IK Multimedia celebrate TONEX anniversary IK Multimedia have announced a whole host of incoming TONEX updates, along with a limited-edition version of the TONEX Pedal, enhanced AmpliTube integration, a new Premium Tone Model bundle and much more. 

VSL introduce SYNCHRON-ized Orchestral Strings VSL's Orchestral Strings I and II become the latest VI Series offerings to find their way into the company's more recent Synchron Player sample engine. 

Announcing the final agenda for the Fintech Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024We’re incredibly excited to announce the final agenda for our dedicated Fintech Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024. It joins Space, SaaS, AI and Builders as the other industry-focused stages — all under one big roof. As the fintech industry evolves, new opportunities abound for founders, investors, and customers. Areas such as mobile banking, global payroll, digital […]
© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Director who identified QAnon authors says HBO doc will expose SatoshiCullen Hoback’s previous work brought the conspiracy theory group to light, but it remains to be seen if he’s truly unmasked the creator of Bitcoin.

Behringer’s new Grind hybrid semi-modular synth features oscillators from Mutable InstrumentsBehringer has unveiled Grind, a hybrid semi-modular synthesizer that promises “no tone you can’t create”.
With a price tag of just $199, this new addition to Behringer’s Producer series — featuring the Edge, Crave and Spice — is described as a “jack-of-all-trades synth” that can do anything from “percussion, searing leads to dreamy soundscapes.”

READ MORE: How the SP-303 connects hip-hop’s Holy Trinity: J Dilla, Madlib, and MF DOOM

At the heart of the Grind is its hybrid architecture that pairs 24 digital oscillators with a classic 24dB analogue ladder filter. Much like Behringer’s Brains module, Grind features 15 synth engines originally designed by boutique company Mutable Instruments for the acclaimed (and discontinued) Plaits module. They include Virtual Analog, Waveshaper, FM, Grains, Rain, Noise, Dust, DX7, TD-3 Bassline, Wave Generator, and more.
The synth is equipped with a 34-point patchbay, providing extensive modulation options, allowing you to connect it with other gear or integrate it into a Eurorack setup.
It also features an advanced arpeggiator, along with a 32-step sequencer capable of storing up to 64 patterns across eight banks. Your sequences can be played either in Keyboard mode, where you create and store the pattern, or Step mode, which allows you to interact while composing a pattern.
Grind also comes equipped with a 22×12 I/O matrix and a fully analogue LFO that offers both triangle and square waveforms, providing extensive modulation options. This setup makes it ideal for creating complex soundscapes and intricate rhythmic patterns.
Additionally, Grind’s 16-voice poly chain capability allows users to combine multiple synths for expanded polyphony, making it an excellent choice for larger setups or live performances. And as far as connectivity is concerned, the synth features MIDI In, Out, and Thru ports along with USB MIDI support, and two 3.5mm audio outputs.
Check out Behringer’s demo video for the Grind below.

Learn more at Behringer.
The post Behringer’s new Grind hybrid semi-modular synth features oscillators from Mutable Instruments appeared first on MusicTech.

Jack Antonoff wants to create accessible music studios across the US: “I dream of the studio being accessible to anyone, not just those with money”Producer Jack Antonoff has revealed plans to build a number of music studios across America for those who would not normally be able to afford to use one.
Antonoff – who has produced for the likes of Lana Del Rey and Taylor Swift, as well as fronting the band Bleachers – will begin by building these studios within LGBTQ+ youth shelters.

READ MORE: “I always know when it’s done. It’s a feeling”: Jack Antonoff explains how he knows when a track is finished

Though still in a very early stage, Antonoff shared his plans in an Instagram statement in the hopes of gaining support from those with resources to help lift the project off the ground.
“I love recording at home, in hotel rooms and the level of recordings that can now be made there is a wonderful thing for everyone. But the studio is different. Working with analogue gear and creating sounds that are impossible to recreate is powerful. Knowing you are in a space for a limited amount of time and pushing yourself to the edge is vital,” he begins.
“I fly on planes and look down and see baseball diamonds everywhere, basketball courts all over my neighbourhood, tracks, public parks and gyms etc. There are many facilities available for what we value. I dream of the studio being a place that anyone can access, not just those with the money to do so.”
He later adds, “I plan to spend a large part of the next chapter of my life bringing these spaces to people who wouldn’t have access to them. Public studios available to those who are priced out. It’s going to take time and a lot of resources but over here we have a plan that starts with working through the ally coalition to build studios in LGBTQ+ youth shelters.
“From there we will have a network of engineers that we will fund who will train people at these sites. Our plan is to build these spaces, pay for maintenance and engineering and let the centres give out the time slots for people to use them. From there we can start to expand into cities once we have it happening.”
Read his full post below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by jack antonoff (@jackantonoff)

If you feel you can help, Antonoff has asked those with resources to contact studio@theallycoalition.org.
The post Jack Antonoff wants to create accessible music studios across the US: “I dream of the studio being accessible to anyone, not just those with money” appeared first on MusicTech.

