The CDJ-3000X is here: an iterative upgrade of the media player for $3,000 / £2,399CDJ-3000X: AlphaTheta’s Next Flagship DJ Player AlphaTheta has unveiled the CDJ-3000X, successor to the CDJ-3000. At first glance, it is the same familiar form factor, but the updates are focused on connectivity, browsing, cueing, durability, and sound. Some of these changes are substantial, significant improvements, while others are a bit more unknown as to if […]
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Erica Synths launch the MIDI Dispatch Erica Synths have introduced a new utility tool that serves as a successor to their first desktop unit, the MIDI Thru Box. 

HashKey launches $500M digital asset treasury fund in Hong KongThe launch follows Nasdaq’s call for tighter scrutiny of corporate crypto holdings, which HashKey framed as a test for the industry.

Emmy-Nominated Composers and Songwriters Attend BMI Brunch(Top, L-R) Robert Lydecker, Kenny Wood, Christopher Lennertz, Brian Claeys, Bailey Gordon, Jesse Hartov, Ilan Eshkeri, Sean Douglas, Kathryn Bostic, Sherri Chung, Dominic Lewis, Mark Evitts, Carlos Rafael Rivera, Carl Johnson, Julia Newman, (Bottom, L-R) Duncan Thum, Rickey Minor, BMI’s Tracy McKnight and Barbie Quinn, Tova Litvin, Kyle Rodriguez, BMI’s Louie Stephens, and Doug Rockwell at BMI’s Emmy Brunch on Thursday, September 4, 2025, in Beverly Hills, CA. Photo credit: JC Olivera for BMI.On Monday, BMI released a statement to report that it had, "hosted an exclusive brunch at its Los Angeles office to celebrate its Emmy-nominated composers and songwriters, bringing together top talent and industry professionals for a morning of recognition and connection. Held on Thursday, September 4, 2025, the event honored the exceptional work of this year's Creative Arts Emmy contenders.""A highlight of the brunch was a video montage showcasing standout moments from the nominated scores, prompting cheers and applause from guests. Among the Emmy-nominated attendees were Sherri Chung (Based On A True Story), Christopher Lennertz (The Boys), Dominic Lewis (Your Friends & Neighbors), Rickey Minor (The Kennedy Center Honors), Julia Newman (Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story), Thomas Newman (Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story) and Carlos Rafael Rivera (Dept. Q), to name a few," they said. The celebration highlights BMI’s continued commitment to supporting and recognizing excellence within the composer and songwriter communities."The post Emmy-Nominated Composers and Songwriters Attend BMI Brunch first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Nuclear startup Deep Fission goes public in a curious SPACDeep Fission had been seeking to raise $15 million in a seed round as recently as April. The reverse merger will raise twice that amount.

The Incrediplotter: Voice Controlled Plotter from Repurposed PrinterThere’s something uniquely satisfying about a pen plotter. Though less speedy or precise than a modern printer, watching a pen glide across the page, mimicking human drawing, is mesmerizing. This project, submitted by [Jacob C], showcases the Incrediplotter, a brilliant repurposing of a 3D printer built by him and his brother.
Starting with a broken 3D printer, [Jacob C] and his brother repurposed its parts to create a voice-controlled pen plotter. They 3D-printed custom components to adapt the printer’s framework for plotting. An STM32 Blue Pill running Klipper controls two TMC2208 motor drivers for the x- and y-axes, while a small standalone servo manages the pen’s height.
The unique twist lies in the software: you can speak to the plotter, and it generates a drawing based on your prompt without needing to select an image. The process involves sending the user’s voice prompt to Google Gemini, which generates an image. The software then converts this image into an SVG compatible with the plotter. Finally, the SVG is translated into G-Code and sent to the plotter to start drawing.
Thanks to [Jacob C] for sharing this impressive project. It’s a fantastic example of repurposing a broken machine, and the voice-to-image feature adds a creative twist, enabling anyone to create unique artwork. Be sure to check out our other featured plotter hacks for more inspiration.

