schulz.audio offers JUNI 1984 Chorus for FREE for the next three days
schulz.audio offers the JUNI 1984 Chorus, a lush analog-style chorus plugin for macOS and Windows, for free until Sunday, November 23rd. If this concept feels familiar, it’s because we literally covered Sonic Academy’s JU-60 a couple of days ago, and the similarities are hard to miss. Both plugins aim for the iconic Juno-60 chorus sound, [...]
View post: schulz.audio offers JUNI 1984 Chorus for FREE for the next three days

Save up to 81% on plugins this Black Friday: The Plugin Boutique sales are already startingBlack Friday means serious discounts on software—no shipping costs, no stock limitations, just crazy deals on instruments, effects and bundles you’ve been eyeballing all year. Plugin Boutique is one of the best retailers to snag a software deal this season. IK Multimedia, Slate Digital, Steinberg, Sonnox, and more have discounts running on everything from individual plugins to complete production suites.
We’ve highlighted our favourite deals below, which showcase some software that’ll genuinely level up your productions. These prices won’t hang around!
Up to 83% off IK Multimedia software during November
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IK is offering amazing deals on many of its software instruments and suites via Plugin Boutique through the month of November. Highlights include half off Total Studio Max – making the company’s complete collection just £299, an incredible 75% off the innovative Tonex guitar and bass modelling packages at just £49.99 and Pianoverse models at just £49.99 each, making them half price. Elsewhere, the MODO Max drum and bass instrument package is a heavily discounted £100 and offers a bunch of savings on upgrade pricing for many instruments as well.
Big savings on Steinberg products for Black Friday
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Get into Steinberg’s world with significant money off some of its top tools, like 40% off Dorico Pro 6 (and upgrade versions), the powerful SpectraLayers Pro and Elements, both with 39% off, making them £175 and £45 respectively, and Wavelab Pro 12 (£209) and Elements (£42) also see steep discounts. A chance to get your hands on these excellent products and save money.
Special deals on Fabfilter’s instrument and effect family
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FabFilter is known for its innovative and well-designed instruments and effects, and here’s your chance to save big on some of the best. There’s an average of 24% off almost everything, including the Creative Bundle at £210, the Mastering Bundle at £285 and the full Total Bundle at £592, giving you everything the company makes. Many individual plugs are available too, ranging from £19 to £110 depending on the model.
Up to 76% off Sonnox tools this Black Friday
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​​Sonnox, leading designer of innovative, high-quality, award-winning audio processing plugins for professional audio engineers, is offering up 0to 75% discount this Black Friday. This makes for some seriously affordable software compared to their list price.
Among others, you can get the classic Oxford series of mixing and mastering plugins for between £35 and £59 each, Claro EQ for just £30 and ListenHub referencing tools plugin for only £18. It’s a rare chance to beef up your sonic arsenal at a significant discount while the deals last.
Get Slate Digital’s Mix Bundle One for £44
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Until 24 November, you can get Slate’s analogue-modelled mix chain software for 44% off.
Comprising two EQ and two classic compressor/limiter modules, it lets you combine and tweak modules in your own chains to process your sound. It’s the perfect way to punch up your mixes and masters, and comes with three extra bonus modules as well.
Klevgrand has up to a whopping 81% off its powerful instrument and effect lineup
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Klevgrand — a Stockholm-based audio plugin company and creative studio run by musicians, software developers, music producers and sound designers — is offering serious discounts this Black Friday.
The ElPiano instrument comes down from £149 to just £27, while the STARK amp simulator is £36, and the Grand Finale mastering suite drops from £65 to a very affordable £25. There are tons more too – compressors, enhancers, modulators and much besides, all at significant discounts.
See more of our favourite Black Friday deals.
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Huge deals on FL Studio, Akai, Oberheim and Roland in zZounds’ early Black Friday sale!Black Friday is right on the horizon, and we here at MusicTech have been scouring all the big online retailers to find you the very best deals on music gear.
And right now at zZounds, there’s a wealth of instruments, recording accessories and software up for grabs at killer discounts, just ready to enhance and upgrade your music-making life. From audiophile headphones and bespoke analogue synths to deals on DAWs and classic drum machines reimagined, there’s something at zZounds for everyone.

