It’s MIDI for the TRS-80!The Radio Shack TRS-80 was a much-loved machine across America. However, one thing it lacked was MIDI. That’s not so strange given the era it was released in, of course. Nevertheless, [Michael Wessel] has seen fit to correct this by creating the MIDI/80—a soundcard and MIDI interface for this old-school beast.
The core of the build is a BluePill STM32F103C8T6 microcontroller, running at a mighty 75 MHz. Plugged into the TRS-80s expansion port, the microcontroller is responsible for talking to the computer and translating incoming and outgoing MIDI signals as needed. Naturally, you can equip it with full-size classic DIN sockets for MIDI IN and MIDI OUT using an Adafruit breakout module. None of that MIDI Thru nonsense, though, that just makes people uncomfortable. The card is fully capable of reproducing General MIDI sounds, too, either via plugging in a Waveblaster sound module to the relevant header, or by hooking up a Roland Sound Canvas or similar to the MIDI/80s MIDI Out socket. Software-wise, there’s already a whole MIDI ecosystem developing around this new hardware. There’s a TRS-80 drum tracker and a synthesizer program, all with demo songs included. Compatibility wise, The MIDI/80 works with the TRS-80 Model I, III, and 4.
Does this mean the TRS-80 will become a new darling of the tracker and chiptune communities? We can only hope so! Meanwhile, if you want more background on this famous machine, we’ve looked into that, too. Video after the break.

VG Trumpet VG Jazz Soprano Saxophone VIYouTube/luq861NJ4Wg Virtual Instrument, VST, AU plugins, standalone application. Made by a musician, for musicians—designed to inspire and enhance your music: Five of the most common types of saxophone style sounds: Subtone, Warm, Smooth, Bright and Lead. It works with Windows and Mac as a standalone and will run as a plugin in all major DAWs (Cubase, Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Reaper, FL Studio etc.) as VST/VST3/AU. Compatible with breath controllers (AirMotion, TEControl, MRTAudio), wind controllers (AKAI EWI4000s, EWI5000, Solo, Roland Aerophone AE-10, AE-20, Pro AE-30, Yamaha WX, Yamaha YDS, Berglund NuEVI, NuRad, EMEO, Robkoo R1, Clarii mini, etc.), and MIDI keyboard controllers. More than 420 unique samples. Recorded sample quality: 24-bit / 44.1 kHz. Custom designed, unique GUI. Aftertouch, Mod Wheel, and Keyswitches are the key features to morph and perform sounds while playing. Articulations: Falls, Squeezes, Soft attack, Accented attack, Bend. Expressive effects: Expression, Attack, Vibrato, Growl, Wah. Reverb, delay and stereo control to fit the instrument in every mix. Designed for electronic wind instrument performers, sound designers, and music producers. VG Jazz Soprano Saxophone Virtual Instrument Quick Start Guide (PDF). YouTube/vaHaLQf7gBQ YouTube/UPzjAIkBSrc YouTube/qeyhBVAvYAQ YouTube/2o4dKVkIv3k Read More

SED-CSM from Rides In The Storm The latest addition to the Rides In The Storm line-up is a pre-patched synth voice that packs in a pair of VCOs and three sub-VCOs, a wavefolder, a ring modulator, two ASDR sections, a pair of LFOs, a VCF and a VCA.

