Crypto protocol CrossCurve under attack, $3M reportedly exploitedCrypto bridge CrossCurve has told users to pause interacting with its protocol while it conducts an investigation into a smart contract breach.

AI layoffs or ‘AI-washing’?How many of the companies with recent layoffs are just using AI as an excuse?

The Latest from RepRapMicron – Nail Gel, First Objects, and MoreWe’ve been following [Vik Olliver]’s progress on the μRepRap project with interest for some time now. The project’s goal is to build a 3D printer that can print feature sizes down to about 10 microns – the same feature size used in the Intel 4004 processor. At the recent Open Everything 2026 conference, [Vik] presented an overview of all the progress he’s made in the last year, including printer improvements, material woes, and the first multi-layer prints (presentation slides).
The motion stage has undergone some fundamental improvements recently. The original XY motion table was supported on four flexures which allowed movement in X and Y, but also introduced slight variations in Z – obviously a problem in a system that needs to be accurate down to the microns. The latest version now uses complementary flexures to maintain a constant Z height, and eliminates interference between the X and Y axes. The axis motion drivers were also redesigned with parallel-bar linear reducers inspired by a pantograph, increasing their usable range from two to eight millimeters.
Rather than extruding material, the μRepRap uses an electrochemically-etched needle point to deposit UV-curable gel on the build surface. [Vik] found that a bit of nitric acid in the needle etching solution gave the edges of the probe a bit of a rough texture which let it hold more resin. He started his test prints using normal 3D printer resin, but it turns out that dissolved oxygen inhibits curing – quite a problem for small, air-exposed droplets. Fortuitously, UV nail gel does cure in air, and the next set of tests were printed in nail gel, including the first layered prints (one of which can be seen above, on top of a hypodermic needle). The μRepRap can’t yet print large numbers of layers, but [Vik] did print some hinged parts that could be folded into shape.
There’s much more in the presentation than can be covered here, including some interesting thoughts about the possibility of 3D printing electrochemical memory cells in ionic gel. Near the end of the presentation, [Vik] listed some pieces of related work, including necroprinting and this homemade micro-manipulator.
 

Reason Studios expand Reason platform Reason Studios have announced a major update to how creators can access the Reason platform.

Vessel Audio Shockline Lite VST PluginShockline VST Lite — Free Edition by Vessel Audio. Discover the power of Shockline with the Lite Edition, a free virtual instrument crafted for EDM and Hip-Hop producers who want professional sound design without limits. Built using advanced digital synthesis, Shockline Lite delivers a selection of 15 high-quality presets from the full version, packed with clean tones, punchy leads, and textured atmospheres. Despite being a free edition, Shockline Lite keeps the same core engine that powers the full Shockline VST — including its signature multi-FX and wave mixing features. Shape your sound with chorus, delay, reverb, and distortion, or blend saw, triangle, and sine waveforms with the original preset for deep customization and unique tones. Key Features. 15 professionally designed presets for EDM & Hip-Hop. Digital synthesis engine with multi-sampled sounds. 3 wave shapes (saw, triangle, sine) for layer blending. Built-in chorus, delay, reverb, and distortion. Dual ADSR envelopes for advanced sound shaping. Low-pass and high-pass filter modes. Pan, tune, pitch, and amp controls. Mod wheel and MIDI velocity support. Compatible with Mac & PC (VST / AU formats). File Size: 3.5 GB. Whether you're producing hard-hitting trap beats or shimmering EDM leads, Shockline VST Lite gives you the tools to start creating immediately — completely free. Experience the sound of Shockline. Download Shockline VST Lite today.. Read More

BPB Deal: Black Octopus Sound Drums Master Bundle for $10
Black Octopus Sound offers the Drums Master Bundle drum and percussion sample collection for $10 to Bedroom Producers Blog readers until February 11th. This is an exclusive BPB offer. Drums Master Bundle is listed at its full price on the website, but you can bring it down to $10 by entering the coupon code BPBDrums10 at [...]
View post: BPB Deal: Black Octopus Sound Drums Master Bundle for $10

PMC unveil Main Monitor series PMC's NAMM 2026 launch represents the first complete reinvention of PMC’s main monitoring systems in more than three decades, and promises to deliver the most substantial advancement since the range was last updated ten years ago.

Waymo reportedly raising a $16B funding roundWaymo is reportedly finalizing a new funding round that will value the robotaxi company at $110 billion.

