Contributors / AI Music & Technology

Theo Nakamura

Theo writes about where music software is heading — generative tools, stem separation, the messy middle where AI meets the DAW. Equal parts producer and skeptic, he covers the AI-music beat without the hype.

AI Music & Technology

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Latest from Theo

Logic Pro for Mac with the new Liquid Glass design showing waveforms and tracks
Software

Logic Pro's New AI Assistant, Browser and Drum Stem Splitter

Logic Pro's November 2026 update adds an AI assistant in beta, a redesigned Browser with on-device sound tagging, and a Stem Splitter that can now isolate individual drum parts.

Theo NakamuraOct 29, 20269 min read
Thenatan VYBZ 2 lofi multi-effect plugin interface with Texture, III Verb, Echo, Damage, Time Machine, Motion and II Band sections
Software

Thenatan VYBZ 2: Seven Lofi Effects in One Window for $10

Thenatan VYBZ 2 puts texture, reverb, echo, drive, era aging, width and EQ in one lofi plugin with 256 presets. $10 at Plugin Boutique to 19 Nov, from $89.

Theo NakamuraOct 28, 20268 min read
Toybox Buzz Zone 3.0 wavetable synthesizer product card
Software

Toybox Buzz Zone 3.0 Adds Six Sequencers in a Free Update

Toybox Buzz Zone 3.0 is a major free update: six piano-roll sequencers, the Utility Strip, new oscillator modulation, Snapshots and tuning systems. From $48.

Theo NakamuraOct 27, 20269 min read
FabFilter Pro-L 2 limiter interface with real-time level display and loudness meters, one of the best mastering plugins of 2026
Mixing & Mastering

Best Mastering Plugins 2026: Ozone 12, Pro-L 2 and More

The best mastering plugins of 2026 compared: Ozone 12, FabFilter Pro-L 2, FASTER MASTER, SSL Bus Compressor 2, Weiss MM-1 and Limit Pro, with current prices.

Theo NakamuraOct 26, 202611 min read
Defuse Audio DYSEKT plugin interface showing a sliced waveform with per-slice stem and effect controls
Software

DYSEKT: Per-Slice Stem Separation in a €45 Sampler

Defuse Audio DYSEKT is a 45 EUR slicer, drum sampler and multisampler with on-device stem separation and effects on every one of its 128 slices.

Theo NakamuraOct 23, 20269 min read
Karanyi Sounds Voicemax vocal tuning plugin with the lead editor piano roll and harmony notes on screen
Mixing & Mastering

Karanyi Voicemax: Real-Time Vocal Tuning With Four Harmonies

Karanyi Sounds Voicemax tunes vocals live, adds four in-key harmonies and edits every note in two piano rolls. €59 launch price, VST3/AU/AAX. Specs and rivals.

Theo NakamuraOct 23, 20268 min read
Tracker Pro 1.1 Granular FX and Ambient Reverb panels on iPad
Software

Tracker Pro for iPad 1.1: Mutable Instruments Beads, Web Sampling and More (2026)

Tracker Pro 1.1 for iPad adds Mutable Instruments Beads granular devices, web sampling with Sample Crate, multi-sample kits and 8 FX per step. On sale, $19.99.

Theo NakamuraOct 23, 20267 min read
Roland Boutique JUPITER-08 synthesizer docked in the included K-25m mini keyboard
Hardware

Roland JUPITER-08 vs n/vision: Which $649 Boutique Synth?

Roland's two new Boutique synths cost $649 each with a K-25m keyboard. JUPITER-08 is the 32-voice Jupiter-8 tribute, n/vision a 56-voice wavetable synth. Which to buy.

Theo NakamuraOct 21, 20269 min read
zplane TONIC 2 interface showing the circular key wheel with three key and scale matches over a waveform
Software

zplane TONIC 2: Reworked Key Detection, New Chord Tools

zplane TONIC 2 detects the key and scale of any audio or MIDI in real time, suggests chords you can drag into your DAW, and upgrades from TONIC 1 for 10 euros.

Theo NakamuraOct 21, 20269 min read
Twisted Electrons FLEXFM groovebox with joystick, LED-ringed knobs, step keys and piezo drum pad
Hardware

Twisted Electrons FLEXFM: 8-Track FM Groovebox for €999

FLEXFM pairs four-operator FM, sampling and an analog filter per voice with a joystick and USB multitrack. Preorder price, specs, Digitone II comparison, FAQ.

Theo NakamuraOct 20, 202611 min read
IK Multimedia ARC Studio+ room correction processor in front of studio monitors and subwoofers
Hardware

IK Multimedia ARC Studio+ Calibrates Rooms Without a Computer

IK Multimedia ARC Studio+ adds standalone calibration, automatic sub alignment and digital I/O to hardware room correction. Specs, prices and how it compares.

