Brandon Chapa SÉANCE VSTi Introducing "Seance VSTi" - Unleash Dark and Brooding Sounds! Attention music producers in search of high-quality, dark, and atmospheric instruments. Look no further! We present... Read More

Discussion of AI for producers.
#AI #Music #Musicians #Producers #musicproduction #Creators

Best free plugins and freeware of the month: August 2023It’s always nice when you uncover some useful or creative tools online – and it’s even nicer when they turn out to be free.

READ MORE: Best sample packs of the month

We’ve rounded up a handful of this month’s free releases for you to check out, including a chord-based ROMpler, a transparent limiter, a fully-featured spatial 3D instrument, an epic, endless reverb, and a fun sample chopping sequencer.
Monster DAW – MONSTER OctaChord v1
MONSTER OctaChord v1. Image: Monster DAW

macOS and Windows
64-bit VST/VST3/AU
Download OctaChord

If you’re looking for some inspiration to get you started, then Monster DAW’s chord plugin with built in sounds could be just the ticket. There are 18 presets for different styles including lo-fi, techno, cinematic, R‘n’B, pop and more.
Each preset includes a full set of 12 scales, plus an Ornament set of fill-ins, melodic lines and sound effects that match the chords. Additional features include master volume, pan, reverb and delay controls, plus separate volume controls for the chord and ornament sections. It’s easy to build up progressions, but with so many different sounds and chord samples, note that the full plugin library size is over 6GB.
Press Play – Wave Breaker
Wave Breaker. Image: Press Play

macOS and Windows
64-bit VST/VST3/AU
Download Wave Breaker

Press Play is best known for its excellent free oscilloscope plugin, Wave Observer. Its new release uses the same waveform display engine, but this time puts it to use as instant visual feedback within a true-peak stereo limiter plugin.
Wave Breaker offers a transparent sound with precise true-peak detection, look-ahead audio analysis and 4x oversampling. You can use the Drive control to push volume into the limiter at a desired threshold and choose from manual output compensation, or target peak-level normalisation. You can also add a touch of saturation, choose from a range of colour schemes and resize the GUI.
SpatStrument SM24
SpatStrument SM24. Image: Acousmodules

macOS and Windows
64-bit VST3
Download SpatStrument SM24

SpatStrument SM24 is a beast. It’s an effect, a synth, a sampler, a 3D panner and a controller all in one. It’s designed to offer a fun and playful approach to audio-spatial sculpting, especially if you have an MPE controller.
Its whopping feature set includes up to 24 output channels with free arrangement in 2D or 3D space, Periphonic and Volumetric Spatial modes, Spatial Shaper and Animator, live input processing, an eight-voice sampler, a three-oscillator synth with FM, cross modulation and ring modulation between the sampler and synth, eight-channel delay/resonator and hall reverb, lockTrigger and VeloPad for granular effects and more.
Airwindows – Galactic 2
Galactic 2. Image: Airwindows

macOS, Windows, Linux, Pi
32/64-bit VST/AU/VCV Rack
Download Galactic 2

Airwindows has built up a massive library of excellent free plugins over the years, with an emphasis on sound rather than snazzy GUIs. Its latest release is a massive-sounding reverb that gives a different twist on Airwindows’ first Galactic reverb plugin.
You get simple controls for drive, sustain, Darken and wet, which can all be manipulated to craft epic-sounding, infinite drones and pads. With sustain on full, it will even start to feedback on itself. You can also put in mono signals and get a wider-sounding stereo reverb out.
HY-Plugins – HY-Slicer2 free
HY Slicer2. Image: HY-Plugins
This cut-down version of HY-Slicer2 can be used as a fun and creative way to re-invigorate your loop library. You get 3 slicer units where you can load three different samples that get chopped into smaller pieces. These can then be sequenced in the Sampler Track where you can rearrange up to 16 slices.
Things get a little more interesting when you start using the additional lanes that let you sequence things like chance, reverse, tune, pan, filter, effect sends and more. You also get built-in effects and master effects to refine your new loops, and a Pattern chainer to help develop longer ideas.

macOS, Windows, Linux
64-bit VST/VST3/AU
Download HY-Slicer2 free

The post Best free plugins and freeware of the month: August 2023 appeared first on MusicTech.

