Kobito ChordGenius is FREE for a limited time: crate digging for chords
Developer Kobito has made its ChordGenius free for a limited time. We’ve covered a few MIDI Chord generators recently; we’ve had the Bloomer emotional chord engine by The Freequency, UChord by Ultimate MIDI Plugins, and we can now add ChordGenius to the list. Additionally, if you want to add the right bassline to your chord [...]
View post: Kobito ChordGenius is FREE for a limited time: crate digging for chords

Bitwig Studio 6.1 has arrived, with a “radically updated Sampler” – here’s everything you need to knowBitwig has unveiled an update for Bitwig Studio, with features headlined by a “radically updated” Sampler.
Bitwig Studio 6.1 comes just three months after the launch of Bitwig Studio 6, which introduced a number of new automation features and workflow enhancements.
The updated sampler available in 6.1 offers quick vertical slicing with advanced functions, as well as two new play modes – the time-stretching Spectral mode and the granular Fragments mode.

READ MORE: “The most powerful standalone MPC we have ever built at these prices”: Akai launches “generation 2” MPCs with four times the processing power

Now, clicking the Sliced icon within Bitwig Studio instantly converts a sample into slices, which can then be triggered using a MIDI controller or the piano roll. Slices can also be distributed evenly across a sample, or at beat intervals. They can also be placed at onsets or at pitch changes – using the Bitwig sampler’s new automatic pitch detection feature.
There’s also a number of additional new features for the Bitwig sampler, including per-slice looping – which can be used to create complex textures and layers – and per-slice modulation, making any parameter in Sampler behave differently for each slice, “blurring the lines between a sampler and a step sequencer”.

Bitwig Studio 6.1 also introduces Intelligent Pitch Analysis, which aims to speed up the process by which producers match samples to their projects.
“Working with a sample traditionally starts with setting a Root Key, aligning its pitch with the notes on the keyboard. Sampler lets the user manually define a root, but it also revolutionises this process with dynamic pitch analysis. Clicking the orb icon creates an analysis of the sample. Now the entire sample will dynamically match whatever pitch is played,” says Bitwig.
Bitwig Studio 6.1 also now features powerful time-stretching functions, a new expressive Granular Engine, and updated Hardware Emulation and Sample-Based Synthesis modes.
A number of workflow improvements have also been made, including better playhead visualisation, edits that are snapable to onsets, new looping options, a new bell filter and more.
Pricing & availability
Bitwig Studio 6.1 is now in public beta, free to all existing Bitwig Studio, Producer and Essentials users with an active upgrade plan as of 18 June.
Bitwig is also now hosting its Summer Sale, which sees each tier of Bitwig discounted by 25 percent. Find updated prices below:

Bitwig Studio – €399/$399 €299/$299
Bitwig Studio Producer – €149/$149 €199/$199
Bitwig Studio Essentials – €75/$75 €99/$99
Bitwig Connect + Bitwig Studio Producer – €499

Learn more at Bitwig.
The post Bitwig Studio 6.1 has arrived, with a “radically updated Sampler” – here’s everything you need to know appeared first on MusicTech.

Dreeemwave Bassliner: Instant no-AI baselines and exclusive discount
We first covered Bassliner during its open beta stage in late 2024. It’s been a while since then; Bassliner is now a fully fledged commercial plugin, and I’ve been putting it to the test over the last couple of days. What is Bassliner? Bassliner (25% off using the promo code “BPB25”) is a MIDI bassline [...]
View post: Dreeemwave Bassliner: Instant no-AI baselines and exclusive discount

Malta proposes DeFi rulebook covering DAOs under MiCA-era frameworkThe Maltese regulator is seeking industry feedback on a legal framework for software-governed organizations, arguing that many DeFi projects are not fully decentralized.

AI inference startup Baseten reportedly raising $1.5B months after its last mega roundStartup Baseten is reportedly close to finalizing a $1.5 billion round at a $13 billion as the “inference gold rush" marches on.

Studio Mix June 2026: PinkPantheress, Taj Mahal, Easy Honey, and MoreOSCAR SCHELLER SCORES GLOBAL HIT WITH “STATESIDE” REMIX

U.K.-born producer Oscar Scheller lands a global breakthrough with his remix of PinkPantheress’ “Stateside” featuring Zara Larsson, which topped the Billboard Global 200. Reimagined from vocal stems into bouncy electropop, the track gained further momentum after its spotlight at the 2026 Olympics, underscoring Scheller’s growing influence behind some of pop’s biggest names.

ANGÉLIQUE KIDJO AND AYRA STARR CELEBRATE CONNECTION ON “AYE KAN”

Angélique Kidjo and Ayra Starr unite for “Aye Kan (Are You Coming Back?),” a warm, intimate collaboration brought to life in a candlelit video filmed at New York’s Power Station studio. The track, a love-as-wealth anthem, previews Kidjo’s upcoming album HOPE!!, blending personal history, cross-generational inspiration, and a message of connection and resilience.

