From Éliane Radigue to West Coast, Homework is a patchable wonder

It’s a modular week, yes, but here are things you can never have too much of: great food, open beaches, modular environments, and Giorgio Sancristoforo sound playgrounds. So here’s Homework, a 4-track cassette recorder, retro effects including granular processor and tape echo, and modular synths inspired by Buchla and ARP. It’s all you need to recreate some Éliane Radigue-inspired drones and float away on a sea of noise.

You can now get eight of UA’s best plug-ins free, plus the free LUNA DAW

UAD Explore is a surprise. This is no “intro” or limited pack; eight stand-out Universal Audio plug-ins are available for free. That’s on top of the company’s free Luna DAW — though the plug-ins will also work in your DAW of choice, no special hardware required. For skill sharing or anyone lacking a budget now, that means access to some great tools.

Peter Kirn - April 15, 2026

Mudjaq TapeLeap, a freaky tape/lo-fi looper that can blink, be broken

It has a “broken” button and an eyelid that you can blink on and off. It lets you record or set feedback to 150%. It overdubs, it loops, it — does it in opposing directions. No, it’s not another tape delay/looper. Every single setting in TapeLeap from Mudjaq, for Max for Live, is bonkers and fantastic.

Peter Kirn - December 11, 2025

Mix and patch ChowDSP’s tape modeling for free in VCV Rack

Peter Kirn - March 10, 2025

Spectral Plugins are now free as maker goes out of business

Peter Kirn - April 2, 2024

Lofi Oddity is a beautiful free “degradation toy box” plug-in

Peter Kirn - January 2, 2024