Eventide H9 Harmonizer Gen 2 The H9 Harmonizer Gen 2 updates Eventide's single-processor multi-effects pedal with a modern ARM platform, the complete H90 algorithm library, and a redesigned interface that no longer requires a companion app for navigation. Where the original H9 Max topped out at its own algorithm set, the Gen 2 opens access to 74+ algorithms drawn from both the H90 and H9 Max libraries, covering granular, harmonizer and vocal, delay, reverb, modulation, multi-FX, distortion, synth, looper, and utility categories. The over-1,000 preset count reflects that expanded range. Eventide states that new algorithms will continue to be added via updates. The polyphonic pitch shifting side of the pedal runs on Eventide's SIFT technology, which powers four algorithms: Polysynth, Polyphony, Polyflex, and Prism Shift. SIFT (Spectral Instantaneous Frequency Tracking) is Eventide's approach to polyphonic detection and shifting without the pitch-correction artifacts that appear when standard monophonic algorithms encounter chords. Those four algorithms were previously exclusive to the H90, making their presence here one of the more concrete hardware-tier gains for H9 users considering an upgrade. The granular category brings Cosmic Web, Glitch, GrainMod, and Stutter to the platform, the same set Eventide released as free updates for H90 owners in late 2025. Cosmic Web layers reverse-pitched grains against reverb; Glitch offers three distinct distort-and-reconstruct types that can stack; GrainMod runs three independent LFOs targeting Trigger Rate, Grain Duration, and Filter; and Stutter handles burst patterns with adjustable timing and subdivision. On the hardware side, the Gen 2 adds a 2.5" display, button pads, and Quick Knobs, and organizes operation into Select, Bank, and Perform Modes. The intent is a pedal that can be navigated and programmed on the floor without the H9 Control app, which was effectively required on the original for anything beyond basic preset browsing. Connectivity includes USB-C, MIDI, aux switch, and expression pedal inputs. Bluetooth is listed as coming in a future update. The pedal handles both instrument and line-level I/O, includes effects spillover, and has a built-in tuner. The Harmonizer+ Vocal Suite is also on board, though full functionality requires pairing with Eventide's Mixing Link interface, which is sold separately. Features 74+ algorithms including the full H90 and H9 Max libraries across granular, harmonizer, delay, reverb, modulation, multi-FX, distortion, synth, looper, and utility categories. 1,000+ presets; new algorithms added via updates. SIFT polyphonic pitch shifting powering Polysynth, Polyphony, Polyflex, and Prism Shift. Four granular algorithms: Cosmic Web, Glitch, GrainMod, Stutter. Harmonizer+ Vocal Suite (Mixing Link required, sold separately). Redesigned interface: 2.5" display, button pads, Quick Knobs; Select, Bank, and Perform Modes. No companion app required for operation. USB-C, MIDI, aux switch, and expression pedal inputs. Bluetooth (coming soon via firmware update). Instrument and line-level I/O, effects spillover, built-in tuner. Modern ARM processing. Read More

Composer, Recording Artist, and Songwriter Colin Stetson Signs With Third Side Music News broke this week that "Global independent publisher Third Side Music (TSM) has re-signed award-winning composer, artist, songwriter, and arranger Colin Stetson, whose career trajectory has soared since the beginning of his long and successful 15-year partnership with the company."

According to a statement, "Through the exclusive, worldwide administration deal, TSM will continue representation of the renowned bass and alto saxophone player’s entire catalog, and work closely to foster new collaborations and creative opportunities in films, TV series, advertising, games, and other media.  Stetson’s talents and versatility as a multi-instrumentalist, his groundbreaking performances, and genre-defying scores have attracted diverse projects and made him one of today’s most in-demand composers."

"Colin has been part of the TSM family for years, and it’s been incredible to watch his career continue to evolve. As both a composer and recording artist, he brings a unique creative perspective to everything he does. Beyond his talent, he’s thoughtful, collaborative, and genuinely great to work with—qualities that make every project better," Alex Kelman, TSM EVP Creative Services/A&R, told MC.

A press release continues, "As the composer of more than 15 films and series, Stetson’s recent projects include the hit horror-thriller Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen, which has ranked as one of Netflix’s most popular original series, Mayday, Apple Original Films’ upcoming spy thriller and comedy starring Ryan Reynolds (releasing Sept. 4, 2026), and the IMAX documentary Stormbound, which premiered at SXSW in March and won the 2026 Special Jury Award. His film scoring credits include Hereditary (2018), Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022),Hold Your Breath (2024), Color Out of Space (2019), Mayday (2021), the Netflix documentary Martha (2024), and The Menu 2022)."

"Stetson’s television credits include Hulu’s The First (2018), Adult Swim’sUzumaki (2024), the Disney+ NASA docuseries Among the Stars (2021), National Geographic’s Barkskins (2020), and Deliver Us (2019), among many others. For Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018), one of Rockstar Games’ highest selling games, Stetson collaborated with composer Woody Jackson and received critical acclaim for his contributions to the original score."

“Alex Kelman, and everyone at Third Side Music have been avid and active advocates of my music, in both my work in film and my solo recording career. They are, and always have been, truly familial in their care, consideration, and support. I am enormously grateful for all their dedication and counsel over the years,” said Stetson. 

“Colin is a dream to work with—truly a once-in-a-lifetime talent. He brings a singular, progressive creative vision to everything he does, paired with a genuine sense of care, compassion, and thoughtfulness. Every project he’s involved with is elevated by these qualities,” added Kelman.

For more information, visit: thirdsidemusic.com

The post Composer, Recording Artist, and Songwriter Colin Stetson Signs With Third Side Music  first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Madame Gandhi takes on our inaugural episode of Producer’s Choice
Watch Madame Gandhi as she produces a track out of her own beatboxing, field recordings, and more in our new beatmaking game series.

Defense tech is flooded with money, but who’s built to last?Defense tech is red hot right now. Anduril and Mach Industries just doubled and quadrupled their valuations, respectively, and the U.S. government is proposing a 40% increase in defense budget. A wave of new startups is chasing those government contracts, but according to Ross Fubini, the venture investor who wrote Anduril’s first check, most of them will get lost in the Valley of Death between prototype contract […]

Tod Machover receives George Peabody Medal for contributions to music and technologyTod Machover, the Muriel R. Cooper Professor of Music and Media, faculty director of the MIT Media Lab, and director of the Opera of the Future research group, will receive the George Peabody Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Music and Dance in America — the highest honor bestowed by the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. As a composer and music tech pioneer, Machover has helped expand music’s possibilities for artists and audiences alike through his work in participatory opera, artificial intelligence, and creative technologies. He joins a roster of previous George Peabody Medal recipients that includes Stevie Wonder, Misty Copeland, Herbie Hancock, Renée Fleming, Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis, Ella Fitzgerald, and Leonard Bernstein.In the citation for the Peabody Medal, Peabody Institute Dean Fred Bronstein writes: “The breadth and depth of Tod Machover’s career — his work in participatory opera, as an educator and faculty director of the MIT Media Lab, his genuinely groundbreaking and prescient work at the intersection of music and technology, along with an overall and broad impact on the American music scene — make him an ideal recipient for the Peabody Medal … Machover continues to provide inspiration especially in the fast-evolving relationship between AI and the creative process. We are honored to welcome to campus a true pioneer and thought leader.”Hailed as a “musical visionary” and “America’s most wired composer,” Machover is recognized as one of the most innovative composers active today. He is praised for creating music that breaks traditional artistic and cultural boundaries and for developing technologies that expand music’s potential for everyone. Machover was the first director of musical research at Pierre Boulez's IRCAM in Paris and was inducted as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2024. His work has been recognized by organizations including the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the French Culture Ministry.The Peabody Institute, the first music conservatory in the United States, advances a dynamic model of the performing arts, empowering musicians and dancers from diverse backgrounds to create and perform at the highest level. As division of Johns Hopkins University, Peabody provides opportunities for interdisciplinary studies and is a leading voice at the intersection of art and education.

