What does AI mean for music producers?
Music technology journalist Declan McGlynn discusses the potential implications of AI in music, how creators can apply it to their creative processes, and more.

Aphex Twin shares two archival tracks via ‘secret’ Soundcloud accountTwo previously unheard tracks have been uploaded to SoundCloud by user18081971, an account widely believed to belong to electronic producer-DJ, Aphex Twin.

READ MORE: Georgia on feeling “liberated” working with Rostam and Dave Fridmann on new album Euphoric: “I was very open-minded; I wanted to learn everything”

Per their descriptions, the new tracks — titled Short Forgotten Produk Trk Omc and 2nd Neotek Test Trac Omc — were recorded approximately between 2006 and 2007. The latter also features the use of a Kawai K5M, an additive synthesizer from 1987.
Since 2015, the anonymous account, user18081971, has been connected to Aphex Twin, sharing dozens of unreleased tracks over the last eight years. In 2020, the artist surprised fans by dropping a series of new tracks on the same account within a week.
Meanwhile, Aphex Twin has recently released a new EP titled Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / In a Room7 F760. The four-track record marks the musician’s first official release in five years, following his 2018 EP, Collapse.
In related news, Aphex Twin, who last month performed at Barcelona’s Sonar 2023, is also set to headline Field Day in London this August.
Listen to the new tracks, Short Forgotten Produk Trk Omc and 2nd Neotek Test Trac Omc, below.

The post Aphex Twin shares two archival tracks via ‘secret’ Soundcloud account appeared first on MusicTech.

US crypto bills on the move, Worldcoin launches and Russia’s CBDC: Hodler’s Digest, July 23-29Crypto legislation goes to the House floor in the U.S., Worldcoin’s controversial launch and Russia’s digital ruble signed into law.

DECAP (DaBaby, Eminem) makes a beat from scratch
Multi-platinum producer DECAP sat down with us to showcase how he makes a beat from scratch in Ableton Live.

Angry Mob Presents New Normal Writing Camp, Announces Upcoming CampsThe New Normal Writing Camp presented by Angry Mob Music Group took place over five days (June 26-30) in Downtown Los Angeles and featured 30+ talented artists/writers/producers from 10+ different cultural backgrounds. In addition, out of those in attendance, 50% of them were women producers and 70% were female writers/artists. 

The New Normal Writing Camp, founded by Ralph Torrefranca (Filipino-American Senior Director of A&R, Angry Mob), was created to bring our songwriting community together and lift each other up in an industry where underrepresented voices are often held back due to the old ways of thinking. The New Normal is a writing camp that encourages diversity and champions the melting pot of cultural backgrounds, which brings a unique and universally relatable perspective into the music world.

“Artists in residence” included UMI (RCA), YDE (Warner/Facethouse), Paravi (RCA), Deb Never (Moon Landing), Maris (Black House), Tempest (Arista/Sony), and Chandler Leighton; Our producers included MNDR (Mark Ronson, Charlie XCX), Chong The Nomad (21 Savage, Shang-Chi), Ali Stone, V-RON (Alicia Keys, Ambre), Joe Pepe (Iann Dior, Sam Short), Verskotzi (Prinze George, Sam Drysdale), Bus (Ty Dolla $ign, Brent Faiyaz) and Dominique Sanders (Tech9, Dr. Dre); and our writers/artists included Bailey Bryan, Sayak Das, Kiana V, Brooke Daye, Rose Tan, LeyeT, Galxara, Taylor Foley, Chloe Tang, Sad Alex, Floyd Fuji, Mori Einsidler, Gray Trainer, Dan Richards and Louis Castle.

The New Normal is proudly sponsored by BMI, Topo Chico, Shure, JHS Pedals, Izotope, Native Instruments, and Spitfire Audio, who all support the message and purpose behind what the camp aims to change in the industry. For more pictures, visit The New Normal Songwriting Camp's Instagram. Angry Mob Music is also planning to have another New Normal Writing Camp in Los Angeles, CA during the fall of 2023, followed by one in Nashville, TN in 2024. 

