JW-Modules free Grains, Buffer are must-downloads for VCV Rack

We’ve had a deluge of superb VCV Rack modules, carrying straight over into the first days of the new year. But let’s skip to this one: Jeremy Wentworth’s free Grains is the granular sampler you’ve been waiting for, now available for VCV Rack and 4ms MetaModule. Bonus: my guide to other granular modules in Rack… and a surprise teaser.

LANDR acquires Reason Studios; takeaways from that announcement

LANDR, the AI-powered music platform, has acquired Reason Studios. That pairs Reason with the Montreal-based platform for mastering and distribution, and LANDR subsidiary SynchroArts (makers of VocAlign and Revoice Pro).

Peter Kirn - January 6, 2026

OB-Xf, free and open-source Oberheim-inspired synth, is now in beta

Here’s a good way to start 2026: the folks at Surge Synth Team now have their free and open-source OB-Xf synth in beta status in nightlies, with 1.0 just around the corner. And that means this long-running project is just about ready for primetime, bringing a fully open instrument inspired by the 1979 Oberheim OB-X. […]

Peter Kirn - January 2, 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

The best holiday, end-of-year deals on software and gear you can still get

Peter Kirn - December 29, 2025

Boxing Day: get those xmas freebies and be serenaded by an Atari ST

Peter Kirn - December 26, 2025

Tweakbench plug-ins return after 20 years, from NES to ambient

Peter Kirn - December 18, 2025

Sinevibes Skew, 3-playhead reverse delay, improved and now free

Peter Kirn - December 17, 2025

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