Serato’s new Hex FX plugin packs presets from Disclosure, Lord Finesse, and moreSerato has launched a new multi-FX plugin, Hex FX, which features a range of exclusive, signature presets from revered music producers.
The New Zealand brand, known better for its DJ gear and software, describes Hex as a “plugin that magically bends, morphs and hexes any sound with a full suite of chainable FX”. You can experiment with presets from Guy Lawrence of Disclosure, Lord Finesse, Jake One, Amber Navran, and DECAP, with over 100 presets available within Hex-FX, and more than 45 unique effects.

READ MORE: VirtualDJ 2025’s new StemSwap Sampler feature lets you capture and interchange stems from different tracks in real-time

Hex Fx was created by the Serato Audio Research Lab, and also features fully customisable effects chains so you can create completely individualised sounds. You can also chain and rearrange up to six effects slots that draw from its full effects library including bit crushers, brakers, compressors, delays, distortion, reverbs, modulation, time stretching and more, all with fully customizable parameters.
Inside Hex, you’ll also find effects inspired by cult classics like the Roland SP-404 or Commodore Amiga and vintage reel-to-reel, which Serato has expanded upon to give producers “an even broader sonic arsenal”. There are additionally some never-before-heard Serato effects on board, too.
Other key features include the Hex Dial, which warps each effect parameter with a single control, plus a Performance FX, including pitch braker, pitch looper, rollout, half time, backspin, and DJ transform.
“I love the sounds within Hex FX, especially the pitch reverb, saturators, and slap-back tape delays – really inventive,” comments Guy Lawrence. “It’s very me. It’s staying in my DAW.”
You can watch his walkthrough of the Disclosure preset below:

Hex FX is available in VST3 and AU formats and is compatible with popular DAWs like Serato Studio, Ableton Live, Logic Pro, FL Studio and Maschine, plus more. It currently has an introductory price of $99. Find out more via Serato.
The post Serato’s new Hex FX plugin packs presets from Disclosure, Lord Finesse, and more appeared first on MusicTech.

Dogecoin rally to $0.50 imminent after DOGE’s ‘overbought’ conditions cool downDogecoin’s next possible stop is $0.50 and above. Especially if a historical price fractal fails to play out.

It sure looks like OpenAI trained Sora on game content — and legal experts say that could be a problemOpenAI has never revealed exactly which data it used to train Sora, its video-generating AI. But from the looks of it, at least some of the data might’ve come from Twitch streams and walkthroughs of games. Sora launched on Monday, and I’ve been playing around with it for a bit (to the extent the capacity […]
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Steve Stoute talks independence, emerging markets and how UnitedMasters artist FloyyMenor scored TikTok’s biggest song of 2024Gata Only, released independently via UnitedMasters, was the most popular track globally on the platform this year
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Retrotechtacular: 1980s Restoration of San Francisco’s Cable Car SystemThe cable car system of San Francisco is the last manually operated cable car system in the world, with three of the original twenty-three lines still operating today. With these systems being installed between 1873 and 1890, they were due major maintenance and upgrades by the time the 1980s and with it their 100th year of operation rolled around. This rebuilding and upgrading process was recorded in a documentary by a local SF television station, which makes for some fascinating viewing.
San Francisco cable car making its way through traffic. Early 20th century.
While the cars themselves were fairly straight-forward to restore, and the original grips that’d latch onto the cable didn’t need any changes. But there were upgrades to the lubrication used (originally pine tar), and the powerhouse (the ‘barn’) was completely gutted and rebuilt.
As opposed to a funicular system where the cars are permanently attached to the cable, a cable car system features a constantly moving cable that the cars can grip onto at will, with most of the wear and tear on the grip dies. Despite researchers at San Francisco State University (SFSU) investigating alternatives, the original metal grip dies were left in place, despite their 4-day replacement schedule.
Ultimately, the rails and related guides were all ripped out and replaced with new ones, with the rails thermite-welded in place, and the cars largely rebuilt from scratch. Although new technologies were used where available, the goal was to keep the look as close as possible to what it looked at the dawn of the 20th century. While more expensive than demolishing and scrapping the original buildings and rolling stock, this helped to keep the look that has made it a historical symbol when the upgraded system rolled back into action on June 21, 1984.
Decades later, this rebuilt cable car system is still running as smoothly as ever, thanks to these efforts. Although SF’s cable car system is reportedly mostly used by tourists, the technology has seen somewhat of a resurgence. Amidst a number of funicular systems, a true new cable car system can be found in the form of e.g. the MiniMetro system which fills the automated people mover niche.

Thanks to [JRD] for the tip.

Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Laufey and More Light Up the Top 10 ASCAP New Classic Holiday Songs ChartWith the holidays in full swing, The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), a professional membership organization of songwriters, composers and music publishers, unwraps the ultimate soundtrack for the season. Celebrating the songwriters behind the latest trending tinsel tunes and cherished seasonal standards alike, ASCAP announces the Top 10 ASCAP New Classic Holiday Songs and the Top 25 ASCAP Holiday Songs for 2024. For the second year in a row, Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath the Tree,” co-written with acclaimed hitmaker Greg Kurstin, takes the top spot on ASCAP’s New Classic Holiday Songs chart, which comprises songs released in the last 20 years. Grammy-winning and genre-defying singer-songwriter Laufey’s “Christmas Magic” sparkles as the newest addition to the New Classic chart, captivating holiday listeners alongside Katy Perry’s “Cozy Little Christmas” and Justin Bieber’s “Mistletoe.” ASCAP’s seasonal standards continue to delight listeners with "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" by acclaimed Broadway composer Meredith Willson coming in at #1 on ASCAP’s Top 25 Holiday Songs chart. No holiday would be complete without Mariah Carey’s iconic “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” The now classic song, co-written by acclaimed songwriter-producer Walter Afanasieff, turns 30 this year and returns at #8. Another familiar tune on the ASCAP chart, beloved bilingual singalong “Feliz Navidad” by José Feliciano, continues to shine in the holiday canon at #17.Johnny Marks’s fireside favorites “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” take three of the top 25 spots – a feat that defines Marks as the ultimate holiday hitmaker. Originally written between 1949 and 1962, his timeless songs have been covered by countless artists including Kacey Musgraves, Meghan Trainor, DMX, Ingrid Michaelson and Dan + Shay to name a few.Below are the top 10 most-played ASCAP New Classic Holiday Songs of 2024* and the top 25 most-played ASCAP Holiday Songs of 2024**, all written, co-written or arranged by ASCAP songwriters and composers. Each song is listed with ASCAP-licensed songwriter credits and copyright date.Listen to the top 10 ASCAP New Classic Holiday Songs here: https://bit.ly/49sygfK THE TOP 10 ASCAP NEW CLASSIC HOLIDAY SONGS OF 2024:“Underneath the Tree” by Kelly Clarkson and Greg Kurstin (2013)

“Santa Tell Me” by Savan Kotecha and Ilya Salmanzadeh (2013)

“Snowman” by Greg Kurstin and Sia (2017)

“Mistletoe” by Justin Bieber and Adam Messinger (2011)

“Like It's Christmas” by Gian Stone (2019)

“Cozy Little Christmas” by Ferras Alqaisi, Katy Perry and Greg Wells (2018)

“Santa, Can't You Hear Me” by Kelly Clarkson (2021)

“Believe” by Glen Ballard (2004)

“Christmas Magic” by Laufey (2024)

“Oh Santa!” by Mariah Carey and Jermaine Dupri (2010)Listen to the top 25 ASCAP Holiday Songs here: https://bit.ly/4f3swdC THE TOP 25 ASCAP HOLIDAY SONGS OF 2024:“It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” by Meredith Willson (1951)

“Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson and Mitchell Parish (1948)

“Jingle Bell Rock” by Joseph Carleton Beal and James Ross Boothe (1958)

“A Holly Jolly Christmas” by Johnny Marks (1962)

“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Johnny Marks (1958)

“Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow” by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne (1945)

“Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” by Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie (1934)

“All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey (1994)

“Winter Wonderland” by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith (1934)

“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Edward Pola and George Wyle (1963)

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin (1944)

“White Christmas” by Irving Berlin (1941)

“Frosty the Snowman” by Steve Nelson and Walter E. Rollins (1950)

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” by Johnny Marks (1949)

“The Christmas Song” by Mel Tormé and Robert Wells (1946)

“Jingle Bells” (Frank Sinatra version), arranged by Gordon Jenkins (1958)

“Feliz Navidad” by José Feliciano (1970)

“Santa Baby” by Joan Javits, Anthony Springer and Philip Springer (1953)

“Here Comes Santa Claus (Down Santa Claus Lane)” by Gene Autry and Oakley Haldeman (1947)

“Silver Bells” by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston (1950)

“You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” by Dr. Seuss and Albert Hague (1966)

“This Christmas” by Donny Hathaway and Nadine McKinnor (1970)

“Deck the Halls” (Nat King Cole version), arranged by Nat King Cole and Leland Gillette (1960)

“Underneath the Tree” by Kelly Clarkson and Greg Kurstin (2013)

“Baby It’s Cold Outside” by Frank Loesser (1944)*Based on an analysis of ASCAP streaming and terrestrial radio data and continued ASCAP membership for songs with a copyright date after 2004.**Based on an analysis of ASCAP streaming and terrestrial radio data and continued membership in ASCAP.The post Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Laufey and More Light Up the Top 10 ASCAP New Classic Holiday Songs Chart first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Getting creative with the Minimal Audio Effect Bundle
We discuss the four plugins in the Minimal Audio Effect Bundle and explore how they can help make your next session feel like a breeze.