SoundExchange launches appeal of ruling in SiriusXM lawsuit, says satellite radio firm has underpaid royalties by $400MSoundExchange is challenging a judge's ruling that the PRO doesn't have authority under the law to sue on behalf of rightsholders
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The JUCE version of VMPC2000XL brings the Akai MPC 2000XL to your DAW for FREE
VMPC2000XL is an unofficial Akai Professional MPC 2000XL emulation for macOS, Windows, and Linux. While Akai Professional doesn’t endorse the emulation in any way, I have to say, it looks fantastic, and captures the retro character of the iconic MPC hardware perfectly. VMPC2000XL isn’t new; in fact, Tomislav covered it way back in April of [...]
View post: The JUCE version of VMPC2000XL brings the Akai MPC 2000XL to your DAW for FREE

NatLife Sounds Xfer Serum 2 Mega BundleXfer Serum 2 Mega Bundle – 819 Presets Step into the ultimate sound arsenal for Xfer Serum 2. The Xfer Serum 2 Mega Bundle brings together 14 premium soundbanks crafted for Trance, Acid, Melodic Techno, Progressive, Future styles and more. With 819 carefully designed presets, this collection gives you every tool you need to create professional tracks across multiple genres. Whether you're after thunderous Basslines, euphoric Leads, lush Pads, Acid Sequences, Melodic Techno Drops or cutting-edge FX – it's all here in one complete package. What's Inside: 14 full soundbanks for Serum 2. 819 total presets. Analog Synth Wavetables, Samples & MIDI. Genres covered: Trance, Uplifting, Progressive, Acid, Melodic Techno, Future & Retro sounds. Includes Basses, Leads, Plucks, Pads, Sequences, FX, Stabs and more. Ready for instant inspiration in modern productions. Soundbanks included: Melodica for Serum 2. Bass & Stab for Serum 2. Supersaw Trance for Serum 2. True Trance Sounds V1 for Serum 2. ACID V2 for Serum 2. Progressive Dream for Serum 2. ACID V1 for Serum 2. Uplifting & Progressive Bassline V1. Melodic Techno V2 for Serum 2. Melodic Techno – Bass & FX. Future Sounds Vol.1 for Serum. Cosmic Plucks Vol.2 for Serum. True Bass Sounds Vol.1 for Serum. True Trance Sounds Vol.1 for Serum. Why This Bundle? Save €99 – over 33% off the original price! Read More

Get new effects bundle from DAWJunkie for FREE in limited time offer
This one is for the minimalists among you: DAWJunkie currently offers their entire Effects bundle of one-knob processors for free! The plugins are compatible with any DAW and are available in both VST and AU formats. This is a limited-time offer, so be sure to grab it while you can. In a world of almost [...]
View post: Get new effects bundle from DAWJunkie for FREE in limited time offer

“The idea that money from shows in big venues supports the smaller venues is just common sense”: Sam Fender’s arena tour raises over £100,000 to save UK grassroots venuesSam Fender’s recent arena tour has done more than fill stadiums – it’s also raised vital funds for the UK’s independent music scene. Over £100,000 from ticket sales will now support 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales, helping sustain a live music network that’s been decimated by rising costs.
Funds come via the Music Venue Trust’s Lifeline Fund, which was launched in 2023 to channel contributions from arena and stadium tours directly into small venues, promoters, and artists. Artists who have participated in the scheme include Coldplay, Katy Perry, and Enter Shikari.

READ MORE: Terry Marshall, co-founder of Marshall Amplification, donates £100k of his own money to grassroots venues

