PickPad addresses the chaos of restaurant takeoutThere was a time when baristas just had to write a customer’s name on a cup and call it out. They wouldn’t always get the name right, but more often than not, it went to the right person. The prospect of picking up takeout has, however, become considerably more dicey in this post-pandemic era dominated […]
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38C3: It’s TOSLINK, Over Long Distance FibreIf you’ve owned a CD player or other piece of consumer digital audio gear manufactured since the 1980s, the chances are it has a TOSLINK port on the back. This is a fairly simple interface that sends I2S digital audio data down a short length of optical fibre, and it’s designed to run between something like a CD player and an external DAC. It’s ancient technology in optical fibre terms, with a lowish data rate and plastic fibre, but consider for a minute whether it could be adapted for modern ultra-high-speed conenctions. It’s what [Ben Cartwright-Cox] has done, and he delivered a talk about it at the recent 38C3 event in Germany.
if you’ve cast you eye over any fibre networking equipment recently, you’ll be familiar with SFP ports. These are a standard for plug-in fibre terminators, and they can be had in a wide variety of configurations for different speeds, topographies, and wavelengths. They’re often surprisingly simple inside, so he wondered if he could use them to carry TOSLINK instead of a more conventional network. And it worked, with the simple expedient of driving an SFP module with an LVDS driver to make a differential signal. There follows a series of experiments calling in favours from friends with data centre space in various locations around London, finally ending up with a 140 km round trip for CD-quality audio.
It’s an interesting experiment, but perhaps the most value here is in what it reveals to us about the way optical networking systems work. Most of us don’t spend our days in data centres, so that’s an interesting technology to learn about. The video of the talk itself is below the break.

FLOSS Weekly Episode 815: You Win Some, You Lose SomeThis week, Jonathan Bennett and Randal chat with Matija Šuklje about Open Source and the Law! How do Open Source projects handle liability, what should a Contributor License Agreement (CLA) look like, and where can an individual or project turn for legal help?

https://matija.suklje.name/
https://openchainproject.org
https://matija.suklje.name/fiduciary-license-agreement-20

Did you know you can watch the live recording of the show Right on our YouTube Channel? Have someone you’d like us to interview? Let us know, or contact the guest and have them contact us! Take a look at the schedule here.

Direct Download in DRM-free MP3.
If you’d rather read along, here’s the transcript for this week’s episode.
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Theme music: “Newer Wave” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

LNDF Releases FREE Philodendron Ring Buffer Plugin for Experimental Sounds
LNDF recently released the Philodendron ring buffer plugin, a free and open-source release capable of some truly wild and wacky sounds.  The plugin is a VST release for macOS and Windows. The developer describes Philodendron as a container that keeps writing itself.  At this point, I think it’s worth heading to the product page and listening to the [...]
View post: LNDF Releases FREE Philodendron Ring Buffer Plugin for Experimental Sounds

Blackstone majority-acquires Citrin Cooperman, one of music’s biggest valuation firmsIn the music industry, Citrin is best known as the home of expert music rights valuer Barry Massarsky and his team
Source

ATG expands into Spain via acquisition of theater operator SOM ProduceSOM Produce sells over 750,000 tickets annually
Source

Drumsheds to enforce new safety measures following reviewDrumsheds has been allowed to reopen following a licence review and hundreds of crowd complaints, but must implement new safety measures, the local council has ruled.
Late last year, the 15,000-capacity Tottenham venue – a repurposed IKEA building – risked losing its license following a series of serious incidents there, which prompted an investigation.

READ MORE: UKF15 at Drumsheds — the worst-organised event at the venue yet?

