Signing Stories: Matthew StevensDate Signed: January 2025Label: Candid RecordsType of Music: JazzLegal: George HowardPublicity: Ashley Natareno - Big Feat PRA&R: Terri Lyne CarringtonWeb: mattstevensmusic.com

John Burk co-founded Concord Records in 1995, where he’s had major success with artists including Carlos Santana, Ray Charles, and Esperanza Spalding. He eventually created Exceleration Music in partnership with Glen Barros, Charles Caldas, Amy Dietz, and Dave Hansen. In 2020, that organization acquired jazz label Candid Records, the venerable home to many of the genre’s greats, such as Charlie Mingus, Max Roach, and Lee Ritenour.

After taking over Candid, Burk hired drummer and composer Terri Lyne Carrington to serve in an A&R capacity. GRAMMY-winning guitarist and producer Matthew Stevens knew both Burk and Carrington. He was part of Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah’s band in the early 2000s, which Burk signed to Concord Records as part of a multi-album deal. They did a bunch of recordings together at Fantasy Studios, which Concord then owned. And Carrington is someone who’s been a musical collaborator and mentor to Stevens for years.

“I started doing a bunch of sessions for Concord, like a Harvey Mason record,” recalls the Berklee College of Music professor. “And ultimately a Concord all-stars thing called NEXT Collective. John was involved in all of that, so he was the person I was around at the beginning of my career.”

Carrington first offered the deal with Candid in February of 2024. The contract was signed by the end of that year, and recording began the following May. The Toronto native previously released albums with U.K.-based Whirlwind Recordings. Contrary to what one might assume, Stevens was less cautious this time around. “Because I know John and Terri Lyne so well, I was happy to jump right in,” he proclaims. “It was a wholehearted gut feeling.”

The jazzman further chose Candid in part because he’s a huge fan of the label’s catalog, from Abbey Lincoln and Cecil Taylor to Memphis Slim. “They have a lot of historic significance,” Stevens remarks. “And I’m excited by the fact that they’re also signing new artists and pushing forward.”

Matthew Stevens (out May 8 via Candid Records) – pre-order hereThe post Signing Stories: Matthew Stevens first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

WireGuard VPN developer can’t ship software updates after Microsoft locks accountThe popular open source VPN maker is the second high-profile developer to say Microsoft locked his account without notifying him and are blocking their ability to send software updates to users.

Secretly Distribution acquires music data and analytics firms Entertainment Intelligence and Babel OpsBabel Ops was founded in 2020 by Erik Gilbert and Greg Delaney, who previously co-founded Entertainment Intelligence in 2014.
Source

Dodging a 60-Year-Old Design Flaw In Your RAMModern computers use dynamic RAM, a technology that allows very compact bits in return for having to refresh for about 400 nanoseconds every 3-4 microseconds. But what if you couldn’t afford even such a tiny holdup? [LaurieWired] goes into excruciating detail about how to avoid this delay.
But first, why do we care? It once again comes down to high-frequency trading; a couple nanoseconds of latency can be the difference between winning or losing a buy order. You likely miss all the caches and need to fetch data from the remote land of main memory. And if you get unlucky, you’ll be waiting on that price for a precious 400+ nanoseconds! [Laurie] explains all the problems faced in trying to avoid this penalty; you try to get a copy of the data on two independent refresh timers. That’s easier said than done; not only does the operating system hide the physical addresses from you, but the memory controllers themselves also scramble the addresses to the underlying RAM!
For the real computer architecture nerds, there’s a lot more to it, and [Laurie] goes over it in meticulous detail in the video after the break.

Thanks to [Keith Olson] for the tip!

Merging Technologies launch Pyramix 16 Designed for engineers who demand uncompromising sound quality and production flexibility, the latest version integrates the PanNoir plug-in with the DAW’s mixer, adds a built-in Dolby Atmos Renderer and introduces an array of other new additions and improvements. 

Reason 14 is coming, with a new track panel, sequencer upgrades, and more Reason Studios has announced the latest edition of its primary DAW, Reason 14. There are many new features included in this version, such as the Track Panel, improvements to the sequencer function, and the RV-9 Reverb Station device.
With the new Track Panel function, signal chain, levels, and sends can be accessed in the mains sequencer window. Now users won’t have to switch views in order to alter the sounds of individual tracks. Simply select a track to work in, and the panel will appear with all its specific info alongside the full session.

