otophon is a plug-in to play tones inside your head

This one’s for the heads, literally. Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) are sounds produced by your ear, ghostly tones emitted from inside the cochlea itself. The phenomenon has been employed in experimental music (and medical applications), but it has been hard to explore on your own — until now.

KORG’s phase8 “acoustic synthesizer” is now a product for sale

The experimental electromechanical 8-voice instrument, after a long gestation period at KORG Berlin’s skunkworks R&D, is now going public. That means this unique set of sequenced steel resonators is making its way off the laboratory table and into the wild.

Peter Kirn - January 22, 2026

Mathematician explains resonant frequencies and how not to spill coffee

Since sound is a wave, there are, uh, resonances between audio and fluid dynamics. And that brings us to playground swings and how not to spill your coffee. Let’s let Oxford PhD math student Sophie Abrahams explain the research done by original author Jiwon Han.

Peter Kirn - January 4, 2024

Listening, the secret of sound design: Francis Preve at Loop

Peter Kirn - May 18, 2018

WOW: One Album, One Really Low Sine Wave, Most Minimal Record Ever

- November 30, 2012

Music and Architecture: Corpus Sets Spaces into Resonance, in an Eerie Hum

- November 28, 2012