Xilentech releases XMLimiter V2, a FREE transparent Limiter Plugin
Xilentech has released XMLimiter V2, a free transparent peak limiter plugin for macOS and Windows. XMLimiter V2 is a clean and simple mastering tool developed by an industry professional who previously worked as an audio engineer for Netflix, Blizzard, and Ubisoft. It appears that he’s now transitioning into plugin development, and I’m excited to see [...]
View post: Xilentech releases XMLimiter V2, a FREE transparent Limiter Plugin

Warm Audio WA76-A and WA76-D2 review: The most versatile ‘76-style compressors ever?Single-channel models: $699 / € 749 / £629
Dual-channel models: $1199 / €1299 / £1159
warmaudio.com
Warm Audio’s WA76 compressor/limiter has been performing stellar dynamic control duties in studios worldwide since its launch way back in the before-times of 2014. Indeed, your MusicTech correspondent here was one of the first to sing its praises; so much so, I bought a pair of them.

READ MORE: Are KIT Plugins’ BB F66 and F67 convincing emulations of classic Fairchild compressors?

Now, WA head honcho Bryce Young and his team have expanded the range to include four new models. Two of them are inspired by traditional mono 1176s, while the other two have two channels. Of course, all of the WA76s are based upon the classic Urei 1176, launched in 1967 and revised several times throughout the 1970s and beyond.
The WA76-A (mono) and A2 (stereo) emulate the sound and style of the original ‘67 ‘Blue Stripe’ model, while the WA76-D and D2 mimic the ‘Blackface’ Rev D version from the early 70s. As the mono and stereo units of each model share the same sonic signature, I asked to check out the single-channel WA76-A and the dual-channel WA76-D2.
WA76-A. Image: Press
Both models are referred to as a Limiting Amplifier on the facia; however, the ‘Blue Stripe’ A model is described as a vintage-voiced discrete FET compressor, while Rev D is a clean gain discrete compressor.
In practice, this means A models offer the more obviously coloured, harmoniously saturated and aggressive performance of the original late 60s units. It’s a gloriously vintage vibe that seems to beef up audio processed through it, much like the early solid-state consoles of the era.
By contrast, D revisions sound cleaner, more transparent and, significantly, operate with less self-noise. It’s those attributes that made original Rev D units so revered from the mid-70s onwards, yet with modern ultra-clean recording mediums, the more characterful Blue Stripes are enjoying a resurgence in popularity.
WA76-D2. Image: Press
Internally, each model has ‘built-to-vintage-spec’ input and output transformers from CineMag, with the Blackface models incorporating a lower-noise preamp stage.
For those unfamiliar with the classic mono 1176 design, these latest single-channel incarnations feature all the dynamic control of historic units, while incorporating extra features to facilitate modern recording practice. As ever, there are rotary controls for Input and Output as well as Attack and Release. Four push buttons allow the selection of compression ratios (4:1, 8:1, 12:1 and 20:1) and of course, the famous ‘all buttons in’ mode that engineers love for a smashed drum sound, for example. New to these units are selectable 10 kΩ input impedance, to better match for modern interfaces, a variable sidechain high-pass filter that operates between 30-300 Hz and a Wet/Dry mix control, which is particularly useful for parallel compression when using heavier compression.
A large back-lit VU meter shows either gain reduction or output level (+8 dB or +4 dB), while around the back, Input and Output can be used with either XLR or balanced jack cables. Stereo Link sockets and External Sidechain Access (for the single-channel units only) are also located there.
Dual-channel versions manage to squeeze two channels into the same-sized 2U chassis as the mono models, so if space saving is important, this is a great cost-effective way to get stereo 1176 dynamic control without using up double the rack space required for a linked mono pair.
WA76-A. Image: Press
There are three ways these two-channel models can be configured, two of them for stereo use and the third for dual-mono use on two separate sources. As there are no external side-chaining options available on these models, the way the compressor works with stereo or dual-mono signals is controlled by a toggle switch on the front panel. In standard stereo mode, the compressor reacts as you would expect, providing even compression determined by the fastest attack and slowest release settings. With the A>AB mode engaged, the left channel also controls the response times of the right channel.
A/B mode is for dual mono processing, however as there is only one set of ratio controls on the unit, you can’t select different compression ratios for each mono source, although you can of course set the response times to suit the separate input signals as well as independently adjust the input and output levels.
Used on a variety of mono and stereo signals, each model works to its own strengths. Although the Blue Stripe is a little noisier in operation, it does impart a real, classic analogue sound, thickening things up and adding unique sonic colour even with little (or no) compression taking place. Dialling up the input gain injects a lovely touch of saturation that mimics that slightly overdriven sound often heard on recordings from the late 60s. For tracking electric guitars, bass and hard-edged vocals, Bluey is hard to beat if you want hot, gritty glue. It’s also brilliant at breathing life into digital synth sounds that might otherwise appear flat and sterile.
WA76-D2. Image: Press
On the other hand, Rev D is more transparent, but without losing any of the grippy compression characteristics I love about ‘76 type units. It does add a noticeable degree of analogue thickening to audio and, if you drive the unit hard with high input levels, welcome harmonic distortion provides a larger-than-life sound.
Used on a stereo drum bus, the sound pumps rhythmically, with little self-noise even at extreme compression levels. Here, the Wet/Dry control comes into its own, allowing for a continuously variable blend so that you can precisely achieve the right amount of parallel compression without the need to set up additional channels. This is a wonderful feature not available on vintage units.