Daft Punk’s Guy-Man credited as producer on Travis Scott’s UtopiaRapper Travis Scott has finally released his long-awaited album, Utopia, and to the surprise of Daft Punk fans, one song on it was produced by Guy Manuel de Homem-Christo, AKA Guy-Man of the iconic French dance duo.

READ MORE: Beatport.io launch digital collectable series about Berlin’s techno scene

The album is filled to the brim with producer collabs from James Blake to Beyonce, SZA and even the controversial Kanye West.
However, the third track on the album, MODERN JAM, is where Guy-Man’s production skills really come to light. You can even hear Scott refer to Guy-Man at one point with the lyrics “Hey, Guy-Man, brought him home from France”.

Unsurprisingly, it is certainly one of the more electronic-sounding tracks on the album and has Scott rapping over the top of a looped beat that develops throughout the song.
Fans in the comments have praised Scott and Guy-Man’s production skills on the track, with many even claiming how old-school it sounds.
“I’m feeling this 90s type beat. I need a music video on this that has a 90s theme. Travis killed it,” writes one listener.
“This is going to go nuts in the club. Brought an old-school vibe. 80s type shit,” wrote another.
In more Utopia-related news, Travis Scott’s Utopia launch concert and livestream from Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza has officially been cancelled due to safety concerns. The Egyptian Musicians Syndicate announced that there were also issues with the “peculiar rituals performed by the star during his performance, contradicting our authentic societal values and traditions.”
The concert was set to take place tonight (28 July), and all ticket holders are being issued refunds via Live Nation Middle East.
The post Daft Punk’s Guy-Man credited as producer on Travis Scott’s Utopia appeared first on MusicTech.

Bandsintown launches free Release pagesBandsintown, already the go-to platform for live show marketing, has added free Release pages to help artists announce new music, merch drops, contests. tours, presales, and more. Artists keep the. Continue reading
The post Bandsintown launches free Release pages appeared first on Hypebot.

Why songs are getting shorterThis week’s Hypebot Flashback Friday post digs into a trend that is showing no signs of abating. Bobby Oswinki shares why. Guest post by Bobby Owsinski of Music 3.0 Songs today are shorter. Continue reading
The post Why songs are getting shorter appeared first on Hypebot.

Tascam and IK Multimedia T-RackS giveaway Tascam and IK Multimedia are currently offering users of qualifying Tascam hardware a copy of the T-RackS Porta One tape recorder plug-in. 

Fitzmaurice Relies on Amphion Atmos SetupAward-winning Irish mixer, engineer and producer Steve Fitzmaurice couldn’t have foreseen that his sessions with Dublin-based rock band, The Frames, in the mid-1990s would eventually lead to him buying a pair of Amphion reference monitors. Now, over twenty years into his career, Fitzmaurice is inspired by Apple Music’s launch of Spatial Audio, in mid-2021, he has since expanded his stereo monitor setup with additional speakers from Finnish manufacturer Amphion to enable him to also mix in Dolby Atmos.

Born in Dublin, Fitzmaurice knew by his early teens that he wanted to work in the record industry. But there were few studio job opportunities in Ireland, so after finishing school he went to London and started knocking on the doors of some of the city’s best known recording facilities. His early career began on the nightshift answering the phones at producer Trevor Horn’s Sarm West Studios. It wasn’t long before he was assisting on sessions with Horn and longtime Sarm West producer, engineer and mixer Julian Mendelsohn. After five years at Sarm, Fitzmaurice moved to New York and got a job at the Hit Factory and after a year went freelance.

Freelancer with new primary speakers

Over the years Fitzmaurice, who is based at Pierce Entertainment’s London studios, has worked with a long list of artists including Seal, Tina Turner, Tasmin Archer, Jodeci, Ian Brown, U2, Depeche Mode, Hikaru Utada, Sam Smith and many others. He has been nominated for 10 Grammy Awards, winning five for projects with Sam Smith, Seal and U2, also working on various Oscar, Golden Globe and Brit Award-winning productions.

It was David Odlum, guitarist with The Frames, who first brought Amphion monitors to Fitzmaurice’s attention. Now Odlum is also a successful producer and engineer, currently musical director for Sam Smith, with whom Fitzmaurice has worked since their debut album in 2013. “During lockdown we did a live stream from Abbey Road Studios for Sam,” Fitzmaurice recalls. “I was mixing, and Dave was going on about the Amphions, so I got a pair of One18s to try,” as an alternative to his usual monitors. “At first I found myself using them occasionally and then more and more.”

Fitzmaurice was happy with the results but still unsure, he says, so Odlum suggested that he try Amphion’s Two18 speakers. “I kept them for two or three weeks and the same thing happened — I was using my other monitors less and less. I ended up buying a pair of Two18s, and now they’re my primary speakers.”

Full view of the 7.1.4 Atmos Setup in Fitzmaurice's studio

Dynamic clarity with subtle details

Fitzmaurice has a simple philosophy when it comes to mixing. “I like clarity, low-end and dynamics. I don't really like clutter. My most used piece of equipment is probably the mute button! ​ These days, it’s a constant battle to make loud competitive records — we're in a world where you have to EQ and compress everything — but I try and keep some sense of clarity, bottom end and dynamics while also trying to keep everything as natural as I can.”

His Amphion monitors have certainly helped him achieve those goals. “I think that they’re pretty natural sounding, with clarity in the mid-range, especially, and the top end. But they’re not bland and boring. When you turn them up for clients, they’ve still got a bit of vibe.” His previous speakers worked best when they were loud, he says. “But with the Amphions I definitely mix quieter because they don’t change tonally when I turn them down.”

Fitzmaurice has worked with some of the best singers in the business and has earned a reputation for the sound of the vocals on his projects. There, too, the Amphion monitors are proving their worth. “The Amphions are very good for subtle details, smaller changes in volume and dynamics are easy to hear. ​ Because of this clarity I found them great for balancing vocals.”

Changing monitors is always challenging, but with three years of working with the Amphions behind him, he reports, “Mixes seem to be translating to every other system quite well, which obviously was my main concern, so I'm totally sold. And now I've got an Atmos system which is all Amphion speakers.” The new 7.1.4 setup in Fitzmaurice's room at Pierce Entertainment is comprised of three Amphion Two18 monitors combined with the BaseTwo25 bass extension system, four One18s for the surrounds ​ and four One15 speakers positioned overhead.

Cohesion with immersive mixes

One reason to dive into immersive mixing was that Apple Music’s default playback is the Spatial Audio mix of a song, if it exists, Fitzmaurice says. Having heard other people’s Atmos mixes of his stereo mixes, he says, “I started wanting to do it myself, being a bit of a control freak! Somebody asked me if there was a steep learning curve to mixing in Atmos, but I haven’t really found this as I am simply trying to convey the same feeling of the stereo mix in the immersive world.”

One big advantage of an Atmos mix is being able to spread the tracks out spatially, he continues. “You don't have to fit all this information into two speakers, and make tracks bright and aggressive. In fact, I’m often taking a little top end off my stereo stems, as they don't need it any more to cut through.”

But having heard Dolby Atmos mixes where some of the elements are too spread out, the song loses its power as a result, Fitzmaurice says. He is careful to keep his immersive mixes cohesive. “Primarily, the vocal and the drums are more in the front. Sometimes, with live drums that I've recorded, I might pull the room mics away from the main drum kit. I've mixed a few electronic things in Atmos, and there you've got a bit more freedom to play around. But I'm not a fan of stuff flying around and making myself feel seasick. Occasionally I’ll have something moving around slowly but it's more about placement.”

With the record labels, streamers and broadcasters all clamoring for immersive music mixes, the investment in an all-Amphion immersive speaker system is paying off. “Nearly every time I’m commissioned to do a stereo mix, as long as there's a budget, they want an Atmos mix as well.”

Fitzmaurice mixed eight tracks for the stereo version of Sam Smith’s current album, Gloria, released in January 2023 (Serban Ghenea mixed another three and David Odlum and Kevin “KD” Davis mixed one each). “All the songs that I mixed in stereo I mixed in Atmos as well,” he says. “There’s one song, “Perfect”, where I prefer the end section on the Atmos version because it feels like there’s much more space.”