READ MORE: Elektron acquired by investment firm Bonnier Capital: “The beginning of a more ambitious journey”

Reason has also made significant upgrades to the sequencer function by refining the piano roll and clips, in addition to adding track folders to help with organisation.
Plus, the entire DAW will default to dark mode now for an easier experience on the eyes, and there are new navigation buttons for the Track Panel, Edit Area, and Groove Mixer, among other elements, for a simpler workflow. Other updates for workflow include automatic tempo detection on import and MIDI note chase.

A significant upgrade to Reason 14 is the RV-9 Reverb Station. This replaces the RV7000. In the new version, there are nine new algorithms to mimic everyday spaces, such as a cathedral, as well as spaces Reason describes as “infinite, experimental soundscapes.”
Lastly, Reason 14 adds over 900 new drum samples, 50 Europa patches, and 20 impulse responses for more experimentation.
“With Reason 14, we set out to rethink the music-making workflow,” says Mattias Häggström Gerdt, Product Manager at Reason Studios.
“By centering the experience around the sequencer and bringing key elements of each track and Rack into view, it’s easier to stay focused on what matters most: making music.”
Reason 14 is currently in Beta. Everyone who purchased or upgraded to Reason 13 and/or Reason Rack 13 after March 1, 2026, can upgrade to the next respective version for free. Reason 14 is expected to be available in May 2026. Reason+ and Reason Rack subscribers will have access to Reason 14 immediately upon launch.
For more information and to sign up for the Reason 14 Beta, head to Reason.
The post Reason 14 is coming, with a new track panel, sequencer upgrades, and more  appeared first on MusicTech.

Hivetune releases Relica 2, a FREE 8-bit synthesizer plugin
Hivetune has released Relica 2, a free subtractive synthesizer designed to recreate the sounds of the 8-bit era. If you’re after NES-style leads, classic handheld console percussion, or chiptune sequences, this one is worth a look. Relica 2 is the sequel to the original Relica synth from the same developer. It offers four classic oscillator [...]
View post: Hivetune releases Relica 2, a FREE 8-bit synthesizer plugin

Superlunar TS-440TS-440 is a cassette tape machine emulation that faithfully models 20 real cassette recorders and 4 tape formulations, capturing the unique preamp characteristics, EQ topology, head response, and transport behavior of each machine. Every cassette recorder features a preamp with its own sonic fingerprint. The TS-440 models each one, from the warm JFET input stage of the original TEAC 144 to the punchy op-amp circuits of the Tascam 424 series. Crank the input to overdrive the preamp and push it into harmonic saturation, or bypass the tape entirely to use TS-440 purely as a channel strip. TS-440 also includes four tape formulations, each offering different styles of compression and saturation. Type I Ferric, Type II Chrome, Type III Ferrichrome, and Type IV Metal. Driving each formulation differently is one of the most powerful creative tools in TS-440. Beyond the preamp, TS-440 gives you hands-on control over the physical degradation of the tape and transport. Simulate years of use and damage by dialing in tape aging, head wear, drift, wow and flutter, dropouts, hiss, and other lo-fi artifacts. Like many of these vintage recorders, TS-440 lets you control the pitch of the playback for detuned, warped effects. Three tape speeds further shape the character, with slower speeds naturally increasing hiss, saturation, and wow and flutter. 33 factory presets provide instant starting points across the full range of TS-440's capabilities, from clean studio masters to fully destroyed tape effects. Use them as-is or as a jumping-off point for your own sounds. Whether you are looking for destroyed lo-fi textures on individual tracks or reaching for subtle analog warmth and natural compression across your mix buss with a pristine hi-fi deck on Metal tape, TS-440 delivers. Twenty unique preamps, four tape formulations, and deep degradation controls give you a range that stretches from tape machine as an instrument to tape machine as a mastering tool. Read More

Blue Cat Audio release Axiom 2.3 Axiom 2.3 delivers improved audio performance along with multi-touch display support, expanded MIDI control, greater compatibility with third party plug-ins and much more.