Both the WA76-A and WA76-D (mono or dual-channel) exhibit the classic compression characteristics we all love about this type of unit. The many available response times that can be dialled in makes them fantastic dynamic controllers that can handle any audio signal with ease.
If you’re after an unmistakable vintage sound with bags of character and don’t mind a touch of extraneous noise, the Blue Stripe ‘A’ models are the ones to seek out. For a cleaner, less coloured and slightly more ‘hi-fi’ sound that still possesses that authentic ‘76 style from the mid-1970s, the Rev D models are hard to beat.
Warm Audio’s superb build quality and value for money is a given these days, so the additional flexibility of switchable impedance, high-pass filter and the Wet/Dry control makes either version a must-hear audition choice if you’re in the market for a classic 1176-style compressor.

Key features

Analogue, discrete FET design
100% wet/dry control
Impedance switch (600 kΩ or 10 kΩ)
30 Hz – 300 Hz high-pass filter
Active bypass
2 stereo linking jacks (mono unit only)
External sidechain input and output (mono unit only)

The post Warm Audio WA76-A and WA76-D2 review: The most versatile ‘76-style compressors ever? appeared first on MusicTech.

Labor Department rescinds Biden-era guidance for crypto in 401(k) plansThe US Labor Department has officially rescinded guidance issued during the Biden administration that limited the inclusion of cryptocurrency in 401(k) retirement plans.On May 28, the Labor Department revoked a 2022 guidance that had urged fiduciaries to be “extremely cautious” when considering cryptocurrency for 401(k) retirement plans. The move could give asset managers more flexibility to include digital assets in retirement investment options.The government agency removed the guidance asserting that it represented a departure from the department’s “historically neutral, principled-based approach to fiduciary investment decisions.”“We’re rolling back this overreach and making it clear that investment decisions should be made by fiduciaries, not D.C. bureaucrats,” said US Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. The Labor Department under Biden criticized the practice of marketing cryptocurrencies to 401(k) participants. At the time, the agency claimed cryptocurrencies posed “significant risks and challenges” to participants’ retirement accounts due to their “speculative and volatile” nature and “valuation concerns,” among other reasons.The American Banking Association (ABA) criticized the 2022 compliance release, claiming that it did not make the guidance available for public comment and review prior to issuance.Related: Fidelity introduces retirement accounts with minimal-fee crypto investingTrump administration shifts crypto landscapePresident Trump has pledged to make the United States “the world capital of crypto” during his 2024 campaign.Under his administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission has scaled back several enforcement actions and investigations involving Web3 companies such as Uniswap, Coinbase, and Kraken, while also engaging in policy discussions on topics like real-world asset tokenization and the regulatory status of certain tokens. At the same time, some lawmakers have expressed concerns about Trump’s involvement in the crypto space, including calls for greater scrutiny of his associated ventures.Magazine: Trump’s crypto ventures raise conflict of interest, insider trading questions

Security startup Horizon3.ai is raising $100M in new roundHorizon3.ai, a cybersecurity startup that provides tools like autonomous penetration testing, is seeking to raise $100 million in a new funding round and has locked down at least $73 million, the company revealed in an SEC filing this week. NEA led the round, according to two people familiar with the deal. One person said that […]

Equi=Tech introduce the Model 1R Symmetrical power technology pioneers Equi=Tech have announced the launch of their latest balanced power system, as well as a new partnership with pro-audio sales, marketing and distribution company Sound Vision Works. 

How to mix music: An in-depth guide to audio mixing
Learn how to mix music with this beginner-friendly guide covering the essential steps, tools, and techniques.

