What does ‘I’ll take your band to the next level’ mean?We've all heard the pitch: “I'll take your band to the next level.” What does that even mean? Should you be concerned if someone says that to you?
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Fuse Audio Labs TCS-68 Cassette Tape Channel is only $19.99 until May 31
Plugin Boutique is currently offering the TCS-68 Cassette Tape Channel by Fuse Audio Labs for just $19.99 until May 31, 2025. The TCS-68 Cassette emulates a single channel from the Tascam Midistudio 688, a multitrack cassette recorder that shaped the sound of countless 1990s demo tapes. We already covered two lo-fi plugins lately (Codec v2.0 and [...]
View post: Fuse Audio Labs TCS-68 Cassette Tape Channel is only $19.99 until May 31

Motown EQs v2 from Nomad Factory Nomad Factory's Motown EQs v2 combines two new EQ modules in a single plug-in, and is now available in a new and updated version of their Retro EQs Bundle. 

“It would basically kill the AI industry overnight”: Nick Clegg thinks asking artists for use permission is a bad thingNick Clegg, former deputy prime minister and ex-Meta head of global affairs, says a requirement to ask artists for express permission to use their work to train AI models would “basically kill the AI industry in this country overnight”.
Clegg’s comments come amid an ongoing storm in the music industry, which was sparked by UK government plans to allow AI companies to train their models using copyrighted content. A number of high-profile artists have spoken out in opposition to the plans, including Elton John, who recently branded the plans “criminal”.

READ MORE: Max Richter blasts proposals to allow AI companies to train models on copyrighted material

Speaking at a recent event to promote his new book, How to Save the Internet – which looks at “the threat to global connection in the age of AI and political conflict” – Clegg said while creatives should have the ability to opting their work out of AI training, it’s not feasible to ask each artist for their consent first.
“I think the creative community wants to go a step further,” he said [via The Times]. “Quite a lot of voices say, ‘You can only train on my content, [if you] first ask’. And I have to say that strikes me as somewhat implausible because these systems train on vast amounts of data.”
“I just don’t know how you go around, asking everyone first. I just don’t see how that would work,” he went on. “And by the way if you did it in Britain and no one else did it, you would basically kill the AI industry in this country overnight.”
The use of copyrighted music in AI training has been the subject of fierce debate for some time. 
Speaking to MusicTech last year, producer Brian Wayne Transeau – better known as BT – said “the future of music is human”, adding that while he “strongly” believes in “consensual, ethically trained AI”, he said “there are very few companies respecting intellectual property rights in this space.”
“Some are flagrantly flaunting their first-to-market status from trading text-to-music models by scraping Spotify and YouTube,” he went on. “I find this an abhorrent misuse of this technology, one which I believe that, when used responsibly, will unlock infinite creative potential in the next generation of music creators.”
A recent proposed amendment to the Data (Use and Access) Bill in the UK – which aims to offer those in creative industries more insight into how their work is used by AI companies – sought to make tech companies disclose the copyrighted material used to train their models.
Per The Verge, while the amendment gained support from the likes of Paul McCartney, Dua Lipa, Andrew Lloyd Webber and hundreds of others, members of parliament on Thursday rejected it, with technology secretary Peter Kyle saying “Britain’s economy needs both [AI and creative] sectors to succeed and prosper”.
Learn more about AI via MusicTech.
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Lese releases Codec v2.0 FREE lo-fi plugin with new glitch features
Lese has released Codec v2.0, a free lo-fi plugin for macOS and Windows that simulates lossy audio compression artifacts, updated with new features like Packet Disorder, Noise, and Crunch. If you’ve followed BPB for a while, you already know how much I loved the original Codec. It’s one of the few plugins that replicates the [...]
View post: Lese releases Codec v2.0 FREE lo-fi plugin with new glitch features

“It all started with Ozzy”: How Andrew Watt pushed through self-doubt to become one of the world’s top producers at 34Andrew Watt has reflected on the early days of his production journey, noting how his work with Ozzy Osbourne helped to propel his career to new heights.
Watt has worked with huge pop artists such as Justin Bieber and Lana Del Rey, however, it was producing Osbourne’s 2020 album, Ordinary Man, that really helped him find his place in the world of rock. He went on to produce Osbourne’s follow-up record, 2022’s Patient Number 9, the Rolling Stones’ Hackney Diamonds, and Iggy Pop’s Every Loser (both released in 2023).

