ROYAL 2 virtual bassist plugin by UJAM is only $9 at Plugin Boutique
Plugin Boutique is currently offering the ROYAL 2 virtual bass guitar plugin by UJAM for just $9, down from the regular $119 price tag. That’s a massive 92% discount, available until January 4th (and you also get a free gift with your purchase). ROYAL 2 is part of UJAM’s Virtual Bassist series. It shares the [...]
View post: ROYAL 2 virtual bassist plugin by UJAM is only $9 at Plugin Boutique

UJAM release Virtual Pianist Grit Virtual Pianist Grit is the second electric piano to join the Virtual Pianist line-up, and is said to offer a distinctly more rugged and expressive voice that its predecessor, Vibe.

AllMusic Loves 2025 ReissuesScanning the reissues and other archival releases loved by ten of our editors, it's clear that 2025 was an outstanding year for vintage live recordings as well as a myriad multi-disc compilations catering to explorers of old school R&B, synth pop, British folk, German rock, and more, even electroclash. Here are our individual editors' personal selections for the reissues and archival albums that came out this year.

Vinyl Minded, Gift Guide Edition Vol. 2Frank Sinatra

Long Ago, Far Away (1943-1951) (SING)

5XLP Deluxe Box Set

Five albums, all jam-packed with live gems by Ol' Blue Eyes, originally recorded in the '40s and very early '50s. The bulk were recorded in New York or at the Hollywood Bowl, with a few from Philadelphia. But regardless of the geographical location, all 10 sides of vinyl showcase The Voice at his very best. Smooth, emotion-inducing, and just on it!

Frank's "Ol' Man River," at the Hollywood Bowl, is a show-stopper, and it's impossible not to get goosebumps when he croons "I Fall in Love Too Easily." His banter between songs is a glorious time capsule; there are moments when he just stops short of chastising the crowd for getting too excited.

The packaging here is exquisite. "Paired with a deluxe booklet featuring expert liner notes, rare photos, and vintage memorabilia, every set is unique—each vinyl record is visually distinct, ensuring no two are alike," reads a statement.

“What SING has done with these mono broadcast recordings is nothing short of revolutionary – and remarkable,” said world-renowned Sinatra expert and author Charles L. Granata. “Engineer Harry Hess has taken the vintage sonics to an entirely new level by using professional AI tools to separate Sinatra’s voice from the orchestra, clean it and raise the volume and re-integrate it with the instrumental backing so it has more presence and stands more prominently at the forefront of the recording. This judicious use of professional AI tools has enabled SING to build on the inherent fidelity of these recordings. No gimmickry, fakery or psycho-acoustic tricks were used. Harry’s innovative, targeted and sensitive use of the burgeoning technology in a very specific way resulted in recordings that remain faithful to the artist’s performance while allowing it to shine as never before.”

If the full box set is a stretch financially, there is single LP called Frank Sinatra at the Hollywood Bowl 1943-1948, which picks out some highlights. There's also an album which picks out the best of Sinatra's Christmas on the Air tunes, which is disc 5 in the box set, just in time for the holidays. They've thought of everything.

Ray Charles

No One Does It Like Ray Charles

Come Live With Me

Love Country Style

Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul (Tangerine Record Corp.)

There aren't many voices that can follow Sinatra, but Ray Charles certainly has one of them.

Tangerine has remastered and reissued a bunch of classic Charles albums while, in No One Does It Like Ray Charles, they've dropped a new and quite stunning compilation, "collecting for the first time ever a number of mid-1960s singles, B-sides, and non-LP tracks never before gathered together on a single cohesive album," they say. "The instant classic collection captures Ray Charles at the height of his powers, offering a rare glimpse into a prolific and creatively explosive moment in his career."

"Without Love (There is Nothing)" is spellbinding, as is "Something's Wrong." At his peak, Charles' voice finds its way to your very core and wraps itself around your soul.

All of these albums, on stunning orange vinyl (Tangerine -- see what they did there?) are quite beautiful. Ray's version of "You'll Never Walk Alone" on Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul is worth the price of that particular album alone. But there's no filler on any of these.The post Vinyl Minded, Gift Guide Edition Vol. 2 first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Palmer Luckey’s Erebor hits $4.3B valuation as regulators advance bank charterLuckey-backed Erebor raised $350 million at a $4.35 billion valuation as OCC and FDIC approvals signal momentum for crypto- and AI-focused banking.

OpenAI says AI browsers may always be vulnerable to prompt injection attacksOpenAI says prompt injections will always be a risk for AI browsers with agentic capabilities, like Atlas. But the firm is beefing up its cybersecurity with an 'LLM-based automated attacker.'