READ MORE: Black Friday music deals 2025: The best early deals we’ve found on synths, DJ controllers and plugins

Check out our pick of the best Black Friday deals at zZounds below…
Focal Bathys high-end reference headphones – $150 off
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Focal’s Bathys closed-back wireless headphones feature Bluetooth connection, 30 hours of battery life and a quick charge facility for when you’re short on time. Their Aluminium/Magnesium ‘M’-shaped dome speaker drivers made in France give the headphones an audio quality superiority that’s unrivalled in its category, Focal says. Wireless Apt-X and Adaptive codecs are supported for high quality wireless listening but there’s also a wired connection with a DAC USB mode allowing crystal clear audio transmission at up to 24-bit, 192kHz quality. At $699 they’re not on the cheaper end of the spectrum, but that’s a saving over the regular list price of $849.
FL Studio All Plugins Edition – $135 off
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FL Studio is one of the most revered DAWs out there, with a unique pricing model with free lifetime updates for the version you buy. If you’re looking to go all in on Image-Line’s full stable of varied instruments and effects, you can get the All Plugins edition for $314 for a limited time. That’s hundreds of sounds, plugins, synths, libraries and more – everything you need to create, mix and master your music. Historically only on Windows, the DAW has been native to the Mac platform for some years now so everyone can get on board…
Akai MPC Key 61 keyboard – $200 off
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This multi-functional studio and performance keyboard from Akai might just be the key to unlocking your creativity… The MPC Key 61 features an incredibly expressive and playable semi-weighted keybed with aftertouch to drive its world-class sounds with dynamic responsive control, as well as 100 onboard effects from mix tools to harmony processors. With native onboard recording of audio, MPC Key 61 is the world’s first production synthesizer incorporating vocal FX plugins which can also be used for creative sound design. It’s a serious beast that could be the only tool needed to complete your studio.
Universal Audio Apollo Twin X audio interface – just $999
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Universal Audio has always made top-end studio hardware and software and the Apollo Twin X Duo is no exception. On sale at $999, it’s bus-powered over Thunderbolt 3 with 10×6 audio I/O, two Unison mic preamps, auto gain and monitor correction plus Duo core DSP processing. This also powers access to the full library of 200+ UAD DSP and Native plug-ins, including award-winning titles like Capitol Chambers, Sound City Studios, EL8 Distressor, and more. The unit’s onboard power lets you record in real-time through authentic emulations of Neve, API, Avalon, Manley, Fender hardware and more. It’s a powerful addition to any setup.
Oberheim TEO-5 analogue synth – save $300
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Down to $1549 in the zZounds early Black Friday sale, Oberheim’s monster TEO-5 analogue synth captures the secrets of the OB-X, Four Voice, and TVS, resulting in the company’s legendary spirit distilled into a compact, affordable dream machine. The dizzying feature set includes a 5-Voice VCO/VCF-based polysynth, simultaneously selectable waveshapes for each oscillator: triangle, saw, variable pulse, multiple filters, arpeggiator and much more. It’s also a performance machine, with 35 keys with velocity and aftertouch, a bunch of analog and USB audio and MIDI ins and outs and multiple pedal inputs. It’s a serious machine that will help you design serious sounds.
Roland’s TR-8S Rhythm Machine – $200 off
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Updating its classic beatboxes and drum machines for a new era was a triumph for Roland; the TR-8S combines the best of the company’s legendary classic models with all manner of modern conveniences. Using detailed circuit-models of the 808, 606, 909, 707, 727 and 626 these are not sound-alike samples or recordings of TR drum sounds. Each machine is a detailed, down-to-the-circuit-model that sounds and behaves like the original hardware. You can even import your own samples to use in the powerful onboard sequencer, route sounds through the many onboard FX and stream audio, MIDI and power over its USB port. A classic reimagined for modern production.
Shop all the early Black Friday deals at zZounds.
The post Huge deals on FL Studio, Akai, Oberheim and Roland in zZounds’ early Black Friday sale! appeared first on MusicTech.

Save big on synths and pro audio from Arturia, ADAM Audio and Steinberg in Thomann’s early Black Friday saleBlack Friday is just around the corner, and you’ll be pleased to know the good folks at Thomann are offering big discounts on a huge range of pro audio gear – including studio recording outboard gear and portable audio interfaces – as well as synths and keys.
As well as serious discounts on all kinds of studio staples the retailer also offers giveaways – free accessories and more – with some items. With all these discounts and deals, now’s the perfect time to grab that piece of gear you’ve had your eye on all year.