There were calls for an emergency licensing review following the death of a 27-year-old man who had been at Drumsheds on 12 October. According to Standard, the incident was believed to be drug related. On 7 December, a 29-year-old woman died in hospital after Bicep‘s The Hydra show at the venue. Police believe that it was also linked to drug use.
Meanwhile, in November, police were called to the venue after a man was stabbed there, but he survived. No arrests were made in connection with any of these incidents.
The venue also has suffered problems with capacity and organisation, which came to light after an event for 15th anniversary of UKF on 13 December. As reported by MusicTech, some fans said they had to wait over two hours just to enter the venue, meaning some missed sets, including that of headliners Pendulum.
Between sets, they were also directed outside into the cold simply to come back inside again for no apparent reason. Some also reported crowd surges during Pendulum’s set while others say they were denied entry.
Rob Swire of Pendulum, who headlined Drumsheds on 13th December. Credit: Joseph Okpako/Getty
A Change.org petition was launched demanding refunds due to the “frightful conditions” that risked guests’ safety.
A meeting held by Enfield Council to decide the venue’s future took place yesterday (7 January) and it was announced that it could remain open under specific conditions.
London Centric reports that investigators found “serious failings” in the care provided by in-house medical staff. One of the two attendees who died had reportedly been treated by staff earlier in the night, but was “released back into the event” instead of being taken to hospital or removed from the venue.
It also shared a testimony claiming that the venue had not reported the incident “on the night,” which subsequently delayed the “police response and subsequent investigation”.
Despite this, Drumsheds has been permitted to keep its license. However, it will require an increased police presence on-site during events and serious incidents on the premises must be reported to police immediately. The council stopped short of introducing several measures that the police had encouraged, including reducing its capacity, implementing mandatory ID scanning and introducing bomb detection.
The first scheduled event following the review, Red Bull’s Culture Clash, will take place 8 March.
The post Drumsheds to enforce new safety measures following review appeared first on MusicTech.

Get a massive 95% off this Universal Audio UAD plugin bundle for a limited timeLooking to build out your plugin collection, but your budget is thinning after the Christmas period? If so, you’ll be very glad to know you can get an unbelievable 95% off Universal Audio’s UAD Electronic Music Bundle MK 3 for a limited time.
Featuring six plugins sure to enhance your creative process – Opal Morphing Synthesizer, Moog Minimoog, Verve Analog Machines, Waterfall Rotary Speaker, Lexicon 224 Reverb and 1176 Classic Limiter Collection – the UAD Electronic Music Bundle is a no brainer, especially at this price.

READ MORE: What to expect at NAMM 2025

Yep, 95% off a bundle usually priced at $1,375 means you can get it for just $69 right now at Plugin Boutique.
[deals ids=”4R5NiQNcmp50alclmzduIT”]
Opal Morphing Synthesizer is billed as an “epic-sounding flagship synth that’s perfect for producers, sound designers and musicians”, which offers huge morphing filters and powerful UA effects.
The Moog Minimoog needs little introduction. A recreation of one of the most iconic synths ever made, the Moog Minimoog Model D, this plugin is a must-have in the collection of any serious electronic music producer. Verve Analog Machines allows you to add colourful saturation to your mixes, with 10 easy-to-use machines with simple controls like drive, tone and tape warble.
Waterfall Rotary Speaker allows you to experience the “rich, three-dimensional texture of a vintage Leslie 147 rotary speaker cabinet” and achieve “album-ready” sounds with “perfectly-placed vintage mic setups.
Lexicon 224 Reverb is a plugin recreation of the Lexicon 224, which launched in 1978. “Its tactile, slider-based controller and famously lush reverb tail single-handedly defined the sound of an entire era,” Plugin Boutique says.
And finally, the 1176 Classic Limiter Collection is described as the “definitive collection of the world’s most famous compressors”. Featuring solid-state circuitry and ultra-fast 20 microsecond FET gain reduction, the 1176 is an easy-to-use “desert island” compressor that has lent its character and punch to some of the greatest recordings in history.
You can get all of this for just $69 right now. Don’t wait – head to Plugin Boutique to find out more.
The post Get a massive 95% off this Universal Audio UAD plugin bundle for a limited time appeared first on MusicTech.

New Spotify exposé is streaming free on Spotify: AnalysisAn explosive new Spotify exposé released this week is ironically available to stream as an audiobook on Spotify.
The post New Spotify exposé is streaming free on Spotify: Analysis appeared first on Hypebot.

Jesse Kirshbaum: Trends driving the Music Business in 2025Jesse Kirshbaum operates at the intersection of music, technology. Today he joins Hypebot's select group of industry leaders sharing their perspective on trends driving the music business as we enter 2025.
The post Jesse Kirshbaum: Trends driving the Music Business in 2025 appeared first on Hypebot.