FLOSS Weekly Episode 813: Turn Off the InternetThis week, Jonathan Bennett, Simon Phipps, and Aaron Newcomb chat about retrocomputing, Open Source AI, and … politics? How did that combination of topics come about? Watch to find out!

Did you know you can watch the live recording of the show Right on our YouTube Channel? Have someone you’d like us to interview? Let us know, or contact the guest and have them contact us! Take a look at the schedule here.

Direct Download in DRM-free MP3.
If you’d rather read along, here’s the transcript for this week’s episode.
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Music and tech veterans Deborah Mannis-Gardner and Pär Almqvist launch AYO Music GroupAYO is described as 'an active copyright administrator offering global administration of publishing, neighboring rights, and recordings'
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Pitchfork Album Of The Year is Not On Spotify: Trend or Anomaly?You can’t listen to “Diamond Jubilee,” Pitchfork’s Album Of The Year on Spotify or any other streaming service. In addition to Pitchfork, other outlets swooned,. Uproxx called the album the. Continue reading
The post Pitchfork Album Of The Year is Not On Spotify: Trend or Anomaly? appeared first on Hypebot.

Resonator is the first FREE plugin from Thony Audio
If you want to add more interesting harmonic content to your tracks, we have a great free plugin for you today. Resonator is a free plugin from Thony Audio, a seemingly new developer. That’s safe to assume since their website looks brand new. Nevertheless, Resonator is an exciting plugin that’ll be a great addition to [...]
View post: Resonator is the first FREE plugin from Thony Audio

Essential Website Tips For MusiciansTransform an artist website into a powerful tool for fan engagement and career growth. From collecting email addresses to selling merch and optimizing your design, learn these essential website tips. Continue reading
The post Essential Website Tips For Musicians appeared first on Hypebot.

Spitfire Audio release Impressionism Described as “a love letter to 150 years of impressionist art”, Spitfire's latest release brings together a collection of instrumental sounds designed to create inspiring new musical textures and gestures.

Music Industry Predictions 2025: Michael Brandvold & Jay GilbertMichael Brandvold and Jay Gilbert share three predictions for the music industry in 2025 on a new episode of the Music Biz Weekly Podcast.
The post Music Industry Predictions 2025: Michael Brandvold & Jay Gilbert appeared first on Hypebot.

“It let us play the music of an imaginary future”: Why Hans Zimmer worked with the Expressive E Osmose on Dune 2Hans Zimmer has shared why he chose to work with Expressive E’s Osmose synth on the Dune: Part Two soundtrack in a mini documentary.
In Behind the Music of Dune 2 : Hans Zimmer x Osmose, shared to Expressive E’s YouTube channel, Zimmer explained his vision for the film’s score, and described how the synth helped to create a futuristic soundtrack that weaved together a mix of cultures.

READ MORE: Expressive E Osmose takes keyboards to “level nobody thought possible”, says Jordan Rudess

For those unfamiliar, the Osmose resembles a traditional digital keyboard, but is described as “a next-generation instrument” by Expressive E. Every gesture played on the Osmose – whether pressing or moving laterally – alters sound “with unmatched precision”, making it akin to a voice or acoustic instrument, allowing musicians to shape pitch, volume, intensity, and vibrato much more expressively.
Speaking in the documentary, Zimmer reveals that he wanted to go beyond a stereotypical orchestral score. He says, “Science fiction movies, other than I suppose Blade Runner, were always in a Galaxy far away, and then you hear the orchestra and you go, ‘Really? In the future we’re still going to be doing this? Why can’t we believe that there will be new instruments, there will be new sonic textures? Why can’t we go and invent new things that don’t remind us in a peculiar way of the past?’
“So rather than doing an orchestral score, ultimately what we did was we made a score of a band of virtuosos, a small group of the people who were the best in the world at what they do,” he states. “The other thing which I really do like about the band is that everybody brings a little bit of their culture to it, and because now it’s a mishmash of culture, when you write something which is futuristic it is like that’s what happened, you know? The cultures all got muddled up a little bit so it actually helps in the expressiveness of the music.”

As part of his quest for unique sounds, Zimmer started experimenting with the Osmose. Soon after, he said he wanted to track down five more to continue building the score. He goes on to add, “When you play a note on a piano, basically it goes ‘plonk’, and it dies out. What [Expressive E has] done is when you touch the keyboard, it knows you’re already touching the keyboard.
“Within that travel of that key, the sound can change completely, and then of course the one thing every keyboard player wants to do is what a violinist can do or guitarist can do, is have vibrato. So you can go and wobble your keys left to right, and you literally can transform a sound completely… It let us play the music of an imaginary future,” he says.
You can view the full documentary below:

Dune 2 is out now. Find out more about the Osmose via Expressive E.
The post “It let us play the music of an imaginary future”: Why Hans Zimmer worked with the Expressive E Osmose on Dune 2 appeared first on MusicTech.