Cycles & Spots Reaktor SlowDownhttps://youtu.be/WMOnAG1a1GU Another great Ambient production Reaktor instrument from Cycles & Spots. This one is a multi granular soundscaper with 201 samples implemented. These samples are actually 67 kits with 3 matching samples each, meaning that this instrument is quite quick to use and you can get easily good results with many sweet spots for all settings. You can though mash up these samples from different kits and you could also use your own samples (Using Reaktors Sample Map) and maybe make dissonant stuff. The main idea though is to slow down 3 matching samples and let these modulate individually to create huge beautiful, calming and peaceful soundscapes that can feel alive / organic. Pack Details: 1 Instrument For NI Reaktor feat: 201 Samples Implemented (67 Kits) 3 Granular Samplers 4 LFOs Reverb Delay Filter 1.5 GB. Full Version Of NI Reaktor 6.5.0 (Or Higher) Needed. Read More

Rescopic Sound High Voltage SFX Library is FREE on BPB until October 25th
Rescopic Sound offers the High Voltage ($60) sound effects library for free to Bedroom Producers Blog readers until October 25th. High Voltage is a meticulously crafted SFX collection aimed at sound designers, composers, and game developers who want to inject high-energy effects into their projects. It’s packed with a wide range of inspiring cinematic sounds, [...]
View post: Rescopic Sound High Voltage SFX Library is FREE on BPB until October 25th

Top Music Business News Last WeekFrom music AI moves from UMG, Spotify and a new Ticketmaster President to advice on making the most of Spotify Wrapped, TokTok, new releases, merch and more, Hypebot's got you covered with the latest and greatest music business news last week.
The post Top Music Business News Last Week appeared first on Hypebot.

Senate Republicans deepfaked Chuck Schumer, and X hasn’t taken it down The video was posted Friday on the Senate Republicans X account. According to X’s policies, the platform prohibits “deceptively shar[ing] synthetic or manipulated media that are likely to cause harm.” Harmful content includes media that could “mislead people” or “cause significant confusion on public issues.” 

Rhodes Announces Custom Shop ‘Golden Brown’ Piano Inspired by the Classic Rhodes Gold Sparkle Piano BassOn Friday, Rhodes Music announced "the third drop in its Custom Shop series: the MK8 ‘Golden Brown.’ Inspired by the Rhodes Gold Sparkle Piano Bass that was popularized onstage by The Doors, this limited‑edition MK8 pays homage to one of the most charismatic instruments of the 1960s. With a shimmering Gold Sparkletop hood and a Chestnut Brown tolex base, Golden Brown reimagines that vintage legend through the lens of modern craftsmanship."

“Golden Brown is one of my personal favourites from the Rhodes Custom Shop. Inspired by the rare gold-sparkle lid and brown Tolex Piano Bass of the 1960s, the Golden Brown MK8 oozes class and cool without ever feeling overstated. It captures the essence of that sought-after vintage aesthetic while pairing it with the MK8’s innovative features and hand-built precision. Pure class.”

"Golden Brown extends the legacy of the Rhodes Gold Sparkle Piano Bass into a modern MK8, combining vintage inspiration with custom‑shop craftsmanship," they say. "Each instrument’s autumn‑toned finish is accented by hand‑assembled components and Rhodes’ signature analogue signal path. Like all Custom Shop releases, Golden Brown is made to order, individually numbered, and will not be produced again after the drop concludes on October 30th. Hand‑built by master builders in England, this limited‑edition piano embodies a golden era at Rhodes."

Key Features (directly from Rhodes):

Gold Sparkletop Hood — A shimmering hood inspired by the vintage Gold Sparkle Piano Bass.

Chrome Front Panel with Black Inlays — Polished chrome panel featuring black preamp and FX inlays.

Harvest Gold Dial Caps & Logo Plates — Warm dial caps and matching black-on-Harvest Gold logo plates.

Chestnut Brown Tolex Base — The first non-black tolex finish on a MK8, echoing autumn tones.

73‑Note Kluge Keyboard — Precision keybed crafted by Kluge Klaviaturen (Steinway Group).

Custom Stereo‑Analogue FX Processor — Compressor, phaser, chorus and delay with true bypass and expression pedal control.

MK8 Analogue Preamp — Parametric EQ, analogue drive, envelope control, wah and vari‑pan with multiple wave shapes.

MIDI Optional — Available with or without MIDI; full MIDI integration is an additional £1299.

Golden Brown is available exclusively through the Rhodes Custom Shop for a limited time. Orders open on Thursday, October 16, at 3 PM BST and close on Thursday, October 30 at 3 PM BST.

Each piano is built to order, individually numbered, and will not be reissued once the window closes.

