UA Volt Gen 2, Max: built-in dynamics and preamp tone, displays, more

What do you do when software is feeling a little, well, disposable? Hardware, for one. Universal Audio has updated its Volt line of USB audio interfaces with built-in processing for preamp tone and dynamics, and on the higher-end models, “smart” displays and extras like ADAT input. (Hint: that can solve some of your connection problems to outboard mixer/Eurorack modules/whatever.) And these interfaces are really not expensive, starting at $149.

jumango made a synth you can tuck in so it goes to sleep

Soundmaking and music can fill you with energy, so much so that you might miss out on the importance of a good night’s sleep. jumango has engineered a solution: tuck this DIY synth into a blanket, and it falls asleep.

Peter Kirn - May 17, 2026

Bastl’s Kastle 2 and Citadel Eurorack are now DIY kits, open source platforms

It started with Kastle 2, Bastl Instruments’ cute and clever handheld. It could be a multi-effect, a sample player, a synth. Then Citadel modules came along and did those things in Eurorack. Now, Bastl’s got a surprise: you can buy these as DIY kits, and a big chunk of the Raspberry Pi-powered platforms are being released as open source. Here are all the details.

Peter Kirn - January 21, 2026

Airwindows VerbThic, VerbTiny let you go even more rabid for reverb, for free

Peter Kirn - December 3, 2025

NAP, free visual and media framework, now dazzles anywhere

Peter Kirn - October 23, 2025

Unofficial “Move – Extended” hacks extra powers for Ableton Move, free

Peter Kirn - May 30, 2025

Noise Surround System makes spatial audio kinetic, mechanical

Peter Kirn - February 27, 2025

Ableton Move is a hit for blind and low vision users; more like this, please

Peter Kirn - February 10, 2025

bop: free, fast, friendly, fun music stuff for Pd, old CPUs and RasPi

Peter Kirn - February 5, 2025