Hide Capacitive Touch Buttons In Your Next 3D PrintCapacitive touch sensors are entirely in the domain of DIY, requiring little more than a carefully-chosen conductive surface and a microcontroller. This led [John Phillips] to ask why not embed such touch buttons directly into a 3D print?
Button locations and labels can be made as part of the 3D print, which is handy.
The process is not much different from that of embedding hardware like magnets or fasteners into 3D prints: one pauses the print at convenient spot, drops in the necessary hardware, then resumes printing. It’s more or less the same for embedding a touch-sensitive button, but [John] has a few tips to make things easier.
[John] suggests using a strip of copper tape, one per touch pad, and embedding it into the print near the surface. His preference is three layers in, putting the copper tape behind 0.6 mm of plastic when using standard 0.20 mm layer heights.
Copper tape makes a good capacitive touch sensor, and the adhesive on the tape helps ensure it stays in place as the 3D printer seals it in on subsequent passes.
Copper tape is also easy to solder to, so [John] leaves a small hole over the copper — enough to stick in a wire and tack it down with the tip of a soldering iron and a blob of solder after the print is complete. It might not be ideal soldering conditions, but if things get a little melty on the back side it’s not the end of the world.
On the software side capacitive touch sensors can be as simple as using an Arduino library for the purpose but [John] rolled his own code, so give it a peek.
This reminds us a bit of another way to get a capacitive touch sensor right up against some plastic: a simple spring can do the trick.

Moises’ AI Studio DAW arrives with a built-in session musician — here’s my first impressionMoises has just upped the AI ante. The company behind the popular stem separation and chord detection app—65 million users at the time of writing, plus Apple’s 2024 iPad App of the Year trophy on the mantel—has today unveiled AI Studio, a browser-based DAW with a synthetic session musician on call.
Is this just another suffocatingly simple AI prompt machine? Not quite. Moises AI Studio is all about generating stems.
READ MORE: Loopcloud’s Flip Sample instantly transforms loops and one-shots into new variations – and it’s a free update for existing users
Alongside the many ethical and artistic critiques levelled at ‘full-song’ AI generators, there’s also a much more practical complaint: they’re just not that useful. Spitting out prefabricated tracks is fun for a hot minute, but trying to extract instrumental parts that you can actually edit and mix has previously required multi-step workarounds.
This is where AI Studio stands out. Not only am I able to conjure unique instrumental parts on a dime, but Moises claims that the musical data has been ethically sourced, licensed, and copyright-cleared, so I had no qualms when hitting that ‘generate’ button.
The first feature to impress me is its “context-aware” audio generation. Record or upload some audio—it can be a solo musical part or a mix with multiple instruments—and Studio AI will analyse the tempo, genre, harmony, and rhythm. It’ll then generate an accompanying instrumental part that matches the groove of what you’ve already created. It’s a workflow that feels less like Skynet ghostwriting your song and more like a bandmate who actually plays in time.
At launch, there are seven instruments to choose from—guitar, bass, drums, and a smattering of keys and strings—and each one can be generated with a preset genre to shape the results. There’s a satisfying number on offer, covering everything from punk to trap, dubstep to bossa nova.
Alternatively, you can generate stems based on Moises’ AI matching technology to produce parts more personalised to the audio you’ve uploaded – in practice, I find this method is the most successful.

