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  • Sunbunny just released Tentacles, a FREE creative tremolo and spatial effect
    According to the developer, Sunbunny, Tentacles is a quadruple-stereo vibrato with spatio-spectral panning, available for free. That is a lot of interesting words in one sentence! The aptly named plugin splits your signal into four parallel processing chains, each with its own band-pass filtering, saturation, vibrato, and stereo-position controls that can be adjusted separately. It [...]
    View post: Sunbunny just released Tentacles, a FREE creative tremolo and spatial effect

    According to the developer, Sunbunny, Tentacles is a quadruple-stereo vibrato with spatio-spectral panning, available for free. That is a lot of interesting words in one sentence! The aptly named plugin splits your signal into four parallel processing chains, each with its own band-pass filtering, saturation, vibrato, and stereo-position controls that can be adjusted separately. It

  • Lewitt partner with Elgato Lewitt have teamed up with Elgato to create a new processor for the company’s Wave Next product range, introducing some new capabilities that aim to provide content creators with studio-quality audio.

    Lewitt have teamed up with Elgato to create a new processor for the company’s Wave Next product range, introducing some new capabilities that aim to provide content creators with studio-quality audio.

  • “The guys who write muzak – man, they’re done”: Jazz guitar legend Pat Metheny predicts the future of AI in musicThe topic of AI in music ain’t going anywhere. But how worried should we really be? According to jazz guitarist Pat Metheny, not very.
    Artificial intelligence is, of course, a very broad subject, and there’s undoubtedly areas of music that will benefit, and others which will be negatively affected. AI as a means to expedite creative workflows, for example, good, while AI-generated tracks flooding streaming platforms and diluting royalty pools? Not so good.

    READ MORE: Jamu: Your ChatGPT-style AI co-producer for Ableton Live is here – just tell it what to do

    In a new interview in the latest issue of Prog magazine, Metheny makes clear his measured position on AI, and tries to quell the “fear and anxiety” many musicians have about it.
    “I’m all over it,” he says. “Curious and excited. I hear a lot of fear and a lot of anxiety, but I see AI as part of this wonderful array of tools we musicians have available in the 21st century.”
    A major concern for established music artists is the idea that their sonic likeness is being used to train AI without adequate compensation or licensing.
    “They’ve already done it,” Metheny continues. “But if I type my name in then what I hear back is… well, they can’t really copy a lot of that stuff yet. Okay, there’s a threat to the paying-the-rent part of music for sure. The guys who write muzak – man, they’re done.
    “But I got into music so that I can understand it more, and there’s no shortcut to understanding harmony and counterpoint and improvisation.”
    He concludes: “The key thing about AI is that it’s still searching and there’s something missing. It’s like if you ask a musician to define ‘soul’, or you ask a neuroscientist to define ‘consciousness’. They can’t do it.”
    Metheny’s comments were echoed recently by Blur and Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn, who is currently writing the score for a movie about ChatGPT makers OpenAI. “I don’t think it’s possible for AI to make soulful music,” he said.
    In other AI news from the industry, singer-songwriter superstar Charlie Puth was recently announced as Chief Music Officer at AI music platform Moises.
    Announcing his new position at the company, Puth noted the importance of ethics when it comes to AI in music: “AI, when done right, isn’t here to replace musicians. It’s here to help artists learn, explore and bring their ideas to life,” he said.
    Read more of the latest news about AI in music.
    The post “The guys who write muzak – man, they’re done”: Jazz guitar legend Pat Metheny predicts the future of AI in music appeared first on MusicTech.

    The guitarist isn’t too concerned about AI in general, however, noting that there’s still “something missing”.

  • Jamu: Your ChatGPT-style AI co-producer for Ableton Live is here – just tell it what to doStruggling to get your ideas from your head into Ableton? Imagine having a co-producer who instantly understands your vision, executes it flawlessly, and never argues about a mix.
    Meet Jamu, an AI-powered co-producer for Ableton Live that turns the ideas in your head into action in real time.

    READ MORE: The MacBook Neo is Apple’s cheapest MacBook model ever – will it be any good for music production?

