Play together with Ableton Live: how Circle of Live sets up for improvisation

“It’s okay to not have a plan — it’s okay to just jump and see what happens”: Circle of Live is an event that brings together artists for spontaneous improvised performance. Ableton filmed Clark, Rival Consoles, Sebastian Mullaert, and the organizers at a recent event. Here’s what we can learn from how they work (plus some more Circle of Live selections).

SP-404MKII side chain compression; #404day videos

SP-404MKII version 5.50 brings two long-awaited features — side chain compression and exFAT SD compatibility. Here are those details, plus a #404day round-up of the fabulous videos you’re making. #404day has come to a conclusion in Japan — but that means my feed is alive with the sound of Japanese (mostly) 404 videos! Y’all always […]

Peter Kirn - April 4, 2026

Michigan Synth Works has an open-source 303 processor and a new kit

Call it the Bride of x0xb0x. Michigan Synth Works today teased a new, Arduino-compatible, open-source 303 processor, plus a full DIY kit. They’re both affordable ways to build your own all-analog, modern TB-303 with current components. And it feels like the early spirit of the open x0xb0x is back. The x0xb0x is the device that […]

Peter Kirn - March 3, 2026

On 303 Day, acid bassline love abounds, and some freebies, too

Peter Kirn - March 3, 2026

Best of show: walk NAMM with us in a gear-mas gallery

Peter Kirn - February 3, 2026

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

Peter Kirn - January 21, 2026

Autodafe has an explainer on getting JE-8086 up and running

Peter Kirn - December 31, 2025

A free emulator of Roland JP-8000 and the love of supersaws and trance

Peter Kirn - December 30, 2025

Roland’s pedal concept uses AI to let you process everything with anything

Peter Kirn - November 12, 2025