It’s all pretty fast, too, with three minutes of audio taking about 30 seconds to generate. In two minutes, I’d added unique drums, bass, e-piano, and violin to my initial acoustic guitar track – not too shabby. However, over time, that 30-second lag does start to add up, and, as unique audio is being generated each time, it’s not possible to audition presets before you render them. Even after a short time, I find myself losing creative flow as I render stem after stem, looking for the right sound.
You can also generate stems based purely on text prompts, you can upload audio reference tracks to guide the generated output, and you can even combine both techniques to get something that retains the feel and playing style of an existing musical section but takes it in a new direction. There’s also a set of additional creative controls which allow you to define how closely the generated stems should match your uploaded audio or the selected genre preset.
It’s worth restating that all of this comes packed into a web browser. I find the barrier to entry practically non-existent, with an uncluttered UI, no additional hardware needed to get going, and an easy-to-follow workflow. It’s also worth noting that all the new features in AI Studio sit alongside the existing Moises AI tools, which include stem separation, a suite of 50+ AI vocal models, a prompt-based ‘lyric writer’, and automated mixing and mastering capabilities.
Of course, pro-level producers are unlikely to make release-ready tracks without a few additional creative steps—though I may well be proven wrong on that—but AI Studio has big potential for remixers, content creators, and anyone looking to quickly work up a demo track from an initial sketch.
My first impression is that it’s pretty powerful as a space for rapid ideation, allowing you to hear your musical ideas in a range of genres and styles with minimal friction.
The biggest drawback is audio quality. Compared to a basic sample pack, you’re still looking at a noticeable step down. Depending on your production style, this may not be an issue, but when pairing generated stems with clean acoustic recordings, the difference is obvious to me.
AI Studio is available to all existing Moises users, and everyone gets a free monthly allotment of credits that can be used to generate stems. The Free tier gets you 60 generative-AI credits, a £5 per month Premium subscription will net you 100 credits, the £25 per month Pro tier comes with a hefty 600 credits, with more available for purchase if you manage to burn through your monthly stash.
With AI Studio, Moises is staking out a position on what generative AI audio can be, showing that it is possible to build ethically trained models that still produce musically coherent results with reasonable audio fidelity. Most important of all, at least for the casual user, the company’s conception of stem generation feels at home in the neighbourhood of sample libraries and software presets. These are tools designed to enhance productivity without supplanting creativity.
You can try it yourself at moises.ai.
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Kilohearts releases Compactor, a FREE loudness maximizing plugin
Kilohearts has announced the addition of its latest plugin, Compactor, to the free Kilohearts Essentials range. Compactor joins existing freebies like Clipper and Shaper in the Kilohearts Essentials catalogue. If you aren’t familiar with Kilohearts Essentials, each addition is available as a regular (AU, VST2, VST3, AAX) plugin or as a Kilohearts Snapin, and completely [...]
View post: Kilohearts releases Compactor, a FREE loudness maximizing plugin

Loopcloud’s Flip Sample instantly transforms loops and one-shots into new variations – and it’s a free update for existing usersLoopcloud has launched Flip Sample, a new feature which instantly transforms loops and one-shots into new variations with a single click.
Aiming to “bridge the gap between browsing and producing”, Flip Sample allows users to select from over 1,000 curated patterns and effects, and reshape, sequence and pitch them on the fly.

READ MORE: Calling all DJs! Spotify has added a track mixing tool to playlists

Flip Sample promises “instant creative momentum”, and can transform any sample into something new to spark new inspiration. For example, the feature can take a single bass one-shot into a bassline.
By utilising a powerful tag-based system, Flip Sample selects from over 1,000 curated transformations tailored to the instrument and sample type used.
“Flip Sample elevates Loopcloud from a sample library into a creative production tool by letting users reshape and reimagine their sounds directly within the editor,” writes Loopcloud.
Flip Sample comes as a free update for all existing Loopcloud subscribers. Right now, new annual subscribers can get 50 percent off any annual plan, as well as a free 10-plugin bundle featuring:

Native Instruments Massive
iZotope Nectar Elements
IK Multimedia Tape Machine 80
sonible pure:verb
Excite Audio Bloom Vocal Aether Lite
Lunacy CUBE Mini
Denise God Mode
Tracktion Dawesome LOVE
BLEASS Motion FX
510k SEQUND Lite
Plugin Boutique DriveMod

Prices for said plans start at £35.99/€41.99/$47.99, and the 50% offer ends 6 January, 2026.
For more information, head to Loopcloud.
The post Loopcloud’s Flip Sample instantly transforms loops and one-shots into new variations – and it’s a free update for existing users appeared first on MusicTech.

