New Music Critique: The MIDI World of FreedomContact: angelcross826@aol.comWeb: themidiworldoffreedom.bandcamp.com/album/luna-sparksSeeking: Label, Booking, Film/TVStyle: Electronic MIDI Plunderphonics

There’s a lot of fun to be had here. The MIDI World of Freedom is, according to the small amount of information we could dig up online, an experimental MIDI project created by a musician called Angel Cross in 2021. They’re best known for the Luna Sparks album, which features reinterpretations of Oasis and Nickelback tunes (perhaps among others). Ultimately though, this earns points with us due to the originality of thought, combined with some healthy, warm nostalgia for that old MIDI sound. “Two Universes” and “I Miss You” are a ton of fun, and sometimes that’s enough.The post New Music Critique: The MIDI World of Freedom first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

US Clarity Act unlikely to be ‘world-shaking’ for Bitcoin’s price: BrandtVeteran trader Peter Brandt said that the US Clarity Act will be a positive for the industry, but probably won’t “redefine” Bitcoin’s price.

Former Patagonia CEO Rose Marcario resigns from Rivian’s boardMarcario joined the board in 2021, and will maintain her position as chair overseeing the Rivian Foundation, which made its first grants last year.

Cheap 3D Printer Becomes CNC Wood Engraver3D printers are built for additive manufacturing. However, at heart, they are really just simple CNC motion platforms, and can be readily repurposed to other tasks. As [Arseniy] demonstrates, it’s not that hard to take a cheap 3D printer and turn it into a viable wood engraver.
The first attempt involved a simple experiment—heating the 3D printer nozzle, and moving it into contact with a piece of wood to see if it could successfully leave a mark. This worked well, producing results very similar to a cheap laser engraving machine. From there, [Arseniy] set about fixing the wood with some simple 3D-printed clamps so it wouldn’t move during more complex burning/engraving tasks. He also figured out a neat trick to simply calibrate the right Z height for wood burning by using the built in calibration routines. Further experiments involved developing a tool for creating quality G-Code for these engraving tasks, and even using the same techniques on leather with great success.
If you need to mark some patterns on wood and you already have a 3D printer, this could be a great way to go. [Arseniy] used it to great effect in the production of a plywood dance pad. We’ve featured some other great engraver builds over the years, too, including this innovative laser-based project. Video after the break.

Fors JuniorJunior is a 4-bit wavetable synthesizer based on the soundchip of our favorite vintage handheld video game console, bringing the raw tones of the original into present day. Not only is Junior the perfect lo-bit playground but also a completely unapologetic synthesizer with a unique palette that holds a very special place in many of our hearts. Perhaps it can find its way into yours too. Not even 8 Based on the limitations and characteristics of the Nintendo Game Boy soundchip, Junior emits raw and harmonically rich 4-bit values that will cut through anything. From 0 to 15, there is nothing more and nothing less. Wave + noise The tone generator in Junior plays back a custom wave buffer of 32 4-bit values which gets transformed by different sound shaping controls. Paired with a 7-bit LFSR noise generator, they form the perfect lo-bit palette. Table trickery Junior has four flexible modulators inspired by modulation sequencers often used in trackers (LSDj, Defmon, M8 ..) called Tables. The 16-step modulation table in Junior can be configured as an LFO, envelope, arpeggiator, MIDI input mapper and more. Dreamland While Junior simulates the Game Boy sound, it's not a strict emulation by design. It expands upon the original capabilities with a modern feature-set and control while staying true to the original. The balance between accuracy and fun is just right. https://youtu.be/BcYZKgz33n8 Read More

Universal Music Group and Splice are partnering to build “commercial AI tools” for music creationUniversal Music Group (UMG) has partnered with music production platform Splice to jointly explore the “next generation of AI-powered music creation tools for musical artists”.
Under the new partnership, UMG and Splice will develop “commercial AI tools” and “AI-powered virtual instruments” that are rooted in creative control, sonic excellence and respect for intellectual property. The agreement also builds on Splice’s expanding suite of AI-enabled tools – including Create – which already sit inside many producers’ day-to-day workflows.

