Orpheus Effects PhiVerbPhiVerb is an all-in-one reverb solution that brings you the latest reverb technology as well as extensive sound-shaping capabilities. Its four distinct algorithms cover all basic use cases in one package. Read More

Live Music Stocks mixed Tuesday amid market uncertaintyLive music stocks presented a mixed picture Tuesday. While Live Nation (LYV) and Madison Garden (MSGE) continued their decline, The Sphere (SPHR) experienced a sharper downturn after a positive showing yesterday.
The post Live Music Stocks mixed Tuesday amid market uncertainty appeared first on Hypebot.

Designing A Tone Control ProperlyMany years ago, audio equipment came with a tone control, a simple RC filter that would cut or boost the bass to taste. As time passed, this was split into two controls for bass and treble, and then finally into three for bass, mid, and treble. When audiophile fashion shifted towards graphic equalisers, these tone controls were rebranded as “3-band graphic equalisers”, a misleading term if ever we heard one. [Gabriel Dantas] designed one of these circuits, and unlike the simple passive networks found on cheap music centres of old, he’s doing a proper job with active filters.
The write-up is worth a read even if you are not in the market for a fancy tone control, for the basic primer it gives on designing an audio filter. The design contains, as you might expect, a low-pass, a bandpass, and a high-pass filter. These are built around TL072 FET-input op-amps, and an LM386 output stage is added to drive headphones.
The final project is built on a home-made PCB, complete with mains power supply. Audiophiles might demand more exotic parts, but we’re guessing that even with these proletarian components it will still sound pretty good. Probably better than the headphone amplifier featured in a recent project from a Hackaday writer, at least. There’s a build video, below the break.

Vote for the Splice blog in the 29th Annual Webby Awards
For the 29th Annual Webby Awards, we're happy to share that the Splice blog has been nominated for the "Websites and Mobile Sites - Music" category.

Waves launch Curves AQ Curves AQ relies on Waves' AI Spectral Targeting Technology, and is capable of generating a choice of custom EQ settings tailored to the source material. 

Epidemic Sound’s revenues jumped 29% to $181.6m in 2024, as EBITDA soared 150% YoY to $13.9mThe company expanded its audio library with the acquisition of sound effects company Soundly
Source

How will Trump’s tariffs affect the music gear and vinyl pressing industries? A Billboard journalist breaks it downA reporter has broken down how tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump could impact the music industry, revealing how sectors such as the musical instrument business or the vinyl industry will be impacted.
Most popular instrument brands sell gear that has been manufactured (or houses parts) made in places such as Mexico, China, or Canada. Now that Trump has imposed hefty tariffs on goods entering the United States from across these markets, music industry figures are growing concerned for the future of their businesses.

READ MORE: “The latest example of unethical AI firms stealing the livelihood of lyricists, songwriters and composers”: The Ivors Academy wants Suno to remove its ReMi lyrics generator

What are Trump’s tariffs? 
A tariff is a tax imposed on the import of goods from foreign countries. Per The Guardian, as of 5 April, all imported goods arriving in the US are subject to a 10 percent universal tariff. On 9 April, certain countries will face even higher tariff rates, which are deemed “reciprocal tariffs” by Trump, in retaliation for tariffs the countries have placed on American exports.
Asian countries face some of the highest tariffs of all, and EU exports are looking at a 20 percent tariff. Canada and Mexico, meanwhile, are facing a proposed 25 percent tariff, and Trump has even threatened to place an additional whopping 50 percent tax on goods from China.
What do they mean for music?
Billboard’s Kristin Robinson has shared an explainer video on her TikTok. In it, she breaks down the effects on different music markets, starting with musical instruments, off the back of an interview with NAMM president, John Mlynczak.
Mlynczak has said that these tariffs are a problem for cheaper guitar models, which are mostly made in Mexico or overseas countries. An impact on their trade could have a knock-on effect on the wider guitar market too, as they act as a gateway for buyers to work their way up to more highly priced models in the future.
“When you start raising the price everywhere of what it costs to import goods, it’s challenging, and it really threatens everything we’ve learned to do as an industry,” said Mlynczak.
“The reason why we have companies that can afford to build their highest-end products in the U.S. is because they have the revenue from the mid-to-entry level products from overseas. Our supply chain is deeply interconnected. It’s not like an instrument is solely made in China or Mexico. What happens is you have certain components that are made really well in China that are then imported for final assembly. Or you have a factory in Mexico that has a specialty in making certain components that are imported. Then they are assembled in the U.S. This happens because this work is highly specialized.”
Robinson also shares that bands have faced difficulty bringing unsold merchandise back to the US from international tours, as these also face tariffs, unless the artist is selling only American-made merch. Vinyl prices are likely going to rise too, as the materials used to make them are from overseas countries, including PVC and their paper sleeves.
You can watch Robinson’s full video below:

@wordsbykristin
#greenscreen how Trump tariffs will affect the music business #musicbusiness
♬ original sound – Kristin Robinson – Billboard

What else do we know? 
Another manufacturer that has also shared fears over the tariffs is Electro-Harmonix. Mike Matthews, founder of the pedal brand, recently told Bloomberg that EHX has an inventory that will help it “ride out” the storm, but the future of the company is looking rather uncertain. EHX uses components that are manufactured internationally, though it builds the pedals in the US.
Matthews said he has ruled out the idea of bringing circuit board manufacturing into the US as it would be “a really huge investment”. Further to this, he also revealed, “I am open and have been in the process of trying to sell the company. It’s a difficult time.”
For further updates, check back on MusicTech. We will keep you updated with any further details on the tariffs.
The post How will Trump’s tariffs affect the music gear and vinyl pressing industries? A Billboard journalist breaks it down appeared first on MusicTech.

Musicians: Do not rely on social media to reach fansOn social media, a significant portion of your followers typically don't see each post, with organic reach averaging around 2% to 6% of total followers. The lesson for musicians? Do not rely on social media to reach fans.
The post Musicians: Do not rely on social media to reach fans appeared first on Hypebot.

Warm Audio introduce the Fen-tone The Fen-tone promises to deliver the rich sound associated with the original, but introduces some handy extras such as an onboard in-line preamp. 

Cre8audio’s Boom Chick is “inspired by the hands-on playability of legendary drum machines”Cre8audio has introduced the Boom Chick, a new analogue drum machine that mixes classic drum machine inspiration with a design from Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers.
Offering the “hands-on playability of legendary drum machines”, Boom Chick has a knob-per-function interface for tactile beat-making, and features five analogue drum voices. It functions as both a standalone device or Eurorack module.

READ MORE: Aphex Twin’s MIDI-modified Yamaha GX-1 is up for sale – for just £100,000

Boom Chick’s five voices include Kick, Snare, Drum 1, Drum 2, and Hats. According to Cre8audio, these voices offer “rich” and “expressive” sounds, which can be easily customised.
The Kick Drum brings “Fat, deep, and punchy” tones with shaping controls, while the Snare is described as “dynamic and expressive”. Drum 1 and 2 both offer multi-functional voices for toms, claps, cymbals, and creative textures, while Hats offers a custom oscillator noise matrix for crisp hi-hats.
Also onboard is a built-in sequencer with two primary modes for ease of use. A Step Mode lets you programme beats, while Live Mode lets you perform and record beats in real-time. The sequencer also includes Step Shift, Roll, and Chance tools for variation, plus Humanize, Swing, and Quantize to tweak timing. You can also make use of Per-Voice Polyrhythms to set different step lengths for evolving beats, Generative Rhythm Tools, plus 64 Save Slots and a 16 Song Memory.
Check it out below:

In more percussion news, MusicTech has rounded up some of the best kick drum plugins for 2025, with a range of prices and tools considered. In our guide, we selected five kick drum instrument plugins that use a mix of synthesis and sample playback to create powerful-sounding hits that can slot neatly into your mixes.
Boom Chick is available to pre-order now, and is due to ship in mid May. Street pricing is estimated at $399.99/€319.99. For more information, visit Cre8audio.
The post Cre8audio’s Boom Chick is “inspired by the hands-on playability of legendary drum machines” appeared first on MusicTech.

Cre8audio’s new Assembler is a “vintage analogue mixer for the modern synth enthusiast”Cre8audio has announced Assembler, a synth-focused analogue audio mixer that delivers vintage console sound with intuitive hands-on control.
Developed in collaboration with Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers, Assembler blends the warmth of classic analogue mixers with a modern workflow designed for electronic musicians of today.