He also recorded and mixed Smith’s live orchestral performance at Abbey Road Studios in Dolby Atmos. “It was Sam, a 16-piece choir and a 20-piece string section. I laid the studio out in a horseshoe and when I was mixing in Atmos I laid it out exactly like that. I had room mics as well and I put those exactly as they were in the room in the Atmos mix. You perceive it as if you are Sam, standing in the middle, so it envelops you. It sounds amazing in Atmos.”

About Amphion​Amphion Loudspeakers Ltd. was established in 1998. We design and build loudspeakers that are characterized by honest and accurate sound reproduction. Precise driver integration ensures world-class imaging and phase coherency. Controlled dispersion technology helps achieve more stable results in a variety of room acoustics. All products are handmade in Finland (and the Amphion amplifiers are assembled in Finland) to ensure enduring listening quality.

Have all of Daft Punk’s Face To Face samples finally been discovered?Daft Punk’s 2001 track Face To Face features a lot of samples. Over the years, musicians and producers have been trying to track down all of the original sources for each one – has the plunderphonic puzzle finally been solved?

READ MORE: Julian Casablancas suggested Stevie Wonder as Daft Punk’s Infinity Repeating vocalist

One YouTube user under the name of undrtune may have finally pieced all of the samples together, having shared a final update video of the journey to tracking each sample used. “Thanks to all sample hunters and Le Phunk for the sample breakdown,” reads the video’s description.
Todd Edwards, the famed producer and vocalist who worked with Daft Punk on the 2001 track, as well as 2013’s Fragments Of Time, has previously said that there were 70 samples used across the song and fans have struggled to locate all of them.
In undrtune’s videos, the user plays through each sample in Ableton Live, sharing its source next to it. Undrtune’s most recent sample tracking update of Face To Face before this recent instalment came three years ago.
You can check out the “Final Update” video below.

Another YouTube user, known as ‘the’, has uploaded a video showing you how to recreate the Discovery deep cut in 32 minutes. It, too, is an impressively close recreation of Daft Punk’s original.

In 2016, Todd Edwards gave fans a helping hand by showcasing some of the samples in isolation, followed by their positions in the final sequence. Posting to Instagram, he said that he was “re-creating the sample arrangement of Daft Punk’s and my collab of Face To Face for a discussion about their album Discovery…”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Todd Edwards (@toddedwards3000)

Edwards had previously branded his collaboration with Daft Punk for Fragments Of Time as “life-changing.”
“And I’m not being dramatic,” he explained on Apple Music 1 with Zane Lowe. “It started a new journey in my life and it wasn’t intentionally like, ‘oh, they saved me!’ but it definitely had a major impact.”
He later added that he had foreseen the band’s split in 2021: “I wasn’t shocked by the news because it’s again, I know them on a personal level, so I know the inner workings of… There’s the friendships there. It’s almost like when you think about it, it’s like a partnership can be like a marriage to a certain extent.
“And you have your ups and downs, and it’s just like if the chemistry isn’t there anymore, if it’s just not that you’re not melding together the way you used to, that it’s better to not force something and then come out with something that you feel is sub-par, than to just make it finite.”
The post Have all of Daft Punk’s Face To Face samples finally been discovered? appeared first on MusicTech.

Todd Edwards reveals his year 2000 setup for Daft Punk’s Face To FaceRevered dance producer Todd Edwards has shared the setup he used to contribute to Daft Punk’s 2001 hit Face to Face in an Instagram post.
READ MORE: Fred again… reveals bass sound in Jungle came from a dodgy cable
The Paris-based studio, which Daft Punk used to record and produce Discovery, was filled with vintage gear. Along with some now-retro PCs, it boasted Fender Rhodes and Wurlitzer electric pianos, 1970s effects pedals, and 1980s drum machines.
In an Instagram post, Edwards wrote: “#tbt That time in 2000 when I went to Paris to finish working on Face To Face for @daftpunk ‘s DISCOVERY ALBUM”.
In the video, he shared images while narrating with a voiceover. “So what you are viewing is a glimpse into the original Daft Punk office in Montmartre, Paris from the year 2000,” he began.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Todd Edwards (@toddedwards3000)