Theo NakamuraOct 19, 202611 min read
EVAbeat Melody Sauce 3 plugin interface generating melodies, chords and bass as MIDI inside a DAW
Software

Melody Sauce 3 Generates Melodies, Chords and Bass as MIDI

EVAbeat Melody Sauce 3 is a MIDI idea generator for melodies, chords and bass, with 1,000+ progressions, a piano roll, plugin hosting and audio export. From $79.

Theo NakamuraOct 18, 20268 min read
InstaComposer 4 plugin interface showing multi-track MIDI generation, scenes and the built-in mixer
Software

InstaComposer 4 Rebuilds Its MIDI Engine and Adds a Mixer

InstaComposer 4 from W.A. Production adds MIDI Engine 2.0, Groove and Foliage controls, SoundFont loading and a built-in mixer. Intro price $29.90.

Theo NakamuraOct 17, 20268 min read
Imaginando COLAPSO atomic additive synthesizer plugin interface
Software

COLAPSO: The Additive Synth That Plays the Periodic Table

Imaginando COLAPSO is an additive synthesizer built from the measured emission spectra of 22 chemical elements. Full specs, pricing, and how it compares.

Theo NakamuraOct 15, 20269 min read
BOOM Library UBERBASS plug-in with frequency focus, drive, and gate controls
Software

BOOM Library UBERBASS First Look 2026

BOOM Library UBERBASS is a harmonic bass enhancer. BOOM lists $92 from $115 excluding VAT, and Best Service lists the intro at $94.20 from $118 excluding VAT.

Theo NakamuraOct 14, 20269 min read
Elektron Octatrack MKII, the sampler at the center of the 2026 wave of AI-assisted custom firmware
Hardware

The Custom Firmware Boom: Where Vibe-Coded Gear Goes Next

AI coding agents have set off a wave of custom firmware for Elektron, Roland, Akai and CDJ gear. Here's what's real, what's risky, and where it goes next.

Theo NakamuraOct 13, 202635 min read
IK Multimedia TONEX 2 Player amp and tone modeling software interface
Software

IK Multimedia TONEX 2 Player: Free Amp Modeling, Rebuilt

IK Multimedia TONEX 2 Player is a free amp and tone modeler with a redesigned browser, Smart Search and 60,000-plus free ToneNET captures, for Mac and Windows.

Theo NakamuraOct 13, 20268 min read
UVI Falcon 2027 interface showing the patch editor, oscillator browser, and macro controls
Software

UVI Falcon 2027: Four New Oscillators at $149

UVI Falcon 2027 adds four oscillators, ten effects, and a Data Envelope. The intro price is $149 from $299, and registered owners get the update free.

Theo NakamuraOct 12, 202610 min read
IK Multimedia Sinphonica Maestosa Strings symphonic string section recorded in Milan
Software

IK Sinphonica Maestosa Strings: 60 Players From Milan

IK Multimedia Sinphonica Maestosa Strings is a 60-piece symphonic string library recorded in Milan, with PALCO 3D stage placement. 133 GB, from 399 dollars.

Theo NakamuraOct 11, 202610 min read
Suno Speech beta announcement artwork on a dark background
Software

Suno Speech: Voice and Music Generated as One Track

Suno Speech is a new beta that generates spoken voice and original backing music together as one track. Here is how it works, who it is for and how it compares.

Theo NakamuraOct 8, 20268 min read
Cherry Audio Pentaphonic plugin showing the black Gleeman-style panel and the translucent clear panel
Software

Cherry Audio Pentaphonic: The Gleeman Synth at $59

Cherry Audio Pentaphonic brings the rare 1981 Gleeman hybrid to the DAW for $59, with up to 16 voices, three UI themes, and a polyphonic step sequencer.

Theo NakamuraOct 7, 202613 min read
Audiomodern Riffer 4 plugin interface showing the MIDI riff sequencer and generation controls
Software

Riffer 4 Adds Five Generation Engines to the Riff Sequencer

Audiomodern Riffer 4 rebuilds the smart MIDI sequencer around five generation engines for hooks, basslines and arpeggios. Intro €49 / $55. Specs, pricing and FAQ.

Theo NakamuraOct 4, 20268 min read
Westwood Trinity Strings plugin interface showing the full instrument UI with mic mixes and articulation controls
Software

Inside Westwood Trinity Strings: Bleed and Pitch Drift

Westwood Trinity Strings records three players in octaves as one section, keeping the bleed and pitch drift. Launch price is £47, regular £79. Specs and FAQ.

Theo NakamuraOct 3, 20268 min read
Jun Murakami Synth81Z plugin showing the TX81Z algorithm diagram, four operator panels, and envelope graphs
Software

Jun Murakami Synth81Z: A Measured TX81Z

Jun Murakami Synth81Z is a measured Yamaha TX81Z with Performance mode and a hardware librarian. The intro price is $39, and the regular price is $59.

Theo NakamuraOct 2, 20269 min read