The question haunting Fisker’s bankruptcyAs failed EV startup Fisker winds its way through bankruptcy, a persistent and tricky question has become a flashpoint of the proceedings: does its lone secured lender Heights Capital Management deserve to be at the front of the line to reap the proceeds of a liquidation?  Heights has maintained an unequivocal “yes.” But new information […]
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Foliodeck Squeezes a Writerdeck into a PlannerWhen it comes to writing, sometimes a computer or smartphone is just too distracting to keep on task. [vagabondvivant] found this to be the case and rolled their own distraction-free writing tool, the Foliodeck.
With the increasing availability of parts for cyberdecks, it’s not too surprising to see we’re seeing the emergence of the writerdeck. Typically designed to be a no frills word processing device, they are designed to help their creators focus on writing and not be subject to the myriad notifications present trying to work with a more general computing device or smartphone.
In this case, [vagabondvivant] took a classy looking planner folio and removed its paper management components to leave a fabric and leather shell. The heart of the assembly is a HiSense A5 eink smartphone magnetically attached to a piece of MDF cut to mate the phone to the planner shell. A 10Ah powerbank slots into the MDF below the keyboard which is also magnetically attached, and the whole thing zips up nicely. Future improvements are planned like a hinge, so it doesn’t have to be propped against something and a custom-built mechanical keyboard.
This isn’t the first writerdeck we’ve seen, and we’ve seen some other writer-focused decks and typewriter replacements.

https://hackaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Foliodeck_f04ca8.mp4
 
 

TikTok’s new SoundSearch feature lets you find music by singing or humming into the appTikTok is reportedly rolling out a new feature called Sound Search, which lets users identify songs by singing, humming, or playing them in the app.
Sound Search, which is still in its testing phase and is currently only available to a limited number of users in selected regions, can be accessed through a microphone icon on the app’s search bar.
TikTok’s newest tool follows YouTube Music’s recent rollout of a similar song-detection feature, in which users can also detect the name of a song by humming its tune or singing its lyrics. Like YouTube Music, TikTok now allows users to identify trending songs and sounds without needing to exit the app or use a separate music identification app like Shazam.
Sound Search, however, goes a little beyond both Shazam and YouTube Music; not only does it identify individual tracks, but it also takes the user to popular, trending videos that use the song in question. Although the tool primarily exists to find songs, it is also able to detect other sounds, including fresh memes.
Initial tests carried out by TechCrunch indicate that Sound Search is effective in identifying popular tracks; however, it is more inconsistent when it comes to less mainstream music and older songs. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, it also reportedly seems better at recognising sounds that have found popularity on the TikTok app.
With TikTok’s burgeoning popularity as a search engine, as well as the increasingly significant role the app plays in creating chart-topping hits and popularising songs, Sound Search may potentially allow artists to get more exposure from popular trends and sounds featuring their music.
It is not yet known when TikTok plans to make Sound Search available for all users; however, as YouTube Music has launched a similar feature recently, a wider release is expected in the coming weeks or months.
Alongside Sound Search, TikTok has also been testing a plethora of other features, including the ability to upload videos up to 60 minutes, as well as a lyric-generating tool, both of which could also make their way to the app soon.
Read more music technology news.
The post TikTok’s new SoundSearch feature lets you find music by singing or humming into the app appeared first on MusicTech.

A Brief History of AlphaSmartThere are a handful of gadgets that do one thing so well that they become cult classics long after the company that made them has moved on or closed up shop. [This Does Not Compute] takes us through the history of the AlphaSmart word processor which started as an educational tool, but finds itself in many a writer’s bag today.
The original AlphaSmart bears more than a passing resemblance to its Apple contemporaries since the company was founded by two Apple engineers. The Cupertino company didn’t see the value in the concept, but didn’t lean on any non-competes to keep the pair from pursuing the idea on their own time either. What resulted was a dead simple word processor that could be had for 1/5 of what a new computer typically cost in the era, which was particularly attractive for the target market of schools.
After several successful years, the pressure of PDAs and then smartphones from one side and cheaper laptops from the other meant school districts no longer wanted single-purpose devices when they could have a fully-fledged computing experience for students. We wonder if that was the right call, with so many now wanting distraction-free devices, but it was the end of the road for the company either way.
Our own [Kristina Panos] and [Tom Nardi] have shown us the guts of the Neo and of one of its competitors, the Writer, respectively. If you have a Neo of your own in need of replacement keycaps, you can print them.

Gloria Gaynor sues music producer for alleged copyright infringement, breach of contractGaynor alleges that producer named in lawsuit is falsely claiming to own the rights to a number of her works
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Roswell Pro Audio launch Custom Shop Mic Builder Roswell's new Custom Shop Mic Builder offers not only a range of grille and body finish options, but also an array of circuitry enhancements and add-ons including pad switches, higher output levels and more. 

Need inspiration? Samplette is a browser-based YouTube samplerAs far as sampling goes, you can’t go far wrong with YouTube. Legal stipulations aside (you need to clear samples with the copyright holder before releasing a new work yourself) YouTube grants amateur and hobbyist producers the chance to use samples of just about anything.
And now, there’s a tool designed to make the process that much easier: Samplette. It’s browser-based, and enables you to shuffle YouTube videos with a single click, allowing you to find perfect sample-able content for your mixes.

READ MORE: Here’s what the “largest hard techno rave ever” in Amsterdam looked like

After compiling shuffles below the player, the tool also allows you to filter by categories including genre, key, tempo, style, and even view count.
You might remember when we recently covered WebSampler, a plugin that allows you to sample any content from the internet from right within your DAW. You could even open Samplette right within WebSampler for even faster inspiration.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t remind you to be careful when sampling content from the internet in mixes you plan to release to the world; for such cases, you’ll need to clear the sample with the original copyright holder. Of course, if you’re just playing around with sampling in your bedroom studio, without plans to release music, you can have at it.
To learn more, visit samplette.io. Happy sampling!
The post Need inspiration? Samplette is a browser-based YouTube sampler appeared first on MusicTech.

Apple Music has added Radio Monitoring: Track Your Radio PlaysApple Music has added radio monitoring. Activity on 40,000 global radio stations can now be tracked within the free Apple Music For Artists portal.
The post Apple Music has added Radio Monitoring: Track Your Radio Plays appeared first on Hypebot.

‘Artists like Drake and Travis Scott push me to go to my limits every time I make music for them.’From a small village in Switzerland to the top of the charts alongside Drake and Jack Harlow, OZ tracks his journey and tells his story...
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Has the Music Festival bubble burst?Has the music festival bubble burst? Explore the factors that contributed to the dramatic rise in music festival cancellations.
The post Has the Music Festival bubble burst? appeared first on Hypebot.

Vinyl vs. Digital Music: A Battle for Superior QualityVinyl vs. Digital Music: find out which format reigns supreme in sound quality, durability, and overall listening pleasure and how that might change your release strategy.
The post Vinyl vs. Digital Music: A Battle for Superior Quality appeared first on Hypebot.

Parallax X from Neural DSP The latest iteration of Neural DSP’s bass-focused plug-in has arrived, and claims to provide everything that users need to design their ultimate bass tone.

Here’s what the “largest hard techno rave ever” in Amsterdam looked likeAmsterdam’s Johan Cruyff ArenA recently hosted what has been dubbed the “largest hard techno rave” in history.
On 20 July, 40,000 ravers gathered for an exhilarating 10-hour rave marathon that kicked off at 9pm and continued until 7am the next morning. The event, hosted by leading techno promoters Verknipt, featured the sets of DJs like Shlømo, DIØN and Sara Landry.

READ MORE: Four Tet’s production hack for creating “a world” within his tracks so people connect to them “without even understanding why”

Videos circulating on social media provide a stunning glimpse into the impressive scale of the Verknipt ArenA event. Throughout the night, attendees were treated to an epic visual-audio cocktail of exploding pyrotechnics, beaming lasers and the occasional view of the raver in front of them doing everything they can to capture the moment on their phone as they dance along to the thunderous beats.
Organisers Verknipt wrote on Instagram: “We just wrote history with the largest hard techno rave ever, where 40,000 ravers united in chaotic harmony, revelling in distortion, breaking the rules, and exploring sounds that push the boundaries of the rave culture.”
“Here, we are all slaves to the rave and trailblazers of the future.”

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A post shared by VERKNIPT (@verkniptevents)

Check out the full 10 minutes of the Verknipt Experience show below.

Earlier this year, Berlin’s techno culture was officially added to the UNESCO cultural heritage list. The inclusion comes after DJs, festival organisers and fans campaigned to secure the status of the city’s techno scene amidst fears that the culture wouldn’t survive without it.
Techno is one of six new entries to the list in Germany, which features mountaineering and fruit wine among others.
The post Here’s what the “largest hard techno rave ever” in Amsterdam looked like appeared first on MusicTech.

Hip-hop community mourns the passing of DJ PoloDJ Polo, American producer and one-half of the 1980s hip-hop collective Kool G Rap & DJ Polo, has passed away.
His family confirmed the news on social media, writing: “It is with a heavy heart we mourn the loss of my father, the incredible DJ Polo. He was not only a legend to the hip hop community but also to his family and we celebrate his life and legacy now and forever.”
“We would like to thank you all for your beautiful words and tributes – seeing the impact he made has been overwhelming and we are so grateful.”
“We would like to also take the time to address the following: DJ Polo has more than 2 children, whatever is printed otherwise is false and has not been confirmed. Please reach out to a family member if you need to confirm information such as this.”
“Thank you all again for your condolences and for respecting the family’s privacy at this time. We miss you Cuzmo.”
No cause of death has been revealed.
DJ Polo, real name Thomas Pough, is best known for his long-standing collaboration with Queens rapper Kool G Rap. The pair released three albums (Road To The Riches, Wanted: Dead or Alive, and Live and Let Die) together in the late 80s and early 90s before splitting in 1993. Both Polo and Rap were also part of the legendary hip-hop collective, Juice Crew.
In 1998, DJ Polo released his debut solo album, Polo’s Playhouse, featuring Ice-T, Biz Markie, Roxanne Shanté and more.

Musicians from the hip-hop community have taken to social media to honour the late DJ. Fellow New York producer and DJ Eric B was among those leading the tributes, writing on Instagram, “My brother DJ Polo we had some great times you will never be forgotten GODS speed.”
DJ Chuck Chillout also paid tribute to Polo in an Instagram post, writing: “This Hurt real Bad RIP To DJ Polo.”

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A post shared by Eric B – Hip Hop Legend (@therealdjericb)

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A post shared by DJ CHUCKCHILLOUT (@djchuckchillout)

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A post shared by DJ Polo (@officialdjpolo)

The post Hip-hop community mourns the passing of DJ Polo appeared first on MusicTech.