Beat and Erica Synths release FREE NOCTURNA Reverb Impulse Responses
Beat and Erica Synths have teamed up to create NOCTURNA, a collection of 66 free impulse responses crafted from their Echolocator and Nightverb hardware units. This is a cool set of unusual reverb impulses, especially if you’re interested in exploring convolution reverb beyond the basic bread and butter sounds. If you’ve ever used reverb impulse [...]
View post: Beat and Erica Synths release FREE NOCTURNA Reverb Impulse Responses

Record labels reportedly in licensing talks with AI music firms Suno and UdioMajor music labels are reportedly in talks with generative AI music platforms Suno and Udio — the very companies they sued last year for alleged copyright infringement.
According to Bloomberg, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music Entertainment are discussing potential licensing deals that would not only bring in fees but also include a small equity stake in the companies.

READ MORE: “It’s a weird kind of wanky, tech-bro nightmare future”: Radiohead’s Thom Yorke says AI does nothing more than “steal” from human artists

Sources (which Bloomberg says “declined to be identified because the talks could fall apart”) told the news outlet that if successful, the agreements could help resolve ongoing legal disputes while laying the groundwork for how AI companies compensate recording artists and rights holders in the future.
Suno and Udio have been at the forefront of the new wave of generative AI platforms. These tools allow users to type in simple prompts like “a modern rock ballad about a bad break up” and receive a full-length audio recording in return. Behind the scenes, the platforms rely on massive training datasets – likely made up of existing copyrighted material – which has drawn legal scrutiny from the industry.
Last June, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), on behalf of the major labels, filed blockbuster lawsuits against Suno and Udio, alleging copyright infringement on an “unimaginable scale.” The suits accused the startups of using copyrighted recordings without permission to train their models, and sought damages of up to $150,000 per infringed work, potentially amounting to billions of dollars.
For their part, Suno and Udio have countered that the labels are wielding their intellectual property as a cudgel to stifle competition and innovation. They also argued that their use of copyrighted material falls under the “fair use” exemption to US copyright law.
The current negotiations are seen as a way to settle these cases out of court. Talks are reportedly happening in parallel with both companies, creating a bit of a race to see who might land a deal first.
Still, discussions are complex, says Bloomberg, as labels want greater control over how their music is used, while the AI startups are pushing for enough “flexibility” to continue experimenting as well as “deals at a price reasonable for startup companies”.
Stay up to date with how AI is reshaping music creation, rights, and industry standards at MusicTech.
The post Record labels reportedly in licensing talks with AI music firms Suno and Udio appeared first on MusicTech.

IK Multimedia Total Studio 5 review: Almost a must-have — with a few must-fixTotal Studio 5 Standard – $/€299.99
Total Studio 5 Pro – $/€399.99
Total Studio 5 MAX – $/€599.99
Introduction and upgrade pricing available
IK Multimedia is on a roll. Over the past few years, the company’s product lineup has gone from strength to strength, with venerable classics such as its standalone Mastering Console getting significant improvements. Meanwhile, new standout plugins have arrived, including the multi-band Quad Saturator, alongside some impressive hardware, like the Uno Synth Pro X.
Total Studio 5 crowds many of these software achievements under one roof to offer an ‘everything you need’ production suite. The price is good, the plugins are generally excellent, but in a marketplace suffering from ‘bundle fatigue’, can this mega-collection hold your interest?

READ MORE: Native Instruments Kontakt 8: A leap forward or a stumble sideways?