    A “new interface paradigm”
    Unlike a generator or traditional plugin, Jamu sits alongside Ableton as a co-producer, reshaping how you interact with your tools and expanding your creative possibilities. Instead of wrestling with menus, automation, and plugins, just describe what you want in plain language, and Jamu executes it directly to clips, devices and automation directly in Ableton. Every result is fully editable, reversible, and under your control.
    “Jamu’s mission is to support producers by removing friction between creative intent and execution in music creation,” the company says. “By using artificial intelligence as an interface for creativity, not a replacement, we reduce the cognitive overhead for producers, helping artists focus on what they want to create rather than how to operate tools.”
    Your tireless studio partner
    Think of Jamu as a studio partner who never gets tired, never interrupts, and never second-guesses your vision. By lowering the barrier (and cost) to experimentation, it encourages you to pursue ideas you might otherwise ignore.
    Jamu leverages natural language processing to translate plain-language instructions into Ableton actions and constantly communicates context and feedback so you can understand, adjust, and redirect every move. As with most AI tools, the better and more detailed your prompt, the closer the results align with your intent. And crucially, the artist always “remains the source of control, taste, and final judgement”.
    Real-world use

    During closed beta, DJ and producer AND(W)Y used Jamu to navigate label revision notes covering mix clarity, arrangement structure, and specific refinements. By analysing both the session and feedback, Jamu structured a roadmap and helped resolve issues – a process that would normally take hours manually.
    “Whether you’re responding to label feedback, fixing a mix that isn’t clicking, or just trying to get unstuck, Jamu gives you a clear path forward without taking the wheel. Your ears, your decisions, your music. Jamu just makes the process faster.”
    Pricing & availability
    Similar to ChatGPT, Jamu runs on a subscription and token system, with tokens used whenever you send a prompt. The platform includes $1 (1M tokens) in free credits as a demo. Paid plans start at $9 for 4M tokens, $18 for 10M tokens, and $30 per month for the premium model.
    Jamu is available now for Ableton Live. Learn more at Jamu.

    The post Jamu: Your ChatGPT-style AI co-producer for Ableton Live is here – just tell it what to do appeared first on MusicTech.

    Struggling to get your ideas from your head into Ableton? Meet Jamu, an AI-powered co-producer for Ableton Live that turns your ideas into action in real time.

  • Live Nation reaches settlement with Department of Justice in ticketing monopoly caseLive Nation has reached a settlement with the US Department of Justice in the government’s sweeping antitrust lawsuit against the concert and ticketing giant, less than a week after trial began.
    Under the proposed deal, Ticketmaster will be required to open parts of its platform to rival companies such as Eventbrite and SeatGeek, while long-term exclusivity contracts with venues would be capped at four years, giving venues the option to distribute some tickets through competing platforms. Live Nation will also divest up to 13 amphitheaters across the country and cap Ticketmaster service fees at 15% of a ticket’s price.

    READ MORE: New Music Venue Trust-backed “ethical” ticket platform prohibits ticket resales above face value

    The deal will also require Live Nation to pay roughly $280 million in damages to nearly 40 states that joined the lawsuit. Even so, the settlement represents a far less severe outcome than the government’s original proposal, which sought to break up the company.
    The Justice Department and a coalition of 40 state attorneys generals first sued Live Nation in May 2024, alleging the company built and maintained an illegal monopoly over live events through its control of ticketing, venues and artist promotion. Regulators argued that dominance allowed the company to stifle competition and lock venues into exclusive deals that ultimately harmed artists and fans.
    Live Nation welcomed the proposed resolution.
    “We have never relied on exclusivity to drive our ticketing business, it has simply been the result of having the best products, services and people in the industry,” says Live Nation president and CEO Michael Rapino. “We are happy to take greater steps to empower artists and venues in their ticketing decisions, and are confident we will continue to succeed on the quality of what we deliver.”
    The process surrounding the deal, however, drew immediate criticism from US District Judge Arun Subramanian, who said it was “entirely unacceptable” that both sides finalised the agreement without informing the court beforehand [via AP].
    Meanwhile, some state attorneys say the fight is not over. New York attorney general Letitia James says several states intend to continue pursuing their own claims even if the settlement moves forward.
    “The settlement recently announced with the US Department of Justice fails to address the monopoly at the center of this case, and would benefit Live Nation at the expense of consumers. We cannot agree to it,” James says. “My attorney general colleagues and I have a strong case against Live Nation, and we will continue our lawsuit to protect consumers and restore fair competition to the live entertainment industry.”

