Sender Spike releases SN Zero, a FREE hybrid synthesizer plugin for Windows
Developer Sender Spike has released SN Zero, a free FM/vector hybrid synthesizer plugin for Windows. SN Zero is a four-operator FM synthesizer that blends classic FM synthesis with vector-style crossfading. The resulting combo is a hybrid instrument that feels familiar (if you’ve used FM synths before) but ever so slightly off the beaten path thanks [...]
View post: Sender Spike releases SN Zero, a FREE hybrid synthesizer plugin for Windows

“The best sound in gaming just got better”: Audeze’s SLAM-equipped Maxwell 2 headset is set to supercharge your gaming sessionsAudeze has launched the Maxwell 2, the next evolution of its popular wireless gaming headset, featuring better audio quality, improved comfort, and a host of exciting new features.
Designed to refine what already worked, Audeze says every aspect of Maxwell 2 has been engineered to deliver “unmatched audio fidelity, exceptional comfort, and seamless connectivity” across just about every platform you can throw at it.

READ MORE: Fender forays into consumer audio with two Bluetooth speakers and a set of wireless over-ear headphones

One of the headline upgrades is the inclusion of Audeze’s patent-pending SLAM technology, which is said to deliver “heightened spatial immersion and precision along with punchier bass response”.
First introduced in Audeze’s 2024 flagship CRBN2 electrostatic headphones, SLAM works alongside the brand’s massive 90mm planar magnetic drivers that incorporate Audeze’s patented Fluxor magnets and Fazor waveguides. The result is an “expansive 10 Hz to 50 kHz frequency range” that captures everything from the faintest footsteps to the most earth-shattering explosions with near-zero distortion.
Voice comms also get a notable upgrade. Maxwell 2 features an upgraded AI-powered noise-cancelling microphone system, powered by Audeze’s FILTER AI noise removal technology. With twice the bandwidth of the original Maxwell, the removable hypercardioid boom mic keeps voices sounding clear and natural while effectively cutting out background noise so you can always sound your best on chat and on stream. Onboard hardware controls, meanwhile, make adjusting volume levels quick and intuitive.
Credit: Audeze
Comfort is another major focus this time round. Built for long gaming sessions, Maxwell 2 features a wider, softer suspension strap with added ventilation holes to reduce heat buildup. A redesigned closed-back earpad offers more internal space for a better over-ear fit, while a new magnetic attachment system makes swapping pads quick and fuss-free.
Connectivity wise, Maxwell 2 ships with an ultra-low-latency USB-C wireless dongle for lag-free, high-resolution audio, while Bluetooth 5.3 includes LE Audio and LDAC support for mobile listening and everyday use.
Powering it all is a high-capacity lithium-polymer battery that boasts over 80 hours of wireless playback at 80dBA, with fast charging delivering up to 24 hours of use from just 20 minutes on charge.
Launching alongside Maxwell 2 is an all-new Audeze app that lets you easily customise the headset. The app also supports the original Maxwell and is available for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
The Audeze Maxwell 2 for PlayStation will retail for $329, while the Xbox version comes in at $349. Both models also support Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Nintendo Switch, and are available now via Audeze and select retailers.

Learn more at Audeze.
The post “The best sound in gaming just got better”: Audeze’s SLAM-equipped Maxwell 2 headset is set to supercharge your gaming sessions appeared first on MusicTech.

Universal Music Group and NVIDIA’s new partnership aims to be a “direct antidote to generic AI slop”Universal Music Group (UMG) has announced a collaboration with chipmaker giant NVIDIA to pioneer “responsible AI” for music discovery, creation, and fan engagement.
The partnership, which leverages NVIDIA’s Music Flamingo model and UMG’s catalogue of millions of recordings, seeks to “enrich and enhance the music experience of the billions of music consumers worldwide”.
The companies plan to develop AI tools that take music discovery, engagement, and consumption beyond traditional search and personalisation. They will also explore ways to use AI to protect artists’ work and ensure proper attribution of music-based content.