BROOKSPEARE MUSIC UPGRADES STUDIO WITH SSL ORIGIN CONSOLE

U.K.-based Brookspeare Music has enhanced its remote recording studio with a Solid State Logic ORIGIN analogue console and UF8 DAW controller. Specializing in string sessions for film, TV, and games, the studio benefits from the setup’s flexibility and hybrid workflow, allowing seamless integration between analogue warmth and digital precision while supporting a wide range of recording projects.

CHRISTOPHER ARDRA ANNOUNCES SAW IT IN A DREAM WITH REFLECTIVE NEW SINGLE “REASONS”

New York songwriter Christopher Ardra previews his sophomore album Saw It in a Dream (out June 5) with the introspective single “Reasons.” Written after the end of his band Station, the track marks a personal turning point, setting the tone for a self-produced, multi-instrumental project that explores identity, catharsis, and the search for clarity.

WEIR BROTHERS LAUNCH NEW STUDIO CITY SOUND ERA WITH MICHAEL DAMIAN PROJECT

Studio City Sound has a new home, and the brothers Weir are putting the finishing touches on a new Michael Damian album there. Seen left to right: Producer Larry Weir who also runs National Record Promotion, recording artist, actor, and film director Michael Damian (Weir), producer, engineer, and Studio City Sound CEO Tom Weir. The new Michael Damian album is slated to drop this Summer.

EASY HONEY SETS THE MOOD WITH “BASEMENT KISSING” AHEAD OF PLAID EP

Charleston indie-rockers Easy Honey return with “Basement Kissing,” a hazy, late-night single previewing their EP Plaid. Written during a rapid cabin session in Colorado, the project finds the band expanding their sound while staying rooted in nostalgic hooks, as they gear up for a 25+ date North American headline tour.

TAJ MAHAL PREVIEWS TIME WITH BREEZY NEW SINGLE “WILD ABOUT MY LOVIN”

Taj Mahal returns with “Wild About My Lovin,” a swinging new single from his album Time (out now). Featuring longtime collaborators, the project blends blues, reggae, and soul, and includes a rare Bill Withers composition. The release arrives alongside a special GRAMMY Museum event, highlighting Mahal’s enduring, genre-spanning legacy.

PRODUCER PLAYBACK:

“One of the most important aspects of recording is the psychology of it… Some people perform better when you’re their bud and there’s camaraderie, others work better when you challenge them. You have to feel out the artist at the beginning of the session.” – Johnny K

The post Studio Mix June 2026: PinkPantheress, Taj Mahal, Easy Honey, and More first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Battery Tester Gets An App UpgradeDo you have a ZKETECH EBC-A20 battery tester? Perhaps you don’t like the default software used to control the device. In that case, you might like the alternative whipped up by [Kazhuu.]
A reverse-engineering effort targeted at the EBC-A20 served as the basis for the work. The battery tester is ultimately controlled by a simple serial interface, running at 9600 bps, 8 bits, with odd parity. Armed with a relatively complete understanding of the commands used to control the device, [Kazhuu] was able to whip up a simple web app to control the device instead, using WebUSB to access the device over a USB-to-serial converter, though a desktop version for Linux and Windows is also available. If you’ve got one of these battery testers sitting on your bench, using the app is as simple as pointing your browser here with the device plugged in via USB. Then you can run basic load tests on battery cells and graph the results right on your computer without having to deal with the proprietary software.
Of course, if you don’t like the EBC-A20 battery tester, you could always build your own. If you’re whipping up your own test hardware on the lab bench, don’t hesitate to notify us on the tipsline.

Project 91 launches Playgrounds, a live experiences platform backed by Justin Kalifowitz’s Klaf CompaniesThe New York-based events company confirmed that Playgrounds will serve as an umbrella platform for concerts, branded experiences, and destination events
Source

Parish Audio MultiplierMultiplier turns a single vocal into multiple copies, resulting in a wider, fuller, more exciting performance by adding natural doubles, stacked backing vocals, and spacious movement without losing the clarity of the original take. Multiplier is built to make a single vocal feel bigger, wider, and more complete. Instead of leaving a lead vocal sitting alone in the center, Multiplier lets you surround it with natural doubles, subtle movement, and layered backing voices that help the performance feel more finished without needing to record every part again. At its core, Multiplier is designed around the sound of real vocal layering. Each added voice can have its own timing, pitch, pan position, distance, level, and tone, so the result feels less like a simple chorus effect and more like multiple performances working together. You can keep the effect tight and believable for a natural double, spread voices wide for a polished pop vocal sound, or build larger stacks that add depth and energy behind the lead. The global controls let you shape the overall feel quickly. Spread controls how wide the voices reach across the stereo field, Depth changes how much space the voices occupy, Timing adjusts the separation between the layers, and Humanize adds the small timing and pitch variations that keep the effect from sounding static. The Mix control makes it easy to blend the added voices into the track, whether you want a barely noticeable lift or a much more obvious vocal stack. Multiplier also gives you control over the main voice and each additional copy when you want to fine-tune the arrangement. You can move voices left or right, push them closer or farther away, add small delays, shift pitch by cents or musical notes, filter the top and bottom end, adjust level, and mute or solo parts while building the sound. This makes it easy to create anything from a clean lead vocal double to a wide backing vocal section, a crowd-like stack, or a spacious vocal wash. The result is a vocal tool that helps tracks feel larger, more polished, and more emotionally engaging. Whether you are trying to thicken a lead, widen a hook, create backing layers, add depth to a chorus, or make a vocal sit bigger in the mix, Multiplier gives you a direct way to turn one performance into something that feels fuller, wider, and more alive. Read More

VSL update Vienna Ensemble Pro 8 VSL's latest update for VEP8 and VEP8V makes it possible to use AI assistants to help build templates, as well as introducing a number of other new features and improvements. 

