Maniac Audio DarkQProDarkQPro — Flagship Parametric Equalizer. The flagship of the Maniac Audio EQ line — a no-compromise, modern parametric equalizer built for surgical precision and creative tone-shaping in equal measure. Up to 24 bands, dynamic EQ on every band, spectral dynamics, M/S processing, real-time analyzer, undo/redo, and over 30 factory presets. Band engine: Up to 24 fully independent bands — each with its own frequency, gain, Q, filter type, slope, and dynamic behavior. 7 filter shapes: Bell, Low Shelf, High Shelf, Low Cut, High Cut, Notch, Tilt Shelf. 5 slope options: 6, 12, 24, 48, 96 dB/oct (with up to 16-stage cascade for flat-top 96 dB/oct bells). Filter curve types: Digital, Butterworth, Linkwitz-Riley. Per-band Stereo Mode: Stereo / Left / Right / Mid / Side. Dynamic EQ on every band: Per-band threshold, attack (default 60 ms), release (default 200 ms), range. Upward, downward, and bidirectional compression modes. Auto Threshold for hands-free dynamic shaping. Custom sidechain frequency per band — detector listens at a different frequency than the filter. Spectral Dynamic mode — 32-band per-frequency dynamics, each frequency moves independently for transparent, surgical dynamic control. Spectral Target mode — visual frequency targeting (FabFilter-style). Phase modes: Zero Latency — minimum-latency RBJ biquad implementation. Natural — analog-matched Orfanidis prototype (musical phase response, oversampled internally). Read More

Rivian will deliver the first R2 SUVs on June 9The company has finally set a date for the first customer deliveries of what CEO RJ Scaringe has said is "maybe the most important thing we’ve launched to date."

Orca, Streamex roll out secondary trading infrastructure for tokenized securitiesAccredited investors can buy and sell the gold-backed GLDY token through permissioned liquidity pools operating on the Solana blockchain.

A Clock Inspired by Failed Cognitive Tests
One simple screening tool for cognitive impairment is the clock-drawing test (CDT): the patient is provided with a printed circle and asked to draw a clock face with the hands pointing to a certain time. Depending on how the clock is drawn, this could indicate a variety of different disorders, particularly dementia, with a particular deformity in the drawing sometimes pointing to a specific issue. These failed tests inspired [John Silvia] to create a clock with a unique, disordered face.
The numerals in this clock face are placed exclusively along the right half of the clock (in the test, this can be a sign of damage to the right parietal lobe, or of executive dysfunction caused by dementia), and out of order. The hour hand is controlled by a servo motor, and the minute hand is mounted on a separate, commercially-purchased clock mechanism on the left-hand side of the face.
The frame for the clock and the face are 3D-printed, and the servo motor is controlled by an ESP32-C3 with an RTC module. To minimize power draw, a MOSFET disconnects the servo motor from power except for the once-per-hour position update. Once per month, the ESP32 connects to Wi-Fi to synchronize to NTP time, otherwise remaining in a low-power state – even its indicator LEDs are disconnected to save power. These efforts paid off: when the servo isn’t active, it draws only about 160 µA, and a set of three AA NiMH cells lasts about a year.
Since the servo motor draws most of the power budget, it wouldn’t make much difference, but the ESP32’s co-processor can also be used for ultra-low-power projects. For a happier take on a drawing-related clock, check out one of these projects.

Korg USA’s Joe Castronovo Joins NAMM in Urging Congress to Lift Tariffs on Musical InstrumentsSEATED L-R Joe Castronovo, Jake Connolly. STANDING L-R: NY Representative Tom Souzzi, and Melissa Heche

Korg USA and NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) brought the music industry’s concerns straight to Washington this month, as tariffs on instruments and gear continue to strike a sour note with manufacturers, retailers, and educators alike.

On May 13, Joe Castronovo of Korg USA joined roughly 100 music industry professionals representing all 50 states for the 20th annual NAMM Advocacy D.C. Fly-In, a coordinated effort to meet directly with lawmakers and push for exemptions on tariffs affecting musical instruments, accessories, and essential components. Representing New York, Castronovo was part of a broader coalition making the case that these added costs ripple far beyond manufacturers.

“Each time we come back to Washington, it reinforces how important it is for our industry to speak with one unified voice,” Castronovo said. “These conversations matter—lawmakers are listening more closely, and there’s a growing understanding of how tariffs impact a highly global, specialized supply chain like ours.”

That supply chain, as industry leaders emphasized throughout the Fly-In, is anything but simple. Musical instruments often rely on internationally sourced materials and precision components, making them particularly vulnerable to shifting trade policies. But as Castronovo and his peers were quick to point out, the real impact lands closer to home.

