WORLD OF MUSIC ; PORTABLE KEYBOARD

Author Archive

Novation Launch Control XL 3 Update Adds Deeper Customization, Expanded DAW Support + More

3 Feb, 2026 No Comment

Launch Control XL’s first major firmware update is now available.

Novation has released an update for the Launch Control XL 3 control surface, adding deeper customization, support for more DAWs and more.

New in Launch Control XL 3 v1.1:

Mackie HUI support: Launch Control XL 3 now supports additional DAWs — including Pro Tools, Reaper, and Studio One — right out the box.
Expanded MIDI routing: With flexible USB-to-DIN MIDI passthrough, it’s now easy to configure hybrid setups with merged control data and channel filtering.
Encoder acceleration curves: Adjust how the encoders respond for more precise, expressive control.
Fader pickup: Smooth out transitions to prevent disruptive changes while mixing or performing.
Fader preview: Press Shift and move any fader to see the parameter value without altering it.
Faster Custom Mode selection: Just hold down the Mode button, select a Custom Mode, and release it to get back to your flow.

Launch Control XL 3 v1.1 is available now as a free update.

Free Audio Effects For Real-time Performance & Sound Design, Tape Fiasco

3 Feb, 2026 No Comment

Developer Jonas Eriksson has introduced Tape Fiasco – one of the most creative audio effect plugin.

Tape Fiasco combines together three time-based effects in a single plugin: a granular time-stretcher, a glitchy, rhythmic stutter effect and a tape-style varispeed function. Each of these modules can be used independently or chained up with the others via configurable signal routing. It is designed for real-time performance and sound design, offering tempo-synced operation, envelope follower modulation, and extensive parameter control for each effect section.

It’s Stretch effect records incoming audio into a buffer and plays it back using overlapping grains, offering control over playback speed, grain size, pitch, tempo and stereo spread, with options for randomization and reversing, so there’s a whole lot of flexibility here for creating granular soundscapes.

Tape Fiasco’s tempo-synced Stutter module captures slices of audio and repeats them rhythmically – it’s a classic effect that you’ll have heard before in glitch and IDM, but there’s a huge amount of control available over timing, pitch and dynamics, along with rhythmic and probability-based variation. There’s also a multimode filter built into the Stutter module with with formant and comb modes alongside the conventional resonant low- and high-pass.

Lastly we have the Varispeed effect, which simulates the sound of a tape machine varying in playback speed. Once again, there’s a lot more versatility on offer here than you might expect: tape-modelled wow/flutter, a DJ-style scratch effect, two flavours of distortion and a compressor thrown in for good measure.

All of that adds up to a powerful effects processor that can be utilized across multiple contexts, whether you’re adventuring into experimental sound design or just looking for a way to add a little sonic flavour to a vocal line or guitar riff.

Tape Fiasco is available in VST3/AU formats for macOS and VST3 for Windows, but it’s only been tested on Ableton Live 12.2 with macOS Sequoia 15.1.

Head over to Jonas Eriksson website to download Tape Fiasco.

Wee Noisemakers PGB-1 Is ‘The Ultimate Pocket Synth’?

3 Feb, 2026 No Comment

Synthesist Floyd Steinberg shared this overview and demo of the Wee Noisemakers PGB-1, a credit card sized groovebox that pushes the envelope on what’s possible with tiny ‘noisemakers’.

With 16 tracks, 16 patterns, and a song editor, the PGB-1 lets you create music not only with the internal synths and samplers, but also with external MIDI gear.

Topics covered: