Larry Taylor MIDIThruMIDIThru is a simple MIDI processor audio unit that will pass through all MIDI traffic except system messages (system exclusive, sequencer start, MIDI clock, active sensing, etc.) unchanged. Read More

Remaincalm releases Gloss, a FREE 70s-inspired enhancer plugin
Remaincalm releases Gloss, a FREE “tiny enhancer” plugin for macOS and Windows. Gloss is a simple plugin that adds sheen, space, and texture to any sound. It works particularly well on keys (such as synths and electric pianos), but it’s also a handy way to enhance guitars or vocals. If you need a new synth [...]
View post: Remaincalm releases Gloss, a FREE 70s-inspired enhancer plugin

Universal Audio upgrade Shadow Hills & Maag plug-ins The latest arrival to Universal Audio’s UAD line-up delivers new and improved versions of two of their popular plug-ins.

Banking giants now forecast at least two interest rate cuts in 2025Interest rate cuts are a bullish catalyst for crypto prices, as investors increase their risk appetite during times of credit expansion.

Screw the money — Anthropic’s $1.5B copyright settlement sucks for writersWriters aren't getting this settlement because their work was fed to an AI -- this is just a costly slap on the wrist for Anthropic because it illegally downloaded books instead of buying them.

Dialing It In: A 3D-Printed Knob with Touchscreen FlairKnobs are ubiquitous in technology user interfaces, but touchscreens are increasingly replacing them for interface controls. The latest project from [upir] combines a rotating knob with a touchscreen for a stunning result. The knob-over-display design features a touchscreen where you can place and remove a spinning knob, creating an interface reminiscent of Microsoft’s Surface Dial but at a fraction of the cost.
The core functionality of this device relies on the MT6701 magnetic encoder, which precisely tracks the orientation of the surrounding magnetic field. This encoder is held in place with a 3D-printed jig behind the small touchscreen, hiding the encoder without blocking the magnetic field generated by the magnet above the display. Most circular magnets are axially magnetized, meaning their larger face is one pole. However, diametrically magnetized magnets, where opposite sides of the smaller face are the poles, are used here.
To avoid scratching the screen and ensure smooth turning, [upir] designed a knob that holds the diametrically magnetized magnet slightly above the screen, with a ball bearing connecting the outside of the knob to the center resting on the screen. All the design files needed to recreate this are available on [upir]’s GitHub page; be sure to check them out. Also, browse through our back catalog for other knob-related projects.

Tay Keith Named BMI Songwriter of the Year at 2025 AwardsMemphis native Tay Keith has built a career on hits that define the sound of today’s hip-hop. Now, he’s earned one of the industry’s top honors. At the 2025 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, the GRAMMY-nominated, multi-platinum producer received the Songwriter of the Year award.A statement from the company discloses that the recognition comes from his work on chart-dominating singles including Drake’s "First Person Shooter," Sexyy Red’s "Get It Sexyy," and Travis Scott’s "Meltdown."The honor is the latest in a growing list of milestones for Keith. A statement from the company states that he has previously been named Complex’s “Top Rap Producer in Their Twenties” and ranked No. 12 on Billboard’s list of Top Producers of the 21st Century R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart. Recently, he also celebrated his fifth Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 with Travis Scott’s “4×4,” making him one of only four hip-hop producers to achieve that distinction.Beyond the charts, Keith is pushing boundaries in other areas of music. A statement from the company discloses that he founded DRUMATIZED, the first record label created to bridge country and hip-hop, and established Nashville’s second Black-owned recording studio. His commitment also extends to philanthropy through efforts like the Music For Healing Initiative with the American Cancer Society and the My Memphis Poetry Challenge, designed to inspire the next generation of creatives.Keith first rose to prominence in his hometown, producing for Memphis artists such as Yo Gotti, Moneybagg Yo, and Blac Youngsta before breaking out with BlocBoy JB and Drake’s "Look Alive." He has since collaborated with Drake on multiple tracks, with the biggest being "SICKO MODE"—a multi-platinum hit that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a GRAMMY nomination.With this new recognition from BMI, Tay Keith’s role as both a hitmaker and an architect of hip-hop’s future is firmly established.The post Tay Keith Named BMI Songwriter of the Year at 2025 Awards first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

From JYP’s AI artist venture to UMG’s Downtown deal inquiry pause… it’s MBW’s weekly round-upThe biggest headlines from the past few days – all in one place
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WaveMind AmpSuite - Rev FThe Amplifier This amp sim closely recreates this 90's classic amplifier. Every mode available: Channel Select: Green, Orange and Red channels available; from clean to high gain modern tones. Channel Cloning: Make either channel have a modern or vintage sound. Tube Select: Choose between 6L6 and EL34 output tubes. Power Select: Choose wether or not to run in low power mode, to emulate the use of a variac. Rectifier Select: Choose between old school saggy tube rectifiers, or diode rectifiers for a tight and modern sound. Pedals X-Drive: A classic drive with a bit more bite than you're used to. The sharper midrange makes it a perfect match for the Rev F. Forte Boost: 22 dB of pure boost. Perfect for when you need to tune just that little bit lower. Cabinet Simulation An amplifier is nothing without a good cabinet, that's why we included not one but two fully modelled cabinets based on an oversized 4x12 and a 2x12. Each cabinet is captured with a total of 7 studio-grade microphones, giving you almost endless possibilities for shaping your tone. Our speaker simulator not only lets you precisely place your virtual microphone in front of the cabinet, but also makes the amplifier respond differently to different loads. Each cabinet truly gives its own sound, even when using your own IRs. 7-band EQ With the 7-band equalizer you can shape your tone exactly as you see fit. Chorus, Delay and Reverb A selection of time based fx pedals is included to create inspiring lead tones. Utilities Gate: Tighten your sound with the built in gate. Drop: Transpose your guitar down by up to 12 semitones for those ultra low notes. Tight: Control the low end with this proprietary low frequency compressor. It only clamps down on the palm mutes, without sucking too much tone out of the guitar. Smooth: Get rid of that icy pick sound by turning up the smooth knob. Tuner Quickly tune up your instrument. The built in tuner allows you to always stay in tune and with the built in mute button, you won't have to annoy anyone in the process. YouTube.com/watch?v=qLGzEyvsZes Read More

Contacts for Music Festivals That Book Emerging ArtistsHoping to land a spot on a festival lineup in 2026? Here are contacts for music festivals that are now accepting artist applications.
The post Contacts for Music Festivals That Book Emerging Artists appeared first on Hypebot.

How Artists Can Shape Their Brand in 2025In this era of music marketing, it's crucial for artists to take an active role in shaping their brand look and narrative. Here's a handy guide to artist branding to help you get started!
The post How Artists Can Shape Their Brand in 2025 appeared first on Hypebot.

Save big on soft synths and plugins at Plugin Boutique during Synth Month – including a £1,885 Waves bundle for just £89While September marks the official beginning of Autumn, it’s also the official month of Synths over at Plugin Boutique.
To celebrate Synth Month this September, Plugin Boutique have plenty of exclusive deals on quality synth bundles. One of the biggest savings comes in the form of Waves’ Platinum Bundle, now over 95% off its usual £1,885 pricetag – that means you can get 67 comprehensive mixing and mastering plugins for just £89.

READ MORE: The best free and paid-for plugins you need to know about this week

Native Instruments is also hosting a super exclusive £17 Synth Month deal, with everything from the company’s mono bass synth Monark to FM synthesis plugin FM8 all available for under £20.
[deals ids=”7ehcy3aqrxyFNO77s2L3Rq”]
iZotope’s Everything Bundle is also over 90% off, dropping from £2,899.00 down to just £265. The bundle quite literally includes EVERYTHING iZotope has ever released, including the company’s latest Ozone 12 Advanced, Aurora reverb, Plasma saturation, Velvet 3-in-1 sibilance vocal tool, and way more.
Or, if you’re not wanting to overload your system, you can opt for Ozone 12 Advanced on its own for £192 – nearly a hundred quid off the usual £289 asking price.
Universal Audio has also got a couple of great bundles up for grabs, with the Essentials Edition Bundle currently just £44, packed with 12 ‘must-have’ UAD tools. You can also opt for the Classics Bundle, which is available for £54. The Classics Bundle will get you five great UAD tools at the fraction of the price, saving you £545.
Softube is also offering its Monoment Bass & Statement Lead plugins as a bundle for a whopping 74% off. That’s two high-quality bass and lead synths for just £43. Baby Audio also has its Tekno drum synth up for a respectable £59, rather than its usual £99.
Some Solid State Logic gems are also in the mix, with the SubGen sub-bass harmonic synth available for £26. Korg has also got a plethora of synths going at a great price, with a 54% discount on the M1 meaning you can get it for £45, or you can get Triton and Triton Extreme for just £134.
Head to Plugin Boutique for more Synth Month deals.
The post Save big on soft synths and plugins at Plugin Boutique during Synth Month – including a £1,885 Waves bundle for just £89 appeared first on MusicTech.

MOTU introduce the 848 Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 audio interface Thanks to Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 connectivity, the 848 is capable of delivering up to 256 channels (128 inputs and 128 outputs) to a macOS, Windows or iOS system. 

MOTU introduce the 848 Thanks to Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 connectivity, the 848 is capable of delivering up to 256 channels (128 inputs and 128 outputs) to a macOS, Windows or iOS system. 

What is Tonal Harmony?Tonal harmony is the foundation of most Western music, from Bach to jazz standards. At its core, it is a contract between composer and listener: if you follow its rules, the listener will always feel a sense of home—a tonal center called the tonic.

This sense of direction comes from how chords function and move within three main regions of tonality:

The Three Regions of Tonality

Every chord in tonal harmony has a function—a role it plays in the story of tension and release. These functions are grouped into three regions:

Tonic (Home Base)

The point of rest, least tension.

Where the music feels settled.

Example: C major in the key of C.

Subdominant (The Journey)

Transitional, moderate tension.

Feels like moving “away from home.”

Often described as “the mountain” in hymns, descending back to tonic.

Dominant (The Tension)

The highest level of tension.

Creates expectation to return to tonic.

Think of it as “the storm at sea” before returning to safe harbor.

The Circle of Fifths & The Harmony Map

The circle of fifths organizes all 12 tones and shows how chords relate to each other. By building triads on each scale degree in C major and C minor, we can classify every chord into one of the three regions.

The V7 chord (G7 in C) always sits at “1 o’clock” on the map.

The IV chord (F in C) is always at “11 o’clock.”

The I chord (C) is always at “12 o’clock.”

This fixed placement means that no matter what key you’re in, functions always live in the same place.

Harmonic Progressions & Cadences

Music is a journey through this map. Each path between regions creates a recognizable cadence:

V7 → I = Perfect Authentic Cadence (dominant to tonic).

IV → I = Plagal Cadence (subdominant to tonic, “Amen” ending).

ii → V7 = Subdominant to Dominant motion (the backbone of jazz progressions).

These are the main roads of tonal harmony. Exploring alternative “roads” is what reharmonization is all about.

A Real Example: “Sweet Home Alabama”

At first glance, the famous progression in Sweet Home Alabama seems to move from dominant → subdominant, which doesn’t establish the key strongly. This illustrates how important functional paths are in determining the real tonal center of a piece.

Key Takeaways

Tonal harmony organizes chords into three regions: tonic, subdominant, dominant.

Each chord function has a fixed place on the circle of fifths map.

Cadences are the most effective paths, guiding the listener’s sense of key.

Understanding these paths is the first step toward reharmonization.

Practice It Yourself

Try mapping out all diatonic functions in every key. Start with C major and C minor, then expand. Use worksheets like the one in The Art of Reharmonization or explore interactively in Mapping Tonal Harmony Pro.

FAQ: Tonal Harmony

What is the difference between tonal and atonal harmony?

Tonal harmony is built around a tonic (home note or chord), while atonal harmony avoids a central key, giving equal weight to all pitches.

Why is tonal harmony important for musicians?

Tonal harmony provides structure, creates tension and release, and helps listeners follow the “story” of a piece. Without it, music can feel unstable or directionless.

How do I know if a chord belongs to tonic, subdominant, or dominant?

Classify by function: tonic chords provide rest, subdominant chords create transition, and dominant chords build tension. The circle of fifths (and tools like Mapping Tonal Harmony Pro) make this classification clearer.

Is tonal harmony only for classical music?

No. Jazz, pop, gospel, and rock all rely on tonal harmony. The cadences and functions are universal, though each genre applies them differently.

How do I practice tonal harmony?

Practice ii–V–I and IV–I cadences, analyze songs to identify functional regions, and use worksheets or apps to map chord functions in all keys.

Want to dive deeper? Check out the full Art of Reharmonization book or explore tonal harmony interactively with Mapping Tonal Harmony Pro.