CES 2026: Everything revealed, from Nvidia’s debuts to AMD’s new chips to Razer’s AI oddities CES 2026 is in full swing in Las Vegas, with the show floor open to the public after a packed couple of days occupied by press conferences from the likes of Nvidia, Sony, and AMD and previews from Sunday’s Unveiled event.  As has been the case for the past two years at CES, AI is at the forefront of […]

9 Non-Generative AI Tools Artists Can Use to Get More S#*t Done in 2026A list of our favorite AI tools musicians are using right now to be more productive, more creative, and more prolific, without having to worry about abandoning your authenticity.
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You can now generate automatic realistic footsteps and cloth Foley for your video clipsKrotos – the Edinburgh-based company specialising in sound design software and effects libraries for film, TV and video games – has expanded its Video to Sound platform, now enabling users to add automatic footsteps and cloth Foley to video clips.
Using AI-assisted visual analysis to interpret movement, pacing and scene context, Krotos is able to place realistic-sounding footsteps and cloth sounds in sync with a video clip – whether it’s a 10-second social media short or 10-minute film. And creative control is preserved; the resultant audio can then be refined in a DAW or NLE.

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Named after pioneer Jack Foley, Foley refers to the art of adding everyday sound effects – like footsteps or clothes rustling, for example – to visual media like films, TV, or video games in order to enhance realism.
It has long entailed painstaking manual work, from recording each necessary sound and lining it up with a video, to making constant timing adjustments as video edits change. But Krotos seeks to offer a massive workflow and time-saving improvement with the addition of automatic footsteps and cloth Foley to its platform.
When applying footsteps to a video clip, users can select an appropriate walking surface – like tile, gravel or wood – and Krotos applies “professionally recorded footstep sounds that match the pacing and action of the scene”. These footsteps can subsequently be exported as MIDI in order to refine timing within Krotos Studio or any other DAW.
Credit: Krotos
The system works the same way in analysing video clips for cloth Foley; it interprets motion and changes in movement, adding context-aware cloth sounds “that reflect subtle shifts, turns, and layered action in a single pass”.
In terms of availability, automatic footsteps and cloth Foley – part of the expanded Video to Sound platform – is available as part of Krotos Studio. Subscribers across all tiers of Krotos Studio have access to the feature, while Krotos Studio Max users can upload videos up to 10 minutes in length, and process up to 200 videos per month.
Krotos also makes the point that user-uploaded videos “are not used for AI training purposes”. 
We spoke to Krotos last year, when the company stressed the importance that “creative control remains firmly in the hands of the user”.
“When we say our AI engines are ‘non-generative’, we mean they are not creating entirely new sounds from scratch. Instead, they are designed to assist sound designers by processing and enhancing existing high quality audio assets that have been recorded by professionals,” Krotos told MusicTech.
“…The quality of the sound is always high unlike the results of the existing generative models. Our commitment to ethics is reflected in how we train our AI. We exclusively use professionally recorded assets that we own or have full rights to… The goal is to empower users, not replace them.”
Learn more about Video to Sound and Krotos Studio at Krotos.
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Cubase 15, as reviewed by a Logic Pro user: “The most versatile DAW I’ve ever used”Pro: £481 / €579 / $579
Artist: £273 / €329 / $329
Elements: £83 / €99 / $99
steinberg.net
As someone with an interest in film and game composing, it’s odd that I’ve managed to dodge Cubase for this long. Over its 36-year history, it’s become the DAW of choice for big name screen composers like Hans Zimmer and Jack Wall. Not only that, but over time, this venerable digital audio workstation has accrued an expansive feature set that extends its utility into pretty much every corner of music production.