Pricing

£11,995 GBP (+ VAT)

€13,995 EUR (+ local taxes)

$15,995 USD

The post Rhodes Announces Custom Shop ‘Golden Brown’ Piano Inspired by the Classic Rhodes Gold Sparkle Piano Bass first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

F/0.38 Camera Lens Made With Oil Immersion Microscope ObjectiveOver on YouTube [Applied Science] shows us how to make an f/0.38 camera lens using an oil immersion microscope objective.
The f-number of a lens indicates how well it will perform in low-light. To calculate the f-number you divide the focal length by the diameter of the aperture. A common f-number is f/1.4 which is generally considered “fast”.
We are told the fastest commercial lens ever used had f/0.7 and was used by Stanley Kubrick to shoot the film Barry Lyndon which was recorded only with candle light.
A microscope objective is a crucial lens that gathers and magnifies light to form an image. It plays a key role in determining the quality and clarity of the final magnified image produced by a microscope.

In this case the microscope objective is optically coupled to the CMOS image sensor using a drop of oil. The oil has better refractive properties than an air-gap. In order to get the closest coupling possible the protective glass sheet on the top of the image sensor was removed. This process resulted in a lot of broken image sensors! Apparently the yield was only two working image sensors from eight attempts at removing the glass.
Of course we’ve seen f-number hacking here at Hackaday before, such as with the A Low F Number Lens, From Scratch which achieved f/0.5.

Singular Sound Beat Buddy 2The Singular Sound BeatBuddy 2 is a revolutionary drum machine delivered in a robust stompbox format, expertly engineered to provide musicians—from solo performers and singer-songwriters to full bands—with the responsive, human-feel percussion of a professional live drummer. Moving beyond the static limitations of traditional drum machines and pre-recorded backing tracks, the BeatBuddy 2 allows complete, hands-free control over the entire rhythmic structure of a song in real-time. By simply tapping the integrated footswitches, users can trigger song intros, drop accent hits, transition seamlessly between verse and chorus, and execute dynamic fills, maintaining an intuitive connection to their performance without ever taking their hands off their instrument. The pedal's new hardware design, featuring a crisp, larger color screen and a sleek black-and-gold aesthetic, ensures immediate visual feedback and rock-solid durability for any gigging scenario. At its core, the BeatBuddy 2 leverages meticulously recorded, non-quantized drum samples captured by seasoned professional drummers. This approach ensures that every beat, fill, and groove possesses a natural, authentic pocket and human timing, avoiding the sterile sound often associated with programmed loops. The BeatBuddy 2 vastly expands on the original's library, shipping pre-loaded with 13 ultra-realistic, high-definition (HD) drum kits, which feature four times the sample capacity for enhanced sonic detail and nuance. With a massive internal library spanning over 24 distinct genres and more than 220 unique styles, the pedal is a versatile rhythmic encyclopedia, ready to accompany any musical context, from subtle jazz brushes and funk grooves to heavy rock and electronic patterns, all delivered in high-fidelity 24-bit/44.1kHz stereo audio. The second iteration introduces several significant feature enhancements that elevate its utility as a powerful live tool. Central to this evolution is the innovative Autopilot feature, a smart automation system that intelligently manages transitions and fills, allowing the player to step away from toe-tapping duties for a truly hands-free experience while the beat progresses naturally. Furthermore, the BeatBuddy 2 includes expanded connectivity options, notably dual multi-ports that fully support the optional 6-button SuperSwitch and an expression pedal simultaneously. This allows for dynamic, live control over tempo, volume, half-time, and double-time sections with unparalleled precision. Coupled with MIDI In/Out for perfect synchronization with other loopers (like Singular Sound's Aeros Loop Studio) and external gear, the BeatBuddy 2 seamlessly integrates into any complex musical setup, establishing itself as the ultimate companion for practice, recording, and live performance where a genuine, reliable drummer is paramount. Content is managed and customized using the completely revised BeatBuddy Manager Online software, granting users access to millions of additional songs and 300+ drum sets available through the Singular Sound Beat Boutique and an active online community. Features 13 HD Drum Kits: Includes high-definition drum sets with four times the sample capacity of the original BeatBuddy, delivering realistic detail. Massive Library: Features 24 unique genres, 220+ styles, and over 230 pre-loaded songs, covering diverse musical needs. Authentic Sound: Utilizes non-quantized recordings of professional drummers for a natural, human-groove feel, rendered in 24-bit/44.1kHz stereo audio. Hands-Free Live Control: Integrated dual footswitches allow for real-time control of Intros, Transitions, Fills, Accent Hits, and Outros. Autopilot Feature: Smart automation system that allows the beat to progress automatically, freeing the player for hands-off jamming and improvisation. Expanded Control: Dual multiports support simultaneous connection of an Expression Pedal (for dynamic control of tempo/volume) and the 6-button SuperSwitch for limitless custom commands. MIDI Synchronization: Dedicated MIDI In/Out ports ensure perfect clock synchronization with looper pedals, sequencers, and other external MIDI gear. BeatBuddy Manager Online: Access to the completely revised, browser-based content management software for creating custom songs, organizing setlists, and importing content. Storage Capacity: Ships with an SD card pre-loaded with content, expandable up to 32GB for storing a colossal amount of rhythms and custom kits. Display: Larger, color 2.4" TFT RGB (240x320) screen provides clear visual feedback of the current song part, drum set, and visual metronome. High-Quality Signal Path: Digital dry-through bypass switching ensures the guitar or instrument signal maintains pristine analog integrity with minimal latency. Durable Construction: Built with a rugged, all-metal chassis designed to withstand the rigors of frequent gigging. https://youtu.be/IuxSYdBV_aA?si=jrFFeyiIt7xS5I-t Read More