READ MORE: Black Friday music deals 2025: The best early deals we’ve found on synths, DJ controllers and plugins

Below are some of our favourite picks from this year’s sale…
Swissonic DR-101 drum machine for just £44
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This compact drum machine from Swissonic is discounted by a cool 28% ahead of Black Friday. It’s a portable USB-compatible powerhouse with 40 onboard drum kits and a total of 185 sounds, 50 songs and 26 styles. Best of all, it even has built-in speakers and a battery power option so you can make beats wherever you are. Of course, there’s also a line out for recording and a headphone jack for zoning in…
Steinberg UR24C audio interface – save 33%
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Steinberg’s compact-but-powerful UR24C audio interface has an impressive 33% off, making it a very reasonable £199 for a limited time. For that you get 32-bit, 192kHz recording, 2 Class-A D-PRE microphone preamplifiers with +48 V phantom power, Channel Strip and Guitar Amp Classics (also included as VST 3, AAX and AU plug-ins) and a copy of Cubase AI for desktop and Cubasis LE for iPad. With two combo mic/line inputs and four outs, it also features MIDI I/O, power over USB and a robust metal housing making it perfect for producing on the move. Between the hardware and software this is an excellent deal for a wide range of producers.
ADAM Audio D3V monitors – 14% off
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Every producer needs a good monitoring system, and ADAM Audio’s D3V monitors certainly fit the bill… 14% off and now priced at £222, you’ll experience crystal clear sound thanks to four separate amplifiers, double-sided passive radiators to amplify the lower frequencies and increase the sound pressure level, an integrated A/D converter at up to 48kHz and a frequency response that stretches from 45Hz to 22.3kHz. Additionally there’s USB-C connectivity for hooking directly to your computer, DSP-based room adjustment and a stereo headphone mini jack for private monitoring. Truly, excellent all-rounders for any production setup.
Arturia Microfreak synthesizer – 8% off
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This special Thomann Edition of Arturia’s compact Microfreak syntheiszer has 8% off in the pre-Black Friday sale, making it an even more attractive proposition for sound designers and producers. Its 25-key touch keyboard is velocity-sensitive with polyphonic aftertouch and its powerful synth engine includes a digital oscillator with synthesis methods such as Karplus Strong, Harmonic OSC, Superwave and Texturer, analogue state variable filter and LFO with six waveforms.
Advanced features include an arpeggiator, paraphonic mode for more creative performance and a wealth of modular connectivity like Mono line output: 6.3 mm jack (balanced), CV/Gate/Pressure outputs: 3.5 mm jack, Clock In/Out: 3.5 mm jack
MIDI In/Out and a USB Port.
beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro MkII headphones – 7% off
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beyerdynamic has a reputation for quality and accuracy in the pro audio world, and the DT 1770 Pros are among its most trusted headphones for monitoring, recording and editing. As more and more people work on the move or in home studios, a solid pair of cans is a must. These sport a circumaural, closed-back dynamic design, making them suitable for most studio tasks, and a frequency response of 5Hz – 40kHz meaning superior clarity when monitoring your tracks. And with replaceable ear pads and XLR-based connector cables they should serve you well for many years.
Browse the full range of deals on offer at Thomann.
The post Save big on synths and pro audio from Arturia, ADAM Audio and Steinberg in Thomann’s early Black Friday sale appeared first on MusicTech.

“Music producers are rejecting AI”: Study reveals over 80% of producers are against AI-generated songsThere have been few topics at the forefront of producers’ minds in 2025 quite like artificial intelligence. Hell, it’s been the conversation of the entire world this year, pretty much. But for all its hype, how much are musicians and producers actually leaning on AI in their work?
According to a new global study conducted by sample clearing platform Tracklib, on the whole, music producers are “rejecting” AI, with only 6% using generative tools regularly in their work.

READ MORE: Save over $1,000 on this classic Korg synth: the early Black Friday deals have arrived at Reverb

The study – dubbed Music Producers & AI 2025 – examines “how producers think about, adopt, and pay for AI tools in their creative workflow”, and saw responses from 1,734 producers, representing the global producer market of “20 million” people, according to Tracklib.
The results show a pervading distrust or dislike of AI in music production, with only 17% actively in favour of the technology, 45% neutral and a massive 38% actively against it.
While AI music production tools are now widespread, the study notes that adoption of these tools remains somewhat limited; of the 32% of producers who say they use AI tools, most of these are with assistive use cases such as stem separation, EQ and mastering. 
Only 6% of producers admit to using fully generative tools like prompt-based song creation, and a massive 82% are against full song generation using text prompts.
Despite the increasing prevalence of AI artists on streaming platforms like Spotify – take the Velvet Sundown, for example, or Xania Monet – 78% of those surveyed said fully AI-generated music should not be allowed on streaming platforms. But if such tracks remain listed, 81% want these platforms to clearly label music that has been produced partially or wholly using AI. And 83% support mandatory disclosure of AI use by producers themselves.
“Producers clearly separate assistive AI from generative AI,” says Andreaas Liffgarden, Head of Catalog & Chairman of Tracklib. “Stem splitting, EQ, and workflow accelerators are widely accepted. But when it comes to full-song generation, the attitudes shift sharply towards scepticism, concerns about artistry and copyright.”
Despite the results of the study showing a lean towards AI scepticism, AI in music continues to boom. Earlier this week, it was revealed that Suno, one of the biggest AI song generation platforms, had secured $250 million in its latest funding round, meaning it’s now valued at 2.45 billion.
Read the full global study on AI usage in music production at Tracklib.
The post “Music producers are rejecting AI”: Study reveals over 80% of producers are against AI-generated songs appeared first on MusicTech.

