Hello producers, welcome to Push and Groove. We bring you a daily selection of the latest music production, synth, plugin, and studio gear news from around the world.
August 17, 2026 — Latest News
Ghost In Translation Drone brings a four-voice drone engine to Eurorack
The new Ghost In Translation Drone module gives Eurorack users a dedicated four-voice drone synthesizer with multiple algorithms per voice. It is built for sustained textures, noise beds, and experimental sound design without requiring a large patch of general-purpose modules.
Ultimate Patches releases new sounds for the Behringer JN-80
Ultimate Patches has introduced two new sound volumes for the Behringer JN-80, the analog Roland Juno-60 clone. JN-80 owners get ready-made patches that can speed up writing sessions and highlight the synth’s core character without heavy manual programming.
Audio Assault offers Carntens Greys amp sim free for a limited time
Audio Assault is giving away Carntens Greys, a premium guitar amp module for the Amp Locker platform. Producers already using Amp Locker can load it for free and add a different amp flavor for guitars, bass, or re-amping in sound design work.
Alonso Sound offers 19 Year Anniversary Pack free until August 31
Alonso Sound is offering its 19 Year Anniversary Pack as a free download until August 31. The pack includes 128 presets for u-he Diva, Serum 2, Spire, and Sylenth1, covering leads, basses, plucks, pads, acid-style lines, sequences, and arps for several popular synth platforms.
Today’s updates span Eurorack hardware and software instruments, with several limited-time offers worth checking before deadlines pass. It is a good moment to expand a drone palette, refresh JN-80 patches, or grab extra amp and synth sounds without stretching the studio budget.
August 16, 2026 — Latest News
Okina Audio Takumi EQ: Free EQ and Multiband Saturator
Okina Audio has released Takumi EQ, a free plugin that combines a Pultec-style equalizer with an optional multiband saturation stage. It also includes dynamic EQ behavior, making it useful for both gentle tone shaping and more colored processing.
This matters for producers who want analog-style EQ curves without adding another paid plugin. The hybrid design works well for adding presence to vocals, weight to bass, or subtle harmonic excitement across a mix bus.
FX-Mechanics Mango: Free Modular Glitch Effect
FX-Mechanics has introduced Mango, a free and open-source modular glitch effect for macOS, Windows, and Linux. It brings to mind classic multi-effects like illformed Glitch, letting users combine buffers, stutters, and rhythmic modulations in a flexible modular flow.
For beatmakers and electronic musicians, Mango offers a no-cost way to add controlled chaos, fills, and movement to drums, synths, or full loops. Its open-source nature also makes it appealing for experimental sound design and custom workflows.
Audio Damage AD-202: MC-202 Synth Emulation
Audio Damage has announced AD-202, an emulation of the Roland MC-202 synthesizer for desktop platforms and iOS. The MC-202 sits somewhere between the SH-101 and TB-303, known for its compact sequencer and distinctive analog voice.
This release matters for synth users and live performers who want that characterful hybrid tone in software form. Having desktop and iOS versions means patches and sequences can move between studio and mobile setups more easily.
Today’s updates lean toward free tools and accessible synth emulation. Whether you need a flexible EQ with saturation, a modular glitch playground, or an MC-202-style voice, there is something here for the next session.
August 15, 2026 — Latest News
Roland TR-808 Gets Open-Source Firmware Update After 46 Years
The original TR-808 remains a studio staple, but its stock firmware has stayed largely untouched for decades. A new open-source firmware project adds modern sequencing tools including ratcheting and probability, giving the classic machine new creative possibilities without replacing its iconic character. For beatmakers who still use the hardware, this means the physical 808 can now fit more naturally into contemporary production workflows.
Beatport Bans AI-Generated Music
Beatport has drawn a clear line between AI-assisted tools and fully AI-generated tracks. The store says it will ban music created entirely by AI while continuing to allow tools that support human creativity. For electronic musicians who distribute through Beatport, this may influence how AI workflows are used in releases and reinforces the value placed on human creative input.