READ MORE: Union Audio’s uber-compact Elara.4 MK2 mixer has the “versatility and quality to elevate any DJ set, anywhere”

At the heart of the mixer is a custom-designed Pittsburgh Modular analogue circuitry that uses signal contouring and soft compression to unify the overall mix. This process emulates the well-loved sonic characteristics of vintage recordings, adding the warmth, cohesion, and character that other mixers often lack.
Assembler also features ten audio inputs split into three distinct mixer channel types to seamlessly integrate with various audio scenarios and workflows. Each input includes a preamp capable of up to 20x gain boost, ideal for boosting line level signals, subtle clarity enhancement, or aggressive signal saturation.
Three assignable aux sends – two stereo returns and one mono return, each with independent gain adjustments – allow for effortless integration of external effects like reverbs and delays or function as sub-mix channels.
Three-segment LED meters, independent headphone Cue, and channel Mutes, meanwhile, ensures precise monitoring during live performances. Channel 1 and 2 add extensive tonal control with vintage-inspired high and low EQ knobs, each offering ±15 dB of boost or cut while all six mono inputs include a dedicated pan control.
Built with ease-of-use in mind, Assembler’s one-knob-per-function layout eliminates menu-diving and maximises immediacy – whether you’re tweaking aux routing or dialling in EQ during a set.
The mixer is equally suited for line-level instrument and Eurorack signals, making it a versatile choice for any setup. And for those looking to explore beyond traditional mixing, Assembler can even self-oscillate, offering noise artists and experimental producers another wild tool for sonic exploration.
Priced at $399.99/€319.99, Assembler is now available for preorder, with shipping expected mid-May 2025.

Learn more at Cre8udio.
The post Cre8audio’s new Assembler is a “vintage analogue mixer for the modern synth enthusiast” appeared first on MusicTech.

“I need to build the room I want to play in”: Floating Points has created his very own sound system that he’ll use at this summer’s festivals – here’s whyElectronic artist Floating Points is bringing his very own sound system with him to festivals this summer.
First teased in 2024, the sound system – which he calls the Sunflower – takes inspiration from other sound systems he loves, but especially that of Leeds venue, Cosmic Slop. It is also influenced by the work of SBS Slammer, a high-end sound system company based in NYC.

READ MORE: “The house PA was so bad that I tried to one-hand turn the stage monitor towards the crowd…” Mark Ronson shares injury update after DJing gig gone wrong

Floating Points, whose real name is Sam Shepherd, has also collaborated with designer fig. G (Carlos Figueroa) to bring the Sunflower to life. He has shared sporadic updates on the set up throughout the year via social media, and now, in an interview with Apple Music’s Tim Sweeney for the Beats In Space show, he’s confirmed he’ll be bringing the sound system out to shows this summer.
“Whenever I DJ, I have to psych myself up a little bit,” Shepherd says. “Discovering new music is the easiest way to get that feeling of, ‘I can’t wait to play this loud on a system.’ That’s one reason I wanted to build this. I’ve spent so much time in all these different clubs. Eventually, I was like, ‘I need to build a sound of my own that has the power that I want. I need to build the room I want to play in.’”
Talking of Cosmic Slop, he adds, “The system there is run by this guy Tom Smith, who I call Cosmic Tom. He got deep with it and did all the carpentry himself – with some help from old-school New York guys who built, you know, Paradise Garage, those mythological systems. Tom’s system is the best in the UK, hands-down. The midrange is beautiful. The feeling you get in that space is fantastic.”

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For his festival set up – which is far more challenging than within a venue – Shepherd is building walls with haystacks and rock panels to tackle sound leakage: “I want people to go in there and be like, ‘Wow, music sounds beautiful in here, and I’m having a 10 percent better time than if it wasn’t as good,’” he states.
You can check out some of his most recent updates on the Sunflower in the videos below:

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A post shared by Floating Points (@floatingpoints)

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A post shared by Floating Points (@floatingpoints)

Floating Points’ upcoming festival dates are yet to be announced, but you can sign up to his mailing list via his official website.
The post “I need to build the room I want to play in”: Floating Points has created his very own sound system that he’ll use at this summer’s festivals – here’s why appeared first on MusicTech.