Songwriters are using AI Generated voices for song pitches.
#AI #Music #Production #Creators #Singer #artists

iZotope Nectar Elements Plugin Is FREE At Plugin Boutique.
#free #plugin #musicproduction

Make the most of Bridge: The workflow level-up for every Splice user
Learn about how to get started with Splice Bridge, our plugin that connects Splice Sounds with your DAW in a more powerful way than ever before.

What drives the 1.9B music discoveries that happen on Spotify every day?Listeners “discover” a track for the first time 1.9 billion times every day on Spotify, and usually, that song has been identified as one they might like. Who is doing. Continue reading
The post What drives the 1.9B music discoveries that happen on Spotify every day? appeared first on Hypebot.

4 music marketing lessons musicians learned during COVID worth revisitingMany musicians used COVID lockdown to connect with their fans in new ways and record and market new music. This week’s Hypebot Flashback Friday post looks at some of the. Continue reading
The post 4 music marketing lessons musicians learned during COVID worth revisiting appeared first on Hypebot.

10 Ways to use a Music Degree in the real worldI recently had the pleasure of answering questions on Zoom from students interested in taking my Touring 101 course and others offered by Berklee Online and was asked about the. Continue reading
The post 10 Ways to use a Music Degree in the real world appeared first on Hypebot.

Acustica Cherry mastering EQ plug-in Cherry is a new EQ plug-in aimed at mastering applications, and has been created based on samples taken from a pair of popular hardware devices.

“I saw you spreading lies on your Facebook group”: Loopop on Behringer not sending ‘free gear’ to reviewersMusic technology specialist and content creator Loopop has called out Behringer for suggesting he won’t review the brand’s gear because it claims it refuses to send free units out to reviewers.
The creator shared a screenshot of a comment Behringer had sent to a Facebook user questioning the reception of the Toro synth. The comment wrote: “Interesting comment. [The Toro] is the fifth best-selling product, not sure this is called a flop.
“I’m sure Starsky [Carr] will be reviewing it as, while Loopop is not reviewing products as we don’t send out free units. [sic]”
Behringer has since edited the comment to omit the last sentence.
Loopop claims Behringer blocked and deleted his response, which he then reshared. “Hey Behringer this is Ziv – Loopop, please stop spreading the lie that I stopped reviewing your units because you wouldn’t send me any for free.
“I first reviewed your synths without any contact with you (Model D, Neutron). At that point you offered to send me a few others, which I accepted and disclosed.
“When you made the offensive video about Peter Kirn and started copying affordable products from existing manufacturers with zero innovation (swing), I became disgusted with your corporate culture, which I see now includes spreading lies like you did now.”
The video Loopop refers to dates back to 2020, where the company attracted widespread criticism for releasing a bizarre clip attacking Kirn that appeared to use anti-Semitic tropes. Behringer later apologised.

Hey @Behringer – since you blocked my response, I'll share it here. I saw you spreading lies on your Facebook group, that I won't review your gear because you don't send it for free, when actually you offered and I refused. Should I share your email offering? pic.twitter.com/cRT1Y8ouzM
— Loopop Music (@loopopmusic) August 3, 2023

“A couple of years ago you disclosed to me your entire roadmap and offered anything I’d like, and I refused because of what I mentioned above, as I explained to Dan. I am happy to share this correspondence if you insist on lying about why I stopped reviewing your gear.
“If you apologise and at some point change your ways I would be happy to explore interesting affordable innovative products, whether you send them to me or not – they’re not that expensive compared to the time and costs of making my videos.”
Several other content creators backed him up, with Bo Beats saying on Twitter that “Behringer lying doesn’t surprise me at all”, while Benn Jordan tweeted a GIF with a man wearing sunglasses to hide his tears with the caption, “Behringer passive aggressively pretending they’re not pp hurt”.