READ MORE: “There’ll be some swings and misses across the industry”: Universal Audio CEO is bullish on his firm’s new LUNA AI features – but says AI in music is broadly “overhyped”

One key focus of the partnership is a new artist incubator, designed to put musicians, songwriters, and producers at the heart of AI music creation. UMG and NVIDIA say the incubator will co-develop tools that empower artists rather than replace them, and calls this a “direct antidote to generic, ‘AI slop’ outputs”.
On the discovery front, the partnership will expand NVIDIA’s Music Flamingo model to transform how fans find and engage with music. Unlike typical algorithms that rely on basic metadata or genre tags, Music Flamingo can analyse full-length tracks, capturing harmony, structure, timbre, lyrics, and even cultural context.
The model uses advanced reasoning to interpret chord progressions, emotional arcs, and other subtle musical details, helping listeners explore music in a more meaningful and personal way.
The collab will also employ both companies’ research capabilities, including the use of UMG’s world-class studio operations such as Abbey Road Studios in London and Capitol Studios in Los Angeles. In addition, UMG will use NVIDIA AI infrastructure in the development of responsibly trained AI-driven business and creative processes.
UMG CEO Sir Lucian Grainge has previously warned against low-quality, mass-produced AI music flooding streaming platforms, calling it “platform pollution”. The new partnership aims to “set new standards for innovation within the industry, while protecting and respecting copyright and human creativity.”
“We’re entering an era where a music catalogue can be explored like an intelligent universe – conversational, contextual, and genuinely interactive”, says NVIDIA’s VP/GM of Media Richard Kerris. “By extending NVIDIA’s Music Flamingo with UMG’s unmatched catalogue and creative ecosystem, we’re going to change how fans discover, understand, and engage with music on a global scale. And we’ll do it the right way: responsibly, with safeguards that protect artists’ work, ensure attribution, and respect copyright.”
The deal follows a series of AI-focused partnerships from Universal, including collaborations with Splice and Udio.
The post Universal Music Group and NVIDIA’s new partnership aims to be a “direct antidote to generic AI slop” appeared first on MusicTech.

AlphaTheta’s flagship CDJ-3000X DJ player is now compatible with Apple MusicApple Music has launched an update enabling integration with AlphaTheta’s CDJ-3000X, following the massive launch of the flagship DJ player last year.
The update – which also follows an initiative from Apple Music last year which enabled integration with a range of DJ units from and software from AlphaTheta, Serato, RANE DJ, Denon DJ and more – gives CDJ-3000X users who are also subscribed to Apple Music access to over 100 million songs on the platform.

READ MORE: FiiO’s Snowsky Disc is a no-nonsense retro touch-screen music player

Once users are set up on CloudDirectPlay – which allows wireless streaming to access your music library – and logged into Apple Music on rekordbox, they simply need to authenticate by holding their smartphone – also logged into Apple Music – over the NFC tough area on the front panel of the CDJ-3000X.
The launch expands Apple’s DJ with Apple Music ecosystem, now featuring a new dedicated page with curated playlists, platform guides, and tools to help users get the most out of the CDJ-3000X integration.
Additionally, DJs can find exclusive mixes and playlists curated by AlphaTheta on the AlphaTheta DJ Mix Curator Page.
“AlphaTheta has long been at the forefront of music technology, pushing the boundaries of creativity in the space for over 30 years,” says Stephen Campbell, Global Head of Dance, Electronic & DJ Mixes at Apple Music.
“We’re excited to have Apple Music integrated into the new CDJ-3000X, bringing the power of 100 million songs and our editorial curation to users around the world.”
AlphaTheta CDJ-3000X. Image: Press
Launched in September last year, the AlphaTheta CDJ-3000X built on the heritage of the CDJ series, adding – as well as improved speed, precision and responsiveness – a 10.1” touch screen and other upgrades to hardware, built-in WiFi and streaming capabilities.
We were lucky enough to get our hands on the unit for our review, where we gave it a strong 8/10, commending it for its stunning build quality, faster browsing and tagging and sharper screen, while pointing out its high price tag and lack of stems functionality.
You can learn more about the CDJ-3000X over at AlphaTheta.
The post AlphaTheta’s flagship CDJ-3000X DJ player is now compatible with Apple Music appeared first on MusicTech.

DAD reveal Junior controller The Junior features a set of customisable tactile controls that provide seamless, real-time operation of pre-configured Control | Pack settings, and promises to make the interfaces more flexible and easier to use than ever before.

Yes, LinkedIn banned AI agent startup Artisan, but now it’s backSeveral viral posts noticed that Artisan was banned. But the CEO tells us it wasn't for the reasons many thought.

Solana's stablecoin market cap surges by $900M in 24 hoursStablecoins are emerging as critical infrastructure across both decentralized and traditional financial applications worldwide.