    The post Live Nation reaches settlement with Department of Justice in ticketing monopoly case appeared first on MusicTech.

    Concert and ticketing giant Live Nation has reached a tentative settlement with the US Department of Justice less than a week after trial began.

  • Which operating system is best for music-making in 2026?With the vast majority of DAWs, plugins and other tools being available for both Windows and macOS, choosing which to use in the studio used to be a simple binary choice. There are pros and cons on both sides – price, functionality, compatibility and all the rest of it – but really the choice boiled down to which OS you found the nicer place to work.
    But in 2026, the choice is no longer so clear-cut. The differences between Windows and macOS are becoming wider, and users of both are becoming increasingly frustrated with the directions Apple and Microsoft are taking their products. All the while, Linux is increasingly making its presence felt as an attractive alternative to the two mainstream OSs.
    This raises a question that we barely had to consider for a long time: which OS is best for making music?
    Is Microsoft Windows 11 good for music production?
    Best for: Producers who need maximum plugin compatibility and who want to tweak their setup for optimum performance. Also a strong option for producers on a budget.
    Windows is by far the most widely used desktop operating system on the planet, and this brings with it a massive advantage over macOS and Linux: compatibility. The overwhelming majority of mainstream software packages are available for the platform, and Microsoft continues to include older code libraries in the OS to maintain backward compatibility with older software — or it attempts to, at least.
    Wide hardware compatibility is also a major plus-point of Windows, and makes it possible for users to fully spec and build their own machines using any number of off-the-shelf components. This usually means PCs are more affordable than Apple’s Mac computers, and means they’re more repairable and upgradeable too.
    A screenshot of Amplitube 5 running on Windows
    When it comes to studio use, one big Windows shortcoming is that the audio hardware built-in to most PCs doesn’t support the low-latency operation required for music making. This can be dealt with by adding a studio-grade audio interface, but the interface manufacturer has to supply drivers – including a special ASIO driver to enable low-latency operation — to make the interface work with the OS. Even then, configuring Windows to use the hardware in the desired manner is often not straightforward, and the OS has an annoying habit of dropping your settings without warning or obvious cause.
    I have two PCs – a desktop that can’t be upgraded to Windows 11 despite being a powerful machine, and a laptop that seemingly auto-upgraded itself from Windows 10, and has run like an asthmatic sloth ever since. The laptop’s also become unreliable for audio work, suffering from random audio drop-outs that aren’t anything to do with audio buffer size — it was never a powerful machine, but it worked just fine on Windows 10.
    This year, countless users are finding grievances in: the artificial TMP 2.0 chip requirement preventing perfectly capable computers from installing the OS; the need to use a Microsoft account to log in to your computer; advertising and popups being pushed onto desktops and start menus; worse performance than Windows 10 on the same hardware; constant nagging to subscribe to Microsoft’s premium services; poor local search and file browsing performance.
    Meanwhile, Microsoft’s built-in AI, Copilot, has been pushed into almost every corner of the OS, eating up your computer’s resources without much advantage — it certainly gives no advantage for music production.
    Is a Mac still the best computer for music production?
    Best for: Producers who want a low-friction setup with plug-and-play compatibility, and who are willing to pay a premium for it.
    Being more standardised than the average PC, Apple Macs are a predictable platform for software developers to target, allowing code to be better optimised and reliable. Early in the days of computer-based music making, this predictability was important for music applications which could push the capabilities of the hardware, and ensured all major music software developers targeted the OS.
    In the studio, Mac users benefit from the OS’s CoreAudio subsystem, which is excellent. This embeds high-quality, low-latency audio routing and I/O deep into the OS, benefiting both the built-in sound hardware and any external studio interface you attach.
    Additionally, macOS supports the USB Class Compliant standard, so as long as your audio and/or MIDI interface supports this standard (most modern gear does) they will work with macOS without needing any drivers or supporting software. It’s what “plug-and-play” was always meant to be!
    A screenshot of Cubase running on macOS.