“But the reality is, tariffs don’t just affect manufacturers—they directly impact small retailers, increase costs for customers, and make it harder for students and first-time players to access music,” he added. “That’s why it’s so important to be here: to connect policy decisions to real-world consequences and advocate for solutions that protect both our industry and access to music.”

The message from NAMM’s delegation was clear: tariff relief isn’t just about protecting business margins—it’s about preserving access. With music programs already navigating tight budgets, rising instrument costs could mean fewer opportunities for students to pick up an instrument in the first place.

For Castronovo, the Fly-In was as much about collaboration as it was about policy. “The NAMM DC Fly-In provided a critical platform to advocate for policies that protect and expand access to music education nationwide,” he said. “Engaging with policymakers alongside industry peers underscored the importance of sustained federal support and reinforced our shared responsibility to ensure music remains an essential part of every student’s education.”

That sense of shared responsibility carried through the entire event, which brought together manufacturers, retailers, and educators under one unified goal. “My experience at the NAMM DC Fly-In was both energizing and meaningful,” Castronovo noted. “Working alongside peers from across the music industry, we came together to champion music education and demonstrate, firsthand, our shared commitment to students and communities nationwide.”

While tariff debates rarely make headlines in the music world, their effects are increasingly hard to ignore. As NAMM continues its advocacy efforts, the hope is that lawmakers will begin to see instruments not just as imported goods—but as essential tools for creativity, education, and cultural growth.The post Korg USA’s Joe Castronovo Joins NAMM in Urging Congress to Lift Tariffs on Musical Instruments first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Julie Swidler, Sony Music’s EVP Business Affairs and General Counsel, to leave company after 18 yearsSwidler has held the role of EVP, Business Affairs and General Counsel at Sony Music, since 2008
Source

Watch Yaeji go from a sewing machine sample to a full track in Ableton Live
Watch DJ, producer, and vocalist Yaeji take a sample of her sewing machine and expand it into a full track in Ableton Live.

Get 80% off Universal Audio Studer A800 Tape Recorder at Plugin Boutique
Plugin Boutique is offering 80% off Universal Audio’s Studer A800 Tape Recorder plugin, bringing the price down to $39 until June 30th, 2026. Studer A800 Tape Recorder is Universal Audio’s software emulation of the Studer A800 multichannel tape machine. The original 2-inch tape recorder has been used on many well-known recordings, and UA modeled a [...]
View post: Get 80% off Universal Audio Studer A800 Tape Recorder at Plugin Boutique

Unlock a “botanica” sound palette with Excite Audio’s new Evolve Nest Acoustics pluginExcite Audio has unveiled the latest plugin in its Evolve series, Evolve Nest Acoustics, marking the first collaborative release for the range.
The Evolve series features a line of instruments that each explore the “sonic characteristics” of different materials. Described as a botanical synthesis plugin, this new instrument has been made with input from sound designer Nest Acoustics. Combining foley, nature, and field recordings with analogue synthesis, the sample-based instrument forms a modern “botanica” sound palette to experiment with.

READ MORE: Viiri Audio releases its debut plugin: Aava, a new creative convolution processor

The plugin contains four sound layers that can be blended in real-time with the Evolve XY Pad, intuitive modulation capabilities, and four macro effects in keeping with the earthy theme: Holo, Crust, Breeze, and Erode.
Users can also import their own samples and build custom patches, and you can modulate anything with drag-and-drop envelopes, LFOs, and the XY controls. Make fine tweaks to your sound with its dual filters and a rearrangeable 3-slot FX chain, or peruse its 250 presets.
Excite Audio says it’s designed with synthwave composition and contemporary sound design in mind, providing “vivid atmospheres that feel alive and textural”. Hear it in-action in the video below:
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Evolve Nest Acoustics joins Evolve Alloy, offering tones inspired by metal, as well as Air, Elastic and Velvet. Evolve Air was inspired by experimental and ambient innovators like Tim Hecker, Jon Hopkins, Brian Eno, and Oneohtrix Point Never, with a focus on ethereal, breathy textures, wind instruments, and spacious atmospheres.
Lite and Full versions of Evolve Nest Acoustics are available exclusively from Plugin Boutique. There’s currently a 50 percent off introductory sale running until 30 June, with prices starting at £19. You can also check out our guide to the best free and paid for plugins of the week for more new releases.
Find out more about sound designer Nest Acoustics, or head over to Excite Audio to view the full Evolve series.
The post Unlock a “botanica” sound palette with Excite Audio’s new Evolve Nest Acoustics plugin appeared first on MusicTech.

Accentize introduce free dxLevel plug-in Designed specifically for voice content, dxLevel is said to be the ideal solution for levelling the likes of speech, dialogue, podcasts and interview recordings.

