Adam Wiltzie talks about his posthumous collaboration with Jóhann Jóhannsson

On Friendship Survival Guide, constructed from an archive of loops and sound exchanges, it’s as if Jóhann Jóhannsson is alive again. Adam Wiltzie, co-founder of Stars of the Lid and part of A Winged Victory for the Sullen, talks to us about the process, and about the perfect and fleeting personal and creative connection the two artist shared.

ALM records everything to stems, and now mixes, too, in compact modules

It’s Stem Ripper, and its expansion module accomplice, “With Mixer.” Patch it up quick, record individual stems, and perform stereo mixing with aux sends, panning, and even external USB MIDI control. And fit it all in 6HP + 8HP, with clever Eurorack modules from ALM/Busy Circuits.

Peter Kirn - September 13, 2026

Akai MPC Live III: expressive pads come to the MPC grid; $1699 with new core

Akai’s MPC Live III hits the same week as Roland’s new analog-digital flagship. This new standalone box has an updated 8-core processor and specs, enabling new features — but the biggest story here is expressive pads with 3D sensing.

Peter Kirn - October 4, 2025

Ableton Live’s new options fix latency recording problems: here’s how

Peter Kirn - November 26, 2024

Taylor Deupree and Joseph Branciforte on transcribing an electronic classic

David Abravanel - June 5, 2024

Polyend’s Tracker Mini adds stereo sampling features, clock improvements

Peter Kirn - March 8, 2024

Hainbach on scoring Qinyuan Lei’s film, machines through a child’s eyes

Peter Kirn - February 19, 2024

Field system, completed: Teenage Engineering TP-7 recorder test

Andreas Roman - December 27, 2023

Free Soundtoys Little Plate reverb plug-in – and the plate that inspired it

Peter Kirn - November 6, 2023