Organismi OR—1, free for iPad: breathing, stochastic pattern generator

OR—1 is an artful, generative MIDI sequencer maker. It’s free for iPad as an AUv3, with a desktop macOS version available for €19.99. And it’s an exquisite experience feeding these into synths.

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

This one’s for the heads, literally. Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) are sounds produced by your ear, ghostly tones emitted from inside the cochlea itself. The phenomenon has been employed in experimental music (and medical applications), but it has been hard to explore on your own — until now.

Peter Kirn - August 14, 2026

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

It’s the format that changed software music making forever: the VST plug-in format turns 30 this year. Steinberg is giving away updated versions of Neon, CS-40, Karlette, VB1, and LM7 — some of its earliest plug-ins — to celebrate. And that means you can run these vintage instruments (plus one tape delay) on your modern Mac or PC.

Peter Kirn - August 4, 2026

With audio and VST3 support, Isadora is now a complete interactive canvas

Peter Kirn - July 14, 2026

EPROM built an instrument for Current: complete guide

Peter Kirn - July 8, 2026

Audio Damage ShinRonin, now free, is a throwback to 2003 plug-in design

Peter Kirn - July 6, 2026

D16 PunchBox 2 is a surprisingly deep sequel to the brutal kick plug-in classic

Peter Kirn - June 29, 2026

Sequential Prophet-5 gets an official software remake by GForce — tested

Peter Kirn - June 16, 2026

Chaotic vocals, polyrhythmic grooves — meet the every something plugins

Peter Kirn - June 3, 2026