Divining Air Quality With A Cheap Computer Vision DeviceThere are all kinds of air quality sensors on the market that rely on all kinds of electro-physical effects to detect gases or contaminants and report them back as a value. [lucascreator] has instead been investigating a method of determining air quality that is closer to divination than measurement—using computer vision and a trained AI model.
The system relies on an Unihiker K10—a microcontroller module based around the ESP32-S3 at heart. The chip is running a lightweight convolutional neural network (CNN) trained on 12,000 images of the sky. These images were sourced from a public dataset; they were taken in India and Nepal, and tagged with the relevant Air Quality Index at the time of capture. [lucascreator] used this data to train their model to look at an image taken with a camera attached to the ESP32 and estimate the air quality index based on what it has seen in that existing dataset.
It might sound like a spurious concept, but it does have some value. [lucascreator] cites studies where video data was used for low-cost air quality estimation—not as a replacement for proper measurement, but as an additional data point that could be sourced from existing surveillance infrastructure. Performance of such models has, in some cases, been remarkably accurate.
[lucascreator] is pragmatic about the limitations of their implementation of this concept, noting that their very compact model didn’t always perform the best in terms of determining actual air quality. The concept may have some value, but implementing it on an ESP32 isn’t so easy if you’re looking for supreme accuracy. We’ve featured some other great air quality projects before, though, if you’re looking for other ways to capture this information. Video after the break.

PsychoCircuitry TransientREShaper+ The PsychoCircuitry TransientREShaper+ is a dynamic and intuitive plugin designed to give you unparalleled control over the attack and sustain characteristics of your audio. Whether you need to punch up drum hits, tighten a bassline, or soften the attack of a plucked instrument, this tool provides precise manipulation of transients, allowing your sounds to cut through the mix or sit back as desired. It's an essential weapon in any mix engineer's arsenal for adding definition, clarity, and impact to individual tracks or entire buses. Equipped with a simple yet powerful interface, TransientREShaper+ offers independent control over "Attack" and "Sustain" along with a "Clip" feature to tame extreme peaks, ensuring a clean and musical output. Its ability to radically reshape the perceived envelope of sounds without affecting overall gain makes it an indispensable creative and corrective tool for drums, percussion, guitars, and any audio that needs precise dynamic sculpting. Features Intuitive transient shaping controls. Independent "Attack" and "Sustain" adjustment. "Clip" feature for peak management. Mix knob for parallel processing. Output Gain control. Sidechain HPF. Oversampling options. Resizable GUI. Read More

Music Business News Last Week: TikTok, Facebook, PROs & MoreImportant music business news last week included concern over the TikTok U.S. ownership change, new Facebook fan marketing tools for musicians, a global music revenue update, a shift at Ticketmaster, an expanded PRO database, and more.
The post Music Business News Last Week: TikTok, Facebook, PROs & More appeared first on Hypebot.

Tracktion announce Kontrast Tracktion latest collaboration with Dawsome offers a radial new take on wavetable synthesis, and promises to brings back the excitement that producers have been craving since the early days of Serum and PPG.

A breach every month raises doubts about South Korea’s digital defensesKnown for its blazing fast internet and home to some of the world’s biggest tech giants, South Korea has also faced a string of data breaches and cybersecurity lapses that has struggled to match the pace of its digital ambitions.

Blockchain network revenues declined 16% in September: ReportAsset manager VanEck attributed the broad decline in blockchain network revenue in September to lower volatility in the crypto markets.

3D Printing A Cheap VR HeadsetThe modern era of virtual reality really kicked off in earnest just over a decade ago, when the Oculus Rift promised 3D worlds beyond your wildest dreams. Since then, nobody’s been able to come up with a killer app to convince even a mild fraction of consumers to engage with the technology. Still, if you’re keen to tinker, you might like to make your own headset like [CNCDan] has done.
The build is based almost entirely on 3D-printed components and parts sourced from AliExpress. It offers 2880x1440p resolution, thanks to a pair of square 1440×1440 LCD displays, one for each eye, paired with a couple of 34 mm lenses. The headset has adjustable interpupiliary distance so you can dial the view in to properly suit your eyes. The 3D-printed housing is designed to be compatible with headrest pads from the HTC Vive Pro for comfort’s sake. Head tracking is also available, with the inclusion of an IMU and an Arduino onboard. [CNCDan] apparently put the build together for under $150, which is not bad compared to the price of a commercial off-the-shelf unit. Files are on Github for the curious.
[CNCDan] reports good results with the DIY headset, using it primarily with his racing simulator setup. He has had some issues, however, with his LCD screens, which don’t properly run at a 90 Hz refresh rate at full resolution, which is frustrating. It’s an issue he’s still looking into. We’ve seen some other neat VR builds over the years, too. Video after the break.

Rys Up Audio Vocal Drip 2Our Best Bundle Yet! Over 25 different, unique presets in a single bundle each loaded with complex, high-quality effects. Your Perfect Vocal In One Click. You can easily achieve professional-sounding vocals with our industry-leading presets inspired by top artists. Save Time - Apply vocal presets in one click after download. Save Money - No need to hire professional sound engineers. Sound Incredible - Sound like your favorite artists with the click of a button. Experience what radio-ready vocals sound like today when you download Vocal Drip 2 by Rys Up Audio. Click here for before and after audio demos. Download all our other vocal presets Read More

Initial Audio releases Initial Clipper 2, a FREE soft clipper plugin
Initial Audio has released Initial Clipper 2, a free soft clipper plugin for Windows and macOS. This isn’t the first time Initial Audio has offered a free clipper. Some of you might remember the original Initial Clipper from 2021. Version 2 brings a refreshed interface, higher-resolution real-time scope, and a new ceiling control, while keeping [...]
View post: Initial Audio releases Initial Clipper 2, a FREE soft clipper plugin

Novation release Play for Launchkey MK4 Designed to pair up exclusively with their Launchkey MK4 MIDI controller keyboard, Novation’s latest software release captures the sound of an array of well-known synthesizers.

