Casio’s SXC-1 handheld sampler is packed with fun, coming to Japan

Memory may be vanishing, phones and laptops may be getting downgraded specs. But we’re enjoying an unexpected renaissance of mobile samplers. And of all of these, Casio might pack the most fun into a single package. The SXC-1’s Japanese preorder was announced and sold out this week, and with good reason: this looks like the most fun we’ve had with Casio since the 80s and 90s.

Zebra 3 is here, a sprawling semi-modular plug-in that runs deep

What if an integrated plug-in instrument could rival even full-blown modulars? That’s the question posed by u-he’s Zebra 3, out now at long last for macOS, Windows, and Linux. It’s unlikely any other soft synth takes on just this much synthesis territory, or with this much depth. From spline-based morphing oscillators to physical modeling and […]

Peter Kirn - April 21, 2026

Bastl’s new Déjà vu is the 4HP module for when you need to fader stuff

This looks like a good case of what happens when a simple idea does a ton of stuff — the opposite of a unitasker. Two faders, but there’s attenuator, attenuverter, crossfader, preamp, line level booster, panner, mixer, and and and…

Peter Kirn - April 10, 2026

Reason 14 beta: new Track Panel, reverb, Dark Mode, more

Peter Kirn - April 8, 2026

The developer of Tweakbench wants to remake the DAW without linear time

Peter Kirn - March 4, 2026

CR-78, more BOSS pedals: Roland adds more software for this Mad World

Peter Kirn - January 21, 2026

Yep, Akai has a honkin’ huge new flagship MPC XL — gallery

Peter Kirn - January 20, 2026

Stylophone Voice, AA-powered sound-bending sampler + sequencer + FX

Peter Kirn - January 19, 2026

Apple now has one creative sub for iPad, Mac — but keeps Mac app purchases

Peter Kirn - January 13, 2026