Sounds and Visions: Paul McCartneyBy Shana Nys Dambrot Rearview Mirror: Photographs, December 1963–February 1964 April 25–June 21, 2025 Gagosian, 456 North Camden Drive, Beverly Hills Our appetite for pictures of the Beatles is boundless across their many eras, but none so captivating as the early years. Regarding the fresh-faced, unbounded joy of their youth, balanced on the precipice of the mania that exploded circa 1963, with their floppy bangs and cute suits—it’s poignant to recall that innocence now, on the far side of decades. What makes Gagosian Gallery’s exhibition featuring photographs of that era unique, even amid the ocean of iconic existing pictures of that time, is that these were captured from the inside, by the ultimate insider photographer—Paul McCartney himself, and he’s really good at it. The three dozen assembled works are but a selection culled from a larger traveling project—Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm, which debuted at London’s National Portrait Gallery in 2023 and is currently on view at the de Young in San Francisco through July 6—but the exhibition design goes to great lengths to evoke a museum setting with precious ephemera, enlarged contact sheets, and nostalgic video and sound augmenting the selection of moody self-portraits, jovial and pensive candid moments, crowds chasing them down city streets, and historic locations. Overall, the effect is like if Whit Stillman did a remake of A Hard Day’s Night. Actually, can someone make that happen please? Beyond the content, which would be compelling regardless, what comes through is McCartney’s genuine curiosity about his broadening horizons, and a desire to document and remember what it was like to experience it; seeing familiar moments through his reverse perspective feels fresh. As well, he was friends with artists, and it shows. The finesse of his instincts is genuinely impressive—for framing, finding decisive moments, teasing out intimacy and empathy in portraits of his cohort, embracing the lowkey and totally understandable ego in self-portrait mode, his sophisticated use of light and architectural opportunities, and his presence of mind in the face of his life changing in real time. gagosian.com/exhibitions/2025/paul-mccartneyThe post Sounds and Visions: Paul McCartney first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Bitcoin advocate Max keiser casts doubt over new BTC treasury companiesNewer Bitcoin treasury companies have not yet been battle-tested in prolonged bear market conditions, the Bitcoin maximalist said.

Up Close: K&K Insurance Group, Inc.kandkinsurance.comOrigin in Motorsports: Decades before K&K Insurance became a leading provider of sports, leisure, and entertainment insurance, its co-founder, Fort Wayne, IN businessman Nord Krauskopf, was a popular stock car racer. In the late '40s, the only insurance for this high-risk sport consisted of individual racers contributing to a fund that would help cover the costs in the event of an accident. Aware of a gap in the market, Krauskopf and his wife Teddi pitched a plan to Lloyd’s of London to create specialized insurance for race car drivers. Eighteen years after launching K&K Insurance for this purpose in 1952, their dedication to motorsports resulted in winning the Grand National Championship. In the '60s and '70s, they expanded into festival and fair insurance, and in the '80s took a broader approach that included sports, leisure, and event organization across the U.S. and Canada. Over the past 70+ years, K&K has also become one of the largest providers of insurance and claims resolution services for recreation, motorsports, and event organizations. Driven by their trademarked branding motto “Insuring the World’s Fun,” the company offers over 80 specialty insurance programs in numerous categories—ranging from Camps and Campgrounds, Events and Attractions, and Venues and Facilities to Instructors, Schools and Product Liability Insurance.Essential Operations: Staffed with experienced examiners, litigation specialists, and management personnel, K&K’s claims team offers decades of experience in the investigation and resolution of claims, providing quality claims management. The company employs more than 250 agents who perform a variety of traditional insurance company functions on behalf of the insurance companies they represent, allowing them to provide stellar service in sales, marketing, underwriting, loss control, and claims resolution. Through active involvement in industry associations, events, and conventions, its staff stays connected with current industry trends and challenges. Liability Insurance for Musicians: According to K&K Marketing Manager Lorena Hatfield, the company’s claims staff is well versed on the types of risks musicians face when they’re performing at an event, festival, or concert venue. If something should happen that prompts an audience member or facility owner to sue, the performers are often drawn into the lawsuit—and without insurance, they need to hire an attorney to determine liability. Whether it’s injury or property damage, with insurance coverage, K&K manages the process, reducing a musician’s stress considerably. Many facilities require this coverage in advance. There are three criteria for insuring musicians: 1) A group must have at least one member or representative who is at least 18 years old; 2) Annual gross income from the performing group’s activities cannot exceed $500,000 ($300,000 for an individual musician); and 3) No more than 30 members in a performing group. Coverage options are offered for both individual Performer’s Insurance and Entertainer and Musicians (Group) Program.Contact K&K Insurance Group, Inc. 800-637-4757 The post Up Close: K&K Insurance Group, Inc. first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Left-leaning influencers embrace Bluesky without abandoning X, Pew saysIt’s no surprise that many big, left-leaning social media accounts have recently joined Bluesky — but a new analysis from the Pew Research Center attempts to quantify that shift. This comes as an update to Pew’s news influencer report released in November 2024, which did not include Bluesky in its numbers. The report focused on […]