“Take notice that sitting on the left is Gildas Loaëc, who helped out on [Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo’s] Crydamoure record label and went on to create Maison Kitsuné, a prestigious music label and fashion brand.
“On the phone on the right you will see Pedro Winter, Daft Punk’s former manager who went on to create Ed Banger Records, and I don’t have to tell you how big Ed Banger Records is.
“I think it’s safe to say that every bit of work that surrounded this group of friends turned to gold.”
The first image of the post also appears to reveal the scene for the artwork of Daft Punk’s 1998 single Revolution 909, which featured in their seminal 1997 debut album, Homework.
Though the robots show no signs of reuniting following their retirement, Edwards has advised fans not to “count out” a reunion. He said, “You don’t know what’s going to happen five years from now. They might decide we’re going to put on a tour, or maybe they get a stroke of… You don’t know, maybe the time away will bring them back together.”
Meanwhile, author Gabriel Szatan is working on After Daft, a book documenting the legacy of the duo with contributions from over 60 artists.
The post Todd Edwards reveals his year 2000 setup for Daft Punk’s Face To Face appeared first on MusicTech.

The best podcasts for music producers in 2023It feels like everyone has a podcast right now. For music producers, it’s fantastic – if you can sift through the noise of food, politics and comedy ‘casts. We’ve done the hard work for you here and plundered into the podcasting platforms to find the best music technology shows out there. Music production professionals have taken it upon themselves to create podcasts that can educate, entertain and inspire you in your quest to become a better producer.

READ MORE: RØDE launches 7 podcasting items in “biggest product drop ever”

We’ve rounded up 12 of our favourite music production podcasts out there right now. You’ll be able to listen to most of these on your favourite podcasting platform, but if you’re unable to find it, we’ve linked the podcaster’s websites to listen directly. Plug in your headphones and hear the masters break down their tracks, express their love for synths and share their top nuggets of wisdom.
My Forever Studio
My Forever Studio. Image: Music Tech
MusicTech’s own My Forever Studio invites producers, musicians and industry figures to dream up their fantasy forever studio space. Hosts and tech nerds Chris Barker and Will Betts ask: Where in the world would this studio be? What would the vibe be like? What gear would be included? Any whacky additional items like furniture? Guests are limited to just six studio items, alongside a DAW and a pair of studio monitors. There is just one rule: there can be NO BUNDLES!
Soon to be cruising into its sixth season, My Forever Studio has so far discovered the wild ideas of Amon Tobin, Jessy Lanza, Jacob Collier, Flava D, Deadmau5, William Orbit, BT, and loads more. Even Gary Barlow featured on episode 26 in 2020. And it’s not just gear the guests end up discussing, often production techniques are shared, alongside entertaining anecdotes and just straight-up odd moments.
Learn more at musictech.net.
Tape Notes
Image: tapenotes.co.uk
John Kennedy hosts Tape Notes, a podcast that invites artists, producers and bands to reflect on the production of their releases. Some guests are producers in their own right, such as Paul Epworth, Disclosure, Bicep, Caribou and DJ Shadow, but Kennedy often reunites a band or artist with their producer to discuss the highlights of their creative process. Such acts include Lianne La Havas, Glass Animals, Haim, Jacob Collier and Wolf Alice.
Tape Notes pulls apart elements and stems from the original recording, discovering how the song transformed from its original idea into a pristine final product. Expect a few fun stories from the journey, too. This podcast is a fascinating look at the methods of producers, and the creative decisions they make to actualise their visions.
Learn more at tapenotes.co.uk.
Song Exploder

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Song Exploder (@songexploder)

