Live Music Society adds $710,000 in grants to 24 small US music venuesThe nonprofit Live Music Society has awarded $710,000 in much-needed Music Action Grants to 24 small independent U.S. music venues.....
The post Live Music Society adds $710,000 in grants to 24 small US music venues appeared first on Hypebot.

Superbooth 2024: Befaco’s Oneiroi digital synth creates scarily good drone-like soundscapesSuperbooth 2024: Barcelona-based brand Befaco has introduced a new module called Oneiroi – a live performance-oriented, multi-functional and self-contained digital synth, focused on ambient pads and drone-like soundscapes.
Ideal for those looking to make sinister and scarily cool compositions, the Oneiroi gets its name from dark-winged creatures that each night emerge from their cave to deliver dreams and nightmares, according to Greek Mythology.

READ MORE: Moog introduces the Spectravox semi-modular analogue spectral processor for “unparalleled control over tonal shaping”

It features a full stereo signal path: Stereo input, three oscillators, four effects, and a looper. It also includes LFO self-modulation and a randomiser. Its stereo input has three switchable gain levels and a two-colour LED for monitoring.
As for its three oscillators, these are sine, a stereo supersaw with detune control (inspired by the Roland JP-8000), and a 2048-sample dynamic wavetable oscillator that uses the looper buffer, with offset control.
There’s a single v/oct input for the three oscillators and unison control. Its filtering unit has four different types: low-pass, band-pass, high-pass, and comb filter. The filter can also be freely positioned along the effects chain.
The five-second looper has continuous speed control (from 2x in reverse direction, to 2x in forward direction) and a pre- and post-looping selector. There’s also a two-tap echo with controls over time and density, plus Reverb with macro control for size, filtering, and direction.
Check out more below:

Oneiroi is based on Rebel Technology’s OWL platform, and is being presented at Superbooth this year. You’ll find Befaco at booth Z170 from 16-18 May. Oneiroi currently has an estimated target release for early summer, and has an estimated price of 400€ (not including tax).
Find out more at Befaco.
The post Superbooth 2024: Befaco’s Oneiroi digital synth creates scarily good drone-like soundscapes appeared first on MusicTech.

New Penalties for Artificial Streaming: What Musicians Need to KnowRecent changes at Spotify, Apple Music and other digital service providers introduce new penalties for artificial streaming. Find out how to navigate these changes and protect your music.....
The post New Penalties for Artificial Streaming: What Musicians Need to Know appeared first on Hypebot.

Lauten Audio launch the Tom Mic Employing a newly designed supercardioid capsule and offering up to 28dB of off-axis rejection, the Tom Mic has been designed to deliver crisp-sounding results while keeping cymbal bleed to a minimum. 

Arturia’s new PolyBrute 12 boasts a FullTouch MPE keyboard and double the polyphonySuperbooth 2024: In the ever-evolving world of synthesizers, Arturia has once again pushed the boundaries of sonic creativity with its latest release, the PolyBrute 12.
Boasting an expanded 12-voice architecture and the inclusion of a FullTouch MPE keyboard, Arturia’s latest flagship analogue polysynth promises to “bring you direct and tactile connection with your sound like never before”.

READ MORE: Moog introduces the Spectravox semi-modular analogue spectral processor for “unparalleled control over tonal shaping”

As mentioned, at the heart of the PolyBrute 12 lies a 61-key polyphonic aftertouch keybed featuring Arturia’s patented FullTouch technology. Users get three distinct modes: Classic Monophonic aftertouch, Polyphonic aftertouch, and FullTouch.
Particularly noteworthy is the FullTouch mode, which triggers modulation at the slightest touch, allowing for aftertouch expression across the entire key movement range. Whether you’re playing softly or with intensity, the PolyBrute 12 responds intuitively to your touch, offering a level of expressivity that was previously unattainable.
Like its predecessor, the new PolyBrute comes with a touch- and pressure-sensitive Morphée controller to the left of the keybed and a ribbon controller directly above. The 12-voice architecture of PolyBrute 12 combined with its analogue oscillators, filters, advanced matrix and integrated FX, meanwhile, allow for an infinite spectrum of sonic colour to be explored.
Image: Arturia
You can choose between 480 dynamic presets, including exclusive patches from acclaimed sound designers across the world. The synth also features a 96-point digital patchbay for intuitive control over the modulation system: users can easily route any of their modulation sources and controllers to influence dozens of PolyBrute’s 12 parameters at once.
Furthermore, seamless integration with DAWs is facilitated by PolyBrute Connect, which allows for real-time parameter control and easy patch management. Organise your favourite sounds with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, and easily import new presets & sound banks.
As far as aesthetics go, the new PolyBrute 12 is said to be “crafted with the finest materials” – featuring a walnut wood and an aluminium exterior, and a handsome cream colourway to complete the look.
Priced at $4449/ €3999, the PolyBrute 12 is now available to order.
Check out the synth in action below.

Learn more at Arturia.
The post Arturia’s new PolyBrute 12 boasts a FullTouch MPE keyboard and double the polyphony appeared first on MusicTech.

EastWest’s Hollywood Strings 2 is scary in all the right ways$499.00 (currently on sale for $399.00), soundsonline.com
Sequels are always tricky. For every Empire Strikes Back there’s a Jaws: The Revenge. Considering that EastWest’s Hollywood Orchestra Opus Edition is perhaps the most well-regarded and best-selling orchestral library on the planet, Hollywood Strings 2 certainly has big shoes to fill. Of course, this latest string library from producers Nick Phoenix and Doug Rogers isn’t actually trying to supplant its blockbuster predecessor – it’s trying to extend it.
Where the string component of Hollywood Orchestra had all the pomp and grandeur needed for big screen spectacle, this follow-up is a detail-oriented affair that puts instruments under a microscope. Gone are the lofty acoustics and ambient swells of colour; instead, we have a potent collection of focused, close-up samples.

READ MORE: Is EastWest’s Fantasy Orchestra the one sample library to rule them all?

Straight out of the box, this library has a punchy, physical, damn-near aggressive sound. Each scrape of bow against string feels tangible, the Détaché and Bartok Pizzicato articulations have an unmatched intensity, and the resonances coming from the bass Col Legno patches are enough to rattle your headphones.
EastWest’s goal for Hollywood Strings 2 was to get the listener as close as possible to the instruments. It’s fair to say the team has accomplished this mission. Recorded in EastWest’s Studio 2 — more commonly used for rock bands — and using microphones clipped directly to the body of each instrument, the resulting audio has a detailed dryness that is almost a shock to the ear.
What’s the point of a dry recording? Perhaps the most convincing answer is horror. Scoring projects that need palpable tension and terror have long relied on a close string sound to ramp up the anxiety — the sound of Hollywood Strings 2 is undeniably hair-raising.

Another, often overlooked, benefit of a dry recording is its potential for sound design. Instrumental samples that arrive with baked-in reverb are inherently limited when it comes to creative effects and processing. A highly detailed library like this is a goldmine of raw materials should you want to get experimental with time stretching, pitch shifting, or granulation.
Thankfully, though, EastWest hasn’t locked its users into a dry-only library.in addition to clip-on mics for each section player and the section lead, there are also overheads, mid-fields, a Decca tree and a set of surround microphones. That’s a total of six microphone components, offering plenty of versatility to design the size, proximity and tone of the string sound.
Nor is the library limited to horror or thriller genres; blending in a bit more of the Decca tree and mid-field mics quickly nudges the sound closer to a dramatic feel, while the Harmonics and Flautando articulations offer a beautifully intimate sense of romance.
Mixing microphone signals, flicking through articulations, and navigating key switches is all handled via the Opus Engine. To us, this remains an industry leader when it comes to functionality and user interface.
That all said, there is an undeniably raw edge to the sound and that intense character can make Hollywood Strings 2 harder to work with. The sound is almost too present at times and, in comparison to other EastWest offerings, we spend much more time tweaking the balance of mic signals to sand away some of that roughness.
Hollywood Strings 2 browser
This presents a similar challenge if you want to use these strings with other sample instruments. The company touts the ability to blend this ultra-close string sound with other libraries in the catalogue – and this is certainly possible – but you won’t be able to slot this into an orchestral mix without additional effort.
Another barrier is thrown up by EastWest’s excellent Orchestrator plugin — there is currently no integration for the new string library and this feels like a missed opportunity. Adding this functionality, and some library-specific presets, would really help these strings fit into the larger orchestral line-up.
On the flip side, Hollywood Strings 2 was never meant to be relegated to a supporting role. This library is a diva that thrives in the spotlight — treat it accordingly and you’ll be richly rewarded.
If you’re looking for alternatives, Spitfire Studio Strings Professional is an attractive option that offers a dry acoustic plus a more extensive range of articulation options, all at a similar price point. However, no library we’ve heard of achieves the intense closeness that Hollywood Strings 2 brings to the table.
Hollywood Strings 2 is bold, dramatic, and more than a little scary. More a specialist library than an all-rounder, it sacrifices simplicity in favour of versatility and specificity. While its sound might not suit every project, this is the place to go when you need to make a statement.
Hollywood Strings 2 Opus engine
Key features

140 GB library
6 microphone configurations for each instrument section
5 instrumental sections and a Full Strings patch
116 articulations
Available as part of a Composer Cloud+ subscriptions

The post EastWest’s Hollywood Strings 2 is scary in all the right ways appeared first on MusicTech.

Producer Manager on Points, Payment, Sessions and PublishingThis week, Ari is joined by Laura Jones, a producer manager and founder of Little Underground Management

Slate Digital update VIRTU Online Mastering Slate Digital's online mastering platform is now available to those without All Access Pass or Complete Access subscriptions.

Max Cavalera Discusses Revisiting Metal Classics, '80s Thrash, Unexpected Favorite ArtistsMax Cavalera's latest release is a complete re-recording of Sepultura's 1987 offering, Schizophrenia. He spoke with AllMusic shortly before the release of the album, and explained why he and his brother are re-recording this early material, in addition to several other metal-related topics.

Google mentioned ‘AI’ 120+ times during its I/O keynoteIt ran 110 minutes, but Google managed to reference AI a whopping 121 times during Google I/O 2024 (by its own count). CEO Sundar Pichai referenced the figure to wrap up the presentation, cheekily stating that the company was doing the “hard work” of counting for us. No surprise, of course, that the topic took […]
© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

SEC tries again for Debt Box suit dismissal with option to refileThe SEC says case dismissal without prejudice is “normally granted” when a plaintiff requests it, but the court has criticized the agency’s current suit.

3D Print a Drill-Powered Helicopter Toy Because It’s Simply FunThese days, you can get a fully remote-control helicopter that you can fly around your house for about $30. Maybe less. Back in the day, kids had to make do with far simpler toys, like spinning discs that just flew up in the air. [JBV Creative] has built a toy just like that with his 3D printer. It may be simple, but it also looks pretty darn fun.
The design is straightforward. It uses a power drill to spin up a geartrain, which in turn drives a small disc propeller. Spin the propeller fast enough and it’ll launch high into the air. The geartrain mounts to the drill via the chuck, and it interfaces with the propeller with a simple toothed coupler. Alternatively, there’s also a hand-cranked version if you don’t have a power drill to hand.
Launching is easy. First, the drill spins the propeller up to speed. Then, when the drill’s trigger is released, it slows down, and the propeller spins free of the toothed coupler, with the lift it generates carrying it into the sky.
Files are available online for those interested. We could imagine this toy could make the basis for a great design competition. Students could compete to optimise the design with more effective gear ratios or better airfoils. We’ve seen similar designs before, too. Video after the break.

Al Stewart at the Saban Theatre, Beverly HillsMusic legend Al Stewart performed with the Empty Pockets at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills, CA on April 21. The Empty Pockets performed a short set before Stewart came out to perform his songs and share stories. Earlier that day the Empty Pockets' Josh Solomon performed the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium.

Al Stewart has worked with the likes of Jimmy Page, Alan Parsons, Rick Wakeman, and his collaborator of 20-years Peter White who performed several songs throughout the night with Stewart. White joined Stewart for “Time Passages,” “On the Border,” and Stewart’s biggest hit “Year of the Cat,” which will celebrate 50 years in 2026. Stewart’s set also included “Sirens of Titan,” “Modern Times,” and “Flying Sorcery.”

Stewart’s career spans six decades and performed at the first Glastonbury Festival in 1970, shared a London flat with Paul Simon in the 60’s, bought a guitar from Andy Summers pre-Police, and had known Yoko Ono before she met John Lennon. At the Les Cousins Folk Club, Stewart played with future music icons like Cat Stevens, Van Morrison, and Simon. One story Stewart told was taking lessons from King Crimson’s Robert Fripp.

Rescopic Sound Releases FREE Cosmic Transitions SFX Sample Pack
Rescopic Sound has just released a free expansion of their premium Cosmos sound effects library, and it’s called Cosmic Transitions. It includes 19 originally designed whoosh sound effects provided in 24-bit, 96 kHz as a stereo WAV format. Each audio file contains at least three variations to ensure versatility and variety in sound programming, totalling [...]
View post: Rescopic Sound Releases FREE Cosmic Transitions SFX Sample Pack