A patchable solar-powered synth with a speaker; birds, hot dogs, and more

What a strange and wonderful bird this is: the Forever Grouse from MONAD comes with its own loudspeaker, banana plugs for patching, and solar panels for power. But maybe you’d rather watch a film about a heron. Or music with some hot dogs. Or set fire to electronics under an interstate overpass. Come along.

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

Reason now offers 15 Reason devices, plus Rack Extensions access, for free

Peter Kirn - August 27, 2026

Handmade experimental synths and DIY from Argentina’s Los Aparatos

Peter Kirn - August 17, 2026

otophon is a plug-in to play tones inside your head

Peter Kirn - August 14, 2026

Blind musician Jason Dasent worked with Roland to make a guide for V-STAGE

Peter Kirn - August 12, 2026

VST is 30 years old, and Steinberg is giving away some of its earliest plugins

Peter Kirn - August 4, 2026

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

Peter Kirn - July 23, 2026