READ MORE: “It’s hard to clear samples. We’d have something in the track, and then we would have to take it out, and it wouldn’t sound as good”: Zeds Dead’s battle with sample clearance on their new album

In an interview with Guitar World, he recalls how making pop tracks driven by guitar helped to get his foot in the door of production for rock: “Rock is something that I love – it’s the music that speaks to me the most, but as I found my way into this business, I had these gigs playing for amazing pop artists and ended up writing their songs, and that became my footing and the thing that I was doing – making pop music that had guitar in it,” he says.
Osbourne and his wife/manager Sharon were then the first to believe he could conquer a great rock record. He says, “When the Ozzy thing came around, I was so excited at the chance to do it, but also kind of doubting myself. Like, these aren’t the records I really make. But with the push and love and guidance from both Duff McKagan [Guns N’ Roses] and Chad Smith [Red Hot Chili Peppers], who were friends at that point, they were like, ‘Come on man, you gotta make this. Of course you can do it. It’s everything you love.’”
He goes on to add, “Once we started making music, I kind of felt that confidence and that became the blueprint. For the Iggy album, we just kind of made music and then Iggy chose the tracks he liked and sang to them.
“Then that led me into working with bands that I love, like Pearl Jam – they’re the best live band there is. And obviously the Stones are everyone’s favourite rock band. Getting to sit in the room with those guys and just record a band doing their thing, keeping it really live, became really important to me and just my favourite thing in the world to do.”

Watt more recently produced the collaborative album, Who Believes In Angels?, from Elton John and Brandi Carlile, which landed back in April. Cameras were allowed in the studio to capture the making of the record in full, with footage compiled into a candid short film documenting the turbulent creative process of making an album in just 20 days.
The post “It all started with Ozzy”: How Andrew Watt pushed through self-doubt to become one of the world’s top producers at 34 appeared first on MusicTech.

LANG Electronics’ P.LANE Type 436 revives a classic compressor used by The BeatlesLANG Electronics of Heritage Audio has launched the P.LANE Type 436 all tube vari-mu compressor, a modern take on the modified ALTEC 436C behind “the fresh and furious British Invasion sound that conquered the world in the ‘60s”.
Described as one of the most mysterious vari-mu (variable gain) compressors of all time, the modded ALTEC 436C was notably used on recordings by The Beatles, and has gone on to be used across contemporary pop, rock, hip-hop, EDM, and more. LANG’s revival is a two rack unit that encompasses all development stages of the original.

READ MORE: Allen & Heath on new generation of Qu mixers: “Every aspect of the mixer has been re-thought”

The P.LANE Type 436 covers all stages of the ALTEC 436’s life, including the “simple yet extremely effective” model 436C to the more evolved ‘London Mod’, with six selectable constants and hold positions for each, keeping the source signal compressed to the most recently processed peak level.
The design hosts three tubes to match the original – a NOS 6H5P, a JJ E88CC, and a NOS 6AL5 – plus custom-made input and output LANG Electronics transformers designed by Heritage Audio. It also includes a SuperFast (S.F.) setting not found on the vintage 436C that adapts this compressor to the modern needs of studio recording.
It offers controls for Attack (selectable, stepped – six settings) and Recovery (selectable, stepped – six settings, plus Hold), all within a sturdy steel rack-mount chassis hosting a worldwide internal power supply. Check out the videos below for more information:

Earlier this year, Heritage Audio and LANG Electronics revealed the LANG PEQ-2 plugin, emulating the Lang PEQ-2 program equaliser (also from the ‘60s), which was reissued in 2023.
Heritage has given several of its own hardware classics similar treatment in the past, recreating all of its Successor stereo bus compressor’s features as a plugin with new features. It also similarly transformed its Symph EQ, and its BritStrip console channel strip.
The LANG Electronics P.LANE Type 436 is available now for £799. You can find out more via Heritage Audio.
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My Forever Studio: Ellie Dixon is banned from CurrysEllie Dixon is a self-producing artist who, despite amassing millions of streams, continues to make her sample-heavy songs in her bedroom. In this episode of My Forever Studio, brought to you in partnership with Audient, find out how lockdown fuelled Ellie’s TikTok success, hear how her song Swing became a demo track in Logic Pro 11, and be challenged to raid your kitchen for samples.
Ellie has built a massive following from her home studio, with 1.2 million TikTok fans, 18 million music streams, and a TikTok Songwriter of the Year nomination under her belt, all thanks to her mastery of DIY music production.
After releasing her EPs Crikey! It’s My Psyche and In Case Of Emergency, Ellie’s toured Europe, opened for Pentatonix and Sam Ryder, and played Glastonbury — and still records vocals under a duvet at home.
You can check out the full video, recorded at TYX London, below, or listen on your favourite podcasting platform.

Last week, Charlie Deakin Davies joined us in studio foreverdom to discuss their their go-to vocal chain, how they bounced back from a laptop disaster before Glasto, and the chaos of tracking two drummers at once. Also performing as Charlieeeee, fusing indie and drum ’n’ bass in a wild, high-octane live show with crowd interaction – and Beyblades — Charlie is truly a multi-faceted producer, becoming the youngest producer to get BBC Radio 2 airplay and has since worked with Fred Again, Laura Marling, and Gary Barlow.
The My Forever Studio podcast – created in partnership with Audient – sees artists, producers, and engineers create their dream fantasy Forever Studio, wherever they want in the universe. However, hosts Chris Barker and Will Betts impose some strict rules in the Forever Studio. Our guests are permitted a limited number of items in their creative space, so they must choose carefully. There will be nostalgia. There will be anecdotes. There may be gags. But there will be no bundles!
Subscribe to My Forever Studio on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and check out all episodes so far via MusicTech.
The post My Forever Studio: Ellie Dixon is banned from Currys appeared first on MusicTech.

Artifacts and Oddities from the Jim Irsay CollectionWe're certainly not a sports website, but the owner of the Indianapolis Colts, Jim Irsay, had a passion for collecting guitars, artifacts, and objects of pop culture fascination. Irsay died on May 21, 2025, but left behind a collection of pretty incredible pieces of history. AllMusic looks at some notable items in the collection.