Black Friday music deals 2025: The best early deals we’ve found on synths, DJ controllers and pluginsWhat better time to restock your plugin folder than Black Friday? Been holding off on that pair of headphones, which is just a tad too expensive? They may well be on offer this month. The big day isn’t here yet, but a ton of early Black Friday deals on music gear are already cropping up on retailer sites — and we’ve been tracking down the best.
All the biggest audio retailers are offering discounts, including Thomann, Sweetwater, Reverb, and Zzounds. Plugin fans, fret not, Plugin Boutique is hosting some of its best deals of the year.
The team here at MusicTech are searching for the very best Black Friday music deals to save you scouring the web yourself. We’ve included a list of the best deals below, but to save you some time, here are just some of the places we’ll be searching for savings:

UK/EU Deals
US Deals

Thomann
Reverb

Reverb
Zzounds

Plugin Boutique
Sweetwater

Zzounds
Plugin Boutique

Amazon UK
Amazon US

Quick links

Plugins
Synths
Pro Audio
Samplers and drum machines
Headphones

Plugins
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Soundtoys’ plugins are beloved by countless artists we’ve interviewed over the years, from the coveted Little AlterBoy pitch processor to the crunchy Decapitator distortion and new SpaceBlender reverb. This Black Friday, you can get up to 75% off the whole plugin catalogue, including a $350 discount on the complete Soundtoys 5.5 Collection.
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Universal Audio’s UAD plugins are some of the best emulations of hardware on the market. The Black Friday 12 Days of UAD sale brings the price of these plugins down by up to a whopping 85%. That means you can save hundreds of dollars on UAD bundles like UAD Ultimate 14, the Build Your Own Bundle Mixtape, and the UAD Analog Classics Pro Bundle. You can even save 35% off Universal Audio’s DAW, Luna Pro 2.
Many of the brand’s most beloved plugins no longer require UA hardware, but we suggest checking out the full list of natively available UAD plugins before you make a purchase.
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FabFilter’s Pro-Q4 EQ is simply an essential plugin for all producers. We said it’s “almost the only EQ you’ll ever need” in our review, offering a gold-standard slew of workflow improvements. Now you can add it to your tool belt for just £112, with a whole bunch of other FabFilter plugins on sale at Plugin Boutique, too.
Synths
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How often do you get to save over $1,000 on a workstation like the Korg Nautilus?
This keyboard packs in over nine sound engines, over $1,000 in bonus EXS sound libraries, fully featured onboard sampling and HD audio recording, plus a touchscreen interface and up to 14 simultaneous effects to process your sound. This B-stock model also comes with a full manufacturer’s warranty.
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“If we made this 30 years ago, we’d have ruled the world,” Tom Oberheim told us when we spoke with him about the TEO-5. Down to $1,549 in the sale, Oberheim’s latest analogue synth captures the secrets of the OB-X, Four Voice, and TVS, the company’s legendary spirit distilled into a compact, affordable dream machine.
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The old-school-styled Arturia DrumBrute Impact 1984 is a lot more powerful than it looks — and you can now save 20$ on it.
With 10 voices, this analogue drum machine packs powerful, characterful sounds through its built-in distortion circuit and 64-step polyrhythmic sequncer. You can punch in drums in real-time using the eight velocity-sensitive pads, or hook it up via MIDI to trigger it alongside your other hardware.
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Behringer’s JT Mini was already pretty affordable at £93, but who’s gonna say no to a 17% discount? This tiny analogue polyphonic synthesizer is an emulation of the Roland Jupiter-8, with three VCOs, a multimode filter, ADSR envelope and LFO, plus a 16-step sequencer.
Pro audio gear
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Universal Audio’s Apollo interfaces are the top pick by most artists on our My Forever Studio podcast — and for good reason. This Black Friday, the Apollo Twin X Duo is down to $999, saving you a sweet $200. You get 10×6 I/O, two Unison mic preamps and DSP processing that powers real-time tracking through emulations of high-end vintage outboard. This also unlocks the UAD library of over 200 DSP and Native plugins.
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In our review of the Sony C-100, we said that “the C-100 is flavoured in such a way that for the right voice, nothing else will come close.” Luckily, it’s dropping significantly in price this Black Friday at Sweetwater, from $1,500 down to $999. If you’re looking to build up the mic cabinet in your studio, this one is a worthy inclusion — especially at this price.
Samplers and drum machines
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“Should you find yourself in front of an Akai MPC Key 61, you won’t fail to be inspired by what’s on board,” we said in our review of this expressive workstation. Fans of the coveted MPC family will want to check out this deal at Zzounds this Black Friday, which slashes $200 off the price of Akai’s first keyboard-focused iteration of the sampler series. With native onboard recording of audio, MPC Key 61 is the world’s first production synthesizer incorporating vocal effects plugins, which can also be used for creative sound design.
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The sounds of the TR-808, TR-606, TR-909, TR-707, and TR-727 can be yours this autumn in the Roland TR-8S, which is now $200 more affordable. For $699 at Zzounds, you can get the best of the Roland’s legendary classic models with all manner of modern conveniences
Headphones
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“Sonically, these are gorgeous headphones. For the price, you will be serious about your audio and want the unusual offering of three different connection methods. They’re a taste of the higher end of the hi-fi world without the full cost of admission, and with enough tech to satisfy today’s listeners.” That’s what we said in our review of the Focal Bathys headphones. At $150 off, these just became an even better deal.
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Beyerdynamic’s DT-1770 Pro MK2 headphones are trusted studio workhorses. They’re closed-back headphones with a 5Hz-40kHz response for hearing extra detail in your mixes, whether you’re tracking, mixing or editing your music. If you’re in need of a new pair of headphones, these are worth considering, with a discounted price now on at Thomann.
Check out more music production deals
 