READ MORE: Spotify’s new AI Prompted Playlists feature lets users “control the algorithm”

According to the companies, this partnership is “guided by a shared commitment to creative expression and artistic empowerment”. As part of that vision, UMG and Splice will explore tools that allow artists on UMG’s roster to bring their own sounds directly into Splice’s AI workflows, with those artists “expected to play a crucial role” in shaping how the products are developed.
Michael Nash, EVP and Chief Digital Officer at Universal Music Group says, “We’re excited to form this alliance with Splice to promote the alignment of innovation and ethicality in addressing the interests of the creative community to leverage cutting-edge AI-enabled tools to further their artistic expression. We look forward to partnering with Kakul Srivastava and her team on this critically important strategic technology front.”
Splice CEO Kakul Srivastava adds, “We’ve spent time building AI tools designed to fairly compensate creators and keep them in control. We’re thankful for Universal’s continued support, and excited to work together to put these commercial tools in the hands of artists everywhere, knowing they can trust the end result.”
The partnership builds on groundwork Splice has already laid. Over the past year, the company has rolled out deeper DAW integrations with platforms like Ableton Live and Pro Tools, expanded its AI-native tools, and – with the acquisition of Spitfire Audio – strengthened its presence among professional composers, further cementing its position as a trusted music creation platform.
It also follows Splice’s earlier collaboration with UMG and other industry players on the Principles for Music Creation with AI, a series of clarifying statements relating to the responsible use of AI in music creation, advocating for ethical, transparent AI that empowers human creators rather than replacing them.
The post Universal Music Group and Splice are partnering to build “commercial AI tools” for music creation appeared first on MusicTech.

Con Raso of Tuned Global Shares His 2026 Music PredictionsHypebot's Future Predictions series is back. Join us as we ask the music industry's expert analysts what they think might unfold in the world of music in 2026.
The post Con Raso of Tuned Global Shares His 2026 Music Predictions appeared first on Hypebot.

Justin Ehrlichman releases JDrummer, a FREE and open-source percussion instrument for Windows and Linux
Justin Ehrlichman’s JDrummer is an open-source VST-3 drum plugin built with the JUICE framework and featuring a range of kits, grooves, and some intelligent composition features. As you’ll see from the title, JDrummer isn’t macOS compatible, so before we get into it, let’s look at some alternatives for Mac users. If you’re after a retro [...]
View post: Justin Ehrlichman releases JDrummer, a FREE and open-source percussion instrument for Windows and Linux

Black Box’s Livia Tortella on Her Top Artist Brands of the DecadeBlack Box shared their widely-anticipated annual "Top Artist Brands" analysis, expectedly featuring some bombshell picks. We talked to CEO Livia Tortella about their list.
The post Black Box’s Livia Tortella on Her Top Artist Brands of the Decade appeared first on Hypebot.

From YouTube pulling its data from Billboard’s charts to HYBE’s new partnership with Tyla’s managers… it’s MBW’s weekly round-upThe biggest headlines from the past few days...
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Two FREE one-knob audio enhancers from Turnt Plugins and Epica Audio
Turnt Plugins and Epica Audio have both released free one-knob audio effects, and while they come from different developers, the idea behind them is surprisingly similar. If you’re into ultra-simple plugins that aim to enhance your sound with a single control, this article is for you. If not, feel free to skip it and save [...]
View post: Two FREE one-knob audio enhancers from Turnt Plugins and Epica Audio

From clubs to culture: electronic music added to France’s Intangible Cultural Heritage listFrance has officially given electronic music its cultural seal of approval, adding the genre to the country’s Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) list.
The decision follows renewed calls from President Emmanuel Macron to recognise French electronic music – also referred to as French touch – as a protected cultural form. Earlier this year, Macron pointed to the genre’s global influence while drawing comparisons with Germany’s recent success.
“I love Germany – you know how pro-European I am,” he said. “But we don’t have to take lessons from anyone. We are the inventors of electro. We have that French touch.”

READ MORE: Study shows clubgoers feel phones are “ruining” the dancefloor

According to Euro News, the listing is viewed as a crucial first step toward securing UNESCO heritage status, putting pioneering artists such as Daft Punk, Justice and Cassius in the same cultural conversation as traditional crafts, regional cuisines and folk music.
The move mirrors Germany’s recent recognition of Berlin techno, which was added to the country’s Intangible Heritage List in 2023 and subsequently received UNESCO status in 2024.
France’s own ICH list forms part of UNESCO’s wider convention, which allows signatory states to register “practices, representations, expressions, knowledge and skills that communities recognise as part of their cultural heritage”. The scope is intentionally broad, covering everything from music and craftsmanship to culinary traditions, games and sports – and now, electronic music.
Speaking on the landmark decision on Wednesday (17 December), French Culture Minister Rachida Dati said: “Electronic music has a rightful place in our national intangible heritage.” She also highlighted recent efforts by the ministry to label nightclubs as “places of artistic expression and celebration”.
Tommy Vaudecrane, president of Technopol – the association for the defence and promotion of electronic music, also described the listing as “an achievement and a historic milestone”.
“The first tears I shed for electronic music were under tear gas when it was demonised,” Vaudecrane told AFP. “The little tear I shed today is the joy of seeing our music finally listed as cultural heritage.”
The post From clubs to culture: electronic music added to France’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list appeared first on MusicTech.