From Spotify’s AI product plans to beatBread’s $100m global indie fund… it’s MBW’s weekly round-upThe biggest headlines from the past few days – all in one place
Source

Win VIP tickets and a meet & greet with John Legend on his Get Lifted anniversary tour
We’re excited to give music creators a one-of-a-kind chance to meet John Legend in person on his Get Lifted anniversary tour.

Chastity Belt on Tourcations, Lucinda Williams & House Parties : A Handstamp InterviewFrom Handstamp, an interview with Julia Shapiro of the band Chastity Belt on house parties, band chemistry, memorable shows and tourcations.
The post Chastity Belt on Tourcations, Lucinda Williams & House Parties : A Handstamp Interview appeared first on Hypebot.

I use FabFilter plugins every single day and can’t recommend them enough – get these essentials right now at 25% offAs far as mixing and mastering plugins go, FabFilter makes some of the best in the business. I was first introduced to FabFilter’s Pro-Q and Pro-C EQ and compressor plugins during my uni days nearly 10 years ago, and after subsequently discovering the rest of the brand’s catalogue, I’ve been using them ever since.
So when I discovered that our friends at Plugin Boutique are currently offering almost 25% off a range of FabFilter plugins, well, I felt obliged to let you know.

READ MORE: Get John Legend’s Ordinary People piano sound with this new virtual instrument from Splice

Up for grabs individually are the Pro-R 2 reverb (priced £112 down from £149), Timeless 3 delay (£82 down from £109), Pro-L 2 limiter (£112 down from £149), and Pro-C 2 compressor (£112 down from £149), while the FabFilter Essentials Bundle – complete with Pro-C 2, the brand’s latest EQ Pro-Q 4, and Pro-R 2 – is now £225 instead of £299.
We’re often told as producers we should be working primarily using our eyes and not our eyes. There’s certainly value to that guidance, but let’s be honest: having an accurate way of visually monitoring the changes you’re making to your mix does make things easier.
FabFilter’s range of plugins are beautifully designed with incredibly intuitive interfaces; Pro-Q 4, for example, even allows you to hover your mouse over the waveform in real-time to pick out and reduce problem frequencies. There’s even an EQ sketch feature, which allows you to literally draw an EQ curve and finetune it from there. Much is often made of searching for a vintage sound in modern music production, but the future’s here, so you may as well take advantage of it.
Like I say, Pro-C 2 is also included, which is a similarly intuitive compressor plugin with eight compression styles and all the comprehensive threshold, ratio, attack, release and knee controls you’d expect from a compressor. There’s also a real-time visual graph so you can see exactly how the compressor is impacting your mix.
Meanwhile, the Pro-R 2 reverb plugin offers a range of next-gen features, including multichannel compatibility, two new reverb algorithms, IR import and replication, ducking and gating functions, analogue-style saturation and so much more.
This is just a small snapshot of the features you’ll get with these industry-leading mixing plugins, so click the button below to head to Plugin Boutique and check out the full feature set.
[deals ids=”2nz1yM246nAk7oGu21ldnF”]
The post I use FabFilter plugins every single day and can’t recommend them enough – get these essentials right now at 25% off appeared first on MusicTech.

What Makes Mastering for Vinyl and Digital So Different?Mastering is all about the final audio product. In this post, we explain the different approaches to mastering driven by the format.
The post What Makes Mastering for Vinyl and Digital So Different? appeared first on Hypebot.

Is Spotify working on a ‘SongDNA’ feature? A new way to discover music through credits could be on the waySpotify is seemingly working on a ‘SongDNA’ feature, which could allow listeners to discover more music through interactive song credits.
Spotify already lists song credits, but sometimes these can be fairly limited and don’t provide any further links to the personnel listed within them. This new feature, if real, could allow users to uncover more work from collaborators and ‘behind-the-scenes’ roles such as writers, engineers, lyricists, producers, composers, and more.