Denise Audio release Perfect Room 2 Perfect Room 2 expands on the Dynamic Room Response engine found in the original, promising to deliver ultra-clean reverbs with enhanced tonal control.

Independent Artist Release Checklist: Free DownloadFrom best practices to essential tools, this free guide offers a complete independent artist release checklist.
The post Independent Artist Release Checklist: Free Download appeared first on Hypebot.

CES 2025: Gadhouse’s new COSMO Solar turntable brings retro vibes and modern features without breaking the bankCES 2025: Gadhouse has updated its COSMO line of portable turntables with a splash of new colours and extra features.
Introducing the COSMO Solar Edition, which blends the striking retro-inspired aesthetics of its predecessor with enhanced audio capabilities. In addition to the existing Lucid White option, users can now choose from three vibrant new colours: Venus Red, Jupiter Green, and Neptune Blue.

READ MORE: Splice launches new Country genre within its vast sample library – and producers can use AI to source the perfect samples

True to its retro-futuristic spirit, the COSMO Solar is packed with a variety of features for both vinyl aficionados and modern music listeners. We’ve got integrated stereo speakers for convenient listening on-the-go, as well as RCA outputs for you to connect to external audio systems.
Aside from the turntable itself, users can stream music via Bluetooth, or listen to their favourite radio stations using the built-in tuner. USB and SD card slots are also included for playing digital music files. You can even record your vinyl records for digital archiving via the USB port on the COSMO Solar.
Image: Gadhouse
“COSMO’s Solar Edition elevates both aesthetics and performance, creating a deeper connection to the music you love.” says Petch Teosuwan, co-founder at Gadhouse.
The best part? You don’t have to break the bank for all these lovely features, as the COSMO Solar arrives at a supremely affordable $199/£199.
The new turntables will be available worldwide from February 2025.
For those looking for something a little more traditional, Dutch hi-fi brand Lenco earlier recently launched three new turntables, the LBTA-165, LBT-215BK, and LS-570WA, which cater to a range of budgets.
Among the trio, the £199/$249/€219 LBTA-165 stands out as the most affordable option. This fully automatic, belt-driven turntable can play records at both 33 and 45 RPM speeds. It features auto-return and auto-start functions, making it perfect for those who are just starting their journey into vinyl records.
The deck – available in Black or Wood finish – also comes pre-fitted with an Audio Technica AT3600L Moving Magnet cartridge and includes a switchable pre-amplifier, as well as Bluetooth transmission for connecting to headphones or speakers.
Learn more at Gadhouse.
The post CES 2025: Gadhouse’s new COSMO Solar turntable brings retro vibes and modern features without breaking the bank appeared first on MusicTech.

“Music is back – thanks to streaming and the vinyl revival”: UK music sales reached record high in 2024UK music sales in 2024 reached a record high – and it’s mostly thanks to streaming and vinyl.
Altogether, music fans spent £2.38 billion on subscriptions to streaming services and physical music, particularly vinyl. Consequently, music revenue jumped by 7.4 per cent in 2024, according to the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA). Sales of vinyl have also increased for the 17th year running.