Total Studio 5 promises to power your creativity at every stage of production, but, for my money, it’s the audio processing plugins that steal the show.
First out of the gate is AmpliTube 5 — a comprehensive package of guitar amp and pedal emulations. The quality and versatility here is phenomenal. On the surface level, you get easy access to authentic emulations of rare and expensive amps and a dizzying array of quality presets perfect for busy music-makers. Dive deeper, however, and there is an ocean of sounds for serious guitarists to explore — with full control over microphone type and placement, the ability to swap out cabs independently of amp heads, and a powerful routing system for building up effects chains.
Staying in guitar territory, there’s also the groundbreaking TONEX software for at-home AI modelling of stompboxes and amps. Even if you have no need to clone your own amp, the ToneNET ecosystem is a massive sonic resource; it’s packed with a seemingly endless supply of community-contributed presets and DIY amp models that can be used solo or combined with AmpliTude.
New with Total Studio 5 is TONEX’s Signature Collection of amp and pedal combos from musicians like Joe Satriani and Rush’s Alex Lifeson. Riffing through the guitar tones of the rich and famous is fun and fruitful — but you’d probably have to be a pro player to truly hear the difference between some of these sounds and the ones you can get from AmpliTube.

Next up is T-RackS 6. This suite of mixing and mastering tools earned a 10/10 review from me upon its release late last year, and, rather than revisit its many virtues here, I’ll simply point you to my glowing review.
While audio processing plugins take centre stage, there is a raft of solid software instruments to keep composers and songwriters engaged – the most significant of which is Pianoverse. Ranging from soaring nine-foot grands fit for concertos, to dark and brooding seven-footers, and even including punchy and bright uprights, these are among the most sublime piano samples I’ve demoed.
Interestingly, Pianoverse pairs these exactly-recorded samples with a set of otherworldly reverbs and a limited yet powerful selection of insert effects. This hybrid approach works surprisingly well, and while it would be nice to have some more miking options—users can use either a coincident pair or a close pair, with no ability to blend between them—Pianoverse’s rich tones, controllable pedal and hammer noise, and its capacity to go from realism to surrealism in an instant makes this a must-have sample piano.
TONEX Signature Collections. Image: Press
From here, the bundle gets less exciting. We have established mainstays like the sprawling SampleTank 4, which came out in 2019, the film-focused Cinekinetik libraries, released in 2021, and MODO Bass 2 and MODO Drum 1.5, both of which debuted in 2022. Notice a trend? In truth, it doesn’t hugely matter that these instruments are getting long in the tooth; SampleTank is still a decent library filled with some fantastic rare synth sounds, MODO Bass in particular stands out amongst other bass guitar sample instruments, and most of the instruments have received at least some quality-of-life updates or sound expansions over the years.
However, if you want to see a truly past-its-sell-by-date sample instrument, look no further than Miroslav Philharmonik 2, which hit the market back in 2016. To be clear, the original samples still hold up in terms of detail and tone, and it’s perfectly possible to get expressive passages out of the different instrumental sections, but the cramped, low-res interface feels emblematic of a sample instrument lineup that, overall, hasn’t seen major innovations in years. Composers looking for big-screen scoring solutions can find far more streamlined workflows in EastWest’s OPUS player, while producers who like having idea-starters on hand should look to the new MIDI Tools introduced in Native Instrument’s Kontakt 8.
Pianoverse main window. Image: Press
Those shortcomings don’t feel like such a big deal once you consider Total Studio 5’s highly competitive pricing. Ranging from €299 for the standard edition up to €599 at the Max edition, the collection has received a price reduction of around €200 from the previous version across the board. At the Max level, you’ll get the Signature Collection Vol. 1 for TONEX, all nine keyboards in Pianoverse, and additional tools like ARC 4, a high-powered room calibration software suitable for professional studios or creators looking to get serious about their home setup. For most users, the middle ‘Pro’ tier, with its 95 included products and €399 asking price, will likely be the sweet spot.
Pitted against its peers, Total Studio stands up pretty well. Regarding quality, the T-RackS suit goes toe-to-toe with Universal Audio’s hardware emulations. AmpliTube 5 might actually beat Native Instruments’ Guitar Rig Pro 7 in my estimation, and while Komplete 15 clearly wins on its sample instruments, it’s decidedly lacking on the mixing and mastering side of things.
Waves Audio’s bundles are perhaps the closest direct comparison – but only if you’re looking at subscription options. If you want a single purchase, you’d need to buy the Horizon bundle and the Inspire Virtual Instruments Collection to achieve the same level of versatility. Total Studio 5 is also significantly cheaper than all the aforementioned competitors at full price.
SampleTank 4 instrument browser. Image: Press
Overall, Total Studio 5 feels a bit uneven. The older sample libraries contain quality content but are held back by ageing user interfaces and workflows. Moreover, the majority of them were available in the previous edition of Total Studio and so provide little incentive for existing users to upgrade. On the other hand, AmpliTube 5 and TONEX are awesome, T-RackS 6 is formidable, and Pianoverse feels inspiring — these are industry-leading applications. In fact, if they were the only products included in Total Studio 5, I’d still say it’s worth buying.
If Total Studio could boost the level of its sample instruments, it might just become the true all-rounder that music makers need. As it stands, you get high-powered audio plugins and with a mixed bag of sample instruments thrown in as a sweetener. If that’s a dynamic that works for you, then we’d say fill your boots.
Key features

