TikTok goes offline for 170m+ US users, as divest-or-ban law takes effectGoogle and Apple have also removed TikTok from their app stores to comply with the law.
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Vicious Antelope Intuitions - Vital PresetsIntuitions - Vital Presets Intuitions is a soundbank for the Vital synth, featuring 30 evolving, complex atmospheres with a rich cinematic and ambient character. Perfect for adding... Read More

Gainlab Audio unveil the Wizard Stereo Tube Saturator Gainlab's latest outboard processor has been designed to provide users with a versatile saturation device capable of adding some analogue warmth to individual tracks, buses or full mixes. 

Dexter U.S. Dexter U.S. Downshift frequency shift feedback delayA feedback delay with a downshift and a delay in the feedback loop with an extra pitch shift after the downshift had gone through the delay. I left the first two versions in the zip folder but... Read More

BTC’s ‘reasonable’ $180K target, NFTs plunge in 2024, and more: Hodler’s Digest Jan 12 – 18Bitcoin’s $180,000 price target remains on the table, says a trader, while 2024 marks the worst year for NFTs since 2020: Hodler’s Digest.

Perplexity AI submits bid to merge with TikTokWith a TikTok ban looming in the United States, Perplexity AI is the latest bidder hoping to give the video app a new corporate home. CNBC first reported on Perplexity’s interest. A source with knowledge of the offer confirmed to TechCrunch that Perplexity (whose CEO Aravind Srinivas is pictured above) has submitted a bid to […]
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Investigating USB-to-Ethernet Dongles With “Malware” ClaimsRecently a video surfaced from someone claiming that certain USB-to-Ethernet dongles contained ‘malware’ among other big claims. Basically these dongles were said to be designed by China (and Russia) to spy on users and so on, but how much of this is actually grounded in reality? When [lcamtuf] dove into the topic, what he found was not so much a smoking gun, but rather a curious relic from the era when drivers-on-CD were being phased out.
The item that the video went bananas about was namely an additional SPI Flash chip on the PCB alongside the USB 2.0 – Ethernet IC, with many conspiracy theories being floated as to what it would be used for. After some digging, [lcamtuf] found that the IC used in these dongles (SR9900) is by a company called CoreChips Shenzhen, with a strong suggestions that it is a clone of the (2013-era) Realtek RTL8152B.
Both chips have an external SPI Flash option, which is used with the USB side to present a ‘virtual CD drive’ to the user when the dongle is plugged in. This was borne out with the SR9900 Windows system mass production tool that [lcamtuf] obtained a copy of. Included with the flashing tool is a 168 kB ISO image (containing the SR9900 driver package) which happily fits on the 512 kB Flash chip.
Although it’s always possible for chips and firmware to contain backdoors and malware, in this particular case it would appear to be that it’s merely a cruel reminder that 2013 is now already vanishing into the realm of ‘retro computing’ as us old fogies cling to our driver installation floppies and CDs.

Putting Cheap Motorcycle Tachometers to WorkWith so much data being thrown at our eyeballs these days, it’s worryingly easy for the actually important stuff to slip by occasionally. So when [Liam Jackson] wanted a way to visualize the number of test failures popping up in the continuous integration system at work, he went with a novel but effective solution — universal motorcycle tachometers.
It turns out these little gauges can be had for under $10 a piece from the usual overseas retailers, and are very easy to drive with a microcontroller. As [Liam] explains, all you need to do other than providing them with 12 volts, is feed them a PWM signal. Even though the gauges are designed for a 12 V system, they apparently don’t have any problem responding to the 5 V logic level from the Arduino’s pins.
As for the frequency he says that 1,000 RPM corresponds to 16.66 Hz, so you can just multiply up from there to show whatever number you wish. That said, [Liam] warns that the gauges draw several hundred milliamps once the needle gets into the two digit range, so keep that in mind. Conveniently, those number happen to be in red anyway…
For his particular application, [Liam] put three of the gauges together to create a very handsome dashboard. If you want to recreate his setup exactly he’s made the STLs available for the gauge cluster housing. Note the small OLED at the center, this offers a way to show a bit more context than the three analog gauges alone can express, especially if you’ve got an application where you might be switching between multiple data sources.
Over the years we’ve seen several projects that repurposed analog gauges of various types, often for showing computer performance, but they generally involved having to drive the galvanometers directly. That these tachometers can simply be fed a simple digital signal should make implementing them into your project much easier.

Independent and DIY Musician News Last WeekLast week in independent and DIY musician news, readers tuned into topics including how to prepare for the TikTok ban, mastering the Spotify algorithm, and more…
The post Independent and DIY Musician News Last Week appeared first on Hypebot.

Music Business News Last Week: Nintendo Music Streaming, Rednote & MoreLast week was packed with headlines, and the music industry was no exception. Here’s a roundup of the top music business news you might have missed.
The post Music Business News Last Week: Nintendo Music Streaming, Rednote & More appeared first on Hypebot.