Behringer lying doesn’t surprise me at all https://t.co/moatOdVbrX
— Bo (@BoBeatsMusic) August 3, 2023

Behringer passive aggressively pretending they're not pp hurt https://t.co/KBg1EFvETq pic.twitter.com/jbtGer271v
— Benn Jordan (@bennjordan) August 3, 2023

Kirn added: “I don’t know about @loopopmusic but I like to get my reviews from heavily moderated comment threads where any negative commenters are blocked! It just keeps everything sunnier and more real.”
Meanwhile, the publication Sonic State also spoke out in support of Loopop, revealing that it stopped reviewing Behringer’s products for the same reason and has “nothing to do with how good or bad the gear is”.

Good for you! I was tempted to wade in on that thread – our reason for not reviewing their gear has nothing to do with how good or bad it is , it is because of those exact reasons.
— sonicstate (@sonicstate) August 3, 2023

I don't know about @loopopmusic but I like to get my reviews from heavily moderated comment threads where any negative commenters are blocked! It just keeps everything sunnier and more real.
— peterkirn (@peterkirn) August 3, 2023

The post “I saw you spreading lies on your Facebook group”: Loopop on Behringer not sending ‘free gear’ to reviewers appeared first on MusicTech.

iZotope Nectar Elements Plugin Is FREE At Plugin Boutique
Plugin Boutique offers the Nectar Elements ($129 list price) vocal processing plugin by iZotope as a free download for a limited time. Nectar Elements is a streamlined tool for correcting your vocal’s pitch, dynamics, frequency response, and general quality. Its workflow is mostly automated, taking advantage of iZotope’s unique Vocal Assistant feature. I always found [...]
View post: iZotope Nectar Elements Plugin Is FREE At Plugin Boutique

Church featured on The Chemical Brothers’ album artwork to receive Grade II* statusThe UK government is upgrading the church The Chemical Brothers famously featured on the album art for their 1998 compilation album Brothers Gonna Work It Out from a Grade II listed site to a Grade II* site.
The church – Our Lady of Fatima in Harlow, Essex – features its iconic needle spire, which was designed by British architect Gerald Goalen. The upgrade came after a recommendation from Historic England to the UK government in a bid to protect its historical and architectural significance.
Ed Simons, one half of the big beat pioneers, celebrated the news on Twitter, saying: “Harlow church on Chemical Brothers album cover granted protected status.”

Harlow church on Chemical Brothers album cover granted protected status https://t.co/tt3q3oJVlq
— ed simons (@eddychemical) August 3, 2023

Builders completed the church, with its “jewel-like” interior, in 1960. It had 500 seats circling a freestanding altar – an innovative design at the time.
Clare Price, of the C20 Society said, “The effect of walking into the church is uplifting, the feeling of entering a shifting kaleidoscope of colour … must surely have made many a new town worshipper gasp in astonishment”. The group campaigns for the preservation of architectural heritage from 1914 onwards.
The Chemical Brothers are releasing their 10th studio album, For That Beautiful Feeling, on 8 September. It’ll be their first album since 2019’s No Geography.
Not only that, but they’ve also announced a “career-spanning retrospective book”, Paused in Cosmic Reflection. It will arrive on 26 October via White Rabbit Books.
Want to pre-order the book from Waterstones for £30? You’ll be in with a chance to win a Chemical Brothers bundle, which includes tickets to their upcoming tour, a vinyl bundle, a signed framed print, and the only signed deluxe edition of the book.
The post Church featured on The Chemical Brothers’ album artwork to receive Grade II* status appeared first on MusicTech.