Billy Corgan thinks Pro Tools made music worse: “It brought a lot of people into the music business that really have no business being in the music business”Billy Corgan doesn’t seem to like it when new tech enters the music industry.
Although the 90s icon used AI to create a recent multi-language online advert for his iconic band, The Smashing Pumpkins, he remains cautious about other tech in music; tech he believes is problematic.
READ MORE: In 3 hours, Hans Zimmer Live reminds you why AI won’t replace real musicians
In a new interview with Goldmine Magazine, Corgon takes aim at Pro Tools and “Pro Tools-type software” to express his discontent at how digital audio workstations (DAWs) have affected the music industry at large:
“In many ways, [Pro Tools] has made music much worse. It brought a lot of people into the music business that really have no business being in the music business,” Corgan says. “…Pro Tools, as a sort of way of making music, on some level, has levelled the playing field that allowed people who can’t sing to sound like they can sing. And people who can’t play guitar now sound like they can.”
Later on in the interview, Corgan extends his point of view on Pro Tools to AI, referring to how streaming services are approach the new tech:
“OK, so whenever a new technology shows up, people are right to raise the alarm,” Corgan says. “We can already see people using AI to generate lyrics, melodies, and chord changes. Streaming services are already buying companies to make AI-generated music, so they don’t have to pay human beings. They can just take the money themselves.”
How AI is affecting music has been a prominent topic of conversation within the industry of late. Heart on My Sleeve” a song created by the anonymous user Ghostwriter to include AI-generated versions of Drake and The Weeknd’s vocals was nearly eligible for a Grammy nomination.
However, the Recording Academy (which oversees the Grammys) clarified the rules on AI, summarizing, “A work that contains no human authorship is not eligible in any categories.”
Corgan ensures human authorship and creativity are central to The Smashing Pumpkins process even after over 30 years of being a band:
“Not to get too technical, but we still use amps. There’s no amp modelling; it’s all raw power. It’s guitars and amps into cabinets and mics. We still believe in moving air, whereas a lot of rock records are made in the box,” Corgan says.
Corgan has voiced his criticism of Pro Tools in the past. Notably, in 2022, he likened Pro Tools to “the filter on Instagram.”
Read more music technology news.
The post Billy Corgan thinks Pro Tools made music worse: “It brought a lot of people into the music business that really have no business being in the music business” appeared first on MusicTech.

How I Play: Hybrasil’s DAWless live techno setupIn this episode of How I Play, we hear from Berlin-based techno producer Hybrasil on his powerful live rig. Instead of having a laptop or CDJs involved, this is a DAWless outboard standalone system that’s pretty impressive. Watch him talk through his setup and share his secrets in this fresh new How I Play: Learn […]
The post How I Play: Hybrasil’s DAWless live techno setup appeared first on DJ TechTools.

A Lightweight Balloon Tracker For High Altitude MissionsIt’s pretty easy to take a balloon, fill it up with helium, and send it up in to the upper atmosphere. It’s much harder to keep track of it and recover it when it falls back to Earth. If you’re trying to do that, you might find some value in the Tiny4FSK project from the New England Weather Balloon Society.
Tiny4FSK is intended to be a very small solution for high-altitude tracking. As you might have guessed from the name, it communicates via 4FSK—four frequency shift keying. Basically, it communicates data via four separate tones. Based around the SAMD21G18A microcontroller, it’s designed to run on a single AA battery, which should last for anywhere from 10-17 hours. It communicates via a Si4063 transmitter set up to communicate on 433.2 MHz, using the Horus Binary v2 system. As for data, it’s hooked up with a GPS module and a BME280 environmental sensor for location. The balloon can figure out where it is, and tell you the temperature, pressure, and humidity up there, too.
If you’re looking for a lightweight balloon tracker, this one might be very much up your alley. We’ve featured other projects in this vein, too. Meanwhile, if you’re developing something new in the high-altitude ballooning space, you could keep it to yourself. Or, alternatively, you could tell us via the tipsline and we’ll tell everybody else. Your call!

