Full Bucket Music Releases Free Ny Polyphonic Ensemble
Full Bucket Music released Ny, a freeware VST plugin emulating the KORG Lambda ES-50 Polyphonic Ensemble. Ny is yet another impressive hardware-inspired virtual instrument from Full Bucket Music. The developer has already turned numerous Korg instruments into highly convincing software emulations. The list includes classics like the Mono/Poly and some more obscure instruments like the [...]
View post: Full Bucket Music Releases Free Ny Polyphonic Ensemble

Best free plugins and freeware of the month: September 2023It’s always nice when you uncover some useful or creative tools online – and it’s even nicer when they turn out to be free.

READ MORE: Best sample packs of the month

We’ve rounded up a handful of this month’s free releases for you to check out, including a chord-based ROMpler, a transparent limiter, a fully-featured spatial 3D instrument, an epic, endless reverb, and a fun sample chopping sequencer.
Polyverse Music – Filtron
Polyverse Music – Filtron

macOS and Windows
VST, VST3, AU, AAX
Download: Polyverse Filtron

Let’s start things off with the excellent Filtron from Polyverse, which is a vibrant-sounding, 12dB state variable filter plug-in, with state of the art zero delay filter design. It can smoothly transition between low-pass, band-pass and high-pass cutoff, is capable of self oscillation, and includes a fat sounding internal saturation.

There are also Cold and Hot post overdrive modes for some additional bite, and the parameters can be modulated via the sidechain signal. This means you can do some very cool “CV” style modulation, and each channel in the stereo pair is treated as a separate modulation source.
Artists in DSP – Transpanner
Artists in DSP – Transpanner

macOS and Windows
VST3, AU
Download: Artists in DSP – Transpanner

Transpanner is a simple but effective way to control and experience 3D audio panning through stereo speakers. The concise interface offers a main 360-degree Panning dial to control where the sound is placed around your head through clever use of phase. There’s also a Rear Filter slider that enhances the effect when it’s panned behind your, plus a button that flips the input between mono and stereo.

Although Transpanner works on headphones, it’s been primarily designed with speakers in mind, and features a Loudspeaker Distance slider to help optimise the crosstalk cancellation delay. It’s available as free/pay-what-you-want, so it’s worth considering supporting the developer.
Bertom Audio – EQ Curve Analyzer v2
Bertom Audio – EQ Curve Analyzer v2

macOS, Windows and Linux
VST3, AU, AAX
Download: Bertom Audio EQ Curve Analyzer v2

If you’ve ever wondered exactly what your analogue-modelled EQs are doing to your audio, then this could be the plug-in for you.
EQ Curve Analyzer is an analyser and signal generator tool that can show the magnitude and phase of any plug-in. You simply insert it on either side of the plug-in that you want to examine, then set the first one to act as a signal generator and the second as an analyser.

New features for version 2 include a Freeze button for the graph, latency estimation and level calibration features, persistent GUI scaling and resizing, and more. This one is also available as free/pay-what-you-want.
Ohmforce – Legacy Plug-ins
Ohmforce Legacy Plugins. Image: Ohmforce

macOS and Windows
VST, AU,AAX
Download: Ohmforce Legacy Plugins

Ohmforce has decided to make eight of its legacy plug-ins available for free.
The collection includes Ohmicide (4-band distortion), Quad Fromage (4-band filter bank), Hematohm (frequency shifter), Mobilohm (phaser), Symptohm (synth), Ohmygod (comb filter), Predatohm (distortion), Ohmboyz (delay).
Ohmicide and Quad Fromage in particular are fully featured products, so we love that they’re now available for free, and many of the plug-ins include innovative features like the ability to perform preset morphing via a MIDI keyboard. As with other announcements of this sort, there’s a possibility that they may not run on recent operating systems, and there’s no ongoing support, but they’re still worth a look.
Wide Blue Sound – Audio Plugin Uninstaller
Wide Blue Sound Audio Plugin Uninstaller

macOS
Standalone
Download: Wide Blue Sound Audio Plugin Uninstaller

How many times have you installed demos or bits of freeware, only to decide down the line that you no longer want them on your system? Our final piece of free software is a useful macOS-only utility for cleaning up your unwanted plug-ins.
Unfortunately, uninstalling a plugin often results in a number of unwanted files scattered across different folders. Audio Plugin Uninstaller reads the installation receipts and then reverses the process to uninstall all related files for a particular plug-in, while leaving all the other files intact.
The post Best free plugins and freeware of the month: September 2023 appeared first on MusicTech.

Sonnox announce Voca plug-in Voca offers an all-in-one vocal procesing solution that combines compression and saturation, and provides a simple set of controls intended to help users quickly acheive their desired sound.