500GB of content
Up to 2000 audio plugins
Up to 16,000 samples
Three pricing tiers offering 49, 98, or 162 products
ARC 4 room calibration software included in the MAX edition

The post IK Multimedia Total Studio 5 review: Almost a must-have — with a few must-fix appeared first on MusicTech.

Clatters Machines release Sonora mixer module Italian Eurorack manufacturer Clatters Machines have announced the release of Sonora, a 6HP stereo output module designed to act as a final mixing stage for modular synthesizer systems.

Classical Highlights for May 2025This year being the 150th anniversary of Maurice Ravel's birth, we are seeing more recordings of his music, such as Jean-Efflam Bavouzet's excellent, new traversal of the solo piano works. Yet there are other noteworthy releases to hear too, including Prokofiev's string quartets by the Quatuor Danel (pictured); a blend of classical music and spirituals by harpist Ashley Jackson; and Beatrice Rana's return to the music of Bach with four keyboard concertos.

7 free plugins and VSTs for making beats
Expert producer Isaac Duarte showcases seven free plugins and VSTs for making professional-sounding beats.

SOL Strategies reports Q2 net loss of $3.5M while staking, validating revenue surgeIn addition to buffering its SOL holdings, SOL Strategies added SUI to its balance sheets and decreased exposure to Bitcoin in Q1 2025.

Former DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg co-leads $15.5M Series A for AI video ad platformDreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg’s venture fund WndrCo co-led a $15.5 million Series A round for Creatify, an AI video ad platform. Creatify’s AdMax platform uses AI to quickly generate dozens of video advertisements, which are geared toward social media marketing — AdMax analyzes high-performing social video campaigns on apps like TikTok and Instagram to shape […]

