Elgato’s Stream Deck as a DAW companion; new Reaper controller

Elgato’s Stream Deck, a push-button desktop controller with interactive color keys and software shortcuts, has quietly become an ideal DAW accessory. Take, for example, this thoughtfully designed addition from Granite Coast Studio for the inimitable Cockos Reaper.

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.

Peter Kirn - May 22, 2026

Akai update makes the MPC Sample a satellite to the rest of the MPC line

Today’s MPC 3.8 software integrates the mobile MPC Sample with the MPC family. Bring your MPC Sample projects to your MPC or computer, load MPC tracks onto the MPC Sample, and use MPC Sample effects anywhere. This really makes the MPC Sample a mobile companion. Even if the MPC Sample is the only standalone device […]

Peter Kirn - April 30, 2026

Play together with Ableton Live, pt. 2: playing in time

Peter Kirn - April 28, 2026

Spring cleaning: free up space by deleting duplicate plug-ins

Peter Kirn - April 27, 2026

Every kind of sonic mayhem: Soundtoys Decapitator, Radiator, Devil-Loc

Peter Kirn - April 27, 2026

Absynth 6.1: Audio modulator, LFO retrigger, sound content, more

Peter Kirn - April 17, 2026

Akai’s pint-sized MPC Sample has already gotten a couple of updates

Peter Kirn - April 13, 2026

NEL Incline gets an Easter update with improved display, output quality — and echo

Peter Kirn - April 5, 2026