Justin Sun vs. SEC, Do Kwon arrested, 180M player game taps Polygon: Asia ExpressChinese crypto billionaire Justin Sun sued by SEC, Do Kwon busted in Casino Royale location, game with 180 million players embraces Polygon.

38 million tracks on music streaming service were played ZERO times in 2022. (Or: why Spotify should take a leaf out of Elon Musk’s book.)Should Spotify, in a quest to improve its margin, start playing hardball with its least successful artists?
Source

Daily Crunch: In SEC filing, Accenture reveals plans to dismiss 19,000 workers over the next 18 monthsTo get a roundup of TechCrunch’s biggest and most important stories delivered to your inbox every day at 3 p.m. PDT, subscribe here.
Hello, and welcome to your Thursday — aka, the day the TikTok CEO went in front of Congress. Our team has been working hard all day to keep up with everything going on there, and you can read the fruits of their labor in the Big Tech section. Now, on with the news! — Christine and Haje
The TechCrunch Top 3

More layoffs: The layoffs affecting the technology industry are now making their way to the companies that service them. Accenture announced today that it will cut 19,000 jobs, Manish reports. That represents about 2.5% of its global workforce, but an eye-opening figure nonetheless.
Do Kwon in custody: It looks like law enforcement caught up with Terra creator Do Kwon, who was reportedly arrested at the Montenegro airport, Jacquelyn writes. You might recall that Kwon has been under investigation in South Korea following the Terra/LUNA collapse, which wiped out about $40 billion from the cryptocurrency market. Despite saying he was cooperating with law enforcement, Kwon’s whereabouts have been unknown since September.
An excuse not to go to the mall: DoorDash users can now order from Lush Cosmetics, Victoria’s Secret and Party City. The delivery giant also added some new shopping features, like search optimization. Aisha has more.

Startups and VC
At first glance, Boston Dynamics is a strange fit for a show like ProMat, Brian writes. For decades, the firm has presented a flashy image to the world — a company well known for robotic highlight reels, from the snow-traversing Big Dog to parkour-performing Atlas. But a recent approach has found it facing one of its biggest challenges to date: putting its robots to work in the form of commercialization.
Lun, a climate tech startup out of Denmark, is on a mission to help heat-pump installers decarbonize homes and fast, Natasha L reports, starting with heating systems and swapping out boilers for electric heat pumps.
Robots, heat pumps and five more tech news stories, oh my:

F you, pay me: Mary Ann reports that a former Stripe engineer raises $4 million for Beam, a fintech startup out to help contractors get paid faster.
Moar dollars for moar skillz: Workera double downs on AI for upskilling with a $24 million infusion, Kyle reports.
Stop, collaborate and list-in: Hex lands another $28 million as the data collaboration platform continues to gain traction, Ron reports.
Storefronts, get yer storefronts: Vue snaps up $20 million to grow its open source–based ‘frontend-as-a-service’ e-commerce toolkit and platform, Ingrid reports.
Nah, we good: Indian edtech giant Byju’s says it’s not acquiring Unacademy, reports Manish.

4 Indian investors explain how their investment strategy has changed since 2021
Image Credits: mtreasure (opens in a new window) / Getty Images
For our latest survey, TechCrunch reporter Jagmeet Singh asked four Indian investors about how their work has changed since the global tech downturn began.
Venture capital funding in the region “dried up in the second half of 2022,” so he inquired about their current pace of dealmaking, which investment trends they’re watching and how founders can reach them:

GV Ravishankar, managing director, Sequoia India
Ashutosh Sharma, head of India investments, Prosus Ventures
Vaibhav Domkundwar, CEO and founder, Better Capital
Roopan Aulakh, managing director, Pi Ventures

4 Indian investors explain how their investment strategy has changed since 2021

Aaaand of course there’s three more from the TC+ team today as well:

Time’s a-ticking: As TikTok and Coinbase face regulators, some questions are simpler than others, writes Alex.
How to spot investment-worthy founders: Look for mindset, competence and confidence, writes Sanjay Reddy.
A de-risking hardware trilogy: Haje recently covered Prelaunch’s $1.5 million round and spoke to the company’s founder about 10 tips to de-risk hardware. The final article in the trilogy is the company’s Pitch Deck Teardown, covering Prelaunch.com’s $1.5 million seed deck.