    Not everything’s perfect in the Mac camp, of course.
    The price of a Mac is usually higher than a PC of similar power — although this has become less true since Apple’s transition from Intel CPUs to Apple Silicon. The 2025 Mac Mini, for example, is a stellar computer at an appealing price. However, Apple makes it extremely difficult for users to upgrade or repair their Macs and, since the 2021 launch of Apple Silicon models, only the $7,000+ Mac Pro allows any user upgradeability at all.
    Another common complaint is Apple’s relentless and exhausting update cycle, with each new macOS version dropping a crop of older Macs from support. In addition, each major update can render some music production software incompatible, at least until its developers catch up. Every year, this makes for a slew of online discussions around the question “Should you upgrade macOS?”. The answer is usually “No, not yet.”
    Looking ahead, many Mac users are concerned by Apple’s moves to unify macOS with iPadOS and iOS, despite the different requirements of desktop and handheld computing. So far, the company seems to be getting the balance right, adding capabilities to both Macs and iThings without removing features from either. The divisive Liquid Glass UI, now common across all Apple OSs, isn’t to everyone’s taste but can be disabled. Nevertheless, it feels like the risk of macOS being enshittified remains high right now.
    Can you make music on Linux in 2026?
    Best for: Producers who want maximum control of their software and operating system, who wish to escape the restrictions of the two mainstream OSs, or who wish to setup a studio computer on a limited budget.
    Linux isn’t an operating system, but a ‘kernel’ around which operating systems can be built. This kernel is open source, resulting in many different companies, projects and individuals using it as the basis of their own OSs. Linux-based OSs are known as ‘distros’, but it’s common to refer collectively to all these distros simply as Linux (which is what I’ll do here too for the sake of simplicity).
    Linux for desktop use has, in recent years, shaken off its reputation for being complicated and fiddly. That said, it still isn’t as easy-to-use as macOS, and there are certain tasks that aren’t as streamlined as in the other two OSs, such as installing software that isn’t managed by the software manager app. But there’s loads of help for this sort of thing online — if you can follow instructions, you’ll be fine
    A screenshot of Reaper running on Linux.
    Like macOS, Linux supports the USB Class Compliant standard and so any relatively modern USB audio and/or MIDI interface will work just fine. On the software front, there are many truly excellent open-source apps available – DAWs, effects, synths, and all manner of other tool –, and some of the bigger players are now supporting the platform too: Bitwig, Reaper, U-He, Renoise and Tracktion to name but a few.
    Where compatibility problems remain, tools such as Wine or Proton can come to the rescue, allowing Windows software to run on Linux, with varying success.
    What makes Linux a truly compelling studio OS, though, is JACK. This is akin to ASIO in Windows and CoreAudio in macOS, providing high sample-rate, low-latency audio support. However, JACK is a considerably more flexible system than either of these, presenting every sound source within your computer, right down to individual tracks and busses in your DAW or the output of a drum machine app, as nodes that can be patched and interconnected at will.
    Put another way, where macOS and Windows provide an environment in which a DAW can run, JACK turns the entire OS into a DAW. Check out my deep-dive into using Linux for music production.
    Verdict: Which computer and OS is best for music production
    Unsurprisingly, Apple Macs remain the best choice for music making. They’re stable and fast, user-friendly, widely supported, and macOS stays out of the way and lets you get on with what you’re creating. The old tagline of “It just works” still holds true.
    Windows remains a highly viable platform for music production, but given the current state of Windows 11 I would advise anyone setting up a new studio rig to strongly consider the other options. Upgrading from Windows 10 is a different matter, but I still suggest giving the other options some consideration. Windows 11 is awkward, annoying, prone to dropping your settings, and too focused on enterprise users. Copilot is an added layer of irritation that brings nothing to the studio other than to take processing power away from DAW and plugins.
    Which means, if Apple’s prices and exhausting update cycles aren’t for you, and you don’t have an overarching need to use Windows, Linux is a no-brainer. The Ubuntu Studio distro is a perfect, free place to start, coming preconfigured for music-making and other creative exploits.
    The post Which operating system is best for music-making in 2026? appeared first on MusicTech.