READ MORE: Spotify to crackdown on AI “slop” in bid to protect artists

As reported by TechCrunch, the potential feature was discovered in the app’s code by reverse engineer Jane Manchun Wong, who was able to share screenshots of how SongDNA would appear in the Spotify app.
Her findings suggest that SongDNA would introduce a visual experience, and as shown in a screenshot she posted to X below, would bring up mini profiles for contributors, where users can then look through other songs or projects they have worked on.

Spotify is working on SongDNA, a new way for discovering the artists and crew behind each song pic.twitter.com/lweCwI9Ijp
— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) October 11, 2025

For the longest time, behind-the-scenes roles have been overlooked across the industry. Songwriter Justin Tranter recently said he worries for the future of writers, as streaming often generates little income for those in such roles. He also called for better support from music labels.
A survey from MIDiA shared earlier this year also found that roughly one in five songwriters said building a social media brand is among their top goals for this year. With this in mind, it goes to show how better credit discovery tools could really help to boost the visibility of creatives such as producers and songwriters, giving them a larger platform, potentially helping them to earn more and gain loyal fans.
This wouldn’t be the first song credit feature of its kind though, as TIDAL already offers a similar interactive tool. Interestingly, after sharing her findings, Wong said that Spotify’s app was updated to remove references to the SongDNA feature. TechCrunch reports that it reached out for comment from Spotify, and while it declined to share any details, it did not issue a denial.
In other news, Spotify has given one of its popular features an upgrade – its AI-powered DJ. The update introduces even more ways to interact with the DJ, allowing for more control over sessions, and improved language capabilities. Millions of Spanish-speaking listeners can now make music requests in their native language.
Spotify’s CEO Daniel Ek also recently announced that he is stepping down from his role early next year. Ek will move into an Executive Chairman position from 1 January 2026, while current Spotify co-presidents Alex Norström and Gustav Söderström are due to step in as co-CEOs.
The post Is Spotify working on a ‘SongDNA’ feature? A new way to discover music through credits could be on the way appeared first on MusicTech.

Get John Legend’s Ordinary People piano sound with this new virtual instrument from SpliceSplice has teamed up with John Legend on a new piano sound for its flagship virtual instrument player, Splice Instrument.
Built in partnership with Spitfire Audio – which Splice acquired for reported $50 million earlier this year – Splice Instrument was unveiled earlier this month, offering over 1,200 playable instrument presets, with many taking inspiration from the gear collections of world-class musicians.

READ MORE: The CZ-1 Mini is Behringer’s take on Casio’s classic phase distortion synth, the CZ-1

Modelled on the piano at the heart of John Legend’s ballad Ordinary People, John Legend: Ordinary People Piano (simply named, we must point out…) is the result of a close collaboration between Splice and the veteran hitmaker, using Spitfire Audio’s award-winning recording techniques through the same vintage mics, desk and signal chain as the original track.
A total of six presets are included in the instrument: Close, Ultra Close, Pop Close, Ribbon Mics, Room Mics and the Ordinary People Piano.

“Sometimes people just want that natural, raw sound of an acoustic instrument, and pianos, they’re undefeated,” says John Legend. 
“These songs I’ve recorded with the piano have become an iconic part of my identity as an artist. I hope when a producer loads this piano sound, they’ll feel connected to the music that inspired it, and that it inspires them to create their own story.”
Splice CEO Kakul Srivastava adds: “Being able to combine John’s artistry, the quality and precision of the Spitfire Audio recording technology, and Splice innovation has been powerful. This is a new frontier in music creation and a model for how creators of all expertise can collaborate with the artists who inspire them, and it’s only just the beginning.”
“John’s piano sound has a timeless quality, rich in soul, vibe and emotion,” says Spitfire Audio Co-Founder Paul Thomson. “Being able to offer a signature sound like this was always an important part of the plan for Instrument. 
“Producers will find inspiration in being able to play the sound that has defined so many iconic songs, and shape their own stories with the same character and depth – using the same magical signal path. The reaction to INSTRUMENT so far has been incredibly encouraging, and we have an exciting roadmap of features to come.”
John Legend: Ordinary People Piano is available now for Splice Instrument users – a subscription to the virtual instrument platform costs $12.99 per month.
Learn more at Splice.
The post Get John Legend’s Ordinary People piano sound with this new virtual instrument from Splice appeared first on MusicTech.

PreSonus introduce Air XD PA range The Air XD Series introduces a trio of main cabinets and two subwoofer options, all equipped with wireless stereo pairing, onboard mixing capabilities and a comprehensive selection of DSP tuning options.