Baby Audio’s Smooth Operator spectral balancing plugin scored 9/10 in our review – now the brand has released an upgraded versionBaby Audio has unveiled Smooth Operator Pro, a new and upgraded version of its acclaimed spectral balancing plugin.
Building on the success of the original Smooth Operator from 2021 – which scored a 9/10 in our review – the Pro version arrives with an improved core algorithm and more detailed control across the board while maintaining the fast workflow that made the original so popular.

READ MORE: Output’s new Co-Producer plugin uses AI to curate the perfect samples for your project – all from within your DAW

At its core, Smooth Operator Pro still uses advanced spectral processing to automatically target and tame bloated frequency energy across the spectrum. Users can use the plugin to achieve clarity in their mixes and address common issues such as boomy low-mid buildup, harsh resonances, and masking.
One key upgrade from the original is the ability to make precise frequency-specific adjustments. While the previous version only allowed you to apply global settings to affect the signal, the Pro version lets you freely place and remove nodes across the frequency spectrum and create individual dynamic processing profiles for each node.
Want to tame a splashy cymbal in just the left channel? Smooth out a bass thump only on the side channels? Apply a softer compression to a vocal peak at 2.5kHz? You can do all of that and more in the same plugin.
Smooth Operator Pro also features two new correction algorithms, Even and Skew, as well as improved stereo imaging tools for you to take full control of the harmonic content in your mix.
Like its predecessor, Smooth Operator Pro offers a fast workflow with the surgical features being optional. It includes 184 presets by engineers from around the world to add mix clarity right out of the box.
The plugin is now available at an introductory price of $79 (U.P. $129). Users who own the original version can upgrade for $29.

Learn more at Baby Audio.
The post Baby Audio’s Smooth Operator spectral balancing plugin scored 9/10 in our review – now the brand has released an upgraded version appeared first on MusicTech.

Former Spotify music-learning founders launch new artist-to-artist learning platform, WHATCLASSA new artist-to-artist learning platform called WHATCLASS has launched, offering short-form classes led by influential names in music.
The platform has been developed by a team “with a track record developing music education and gaming”, who launched music learning on Spotify in 2024 and its music-learning partner platform, PLAYvirtuoso.

READ MORE: Spotify introduces new changes to its advertising model – could they impact artist payouts?

The launch is backed by a partnership with ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music), meaning learners can gain formal accreditation and real qualifications, as well as UCAS points and industry recognition, which is said to be a first for a platform of this kind.
Artist and producers available to learn from at launch include names like Fraser T Smith (songwriter/producer, Ed Sheeran, Adele, Stormzy, Dave), Moonchild Sanelly (Beyonce, Gorillaz), Joe Goddard (Hot Chip), Skream (UK Dubstep pioneer), Sarah Story (BBC Radio 1), Jamz Supernova (BBC 6 Music), Toddla T (Kneecap, Headie One, AJ Tracey), and Novelist (award-winning Grime MC).
A press release shared with MusicTech states that classes are built for immediacy, with insights and skills gained from real artists’ own lived experiences. WHATCLASS is also described as being “structured for the era of social media but grounded in educational rigour”, offering the depth often missing from other online ‘how-to’ tutorials. Each class has a specific learning outcome such as a production technique, creative inspiration, or industry knowledge. Many are also available to watch for free.

WHATCLASS co-founders Austen and Scott Smart (CEO, CPO) – who were originally DJs and recording artists – are also backed by senior leadership in tech, including Chillingo/Angry Birds, Pirate Studios and Sonos.
“Music education has become either too expensive or too fragmented. WHATCLASS is here to change that. We’re empowering real artists to teach the next generation and giving learners the knowledge we wish we had when we started out,” comments Austen.
You can sign up now for free, or join its premium tier for £11.99 per month. Find out more over at WHATCLASS.
The post Former Spotify music-learning founders launch new artist-to-artist learning platform, WHATCLASS appeared first on MusicTech.

Analog Obsession just released MythPre tube mic preamp for FREE
We’ve got great news for fans of Analog Obsession! The developer is back with a new plugin called MythPre. MythPre is a tube mic preamp intended to enhance the low end of your tracks to give that bass response we always crave. The plugin has a gain-compensated input boost to determine the intensity of the [...]
View post: Analog Obsession just released MythPre tube mic preamp for FREE