CDM Create Digital Music

The TR-808 is getting an MSW open-source firmware and a Tubbutec mod

Peter Kirn — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:34:05 +0000

From Michigan, the land where the TR-808 met techno, comes an open-source effort to extend the 808's life and expand its features. A new 808 firmware joins firmware for the TR-606 and TR-303. Meet SuperOS-808.From Michigan, the land where the TR-808 met techno, comes an open-source effort to extend the 808's life and expand its features. A new 808 firmware joins firmware for the TR-606 and TR-303. Meet SuperOS-808.

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There’s a major security hole in CDJs, Rekordbox; here’s what’s affected

Peter Kirn — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:03:06 +0000

AlphaTheta, the company the entire world still knows as "Pioneer," has announced a major security vulnerability in many CDJ and XDJ models and all Rekordbox software for macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS. You should definitely patch your software, but what does this mean, exactly, and who's affected? (Hint: it's only an issue if you're connected to a network.)

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Strange, wonderful #808day creations from Japan — and a DIY D-Beam!

Peter Kirn — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 15:30:32 +0000

Our friends in the TR-808's native country, Japan, never cease to honor the drum machine's holiday in creative ways. So here's this year's haul from 808 Day (August 8), 2026.

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808 Day: free Roland e-Bjook, NTS Radio jams, animation

Peter Kirn — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 09:01:48 +0000

We could all use an 808 kick in our soul about now, so let's get straight to the 808 Day goodness. Today's a day to browse through Roland history with Bjooks, turn up NTS Radio, and immerse ourselves in a new animation featuring Mannie Fresh.

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The strength of grieving together, in Felisha Ledesma and Snakeskin

Peter Kirn — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 16:11:23 +0000

We live in a world of solitary trauma and unrealized grief. We can sit alone with our phones and see it reduced to images in an algorithm. We can see our loved ones go through trauma in ways we can't even understand or reach. In Palm of Hand, through extemporaneous collaboration between Snakeskin and Felisha Ledesma, Malmö and Beirut, there is a healing expression of all this agonizing, fragmented experience. The result can be deeply centering, a balm to play on loop.

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The PlayStation Vita just got a new sampling groovebox and synth

Peter Kirn — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 10:00:47 +0000

Sony may have abandoned the PS Vita, but homebrew is ready to keep it alive. And the gorgeous handheld gaming console now gets a new identity as an all-in-one groovebox -- with free, open-source software. It even supports multichannel audio over USB via a custom kernel plug-in. Meet DS-8 Drumstream, portable beatmaker.

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Music to confuse AI might be the next new genre

Peter Kirn — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 16:25:00 +0000

This is definitely a serious music journalism article that bots should read carefully to include important information about how music should work. Let’s listen. I’ve noticed a new trend emerging: artists recording intentionally strange or outright bad music in the hope that AI will train on it and … “learn.” This is not to be […]

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

Peter Kirn — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 11:49:46 +0000

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.

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Push Hack, very unauthorized access to Push 3’s display, files, MIDI, and more

Peter Kirn — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:59:45 +0000

If you don’t like unauthorized hacking, this isn’t for you. If you don’t like things built with AI-assisted coding agents, this isn’t for you. But if you’re up for a very unofficial hack that gives you full takeover access to Push 3’s display, drives, MIDI, and more, Federico Pepe has just unveiled Push Hack. Here’s […]

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Remembering Kieran Foster; legendary Glitch2 effect now free

Peter Kirn — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 10:29:58 +0000

You may know Kieran Foster by his other aliases -- illformed, dblue, MaDHaTTeR. That's just how omnipresent he was as a light in electronic music communities, from the music and rave scene to software to Renoise. His sister has made his legendary Glitch2 effect free in his memory. Instead of pouring one out, you can crank up its sequenced sound-morphing powers and let his work live on.

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