SideKick2 Is A FREE Sidechain Plugin For Windows
Rewired Records has just released a free sidechain plugin for Windows called SideKick2. Apart from the naming and look-feel affinities with the renowned Nicky Romero’s KickStart 2, it looks like a solid plugin! As you would expect, its primary purpose is to create the classic sidechain pumping effect so common in EDM and similar genres. [...]
View post: SideKick2 Is A FREE Sidechain Plugin For Windows

Waves OneKnob Wetter Reverb Plugin Is FREE For A Limited Time
Waves Audio and ModeAudio offer the Waves OneKnob Wetter reverb plugin as a free download until Wednesday, August 30th. OneKnob Wetter is a plugin that lets you apply more reverb to a channel by using a single knob. As you rotate the knob, the reverb gets louder, with more decay and depth. BPB readers already [...]
View post: Waves OneKnob Wetter Reverb Plugin Is FREE For A Limited Time

Elon Musk and Mark Cuban hate Spotify CEO Daniel Ek’s ‘guiding motto’Spotify CEO Daniel Ek shared his “guiding motto” on X (formerly Twitter) this week, and the reaction to it from other business leaders was swift and not particularly positive. Ek’s. Continue reading
The post Elon Musk and Mark Cuban hate Spotify CEO Daniel Ek’s ‘guiding motto’ appeared first on Hypebot.

InMusic seeks to block AlphaTheta Corporation’s $100m Serato acquisitionUS audio equipment manufacturer InMusic has threatened legal action in several countries in an attempt to block the acquisition of Serato by AlphaTheta, Pioneer DJ’s parent company.

READ MORE: “Now you can do an orchestral piece on a computer with 200 tracks – but it’s good to impose your own restrictions”: Calvin Harris on the benefits of limitation in music production

AlphaTheta announced the $100-plus million buyout last month and said in a statement that both AlphaTheta and Serato will continue to operate as standalone companies after the deal.
Significantly, the move brings under the same umbrella Serato and Rekordbox DJ, which together account for a massive 90% of market share in the DJ software business.
Concerned that the buyout will “eliminate competition”, InMusic has taken out full-page advertorials in New Zealand media to publicise its position. The company says that it will be forced to discontinue a 20-year partnership with Serato (InMusic uses Sertao software in its DJ controllers) should the deal go through, given that Pioneer DJ is a direct manufacturing rival.
“When we work with Serato, we give them our product up to a year ahead of time so they can analyse it and put the software in. If I was handing it to the new dominant player, I’m essentially handing it to my competitor,” InMusic CEO Jack O’Donnell told The Auckland Post.
“I am quite confident what’s happening here and it’s an outrage as far as I’m concerned,” he continued. “In any market when you eliminate competition, it has an effect on consumers. It’s going to raise prices, eliminate innovation and limit choice. So it’s a big thing for a small industry.”
Speaking to the press, O’Donnell said that InMusic had “engaged legal representation in the US, UK, and Japan”.
“While New Zealand is the battleground, this is a global fight, as this is a global issue,” he said. “We’re in early discussions with them, but we think we have legal grounds to fight in multiple jurisdictions.”
As of now, the buyout is still subject to approval by the New Zealand Overseas Investment Office.
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Andrew Huang teams up with Baby Audio on new FX plugin, TransitProducer extraordinaire Andrew Huang has teamed up with Baby Audio to create Transit, a multi-effects plugin that will give your mix “transitions super powers”.

READ MORE: AI-powered music creation app Moises launches new tools for easier production

Transit hosts 18 powerful effect-modules, freely loadable across 7 slots. You get classic modulation effects, distortion and degradation options, motion FX, reverb, delay, two filter types – and even a synth oscillator and noise generator for adding risers and sweeps to your transitions. All effect parameters can be linked to a global Macro Control, which you automate to create complex FX transitions with one knob movement.
There’s also a Sequencer Mode allowing users to program and trigger DAW-synced automations at the click of a button. Perfect for live use or for writing perfectly timed automations into your mix session without entering the automation lanes.
In addition, Transit comes preloaded with more than 300 presets created by Huang and sound designers at Baby Audio. Users can also get creative with a flexible randomisation engine that lets you set specific random-ranges and lock modules/ parameters to only randomise certain parts of the plugin.
“We wanted to create a type of plugin that hadn’t been done before – one that would make it easier and more creative to dial-in the transitions and ‘ear candy’ that modern tracks rely on,” a statement from Baby Audio reads. “Transit delivers on this idea, and its semi-modular architecture, along with 300+ high quality presets, makes it as deep or as fast as you need it to be.”
“Initially the concept was about speeding up the workflow when you’re creating transitions in songs, but as the development process went on, we just kept discovering new, really cool possibilities with it,” Huang says, adding that he’d had this plugin idea “kicking around for a while”.
“And then I decided there’s no way I could make it myself. And when I started thinking about who I’d want to collaborate on with it, Baby Audio was at the top of my list just for their sound quality, their aesthetic… So I reached out to them and it was just this amazing moment of serendipity because they got back to me and they were like, ‘hey, we were actually thinking of reaching out to you just because we think you have cool ideas and maybe you’d wanna do a plugin together.’”
The plugin is compatible with all major DAWs for Mac and PC and is fully Mac M1 native.
You can now pick up Transit at an intro price of $59 (U.P $99).