Live Review of Colin Blunstone and RooneyMajestic Theater Detroit, MI

Contact: fiona@thebloomeffect.com 

Web: colinblunstone.net; rooneymusic.com 

Players: Colin Blunstone, vocals; Robert Schwartzman, vocals, guitar; Sean Sobash, bass; Brad Goodall, keyboards, vocals

It was a multi-generational meeting of the minds where members of alternative power pop band Rooney joined forces with one of their prime musical heroes and inspirations, Colin Blunstone of The Zombies. Actually this was not the first time for the pairing as Rooney has toured with Blunstone and his legendary British counterparts in years past. 

But this particular show had unique relevance for it was part of a select U.S. cities tour promoting Rooney front man Schwartzman’s new documentary on The Zombies called Hung Up on a Dream. The evening was a complete entertainment experience where the audience was treated to a screening of the 90-minute film, followed by a live semi-acoustic performance and a Q&A segment afterwards, with documentary director Schwartzman, Blunstone and Music Connection contributor and moderator Gary Graff.

Following the film screening, the members of Rooney jumped on the somewhat barren stage and warmed up the crowd, with a few of their radio-ready hits of the last decade or so. Sans drums, they burst out emphatically with their rapturous song “If It Were Up To Me.” Schwartzman commanded the stage from the outset, with strong lead pipes and a taut heavy pop feel. The wall of harmonies was textbook and clear as Sobash’s driving bass locked in seamlessly with the overall enveloping mix. In the vein of classic ‘60s/’70s stylists like Badfinger, Nilsson, Big Star and the like, descending chord sequences blended with joyous harmonies that led into one of their biggest singles “When Did Your Heart Go Missing?” Schwartzman was like a man possessed, darting back and forth, singing the hook with laser focus as Goodall matched the lead vocal melodies note for note on the keys. 

When Blunstone entered the fray it was an almost surreal moment. The crowd rose to their feet and stayed there from the incessant refrain of “Tell Her No,” onward. “She’s Not There” retained that cool jazzy cadence as Goodall covered original keyboardist Rod Argent’s parts perfectly. And that’s no mean feat, indeed! Rooney and Blunstone also played deep cuts like the baroque-inspired “This Will Be Our Year,” an early solo single for The Zombies’ front man, “Caroline Goodbye” and the film’s namesake “Hung Up on a Dream.” 

The set closer “Time of the Season” appropriately brought the house down. It was a great vehicle to get the crowd involved and served as a memorable way to leave everyone in a very satisfied and engaged state of mind. The post Live Review of Colin Blunstone and Rooney first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Sources: Naveen Rao’s new AI hardware startup targets $5B valuation with backing from a16z Former Databricks AI chief is raising $1 billion to build a Nvidia rival through a novel approach.

Judge tosses lawsuit against Yuga Labs over failure to satisfy Howey testThe plaintiffs failed to show how Bored Ape Yacht Club and other NFTs represent investment contracts under the SEC's 3-pronged Howey Test.

Billy Messenger CTAG Dynamic Range CompressorThis is a simple compressor plugin that was build with the goal in mind to create a good sounding compressor for a wide variety of signals and applications. The GUI is kept minimalistic to improve usability and not clutter the screen. The original version of this plugin was developed by p-hlp at: https://github.com/p-hlp/CTAGDRC. I, Billy Messenger, do not take any credit for this plugin. This version is simply a fork which adds a modern build system and prebuilt binaries available for download. Features: * Input Gain * Threshold/Ratio/Knee * Attack/Release * Auto Attack/Release * Makeup * Auto Makeup * Mix * LookAHead * Metering (Input/Output/Gain Reduction). A demonstration is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFKPXIpGRq8 Read More

Build A 3D Printed Tide Clock So You Know When The Sea Is Coming To Get YouThe tides! Such a unique thing, because on Earth, we don’t just have oceans full of liquid water—we also have a big ol’ moon called Moon to pull them around. You might like to keep track of the tides; if so, this tide clock from [rabbitcreek] could come in handy.
The motions of the tides are moderately complex; it was in the late 19th century that Sir William Thomson figured out a reasonable method to predict the tides mathematically and with a mechanical contrivance of his own design. These days, though, you don’t need pulleys and ropes to build a tide clock; you can just use electronics for display and the NOAA API to get the information you need.
[rabbitcreek’s] build is based around the Xiao ESP32 S3, which is charged with using its Wi-Fi connection to query NOAA up-to-date tide height data. It then uses this information to drive the position of a servo, installed inside a 3D-printed housing. The servo rotates a little red Moon indicator around a central Earth, with our home planet surrounded by a stretched blue marker indicating the swelling of the tides as influenced by the Moon’s gravity.
If you’re a surfer or beach driver that’s always wanting to know the tidal state at a glance, this clock is for you. We’ve featured other tide clocks before, but never any projects that can actually influence the tides themselves. If you’ve figured out how to mess with gravity on a planetary scale, consider applying for a Nobel Prize—but do notify the tipsline before you do.