“We’re almost there”: After a viral teaser, Nopia synth inches closer to release with final specs revealedAfter more than two years of viral teasers, prototypes and slow-burning anticipation, Nopia – the ambitious harmony-focused instrument from Argentinian designers Martin Grieco and Rocio Gal – appears to be entering its final stretch.
Described as “currently in an exhaustive testing stage”, the semi-modular MIDI chord generator and synth looks closer than ever to becoming a finished, shippable instrument.

READ MORE: Behringer’s compact and affordable UB-1 MICRO could be the perfect stocking filler

First unveiled as a prototype in 2023, Nopia quickly garnered millions of views on YouTube and garnered worldwide attention. The instrument is Designed to “tap into the mysterious phenomena of how our ears intuitively experience the language of harmony”. It revolves around the concept of tonal harmony, focusing on the relationship between chords, particularly the connection between the tonal centre (the home tone of the key) and the dominant (the fifth note in the key).
At its core, Nopia combines a one-octave “chord builder” keyboard with a 12-button “tonal selector”, allowing players to define a key centre and generate chords that follow the rules of tonal harmony. Each key produces a chord rather than a single note, while a dedicated control lets users alter chord types and add extensions on the fly.
The unit features an onboard multitimbral sound engine, a hybrid of sampled instruments and onboard virtual analogue synths. It also comes with a 5 step effects chain and a multitouch strum plate for expressive gestures such as strumming, chromatic movement and microtonal pitch-bend.
Credit: Nopia
Recent updates also suggest the hardware has matured significantly. Nopia now features an OLED display that shows chord information and parameter values, and each sound module has its own dedicated TRS MIDI output.
While there’s certainly a learning curve, Nopia isn’t aimed solely at theory nerds. “You don’t need to know theory; Nopia takes care of that,” the team explains on their website. “We encourage you to compose, improvise, and have more tools to weave harmony, and train your perception! Of course, if you’re familiar with functional harmony, we think you’ll get a lot out of it too.”
With testing reportedly nearing completion and specs now firmly locked in, Nopia’s long road to release finally feels close to its destination.
Those keen to follow its progress (or get in line for when it drops) can join the waitlist via the official Nopia website.

The post “We’re almost there”: After a viral teaser, Nopia synth inches closer to release with final specs revealed appeared first on MusicTech.

Expressive E release Kontrast Expressive Suite Kontrast Expressive Suite brings over a decade of MPE expertise to Tracktion's unique instrument, delivering a collection of carefully designed presets that fully respond to per-note gestures such as pressure, bends, vibrato and aftertouch. 

Signing Stories: Luke PrestonDate Signed: September 2025Label: Big Loud PublishingType of Music: CountryPublicity: Corey Brewer and Rachel Heatherly / Big Loud, corey@bigloud.com, rachel@bigloud.comWeb: bigloud.com

When Luke Preston moved from Clearwater, FL to Nashville, TN in 2011, his mission was to earn a living in the music industry however possible. While working at a grocery store, a friend who was on a major label invited Preston to play bass for him. He said yes, even though he hadn’t touched the instrument since middle school. 

Preston then secured his first songwriting deal in September 2019 and began writing alongside a number of artists affiliated with Big Loud Records, the country music juggernaut founded by GRAMMY-winning songwriter Craig Wiseman. “I started working with Kashus Culpepper, who I’m a big fan of,” reports the tunesmith, whose other musical affiliations include The Lone Bellow, Corey Kent, and Kip Moore, plus Owen Riegling, another Big Loud musician. “The label has a bus they send out when their artists go on tour, so they can write while they’re on the road,” he goes on. “And I got asked to write with Kashus a few times.”

Adam Romaine, Big Loud Publishing’s Sr. Creative Director, loosely manages the bus, and Preston hit things off with the man colloquially known as Romie. Over the course of their time together, Romaine learned that Preston’s publishing deal was coming to an end. Notes Preston, “It was fortuitous timing.”

The rising songwriter had been meeting with other people around town, yet Preston felt a connection with the staff of Big Loud. On top of his friendships with Romaine and Culpepper, there was Sarah Knabe, who played a significant role in boosting the career of another musical buddy, Elvie Shane. Preston stresses how much he values her creative input. 

Preston also puts stock in the quality and nature of the artists on Big Loud. “They’re always pushing into new territory instead of chasing after what’s already successful,” he tells. “It feels like a good fit for me to get in the room and work with some of those people.” The post Signing Stories: Luke Preston first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.