    We break down Windows, macOS and Linux for studio use in 2026 — including the one you're probably overlooking

  • Is Billy Corgan an Underrated Guitarist?In his new book, I Am One: The Smashing Pumpkins Story, 1988-1994, author Greg Prato proposes that Billy Corgan was one of the top guitarists to come out of the '90s alt-rock world, with evidence from The Frogs' Jimmy Flemion, Blind Melon's Christopher Thorn, Matt Pinfield, and more.

    The early 1990s alt-rock explosion produced no shortage of influential guitarists. For example, Dinosaur Jr's J Mascis, Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo, My Bloody…

  • Bitcoin vs gold: ETF flows point to early capital rotation signsBitcoin ETF inflows have turned positive as gold ETFs see record outflows after a historic rally. Is capital beginning to rotate from gold to Bitcoin?

  • Electric air taxis are about to take flight in 26 states The federal government has selected eight proposals to test electric aircraft across 26 states.

    The federal government has selected eight proposals to test electric aircraft across 26 states.

  • beatBread makes run of new appointments, including ex-Spotify and CD Baby execsNew hires from CD Baby, Spotify and Countsy bring finance, operations and AI expertise to the music funding company’s leadership team.
    Source

    New hires from CD Baby, Spotify and Countsy bring finance, operations and AI expertise to the music funding company’s leadership team.

  • Real-Time ISS Tracker Shows Off the GoodsWhat hardware hacker doesn’t have a soft spot for transparent cases? While they may have fallen out of mainstream favor, they have an undeniable appeal to anyone with an interest in electronic or mechanical devices. Which is why the Orbigator built by [wyojustin] stands out among similar desktop orbital trackers we’ve seen.
    Conceptually, it’s very similar to the International Space Station tracking lamp that [Will Dana] built in 2025. In fact, [wyojustin] cites it specifically as one of the inspirations for this project. But unlike that build, which saw a small model of the ISS moving across the surface of the globe, a transparent globe is rotated around the internal mechanism. This not only looks gorgeous, but solves a key problem in [Will]’s design — that is, there’s no trailing servo wiring that needs to be kept track of.
    For anyone who wants an Orbigator of their own, [wyojustin] has done a fantastic job of documenting the hardware and software aspects of the build, and all the relevant files are available in the project’s GitHub repository.
    The 3D printable components have been created with OpenSCAD, the firmware responsible for calculating the current position of the ISS on the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 is written in MicroPython, and the PCB was designed in KiCad. Incidentally, we noticed that Hackaday alum [Anool Mahidharia] appears to have been lending a hand with the board design.
    As much as we love these polished orbital trackers, we’ve seen far more approachable builds if you don’t need something so elaborate. If you’re more interested in keeping an eye out for planes and can get your hands on a pan-and-tilt security camera, it’s even easier.

    What hardware hacker doesn’t have a soft spot for transparent cases? While they may have fallen out of mainstream favor, they have an undeniable appeal to anyone with an interest in electroni…

  • Live Review of TwiceKia Forum Inglewood, CA

    Contact: greg.cortez@42west.comWeb: twice.jype.comPlayers: Dahyun, Chaeyoung, Jeongyeon, Jihyo, Mina, Momo, Nayeon, Sana, Tzuyu

    With 10 years under their belts, it’s no surprise that TWICE is one of the best-performing girl groups in K-pop. The group (who graced the cover of Music Connection in 2024) is currently touring across North America for their 2026 THIS IS FORWorld Tour and stopped by the Kia Forum in Inglewood for four sold-out shows. The tour is different from any other tour they’ve done before. It’s more ambitious thanks to the 360-degree setup with the stage extending throughout the entire floor. 