Thomas Edison May Have Discovered GrapheneThomas Edison is well known for his inventions (even if you don’t agree he invented all of them). However, he also occasionally invented things he didn’t understand, so they had to be reinvented again later. The latest example comes from researchers at Rice University. While building a replica light bulb, they found that Thomas Edison may have accidentally created graphene while testing the original article.
Today, we know that applying a voltage to a carbon-based resistor and heating it up to over 2,000 °C can create turbostratic graphene. Edison used a carbon-based filament and could heat it to over 2,000 °C.
This reminds us of how, in the 1880s, Edison observed current flowing in one direction through a test light bulb that included a plate. However, he thought it was just a curiosity. It would be up to Fleming, in 1904, to figure it out and understand what could be done with it.
Naturally, Edison wouldn’t have known to look for graphene, how to look for it, or what to do with it if he found it. But it does boggle the mind to think about graphene appearing many decades earlier. Or maybe it would still be looking for a killer use. Certainly, as the Rice researchers note, this is one of the easier ways to make graphene.

Spitfire Audio Originals - Cimbalom Tuned Percussion Plugin by Spitfire Audio The Spitfire Audio Originals Cimbalom is a meticulously sampled virtual instrument that brings the evocative, metallic sound of the concert hammered dulcimer to the digital audio workstation. Recorded at the world-renowned AIR Studios in London, this library captures the performances of Greg Knowles, a premier percussionist recognized for his work on major film scores such as The Hunger Games. The cimbalom is a trapezoidal chordophone played by striking metal strings with beaters, producing a shimmering tone that has become a staple in Hollywood for creating atmospheres of mystery and suspense. This plugin is part of Spitfire Audio's Originals series, which aims to provide essential cinematic sounds in a lightweight and affordable format. The library is housed in a dedicated, intuitive plugin that bypasses the need for third-party samplers like Kontakt. By utilizing three distinct microphone signals—Close, Tree, and the unique Pitched signal—users can blend the intimate mechanical details of the instrument with the natural reverberation of Lyndhurst Hall. The addition of the "Warp" preset and "Pitched" signal allows the instrument to transcend its traditional folk roots, transforming into eerie, frozen textures suitable for modern sound design. Designed for both professional composers and entry-level producers, the Originals Cimbalom offers a versatile palette of five presets. These range from "Sustained" and "Tremolo" for classic cinematic cues to "Damped" for percussive precision. Whether used as a featured melodic lead or a subtle textural layer within a full orchestral arrangement, the instrument provides a professional-grade solution for achieving the "sound of suspense" popularized by composers like Hans Zimmer and Alexandre Desplat. Features High-Fidelity Sampling: Recorded at AIR Studios, London, using the same world-class signal chain as Spitfire's flagship libraries. Expert Performance: Performed by renowned percussionist Greg Knowles (The Hunger Games, Sherlock Holmes). Three Microphones Signals: * Close: Captures the immediate detail and transient snap of the beaters. Tree: A Decca Tree array providing the lush, natural room ambience of Lyndhurst Hall. Pitched: A processed signal pitched down one octave for deep, atmospheric textures. Five Performance Presets: Includes Performance, Sustained, Damped, Tremolo, and Warp. Dedicated Plugin: Runs in Spitfire Audio's proprietary, easy-to-use plugin (no Kontakt required). NKS Compatible: Fully integrated for use with Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol and Maschine hardware. Dynamic Controls: Simple interface with sliders for Expression, Dynamics, Reverb, Release, and Tightness. Compact Footprint: High-quality sound with a disk space requirement of approximately 1.7GB. https://youtu.be/nJ6LldwcyJA?si=mYAn2ppAHxxNO2CX Read More

Synsonic Instruments now offers their paid drum plugins for free
Synsonic Instruments has made three of its previously paid drum plugins free to download for macOS and Windows. If you’ve been following Bedroom Producers Blog for a while, you’ll probably recognize the name Synsonic Instruments from their old BD-808 Free (featured in our article about the best free 808 plugins) and BD-909 Free plugins. Those [...]
View post: Synsonic Instruments now offers their paid drum plugins for free

RCJacH releases FREE RCSiner distortion plugin for Windows and macOS
RCJacH has released RCSiner, a free distortion plugin for macOS and Windows, now available as a standalone plugin. RCSiner is a waveshaping and phase-distortion effect built around sine-based shaping formulas. While the project has been floating around in various forms before (I first saw it mentioned in 2025, but haven’t featured it on BPB then), [...]
View post: RCJacH releases FREE RCSiner distortion plugin for Windows and macOS

Novation update the Launch Control XL Available now via Novation Components, the Launch Control XL 3's first major update adds compatibility for more DAWs, enhanced control for external hardware and deeper customisation options.  