Learn more at babyaud.io
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Transit plug-in from Baby Audio Baby Audio's latest plug-in, Transit, has been designed as the ultimate all-in-one toolkit for creating interesting transitions between song sections. 

5 vocal production and songwriting tips from NERVO
DJ and production duo NERVO (Kylie Minogue, Steve Aoki) sat down with us to share five timeless vocal production and songwriting tips.

Sony Playstation is acquiring Audeze, maker of planar-magnetic studio headphonesEsteemed headphone manufacturer Audeze is set to be acquired by Sony Interactive Entertainment, with a focus on PlayStation.
READ MORE: Sony’s MDR-MV1 headphones offer a stunning insight into your mixes and masters
In a statement released today (24 August), Sony announced that it has “entered into an agreement to acquire Audeze.” The California-based tech giant said that the purchase will assist in the innovation of audio experiences of PlayStation games.
Audeze will continue to operate independently, which likely means it will continue to build its high-end planar magnetic studio headphones, such as the £1,699 Manny MM-500s.
However, elsewhere in Audeze’s catalogue is a selection of award-winning “audiophile gaming headphones.” Also built with planar magnetic tech, these headphones – such as the Maxwells – offer 24-bit, 96kHz via wifi dongle, plus Dolby Atmos capabilities.
Audeze x Microsoft Ultraviolet Maxwell.Image: Audeze
On the latter, Sony’s senior vice president of platform experience, Hideaki Nishino says: “We’re excited to bring Audeze’s expertise into the PlayStation ecosystem, building on the great strides we’ve made with PlayStation 5’s Tempest 3D AudioTech and the Pulse 3D wireless headset.”
Meanwhile, Audeze’s CEO Sankar Thiagasamudram suggest that the acquisition will provide the brand with opportunities to expand its business and amp up PlayStation’s audio tech.
“Sony Interactive provides Audeze with a unique opportunity to scale our business, as we continue with our mission to deliver best-in-class headphones to recording professionals, audiophiles, and gamers.”
“We’re also looking forward to contributing to Sony Interactive’s efforts to take PlayStation audio experiences to the next level.”
Previously, Audeze has collaborated with one of Sony’s main competitors, Microsoft, on limited-edition headphones for the Xbox. Sony’s press statement suggests that, as its fellow California-based company is still operating independently, it will continue to collaborate with Sony’s competition. No doubt Sony and Audeze co-branded products are in the works, though.
Sony has recently been in the news for another announcement: PlayStation Portal, a new handheld gaming device to accompany the PS5.
The statement ends, “Terms of this transaction, including the acquisition cost, are not disclosed due to contractual commitments.”
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AI-powered music creation app Moises launches new tools for easier productionMoises, an AI-powered app for music creation, has launched three new features which aid the production process.
The new features – AI Lyrics Transcription, Song Sections, and Extended Chords – will “empower singers, songwriters, and musicians to unlock their full potential”, according to the brand.

READ MORE: New music platform Myvox lets artists licence and monetise their own AI voice models

The app’s new AI Lyrics Transcription tool can transcribe lyrics from songs in multiple languages, such as English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and French, and can synchronise lyrics with “word-by-word precision”.
Users can also access their transcribed lyrics on all platforms, so you record an idea on a mobile device, import it into Moises, and continue to work on the same project on a desktop device for easier collaboration, or producing on the go.
Also now in the app is Advanced Chords, a new addition to the Chord Detection feature. This provides more accurate chord detection and advanced chord capabilities so that users can access complex jazz chords and more.
Chords are also categorised into three different types (easy, medium, and advanced) so that musicians have the right chords for their skill level.
And finally, due to user requests, the platform is also now offering an AI-powered Song Sections feature which automatically detects and can loop different parts of a song such as the intro, verse, and bridge. The tool has been created to offer gigging musicians who need to learn fast a swifter way to practice.
“Each of these features provides new functionality unique to Moises,” says Spencer Mann, VP of Growth at Moises in a press release. “Our product team has listened to our incredible customers and these new features are the result. They are all designed to help intermediate and advanced musicians get the most from their experience in Moises.”
Find out more at Moises.
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Serato Sample 2.0 puts stem separation directly into your DAW – a production gamechanger?Auckland-based software developer Serato has released Sample 2.0, bringing stem separation technology as a plugin for your DAW for the first time. The new version of the sampling software also boasts a tweaked workflow for a workflow that’s “simpler than ever before,” the company says.
READ MORE: Group test: Six of the best stem separation tools in 2023
Following an early preview by content creator Ave McCree yesterday (22 Aug) and six years after version 1, Serato Sample 2.0 is now officially available to download. It packs a “proprietary machine-learning algorithm,” according to the brand, that allows you to quickly isolate and manipulate the instrumentation of any sample.