Texas Instruments Changes the NE5532 and Others into Incompatible VersionsTexas Instruments SA5532A variant of the 5532 op-amp. (Credit: Raimond Spekking, Wikimedia)
First introduced in 1979 by Signetics, the NE5532 was a pretty spiffy dual op-amp for the time with low noise and low distortion. Over the years it has become a standard part that showed up in countless audio products, and has become a so-called jellybean generic component with Texas Instruments (TI) being one of countless manufacturers.
It being such a standard, multi-sourced part makes it thus even more puzzling that TI has now decided to completely overhaul this IC in a way that makes it incompatible with even the original Signetics NE5532. These changes are covered in detail by [Dave] of EEVblog as his mind is pretty much blown at such an incomprehensible change.
The changes entail an entirely different manufacturing process and a big change in specifications, while making no change to the part number. In revision K of the TI datasheet these changes are first seen, with some specifications changed for the better, like a higher unity gain bandwidth by 2 MHz, but a much slower slew rate.
Although the 5532 op-amps are multi-sourced, there are good reasons to just stick with manufacturers like TI, as that means receiving a product change notification (PCN) when anything changes. In the PCN related to this op-amp a change to process node is noted, along with other changes, but no reasoning.
Among the other big changes are a reduction in the supply voltage from 22V to 18V, and a halving of the ESD protection from 2kV to 1kV. Although it might be slightly more efficient on the new process node this way, it clearly comes with a lot of trade-offs that make it an overall worse op-amp, while also being incompatible with the same op-amp from other manufacturers.
In the video [Dave] goes through the datasheets of this jellybean part of other manufacturers, showing that they still have the original 1980s specifications. Only one exception here was the NE5532DR from Shenzhen HuaXuanYang Electronics, whose supply rail voltage is also 18V for some reason, along with a similar internal transistor configuration that reduces the ESD resistance.
In addition to the NE5532 op-amp, it seems that TI also took an ax to the OPA134 op-amp, by removing its offset trim feature and listing the pins as ‘NC’, with a warning to not connect these pins and also worsening other specifications. This makes these similar jellybean parts incompatible, with no change to the part number. Worse is that it continues with the LMH6518, whose changes [Dave] argues might even kill oscilloscopes as they are commonly found in those.
Meanwhile the LM317M also got an overhaul, but here TI opted to give it a new part name, calling it the LM317MQ with at first glance no major degradations in the specifications, but instead some actual improvements. This makes it even more puzzling why TI didn’t give the other ICs a new part number to differentiate them from the jellybean part.
Until there’s some clarification from the side of TI, it might be a good idea to source these jellybean parts from a manufacturer that is not TI, especially when replacing these ICs in older devices.

Crypto PAC-supported candidates sweep US state primaries after media buysNearly a dozen candidates across three US states won their primaries or will advance to the November election after they were supported by $3.5 million in ads funded by crypto industry-aligned PACs.

BMI promotes four executives across Creative and Corporate Communications teamsBMI promoted John Ellwood to Vice President, Creative, and elevated Deirdre Chadwick, Jeff Gilligan and Jodie Thomas to Assistant Vice President positions.
Source

UnderwaterFX is a FREE open-source underwater filter plugin for Windows
Developer ypichev has released UnderwaterFX, a free and open-source creative multi-effect plugin for Windows. UnderwaterFX is built with C++ and the JUCE framework. And the idea behind it is pretty cool – it makes your audio sound like it is being heard from underwater. I am always on the lookout for unique sound design tools, [...]
View post: UnderwaterFX is a FREE open-source underwater filter plugin for Windows

Aim Audio’s Essence price drop From now until 1 October 2026, or while stocks last, Aim Audio's Essence mic will be reduced from its usual cost of $699£549 / €629 to just $499£349 / €399. 

Eventide to launch the H9 Harmonizer Gen 2 Built on the same processing architecture as Eventide's H90 Harmonizer, the new arrival combines the company’s flagship algorithm library with a compact, performance-ready format designed for modern stage and studio applications.