Moonwave FX’s Aperture Single Knob Filter is FREE at Pluginomat
Moonwave FX’s recently released Aperture single knob filter plugin (usually $24.95) is currently free at Pluginomat. The plugin is a macOS and Windows release for VST3 and AU. Moonwave FX describes Aperture as a selective filter that is a powerful tool for shaping and cutting frequencies. The developer suggests applications such as cutting through low-end [...]
View post: Moonwave FX’s Aperture Single Knob Filter is FREE at Pluginomat

Acustica release Rice reverb plug-in  Acustica's new reverb plug-in comes loaded with over 100 algorithms, and promises to tackle everything from subtly enhancing vocals or instruments to crafting expansive cinematic soundscapes. 

Musical Instrument Industry Unites to Support Victims of the Los Angeles WildfiresIn the wake of the devastating wildfires in Southern California, leading manufacturers from the musical instrument (MI) industry have joined forces to help support the recovery of music programs and musicians impacted by the fires. Gibsonthe iconic American-made instrument brand,and Guitar Centerthe world’s largest retailer of musical instruments, are bringing the music community together through their philanthropic divisions Gibson Gives and The Guitar Center Music Foundation to provide immediate funds and support for musicians and humanitarian aid organizations across Los Angeles.To maximize this effort, Gibson and Guitar Center have enlisted the assistance and support of many prominent manufacturers from the MI industry including AKG, AlphaTheta/Pioneer, Audio-Technica, DW, Eastman, ESP Guitars, Hoshino (Ibanez Guitars/TAMA Drums), JBL Professional, C. F. Martin & Co., Pearl Drums, Remo Inc., Roland, Saga, Schecter Guitar Research, Shure, Sony Music, Universal Audio, Vater Percussion, Yamaha, Avedis Zildjian Co, and more in a massive and unprecedented donation relief effort.For musicians, music professionals, or a nonprofit music program based in the Los Angeles area affected by the fires, The Guitar Center Music Foundation and Gibson Gives are donating a special one-time grant to replace instruments and gear. Los Angeles musicians who lost their instruments and gear can reach out and apply HERE now through February 28, 2025. Proof of loss or address may be required.The brands have partnered with the NAMM Foundation L.A. Wildfires Relief Fund as well as the NAMM Show which is providing two dedicated L.A. Wildfire Relief Centers during the upcoming NAMM Show, held at the Anaheim Convention Center (January 23-25). These relief centers inform attendees on how they can support the coordinated efforts of this initiative. They will be in Hall C and in ACC North Level 2. For those who donate $35 or more onsite to the GCMF at the Anaheim Convention Center, they will receive their choice of a special edition GCMF branded t-shirt, tote bag, or hat."We are devastated by the recent fires that have deeply affected our artist communities and the places they call home. In response, we are committed to providing impactful support to help rebuild and heal. We understand the powerful role music plays in the healing process, and we will continue to stand with our community, using the strength of music to bring hope and recovery." -- Erica Krusen, Global Executive Director, Gibson Gives."I am deeply grateful to see such an outpouring of support from everyone coming together to assist musicians who have tragically lost their instruments in the fire. This collective effort is not just about replacing instruments; it’s about restoring the power of music in people’s lives—a vital source of healing, renewal, and strength as they navigate the journey of rebuilding their lives and communities." -- Myka Miller, Executive Director of The Guitar Center Music Foundation.“We are overwhelmed and deeply appreciative of the generosity from our music industry. NAMM and The NAMM Foundation are collaborating closely with NAMM Members to unify all efforts and maximize relief efforts for the those impacted by the LA Wildfires." -- John Mlynczak, NAMM president and CEO.The post Musical Instrument Industry Unites to Support Victims of the Los Angeles Wildfires first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

ASCAP Experience 2025 Has Been CanceledASCAP Experience 2025 Has Been Canceled"We understand how devastating and challenging these past few weeks have been for the Los Angeles community. Given the evolving and uncertain situation in the wake of the Los Angeles fires, we have decided to cancel our ASCAP Experience that was scheduled for February 27. Our venue for the event is in an area currently still under evacuation. All registrants will be given a full refund. Refunds will be made automatically to the payment method used for your registration.Many ASCAP members have been impacted by the LA fires and need immediate assistance. With a desire to support the recovery efforts, ASCAP has set up an emergency relief fund of $1 million for our songwriter and composer members who have suffered from loss and damage to their homes and studios or been evacuated from their homes.We know how powerful our community can be when we can come together for a common purpose. All of us at ASCAP were looking forward to being with our ASCAP Experience attendees, and we are disappointed not to be able to move forward at this time. Our goal, as always, is to provide you with the best advice, tools, networking opportunities and more that you need to achieve your creative aspirations, and we will keep you apprised of future plans.More info hereThe post ASCAP Experience 2025 Has Been Canceled first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Dogecoin to $1? Traders say a 140% DOGE rally could happen before FebruaryAnalysts say Dogecoin has a 60% chance of hitting $1 before Jan. 31.