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INTJ Software has introduced AudioBench, a new modular audio laboratory for macOS that’s designed to let anyone build custom audio processing chains in real time.

Users can assemble signal paths, tweak parameters, visualize waveforms and spectra, and hear results instantly — all without writing a line of code.

“AudioBench started as a personal experiment, but quickly became the audio tool I always wished existed,” said INTJ founder Evan Olcott. “It’s not a DAW, it’s not a plugin host — it’s a creative sandbox where you can explore how sound works and build your own audio ideas from the ground up.”

AudioBench uses a visual approach to audio design. Each modul” represents a concept — filters, delays, panners, distortion, modulators, analyzers, oscillators, compressors, meters, and more. Users connect modules into chains, observe the signals flowing through them, and can immediately see and hear how each piece shapes the sound.

Whether designing guitar effects, experimenting with synthesis, demonstrating DSP principles in a classroom, or prototyping algorithms, AudioBench provides a hands-on environment where ideas come to life visibly and audibly.

Features:

• Designed for experimentation, exploration, learning, and rapid DSP prototyping
• Modular signal-flow canvas for assembling audio and control signal chains
• Real-time visualization: waveform scopes, spectrographs, and more
• Deep library of audio and control modules, from fundamentals to advanced DSP building blocks
• Educational Templates that demonstrate concepts like compression, modulation, quantization, stereo imaging, dithering, IIR design, and beyond

“We wanted AudioBench to be both powerful and approachable,” Olcott added. “If you’re a musician, it helps you understand what your pedals and plugins are actually doing. If you’re a DSP student, it gives you a visual lab. If you’re a developer, it’s a playground for ideas.”

AudioBench is available now via the Mac App Store, with an intro price of $79.99. You can learn more at the AudioBench site.

Synthesist Ziv Eliraz – in his latest loopop video – takes an in-depth look at the new Waldorf Protein synthesizer .

The Protein is an inexpensive, compact 8-voice polyphonic wavetable synthesizer, based on the original Microwave 1 ASIC oscillators and combined with modern features of Waldorf’s Iridium heritage.

Topics Covered:

0:00 Intro

2:10 Overview

4:30 Workflow

7:00 Build

7:45 I/O

8:25 Oscillators

11:15 Noise/dirt

12:15 LP/HP filter

13:20 Drive “filter”

15:00 Pan

15:20 Envelopes

17:10 LFOs

18:15 Mod matrix

18:55 Effects

22:20 Arp

23:55 Sequencer

25:10 Multi modes

27:45 Flavor

28:30 Chords

29:05 Scale

29:50 CC map

31:15 Misc

31:35 Pros & cons

34:20 Some sounds

Watch the video and share your thoughts on the Waldorf Protein in the comments!

Native Instruments shared this introduction to Absynth 6 by creator Brian Clevinger.

Native seemed to have killed off Absynth in 2022, and Clevinger shifted his focus to other projects. But he’s been collaborating  behind-the-scenes with NI over the last year on a new version, and Abysnth 6 is the result.

In the video, Clevinger shares his take on the new version, highlights the new presets from Brian Eno, explores the Patch page and more.

Topics covered:

00:00 – Introduction

01:30 – Overview and preset explorer

05:09 – Mutation

06:42 – Brian Eno presets

09:16 – Patch page

11:50 – Envelope page

12:44 – Sound exploration and final thoughts