Roland TR-1000 1.5: keyboard mode, seamless kit switching, more

Roland has one more announcement — a 1.5 update for its flagship TR-1000 drum machine. That includes note sequencing, a must-requested keyboard mode for playing bass and melodic parts on the gear, the ability to swap patterns and kits with effects on without a hitch, and a lot of tweaks and UI improvements.

1010music Bluebox 1.5 mixer module and desktop is your do-everything tool

There are all these extra things you need in hardware rigs or Eurorack modular. You need to mix stuff together — and then add effects, and it’d be great to record, and you do still need to connect to your computer. Bluebox 1.5 fills out that wishlist with details that could make this an absolute must-have module or device.

Peter Kirn - August 20, 2026

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

It seems like just yesterday we were ogling the launch of Akai’s inexpensive, ultra-portable standalone MPC …okay, three weeks. But Akai delivered some important updates in the 1.3 firmware, available today, on top of V1.2.1 (in case you blinked). Here’s what’s new.

Peter Kirn - April 13, 2026

Inside the new modules in the free AAS Multiphonics CV-3 v3.1 update

Peter Kirn - February 25, 2026

Modor DR-2 – a delicious, overlooked drum machine – adds trig conditions

Peter Kirn - February 6, 2026

New, playful arpeggiator features for Sequential Take 5, Oberheim TEO-5

Peter Kirn - November 10, 2025

Can OneLibrary unite DJ tools? USB export from your DJ tool of choice

Peter Kirn - October 22, 2025

Okay, Android users: Polaris music making app gets a key update

Peter Kirn - October 20, 2025

cables, free visual creation patcher on Web and app, gets big updates

Peter Kirn - June 23, 2025