AlphaTheta Flags Security Vulnerability in Rekordbox PRO DJ LINK
AlphaTheta is warning that a vulnerability in Rekordbox PRO DJ LINK could potentially expose data stored on connected computers, USB drives, and SD cards. DJs and live performers using Pioneer DJ or AlphaTheta hardware with Rekordbox should check for software updates and review their setup before playing out. It is a useful reminder that performance systems need the same security attention as studio machines.
Dusk Audio Tape Echo 2 Brings Free Space Echo Emulation to Desktop
Dusk Audio Tape Echo 2 is a free, open-source emulation of the Roland Space Echo, with modeled tape transport, record and playback chains, tape aging, and spring reverb. It runs on macOS, Linux, and Windows. Space echo textures are central to dub, ambient, and many electronic styles, and this release makes a classic character more accessible without adding cost.
Third-Party Integra-7 Editor Offers Native Control for Roland’s Rack Synth
Roland’s Integra-7 remains a deep rack synth with a huge sound set, but hardware menu diving can slow down sessions. A new native third-party editor provides direct MIDI and SysEx control across platforms, making it easier to edit sounds and integrate the module into a modern DAW setup. For owners of this rack unit, that could mean a faster and more immediate workflow.
Sample Dicer Turns One-Shots into Layered Variations
Sample Dicer is a free four-layer one-shot sampler for macOS and Windows. It turns raw audio into playable variations by letting you stack up to four layers and trigger them in more dynamic ways than a single static sample. This is useful for sound design and beatmaking when you want more movement or controlled variation from your own sample libraries.
Tuva 1.5 Adds DAW Project Playback and Preview Tools
Tuva 1.5 adds audio and MIDI playback directly inside DAW project previews, building on its sample manager and AI tagging features. The update makes it easier to hear how samples and projects will work before committing to a full import. Producers with large libraries may find it helpful for staying organized and moving faster between ideas.
From free tape echo and sampler tools to a long-awaited TR-808 firmware update, today’s news points to more creative options and more careful digital hygiene for producers and performers. The return of classic hardware control and the growing pushback against fully AI-generated music also highlight a clear interest in keeping human choices at the center of electronic music production.
August 14, 2026 — Latest News
Morphoice WingMen brings Roland-style chorus to your DAW for free
Morphoice has released WingMen, a free chorus effect for macOS, Windows, and Linux. The plugin collects eight modes inspired by classic Roland hardware, pulling the kind of wide, animated modulation that works especially well on synths, keys, bass, and pads.
For producers who want instant width and movement without reaching for a full synth emulation, WingMen offers a focused way to add that character to any track.
Dawesome Abyss II adds a deeper engine and MPE to soundscape synthesis
Dawesome is preparing a major upgrade to Abyss, its colorful soundscape synthesizer. The new version adds a more detailed synthesis engine and MPE support, opening up more expressive control for evolving textures, drones, and cinematic sound design.
This matters for ambient producers and sound designers who want deeper programming without losing the immediate character of the original instrument.
Immanent Audio IA De-Esser takes a modular approach to taming harshness
Immanent Audio has released IA De-Esser, a free de-essing and resonance suppression plugin for macOS and Windows. Instead of a single detector, it offers four filter slots that can each operate in automatic de-ess or manual resonance suppression mode.
This design is useful for cleaning up vocal sibilance, taming harsh resonances on acoustic instruments, or smoothing out brittle high frequencies in a mix without complicated routing.
Spectdrum turns any sound into a rhythmic spectral pulse
HD Instruments has introduced Spectdrum, a rhythmic spectral gate plugin for macOS and Windows. It analyzes incoming audio, splits it into four frequency bands, and reshapes those bands into a pulsing groove built entirely from the source material.
The plugin is not a drum machine. It works more like a creative spectral processor, making it easy to turn loops, pads, or textures into rhythmic elements inside a DAW without layering samples.
gesture.live turns a webcam into a hands-on performance instrument
Robin van Soelen has released gesture.live, a free browser-based instrument that converts webcam hand gestures into performance control. There is no plugin or installer; you open the site, allow camera access, and move both hands in front of the webcam to play and shape sound.
For live performers and experimental musicians, this offers an accessible way to explore gestural control without dedicated hardware or complex MIDI mapping.
