West Coast, with penguins: Aaltoverb on Linux; Aalto 2 coming soon

Madrona Labs’ patchable West Coast synth is one of the most playable, exploration-friendly, unique instruments around — a piece of software to last. And it comes with a reverb companion, now on Linux, too as a free demo you can beta-test. The big news: Aalto 2 is coming this fall for macOS, Windows — and Linux, too.

Elastic Melody now does bass and DFAM-style percussion, too (Mac, iOS)

Elastic Melody was already a go-to melody generator for Mac, iPad, and iPhone, with an internal synth engine inspired by the brilliant Dave Smith Evolver and the ability to output to other apps or hardware gear. Now it gains new Pitch and Filter Drive modes, so it can also be your bassline maker and percussion source.

Peter Kirn - September 2, 2026

End-of-summer sales on gear and software

US Labor Day looms. Summer days are waning. Sales are expanding. I am … barely awake because of ragweed/ambrosia pollen. It must be that time of year. Let me refocus my mind by sharing these sales with you quickly.

Peter Kirn - August 30, 2026

In Expressive E’s Noisy 2.6 synth, expression everywhere, MIDI to MPE

Peter Kirn - July 23, 2026

Elastic OSC, Plaits-derived poly, is now a macOS and Windows plug-in, too

Peter Kirn - May 6, 2026

Rage with the machine: Pigments 7 with new filters, new FX, sound features

Peter Kirn - December 16, 2025

Alien resurrection: Absynth 6 delivers a powerful update to a futuristic classic

Peter Kirn - December 9, 2025

Cubase 15: Expression Maps, rich patterns, updated Modulators, plug-ins

Peter Kirn - November 5, 2025

West Coast dreaming: improvising with GForce MAP

Peter Kirn - October 31, 2025