Expressive E Osmose meets Elastic OSC; playing with MPE

There’s something magical about playing sounds with polyphonic expression. It means translating sound ideas directly to your hands and improvising live, rather than having to go back and edit those ideas in later or take your hands off the keyboard to turn a knob. Here’s a look at playing the presets I made for Elastic OSC using Expressive E’s excellent Osmose keyboard.

Generative analog: Cyma Forma’s Alt soundscape synth takes shape

In a single, fader-covered box with a capacious patchbay, Alt brings together creative, generative sound worlds beneath a unified interface. FM, dual filters, random slew, scales, light sensors, a mic: it’s not every day you see a device so obsessed with exploration. And now it’s in preorder mode, shipping in December, making me wish for a residency somewhere in a cozy arctic cabin or something.

Peter Kirn - November 17, 2025

Waldorf Microwave 1 synth is on iPad, and it’s an instant favorite

Microwave’s wavetable synthesis with unique, snappy envelopes and idiosyncratic filter and converters now comes to the iPad. That could make an ideal way to play the Microwave on the go – especially with AUv3 support.

Peter Kirn - October 24, 2024