Synplant’s new PhenoType tech uses neural nets for more alien patches

It’s the absolute opposite of “AI” as you’ve seen it. There’s no online connection, no giant data set. And here, neural nets help you to escape generic presets and defaults — not lead you into them. The new PhenoType for Sonic Charge Synplant will help you precisely define the ear-bending alien sounds you want to create in words. CDM got an early look.

Ableton Extensions will let you code your own tools and actions for Live

You run up against a limitation in Ableton Live, or you’ve got a creative idea. What if you could make it happen using code? That’s the Ableton Extension SDK, out in public beta now (JavaScript, TypeScript, Node.js). And just like that, we’ve got Live with handy new workflows, opening up scores, connecting to the Web, and playing games. Here’s what it means, and what it can and can’t do (so far).

Peter Kirn - June 2, 2026

A little-known Nintendo DS piano peripheral meets homebrew sound

Switch 2, sure, but — have you plugged a tiny piano into a Nintendo DS and used some powerful homebrew software and custom scripts to make a handheld experimental music instrument?

Peter Kirn - July 31, 2025