Christmas Ornament Has Hidden Compartment, Clever DesignIf you need something clever for a gift, consider this two-part 3D-printed Christmas ornament that has a small secret compartment. But there’s a catch: the print is a challenging one. So make sure your printer is up to the task before you begin (or just mash PRINT and find out).
Want a challenging print that’s also useful? This two-piece ornament has a small gift area inside, and prints without supports.
This design is from [Angus] of [Maker’s Muse] and it’s not just eye-catching, but meticulously designed specifically for 3D printing. In fact, [Angus]’s video (embedded under the page break) is a great round-up of thoughtful design for manufacture (DFM) issues when it comes to filament-based 3D printing.
The ornament prints without supports, which is interesting right off the bat because rounded surfaces (like fillets, or a spherical surface) facing the build plate — even when slightly truncated to provide a flat bottom — are basically very sharp overhangs. That’s a feature that doesn’t generally end up with a good surface finish. [Angus] has a clever solution, and replaces a small section with a flat incline. One can’t tell anything is off by looking at the end result, but it makes all the difference when printing.
There are all kinds of little insights into the specific challenges 3D printing brings, and [Angus] does a fantastic job of highlighting them as he explains his design and addresses the challenges he faced. One spot in particular is the flat area underneath the hang hole. This triangular area is an unsupported bridge, and because of its particular shape, it is trickier to print than normal bridges. The workable solution consists of countersinking a smaller triangle within, but [Angus] is interested in improving this area further and is eager to hear ideas on how to do so. We wonder if he’s tried an approach we covered to get better bridges.
Want to print your own? 3D files are available direct from [Angus]’s site in a pay-what-you-like format. If your 3D printer is up to it, you should be able to make a few before Christmas. But if you’d prefer to set your sights on next year with something that uses power and hardware, this tiny marble machine ornament should raise some eyebrows.

Wavesfactory Trackspacer is Now Just $29 in 50% Off Plugin Boutique Deal
Plugin Boutique is currently offering Wavesfactory Trackspacer for just $29, down from $59 in a 50% off deal. The holiday promo for the dynamic EQ and sidechain compressor plugin will expire on December 31, 2025.  Trackspacer is a 64-bit only release for macOS (VST, AU, AAX) and Windows (VST, AAX). Wavesfactory describes Trackspacer as similar [...]
View post: Wavesfactory Trackspacer is Now Just $29 in 50% Off Plugin Boutique Deal

OCTO8R The Earth ShakerThis free preset pack for Pulsar Audio's Poseidon EQ gives you instant access to its wild, musical character — from vintage warmth to modern punch and clarity. Presets showcase the unique interactive bands, rich saturation colors, and M/S power that shaped classic hits, so you can achieve pro-grade tone in seconds. Unlock the legendary sound of a mythic console. What's Inside Your Toolkit: • Warmth in Mids: Presets that use Poseidon's unique interactive bands and gentle saturation to add musical body and vintage sheen. Just like the classic console. • Crazy / Boosting Bass: Expert settings that utilize the extended low-frequency range and output transformer modes to add massive sub weight, punchy definition, or saturated grit to kicks and basslines. • LoFi Style: Creative presets that leverage the analog saturation colors and asymmetrical EQ curves to instantly degrade, vibe-out, and add retro character to any source. • Mix & Tone Shapers: Foundational presets designed for full mixes or buses. Sometimes presets use Poseidon's Mid/Side power to add width, its Auto-Gain for consistent level and its musical curves for final polish. Perfect for producers who want to: Solve specific mix problems instantly, experiment creatively with a "wild" analog EQ, and learn how a legendary tool can transform their sound. Installation: • Open plugin Poseidon in your DAW • In teh end of the drop-down Presets Menu choose "Open Presets Directoty" • Copy the folder "OCTO8R - The Earth Shaker" into this root • Enjoy. Read More

The Most Annoying Christmas Song of All Time? (The Data Has Spoken)We dive in to America's ultimate seasonal controversy: Is “All I Want for Christmas Is You” our favorite Christmas song, or our most hated?
The post The Most Annoying Christmas Song of All Time? (The Data Has Spoken) appeared first on Hypebot.

Get 10 UJAM plugins for just $79 in this Plugin Boutique bundle deal “tailored for modern music production”Looking for some inspiring new tools to kickstart your 2026? We’ve tracked down a mighty deal from Plugin Boutique, featuring 10 UJAM plugins all tailored for modern production.
This new UJAM bundle is on offer until 4 January, and features virtual instruments and effects for guitar, bass, drums, piano, and more. Offering over 200 styles, more than 3000 phrases, and “deep sound design tools”, you’ll be sure to hit the ground running in the new year.
[deals ids=”fqYYw3EpXPDlHEgpdgBuY”]
The bundle features Sparkle 2, Subcraft, Hype, Finisher Neo, Legend, Vice, Finisher Boost, Nemesis, Dandy, and Vogue. While Sparkle 2, Dandy, and Vogue all expand on traditional instruments like guitar, bass, and piano respectively, others offer tools for beatmaking or crafting more cinematic soundscapes.