MusicTech has test-driven an early-release model of the plugin and can confirm that, yes, it’s incredibly easy to separate samples into stems. To do so, you’ll load the Serato Sample 2.0 plugin onto a MIDI channel in your DAW, import a sample from your computer, and isolate or remove a ‘stem’ using the dedicated panel.
There are options to create an acapella, remove a vocal line, isolate a drum beat, extract the entire backline, or dissect a groovy bassline.
The results aren’t perfect, but you’ll likely be impressed with what’s instantly possible.
Serato Sample 2.0. Image: Serato
With the Serato Sample workflow, you’ll be able to chop up the sample and play them in realtime on your keyboard or MIDI controller, too. Parameters for level, filter cutoff, attack, release, key shift and more are available per sample, too.
Also included in Sample 2.0 is Serato DJ’s trusted Pitch ‘n Time technology. This allows you to time-stretch and change the key of your sample with “best-in-class” sound quality, Serato says.
Grammy-winning producer !llmind (who has produced for the likes of Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj and Drake) said, “Sampling used to be just chopping and stretching songs. Now, I get instant access to audio stems in my DAW. [Sample 2.0] completely changes the game.”
This isn’t the first time stem separation technology has been made available – software such as Hit’N’Mix’s RipX DeepRemix/DeepAudio is one notable program that superbly carries out the task. With Serato bringing the tech in a plugin, though, we will surely see many beatmakers’ workflow change.
Keep your eyes peeled on MusicTech for a full review of the software.
You can buy Serato Sample 2.0 now for $149 or subscribe for $10 per month.
Learn more at serato.com.
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Songwriters are worried about BMI’s private equity sale – and if it will hurt their royalties. What happens now?MBW has heard rumors from senior music biz figures that BMI has explored talks with a number of potential backers/suitors, with the latest name on the lips of the business being New Mountain Capital
Source

“Now you can do an orchestral piece on a computer with 200 tracks – but it’s good to impose your own restrictions”: Calvin Harris on the benefits of limitation in music productionThough he’s now one of the most successful and acclaimed DJs in the world – with millions of streams and millions of record sales to his name – Calvin Harris, like so many DJs and producers, came from humble beginnings.
In a new interview with BBC Sounds, the Scottish DJ recalls starting his music-making journey using an old Amiga 500 Plus desktop computer his older brother left at home when he went off to university.

READ MORE: “I’ve never used a MIDI instrument in my life”: Jack Antonoff on his love of analogue gear

“I made my first album on that, actually. I used it long after I should have stopped using it,” he admits.
“I used to play a lot of computer games on it, and then my brother got this very sort of primitive – it was called a tracker programme – so you’d have four channels running vertically, and you could input samples on those vertical channels. Then you’d hit the spacebar and it would start playing. And as the line crossed these little inputs, it would [make drum sounds].
Commodore Amiga 500. Credit: James Sheppard/Future via Getty Image
“So I loved it – it was like playing a computer game, but actually you were making something at the end of it, so it was kind of creative.”
Harris goes on to highlight the importance of restriction in music making, and how it can actually be more beneficial than having limitless access to more and more channels and possibilities.
“It taught me to be very selective about what I put in my own tunes, simply because I only have five channels. So everything that was there had to be there for a reason. Now it’s limitless, isn’t it – you can have thousands [of channels].
“But I think if you learn how to do something and you’re very restricted – there were some songs that I couldn’t put a crash symbol in and a chorus vocal at the same time, it would take up too much memory. So I had to decide, would I put in this riff, or would I put in this hi-hat, you know?
He continues: “You can do anything now. And all the programmes are so advanced. You can literally go from doing nothing to doing an orchestral piece with 200 tracks, but I think it’s a good idea to impose your own restrictions sometimes, and work to that.”
The post “Now you can do an orchestral piece on a computer with 200 tracks – but it’s good to impose your own restrictions”: Calvin Harris on the benefits of limitation in music production appeared first on MusicTech.