S1gns Of L1fe releases FREE Texture Loom atmosphere engine plugin
S1gns Of L1fe has released Texture Loom, a free dual-sample atmosphere engine for Ableton Live, macOS, and Windows. I tested Texture Loom last night and ended up playing it for over an hour while also coming up with several layered sounds that I’ll use in future sound design projects. I have also seen some of [...]
View post: S1gns Of L1fe releases FREE Texture Loom atmosphere engine plugin

Suno has raised over $400M in its latest funding round – and is now valued at a staggering $5.4BSuno has announced it has raised more than $400M in a Series D funding round, bringing the AI music company’s total post-money valuation to a staggering $5.4 billion.
It marks a more than 2x growth in valuation for the company since just November 2025, when it raised $250 million in funding resulting in a $2.45 billion post-money valuation.
The latest funding round was led by Bond Capital, alongside IVP, Forerunner, Union Square Ventures, Alkeon and Quiet, with participation from existing investors Matrix, Lightspeed, Menlo Ventures and Schroders Capital.

READ MORE: Spitfire Audio’s much-loved Originals instrument libraries are coming to Akai MPC

Suno says the latest funding will go towards “helping more people express themselves through music, while continuing to expand what’s possible for artists and creators on Suno.”
Following the Series D funding round, Suno says the coming months will see the rollout of its “first music model developed in partnership with the music industry”. In November, Suno announced it had formed a new “groundbreaking” partnership with Warner Music Group, one of the world’s big three record labels.
“Since our early days, artistry has been central to how we build,” Suno writes in a blog post on its website. “We work closely with artists, producers, and songwriters to understand creative workflows and develop tools that genuinely support them. We care deeply about getting this right – more than half of our team are musicians themselves.”
It goes on: “We believe there’s a huge opportunity to create new experiences for fans while helping artists reach audiences, build community, and unlock new creative and economic possibilities.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the community that helps shape Suno every day. We can’t wait to keep building alongside you.”
Learn more about Suno’s latest funding round and valuation at suno.com.
The post Suno has raised over $400M in its latest funding round – and is now valued at a staggering $5.4B appeared first on MusicTech.

This clever little touch board can turn fruit, spoons and even pencil drawings into MIDI controllersNeed a MIDI controller but only have a banana, a spoon and a handful of crocodile clips? Well, good news, because that’s apparently enough.
Introducing SPOKE, a new plug-and-play “capacitive touch controller board” that turns any conductive material or object you own into a computer input.
Whether you’re making a DIY instrument, triggering samples, controlling visuals or building a gloriously over-engineered macro pad, SPOKE is designed to make the process as simple as possible.

READ MORE: The SSL 1 is Solid State Logic’s most affordable audio interface yet

Built around the Raspberry Pi RP2040, SPOKE connects to a computer via USB-C and shows up instantly as a MIDI controller straight out of the box. It can also be reconfigured to function as a keyboard, mouse, serial device or OSC controller, making it suitable for everything from music production and lighting control to games and interactive installations.
The board features 27 capacitive touch inputs, allowing users to connect objects using crocodile clips, nuts and bolts, or simply play it as a stand-alone device. There’s also Polyphonic MIDI support, with notes, scales, and modes all fully customisable.
If it isn’t already obvious, one of SPOKE’s biggest selling points is how little setup it requires. With “no drivers, no setup, no faff” needed, there’s no requirement for a DAW, coding environment or specialist software to get started. Instead, the company provides a suite of browser-based tools for music creation, sound recording and code editing, allowing users to start experimenting directly from a web browser.
Under the hood, SPOKE runs CircuitPython and is fully open-source, making it easy for more adventurous customisations. The board also includes programmable NeoPixel RGB LEDs, JST connectors for expanded wiring projects, and support for USB-MIDI, HID keyboard and mouse emulation, OSC and serial communication.
As for what you can actually touch? Pretty much anything conductive – or, as the company puts it, anything with “capacitive potential”
Metal objects such as keys, coins, pipes, spoons and jewellery all work, as do conductive 3D-printed parts. Fruit, vegetables and even mushrooms can also be used as touch sensors, while thick graphite pencil drawings can become playable inputs in their own right.
If the full-sized board feels like overkill, there’s also a smaller DIY version called SPOKE-mini designed for permanent installation inside custom projects.
SPOKE is priced at £40, while the SPOKE-mini costs £25.