Dubai launches first licensed tokenized real estate project in MENA regionDubai has launched the first licensed tokenized real estate project in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, previewing appetite for real-world tokenization in one of the world’s burgeoning crypto hubs.Partners in the project include the Dubai Land Department (DLD), the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, and the Dubai Future Foundation, according to an announcement from the Dubai government. The tokens will be tradeable on the newly launched “Prypco Mint” platform, with Zand Digital Bank appointed as the bank for the project’s pilot phase.On May 19, Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) updated its rules to include real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, allowing such tokens to be traded on secondary markets.Related: UAE saw 41% increase in crypto app downloads in 2024 — AppsFlyerThe project will allow individual investors to buy tokenized shares in “ready-to-own properties in Dubai,” with investments starting at 2,000 Emirate dirham ($545). During the pilot phase, all transactions will be carried out in the dirham (AED), with no cryptocurrency to be used. Although the pilot program will be limited to those with UAE ID holders, there are plans to expand it globally.In April, the DLD and VARA agreed to link Dubai’s real estate registry with the tokenization of property. The stated goal was to attract global investors and enhance liquidity in Dubai’s real estate market. The project was initially announced in March.A sought-after destination for crypto entrepreneurs, the United Arab Emirates is positioning itself as a crypto hub. In May, Dubai, an emirate within the country, partnered with Crypto.com to help facilitate crypto payments for government services.Related: Dubai crypto regulator grants VASP license to RWA-friendly L1 blockchainReal estate tokenization market may reach $19.4B by 2033Real estate is one of many areas of RWA tokenization that is poised for a breakthrough over the next few years. It fulfills some key promises of blockchain technology, providing liquidity to relatively illiquid assets and granting greater accessibility to retail investors.According to Custom Market Insights, the global real estate tokenization market is expected to reach a $19.4 billion market cap by 2033, growing at a compound annual rate of 21%. All three types of real estate — residential, commercial, and industrial — will play a role.Global real estate tokenization market over time. Source: Custom Market InsightsSome of the companies that specialize in tokenizing real estate include RealT and Metlabs. However, many others have struggled in their efforts, largely due to the complexities of navigating regulatory requirements.Magazine: TradFi is building Ethereum L2s to tokenize trillions in RWAs — Inside story

2025 Pet Hacks Contest: A Barrel Of Fun For Your DogIf you ask someone for a piece of received opinion about Bernese mountain dogs, the chances are that the tale of their carrying barrels of brandy round their necks for the revival of those lost in the snow. It’s a story of uncertain provenance and may indeed be a myth, but that hasn’t stopped [Saren Tasciyan] 3D printing one for their faithful hound. In its own way it too is a saviour, for as well as a small camera, it carries a supply of dog poop bags.
It’s a two part print, held together with strong magnets. Waterproofing is achieved using liberal quantities of hot glue. There’s a protrusion on one side designed to take an action camera for a dog’s-eye-view of the world. The files are downloadable, so your pooch can have one too if you like. We are wondering whether a couple of miniatures of brandy might just fit in there as well.
It’s is part of the 2025 Pet Hacks contest, so if this has whetted your appetite, expect more. If your dog carries around something you’ve made, how about making it an entry of your own?

Four VW execs found guilty in trial that transformed Europe’s auto marketFour former Volkswagen executives received prison sentences Monday for their role in the emissions-cheating scandal that fundamentally transformed Europe’s car market. The verdict, delivered after a three-year trial in Braunschweig, Germany, marked the latest chapter in a 10-year-long saga that reshaped the continent’s relationship with diesel technology. Jens Hadler, who oversaw diesel engine development, received […]