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Get a FREE 24-page microphone guide from Beat Mag for a limited time
Beat Mag is offering a free 24-page microphone guide for a limited time. We’ve had a good run of freebies and discounts over the last couple of weeks, as we head toward Black Friday. Recently, we’ve had massive discounts on u-he’s Diva and Repro, Baby Audio’s TAIP, and freebies like Dulcet Vocal by The Crow [...]
View post: Get a FREE 24-page microphone guide from Beat Mag for a limited time

My eyes! RØDE celebrates “Bright Friday” with coloured variants of its classic mics and pro audio gearBlack Friday is just around the corner, and while we’re already seeing some early deals from our friends at Sweetwater, Reverb and more, other brands are doing things a little differently…
Microphone and pro audio purveyor RØDE is celebrating the biggest sales event of the year by highlighting its exclusive range of (very) brightly coloured variants of its classic products, so if you’re looking to add a pop of colour to your home studio, now might be the time.

READ MORE: Black Friday music deals 2025: The best early deals we’ve found on synths, DJ controllers and plugins

The campaign – which highlights RØDE’s rapidly expanding selection of coloured variants across its popular product lines – means customers can take advantage of a free colour-matching accessory with the purchase of select RØDE products.
These offers include a free Interview GO with every Wireless GO (Gen 3), and a free WS14 windshield with every PodMic USB and PSA1+ purchase.
Credit: RØDE
The Wireless GO is a compact wireless microphone system for content creators, allowing them to clip the mic onto their clothing, for example, to seamlessly capture audio without the need for a handheld microphone.
Meanwhile, the Interview GO is a handheld adapter which transforms the Wireless GO into a more traditional microphone for interview-style content, for example.
The PodMic is RØDE’s dynamic USB microphone geared towards podcasters, which can be used with the PSA1+ Professional Studio Arm. The WS14 windshield, of course, acts as a pop filter to reduce plosive consonant sounds in speech like p’s and b’s

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Also coinciding with the arrival of Bright Friday is the launch of the Interview Micro, a handheld adapter which turns any Wireless Micro transmitter into a handheld microphone, making it perfect for on-location interviews, vox pops and field recordings, for example. The Interview Micro is available in blue, red, orange, black and white.
“We’ve been promising a wave of colour, and it’s finally here,” says RØDE CEO Damien Wilson. 
“Bright Friday is our unique way of celebrating the biggest sales event of the year. Bold and built to turn heads, each offer exists to give creators new ways to express their unique style and inject new energy and personality into the spaces in which they create.” 
Learn more about Bright Friday at RØDE.
The post My eyes! RØDE celebrates “Bright Friday” with coloured variants of its classic mics and pro audio gear appeared first on MusicTech.