TechCrunch+ is our membership program that helps founders and startup teams get ahead of the pack. You can sign up here. Use code “DC” for a 15% discount on an annual subscription!
Big Tech Inc.
The big news for today was obviously TikTok, and our colleagues were plugging away at everything from the Congressional hearing to who benefits if a U.S. ban happens. Find out any new developments here.

TikTok ban will benefit Meta, Google and Snap the most: Bernstein, by Ivan.
TikTok’s hearing in Congress is a reminder of Chinese startups’ identity crisis, by Rita.
TikTok commits to deleting US user data from its servers ‘this year,’ by Sarah.
China reminds US that it can and will kill a forced TikTok sale, by Taylor and Rita.
TikTok called out for misusing Citizen Lab research, by Amanda.
TikTok questioned on ineffective teen time limits, by Sarah.

And now here’s six non-TikTok stories for you:

If Reddit and Stack Overflow had a baby…: It would be Daily.dev, according to Paul.
Unplugged: YouTube is shutting down Indian social commerce app Simsim but says it is still committed to building “a seamless shopping experience for viewers and supporting creators’ businesses,” Manish writes.
Like riding a bike: Smoov and Zoov came together a couple of years ago and formed Fifteen, which is now showing off its latest shared, docked bikes. Romain has more.
Brian walks into a supply chain show: And ends up having the best time. He chronicles his three days at ProMat and says he “may end up becoming a regular on the supply chain and logistics circuit as a result.”
Coming to a theater near you…: Could be your favorite Apple TV+ movies. Apple is reportedly planning to shell out $1 billion a year to release its movies in theaters, Lauren reports.
Looking for “the perfect vehicle for chaos?”: Then look no further than the 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUV. Roberto writes, “It’s too big and not very efficient, but it shines when tackling unexpected obstacles.”

Daily Crunch: In SEC filing, Accenture reveals plans to dismiss 19,000 workers over the next 18 months by Christine Hall originally published on TechCrunch

Patchmaker LO-FI Hip Hop & Trap - Serum & RC-20 Patchmaker is very proud to present this incredible collection of Serum & RC-20 patches suitable for LO-FI Hip Hop & Trap production. Producers searching for the sounds... Read More

‘Yes, AI is the future of music – but not in the way you’d think.’The following op-ed comes from Oleg Stavitsky, CEO of AI-powered sound app Endel
Source

Patchmaker 500 Presets - Arturia Pigments After two decades of successfully producing software synths based on classic hardware products, Arturia released its first unique synth – Arturia Pigments. With a sonic palette... Read More

A2IM announces 2023 Libera indie awards nomineesThe American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) has announced the 2023 Libera Awards nominees. The ceremony will be held on June 15 at the Town Hall in New York City.  2023 Libera Awards. Continue reading
The post A2IM announces 2023 Libera indie awards nominees appeared first on Hypebot.

Sonniss Offers 44 GB Of FREE Sound Effects
Sonniss released the GDC 2023 – Game Audio Bundle, a free collection of royalty-free sound effects. Sound effects are the lifeblood of an electronic producer, and you can snag a massive 44+ gigabytes of sound effect samples thanks to Sonniss for free. These aren’t your typical drum or melodic samples but rather field recordings, designed [...]
View post: Sonniss Offers 44 GB Of FREE Sound Effects

TK Audio unveil SP502 preamp This 500-series preamp from TK Audio aims to deliver both vintage and modern tones by allowing users to switch between two separate output circuits. 

5 tips for promoting music events for 2023Everyone is still adjusting to a post-pandemic world, and the music industry finds ways to adapt each year. Here are some tips for concert promoters in our current state this. Continue reading
The post 5 tips for promoting music events for 2023 appeared first on Hypebot.