With a recent adaptation as a Netflix series, Song Exploder is one of the greats of music production podcasts. The show, similar to Tape Notes, sees musicians and producers dissect their songs and outline the decisions of each part of the recording. Host and creator Hrishikesh Hirway cleverly removes his dialogue to present the bite-sized show as a story told by the artist.
Not only will you learn the secrets behind some stellar productions, but you’ll also hear the human journeys that take place during the creation of their work. You’ll hear artists such as Kelly Lee Owens, Khruangbin, Tokimonsta, Nine Inch Nails and Run The Jewels open up about their craft. You’ll also hear from video game soundtrackers, theme tune creators and film scorers. Deep into its seventh running year, Song Exploder shows no signs of slowing down.
Learn more at songexploder.net.
Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Bruce Headlam & Justin Richmond
Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Bruce Headlam & Justin Richmond. Image: Pushkin
Broken Record, presented by revered producer and Def Jam founder Rick Rubin, revitalises the magic of liner notes in a world where they no longer exist. If you don’t know, liner notes are a section of text found on the back of inside the sleeve of a record that explain the context of the record, or display the song lyrics or any message the artist wants to get across. Each episode feels like reading these notes, exploring backstories behind how tracks were made and often ending in debate, laughter or tears.
Rubin’s joined by journalist Malcolm Gladwell, and New York Times journalist, Bruce Headlam. Each week they draw in huge names, from Damon Albarn to John Frusciante to Tom Jones, Arlo Parks, Kesha – the list goes on and on and on.
Music Ally Focus
Music Ally Focus. Image: Music Ally
Music Ally Focus is a snappy 25-minute podcast created by Music Ally, a hub for all things happening behind the scenes in the music industry, from news to recent job vacancies and more. It’s hosted by Music Ally’s editor, Joe Sparrow.
In this podcast, you can hear from a range of decision-makers leading the way in the world of music tech discussing the big issues surrounding the industry today. For example, Splice’s CEO Kakul Srivastava talks about sampling, microtrends in music production and AI in one episode. In another, it’s all about ticket touting and another is all about Spotify’s controversial RADAR scheme.
The Zane Lowe Interview Series
The Zane Lowe Interview Series. Image: Apple Music
Zane Lowe came to the UK from New Zealand in 1997, going on to land a job on primetime BBC Radio 1 showcasing the world’s greatest new music. Since then, he’s established himself as an enthusiastic music devotee and a tastemaker with a talent for bringing the best out of artists through intimate interviews.
The Zane Lowe Interview Series is Lowe at his best, putting the vital questions on Apple Music’s radio platform, Apple Music 1, to the world’s biggest artists. And when we say big, we mean big – name any star; they’ve most likely been interviewed by Lowe. From production insights to heartwarming anecdotes, this is a deep dive into the greatest musical minds around today.
The Will Clarke Podcast
The Will Clarke Podcast. Image: Apple Music
Dance fans will love the vibe of The Will Clarke podcast. Clarke is an EDM producer who has released tunes on the likes of Dirtybird, Trick, Truesoul, Filth on Acid, Kneaded Pains, Drumcode, We Are The Brave, and his own label All We Have Is Now.
On the podcast, the bearded dance don speaks to DJs and producers in the industry, from Danny Howard to Chloé Robinson to Dubfire, Kevin Saunderson, DJ Bone and loads more. They’ll chat about music production but mostly about how to survive in the saturated world of electronic music.
The Process of Production
The Process of Production. Image: Spotify
The Process of Production is ideal for producers and audio engineers who work regularly with vocalists and bands. It’s hosted by Bob Matthews and Lawrence Diamond. While Matthews is an experienced music professional with over 15 years of expertise working from the prestigious Hackney Road Studios, Diamond has spent eight years as an artist and composer on some of Europe’s best indie labels before making music for brands like O2 and Gucci.
Listeners learn about how producers and engineers have helped the likes of Bastille, Kygo and Arlo Parks – and many more – reach the top of the charts with their expertise. It’s also a genreless podcast, perfect for the general music lover, with subjects varying from major, legendary artists likes Thom Yorke to new, emerging names.
Not A Diving Podcast With Scuba
Not A Diving Podcast With Scuba. Image: Apple Music
Techno heads – this one’s for you. Techno artist and head of Hotflush Recordings, Scuba, has always been an advocate for opening up about his bouts of depression, speaking his mind, and discussing openly the obstacles that artists face. In this podcast, you can hear incredibly frank revelations about the scene as well as deep dives – pardon the pun – into how underground electronic producers make their music.
Seth Troxler, DVS1, Alan Fitzpatrick, Dave Clarke, Elijah – any figure in the industry with wise words to say – sit down with Scuba once a week to dig into the important issues.
Girls Twiddling Knobs