The Marshall Bromley 750 is a party speaker with a welcome identity crisis£900 / $1,300 / €1,000, marshall.com
From Woodstock to Wembley, Marshall amplifiers have soundtracked six decades of live music. Now the iconic British brand has launched the Bromley 750 party speaker — but this isn’t just another Bluetooth boombox with delusions of grandeur.

READ MORE: IK Multimedia iLoud Precision 6 MKII review: Take control of your sound in any studio environment

Where most party speakers chase RGB light shows and smartphone integration, Marshall has approached the Bromley 750 like a portable PA system that happens to connect wirelessly. Can a £900 party speaker genuinely handle professional duties for mobile DJs, street performers, and event organisers? After putting it through its paces, the answer is surprisingly emphatic: this thing absolutely delivers.
Design & build: gigging gear with Marshall DNA
The Bromley 750 looks unmistakably Marshall. That signature brushed metal control panel, faux-leather wrap, and stamped metal grille announce its heritage before you’ve played a single note. Unlike Marshall’s lifestyle speakers, this isn’t designed to sit prettily on your bookshelf — it’s built for the road.
At 23.9 kg, it’s undeniably got heft, so Marshall has sensibly given it integrated wheels and a built-in handle for tilt-and-roll transport, transforming it into something closer to flight-case luggage. Anyone who’s lugged traditional PA speakers up venue stairs will appreciate the practicality here. Side-mounted handles make getting it in and out of car boots straightforward enough.
Image: Press
The IP54 rating proves crucial for professional outdoor work. Dust and splash resistance mean moody weather won’t derail your gig, while the drainage system around the top tweeters ensures any moisture that does get in won’t cause grief. After testing in the rain, the speaker continues performing without complaint.
One genuinely brilliant feature: the exchangeable battery doubles as a power bank. Charge your phone between DJ sets or keep essential gear topped up during all-day festivals. It’s practical thinking that shows Marshall consulted actual working musicians during development.
Sound & performance: 500 watts that know how to behave
The Marshall Bromley 750’s 500W Class D amplification system drives eight speakers: two 10-inch woofers, dual 5.25-inch mid-ranges, and four tweeters. All this is enough to hit gig-worthy levels of 127 dB from a metre away.
But raw power without control is just noise. What impresses me most is the Bromley 750’s composure across different scenarios. The 360° True Stereophonic sound proves transformative for street performances where audiences gather around you, eliminating the traditional PA problem of strategic speaker placement.
The real secret weapon is the Sound Character control. Twist it towards Dynamic and you get detailed, controlled output perfect for acoustic sets or indoor corporate events. Swing it to Loud and the Bromley 750 prioritises maximum impact for outdoor festivals, warehouse parties, or cutting through traffic noise during busking.
Image: James Day
This adaptability makes the Bromley 750 remarkably versatile for working musicians. One speaker handles intimate restaurant gigs on Friday, outdoor markets on Saturday, and raves on Sunday. Compare that to owning separate PA setups for different venue types.
Bass extends down to 30 Hz — proper sub-bass territory, electronic music DJs will appreciate. During outdoor testing, low-frequency content remains tight and defined even at high volumes, while the quad-tweeter array keeps highs crisp without harshness. The frequency response stays remarkably consistent across the volume range, avoiding the distortion plague that afflicts cheaper party speakers.
The onboard two-band EQ (bass and treble) provides quick adjustments without menu diving. Some may miss dedicated mid-range control, but for most live scenarios, the combination of Sound Character switching and two-band EQ covers essential tonal shaping.
Marshall Bromley 750’s pro features: XLR inputs mean business
Here’s where the Marshall Bromley 750 separates itself from consumer party speakers: dual XLR/6.35 mm jack combo inputs with individual gain controls. For buskers, open mic hosts, mobile DJs, or wedding musicians, these inputs are essential.
Input one handles microphones, although there’s no phantom power on board. Tested with a dynamic mic, the preamps deliver clean, usable gain without noticeable noise. The onboard delay and reverb effects add polish to live vocals — though they’re practical tools rather than studio-grade processors.
Input two accepts instruments, such as acoustic guitars, keyboards, and even DJ controllers (via the alternative, RCA inputs). Combined with Bluetooth playback, you can genuinely run small performances from this single unit — with backing tracks through Bluetooth, plus live vocals and instruments through the combo jacks.
One limitation: the EQ controls don’t affect the XLR inputs, only the main Bluetooth/auxiliary signal. Some performers will find this restrictive.
Image: James Day
The integrated stage lighting deserves mention. Three presets range from ambient mood-setting to fully reactive modes that sync with music. Unlike tacky RGB light bars, Marshall’s kept things classy with bright white stage-inspired aesthetics. The strobe burst triggered via the M-button adds drama to DJ performances without looking cheap.
That 40+ hour battery life? Genuinely game-changing for multi-day festivals or long wedding receptions. During testing, a full weekend of intermittent use barely dents the charge. When power does run low, simply swap in the (optional) backup battery, or connect to mains power to a avoid interrupting playback.
Additional connectivity covers most scenarios: USB-C audio, 3.5mm auxiliary in and out, plus RCA inputs. Bluetooth 5.3 includes Auracast broadcasting to futureproof any multiroom dreams. And yes, you can either daisy-chain multiple Bromleys via an aux connection or enable Auracast for an even bigger wall of noise.
What’s missing? The lack of aptX or LDAC may disappoint some, while DSP presets for different music genres would add versatility. The Marshall companion app is also uncharacteristically sparse — no EQ or Sound Character adjustments. At worst, it means using the ample physical controls; at best, a firmware update will add functionality.
Should I buy the Marshall Bromley 750?
At £900, the Marshall Bromley 750 positions itself against entry-level PA systems rather than consumer party speakers. That pricing makes sense when you consider what’s included: professional XLR inputs, 40-hour battery, IP54 weather protection, and 500 watts of power.
Buy the Bromley 750 if you’re a mobile DJ working multiple venue types, a busker needing reliable amplification, or a musician handling small weddings and corporate events. The Sound Character control and XLR inputs justify the premium, while that phenomenal battery life eliminates charging anxiety during multi-set days. Plus, on days off, it’ll look absolutely mint sitting in the corner of your pad.
Image: Press
Don’t buy if you need traditional PA features like multi-channel mixing and per-channel EQ, or simply want maximum value per watt. Dedicated PA gear still wins on ultimate flexibility, while consumer party speakers undercut significantly on price.
The Marshall Bromley 750 brings professional audio thinking to the consumer party speaker category. It’s not the cheapest way to amplify your gig, but it might well be the most versatile single-box solution available.
Whether you’re DJing rooftop parties, playing acoustic sets in beer gardens, or hosting karaoke nights, this speaker adapts brilliantly. The rock ‘n’ roll looks? That’s just the encore.
Key features