Signing Stories: Militia VoxDate Signed: August 2024Label: Golden Robot RecordsType of Music: Alt Metal, Rock, Goth, Industrial, ProgBooking: Joy Collingbourne, joy@mobagency.comPublicity: Sarah Facciolo, Facci PR, sarah@faccipr.comA&R: Kim BencicWeb: militiavox.comSome artists are inherently suspicious of record labels. That’s especially true for singer, songwriter, visual artist, and all-around creative badass Militia Vox. As a teenager, she was in a band signed to Cleopatra Records. She recorded an album for them that ultimately got shelved, leaving a sour taste in her mouth. Also, as a woman of color who performs heavy music, she’s had to battle negative industry attitudes from many corners. “Any record deal I’ve been offered I turned down, because it was always contingent on changing something,” she divulges. “If they’re changing who you are, they don’t want you.” Besides, she’s been thriving on her own for years, earning her way to the stage and in the studio with artists such as Twisted Sister, L7, 24-7 Spyz, and Cyndi Lauper. Another act she became friendly with is Living Colour, including lead singer Corey Glover. One day, producerTony Bruno suggested she cover the '80s hit “It’s Only Love” by Bryan Adams and Tina Turner. Glover was Vox’s immediate choice for laying down the duet. Also on the cut are Living Colour’s Vernon Reid and Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme. Vox knew the track was special and wished to give it a bigger promotional boost than she could on her own. Wondering where to take it, Glover suggested Golden Robot Records. The four-octave rebel eached out and quickly received a response from the Sydney, Australia-based label. Happily, the head of A&R was already a fan. Besides wanting the single, Golden Robot desired everything else she had, including her all-female Judas Priest cover band, Judas Priestess. She scrutinized the contract and removed every trace of objectionable verbiage. “They met me halfway,” notes the stage performer and former TV host. “I would like to publicly thank Golden Robot for giving me a shot,” continues Vox, who recently made her Lincoln Center debut. “I feel incredibly humbled and grateful to be with them.”The post Signing Stories: Militia Vox first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Court rules NewJeans will be fined if they engage in independent promotional activities, amid contract dispute with HYBE’s ADORA court in Seoul has ordered K-pop group NewJeans to pay 1 billion won (USD $726,300) per member for each unauthorized activity outside their agency’s control, potentially totaling 5 billion won ($3.6 million) if all five members perform together. Multiple news outlets out of South Korea reported that the Seoul Central District Court on Friday … Continued
Source

3D Printing A Capable RC CarYou can buy all sorts of RC cars off the shelf, but doing so won’t teach you a whole lot. Alternatively, you could follow [TRDB]’s example, and design your own from scratch.
The Lizard, as it is known, is a fun little RC car. It’s got a vaguely Formula 1-inspired aesthetic, and looks fetching with the aid of two-tone 3D printed parts. It’s designed for speed and handling, with a rear-wheel-drive layout and sprung suspension at all four corners to soak up the bumps. The majority of the vehicle is 3D printed in PETG, including the body and the gearbox and differential. However, some suspension components are made in TPU for greater flexibility and resistance to impact. [TRDB] specified commercial off-the-shelf wheels to provide good grip that couldn’t easily be achieved with 3D-printed tires. An ESP32 is responsible for receiving commands from [TRDB’s] custom RC controller running the same microcontroller. It sends commands to the speed controller that runs the Lizard’s brushed DC motor from a 3S lithium-polymer battery.
The final product looks sleek and handles well. It also achieved a GPS-verified top speed of 48 km/h as per [TRDB’s] testing. We’ve seen some other great DIY RC cars over the years, too, like this example that focuses on performance fundamentals. Video after the break.

IK Multimedia Total VI MAX Bundle is only $49 until June 15
Plugin Boutique is currently offering the IK Multimedia Total VI MAX bundle for just $49.99, slashing a massive 87% off the regular $350 price tag until June 15. IK Multimedia Total VI MAX is a gigantic collection of virtual instruments that spans almost every category you can think of—acoustic, electronic, and orchestral. It’s the perfect [...]
View post: IK Multimedia Total VI MAX Bundle is only $49 until June 15

GC Audio release Malcolm Toft Equate X GC Audio have introduced the Malcolm Toft Equate X for their modular Inherit System, a new channel strip cartridge designed with the legendary recording engineer and console designer Malcolm Toft.

20 years ago, labels targeted fandom. Will it work the second time around?As record labels push to monetize fandom yet again, the are reviving an old playbook. But will today’s artists play along? The recorded industry’s future may hinge on expanded rights deals and there ability to finally deliver on their promise, writes Tatiana Cirisano of MIDiA Research
The post 20 years ago, labels targeted fandom. Will it work the second time around? appeared first on Hypebot.

Live Music Industry News RoundupLast week we've shared major stories from the stage and beyond, including a critical look at Live Nation by the Wall Street Journal, why concerts tickets are so pricey, ticket resales, the NIVA conference and more.
The post Live Music Industry News Roundup appeared first on Hypebot.