SXSW 2026 PanelPicker Voting Ends Soon: Our Favorites FYCSXSW 2026 PanelPicker voting ends this Sunday August 24th. Everyone is eligible to vote whether you are registered yet for SXSW or not. Here's how to vote and a few of our favorite panels and presentations for your consideration.
The post SXSW 2026 PanelPicker Voting Ends Soon: Our Favorites FYC appeared first on Hypebot.

What Is A Ticket Count? Why Do Ticket Counts Matter So Much?What is a ticket count? Simply put they are a regular report of how tickets are selling for a particular show. The head of ticket count platform RealCount breaks it down and explains why ticket counts matter so much.
The post What Is A Ticket Count? Why Do Ticket Counts Matter So Much? appeared first on Hypebot.

“I woke up in the medical tent an hour later and missed the entire show”: Woman speaks out following violent assault at Rüfüs Du Sol showFootage is circulating of a woman being violently assaulted during a recent Rüfüs Du Sol show at the LA Rose Bowl.
The clip – shared by festival news outlet Festive Owl – appears to show a man knocking over and repeatedly punching a woman, who is later shown to be passed out on the floor, with what appears to be blood spattered beside her.

READ MORE: “What if we just flipped the process?”: Matteo Pagamici and Michael Künstle on playing an orchestra like a synthesizer

“This isn’t [our] usual kind of content, but this behaviour is abhorrent anywhere – much less at a show,” Festive Owl writes. “A longtime follower was brutally attacked over an accidentally spilled drink this weekend during Rüfüs Du Sol at the Rose Bowl and needs help identifying this person.”
Shelby Elston, the woman who was attacked, shared a description of what happened prior to the assault. “When we first got to our seats, a drink was accidentally spilled, lightly splashing the man in front of us,” she explains. “We apologised immediately, but he yelled that it was intentional and ran off, leaving his companion behind. We apologised to her and thought it was over.”
“About 30 minutes later, he returned, screamed at us, and threatened violence,” she continues. “I tried to calm the situation and apologised again – and the next thing I remember, I woke up in the medical tent an hour later and missed the entire show.”
“This man punched me in the face, knocking me out and causing significant bleeding, while he continued attacking our group. Another friend tried to protect us, but the attacker fled into the crowd and hasn’t been found.”

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While a police report has been filed, Shelby has been on the hunt for her attacker. She has since shared an official update on Festive Owl’s Instagram post, claiming that she has identified the perpetrator, whom she also names. “The people who knew him personally said they are not surprised he was involved in an incident like this due to him being an aggressive and unhinged individual,” she writes.
“I have been given all of his personal information (including his place of employment), charges will absolutely be filed and a civil lawsuit as well,” she adds. “I’m going to make this man pay for what he did to me and my friends.”
The Australian EDM trio have since acknowledged the assault via an Instagram Story. “Delivering moments for our fans to gather and celebrate safely is what we live for,” the band wrote [via Fox News]. “We have been heart broken to hear of the act of violence that took place during the opening act on Saturday.”
Credit: Rüfüs Du Sol/Fox News
“This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable anywhere and the fact that this happened at one of our shows was devastating to learn about,” they continued. “Local law enforcement are actively investigating the situation. Anyone with information to assist the investigation should please contact Pasadena Police Department.”
The incident has reignited conversations surrounding crowd safety at stadium events.
In the aftermath of the attack, other fans in attendance have come forward sharing how they felt “unsafe” at the gig. “Amazing set, horrible experience,” one fan comments under a Rüfüs Du Sol Instagram post. “The venue was very understaffed and we felt very unsafe. Aisles completely lined shoulder to shoulder with people, no way to get in or out. Absolute nightmare.”
Another fan writes: “I’m sorry but I was hoping for a better experience. Never in my life have a wanted to leave a show that early. Zero crowd control zero respect zero safety. These current crowds make me never want to go out again. Truly a horrible experience. I couldn’t even enjoy the music. I want a refund, to be honest.”

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The post “I woke up in the medical tent an hour later and missed the entire show”: Woman speaks out following violent assault at Rüfüs Du Sol show appeared first on MusicTech.