500W Class D amplification system
8-driver configuration: 2 10-inch woofers; 2 5.25-inch mid drivers; 4 tweeters
360° True Stereophonic sound projection
2 XLR/6.35mm combo jacks with individual gain controls and phantom power
Built-in delay and reverb effects for microphone/instrument inputs
Sound Character control (Dynamic/Loud modes)
40+ hour battery life (battery is exchangeable/replaceable)
Integrated stage lighting with 3 reactive modes
IP54 water and dust resistance
Drainage system for tweeter protection
Integrated wheels and telescopic handle
Physical bass and treble EQ controls
Bluetooth 5.3 with Auracast broadcasting
USB-C, RCA, and 3.5 mm inputs
30 Hz – 20 kHz frequency response
127 dB maximum SPL at 1 metre
Dimensions: 6.52 x 41.3 x 35.5 cm
Weight: 23.9 kg
52% post-consumer recycled plastic construction

The post The Marshall Bromley 750 is a party speaker with a welcome identity crisis appeared first on MusicTech.

The Legal Beat: UMG Settles Copyright Case With A.I. CompanyOn October 26, 2025, Universal Music Group announced it had settled a copyright case with A.I. music company Udio. The copyright infringement lawsuit was filed last year by UMG, Sony Music, Warner Music Group, and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) against Udio and another A.I. company, Suno. The plaintiffs contend that A.I. companies are subject to copyright law the same as all other companies.

The plaintiffs alleged that hundreds of songs by top artists were copied. This lawsuit is one of several high-profile ones brought by copyright holders against A.I. companies for using their work.

The lawsuit was filed last year and UMG claimed that Udio committed copyright infringement on a “almost unimaginable scale” by using UMG’s recordings to train it’s A.I. models. The plaintiffs were seeking “an injunction and damages commensurate with the scope of Udio’s massive and ongoing infringement.” 