AIR release Vocal Effects Collection The latest plug-in bundle from AIR focuses on vocal processing, offering pitch-correction and distortion effects along with tools that allow users to generate harmonies and unison parts from a single vocal track.

Telegram launches payments in USDT using the TRON network along with BTC and Toncoin.
#Telegram #crypto #Blockchain

Mastering 7sus4 Chords like Bill Evans – “I Do It For Your Love” Intro – Jazz Piano TranscriptionOne of the most iconic piano intros in the history of jazz is Bill Evans’ intro in “I Do It For Your Love” from his album Affinity. The chords he plays in this intro are so unique and captivating that they leave listeners wondering where they came from and how to create something similar. In this video, we will dive deep into the concept of 7sus4 chords, specifically as Bill Evans used them in this intro, and learn how to create voicings like his.

Before we begin, let’s briefly discuss what a 7sus4 chord is. A 7sus4 chord is a dominant 7th chord with the third replaced by the fourth. For example, a D7sus4 chord would consist of the notes D, G, A, and C. The chord symbol can be written as D7sus4 or D7sus.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the chords Bill Evans played in his intro. The chord progression is a simple D7sus4, to Eb7sus4, to E7sus4.

To play the first chord, a run-of-the-mill D7sus4 voicing can be used.

However, to achieve the unique sound of Bill Evans’ voicing, the chord needs to be extended as much as possible.

To extend the chord, we stack thirds starting on the top note of the basic D7sus4 voicing. This gives us the notes D, G, A, C, E, G, B, D, and F#. The next note, A, is already in the voicing, so we don’t need to add it again. Notice that the third (F#) appears above the fourth (G) as a tension, rather than below it as in an add11 chord.

On his right hand, Bill Evans plays a Bm triad. He also drops the ninth (E) down an octave, making it a second.

To make this voicing easier to remember, it can be thought of as two upper structures: an add9 on the bVII and a minor triad on the 13th (or the 6th). Using this perspective, a D7sus4 can be voiced as Bm over Cadd9 over D. To achieve the final voicing, two Cadd9 chords can be stacked, with the highest and lowest notes removed. The resulting voicing is a D7sus4 with the 9, the 13th, and tension 3.

To play Bill Evans’ intro in “I Do It For Your Love,” simply start on a D7sus4 and move it up chromatically, creating the following sequence: D7sus4, Eb7sus4, E7sus4. The voicings for the latter two chords can be created using the same principles we used for the D7sus4.

By understanding and mastering 7sus4 chords like Bill Evans, you can add a unique and captivating sound to your playing. Practice these voicings and experiment with them in different chord progressions to fully understand their sound and potential.

If you are interested in more music resources like this, visit the mDecks Theory Journal on mDecks.com and gain access to their expanding library of music books, apps, piano arrangements, improvisation tips, and songwriting strategies.

Epic launches Unreal Editor for Fortnite, will give 40% of all revenue to creatorsEpic Games announced a new system for paying creators on Fortnite, the ultra-popular, free-to-download battle royale game.
Announced on Wednesday at the Game Developers Conference, Epic will now share 40% of Fortnite revenue with anyone who design “islands” in the game. This includes money that Epic earns from the purchase of V-Bucks (in-game currency), real money spent in Fortnite on items like starter packs, quest packs and cosmetics, and Fortnite Crew subscriptions.
On their personal island, creators can develop their own unique in-game experiences with custom rulesets and designs. A creator’s payout is determined by how popular the island is, and how many users keep returning to the island.
According to Epic’s wording, companies can also earn payouts in this program, which means that, like with Roblox, professional game developers can also publish their own content on Fortnite and get paid. However, the language makes it unclear whether Epic itself is eligible to earn back a portion of the allotted 40 percent, which would make the actual sum going to third-party creators far smaller.
Already, about half of play time in Fortnite takes place in user-created content, but these third-party maps are about to get a massive upgrade. Epic announced today that Fortnite is getting an Unreal Engine editor, which is now available in public beta. At least from the demo videos, this looks like it’ll be a game-changer (literally):