READ MORE: Why you should – or should not – upgrade to Cubase 15

In truth, the reason I haven’t tried it is simple – I’m kinda lazy. When I need a do-everything DAW, Logic Pro has long been my easy option. Sure, it tends to pre-empt, simplify, and streamline even when I don’t want it to, and, yes, it keeps me locked on overpriced hardware. But it does, for the most part, just work.
So it would take something quite special to pry me out of my comfort zone and force me to learn a new workflow, or, god forbid, a new set of hotkeys. Let’s see if Cubase 15 Pro has what it takes.
MIDI editing in Cubase 15. Image: Press
First impressions
The first thing I do is get a feel for how Cubase handles MIDI production, and I’m quickly impressed. There are all the editing capabilities I might wish for, and, in a nice surprise, there’s also probabilistic functions for gating notes and randomising velocity ranges. Best of all, these sit right up front alongside more standard-issue parameters in the MIDI editor window; a clear sign that Cubase is a creative space and not just a studio workhorse.
In terms of library content, the selection of stock sample instruments, synths, and loops is generally excellent, with the Padshop 2 and Retrologue synthesisers comparing well to what Logic Pro has on offer.
For a truly trippy experience, I open up Yamaha’s new Omnivox instrument, which lets you pair MIDI notes with text input to produce an eerily accurate human singer. The fact that this vocal simulacra is achieved through synthesis, a trick Yamaha has been perfecting for quite some time, makes it all the more impressive. However, once you get past the initial novelty, the utility, at least in the current beta version, is fairly limited. It’s certainly not going to fool anyone as a lead vocalist, and I’d assume that most users will probably keep it for the occasional backing vocal.
The Drum Track sequencer – introduced in Cubase 14 and now expanded with a melodic mode – is a joy to use. There are lots of generative goodies for adding patterns, note ties, jumps, and repeats, and also some one-click editing options for adding legato or changing a sequence’s resolution or length. Another highlight for me is the dedicated Chord Pad editor window, which functions as a chord trigger/arpeggiator and offers extensive options for scales, voicing, and note overlaps.
Stock instruments in Cubase 15. Image: Press
Recording
Where Cubase really starts to pull ahead is in its MIDI scoring capabilities. New in version 15 is an overhauled score editor and tighter integration with Steinberg’s dedicated notation software, Dorico. It certainly feels a lot slicker than Logic Pro’s score editor, does a better job of translating a real-time MIDI performance into notation that a performer could actually read, and offers the ability to export your score from Cubase directly into Dorico for further development.
Another strength is Cubase 15’s Expression Maps. Controlling articulations in large orchestral libraries can quickly get frustratingly complex — it’s still complex in Cubase, but Steinberg’s done an admirable job of streamlining this. You can import preset mappings from third-party libraries – I load EastWest’s Hollywood Strings 2 with zero issues – and then fine-tune things to your heart’s content. New in version 15 is the ability to set a delay compensation for each articulation independently, enabling you to nudge rhythmic ostinatos back into line if they’re lagging the click. It’s a seemingly small feature, but definitely a welcome one for anyone who works professionally with MIDI orchestration.
Audio recording, editing, and mixing are all top-notch, with workflows that can cover small bedroom production, professional studio tracking with outboard gear, all the way up to large-scale acoustic sessions. In fact, Cubase’s audio bona fides are so solid that there isn’t much point in discussing them in further detail — you’re in safe hands.
The newly included Stem Separation works fine for unpicking vocals from a track, but falls short of third-party options like Moises AI. This feature doesn’t hold my attention for long.
Far more fun are the 11 Bitwig-inspired Modulators, and include options like Wavefold LFO and Sample & Hold. There’s also a Mod Scripter for those with the requisite JavaScript skills. I absolutely loved the creative potential of Modulators in my Bitwig review, and while Cubase’s implementation is far less extensive, it’s still a fantastic addition — and something totally absent from Logic Pro.
The capabilities of this DAW are vast, and there’s so much great stuff here that I genuinely struggle to decide which parts I should highlight — I haven’t even touched on how it handles video, its audio warping or pitch correction tools, or its highly customisable user interface, which had me spending way too much time designing my own custom colour scheme and tweaking the global UI scaling to maximise my laptop screen real estate.
However, the sheer breadth and depth of Cubase can be overwhelming at first blush. My first few hours feel like I am back at music school, and I need to consult manuals and tutorials more often than I have for any recent software I’ve tried.
Expression mapping in Cubase 15. Image: Press
A real Pro product
In my humble opinion, this is really not a beginner DAW. Cubase is for those who have already dipped their toes in shallower waters and are ready to dive into a professional grade workstation. Cubase bills itself as an ‘advanced audio workstation’ and the question you need to ask yourself is whether you are an ‘advanced’ user, or are willing to put in the time to become one. If not, then there are more accessible and cheaper options.
Speaking of cheap, Cubase really isn’t. At £481 for the Pro version, it’s more expensive than most DAWs, though more affordable than Pro Tools or Ableton Live Suite. The Artist tier comes in at £200 less, and this will probably fit the needs of most users as it offers almost all the features of the Pro tier – but you do miss out on the nifty Modulators. As always, Logic Pro wins handily on price, but only if you don’t factor in the steep Apple hardware premium.
With those caveats, Cubase fully earns its all-rounder stripes. For your investment, you’ll get audio capabilities not far short of Pro Tools, stock instruments and plugins that compare well with Logic Pro, some of the creative craziness of Bitwig, and a MIDI production environment that just might be the best in the business.
Omnivocal in Cubase 15. Image: Press
Am I leaving Logic Pro for Cubase?
This is the most versatile DAW I’ve ever used, and it’s also one of the most powerful. No matter where I look in Cubase, I’m continually surprised at just how deep I can go. Its design and workflow considers the needs of power users at every turn – something that I simply can’t say of Logic Pro, which always feels like it prioritises newcomers to the detriment of dab hands.
Many hours in and I do feel like I’m still learning the ropes, but Cubase makes me want to keep going. And once I do master this epic DAW, I have a feeling I won’t be going back to Logic Pro.