The UMG lawsuit only concerned sound recordings. However, the settlement covers music publishing as well. When the new platform launches in 2026, UMG artists and songwriters will have the chance to “opt in” and receive financial compensation for the training of A.I. model as well as its outputs.

UMG’s press release indicates: “The new subscription service will transform the user engagement experience, creating a licensed and protected environment to customize, stream, and share music responsibly on the Udio platform.”

UMG’s new platform will, for instance, allow users to create new mashups and remixes to existing licensed music. The two companies will launch the new platform next year. The settlement also includes monetary compensation for UMG, which has not been disclosed. In litigation, it is typical for a monetary settlement to be kept confidential.

Andrew Sanchez, the CEO of Udio, stated: “This moment brings to life everything we’ve been building toward—uniting A.I. and the music industry in a way that truly champions artists. Together, we’re building the technological and business landscape that will fundamentally expand what’s possible in music creation and engagement.”

Sir Lucien Grange, the Chairman of UMG, stated the settlement provisions “demonstrate our commitment to do what’s right by our artists and songwriters, whether that means embracing new technologies, developing new business models, diversifying revenue streams or beyond.”

Not many more details of the settlement are available. This settlement would seem to undermine some A.I. companies’ hopes that they could use licensed music without restriction or compensation.

UMG has also entered into agreements with what it calls “responsible” A.I.companies such as Soundlab and Klay. Warner and Sony Music are still pursuing their lawsuits against Udio and Suno.

GLENN LITWAK is a veteran entertainment attorney based in Santa Monica, CA. He has represented platinum selling recording artists, GRAMMY-winning music producers, hit songwriters, management and production companies, music publishers and independent record labels. Litwak is also a frequent speaker at music industry conferences around the country, such as South by Southwest and the Billboard Music in Film and TV Conference. Litwak has been selected as a “Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyer magazine for 2022-2025. Email Litwak at gtllaw59@gmail.com or visit glennlitwak.com.

This article is a very brief overview of the subject matter and does not constitute legal advice.The post The Legal Beat: UMG Settles Copyright Case With A.I. Company first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

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Live Nation Moves to Dismiss DOJ Antitrust Case: What Artists, Venues & Fans Should KnowLive Nation has filed a motion for summary judgment in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York asking it to dismiss the antitrust lawsuit brought by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and a coalition of states.
The post Live Nation Moves to Dismiss DOJ Antitrust Case: What Artists, Venues & Fans Should Know appeared first on Hypebot.

Wear this RISC V, RPN Calculator Watch for Maximum Nerd CredOnce upon a time, owning a calculator watch was the epitome of cool. Well, for a very specific subset of the population with our own definition of “cool” anyway. The only thing cooler than wearing a calculator watch? Making a calculator watch, of course! If you do it as part of developing your own SDK for a popular RISC V microcontroller, all the better. That’s what [Miroslav Nemecek] did with his Antcalc watch, which is one of the demo projects for the CH32Lib SDK, which is currently under development at version 0.35 as this is written.
It appears as though the solid core wire on the back of the homemade PCB is used to hold the watch band, a nice little hack.
As you might guess, CH32LibSDK is targeting the super-cheap CH32 series of RISC V microcontrollers. Perhaps because the SDK is so early in development, there’s not much documentation outside of the example projects. The examples are all worth looking at, but our tipster wanted us to cover the Antcalc calculator watch specifically.
The Antcalc watch uses the SOP16-packaged CH32V002A4M6 to drive a small OLED display while taking input in Reverse Polish Notation from a dozen small buttons. We’re not sure how the cool kids feel about RPN these days, but that’s got to be worth extra nerd cred. Using a RISC V chip doesn’t hurt in that department, either.
For something so small– 30 mm x 55 mm–it’s looks like a decent little calculator, with 10 registers holding a mantissa of 21 digits and exponents up-to +/-99 in binary coded decimal. Seven layers on the dozen-key input pad mean most of the scientific functions you could ask for are available, along with the ability to record and replay upto 10 macros. There are also ten memory slots, all of which go into the chip’s onboard flash so are non-volatile during a battery swap. (Of which many will be necessary, since this appears to run on a single coin cell.)
If you get bored of wrist-mounted calculating, you could always repurpose this microcontroller to play MOD files on your wrist. Some people couldn’t imagine ever getting bored by a wrist-mounted calculator, and just for them we have this teardown of a beautiful 1975 model and a this article on the history of the calculator watch.
Thanks to [James Bowman] for the tip.