Get ready to create.
Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) available now in Public Beta on PC. Download: https://t.co/64xBgpsT6X pic.twitter.com/rIA4TSgw1a
— Unreal Engine GDC (@UnrealEngine) March 22, 2023

With the new editor, it only makes sense that Epic would switch up its creator system. Fortnite’s existing creator program offered relatively paltry incentives for would-be amateur game designers. Creators had a personal code, and if fans entered their code when buying an item in the Fortnite shop, they would get 5% of the revenue. To join the new program, which Epic is calling “Creator Economy 2.0,” users can sign up on Fortnite’s new creator portal. Any creator who joins before April 21 will be paid retroactively for any island engagement from March 1 onward. To be eligible for payment, users must be 18 or older and have an account that’s at least 90 days old.
The 40% figure is an interesting choice. For years at this point, Epic has been embroiled in a lawsuit with Apple, alleging that the iOS App Store maker is anti-competitive, since it takes 30% of all in-app purchases. Epic originally sued Apple in 2020, when the company removed Fortnite from the App Store; Epic had implemented a new payment mechanism that allowed it to bypass Apple’s in-app purchase framework.
The initial verdict on the case was mixed, prompting both companies to appeal. A judge ruled that Apple was not a monopoly, but that the company couldn’t prevent apps from routing customers to a different payment processor to get around the 30% cut. Epic appealed, pressing for Apple to support third-party payments. Apple also appealed, seeking to close up these workarounds and keep payments flowing through its own channels.
Comparing Apple’s app marketplace to Epic’s in-game creator earnings isn’t exactly straightforward, given the nuances of the new Fortnite payments model. Epic argues that app developers have no choice but to host their apps on Google and Apple stores, but Fortnite is just one ecosystem of many in which developers can earn an income stream. Depending on how the details shake out — and what light they cast the company in — we may see bits of Epic’s new creator payments program bubble up in the ongoing appeals process between the two companies.

Why should you care about Unreal Engine 5?

Epic launches Unreal Editor for Fortnite, will give 40% of all revenue to creators by Amanda Silberling originally published on TechCrunch

Rare Focusrite Console Installed in PhoenixOne of only a handful of historic Focusrite audio consoles has been brought back to life and installed in The Focusrite Room, a unique 1500-square-foot control room, part of a 6,000-square-foot recording complex in the Phoenix area. The Focusrite Studio Console, one of only 10 ever built (specifically, unit #5) and one of only four known to still exist, was installed in the facility late last year and has just finished its commissioning phase. The console was originally located at BOP Studios in South Africa, itself a pioneering world-music venture. Now, one of the world’s few remaining Focusrite Studio Consoles is back in operation, ready to make music – and history – again.   

[Explore The Focusrite Room in 3D here.]  

“Bringing Number Five back was a life-changing event,” says The Focusrite Room and Platinum Underground studio owner and longtime Focusrite aficionado John Aquilino, referring to the nickname the desk has acquired. “When I was a teenager, instead of a poster of Farrah Fawcett on my wall, I had a picture of a Focusrite Studio Console, so you could say I’m a pretty big fan of the brand and its technology. Now, this console is ready for the next chapter in its life.”  

BOP Studios began with the best of intentions: to be a world-class music-production facility in one of the world’s most remote yet creatively fertile locations. South Africa was thrust upon the global music stage with the release of Paul Simon’s Graceland album in 1986, which opened the world’s ears to the music and musicians of that part of the world, with some of that LP (which won the GRAMMY® Award for Album of the Year in 1987) recorded at Ovation Studios in Johannesburg, South Africa, by Simon and engineer/producer Roy Halee. Despite the country being under the oppressive thumb of Apartheid at the time, BOP Studios, financed by a combination of private investment and state and local pension funds, opened in 1991, intended as a destination where African and Western artists and musicians could intersect and collaborate, with state-of-the-art technology, acoustical design (the studio’s architect was the legendary late Tom Hidley) and resort-level accommodations. The Focusrite Studio Console was a centerpiece in BOP’s flagship Studio 1, where it operated alongside consoles from Neve (Studio 2) and SSL (Studio 3) – all three were the largest of their kind ever installed at the time.  