READ MORE: This app lets you effortlessly send a DAW mix to your mobile device – and record ideas wherever inspiration strikes

Let’s explore some of the highlights…
Hype is a beatmaker plugin that delivers “chart-ready drums for EDM, festival anthems, and pop hits”. It features 10 kits, 20 styles, 460 MIDI loops, 12 Mix Presets, and more.

If you’d prefer to experiment with something a little more classic, be sure to check out Legend. This percussion plugin “lets you enter the studio of the ‘70s icons who innovated the dry drum sound”.
Also included is the Finisher Neo plugin, designed to deliver the power and flexibility of a full rack of audio processors and effects. It hosts 80 presets and 50 new v1.1.0 presets, 27 algorithms from granular pitch to multi-band distortion, and 50 multi-effect modes.

Another handy tool is Finisher Boost, that allows users to turn any audio track or buss into a new transition that fits perfectly with their mix. You get 60 multi-effect modes, over 200 included presets, and much more.

To shop this deal now, head over to Plugin Boutique.
The post Get 10 UJAM plugins for just $79 in this Plugin Boutique bundle deal “tailored for modern music production” appeared first on MusicTech.

Chris Carvalho of Songcards on Building Fan Value Into Digital Music ReleasesEver heard of Songcards? They're a new format for digital music and fan exclusives. We sat down with CEO Chris Carvalho to learn more!
The post Chris Carvalho of Songcards on Building Fan Value Into Digital Music Releases appeared first on Hypebot.

Save a whopping $1,545 on this insane Universal Audio plugin bundle dealSweetwater is offering an absolutely huge deal on a Universal Audio bundle, saving you over $1,500 on a collection of its “newest and feature-packed” plugins.
[deals ids=”miNZGDe97X7rup3lagQla”]
For just $49, the bundle includes six of Universal Audio’s plugins and is suitable for creatives of all levels. It’s described as “the perfect option for fans of previous UAD utilities and budding producers in need of a valuable set of plugin instruments and tools”.

READ MORE: Universal Audio’s LUNA 2.0 DAW, as reviewed by a Pro Tools user

Let’s take a closer look at some of the highlights…
LA-6176 Signature Channel Strip
The LA-6176 Signature Channel Strip brings together the best of Universal Audio’s 610 tube preamp, LA-2A, and 1176 compressors, all combined into a single plugin. At its launch in 2024,Universal Audio’s Bill Putnam Jr. said: “This is really a ‘what if we just…’ type of plugin. It started out as a 100 percent faithful emulation of our original 6176 Channel Strip in celebration of its 20th anniversary. But our team couldn’t help but add in the LA-2A circuitry that we couldn’t actually fit into our 2U channel strip in the physical world.”

Pultec Passive EQ Collection
Handmade Pultec EQ units are among the most sought-after pieces of outboard gear, and this mighty plugin brings together a trio of Pultec models: the EQP-1A Program EQ, the MEQ-5 Midrange EQ, and the HLF-3C Filter Set. UAD has captured the entire electronic path of all three units in this collection, including their transformers and tube amps. The collection also features presets from legendary Pultec users.

Teletronix LA-2A Classic Leveler Collection
This collection gives you three emulations of the most revered LA-2A models: LA-2A Silver, LA-2A Gray, and an original LA-2. The entire circuit paths of each one have been meticulously modelled, and just like the Pultec Passive EQ Collection, this one also comes with additional plugin presets from renowned LA-2A users.

Also included in Sweetwater’s Universal Audio Holiday Hits bundle are the UAD Ruby ’63 Top Boost Amplifier, its Opal Morphing Synth, and its Verve Analog Machines plugin.
Shop this deal now over at Sweetwater.
The post Save a whopping $1,545 on this insane Universal Audio plugin bundle deal appeared first on MusicTech.

Tsuga Audio releases Envosound, a FREE retro-gaming-inspired synth
Tsuga Audio created Envosound, a free retro-gaming-inspired synth for macOS and Windows with ambient and experimental music producers in mind. The free synth combines the nostalgic sound of 80s gaming hardware with modern features and effects. Envosound isn’t the only retro-gaming-inspired synth we’ve covered recently; check out the free Junior-Lite 4-bit wavetable synth by Fors. [...]
View post: Tsuga Audio releases Envosound, a FREE retro-gaming-inspired synth

Bandcamp Fridays hit $154m in payouts since 2020, with $19m paid in 2025 aloneThe latest figure represents a $31 million increase from the $123 million Bandcamp reported in May 2024.
Source