READ MORE: Spotify allegedly using ‘ghost artists’ to minimise royalty costs

This is the highest music revenue has been since 2001, where sales reached £2.2 billion. It’s reflective of the music industry finally recovering from and adapting to the digital age, which cut down the value of the industry by billions.
“Music is back – thanks to streaming and the vinyl revival,” says Kim Bayley, the chief executive of ERA [via The Guardian]. “For decades it was new release activity which drove most revenues. Digital services and retailers have become the drivers of the market.”
Consumer spending on streaming subscriptions surpassed £2 billion for the first time last year, growing by 7.8%. Meanwhile, spending on CD, cassette and vinyl increased by 6.2 per cent to £330 million.
However, the figures are not adjusted for inflation, so total UK spending on music is still likely to be less than the level recorded in 2001.
In total, spend on streaming makes up about 85% of total UK music revenue, and 88% of the albums bought  However, ERA doesn’t believe the industry is on course for a digital-only future.
Spotify. Credit: Piotr Swat/Getty
“We continue to believe that digital and physical channels are complementary and vital for the health of the entertainment market overall,” Bayley says.
Despite this increase in revenue, the industry’s increased monetary value doesn’t seem to be translating to greater financial gains for artists. The news comes at a time where artists’ take home pay is squeezed by higher touring costs and streaming services attempting to pay out less and less in royalties.
For example, in August, it was reported that Spotify CEO and founder Daniel Ek earned more money from the platform in the past 12 months than any other artist ever has. The Swedish streaming giant also caused controversy by demonetising all tracks that have been streamed less than 1,000 times in the last 12 months and padding out listeners’ playlists using “ghost artists” to reduce its royalty costs, according to a new report.
“A record-breaking year for whom?” questions Tom Gray, the chair of the UK songwriters’ body the Ivors Academy. “Music creators are not seeing a fair share of this success.”
“We urgently need to rethink how streaming revenues are distributed. The whole industry can see the potential harms of AI on the horizon and yet we haven’t even got our own house in order.”
Naomi Pohl, the general secretary of the Musicians’ Union, is in agreement. “Sadly, professional musicians, artists and songwriters are not enjoying the boom represented by these figures.
“They are facing multiple problems including the high cost of living and touring, stagnating public arts funding, problems touring in the EU post-Brexit and, crucially, they are not receiving their fair share of streaming revenue.”
Indeed, the rise of AI-generated content on streaming platforms is having a damaging effect on artists’ ability to recoup their fair share of royalties. Producer and content creator Benn Jordan – who recently developed an algorithm that can detect if music has been made by AI or not – has told MusicTech of his plans to speak to TuneCore, DistroKid and other platforms which distribute music to streaming services “about changing their terms to disallow 100 per cent AI-generated content, and revoke royalties to people uploading Sudo/Udio creations while posing as human artists”. He added: “I don’t care if there’s AI music on Spotify. I just care it’s siphoning royalties away from musicians.”
The post “Music is back – thanks to streaming and the vinyl revival”: UK music sales reached record high in 2024 appeared first on MusicTech.

deadmau5 partners with Telegrapher on limited-edition versions of its analogue speakersPro audio manufacturer Telegrapher has partnered with renowned electronic producer and DJ deadmau5 on a limited-edition line of its analogue speakers.
The collection includes limited-edition models of Telegrapher’s Gorilla, Fox, and Elephant active speakers, which “reflect the innovative spirit of both deadmau5 and Telegrapher” by blending “cutting–edge analogue sound technology with striking visual design.”

READ MORE: “I doubt Behringer is making any money from it”: Roger Linn says Behringer CEO did not ask permission to “copy” his LinnDrum machine

Designed for audio purists, sound enthusiasts, and fans of deadmau5 alike, the lineup is said to “deliver the clarity, depth, and emotional resonance that have become the hallmark of Telegrapher’s offerings.”
Each speaker is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by deadmau5 — real name Joel Thomas Zimmerman, and can be purchased exclusively from the musician’s mau5hop online store.
Image: Telegrapher
Explaining how the collaboration came about, deadmau5 says that Telegrapher reached out via Instagram a few years ago with some of its speaker ideas, “so I looped him in with one of my studio engineers at the time.”
A few years later, “they sent me one of the first pairs of the Gorillas [subwoofer] and said ‘well let me get your thoughts on this’. I was like ‘great’ so we set them up here [in my studio] and they were awesome.”
“I was really impressed with them,” says deadmau5. “I just love the clarity and the stereo image that I was able to attain.”
Image: Telegrapher
He adds, “I do have these other mains that I use but they’re just overpowering sometimes and you don’t really get a good sense of spatialisation so I tend to A/B a lot of that with the old [Yamaha] NS10s that I use. But then since we put the Gorillas in I was like ‘wow these are like NS10s but they’re actually good.’”
Erce Kaslioglu, CEO of Telegrapher, says of the partnership: “Collaborating with deadmau5 has been an incredible journey. Joel’s relentless pursuit of perfection mirrors our commitment to crafting audio products that deliver precise and emotionally immersive sound. This speaker line is a testament to what’s possible when innovation and passion come together.”
Fans attending this year’s NAMM Show (23-25 January) can check out the limited-edition lineup and other Telegrapher speakers in Booth #16119 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Learn more at Telegrapher.
The post deadmau5 partners with Telegrapher on limited-edition versions of its analogue speakers appeared first on MusicTech.