (and Prophet-10). I spoke to Sequential about their instrument and the engineering that made it all happen.

Peter Kirn - September 23, 2025

Oberheim TEO-5: Tom’s legacy, now on desktop, $1399

Peter Kirn - July 1, 2025

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

Peter Kirn - May 25, 2025

Artemis illustration, a ghostly white face with white flowing hair against a black starscape, as pictured by creative director Afroditi Bitzouni.

Artemis combines Dreadbox analog, Sinevibes FX – and the result is lush

Peter Kirn - May 19, 2025

Dirty, punchy, free: this plug-in rendition of the Korg Poly-61 is raw and perfect

Peter Kirn - May 6, 2025

KORG multi/poly native is as satisfying as a desktop plug-in as it in hardware

Peter Kirn - March 6, 2025

Moog just posted an all-star art and tech panel; all that and an Oberheim

Peter Kirn - February 28, 2025

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