Pittsburgh Modular Lifeforms SV-2 gets an in-depth review
Synthtopia has published a detailed review of the Pittsburgh Modular Lifeforms SV-2. The review highlights the semi-modular analog subtractive synth as a strong instrument with a broad range of tonal flavors, and notes that it plays to the manufacturer’s strengths.
For hardware synth users, the SV-2’s semi-modular design and analog character make it worth considering for hands-on sound shaping and patch experimentation.
Today’s roundup spans free mixing utilities, creative spectral tools, expressive software instruments, and analog hardware. Whether you are tightening vocals, widening synths, building rhythmic textures from found sound, or exploring new performance gestures, there is something here to try without disrupting your current workflow.
August 13, 2026 — Latest News
Native Instruments restructures as inMusic closes UK office
Native Instruments has closed its UK office and replaced the CEO and CTO with new leadership from parent company inMusic. The change follows earlier reports of significant layoffs at the brand.
For producers invested in Kontakt, Maschine, Komplete, Reaktor, and the broader NI ecosystem, this restructure could affect product direction, support, and the pace of future updates. It is worth watching how the new leadership handles ongoing hardware and software commitments.
Roland and Jason Dasent publish V-STAGE accessibility guide
Roland and accessibility consultant Jason Dasent have created a detailed guide to every control, jack, and function on the V-STAGE performance keyboard. Dasent, a blind musician and producer, worked with the Roland Future Design Lab to make the instrument easier to navigate.
This is a meaningful step for accessible music technology and a useful reference for any V-STAGE owner who wants clearer documentation of the physical layout and workflow. It also sets a strong example for other hardware and software makers.
Dusk Audio Tape Echo 2 is a free Space Echo-style delay
Dusk Audio has released Tape Echo 2, a free three-head tape delay and spring reverb plugin for macOS, Windows, and Linux. The design follows the classic multi-head tape echo workflow, with the added texture of spring reverb.
This is an easy way to add dub-style movement and smeared repeats to synths, vocals, drums, or entire mixes without spending anything. The cross-platform support also makes it a practical pick for studios using different operating systems.
NoirSonance Decompressor adds free upward dynamics processing
NoirSonance has introduced Decompressor, a free or pay-what-you-want upward dynamics plugin for macOS and Windows. The tool is designed to bring quieter details up rather than simply controlling peaks.
Upward compression can be useful for adding sustain, room tone, or perceived loudness to drums, loops, and full mixes without smashing transients in the same way as a standard downward compressor. It is a useful addition to a mixing toolkit, especially at no cost.
quietformat SURVIVE is a free clipper for shaping transients
quietformat has released SURVIVE, a free clipping processor for macOS and Windows. You need to sign up for the developer’s newsletter to download it, but the plugin itself is free.
Clippers have become an essential part of modern loudness workflows, especially for drums and bass-heavy electronic music. SURVIVE gives producers another way to tame peaks and add harmonic edge before limiting, without paying for a commercial clipper.
I AM CHOIR turns vocal performances into lyric-aware choir parts
AM I AUDIO has released I AM CHOIR, an instrument that transforms a vocal performance into a choir while following the original lyrics, melody, phrasing, and timing. It is not just a static choir pad or a simple doubling effect.
This kind of timbre-transfer tool can be inspiring for producers who want layered vocal textures without arranging full choir parts. It could be useful for electronic, pop, and cinematic productions where realistic or hybrid vocal ensembles are needed quickly.
Rubato Audio Plaits Palette builds custom Plaits oscillators in the browser
Rubato Audio Plaits Palette is a free browser tool for creating custom firmware versions of the Mutable Instruments Plaits macro oscillator. You can select the synthesis models and controls you want, then generate a custom build without deep coding knowledge.
Plaits is one of the most widely used Eurorack oscillators, and this tool makes it easier to tailor the module to a specific live set or production workflow. It is a great example of how browser-based utilities can simplify hardware customization.
Today’s roundup leans into free and flexible tools for producers, from tape echo and dynamics processing to vocal transformation and custom oscillator firmware. The Native Instruments restructure is a reminder that even major ecosystems can shift quickly, so it is a good time to take stock of your software and hardware dependencies.