    Marking the start of the show on January 22nd, the venue lights dimmed as the words “TWICE THIS IS FOR” dramatically appeared on the screens. The screens then lowered down as the opening visuals showcased Dahyun, Chaeyoung, Jeongyeon, Jihyo, Mina, Momo, Nayeon, Sana, and Tzuyu. It was fun seeing fans cheer with their glowing candybong light stick for their favorite member when they appeared onscreen. As the video montage ended, the screens raised to reveal the group on stage. TWICE aptly began their performance with “This is For,” from their fourth Korean studio album of the same name. This was the perfect song to start the night as the opening verse from Momo is meant to energize fans, “This is for all my ladies who don’t get hyped enough / If you’ve been done wrong, then this your song, so turn it up.”

    With a discography of over 200 songs, it’s no surprise that the setlist leaned heavily on their biggest hits. The first act started off strong with fan-favorite songs, including “SET ME FREE” and “I CAN’T STOP ME.”The stage setup allowed the group to freely move around with their dance routines, switching sides throughout the songs. Unfortunately, Dahyun sustained an ankle injury and remained seated for the entire show. That didn’t stop her as she participated by doing the dance routines with her hands. Most K-pop acts sing with a backing track, but that wasn’t the case for TWICE, as they had a live band performing alongside them. Each girl has a distinctive vocal tone that complements the others very well. The R&B track “Gone” specifically stands out for highlighting the group’s strengths. Jiyho, Jeongyeon, and Naeyon have powerful vocals with dynamic vocal ranges. Momo, Chaeyoung, and Daeyon have great rhythm and rapping delivery, while Mina, Sana, and Tzuyu have softer and breathier vocals. 

    The group saved the best for last as the fourth act of the show included all their biggest hits, including “FANCY,” “What is Love?,” ”YES or YES,” ”Dance the Night Away,” and “ONE SPARK.” After a short break, the girls returned on stage dressed in their own merchandise for a very casual encore. The post Live Review of Twice first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

  • In need of new headphones? Check out these great deals on studio cans and earbuds for casual listening at SweetwaterWe’ve scoured through a bunch of different deals at Sweetwater on a wide range of headphone types, so you can find the best pair for you at the right price.
    It might be a standard pair you’re looking for to use on your commute, in the gym, or for casual listening at home, or perhaps you might want something more apt for the studio. Headphones come in a whole bunch of differing designs, including open and closed back, and their visual looks are not always for aesthetic purposes.

    READ MORE: How Apple’s new M5 Pro and M5 Max-equipped MacBook Pro could supercharge your music projects

    Open-back designs make the sound feel more immersive, as if it is playing out in the space around you rather than just in your head, which tends to feel the case for closed-back designs.
    Closed-back headphones tend to be a popular choice for recording and monitoring, while open-back headphones are often a top choice for mixing. At Sweetwater, there’s a range of Sennheiser headphones on sale across its HD open back line – including models like the 600, 650, and 660S2 – with $200 or more off each.
    [deals ids=”6gGOH7XYkhBiQCHM3UnGXZ”]
    Also from Sennheiser, you can save on its Momentum 4 wireless closed cup headphones, which have a built-in EQ system, automatic start and stop capabilities, and adaptive noise cancellation, making them versatile for use in everyday scenarios or for budding bedroom producers. These come in a range of colours, each with $170 off.
    [deals ids=”77bfw0iC8MUioQ027lNNjL”]
    If you’d prefer something even more budget friendly, Sweetwater also has a range of Sony and JBL headphones for standard use. Ear buds are also a popular choice for casual listening, and we’ve found the following reduced deals:

    Sony WF-1000XM5 Wireless Noise-cancelling Earbuds (in black or silver, $248)
    Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 Earbuds (in three colours, $199.95)
    Beyerdynamic Amiron 300 True Wireless Earphones (in black or cream, $179.99)
    JBL Vibe Beam 2 True Wireless Earbuds (in black or white, $39.95)

    To shop all of these deals and more, head over to Sweetwater.
    The post In need of new headphones? Check out these great deals on studio cans and earbuds for casual listening at Sweetwater appeared first on MusicTech.