Calloga releases Unshuffle FREE open-source sample library organizer
Calloga has released Unshuffle, a free open-source sample library organizer for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Unshuffle is designed for producers with messy sample folders, which is probably most of us at some point. My main samples are nicely sorted into folders, but I have an insane amount of other samples scattered across hard drives, mostly [...]
View post: Calloga releases Unshuffle FREE open-source sample library organizer

CodWaves launches WaveBalance auto gain staging plugin
CodWaves has released WaveBalance, an auto gain staging plugin for macOS and Windows. WaveBalance is designed to solve one of the most common mixing problems: inconsistent track levels before the rest of the processing chain. You place WaveBalance early in the chain, usually as the first plugin, and it adjusts the incoming level so compressors, [...]
View post: CodWaves launches WaveBalance auto gain staging plugin

Two notes unveil Genome 2.0 Two notes Audio Engineering have just announced the launch of Genome 2.0, a significant update that brings a wealth of new features to their all-in-one amp, cabinet and effects emulation software suite. 

“The most powerful standalone MPC we have ever built at these prices”: Akai launches “generation 2” MPCs with four times the processing powerMPCs are legendary in music production, and Akai Professional has expanded the lineup with two new standalone models – the MPC One G2 and MPC Key 37 G2 – both featuring four times the processing power of previous models.
Essentially second-generation versions of the MPC One and MPC Key 37, the former sports a standard 4×4 beatpad build – with velocity- and pressure-sensitive RGB pads – while the latter also includes a 37-key keyboard. Both feature an upgraded 8-core processor, 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage for faster loading speeds and greater session capacity.
Both the MPC One G2 and MPC Key 37 G2 support up to 32 simultaneous plugin instruments and up to 16 stereo audio tracks in standalone.

READ MORE: This new drum plugin features samples of drums heads and cymbals “virtually unobtainable” in the modern era

At the heart of each unit is Akai’s MPC 3.9 operating system, which introduces a full Linear Arranger, expanded arrangement workflows, deeper DAW interoperability, and integrated synthesis via a built-in oscillator engine. Both machines also boast a seven-inch full-colour multitouch display for intuitive session navigation.

Aesthetically, both the MPC One G2 and MPC Key 37 G2 boast colourways which pay tribute to the rich history of the MPC platform. The former is kitted out in the classic blue of the MPC4000 and MPC1000, while the latter sports the iconic cream finish of the original MPC units from the late ’80s.
“Whether you live on the pads or write everything on keys, the MPC One G2 and MPC Key 37 G2 give producers and beat makers the most powerful standalone MPC we have ever built at these prices,” says Andy Mac, Director of Artist Relations at Akai Professional.
“From bedroom beatmakers to established producer communities around the world, creators now have four times the power, MPC3 OS, and a powerful collection of instruments and samples ready to get you started. This is generation 2 of MPC standalone production.”

Combine the power with the playability that MPCs are known for, and these machines will provide endless creative options. Both have complete beatpad functionality for building live, human drumbeats. Then the MPC Key 37 G2 adds the classic keyboard feel for chords and melodies (although the pads on the MPC One G2 can be programmed to piano notes for the same effect).
Akai is part of inMusic, which just acquired Native Instruments, so both MPCs come with NI Analog Dreams MPC Edition that has 141 Presets and 44 Sound sources that can be applied to the beatpads or keyboards. They also come with a full-touch LED display, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and connectivity to phones, tablets, and computers via USB-C. So, don’t be afraid to link it to your favourite DAW either.

In fact, both units come with over 20GB of production-ready content; the MPC One G2 includes 11 total instrument plugins and 9 curated expansion packs, while the MPC Key 37 G2 offers 13 instrument plugins – including OPX-4, Jura and Sub Factory – plus six expansion packs.
Price-wise, the MPC One G2 is available now for $799/£729/€849, while the MPC Key 37 G2 is priced at $999/£849/€999.
For more information, head to Akai Professional.
The post “The most powerful standalone MPC we have ever built at these prices”: Akai launches “generation 2” MPCs with four times the processing power appeared first on MusicTech.

Clack.DIGITAL releases FREE Amp Squeezer overdrive plugin
Clack.DIGITAL has released Amp Squeezer, a free frequency-shaped overdrive plugin for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Amp Squeezer was originally developed for the Darkglass Anagram pedalboard and released through the Anagram Marketplace. It is now available as a regular plugin, and you can download it directly from the Clack.DIGITAL website without creating an account, entering an [...]
View post: Clack.DIGITAL releases FREE Amp Squeezer overdrive plugin