August 12, 2026 — Latest News
SuperOS-808 Brings Open-Source Firmware to the TR-808
An open-source firmware project called SuperOS-808 is breathing new life into Roland’s legendary TR-808 drum machine. Born in Michigan, where the 808 first collided with techno, this community-driven effort expands the machine’s feature set far beyond its original specifications. The project joins existing open-source firmware offerings for the TR-606 and TR-303, creating a growing ecosystem of community-supported upgrades for classic Roland gear.
For producers and beatmakers still relying on original hardware, this means extended sequencing capabilities, new sound-shaping options, and a path to keep ageing machines musically relevant without sacrificing their analog soul. A separate Tubbutec hardware mod is also in the works for those wanting deeper physical modifications.
Pittsburgh Modular Lifeforms SV-2 Semi-Modular Synth Ships Now
Pittsburgh Modular has officially released the Lifeforms SV-2, a significant evolution of its semi-modular synthesizer design. The instrument packs expanded oscillator and filter options alongside multiple overdrive stages, giving sound designers more harmonic territory to explore right from the panel. True to the Lifeforms lineage, the SV-2 remains expandable via external modules, making it equally suited as a standalone voice or the heart of a larger Eurorack system.
Synth users who value hands-on patching will appreciate the added drive stages for thickening basslines, warming up leads, or pushing percussive patches into saturated territory before they even hit external processing.
Bjango Buckets And Decay: BBD and PT2399 Delay Plugin Plus Giveaway
Bjango has released Buckets And Decay, a dedicated delay plugin modelling both bucket-brigade device and PT2399 chip architectures for macOS and Windows. Beyond standard echo duties, the plugin covers chorus, flanger, and vibrato textures, all rooted in the gritty, warm imperfections of analog and early-digital delay lines. The regular price sits at $49, but BPB readers can enter a giveaway for one of five free licenses.
For producers mixing in the box, having BBD and PT2399 flavours in a single interface saves plugin juggling when dialling in lo-fi repeats, tape-adjacent modulation, or dub-style feedback washes.
Picking Fingers: Free Plugin Transforms Bass Pick and Finger Tone
Box of Rules has introduced Picking Fingers, a free bass guitar processing plugin available for macOS, Windows, and Linux. The concept is refreshingly direct: feed it a fingerstyle bass recording and the plugin reshapes the transient and tonal character to sound picked, or vice versa. Rather than relying on EQ presets, the processing targets the specific attack and sustain differences between the two playing techniques.
This is a practical timesaver for producers who track bass one way but need the opposite articulation in the mix, or for sound designers wanting to re-amp DI bass parts without re-recording. Cross-platform support and a zero-dollar price tag make it an easy addition to any bass processing chain.
GroovEmu Turns REAPER into a Live Arranger Workstation
SlapAsSound has released GroovEmu Arranger, a free Windows system that transforms REAPER into a live performance arranger. Built by Estonian developer Marko Karja, the tool lets producers trigger and rearrange song sections on the fly, effectively turning the DAW into a clip-launching environment reminiscent of dedicated performance hardware. The presentation may carry a dose of humour, but the underlying functionality is genuinely useful for anyone performing original material live with a laptop.
REAPER users looking to break out of linear timeline workflows for live sets or improvisational studio sessions gain a flexible arranger without switching to a separate performance-oriented DAW.
Audio Spices Offers Three Free Plugins Exclusively for BPB Readers
Audio Spices is giving away 10,000 perpetual license bundles containing Salt, Chili, and Basil, three full audio processing plugins that normally sell for $59 each. The bundle carries a combined value of $177 and includes no time-limited trials or feature-restricted demos. The giveaway is exclusive to BPB readers and represents one of the more substantial free plugin offers circulating this month.
For producers building out a plugin collection without stretching the budget, perpetual licenses mean these tools stay available for future projects without subscription obligations or expiry dates.