MusiCares Continues Fire Relief Efforts with Over $15 Million in FundingMusiCares released a statement on Wednesday to announce that it had directed over $15 million towards fire relief, a year after the devastating Los Angeles wildfires.

This includes, according to a press release, "$7 million deployed in the immediate aftermath of the fires to address urgent needs, along with substantial ongoing recovery support that continues today. In total, over 3,200 music professionals have been reached through direct financial assistance, health and wellness services, and long-term recovery throughout the region."

"Those funds have supported over 3,200 music professionals through direct financial assistance, health and wellness services, case management, equipment replacement, and long-term recovery support over the past year, as well as grants to trusted community partners including California Community Foundation, Direct Relief, and Pasadena Community Foundation to aid broader neighborhood recovery," a MusiCares representative told Music Connection. "Our new website outlining additional relief details pertaining to the fires can be found here: https://musicareslafirerelief.org/."

“The funding has already been put to work, what continues is the recovery,” Theresa Wolters, Executive Director of MusiCares, told MC. “For many music professionals, especially gig workers, the impact of a disaster doesn’t resolve in the first weeks or months. People are still rebuilding homes, replacing instruments, managing health issues from smoke exposure, and trying to stabilize their livelihoods. Our role is to stay with them for as long as it takes.”

“The music community shows up for one another in extraordinary ways,” said Wolters, via the press release. “Even a year later, we want people to know they are not alone and it is not too late to ask for help. Recovery looks different for everyone, and our role is to meet music professionals wherever they are in that journey.”The post MusiCares Continues Fire Relief Efforts with Over $15 Million in Funding first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

A1 Studio Productions Studio One Pro Next Level PresetsOver 60 custom Studio One Pro VST presets ready to track and mix with. A free production pack of A1 Studio's take on tools from your included content for beginners and advanced users, sure to include something for everyone. Including the A1 session template, track presets and .soundx files for three Impact XT velocity drum kits. Six Ampire XT amp sims along with bass, organs, Rhoads and patches for Presence XT, Mai Tai and Mojito. Multi instruments + FX chains with Open Air, Room Reverb & Fat Channel presets, all to help take your routing, tracking, instruments and mixing to the next level. Versions 6 and onward. Read More

Graphing Calculator Gets USB-C UpgradeUnlike Texas Instruments, whose graphing calculators have famously not made technological improvements in decades despite keeping the same price tag, HP has made a few more modern graphing calculators in the last few years. One of which is the HP Prime which boasts hardware from the mid-2010s including an ARM processor, a color screen, and rechargeable lithium battery. But despite this updated hardware it’s still using micro-USB for data and charging. [David] wanted to fix that by giving this calculator a USB-C port.
The first steps were disassembling the calculator case and removing the micro-USB port. The PCB is glued to the LCD screen which isn’t ideal, but he was able to work on it with everything attached. The parts are small enough to need a microscope, and with a hot air station he was quickly able to remove the USB port. His replacements from a generic online retailer were able to be soldered without much effort, but there was one major complication. The new USB-C ports didn’t account for the “On The Go” mode supported by micro-USB and were shorting a pin to ground which put the calculator into “host” mode instead of acting as a device. But using the microscope and cutting a trace on the PCB disabled this mode permanently and got the calculator working properly.
As far as modernizing calculators go, it seems like the HP Prime checks a lot of boxes, with the major downside that the LCD screen and more powerful processor means that the battery needs to be charged more often than the old TI calculators. Rather than carry a dongle around everywhere, [David] found this to be a much more efficient change to his trusty HP. If you’re still stuck using TI calculators, though, there are a few ways to modernize those as well like this build which adds a lithium battery or this one which ports a few Game Boy games to the platform.

UK music streaming subscription revenues grew by 3.2% YoY in 2025. So did inflation.Slowdown is particularly notable given that the UK subscription market benefited from yet another Spotify price increase in 2025, albeit towards the end of the year
Source

DAWJunkie releases Craze, a FREE crunchy phaser effect
Developer DAWJunkie has released Craze, a free crunchy phaser effect for macOS and Windows. The start of a new year is often when we hope and plan for change. But when it comes to DAWJunkie, I just want more of the same, and, as expected, the increasingly popular developer has delivered. DAWJunkie’s latest release is [...]
View post: DAWJunkie releases Craze, a FREE crunchy phaser effect

What is cloud rap? Exploring its history, sound, and influential artists
Learn about what cloud rap is and dive into its unique region-less origins, defining sounds, and influential artists.