DistroKid, repped by Goldman Sachs and Raine, exploring a saleNew York-based company claims that it handles 30% to 40% of new music releases globally
Source

TWICE Electrifies with Four Shows at the Kia Forum, InglewoodWith ten years under their belts, it’s no surprise TWICE is one of the best-performing girl groups in K-pop. The group (who graced the cover of Music Connection in 2024) is currently touring across North America for their 2026 THIS IS FOR World Tour and stopped by the Kia Forum in Inglewood for four sold-out shows. The tour is different from any other tour they’ve done before. It’s more ambitious thanks to the 360-degree setup with the stage extending throughout the entire floor. This allows a smaller and more intimate experience, as the group expertly utilizes every inch of the venue and offers close-up views of each of the nine members. There were no bad seats in the house for ONCE’s (name of fandom) as they equally spend time in each area. 
Marking the start of the show on Jan. 22nd, the venue lights dimmed as the words “TWICE THIS IS FOR” dramatically appeared on the screens. The screens then lowered down as the opening visuals showcased Dahyun, Chaeyoung, Jeongyeon, Jihyo, Mina, Momo, Nayeon, Sana and Tzuyu. It was fun seeing fans cheer with their glowing candybong light stick for their favorite member when they appeared onscreen. As the video montage ended, the screens raised to reveal the group on stage. TWICE aptly began their performance with “This is For,” from their fourth Korean studio album of the same name. This was the perfect song to start the night as the opening verse from Momo is meant to energize fans, “This is for all my ladies who don't get hyped enough / If you've been done wrong, then this your song, so turn it up.”
Photo credit: JYP ENTERTAINMENT, ANDY KEILEN
With a discography of over 200 songs, it’s no surprise that the setlist leaned heavily on their biggest hits. The first act started off strong with fan-favorite songs, including “SET ME FREE” and “I CAN’T STOP ME.” The stage setup allowed the group to freely move around with their dance routines, switching sides throughout the songs. Unfortunately, Dahyun sustained an ankle injury and remained seated for the entire show. That didn’t stop her as she participated by doing the dance routines with her hands. Most K-pop acts sing with a backing track, but that wasn’t the case for TWICE, as they had a live band performing alongside them. Each girl has a distinctive vocal tone that complements the others very well. The R&B track “Gone” specifically stands out for highlighting the group's strengths. Jiyho, Jeongyeon and Naeyon have powerful vocals with dynamic vocal ranges. Momo, Chaeyoung and Daeyon have great rhythm and rapping delivery, while Mina, Sana and Tzuyu have softer and breathier vocals. 
The middle act focused on solo performances, giving each member a chance to shine in the spotlight. Each girl, except Chaeyoung, performed shortened versions of their song from the album TEN: The Story Goes On. Tzuyu opened the act with “DIVE IN,” showcasing impressive high notes. The stage sparkled in gold and silver as Mina followed with “STONE COLD.” The performance featured intricate, hand-heavy choreography with dancers and highlighted Mina's strong whispery vocals. Nayeon is born to be a popstar as her song “MEEEEEE” is fun, catchy and showcases her confident energy. Earning the biggest cheers of the night was Jeongyeon, who was dressed in a pink cowgirl outfit for her country-inspired song “FIX A DRINK.” It’s always fun to see K-pop idols venture into different genres that they typically wouldn’t do. Dahyun began her song with a piano performance of Beethoven's famous piano piece "Für Elise," which is featured in her song “CHESS.” The song’s theatrical aesthetic was a real crowd-pleaser. Chaeyoung released her first solo album LIL Fantasy vol.1 last year and performed her dreamy pop single “SHOOT (Firecracker).” Jihyo is the strongest performer of TWICE and her urban-inspired song “ATM” indeed showcased her confident personality and powerhouse vocals. The energy in the venue grew as Sana’s sweet vocals and addictive chorus of “DECAFFINATED” had everyone jumping along. Momo closed out the solo performances with “MOVE LIKE THAT." The performance showcased why Momo is considered the best dancer of the group. She has a very strong onstage presence, very sharp and graceful with her movements. The act ended with Jihyo, Jeongyeon, and Chaeyoung performing “TAKEDOWN,” from Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters. The trio recorded a special version of the song that was featured in the ending credits of the movie. Thanks to the viral popularity of the movie, the song is definitely a fan favorite and had the entire venue screaming along with every word. 

The group saved the best for last as the fourth act of the show included all their biggest hits, including “FANCY,” “What is Love?,""YES or YES,""Dance the Night Away,” and “ONE SPARK.” After a short break, the girls returned on stage dressed in their own merchandise for a very casual encore. The group focused their attention more on interacting with fans than actually performing, going along the stage saying hi to everyone and occasionally wetting them with water. Jeongyeon specifically let loose during this moment as she playfully drenched all the dancers with water. The group performed three more songs for the encore. The first song was the super popular “Feel Special.” They let the audience choose the second one, which ended up being the sub-unit song of Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Mina, “BATTITUDE.” The group then started to say their goodbyes and were ready to end the show, but the entire venue started screaming, “one more song, one more song.” The group heard everyone's plea and obliged by singing, “TWICE Song.” This was the perfect song to end the night, as it’s a fun anthem that calls out each member. TWICE’s THIS IS FOR World Tour continues across North America; for info visit twice.jype.com.
Photo credit: JYP ENTERTAINMENT, ANDY KEILENThe post TWICE Electrifies with Four Shows at the Kia Forum, Inglewood first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.