Elektron acquired by investment firm Bonnier Capital: “The beginning of a more ambitious journey”Boutique gear brand Elektron has been acquired by Bonnier Capital, a Swedish investment division of the “family-owned media group,” Bonnier Group, according to a press statement issued by Elektron. Day-to-day operations will proceed as usual for customers and partners.
The acquisition of Elektron Music Machines AB — based in Gothenburg, Sweden — will “provide long-term support for Elektron’s continued development, international growth, and future expansion,” continues the statement. Elektron will continue to operate from its Gothenburg headquarters, along with its offices in Los Angeles and Berlin. The existing team will remain intact, as will Elektron’s “commitment to creating instruments and tools for music makers worldwide.”
The sum of the acquisition is not currently publicly available.
Jonas Von Hedenberg, the investment director at Bonnier Capital, says, “Elektron has built a truly distinctive position at the intersection of technology, creativity, and music culture. We are deeply impressed by the team’s craftsmanship and vision, and we see strong alignment with our long-term approach to building enduring, creative businesses in the music industry. Our ambition is to support Elektron’s continued growth while preserving the unique identity that has made it so respected by artists worldwide.”
Elektron, the company behind the Digitakt, Syntakt and Machinedrum, was founded in 1998 as an independent company. The Bonnier acquisition will reportedly provide the company with “access to broader strategic resources while preserving the focus and identity that have defined Elektron over the years.”
Alexander Hellström, CEO of Elektron, added: “Joining Bonnier marks an exciting new chapter for Elektron. It gives us the support and strategic backing to keep doing what we love most—creating inspiring instruments and pushing the boundaries of sound and performance. At the same time, this is just the beginning of a more ambitious journey ahead. Together with Bonnier Capital, we see strong opportunities to grow further, as we expand our role in shaping the future of electronic music creation.”
MusicTech has reached out to Elektron for further comment. This is a developing story.
Read more music tech news. 
 
The post Elektron acquired by investment firm Bonnier Capital: “The beginning of a more ambitious journey” appeared first on MusicTech.

I can’t help rooting for tiny open source AI model maker ArceeArcee is a tiny 26-person U.S. startup that built a high-performing, massive, open source LLM. And it's gaining popularity with OpenClaw users.

Bitcoin wallets absorb 4.37M BTC as network activity flips to 'bull phase’The Bitcoin supply held in long-term investor wallets moved above 4 million BTC, while a network activity index flashed a “bull phase” signal.

TinyGo Boldly Goes Where No Go Ever Did Go BeforeWhen you’re programming microcontrollers, you’re likely to think in C if you’re old-school, Rust if you’re trendy, or Python if you want it done quick and have resources to spare. What about Go? The programming language, not the game. That’s an option, too, with TinyGo now supporting over 100 different dev boards, along with webASM.
We covered TinyGo back in 2019, but they were just getting started at that point, targeting the Arduino and BBC:micro boards. They’ve grown that list to include everything from most of Adafruit’s fruitful suite of offerings, ESP32s, and even the Nintendo Game Boy Advance. So now you can go program go in Go so you can play go on the go.
The biggest drawback–which is going to be an absolute dealkiller for a lot of applications–is a lack of wireless connectivity support. Claiming to support the ESP8266 while not allowing one to use wifi is a bit of a stretch, considering that’s the whole raison d’être of that particular chip, but it’s usable as a regular microcontroller at least.
They’ve now implemented garbage collection, a selling point for those who like Go, but admit it’s slower in TinyGo compared to its larger cousin and won’t work on AVR chips or in WebAssembly. It’s still not complete Go, however, so just as we reported in 2019, you won’t be able to compile all the standard library packages you might be used to. There are more of them than there were, so progress has been made!
Still, knowing how people get about programming languages, this will please the Go fanatics out there. Others might prefer to go FORTH and program their Arduinos, or to wear out their parentheses keys with LISP. The more the merrier, we say!

Bill Ackman confident he’ll win over UMG shareholders to $64 billion bid, says Bolloré response was ‘music to my ears’The transaction requires the support of UMG's board and a two-thirds vote of shareholders who attend a meeting called for the purpose
Source

How to create vocal harmonies: A step-by-step guide
Explore the qualities that make a vocal harmony effective and learn how to write your own harmonies from scratch.