2.5 million turn out for Guinness World Record-breaking New Year’s event on Copacabana beachNo matter where you were or what you did on New Year’s Eve, none of us were partying quite like those on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro.
The massive Copacabana Réveillon event broke a Guinness World Record and is now certified as the largest New Year’s Eve celebration on the planet. It hosted 13 stages with 1,200 drones, and 19 barges used for a 12-minute-long fireworks display. It saw an estimated 2.5 million people attend.

READ MORE: It’s official – raving is the UK’s favourite way to celebrate New Year’s Eve

Alongside a roster of performers including Brazilian artists like Gilberto Gil and Rio-born pop and R&B singer Iza [as per DJ Mag], Alok also put on an hour-long set, who has shared some incredible snaps on his Instagram page, showcasing the vast scale of the event.
News outlet Agência Brasil reports that a total of 5.1 million people celebrated the arrival of 2026 when taking into account celebrations at other venues organised by the municipality. Take a look at the event’s highlights via Alok’s Instagram page below:

View this post on Instagram

Alok spoke to MusicTech for a cover interview back in 2022, in which he discussed Brazil’s electronic music scene. Alok became an international artist just as the Brazilian dance scene exploded, which occurred in the wake of an economic crash.
“Historically, Brazil’s scene has always been inspired and influenced by international talent,” he said. “But after this financial crash, promoters couldn’t afford to take chances or book these kinds of artists. As we couldn’t bring them to Brazil, we ended up creating our own scene and sounds. It’s been crazy how fast it’s happened.
“It’s interesting now that when international artists come to Brazil, they need to adapt their sound to succeed in our scene,” he explained with pride. “We have a lot of artists we can be thrilled for and it’s an undeniably exciting time. The majority of music loved here is by local producers.”
Find out more about Alok and view his full list of scheduled tour dates via his official website.
The post 2.5 million turn out for Guinness World Record-breaking New Year’s event on Copacabana beach appeared first on MusicTech.

Vintage King now lets audio professionals try out pro gear in their personal studios before buyingProfessional audio gear is expensive, and as an audio professional or studio owner, you want to be confident in how said gear fits into your workflow before committing to a purchase.
Now, thanks to a new Try Before You Buy program from pro audio retailer Vintage King Audio, audio pros can trial pro-grade equipment in their studios before parting with their cash.

READ MORE: Ireland has given artists a guaranteed income – is this how we fix a broken music industry?

With large purchases like professional audio gear, producers and engineers want to be confident they’re making the right one. 
The move is part of an effort by Vintage King to invest in a “more precise, scalable demo and consultation program” which serves customers across the US, by providing access to this gear in personal studios, commercial facilities and other creative spaces.
The introduction of the new Try Before You Buy Program also spells the immediate closure of Vintage King’s two physical showrooms in Los Angeles and Nashville.
“For years, our showrooms have been incredible places to connect, listen and learn,” says Chris Bolitho, Sales Director at Vintage King.
“But the way people choose gear has changed. More customers want to hear equipment in their room, with their workflow, on their schedule. This program allows us to meet them exactly where they are.”
How does Vintage King’s Try Before You Buy program actually work?
The Try Before You Buy program consists of four flexible ways to experience professional audio equipment before making a purchase:

Hands-on demos – customers can try out select gear in their own studios before committing to a purchase, allowing them to see how it integrates into their workflow.
Virtual gear demos – customers can jump on a virtual call with a Vintage King rep who will walk through features, sound and setup tips.
Console walkthroughs – get a personalised, interactive overview of consoles and control surfaces from Vintage King and its manufacturing partners.
In-person consultations – in select cities including LA, Nashville, Detroit and Atlanta, Vintage King consultants will visit studios to assess setups and offer “world-class sonic guidance”.

Vintage King also explains how the closure of its LA and Nashville showrooms means more events, popups, and generally a “more consistent customer experience nationwide”.
“Our goal isn’t fewer demos, it’s better demos,” adds Bolitho. “This model allows us to support more customers more thoughtfully, without geographically limiting who gets access to hands-on experience.”
You can learn more about the Try Before You Buy program at Vintage King.
The post Vintage King now lets audio professionals try out pro gear in their personal studios before buying appeared first on MusicTech.