Key features

Fully-featured MIDI production environment with generative capabilities
Drum Track sequencer with new Melodic Mode
11 Modulators and scripting functionality
Comprehensive audio recording, editing, and mixing
VariAudio pitch correction
Scalable interface with many options to customise layout
Up to 96 included audio effects
50+ GB library of samples and loops
Export integration with Dorico notation software

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Napster’s Streaming Service Shutters as Company Rebrands Around AI“Napster is no longer a music streaming service. We’ve become an AI platform for creating and experiencing music in new ways."
The post Napster’s Streaming Service Shutters as Company Rebrands Around AI appeared first on Hypebot.

9 Upcoming Conferences for the Independent Music ProfessionalWhether you're an artist or you work in independent music, you need to be at these nine conferences coming up. Take a look.
The post 9 Upcoming Conferences for the Independent Music Professional appeared first on Hypebot.

Old FM Radio Upcycled Into Classy Bluetooth Speaker[Distracted by Design] loves gear from the 1980s, though some of it isn’t as useful as it used to be. He happened across a cheap old FM radio with a great look, but wanted to repurpose it into something more modern. Thus, he set about turning this cheap piece of old electronics into a stylish Bluetooth speaker.
All of the original electronics were stripped out, while the original speaker was kept since it neatly fit the case. Electronically, the build relies on a Bluetooth module harvested from an existing speaker. 3D-printed bracketry was used to fasten it neatly into place inside the radio housing, with the buttons neatly presented where the original radio had its tone and volume controls. Power is via an internal lithium-ion battery, charged over USB-C thanks to an off-the-shelf charging module.
Where the build really shines, though, is the detailing. The original cheap plastic handle was replaced with a CNC-machined wooden piece, bolted on with machined aluminium side plates. Similarly, the original clear plastic tuning window was replaced with another tasteful piece of wood that dropped perfectly into place. At the back, the charge port is nicely integrated. Where the radio formerly had a removable door for the power cable storage, it now has a machined aluminium plate hosting the USB-C charge port. Little 3D-printed button actuators were also used to integrate the Bluetooth module’s controls into the case.
It’s a very stylish build, overall. Perhaps the one area it’s a let down is in the sound quality. The ancient speaker simply doesn’t sound great compared to modern Bluetooth speakers and their finely-tuned, bassy audio. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing—sometimes it’s nice to have an audio source with a limited frequency response. It can be nice for use in an area where you may want to be able to easily speak over the music.
If you want to build a Bluetooth speaker of your own, you might like to whip up an open-source design from scratch. Video after the break.

VirtualDJ 2026: new AI assistant for track organisation and a revamped FX engineAtomix Development has unveiled the latest version of its flagship DJ software, VirtualDJ 2026, bringing a number of new features and upgrades for users.
AI is front and centre in the new features for 2026, with a new AI prompt folder, essentially your very own AI assistant inside VirtualDJ which can, via user prompts, offer formatted lists of track recommendations, complete with an explanation for each track, all ready to be dragged to a deck and played.

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Additionally, VirtualDJ 2026 is now able to automatically extract lyrics from any audio track and display them as part of the waveform, meaning navigating a waveform is easier than ever, leading to a wealth of new creative opportunities for DJs.
“For DJs who like to push the boundaries of their art, it brings wordplay mixing to another level,” Atomix says.
Elsewhere, there’s a revamped professional FX engine with more than 122 effects, including almost every effect from popular hardware mixers from Pioneer and Rane. There’s also a new video plugin available for lyrics visualisation – perfect for singing karaoke along to any audio track.
“True to its mission, VirtualDJ 2026 pushes again the boundaries of what it means to be a DJ in modern times, and is the first to introduce some new innovative features that are sure to  become the DJing norm of the future,” Atomix says.
VirtualDJ 2026 is available now on early access at virtualdj.com.
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Soyuz launch the V1 Until now, the Soyuz range has been occupied exclusively by capacitor mics, but their latest announcement sees them introduce a newly designed dynamic model.