Grassroot venues across the UK have struggled in recent years with rising rents, increased licensing and regulatory pressures, and the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 2023 being the worst year on record with 125 grassroots music venues shutting their doors.
According to the Music Venue Trust, Fender’s contribution has provided “urgent emergency assistance alongside essential improvement grants, forming a full programme of support that protects, secures, and improves the grassroots ecosystem”.
19 venues have received emergency funding to avoid imminent closures, helping tackle challenges such as licensing and legal disputes, financial crises, noise complaints, or sudden emergencies like floods and fires.
Another 19 venues were also awarded over £50,000 in direct improvement grants, funding upgrades to facilities, technical equipment, and infrastructure that benefit artists, staff, and audiences alike.
Venues to benefit include London’s Paper Dress Vintage, Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff, Glasgow’s Sub Club and the White Hotel in Manchester.
Mark Davyd, CEO of Music Venue Trust, praised the 31-year-old’s contribution: “This remarkable contribution from Sam Fender, his management, and his team has created a real and lasting impact on the grassroots music ecosystem.”
“These venues are the places where artists like Sam take their first steps, where local communities come together, and where live music truly begins. By investing directly into their future, we are strengthening the entire live music sector.”
Fender himself added, “It’s brilliant to see that the money raised from the arena tour is making a real difference to so many venues.”
“The grassroots circuit has been decimated over the last 10 years or so and the idea that money from shows in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense. These places are legendary.”
The post “The idea that money from shows in big venues supports the smaller venues is just common sense”: Sam Fender’s arena tour raises over £100,000 to save UK grassroots venues appeared first on MusicTech.

M-Imager plug-in from Techivation Relying on a technique that Techivation refer to as "phase-only, time-varying spectral decorrelation", M-Imager is said to be capable of achieving stable, natural-sounding stereo images without introducing the ‘phasey’ sound that’s often associated with rival processors.

TapeFi releases STOP, a FREE vinyl stop simulator plugin for macOS & Windows
TapeFi has released STOP, a freeware tape/vinyl stop simulator plugin for Windows and macOS. If you checked out TapeFi’s first plugin FAIL, you’ll know their approach to the lo-fi aesthetic. Fail emulated broken cassette tapes to the point of sounding borderline mangled, but in a good way (if you wanted that kind of warbly, degraded [...]
View post: TapeFi releases STOP, a FREE vinyl stop simulator plugin for macOS & Windows

Teletone Audio releases Silver Spring ($79) vintage-inspired spring reverb plugin
Teletone Audio has released Silver Spring ($79), a spring reverb plugin that captures the sound and behavior of 17 analog spring reverb units, available now for macOS and Windows in VST3, AU, and AAX formats. While spring reverb is often associated with guitar amps and surf rock or dub music, I typically use it for [...]
View post: Teletone Audio releases Silver Spring ($79) vintage-inspired spring reverb plugin

No DJ experience? No Problem: Your Shot, the ‘no experience required’ DJing competition lands in the US this fallThink you need years of practice, expensive gear, or insider connections to become a DJ? Well, think again. Your Shot, the DJ competition first launched in Australia 15 years ago, is heading to the US, giving complete beginners the chance to spin, learn, and perform on a global stage.

READ MORE: “The John is really summiting!”: Watch the first woman ever to DJ while paragliding

Launching this September in Los Angeles and New York City, Your Shot aims to remove the traditional barriers of entry to DJ culture. Since 2010, the program has trained more than 12,500 participants in Australia and New Zealand, and now it’s bringing its beginner-friendly formula stateside.
“Your Shot is about giving people a platform to challenge themselves, learn the basics, build a community outside their bedrooms, and take their passion for DJing and dance music to the next level,” says Your Shot founder and CEO Steve Pillemer. “That’s what young Americans are asking for today, just like young Australians, and it’s so exciting to finally be able to answer the call.”
Participants don’t need any prior experience nor expensive gear or industry connections. Selected entrants will receive six weeks of expert DJ training, culminating in a showcase judged by industry professionals. Winners earn a coveted DJ slot “at one of the world’s top music festivals”, following in the footsteps of alumni who’ve performed at San Diego’s CRSSD, Croatia’s Hideout, Costa Rica’s BPM, and more.
The program also boasts an impressive alumni roster, including SIPPY, Tigerlily, and Go Freek. According to Your Shot, 62% of past participants now perform regular gigs. For the US launch, the initiative comes with advisory support from LP Giobbi, the trailblazing DJ and founder of FEMME HOUSE.
Registration for the inaugural US program is now open. In-person selections take place at Los Angeles’ Catch One on 13 September and New York’s Elsewhere on 20 September, with each city selecting 200 participants.
For aspiring DJs looking for their first big break, this is it: no experience required, full training provided, and a chance to take your music from your bedroom to the festival stage.
Learn more about the program at Your Shot.
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