Moog Music MessengerMessenger is a new Moog monophonic analog keyboard synthesizer designed for the electronic musicians, producers, sound designers, sonic tinkerers, and analog dreamers of today and tomorrow. Engineered to open new portals of art and expression through sound, the instrument is ready to be a trusted creative companion for any musical genre or style—at any point in your synthesis journey. An Experimental Expression Engine If you're new to synthesis, welcome. You're exactly where you need to be. Messenger's intuitive layout with clearly labeled controls invites immediate hands-on exploration and encourages a deeper understanding of how to shape and sculpt sound. For experienced synthesists and sound designers, Messenger is packed full of innovative twists on beloved analog circuitry, blending the iconic, raw Moog sound with flexible, modern features designed for use on stage or in the studio. This synthesizer has two oscillators with wavefolding functionality, a sub-oscillator with continuously variable waveshapes, dual looping ADSR envelopes, 32 semi-weighted full-size keys with velocity and aftertouch, and the legendary Moog ladder filter augmented with resonance bass compensation, multiple filter slopes, and true multimode functionality. Messenger's 256 on-board presets allow for immediate saving and recall of your favorite sounds. An intuitive arpeggiator and expression/sustain pedal inputs make this an indispensable live tool, while its unique sequencer with probabilistic controls and Eurorack connectivity set Messenger up to be at the core of your studio or home setup. Craft soaring leads and deep, rumbling basses. Create delicately textured pads and flowing arpeggios. Build beats with custom kicks, snares, and toms. Explore dense drones and inharmonic metallics. Pay attention to how these sounds impact the way you hear the world around you. Endless Sonic Discoveries Await Timeless and Intuitive - Messenger builds on the DNA of Moog's most iconic and prolific monosynths—Minimoog Model D, Voyager, Grandmother, Subsequent 37—and puts a new spin on a familiar format with innovative circuits and timeless analog sound. A Legend Reborn - The legendary Moog transistor ladder filter gets some new tricks up its sleeve. A unique pole-mixing design allows the ladder filter to preserve bass frequencies as resonance is increased via the RES BASS switch while keeping its sonic legacy intact. Low-pass mode adds a 2-pole filter slope in addition to the classic Moog 4-pole low-pass filter slope. Inspiration at Your Fingertips - 32 full-size semi-weighted keys with velocity and aftertouch, a robust metal panel, 256 presets, and knob-per-function controls mean Messenger is endlessly playable and ready to bring to your next gig. Compositional Powerhouse - Effortlessly record sequences of up to 64 steps, integrate chance operations, and introduce random fluctuations and parameter recording. Experiment with a plethora of arpeggiator patterns and cascade notes into infinity. Sound Design and Modulation Playground - Two loopable ADSR envelopes, two LFOs, and expanded frequency and audio rate modulation options via Oscillator 2 provide a wealth of modulation options and deeper assignable possibilities. Comprehensive Connectivity - Messenger integrates seamlessly into any studio or live setup with six analog control voltage (CV) patch points, an external audio input to the filter, expression and sustain pedal inputs, and 5-pin DIN MIDI in/out as well as MIDI over USB-C. TYPE - Monophonic Analog Synthesizer SOUND ENGINE: Analog. NUMBER OF KEYS: 32. TYPE OF KEYS: Semi-Weighted with Velocity and Aftertouch. CONTROLLERS: Pitch Bend, Mod Wheel, Velocity, Aftertouch. POLYPHONY: Monophonic. ANALOG SIGNAL PROCESSORS: 1x Voltage-Controlled Multimode Moog Transistor Ladder Filter with Selectable Resonance Compensation, 1x Voltage-Controlled Amplifier. ENVELOPES: 2x ADSR Loopable Envelopes. LFOS: 1x Selectable Waveshape LFO (LFO 1), 1x Triangle Wave LFO (LFO 2). PRESETS: 256 patches - 16 banks, 16 patches per bank. ARPEGGIATOR / SEQUENCER: 64 step sequence saveable per-patch. Audio INPUT: 1x 6.5mm TS. Audio OUTPUT: 1x 6.5mm TS, 1x 6.5mm TRS Headphone. MIDI I/O: DIN In, DIN Out, USB-C. CV/GATE CONNECTIONS: 6x 3.5mm TS - CV/Gate In, CV/Gate Out, Analog Clock In/Out. PEDAL INPUTS: Sustain, Expression (6.5mm TRS). WEIGHT: 4.95 kg / 10.91 lbs. DIMENSIONS: 58.50 width x 32.16 depth x 9.65 height (cm) 23.03 width x 12.66 depth x 3.80 height (inches). POWER: Included 12V DC (Center Positive) Power Supply, 100-240V AC 50/60 Hz. YouTube/klcu9t-pYKk Read More

Live Music News Roundup: Touring Costs, Ticket Resale & MoreThis live music news roundup includes topics like musicians turning down touring, a revealing NITO resale study, a UK solution to the indie venue struggle, and much more...
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Your Morning Coffee Podcast: Ticketing, Live Nation & TouringEpisode 251 of the Jay Gilbert and Mike Etchart Your Morning Coffee Podcast: Weekly News for the New Music Business is available now. LISTEN HERE:
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