Melodyne is one of the world’s top vocal tuning plugins – and you can get it for just £65 this Cyber MondayAs a producer you’ll need a dependable vocal tuning plugin in your arsenal, so why not take advantage of this superb Cyber Monday deal at Plugin Boutique, which could see you land Melodyne 5 Assistant at a massive 69% off, meaning you pay just £65 down from £210.
[deals ids=”2AeNvIaPzNCEM7OV7p45jH”]
Melodyne has been an essential tool for producers to fix up their vocals for years, and even won a Grammy in Technical Grammy in 2012 for its significant contributions to the recording field.
The last vocal tuning plugin you’ll ever need, Melodyne 5 Assistant delivers the complete professional Melodyne package – allowing you to finetune your take’s pitch, timing, vibrato, phrasing, formants and dynamics – and now you can get it for a mere £65.
The latest iteration of Melodyne is more advanced than ever, thanks to a new and improved “Melodic” algorithm which can make perfect and natural corrections at the press of a key. And with Chord Track, you can instantly adapt notes to fit the chord progression of your project.

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Melodyne’s Melodic algorithm can also now distinguish between noise-like components of a vocal take (sibilant sounds, for example), and its pitched components, meaning it’s no longer necessary to isolate each sibilant sound by hand. That means a faster process than ever so you can stay in your creative flow.
So what are you waiting for? Grab one of the most popular vocal tuning plugins on the market and start creating better vocal tracks than ever.
There’s also a more stripped back version of Melodyne – Melodyne 5 Essential – for a limited-time discount price of just £22, so don’t wait around…
Get your copy at Plugin Boutique.
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SPL introduce the BiG [Studio] SPL’s latest release brings the circuitry employed in their BiG 500-series module to a 1U 19” rackmount unit, and takes advantage of the extra space by adding a new Tube Harmonics section. 

The Making Of ABBA by Joe Matera Writing by Joe Matera with a foreword by Carl Magnus Palm, The Making Of ABBA is a new book details the creation of Swedish pop group ABBA’s third, self-titled album.

Cubase 15 just dropped out of nowhere: Here’s everything you need to knowSteinberg has surprise-launched the latest version of its flagship DAW, Cubase 15, with a slew of new sound shaping features, as well as workflow and UI improvements.
Like previous versions of Cubase, there are three tiers available – Elements, Artist and Pro – allowing producers to select a package with a feature set that matches their needs.

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Described as a “new reference standard for music production”, Steinberg says Cubase 15 “truly elevates the music production experience”.
And as Senior Marketing Manager Matthias Quellman notes, many of the updates in Cubase 15 come off the back of customer feedback. “We worked closely with our community to refine what matters most, turning valuable feedback into meaningful improvements that make everyday workflows smoother and more intuitive,” he says. 
“This release builds naturally on the foundation of the previous version – it feels like the perfect evolution, marking a major leap forward for Cubase.”
We’re sure you’re just itching to get into some of the features in detail, so here we go…
New features for “enhanced creativity”

Aiming to make the articulation of VST instruments “more straightforward”, Cubase 15 features a redesigned Expression Maps system, with deep integration with the software’s Key Editor and Score Editor delivering “greater performance realism.
There’s also a new pattern sequencer housed within Cubase’s Pattern Editor, which allows for the creation of melodic patterns in both monophonic and polyphonic modes. This includes step input, custom scales, shape generators and a deep randomiser feature. There’s also a selection of new pattern bank presets, including bass lines, leads, chords and arpeggios.
Modulators – which arrived with Cubase 14 – have been expanded with six new modulators. There’s also 30 brand-new Chord Pad presets, “ready-to-play voicings” for a range of genres for spurring on the creative process.
Enhanced selection of VST instruments and plugins

Cubase 14 came bundled with an impressive selection of virtual instruments and plugins, and this is expanded upon in the latest version.
The Cubase Drum Machine now features 40 fresh drum kits spanning hip-hop- trap, electronic and more, as well as a redesigned Groove Agent SE 6, which now features a scalable UI, new mixer and upgraded effects.
Cubase’s Writing Room Synths collection offers “production-ready” vintage synth recreations – with “rich leads, warm basses and dreamy pads” – while Songstarter Packs features a range of loops for kickstarting creativity.
There’s also the beta Omnivocal vocal synthesis engine powered by Yamaha’s “cutting-edge” vocal synthesis, and a range of new effects including UltraShaper – a transient shaper, clip limited and EQ housed in one – and a new PitchShifter. All Cubase stock effects are scalable for an optimised visual experience.
Workflow improvements