SK Sharma joins PE giant Warburg Pincus as Senior Advisor, focused on investment opportunities in Generative AIWarburg Pincus LLC has more than $87 billion in assets under management
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From Burnt to Brilliant: A Toaster’s MakeoverAppliances fail, but that doesn’t mean it’s the end for them. This impressive hack from [solopilot] shows the results possible when not just fixing but also improving upon its original form. The toaster’s failed function selector switch presented an opportunity to add smart features to the function selection and refine control over its various settings.
Before upgrading the toaster, [solopilot] first had to access its components, which is no trivial task with many modern appliances. Photos document his process of diving into the toaster, exposing all the internals to enable the upgrade. Once everything was accessible, some reverse engineering was required to understand how the failed function selector controlled the half-dozen devices it was wired to.
Next came the plan for the upgrades—a long list that included precise temperature control and the ability to send an SMS showing the state of your meal. A Raspberry Pi Zero, a solid-state relay, a relay control board, and a thermocouple were added to the toaster, unlocking far more capability and control than it had originally. Some tuning is required to fully enable these new features and to dial in the precision this once run-of-the-mill toaster is now capable of.
The work wasn’t limited to the toaster itself. [solopilot] also seized the opportunity to create an Android app with speech recognition to control his now one-of-a-kind Cuisinart. It’s probably safe to say his TOA-60 is currently the smartest toaster in the world. If you check out his documentation, you’ll find all the pinouts, circuits, code, and logic explanations needed to add serious improvements to your own toaster. We’ve featured several other toaster oven projects over the years, most of which have focused on turning them into reflow ovens, so it’s exciting to see one aimed at improving upon its original design.
 
 

Teddy Swims Honored with BMI Pop Song of the Year Backstage at Radio CityTeddy Swims has made a name for himself blending powerhouse vocals with raw, emotional songwriting and now, he’s got the accolades to prove it. On Tuesday night, just before stepping onto the iconic stage at New York’s Radio City Music Hall for a sold-out show, Swims was met backstage by representatives from BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) bearing some very well-deserved news: he’d officially earned the title of BMI’s 2025 Pop Song of the Year.It’s all thanks to his chart-dominating hit “Lose Control,” which Swims co-wrote with Julian Bunetta, Marco “Infamous” Rodriguez, and Mikky Ekko—all fellow BMI-affiliated songwriters.A statement from the company discloses that “'Lose Control'” recently logged a record-breaking 92nd week on Billboard’s Hot 100, including a record 63 weeks in the Hot 100’s top 10." It’s a rare kind of success, not just in pop music, but in any genre—an endurance feat that speaks to the song’s resonance with listeners across the country.A statement from the company further reveals that “Swims received awards for ‘The Door’ and ‘Lose Control’ for being two of the 50 most-performed pop songs of the previous year in the U.S.” For anyone who’s been following his meteoric rise, the recognition is no surprise—Swims has become a steady presence on playlists, radio stations, and Billboard charts.The timing couldn’t have been more fitting. Radio City Music Hall has hosted legends for nearly a century, and now Swims joins the ranks of artists who’ve been celebrated not only by sold-out crowds, but by the industry itself.For BMI, the awards are part of their ongoing mission to support and spotlight the songwriters and composers shaping today’s music. For Swims, they mark another major milestone in a career that’s still clearly on the rise.The heartfelt energy that Swims brings to the stage is the same energy that powers his songs—and clearly, it’s connecting. With his voice, his vulnerability, and now, a handful of BMI awards in tow, Teddy Swims continues to chart a course all his own.The post Teddy Swims Honored with BMI Pop Song of the Year Backstage at Radio City first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

ModeAudio offers BPB Exclusive FREE sample pack + updated Label Sampler
ModeAudio offers the exclusive free Spring ‘25 Selections sample pack for Bedroom Producers Blog, as well as the updated ModeAudio Label Sampler with more free sounds for newsletter subscribers. Some developers and sound design teams deliver quality with such consistency that we approach each new release with a certain level of expectation; ModeAudio is one [...]
View post: ModeAudio offers BPB Exclusive FREE sample pack + updated Label Sampler

Fairness in ticket resales ‘is neither expected nor delivered’"The manipulation of inventory, unchecked speculative listings, and aggressive affiliate networks have created a system where fairness (in ticket resales) is neither expected nor delivered," says artist manager and ticketing crusader Randy Nichols on fairness in ticket resales.
The post Fairness in ticket resales ‘is neither expected nor delivered’ appeared first on Hypebot.

