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

FL Studio 2025: Mixer add and delete, AI help, more plugins, Python scripts

Peter Kirn - July 10, 2025

GIMP 3.0, free and open source image app, looks brilliant

Peter Kirn - March 20, 2025

Play around with miniature, interactive Rooms – now with Actions

Peter Kirn - November 28, 2024

Nintendo DS as ultra-portable generative source, with homebrew and Lua

Peter Kirn - September 16, 2024

Rooms.xyz puts adorable remixable, code-able 3D rooms in your browser – you know, for kids

Peter Kirn - May 17, 2023

Audulus modular on iOS, macOS now lets you add your own DSP easily with Lua scripts

Peter Kirn - April 17, 2023