Music tech Reviews Software Tech
ADPTR Utopia: what makes this spectral reverb one of the best effects of 2025
Move over, recycled ideas and emulations: it’s been a year of reimagining entire effects categories. And ADPTR Audio’s Utopia stands out in a 2025 class of reverbs that are more than just reverbs. Here’s a look at why it’s an effect I can’t put down, why it’s so much fun to tweak, and how the developers thought about it.
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UZU is a new rubbery spectral smearing phaser effect from CRQL, Ewan Bristow
Ewan Bristow and CRQL have created pure, manic magic with this one. UZU mangles sounds through a wormhole, via what is technically a spectral Frequency Domain Filter. And yes, FL Studio fans may recognize some of the characteristics of the phaser in Image-Line’s wonderful Harmor synth.
Peter Kirn - October 11, 2025
Music tech Reviews Software Tech
How to get started with SoundThread and CDP: wild free sound tools
Composers Desktop Project has been producing secret sauce of sound spelunkers since the cooperative began in 1986. But it’s receiving newfound attention — partly because of the revelation Aphex Twin used it, but mostly because we finally get a usable GUI. Here’s your guide to how to install this on Mac, Windows, or Linux, and how to dive into the rabbit hole.
Peter Kirn - August 27, 2025
DIY + Unusual Music tech Software Step 1 Stories Tech
Inertia completes an elegant trio of dynamic-shaping tools from Sinevibes
Peter Kirn - August 22, 2025
Music tech Reviews Software Tech
Three free spectral synths to try after the new Serum spectral oscillator
Peter Kirn - March 19, 2025
Music tech Software Stories Tech
Go watch this video on Buchla, Spectraphon, and spectral animation
Peter Kirn - January 3, 2025
Modular-Analog Music tech Tech
Sumu arrives, with unique semi-modular take on spectral sound design
Peter Kirn - November 22, 2024
Music tech Software Tech
Free SoundHack tools: now plug-ins and Max and Pd, Apple Silicon native
Peter Kirn - August 14, 2024
Music tech Software Tech
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