BOP Studios briefly achieved some of its aspirations. Visiting artists included Laura Branigan, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Miriam Makeba, and the Soweto String Quartet; Disney’s The Lion King soundtrack was also recorded and produced at the studio. But political and economic complications posed significant challenges to keeping the facility viable, and it has been closed for much of the last 20-plus years. However, the Focusrite Studio Console was remarkably intact when Aquilino discovered it. He organized a team including his partner in the studio, Ken Hirsch of Orphan Audio, as well as guidance from Phil Dudderidge, Chairman of Focusrite Audio Engineering, who had acquired Focusrite from founder Rupert Neve in 1989. The team went to BOP Studios in September 2019, where they purchased and disassembled the console over the course of ten days, then shipped it back to Platinum Underground, where Aquilino had already designed (with Hanson Hsu of Delta H Design) a new studio room to be built around it. (Platinum Underground, which opened in 2016, was designed by the late Vincent Van Haaff and is constructed 30 feet below ground; the new Focusrite Room is above and to the side of that.)   

Not surprisingly after all that time, the relocated console needed some refurbishing, which included a complete recapping and new switches, as well as the replacement of 4,600 LEDs. The restoration process was initially started by Joel Gette of Thermal Relief Design in Las Vegas, before the desk was moved to its new site in the Phoenix suburb of Mesa for its full and complete restoration and recommissioning by Ken Hirsch and his team at Orphan Audio. Once inside the studio, additional HVAC, with a custom plenum and silent-running fans, had to be installed to keep the console at a constant 72 to 74 degrees F. The console’s original two 7-foot-tall power racks have been replaced with just 3 feet of modern, high efficiency supplies designed by Hirsch. The ancient GML automation is replaced with the Tangerine Automation Interface for GML Automation from THD Labs, which integrates directly with the console faders on a fader-by-fader, bucket-by-bucket basis, with all of that control information sent over a USB bus to the computer. “The automation is now seamless and transparent between the hardware of the desk and the user’s DAW,” Aquilino explains. “Any user can come in to the studio, fire up a session, load up this plug-in and just go, and not have to worry about knowing some archaic, proprietary software.”  

The Focusrite Studio Console came back to life late last year and did a series of local productions with Aquilino, an accomplished engineer for artists including Metal Allegiance, Sacred Reich, and SoulFly, at the board. “I needed a great team to make this happen, like TRD, everyone at Ken’s shop, and of course, Phil,” he says. “But the result is the kind of console that made classic recordings. You cannot duplicate this in today’s business — the console’s cabling is silver wire….. kilometers of it! There is nothing like it anywhere. And now, it's an amazing console in an amazing space.”  

As remarkable as the resuscitated Focusrite Studio Console is, that’s far from the only Focusrite technology in the facility. Aquilino says that the studio is in the process of implementing Dante® connectivity between both the new Focusrite Room and The Platinum Underground‘s existing SSL control room, large tracking room, and isolation booths, complemented by RedNet A16R and HD32R interfaces throughout both studios. “This will allow us to smoothly move projects between spaces, as well as increase flexibility of session management,” he explains, adding that having both vintage and contemporary Focusrite gear in the same facility is the best of both worlds. The studio also has 12 Focusrite ISA 215 dual rack mount mic pre-EQs, for a total of 24 channels of original ISA 110s (each 215 contains two of the original ISA 110 mic pre /EQ circuits in each box). Finally, Aquilino says he’s chosen the S5H speaker from ADAM Audio – part of the Focusrite family – for the mains in The Focusrite Room. “They are absolutely amazing speakers. Just stunning sounding,” he says. “They are the perfect complement to #5. Incredible depth, amazing detail, and the imaging is spectacular.”  

The Focusrite Studio Console had a deep impact on many people’s lives and careers and is much loved by the engineers, producers, and musicians who have experienced it up close. Using Rupert Neve's original design of the ISA 110 EQ processor as inspiration, the Focusrite Studio Console is thought of as the pinnacle of British audio-console innovation. A documentary about it can be seen here.