Isobel Anderson hosts the Girls Twiddling Knobs podcast, with a strong focus on female-identifying musicians and producers. Part of the Female DIY Musician brand, the series invites women onto the show to explain how they use technology to make their music and how they overcome challenges in the industry to achieve their goals.
Although Girls Twiddling Knobs has only been running for four months, a range of intriguing topics has already been touched upon. This includes experimenting with sample packs, composing for film and TV, overcoming doubt, overcoming your music tech gremlins and much more. This podcast is thought-provoking and informative for producers from all walks of life.
Learn more at femalediymusician.com.
Appetite For Production

Appetite For Production is brought to you by music technology journalist veterans Tim Cant and James Russell. This podcast is like listening to two music production nerds discuss new hardware, plug-ins and samples at the pub. And it’s as lighthearted and loopy as you’d expect.
Despite its entertaining nature, the bi-weekly podcast will keep you informed on the latest developments in the music tech world. The duo uses their expert knowledge to analyse the effect of new products on the industry, making trivial updates on DAWs and plug-ins more interesting and, frankly, hilarious.
Learn more at app4ppodcast.com.
Working Class Audio
Image: Matt Boudreau/ workingclassaudio.com
Working Class Audio does more than teach you about music production techniques. Matt Boudreau invites an eclectic range of industry professionals onto the show who share their career journeys, anecdotes and tips for navigating the music technology industry.
You’ll hear from producers, engineers, soundtrackers and mixers who have made their name creating revered records, scoring and producing blockbuster films and designing audio for video games, among other achievements. Their journeys give you insight into the human challenges you may have to overcome as a professional – and you’ll feel inspired after every episode.
Learn more at workinclassaudio.com.
Pensado’s Place

Dave Pensado and Herb Trawick have been presenting the weekly Pensado’s Place show for ten years, inviting the world’s top producers and recording engineer’s to hear about their best practices. As a prolific, Grammy-winning producer himself, Dave Pensado doesn’t hold back on getting technical with his guests, talking all things studio-related, with Herb Trawik using his music business wisdom to discuss industry navigation.
Pensado and Trawik’s recent guests include Kenny Beats, Al Schmitt, Che Pope, HAIM, Keith Urban, and Finneas. Regardless of your genre, style and role in the studio, this acclaimed podcast will have you laughing and learning every single time. If you’ve ever attended The NAMM Show, you may even know the show from their regular live panels at the event.
Learn more at pensadosplace.tv.
SonicTalk

Those of you familiar with Nick Batt and Gaz William’s gear reviewing antics on the SonicState YouTube channel will enjoy their company on the weekly live SonicTalk show. Nick teams up with regular guests including Gaz, MATTHS, Yoad Nevo, Dave Spiers, Rich Hilton and more to talk about the latest developments and gear releases in music technology.
As the show is streamed live across Facebook and YouTube, you can hop on the chat and discuss the topics with fellow listeners and with the presenters themselves. With SonicState’s expertise on synths, sequencers, samplers and studio gear in general, you’re sure to get an immediate analysis on how effective a new music production tool really is.
Learn more at sonicstate.com.
Hanging Out With Audiophiles

Warp Records artist Jamie Lidell sits down with some seriously talented musicians and producers in Hanging Out With Audiophiles. Imogen Heap, Four Tet, Richard Devine and Matt Black are among his many guests, who go deep on their production techniques and share the gear that helps them get their sound.
Lidell also explores iconic music tech innovations and discusses their influence with his guests, as well as sharing some of his own studio tips along the way. Music tech gear enthusiasts and audio perfectionists will find this podcast extremely interesting, relatable and packed with information.
Learn more at jamielidellmusic.com.
Why We Bleep
Image: whywebleep.com
Music technology YouTuber Mylar Melodies brings music-makers and synth-makers onto the Why We Bleep podcast to get geeky about gear. Mylar Melodies speaks to representatives from some of your favourite software developers and hardware manufacturers, such as Valhalla DSP, Moog, System 80 and Signal Sounds.
You’ll also hear from well-loved figures in the synth world, including Gaz Williams and DivKid, along with appearances from revered producers – BT, Sub Focus, Sarah Davachi and more. The only issue is that a new episode only comes once a month, leaving you aching for more.
Learn more at whywebleep.com.
Recording Studio Rockstars

