The hottest Instruments Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Music Topics

Prelude no. 1 in C major---music you should know by name

Disaffected Newsletter • 1099 implied HN points • 22 Jun 24
🎶 Music Instruments
  1. Bach's Prelude no. 1 in C Major is a beautiful and well-known piece of music that many people recognize, even if they don't know its name.
  2. The piece is part of a collection called the Well-Tempered Clavier, which showcases different musical keys and tuning systems.
  3. You can hear similarities between Bach's Prelude and the song 'Don't Cry for Me Argentina', showing how classical music influences modern songs.

Roche Axelios Pricing

ASeq Newsletter • 72 implied HN points • 27 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Instruments
  1. Roche’s Axelios is priced competitively with Illumina — offering $150 per duplex genome and very low simplex read costs — but not so cheap that it will immediately displace Illumina, so adoption will be gradual.
  2. Roche has clear advantages over newer rivals: it’s lower risk, more technically interesting, and cheaper for many counting/simplex applications, so it’s likely to outcompete companies like Ultima and Element.
  3. Reusable chips and low per-run chip costs give Roche room to cut prices or offer big customer discounts later, but high switching costs and Illumina’s entrenched position mean market changes will be slow and uneven.

Illumina Q50, Q70 Reads

ASeq Newsletter • 36 implied HN points • 04 Mar 26
🔬 Science Instruments
  1. Illumina has renamed the Constellation product to TruPath.
  2. Illumina unveiled a new 35B flowcell for the NovaSeq X.
  3. They announced Q70 Duplex reads but didn’t share details, and also highlighted progress in spatial genomics, single‑cell, and proteomics.

Illumina Deliver Q70. Complete Genomics Sold.

ASeq Newsletter • 51 implied HN points • 24 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Instruments
  1. Illumina is targeting Q50 overall read quality by the end of 2027, and some kits will achieve Q70.
  2. They’re releasing much higher-throughput options, including a 5 billion-read flow cell, a 1.5 billion-read 600-cycle kit, and upgrades pushing 10 billion reads to 14 billion (20-hour runs) and 25 billion to 35 billion reads.
  3. Per-run prices will go up while cost per base goes down, and Complete Genomics has been sold.

From "Iron Man" to D’Angelo: A year of music notes

The Rubesletter by Matt Ruby (of Vooza) | Sent every Tuesday • 285 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🎶 Music Instruments
  1. Some rock songs feel eternal—like 'Iron Man,' 'Smoke on the Water,' or 'Seven Nation Army'—they seem dug up rather than written.
  2. Drummers get a playful defense that if you can keep the beat, you can handle multiple partners, so drummers should be allowed to be polyamorous.
  3. Prince's solo on 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' is criticized as showy and self-indulgent, while 'Marquee Moon' by Television is offered as an example of a truly glorious guitar solo.
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Roche SBX Interest High, Workflow Questions

ASeq Newsletter • 21 implied HN points • 03 Mar 26
🕹 Technology Instruments
  1. Interest in Roche’s Axelios sequencer is high and early reactions to AGBT pricing look positive.
  2. If those early responses hold, about 58% of NovaSeq X sales could shift to Axelios, roughly 150 units based on 2025 Illumina numbers.
  3. That level of market shift is probably unrealistic, so real-world impact is uncertain and likely smaller.

Estimating Roche Shipments

ASeq Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 27 Feb 26
💼 Business Instruments
  1. You can bound Roche's first-year instrument shipments by comparing to historical first-year shipments of similar sequencing platforms.
  2. Historical examples vary a lot — from roughly 20 units up to about 500 units in their first year — so Roche could plausibly fall anywhere in that range.
  3. Producing a useful estimate will require more data and clear assumptions about market demand, pricing, and manufacturing capacity.

My 60 Favorite Nonesuch Albums (Part 2 of 3)

The Honest Broker • 3989 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🎶 Music Instruments
  1. Nonesuch Records is a unique label that focuses on nurturing creative work and high-quality music rather than just commercial success.
  2. Ted Gioia shares his favorite Nonesuch albums, showcasing a range of artists and eclectic music genres.
  3. Artists like Emmylou Harris and Lake Street Dive found creative freedom and success after joining Nonesuch Records.

A Tale of Three Guitars

So Here’s a Thing • 1061 implied HN points • 22 Apr 23
🎶 Music Instruments
  1. The author recalls acquiring three guitars over a span of forty years, each holding sentimental value and marking different stages in their life.
  2. The first guitar, bought in Moscow in 1978, was a humbling but cherished possession with flaws yet served as a valuable training ground for the author's musical journey.
  3. The most recent guitar, a Martin 000-15M, was a significant gift from the author's late father, embodying warmth and richness in sound that has enhanced the author's musical experience.