Sketch Audio releases Lil’ Doc, a FREE Detroit-style compressor plugin
Sketch Audio has released Lil’ Doc, a free Detroit-style compressor plugin for macOS, Windows, and iOS. Lil’ Doc is based on the Mix Slammer module from Sketch Audio’s paid Doctor Vibe plugin. The developer describes it as a take on the vinyl compression algorithm from the Roland SP-303 sampler. That unique “Vinyl Simulator” effect became [...]
View post: Sketch Audio releases Lil’ Doc, a FREE Detroit-style compressor plugin

Softube’s new Bus Processor plugin brings you the “essence of the legendary 670” for just $99Softube has unveiled the Bus Processor 670, a new plugin designed to capture the “magic” of the legendary dual-channel variable-mu tube compressor.
Positioned as a modern take on the highly sought after Fairchild 670, the plugin aims to deliver the “unmistakable weight, warmth, and authority” of the original hardware while expanding its functionality for contemporary production workflows.

READ MORE: Wallis on embracing sound-mangling plugins, thriving as a producer and how to survive the music industry

Originally used as a mastering limiter for vinyl, the 670 is one of the most iconic tube compressors in recording history, with its distinctive harmonic character heard on records from Motown to Abbey Road.
Softube says the Bus Processor 670 combines the “finest elements” of the original design with “it-would-be-cool-if” ideas to create a unique tone machine capable of the musical and harmonically rich compression of the original.
To start, the plugin adds full control of saturation points with dedicated knobs for tube and transformer saturation and a calibration knob to influence the compression-dependent saturation of the variable-mu architecture.
Also included are sidechain options that give the user control over filters, tone shift and mono/stereo linking, as well as separate outputs for M/S channels. Meanwhile, new spatialisation features include an air band, mono maker, and a stereo widening knob.
Softube has also built the plugin with modern engineering and production workflows in mind, with support for its Console 1 mixing system and Flow Studio hardware ecosystem.
The Bus Processor 670 is available now at an introductory price of $99 (regular price $149), and is also included in Flow Mixing, Mastering, & Complete Suite subscriptions.
“Full-featured but dead-simple to use, Bus Processor 670 lets users find the magical sound of the 670 for themselves, in a workflow that works for the modern music maker,” says the company.
More information is available at Softube.
The post Softube’s new Bus Processor plugin brings you the “essence of the legendary 670” for just $99 appeared first on MusicTech.

Take a look at the Lego prototype of Ableton Push: “It was playful and not permanent, that’s what allowed us to go through many iterations”Ableton’s Head of Hardware, Jesse Terry, has shared how the early prototypes for its Push music making system were made out of Lego.
According to Terry, these prototypes allowed for early experimentation, and meant Push underwent several different iterations before he figured out the right way he wanted to put it together, including aspects like ergonomics and tactility.

READ MORE: Claude can now be plugged into Ableton to assist with your music projects

Terry discusses the prototypes in a new video with Powerhouse Museum in Australia, which is home to one of just two of these early Lego versions of Push, both designed and built by Terry. He shares how he learned about Ableton Live when writing for a music magazine, and became fascinated with the ways you could “stretch audio and move it around like a rubber band”.
“The prototype of Push is like the way I work with samples; I chopped up a bunch of other products and sampled the parts of them that I wanted,” he goes on to explain. “Push was reconciling those worlds of using my hands, playing rhythmically, playing with nuance and swing, and the world of the computer, which can process audio in such cool ways.
“The Lego prototype went through many, many phases of moving buttons around, trying to figure out what was the right ergonomics for it, figuring out where and what buttons we wanted to have to do the different functions. It was playful and not permanent, and that’s what allowed us to go through so many iterations to get the right thing.”
He adds, “The tactility is important because you get nuances of rhythm and pitch with your fingers that you can’t get using a mouse or a computer keyboard. There’s these variations that are off the grid that I think is what makes human music have soul. We wanted something that could let beginners play it without years of training, but also something that would reward practice and let you become a virtuoso.”
Watch the full video below:

Ableton launched its Live 12.4 update earlier this month, bringing a number of new creative and workflow improvements, as well as new features for Ableton’s Push, Move and Note. The update is completely free for existing Live 12 users.
Find out more about Push via the Ableton website. 
The post Take a look at the Lego prototype of Ableton Push: “It was playful and not permanent, that’s what allowed us to go through many iterations” appeared first on MusicTech.

Breaking Hard Rock and Metal Bands with Sumerian RecordsThis week, Ari is joined by Ash Avildsen, founder of Sumerian Records, to discuss breaking artists, music videos, touring, and the future of rock music.

Arturia release Memory V Arturia’s latest release delivers a faithful recreation of the Memorymoog, a coveted polysynth that was originally launched in 1982.