Of course, a big part of what makes our DAW of choice is its workflow and ease of use; at the end of the day, the DAW is a tool to facilitate the creative process.
So with Cubase 15, there’s a number of improvements to workflow and UI design, “ensuring the software never gets in the way of creative inspiration”.
There’s a redesigned Hub for smoother project startup, while collaboration is made easier with the DAWproject format now able to share sessions across all previous versions of Cubase, as well as other supported DAWs.
There’s also new AI-powered stem separation tools, automation shortcuts and new quick export options so audio is “rendered faster than ever”.
Pricing and availability
Cubase Pro, Artist and Elements are available now, priced at £481, £273 and £83, respectively. A range of upgrades, crossgrades and education versions are also available via the Steinberg Online Shop.
In addition, those who have purchased any version of Cubase 14 since 8 October, 2025 are eligible for a free upgrade to their corresponding version of Cubase 15.
Learn more at Steinberg.
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Reimagine your voice using AutoTune’s new “ethically trained” AI transformation plugin, MetamorphAutoTune maker Antares Audio Technologies has released Metamorph, a new AI-powered vocal transformation plugin that lets you reshape your voice using “ethically-trained” AI.
While many AI voice transformation tools rely on cloud servers, Metamorph runs entirely offline inside your DAW. It comes with 12 “ethically trained” voice models – plus six more voices developed in partnership with Voice-Swap, another AI vocal transformation platform which emphasises ethical AI and fair compensation for the performers whose voices it is trained on.
With Metamorph, Antares says producers can reimagine lead vocals, layer harmonies or craft completely new vocal textures – all without leaving their session or worrying about usage rights.

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“Metamorph isn’t about replacing the human voice – it’s about expanding what’s possible when human creativity meets responsible AI,” says AutoTune CEO Jeff Wright. “We’ve built this technology with artists at the centre, ensuring every voice model is ethically sourced and every transformation preserves the soul that only human creators can bring to music.”

A supporter of The Principles for Music Creation with AI, Antares has long championed ethical AI – the practice of ensuring the rights of original performers and artists are protected.
Metamorph uses only licensed data from compensated artists, and that transparency, Antares says, is key to keeping human creativity at the heart of music production.
For subscribers of AutoTune Unlimited, Metamorph is available now at no extra cost. It’s also being offered as a standalone perpetual license for $100 (a 50% discount from its $200 regular price) as part of Antares’ Early Bird Black Friday sale, which runs from today.
The sale also includes major discounts across the brand’s vocal production tools like the AutoTune Pro 11, AutoTune 2026, and Vocal Chain suite.
Learn more at Antares Tech.
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Arturia KeyStep Mk2 packs generative tools and deep sequencing powerArturia has announced the KeyStep mk2, the latest version of its acclaimed compact controller and sequencer, claiming that it’s “more creative, more connected, and more immediate than ever”.
Arriving nearly a decade after the original KeyStep’s debut, the Mk2 takes everything musicians loved about the first generation and expands it with new generative tools, a clearer OLED display, extended connectivity, and a more powerful sequencer and arpeggiator.

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Described by Arturia as the “ultimate compact controller and sequencer for DAWless workflows or hybrid setups”, the KeyStep Mk2 caters to two main users: synth and modular musicians who need keys and connectivity in a compact format, as well as bedroom producers looking for powerful and creative functionality that fits their workspace.
Key features like the 32-note Slimkey keyboard, pitch bend and modulation strips remain, while the all-new Mutate button introduces a dash of unpredictability. With just a single touch, users can instantly transform sequences or arpeggios – from subtle tweaks to bold variations – perfect for getting through those creative blocks or for exploring fresh ideas.
Credit: Arturia
The sequencer has also been significantly upgraded, offering eight times more memory, unquantised recording, Bend & Mod automation, Undo, step editing, and pattern chaining. Meanwhile, the expanded arpeggiator boasts 16 modes, 9 pattern variations, octave control, and a new Arp Length Reset for deeper rhythmic expression.
Musicians can also stay perfectly in key with scale locking, and record or play chords with expressive voicings, as in the high-end KeyLab 3 controller.
On the hardware side, Arturia has modernised the KeyStep’s design with USB-C connectivity, a dedicated power switch, and a clickable encoder that, along with the OLED display, allows for faster parameter access without relying on the MIDI Control Center.
Designed for hardware-first control, the KeyStep Mk2 can patch into modular rigs, trigger drum machines, and sequence synths old and new. With DIN MIDI I/O, assignable CV outs, and pedal support, it’s ready to command virtually any setup – live, in the studio, or on the move.
The Arturia KeyStep Mk2 is priced at $139/€129, and is available now.
Learn more at Arturia.
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