    Sweetwater currently has a range of deals on headphones right now, so you can save on open and closed back designs, as well as standard earbuds for everyday use.

  • Sender Spike releases filter.tank, a FREE plugin inspired by the Sherman Filterbank (Windows)
    Developer Sender Spike has released filter.tank, a free, modulated dual-filter plugin inspired by the Sherman Filterbank 2, the iconic Belgian analog filter unit from Sherman Audio. It is available as a 64-bit VST plugin for Windows. The Sherman Filterbank is known for its extreme resonance and nonlinear saturation. Many people claim the sound can’t be [...]
    View post: Sender Spike releases filter.tank, a FREE plugin inspired by the Sherman Filterbank (Windows)

    Developer Sender Spike has released filter.tank, a free, modulated dual-filter plugin inspired by the Sherman Filterbank 2, the iconic Belgian analog filter unit from Sherman Audio. It is available as a 64-bit VST plugin for Windows. The Sherman Filterbank is known for its extreme resonance and nonlinear saturation. Many people claim the sound can’t be

  • Candela Audio LitmusLitmus by Candela Audio is an internal plugin host that lives right in your mix chain and acts as an objective second set of ears for every decision you make. Instead of being just an analyzer, Litmus automatically gain‑stages your processing, lets you hear exactly what each plugin is doing, and helps you choose settings and tools based on evidence, not guesswork. Insert Litmus on a track or bus, load your favourite VST3 or AU processors inside it, and mix as normal – compression, EQ, saturation, clipping, whatever you like. Litmus constantly matches loudness in the background using ITU‑R BS.1770‑4 LUFS, so every tweak you make is instantly level‑matched, forcing you to judge tone, punch and clarity instead of being fooled by "louder is better". Whenever you want to zoom in, delta monitoring lets you solo the exact sonic footprint of a plugin or chain – the added harmonics from a saturator, the "air" an EQ boosts, or the transient changes from a compressor – so you can really learn what each tool contributes to your sound. When it's time to commit, blind A/B mode anonymises chains, plugins or dry vs wet, tracks your votes, and reveals the winner only at the end, helping you pick the best‑sounding option without brand or UI bias. Back up your ears with Litmus's built‑in spectral, harmonic, phase and loudness analysis, then collapse it back down and keep mixing – it's designed as an everyday utility that stays in your template, not a one‑off lab tool. Built with automatic latency compensation and crash‑safe scanning, Litmus runs as a VST3 (Win/macOS/Linux) and AU (macOS) effect and hosts your VST3/AU processors inside a single managed chain, with one license covering all formats and platforms. Key features Internal VST3/AU plugin host with up to 8 slots per chain (VST3 on Win/macOS/Linux, AU on macOS). Per‑slot Auto Gain with ITU‑R BS.1770‑4 LUFS matching, three‑phase measurement, and 100 ms smoothed gain. Delta monitoring with wet/dry blend, dedicated delta gain, LUFS/RMS/peak readouts, and latency‑compensated alignment. Blind A/B engine for Chain vs Chain, Plugin vs Plugin, and Dry vs Wet with randomized labels, crossfaded switching, and vote history. Analysis toolkit: 2048‑point FFT spectral comparison, harmonic analyzer (fundamental + 16 harmonics, note + THD%), phase correlation and full loudness metering (momentary, short‑term, integrated LUFS, RMS, peak). Automatic and FFT‑based latency detection, crash‑safe plugin scanning, sidechain support and extensive DAW automation for hosted plugins. Tech specs Formats: VST3 (Win/macOS/Linux), AU (macOS). Hosts: Any VST3‑ or AU‑compatible DAW (effects only; instruments are filtered out). Audio: 32‑bit float, stereo I/O, optional stereo/mono sidechain. OS: Windows 10+, macOS 11+, Ubuntu 22.04+ (x86_64; Apple Silicon and Intel on macOS). Read More