KaranyiSounds Polyscape NovaPolyscape Nova merges string instruments with modern synthesis techniques. Transform cellos and strings into evolving soundscapes, dynamic pads, and rhythmic textures. From subtle atmospheric layers to powerful hybrid instruments, it brings a unique blend of organic and electronic elements: Blend Strings and Synthesis. Advanced Layer System. Multi-Voice Architecture. Studio-Grade Effects. Read More

Harrison launch free 3D Delay plug-in 3D Delay is described as a professional-grade processor that’s been designed to instantly deliver mix ready results, while Stunning Phaser, Dyno Mite and Spectral Gate bring a selection of powerful new tools to the company’s software line-up. 

“The spirit of rock needs to have a touch of danger about it”: Why former Scorpions guitarist Uli Jon Roth isn’t concerned about AI in rock musicWith the increasing quality of AI-powered music generators, some musicians are rightly worried about what the future holds for the industry. Hell, the Velvet Sundown recently managed to amass hundreds of thousands of listeners before it was revealed it was all an AI hoax.
But should musicians be that concerned? Former Scorpions guitarist Uli Jon Roth has joined the growing chorus of other industry veterans like ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus who say artificial intelligence doesn’t herald the doomsday hellscape some believe it will.

READ MORE: Calling all DJs! Spotify has added a track mixing tool to playlists

“There’s now the trend of making all the vocals using pitch correctors, to the point where it becomes ridiculous,” Roth tells Metal Roos [via Blabbermouth]. “They’re taking away the essence of human expression and turning the voices into robot voices…
“Because I guess a lot of the younger kids, they’re used to all that because a lot of what we get now on social media or whatever is completely manufactured and absolutely not real.
“And the borders between real and what’s not real are very shifting and it’s coming to the point with AI that you really very often don’t know whether it was machine-made or computer-made, digital, or whether it was actually flesh and blood in front of you.
“That’s actually a very interesting development, I find, and I’m not scared about it. I’m rolling with the punches there. But a lot of people are threatened, and I understand that.”
Roth adds that the emergence of AI is actually in keeping with the “spirit of rock”, which he says “needs to have a touch of danger about it”.
“I’m not really interested in perfection in rock,” he explains. “In fact, it’s almost anathema, because the original rock was not perfect. It came like almost a revolutionary kind of thing. [It] burst onto the scene with a completely new sound, a new attitude, a new way of playing music. And this is what I am always tapping into when I’m playing that kind of music.
“It needs to have that kind of frontier spirit almost. If you take that away, it loses the very essence of it.

In other news, Dustin Ballard, the brains behind AI parody music YouTube channel There I Ruined It, recently gave a TED talk about the ethics of using AI in music creation.
“Is AI music real music? I believe that when it’s in the hands of musicians, it can be,” he explained.
The post “The spirit of rock needs to have a touch of danger about it”: Why former Scorpions guitarist Uli Jon Roth isn’t concerned about AI in rock music appeared first on MusicTech.

Softube launch Equalizers plug-in The latest addition to the Softube range aims to offer the best of both worlds by combining their praised vintage EQ emulations with a modern GUI, draggable curves, dynamic bands and more. 

How Merch Companies Help Artists ThriveThis week, Ari is joined by Tersha Willis, CEO of terrible* group, to discuss the role of merch in an artist’s income model.

Axart Labs releases AutoBeat 2, an AI-powered MIDI beat generator for macOS and Windows
Axart Labs has released AutoBeat 2 (€29.95), an AI-powered MIDI beat generator plugin for macOS (AU/VST3) and Windows (VST3). AutoBeat 2 is a creative tool built around a 12-track step sequencer and an on-device AI engine. The plugin’s key strength is its ability to instantly generate beats in a wide range of styles, from hip-hop [...]
View post: Axart Labs releases AutoBeat 2, an AI-powered MIDI beat generator for macOS and Windows