Hot Rod Backyard Bath on Steel Spring LegsIn a fusion of scrapyard elegance and Aussie ingenuity, [Mark Makies] has given a piece of old steel a steamy second life with his ‘CastAway Tub’. Call it a bush mechanic’s fever dream turned functional sculpture, starring two vintage LandCruiser leaf springs, and a rust-hugged cast iron tub dug up after 20 years in hiding. And put your welding goggles on, because this one is equal parts brute force and artisan flair.
What makes this hack so bold is, first of all, the reuse of unforgiving spring steel. Leaf springs, notoriously temperamental to weld, are tamed here with oxy-LPG preheating, avoiding thermal shock like a pro. The tub sits proudly atop a custom-welded frame shaped from dismantled spring packs, with each leaf ground, clamped, torched, and welded into a steampunk sled base. The whole thing looks like it might outrun a dune buggy – and possibly bathe you while it’s at it. It’s a masterclass in metalwork with zero CAD, all intuition, and a grinder that’s seen things.
Inspired? For those with a secret love for hot water and hot steel, this build is a blueprint for turning bush junk into backyard art. Read up on the full build at Instructables.

Nordic Audio Labs introduce the NU-24K Nordic Audio Labs have recently announced the launch of a new capacitor mic that employs their own original D100K capsule and proprietary FloFET technology. 

Music Business News Last Week: Live Nation, NIVA, Tickets, MoreHere’s a roundup of the key music business news last week with highlights including Live Nation, the NIVA Conference, Quebec's battle with Spotify and more.
The post Music Business News Last Week: Live Nation, NIVA, Tickets, More appeared first on Hypebot.

Indie Musician News Last Week: Marketing, Merch & MoreThis week, our tips, advice and indie musician news covered some unique merch ideas, music PR, a guide to A/B testing, and more...
The post Indie Musician News Last Week: Marketing, Merch & More appeared first on Hypebot.

SlapAsSound VoXoV vol.13 – Free Vocal VSTVoXoV vol.13 is here, and this time, it's Elk behind the mixing desk. Majestic, calm, and quietly powerful, Elk brings a deep, resonant vibe to this volume, ready to charge straight into your creative process. What's Inside: 20 expressive presets. 980 unique vocal samples. VoXoV vol.13 is available for one week only. Grab it here: https://www.slapassound.com/voxov-free Read More

New Music Critique: Bobby Bognar's HandsomeContact: bobbybognar@gmail.comWeb: PandoraSeeking: Film & TV PlacementStyle: RockBobby Bognar’s Handsome delivers a familiar brand of rock that rarely strays from the genre’s well-worn paths. “Every singer tells a story, all are more melodic than mine,” he admits on “Get Out!”—a line that proves unintentionally self-aware. The vocals lack distinction, and while the lyrics occasionally hint at poetic depth, they fall short of resonance. The guitar work is serviceable but uninspired, and production choices do little to elevate the material. Despite its sincerity and flashes of introspection, the tracks struggle to leave a lasting impression.The post New Music Critique: Bobby Bognar's Handsome first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

FTX starts $5B payouts — Here’s what you need to knowThe payouts to FTX creditors have sparked both controversy and speculation that the payouts could be reinvested back in the crypto markets.

Yep, X was down againPeople reported that photos weren't loading, its banking service XMoney wasn't working, and search wasn't returning any results, among other things.