Kemper Profiler MK 2 Head The Kemper Profiler enables a user to capture the soul of any amp inside a lunchbox-sized amplifier. Kemper uses cutting edge technology to capture the sonic DNA of virtually any guitar amp. The resulting profiles are as living, vivid and dynamic as the original amps. Imagine you've used some sweet-sounding, well-maintained vintage tube amps in your last studio session: With the Kemper Profiler, there's no need to leave those sounds behind anymore. Simply create your own profiles from these amps and take them with you to use anywhere you like. Variations with alternative amp settings can be created and even the cabinet of a profiled combo amp can be exchanged at any time. Dozens of pro-grade onboard effects and stomp boxes can be used to spice up the profiles. Included are profiles of many exceptional signature amps. They were created by professional guitarists, engineers and producers in studios all over the world. Right out of the box, you will find classic tones of studio standards as well as profiles of highly sought-after amplifiers, some costing many times the price of the Kemper Profiler. Create your own profiles from your own amps: If you happen to have access to tube amps, feel free to make your own profiles. You will probably feel more familiar with profiles of your own gear, than with those other people have made. It might be also a nice idea to hire a professional studio for a day or two, where you can create your signature profiles with the help of an experienced sound engineer. You then have the luxury of being able to use these profiles wherever you like, and with no time constraints. If you are tracking in a studio, you should profile the guitar amps that you record with. Later, you simply take these profiles with you and know that you can recreate the exact sound of the recording, both in the rehearsal studio and live on stage. Share your own creations If you are looking for a particular sound, search the Rig Exchange database on the Kemper website, and download profiles and rigs from fellow users. So much more than just flicking channels. Play completely different amp models rather than just switching amp channels on stage! Imagine playing the verse with a sparkling profile of a 1965 black-faced 2x12" combo, done in a premiere studio in Nashville, while burning through the solo with a hot-rodded, British 100Watts monster, driving a 4x12" cab you just profiled last week in your buddy's rehearsal space. Features: The Amplifier Section. The Amplifier section is the heart of the Kemper Profiler. The sound of the amplifier is based on the profile loaded into the rig. A great selection of intuitive and powerful macro parameters empowers you to perform modifications which are impossible with an traditional hardware amplifier. Many things become possible from changing the age of the virtual hardware to the response to your play. You gain direct access to tube settings, such as the tube symmetry. : The Equalizer Section. The Kemper Profiler is equipped with a traditional bass / mid / treble / presence equalizer similar to what you already know and love from many amp heads. Kemper found that many equalizers used in the tone stack section of more or less famous amplifiers lack of grip and blur your sound in an unnecessary fashion. That's why they decided to go with their own, original design which is based on a traditional tone stack but is designed to deliver what you expect from a modern pro-grade equalizer: The Cabinet Section. The Kemper Profiler captures the cabinet as a part of a profile. Thanks to digital alchemy we can distinguish in between the cabinet and the amp head within a profile and therefore enable you to mix and match both in which ever way you like. Imagine you can exchange cabinets freely in between amps, even though those amps were combo amps before. You can even warp cabinets from "tiny as a cigarette box" to "larger than life" with one parameter: The Stomp Boxes. The Kemper Profiler offers 4 independent stomp effects slots which can host a full arsenal of stomp box effects including painstakingly modeled famous overdrive and distortion stomp boxes, compressor, reverb, several delays, and a beautiful rotary speaker emulation. We've also created accurate models of classic retro modulation effects such as a variety of chorus, phaser and flanger pedals. All stomp effects can be edited and copied conveniently between presets. And for your overview and convenience, we use color coded LEDs indicating which type of stomp has been used per slot: Looping In and Out External Effects. The Kemper Profiler includes an external effects loop which you can patch in anywhere among the virtual stomps boxes. The location and other details can be stored per rig. The monitor outputs also can serve as a pure analog buffer amp for re-amping: The Master Section. The master effects section features reverb, delay and additional slots for stomp boxes and studio effects to refine your amplifier's tone. The six knobs on the front panel offer convenient access to the most important settings. The reverb section features a dense and lively reverb algorithm which won't mask the original signal. The delay section features several tape and stereo delay algorithms which can be synched to MIDI clock. A special control allows for continuous crossfade between a serial and parallel routing of the delay and reverb. Both delay and reverb feature a full spillover when switching between rigs. Tails are never cut off at any time, even when the upcoming rig features totally different effects: The Input Stage. Thanks to a Hi-Z input optimized for passive guitar pickups, the Kemper Profiler offers a crystal clear signal path. We use only professional-grade analogue components to ensure that your guitar tone remains unchanged. We include a single-knob smart noise gate on the front panel that is completely transparent. It's faster than any other noise gate we have experienced and doesn't need an adjustment of the release time. Damping a string results in immediate silence: The Output Stage. The Kemper Profiler features two independent main outputs which can be used in multiple ways. The mains feature a balanced studio level connection and a parallel pair or TSRs. The monitor output optionally provides the amplifier's sound without the cabinet. This proves beneficial for musicians with an existing power amp / cabinet on stage. It makes a perfect silhouette on a 4x12 cabinet. Yet it's so light and compact that it can be taken onto a plane as hand-luggage. It is extremely versatile in terms of inputs, outputs, signal routing and remote control, as well as countless other aspects. It includes effect loop, aux-in or wet-dry-wet configurations. You could also drive a physical guitar cabinet with a signal that excludes the cabinet simulation, while simultaneously feeding a mixing desk with a complete simulation. A multitude of buttons and knobs on its front panel offer direct access to all critical parameters and are very intuitive to use. PROFILER PowerHead models just add a fanless digital power amp providing 600 watts at 4 as well as 8 ohms, and 300 watts at 16 ohms, without trading any other capabilities or connectivity options. These models with built-in power amp are the perfect choice to directly drive an unpowered KEMPER Kabinet - or any other classical guitar cabinet. Any PROFILER model can be complemented by one (mono) or two (stereo) KEMPER Power Kabinet s for your personal monitoring. For interactive remote control, you can connect the perfectly integrated one cable plug & play solution: PROFILER Remote. KEMPER Rig Manager for macOS and Windows connects via the same USB cable as USB audio and offers editor and librarian functionalities. If you connect any of these PROFILER models to a WiFi-router, you could also use Rig Manager for iOS on your iPad or iPhone to edit your sounds. All these Rig Manager variants are free-of-charge. Features: KEMPER PROFILING technology. Amp PROFILE s from various top studios and tone designers. Studio grade FX. Most comprehensive output section features full-range, guitar cab and KEMPER Kone modes. Performance Mode with seamless preset switching. Unique morphing. Wireless remote editing with iOS devices (WiFi-router required). https://youtu.be/WcZDdcErslM?si=vcS05-8xoLuOfWK2 Read More