Calling all DJs! Spotify has added a track mixing tool to playlistsDJs can now flex their talent for the ones and twos with Spotify’s new Mix feature. This recent update, which is currently only available to “eligible Premium users,” allows subscribers to add custom transitions between tracks in playlists they create.
READ MORE: Spotify says it will delete the accounts of users who fail age verification checks
The function has an auto mode to let the app decide what kind of transition best suits the two tracks involved. But users can also adjust elements such as volume, EQ, and effect curves. Spotify will even display waveforms, the key, and tempo to inform these decisions. Plus, users can collaborate on transitions by sharing their playlists with other premium users.
For a middle ground between auto and complete customisation, Spotify has provided preset transitions like fade and rise. And if a user would prefer to revert the playlist back to the pre-Mix days, all they have to do is hit the “Mix” button to toggle the transitions on and off.
“Spotify users around the world have soundtracked their everyday moments by creating nearly 9 billion playlists. Now, Premium users can take their creativity to the next level with the ability to add and customise transitions between tracks,” Spotify says in a statement. “The feature, now in beta, gives users even more control—allowing music lovers and playlist experts alike to easily create unique playlists. Seamlessly transition between tracks, customise how they flow together, and enhance your mix with features like volume, EQ, and effect curves.”
In the same statement, Spotify provided some basic tips for users on how to get started mixing. Some examples are:
“Match tempos and keys: For the most natural-sounding transitions, choose songs with similar tempos and Camelot keys. When you tap “Mix,” we’ll automatically show the key and BPM (beats per minute) for each track, so you can easily scan and reorder to help your playlist flow more smoothly.
Start with transition-friendly genres: Mixing works best with music produced for seamless transitions. Dance genres like house and techno tend to blend more smoothly.
Consider the energy: Think about the mood and energy you want your playlist to have. Plan your song order to gradually build up or wind down the energy, guiding listeners through an emotional journey.”
Check out more music technology news. 
The post Calling all DJs! Spotify has added a track mixing tool to playlists appeared first on MusicTech.

Cherry Audio revives the Bob Moog-designed Crumar Spirit as a $59 soft synthCherry Audio has just added a new vintage synth emulation to its ever-growing library of synth plugins, this time based on the esoteric Crumar Spirit.
READ MORE: Behringer’s BM-11M is a clone of the Moog MF-101 analogue filter pedal
The original was originally designed in 1983 by Italian brand Crumar, plus Bob Moog of Moog Synthesizers, Tom Rhea, a pioneer of analogue synth design, and Jim Scott, a former engineer at Moog.
Cherry Audio collaborated with the Crumar brand to design the software version as the closest possible replica they could make while also expanding the features of the original. The release also arrives amidst the Cherry Audio Bob Moog Appreciation Month.
The Crumar Spirit plugin has increased the hardware’s polyphony to 16 voices, further enhanced by cyclical voice modes that can adjust each note individually.
There is a new modulation option: the Matrix Z. Adding to the pre-existing Mod X and Shaper Y, this third function is a four-slot modulation matrix that has 25 sources and 45 destinations.

The options on the hardware synth’s three-mode arpeggiator have also been expanded to include swing, chance, and feel, allowing for a more unique sound in arpeggio patterns.
“Spirit is a gateway to sonic experimentation, whether you are after wild, unpredictable timbres or warm, analogue tones. It is not a polite instrument. Nor is it clean, safe, or obvious. However, twist a few knobs and it will reward you with some of the most colourful sounds you have ever heard from a virtual analogue software synthesizer,” writes Cherry Audio.
Alongside the launch, Cherry Audio is offering numerous deals and add-ons to make the $59 list price of Spirit even more enticing. The Spectres Preset Pack is available for an extra $9.99. It includes over 100 more presets that explore the widest range of possibilities from the virtual instrument.
Furthermore, until September 1, Spirit can be included in Cherry Audio’s Build Your Own Bundle deal. The Pick 3 bundle is $99 (regularly $129), and the Pick 6 bundle is $149 (regularly $169).
Head to Cherry Audio to learn more.
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