CDM Create Digital Music

Reading Rainbow, the Buchla synth’s “MARF,” and a prototype’s live debut

Peter Kirn — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 13:34:17 +0000

Hold on for a wormhole between different nerd universes. Steve Horelick, the prolific composer behind the music for Reading Rainbow, meets the classic Buchla 200, meets a new prototype of an official recreation of the Multiple Arbitrary Function Generator (MARF). Also, Star Trek. Let's explain what those things are for those who don't know -- and talk about how you can join a special event live online.

The post Reading Rainbow, the Buchla synth’s “MARF,” and a prototype’s live debut appeared first on CDM Create Digital Music.

Ableton Live 13 hands-on: ARA 2, Drum Synth, new effects, more

Peter Kirn — Tue, 10 Nov 2026 10:50:02 +0000

Ableton Live 13 is now in limited public beta. That includes a lot of what you've asked for, like multi-band Racks, overhauled preset navigation, and ARA 2 support for tools like Melodyne. And it's packed with new goodies: a very Ableton step sequencer, a multi-engine Drum Synth with some nice twists, new effects, a new ambient looper, and more. Also, I know some of you will like this: no mention of AI. It's like we just get to talk about music-making tools again.

The post Ableton Live 13 hands-on: ARA 2, Drum Synth, new effects, more appeared first on CDM Create Digital Music.

Logic Pro 13 gets touch right, but stumbles on “intelligent assistant”

Peter Kirn — Mon, 09 Nov 2026 21:37:56 +0000

Look past Logic Pro 13's new dark Liquid Glass theme and updated browser, and you'll find Apple focused on two core technologies, touch and "intelligence" -- and two very different upgrades.

The post Logic Pro 13 gets touch right, but stumbles on “intelligent assistant” appeared first on CDM Create Digital Music.

There’s a Zelda-friendly ocarina app for FM-1, and you can try it in a browser

Peter Kirn — Fri, 06 Nov 2026 18:12:31 +0000

Now Ocarina of Time meets up with the other big trend of the fall, with OCA, an ocarina app and soundbook for the M-VAVE FM-1. You don't even need an FM-1 to play with it; it runs perfectly in a browser, including on a phone. Developer Charles Vestal gives us a look.

The post There’s a Zelda-friendly ocarina app for FM-1, and you can try it in a browser appeared first on CDM Create Digital Music.

Mods for everyone: inMusic is opening up MPC, more new gear to coders

Peter Kirn — Thu, 05 Nov 2026 21:53:46 +0000

You may have seen Akai tease an “open-source” MPC keyboard running vibe-coded mods. But there’s more coming—a lot more. inMusic, parent of Moog, Akai, Numark, Alesis, Denon, and others, promises that many of its 22 product launches coming in January will be open to modders and developer. That suggests a sweeping change in approach for […]

The post Mods for everyone: inMusic is opening up MPC, more new gear to coders appeared first on CDM Create Digital Music.

Productions gone live, as Jlin joins Third Coast Percussion on “Vernacular”

Peter Kirn — Wed, 04 Nov 2026 15:43:37 +0000

If today is a day to celebrate good things happening in the USA, you better also be listening to the epic collaboration between Jlin and Chicago's Third Coast Percussion. That puts the Gary, Indiana-born Jerrilynn Patton (Jlin) right up alongside Philip Glass and David Longstreth, where frankly, she totally belongs. And it's touring.

The post Productions gone live, as Jlin joins Third Coast Percussion on “Vernacular” appeared first on CDM Create Digital Music.

Mixxx could unlock free and open standalone DJing — but, like, stable

Peter Kirn — Tue, 03 Nov 2026 10:40:45 +0000

Daniel Schürmann of the long-running libre/free DJ software project Mixxx has a compelling proposal for uniting efforts to develop their DJ software on embedded hardware, from emerging cheap "open" hardware to DIY projects. It could mean a chance for openness to have a moment -- while avoiding the chaotic slop of countless separate forks and hacks.

The post Mixxx could unlock free and open standalone DJing — but, like, stable appeared first on CDM Create Digital Music.

The techno originator, Juan Atkins, has died at 64

Peter Kirn — Sun, 01 Nov 2026 22:21:50 +0000

It's a loss that's beyond words. Juan Atkins, who coined the term "techno" and is often called "the originator," has died at 64. My deepest condolences to friends, family, and so many people I know who worked with and were inspired by this singular human being.

The post The techno originator, Juan Atkins, has died at 64 appeared first on CDM Create Digital Music.

sndstation will transform cheap gaming consoles into music handhelds

Peter Kirn — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 16:49:54 +0000

Cheap handheld gaming consoles now often pack surprising processing power. But many risk ending up as e-waste. A new open-source project is turning them into powerful Linux music workstations, instead, complete with the ability to run plug-ins—and original games, too. Oh, and the project has some familiar faces involved. Here's an exclusive first look.

The post sndstation will transform cheap gaming consoles into music handhelds appeared first on CDM Create Digital Music.

Mangle everything: modulated mayhem in circuit-bent Sinevibes Malfunction v3

Peter Kirn — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 10:45:52 +0000

This is why you get intimate with code, line by line. Artemiy at Sinevibes obsessed over details, breaking a filter model by rewiring its internal connections -- and now, with v3, giving it precise modulation in a wide variety of shapes. Now, like kids kicking over a sandcastle, we can take that handiwork and apply it to total, absolute destruction.

The post Mangle everything: modulated mayhem in circuit-bent Sinevibes Malfunction v3 appeared first on CDM Create Digital Music.