Learn more at Spokeboard.
The post This clever little touch board can turn fruit, spoons and even pencil drawings into MIDI controllers appeared first on MusicTech.

TONE3000 claims its new A2 modeling tech is “virtually indistinguishable” from real gear – and runs on a $3 chipWant to play iconic amps like the Fender Twin Reverb, Marshall JCM800, and Vox AC30, without breaking the bank? TONE3000 has unveiled NAM Architecture 2 (A2), the next generation of its free, open-source modeling technology developed in partnership with Neural Amp Modeler creator Steve Atkinson.
The company describes A2 as the “most accurate and best sounding amp modeling technology in history”, claiming it delivers better sound quality than its predecessor while using significantly less computing power.
Most notably, TONE3000 says the system can reproduce the behaviour of real-world gear to the point where it sounds “virtually indistinguishable from the analogue original” – and reportedly runs on hardware powered by a “$3 chip”.

READ MORE: Ever fancied playing Flappy Bird in your DAW? Ableton’s new Extensions Software Development Kit has you covered

“The bloom of a tube amp pushed into breakup, the sag of a fuzz pedal under a heavy chord, the snap of a transient through an analog compressor: A2 captures it all,” says the company.
“The goal was simple. Capture tone so faithfully that you couldn’t tell the difference,” adds TONE3000 co-founder Woodbury Shortridge. “The entire universe of analogue gear is now accessible”
So how does A2 stack up against existing modelling systems?
First, it is fully open source, meaning any hardware or software developer can freely implement the technology in their commercial products. Second, the architecture is supposedly efficient enough to run on everything from DAWs to budget multi-effects units, with sound quality “better” than Quad Cortex at 50% CPU. And third, TONE3000 says A2 outperformed rival modelling platforms from Neural DSP, IK Multimedia and Line 6 in both “quantitative and blind listening tests”.
Credit: TONE3000
For the blind tests, TONE3000 used the MUSHRA methodology, “the audio industry’s gold standard for evaluating perceived sound quality” used by the likes of BBC and EBU. More than 1,000 participants took part, listening to 37 different tones that included guitar amps, bass rigs, pedals and full signal chains.
Each test presented listeners with recordings of real hardware alongside anonymised digital models, which they rated on how closely they matched the original sound. Across the dataset, TONE3000 says A2 consistently scored closest to the reference recordings.
Credit: TONE3000
Alongside this, the company ran quantitative tests across 39 tones, covering everything from clean amp sounds to high-gain setups. These included individual amps, pedal chains, cab simulations and full signal paths – such as a cranked Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier and vintage outboard-style processing. Each model was scored on how closely its output matched the actual gear, with the A2 again reportedly coming out ahead of competing systems.
The new architecture is available in two versions. A2-Full is aimed at studio and professional audio applications, delivering higher accuracy while using 30–40% less CPU than the previous A1 architecture. A2-Lite, meanwhile, is designed for embedded devices like guitar and bass multi-fx pedals, and runs at 50% CPU on an ARM Cortex-M7 chip, the same chip found in many popular modelling pedals.
The release also expands the wider NAM ecosystem. NAM files can already be used across a growing range of compatible software, amplifiers (such as the Blackstar Beam Mini) and pedals, while manufacturers integrating the TONE3000 API gain access to a library of more than 350,000 tone captures.
TONE3000 CEO Stanley Vergilis adds that the goal is broader than modelling alone.
“TONE3000’s mission is to make music creation universally accessible. A2 accelerates that mission by democratising tone,” says Vergilis. “A $5,000 vintage amp that was once locked away in a studio can now be captured, shared, and played by any artist, on any device, anywhere in the world.”

For more information, visit TONE3000.
The post TONE3000 claims its new A2 modeling tech is “virtually indistinguishable” from real gear – and runs on a $3 chip appeared first on MusicTech.