Today’s roundup reflects a gear landscape where classic hardware keeps evolving through community code, new analog designs push semi-modular flexibility further, and an ever-growing pool of free and giveaway plugins lowers the barrier to professional processing. Whether you are modding an 808, patching a new semi-modular voice, or stacking fresh delay and bass-shaping tools in your DAW, there is something practical to take into your next session.
August 11, 2026 — Latest News
SSL Native X-Saturator Drops to $10 — Today Only
Plugin Boutique is offering SSL Native X-Saturator for just $10, a steep cut from its usual $49 price, but the deal ends on August 10th. This analog-style saturation plugin brings the character of vintage SSL consoles into your DAW, adding harmonic richness and warmth to individual tracks or full mixes without sacrificing clarity.
For producers and mix engineers who want that classic console tone without overspending, this is one of the sharper single-plugin deals of the month. The purchase also qualifies for a free gift from Plugin Boutique, with options that include Baby Audio TAIP and Melodyne 5 Essential among others. If you have been waiting to add genuine SSL flavour to your processing chain, today is the day.
Carve Audio Puts a Mixing Reference Inside Your DAW
Carve Audio has released Mixing Cheat Sheet, a free plugin that loads directly into your session and helps you connect common mixing terminology with what those frequency ranges actually sound like. Rather than another static PDF chart, this tool lives inside your DAW where you need it most.
For anyone still training their ears or mentoring newer producers, having an interactive frequency reference that sits right in the insert chain is genuinely useful. It bridges the gap between reading about mixing concepts and hearing them in context, which can speed up the learning curve considerably.
AlphaTheta Warns of Critical Security Vulnerability in CDJs and Rekordbox
AlphaTheta has disclosed a significant security vulnerability affecting numerous CDJ and XDJ models, along with all versions of Rekordbox across macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS. The issue matters most for units connected to a network, and the company is urging users to patch their software immediately.
This is a wake-up call for club owners, touring DJs, and anyone who leaves their gear connected to the internet. A compromised player could disrupt a set or expose your library, so updating now is essential rather than optional. Check AlphaTheta’s official channels for the full list of affected hardware and the corresponding firmware updates.
SuperOS-808 Brings Open-Source Firmware to the Roland TR-808
A new open-source firmware called SuperOS-808 has arrived for the Roland TR-808, designed to work with the Michigan Synth Works Vox DEI alternative CPU. The project follows tubbutec’s TR-8oh8 CPU upgrade and aims to extend the iconic drum machine’s capabilities with modern features like expanded MIDI support.
For 808 owners looking to breathe new life into ageing hardware without losing the original character, open-source firmware opens up possibilities that Roland never imagined in 1980. It is a reminder that the 808 remains a living platform, not just a museum piece.
discoDSP OPL 3.0 Adds YMF262 Chip Emulation
discoDSP has pushed out version 3.0 of OPL, its FM synthesizer plugin for desktop and iOS that originally emulated the Yamaha YM3812 sound chip found in classic Sound Blaster cards. The major update adds YMF262 chip emulation, expanding the palette with the thicker, more harmonically complex tone of later OPL3-based hardware.
For sound designers and producers who love the gritty, lo-fi charm of early FM synthesis, this update delivers a deeper toolkit without leaving the accessible workflow that made the original plugin popular. It runs on desktop and iOS, making it a portable option for sketching ideas or performing.
Leigh Pierce Drops Two Free Circuit-Modeled Bass Pedal Plugins
Developer Leigh Pierce has released two free bass-focused pedal plugins for macOS, Windows, and Linux, continuing a series of circuit-modeled guitar and bass effects. The NoAmp Low Rider DI recreates a classic bass direct-injection box, while the Obsidian B7000 delivers rich bass overdrive inspired by a well-known preamp pedal.
These are practical tools for producers who track bass through an audio interface and want amp-like colour without committing to hardware. The circuit-level modelling approach means you get responsive gain staging and tone-shaping that reacts dynamically, which is exactly what you need when mixing bass-heavy material.
From a must-grab SSL deal expiring today to open-source firmware for a 45-year-old drum machine, today’s news reflects how much the producer’s toolkit keeps expanding in every direction. Patch your CDJs, grab the saturation plugin while it is cheap, and maybe explore what an 808 can do with fresh code under the hood.