Recording Studio Rockstars shines a light on the talented producers behind the glass on some of the greatest artists and records of all time. Lij Shaw, the host of the podcast, speaks with industry professionals to dig deep into their knowledge and experience to help you become a studio rockstar yourself.
Some of Lij Shaw’s guest so far include Morgan Page, Steve Albini, Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg mixer Rafa Sardina, Alicia Keys, Wu-Tang Clan and Luther Vandross engineer Tony Black, Electric Lady Studios designer John Storyk and more. On this weekly podcast, you’ll hear tons of interesting stories and tidbits to help you progress as a producer, mixer and engineer.
Learn more at recordinigstudiorockstars.com.
SoundGirls Resonating Beyond Sound

SoundGirls is an organisation that works to amplify the voices of women in the music industry and inspire them to reach their goals. The Resonating Beyond Sound podcasts interviews professionals from all around the music technology industry, including CEOs, journalists, engineers, stage managers and more.
The hosts, Becky and Susan, learn how the music industry can be more supportive and cultivate a more diverse community. They discover what it’s like to live a day in the life of their guests, how they became successful and the challenges they face today.
Learn more at soundgirls.org.
Mixing Music

This podcast is pretty self-explanatory. Mixing Music is about mixing music. Presented by mix engineer Dee Kei and Lu Moreno, the show discusses topics such as analogue vs digital gear and the best vocal mics, explains the different types of reverbs, teaches you about dynamics, and provides essential advice on how to charge for your work, how to get more clients and more.
Mixing Music also invites guests to share their techniques, such as Chris Brown’s engineer, TEEZIO, who talks about how he produced the artist’s latest album. This podcast will prove as a useful resource for all types of producers, from beginners to industry professionals.
Learn more at mixingmusicpodcast.com.
For more music technology news, reviews, features and guides, click here.
The post The best podcasts for music producers in 2023 appeared first on MusicTech.

Volumio launches AI discovery tool in its music player to help users to find “hidden gems”Italian audio company Volumio has launched Volumio AI, the latest version of its Music Player application. Now boasting a Supersearch feature, users can uncover musical “hidden gems” through the power of artificial intelligence.

READ MORE: Cuckoo: AI is “a reminder of how important it is to take your artistry seriously”

The Volumio Music Player ecosystem, which was launched back in 2013, allows users to access their local music files and stream from their favourite music services such as TIDAL, Qobuz, Spotify and more, via one unified interface. ​
In its latest upgrade, Volumio says it is “one of the first music apps in the world to fully integrate an AI search function”. The new Supersearch feature utilises Open AI’s ChatGPT, to point listeners in the direction of “the perfect soundtrack for every moment”. By describing what you would like to hear in just a few words, Supersearch will give users an array of recommendations.
Other features of Volumio AI are:

Related artists and albums: Suggestions for other artists and albums you might like are presented as you browse. If those related artists or albums are located in your library – whether in your favourite streaming service or local files – Volumio AI’s Supersearch will be able to access them.
Infinity Playback: When you reach the end of your playback queue, new related tracks will automatically load.
Redesigned user interface: Described as “clutter free”, its interface has been revamped to make navigating through artists and albums much more streamlined.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Volumio (@volumio)

Volumio can be installed on microcomputers such as Raspberry Pi, ASUS Tinkerboard or any PC, and can be controlled directly via your phone, computer or tablet.
Volumio’s Music Player is available now as a free version, or a paid premium version that includes the new Supersearch, and its other AI-powered features.
Premium pricing currently sits at £51.99 annually, or £5.99 per month ($69.99 annually or $7.49 per month / €59,99 annually, or €6.49 per month). Find out more at Volumio.
The post Volumio launches AI discovery tool in its music player to help users to find “hidden gems” appeared first on MusicTech.

10 music production techniques you need to try in FL Studio and Ableton Live
Veteran producers Kaelin Ellis, Max Rewak, Isaac Duarte, and Nick Chen came together to share ten timeless music production tips in FL Studio and Ableton Live.