Tascam launch the MP-800UDAB The latest addition to Tascam’s range of media players offers playback from SD Cards, USB drives and a built-in DAB and FM radio receiver, as well as the option of adding wireless Bluetooth streaming. 

Waves’ ILLUGEN text-to-sound engine can create sounds nobody has heard before using ultra-specific prompts – here’s how it worksWaves has launched an AI-powered text-to-sound engine called ILLUGEN, and it’s capable of making unique sounds from specific and incredibly weird prompts.
The new tool is available as a subscription-only app as of current, with three tiers (basic, premium, and pro) available, and prices starting at $7.99 per month. This model is an interesting choice, given Waves’ previous u-turn on making its plugins available through subscription plans only after significant backlash.

READ MORE: Waves’ Curves AQ is the “world’s first autonomous EQ plugin”

Those who do fancy signing up can simply feed ILLUGEN a text prompt, pick from their favourite of three generated sounds, and then simply drag and drop it into their DAW. Examples provided on the Waves website suggest your prompts can be as specific as “a snail’s journey scored with synths”, or “disco beat played by robots that are 20 percent funky and 80 percent malfunctioning”.
As ILLUGEN is rather new, some of its functions remain pretty straightforward – it currently doesn’t fully support musical keys and scales, and though you can still request them, Waves says it can’t guarantee precise results at this time. ILLUGEN also only works in a 4/4 time signature right now.
You can find out more in the video below:

Some questions have already been raised as to how copyright works if you were to use these sounds in your music, and as to how ILLUGEN’s AI model was trained. Waves has stated that the model was trained “exclusively on documented, legally owned material”, and that ethical AI development is a “top priority” for the brand.
It also notes that users of ILLUGEN own the rights to use the samples they generate in their own creative work, such as music, sound design, games, or films. However, “you may not repackage or resell the samples as standalone sound libraries, nor use them to train other AI models”.
To find out more about ILLUGEN (including answers to a list of FAQs) or subscribe, you can head over to Waves.
The post Waves’ ILLUGEN text-to-sound engine can create sounds nobody has heard before using ultra-specific prompts – here’s how it works appeared first on MusicTech.

Meta, TikTok, Spotify & New Rules of Soft Power [Mark Mulligan]Soft power hasn’t disappeared - it’s just moved online, where tech companies now shape what we watch, share, and care about. Behind the screens, writes Mark Mulligan of MIDiA. algorithms are quietly rewriting the rules of culture.
The post Meta, TikTok, Spotify & New Rules of Soft Power [Mark Mulligan] appeared first on Hypebot.