Robbie Williams wants to collaborate with Trent Reznor on It’s Raining Men coverRobbie Williams has said that he wants to bring Trent Reznor – and Radiohead – on board for a rock cover of The Weather Girls’ 1982 hit It’s Raining Men. 
Williams said he hoped that Radiohead would provide him with a rocky backing track for his cover, but as of yet, one is yet to materialise.

READ MORE: “I’m relieved to look back and say ‘Okay, we didn’t mess up too much’”: Thomas Bangalter on the end of Daft Punk

“I want to do a cover of It’s Raining Men but I want Radiohead to do a backing track for me,” he told The Sun’s Bizarre column. “But they have not got back to me. I keep asking but nothing back. I dunno. I might ask Trent Reznor.”
Indeed, Williams once admitted he once envisioned making music that was more in the vein of Radiohead or Oasis rather than the mainstream pop he made as part of Take That.
“I went through a pompous moment when I didn’t want to have anything to do with the mainstream stuff I used to enjoy. I thought it was babyish. I wanted to be Oasis and Radiohead,” he told The Daily Star. 
“Then I was fortunate enough to relinquish those chains and go, ‘Who am I? What do I like? What do I want to be?’ And, actually, who I am is Morecambe and Wise, the Two Ronnies, Bruce Forsyth, Terry Wogan – that sort of British, professional entertainer who brought so much joy to someone like me, and now I hope to bring it to others.”
Williams will be playing two shows on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk later this month as part of the Heritage Live concert series, where he will be supported by his former Take That bandmate Mark Owen.
Meanwhile, Reznor unveiled the soundtrack to the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem film, which he worked on with Atticus Ross.
The post Robbie Williams wants to collaborate with Trent Reznor on It’s Raining Men cover appeared first on MusicTech.

“I’m relieved to look back and say ‘Okay, we didn’t mess up too much’”: Thomas Bangalter on the end of Daft PunkThomas Bangalter has discussed the end of Daft Punk in a new interview with BBC Radio 6.
The musician and producer, who formed the iconic duo in 1993 with Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, says that it “felt good” to end the project in 2021, revealing that he asks himself why they ended it more often than he asks himself how it lasted for so long.
“It’s a lot like a story or mini saga,” he explained. “Sometimes there’s a TV show that has a special place in people’s heart and it keeps that place, and it runs for one, two, three, four, five, sometimes 10 seasons.”
“There’s a moment where it ends and I think it’s actually interesting to have this opportunity to start, have the middle and to end it.”
He explains that they started the project when he was 18, and it carried through until he was 46 – he described it as a “significant part” of his life.
“I’m relieved and happy to look back on it and say ‘Okay, we didn’t mess it up too much’,” he adds. “It’s a lot of discipline and effort – same thing with the characters, with everything, so it definitely felt good.”
As for the duo’s famous helmets, Bangalter – who has recently entered the world of classical music – explains that “You have an idea like that when you’re like 25, you don’t say ‘You know what, we’re just going to build robot masks and dress up like robots until the day we die.’”
He also looked back on their first live show, during which they were “terrified”, with Guy-Man spending almost half of the show hiding under the table: “It was just me with him, but him adjusting the buttons and the machines from below like that.”

Guy-Manuel may still be active in music, too. He’s been credited as a producer and writer in Travis Scott’s new album, Utopia, although fans have noted that his input could be an old, unreleased beat from the duo’s work on Kanye West’s 2013 album, Yeezus.
There’s plenty of Daft Punk sounds to explore, though. Just last month, longtime collaborator Todd Edwards revealed the samples used on the 2001 track Face To Face, which featured on the robots’ seminal 2001 album Discovery. Edwards shared the samples following a fan-made video that reconstructed the track using the original samples – which fans have been tracking down for over 20 years.
The post “I’m relieved to look back and say ‘Okay, we didn’t mess up too much’”: Thomas Bangalter on the end of Daft Punk appeared first on MusicTech.