BioFire SpotFire

ASeq Newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 19 Feb 26
🔬 Science Instruments
  1. The SpotFire stood out among sample-to-answer qPCR machines.
  2. It appears to use the same two-stage amplification process as the FilmArray.
  3. It shortens time to result from about 45 minutes to around 15 minutes.

Impedance, part 2: why do LCR meters exist?

lcamtuf’s thing • 1224 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🔬 Science Instruments
  1. Impedance can be divided into resistance, capacitive reactance, and inductive reactance.
  2. Digital multimeters measure resistors, capacitors, and inductors by applying different methods.
  3. LCR meters, despite their limited features, provide valuable insights into impedance through scalar impedance and phase offset measurements.

DNAe Early Access Update

ASeq Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Instruments
  1. Sam Reed from DNAe publicly commented on earlier coverage, and the coverage was updated to reflect those comments.
  2. DNAe's news posts include posters that show an instrument different from the one on the official website, suggesting either a new model or inconsistent imagery.
  3. The full update is behind a paywall, so readers must subscribe or sign in to read the paid content.

The Fazioli Edition

Why is this interesting? • 542 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🎶 Music Instruments
  1. Nick Cave's pandemic-recorded album 'Idiot Prayer' showcases the unique and poignant sound of the Fazioli piano.
  2. Fazioli pianos are luxury instruments crafted in Italy, known for their exceptional tonal range and precision.
  3. Each Fazioli piano takes three years to build, reflecting the brand's commitment to combining physics, technology, and artistry.

A Primer on NGS Technologies and Their Specs (2025)

LatchBio • 22 implied HN points • 10 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Instruments
  1. The sequencing technology landscape is growing rapidly, with many companies and instruments now available. It's becoming easier to measure different aspects of biology, and sequencing is often the final step in many biological workflows.
  2. The cost of sequencing has dropped significantly over the years, reaching under $1,000 for a human genome. This price drop has opened up accessibility for more research and applications.
  3. Modern sequencers are not just for DNA anymore; they are integrating multiple modalities, such as protein detection and spatial analysis. This makes them powerful tools for understanding complex biological systems.

Nanostring Vendors

ASeq Newsletter • 51 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
💼 Business Instruments
  1. The post discusses Nanostring creditors identified in bankruptcy proceedings, indicating a Google document with detailed creditor breakdowns and mentions suppliers of 'Compelling presentations for litigation'.
  2. The focus of interest lies in the technical components used in Nanostring instruments, narrowing down the list significantly.
  3. Access to the full post is restricted to paid subscribers.

Rationalizing The Illumina Instrument Lineup

ASeq Newsletter • 51 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Instruments
  1. Illumina has a variety of sequencing instruments in their lineup, which includes different models and variations.
  2. The cost of production for these instruments varies based on the technology and components used.
  3. Rationalizing the Illumina instrument lineup could involve withdrawing some current models and introducing new, more cost-effective options.

Another Nanopore: PolySeq

ASeq Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 16 Feb 25
🔬 Science Instruments
  1. PolySeq is creating a new DNA/RNA sequencing tool similar to the Oxford Nanopore. It aims to improve how we sequence genetic materials.
  2. The device weighs 1.5 kilograms and can handle 2560 wells or pores. This design helps it generate a lot of data in a short time.
  3. PolySeq plans to produce 15 to 20 gigabytes of data in just 48 hours, making sequencing faster and more efficient.

The PacBio Vega - More Tech Details

ASeq Newsletter • 21 implied HN points • 07 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Instruments
  1. The PacBio Vega is designed for small labs and minimizes downtime between runs. Users can load new samples while a run is ongoing, making it efficient.
  2. The technology in the Vega seems to be similar to the Revio but aims to reduce costs, likely making high-quality sequencing more accessible to small research centers.
  3. There's curiosity about how PacBio has managed to incorporate advanced computing power into a compact design, which is crucial for producing quality data without needing expensive equipment.

Zakir

Get Down and Shruti • 14 implied HN points • 27 Dec 24
🎶 Music Instruments
  1. Zakir Hussain was a master tabla player known for blending various music styles. He mixed Hindustani classical music with other genres like jazz and rock, creating a unique sound.
  2. His upbringing was unique because he received support from his family, including his mother and wife, to explore different musical paths. This openness allowed him to learn from diverse musical backgrounds and artists.
  3. Zakir's concerts were not just performances; they were experiences. He had a special way of connecting with audiences, making them feel engaged, whether he was playing solo or with other musicians.