“A true acoustic masterpiece”: Focal’s $40,000 Diva Utopia monitors are ridiculously luxurious active speakersFocal is welcoming listeners to sonic nirvana with its new line of hi-fi speakers: Focal Diva Utopia.
The Utopia line has long been Focal’s top-rated passive speaker. But Diva Utopias take the French audio manufacturer into the active and wireless realms. These are primed for any audiophile who wants supreme sound and doesn’t want to manage a receiver or any other complex wiring to power their listening session.
READ MORE: CRBN2 headphones’ SLAM acoustic technology offers groundbreaking bass response – but it doesn’t come cheap
Diva Utopias features Bluetooth and Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology, supporting 192kHz/24bits audio where supported. You can connect wirelessly to major streaming services such as Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Apple AirPlay 2, and Google Cast. Just pair your phone and let the music play.
For connecting to other entertainment applications, the Focal Divas include a comprehensive connectivity panel on the lower rear. HDMI, Cat6, USB-A, and analogue RCA ports are available to make these future-fi speakers work with any system listeners may have at home.
The convenience surely upped the price, but Diva Utopias are built with the same exceptional technology from Naim Audio that has made Focal a leader in audio tech.
Focal Diva Utopia. Image: Focal
“Naim Audio has designed the electronics especially to guarantee the faithful reproduction of every musical nuance,” reads a quote from the press release. The brand also touts the Diva Utopias as “a true acoustic masterpiece,” thanks to “sophisticated materials with an open design.”
The vertical, floor-standing construct includes Focal’s standard 27mm inverted dome beryllium tweeter, a 16.5cm sandwich midrange driver, and four 16.5cm woofers. Such dimensions can easily fill rooms as large as 80 sqm. Overall, Diva Utopias put out 800 watts of power, 400 watts per speaker divided among the three driver sections: 250W for bass, 75W for both the tweeter and midrange.
This all comes at a price, though. A pair of Focal Diva Utopia speakers will set you back £29,999/$39,999 — Focal’s own passive alternatives such as the Sopra and Kanta can be bought for half or even one-third the cost.
Still, for anyone who can afford Diva Utopias, they will surely elevate any home system to the next level of quality and simplicity.
Learn more at focal.com.
The post “A true acoustic masterpiece”: Focal’s $40,000 Diva Utopia monitors are ridiculously luxurious active speakers appeared first on MusicTech.

$500,000 Gift from Mike Curb Foundation Endows New Program at Occidental CollegeThe Mike Curb Foundation has announced a $500,000 gift to Occidental College’s new John Branca Institute for Music. The gift establishes the Mike Curb Endowed Program in Popular Music History, which will enhance the Institute’s curricular offerings by providing a range of guest speakers and career development events to Occidental students and alumni, as well as the naming of recognized music professionals to the Linda and Mike Curb Fellowship.

“We are thrilled that the Mike Curb Foundation is joining forces with the Branca Institute in its inaugural year,” said David Kasunic, director of the John Branca Institute for Music and associate professor of music. “This gift rightly emphasizes the study of the history of popular music as a prerequisite to creating and understanding popular music today, and that the people who know this history best are the experienced music professionals who have been part of this history.”

The gift will enable the College to bring to campus highly accomplished music professionals with expertise in both music history and the music industry, and will support related programming in perpetuity. In particular, the Curb Fellowship will allow the Branca Institute to capitalize on the tremendous pool of knowledge and talent in the Southern California music industry by bringing that talent into Occidental’s classrooms and music workspaces. Renowned music producer Michael Lloyd, the inaugural Curb Fellow for the 2025-26 academic year, produced 1970s teen idols such as the Osmonds and Shaun Cassidy and supervised the music soundtrack for the 1987 film “Dirty Dancing,” including production of the hit “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.”

The fellowship will also allow for a greater range of participants in the Branca Institute, especially those with music industry experience but without academic backgrounds. The Curb Fellow will give talks, masterclasses and workshops on practical elements of popular music-making and history, and, by connecting with alumni during networking events, will reinforce the Institute’s commitment to Occidental students beyond their graduation.

Additionally, the endowed program will enhance the Music Department’s ability to teach, advise and critique popular music as part of its fast-growingmusic program, which embeds music theory and practice within a broader liberal arts curriculum. Students develop an understanding of music as a creative work, as a cultural and historical expression and as a performance medium. “Billboard” Magazine has repeatedly ranked Occidental as a Top Music Business School, praising the College for a music program that will solidly position graduates for careers in an increasingly complex music industry.

Curb’s endowment stems from his longstanding involvement in philanthropic activities and also from his close personal friendship with John Branca. He is the former acting governor and lieutenant governor of California, a GRAMMY Award-winning record producer, a “Billboard” record producer of the year and a BMI multi-award-winning songwriter. Curb continues to preside over his own independent record company, which he founded in 1963 and which has launched the careers of numerous stars; Curb artists have received 33 GRAMMY Awards. He has received a star on the historic Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles and on the Music City Walk of Fame in Nashville. He has also partnered with the GRAMMY Museum for numerous programs and initiatives.

Join Occidental College to celebrate the establishment of the institute at an on-campus concert on Oct. 18. Members of the Occidental College Music Department will perform the greatest hits from Branca's most renowned clients, including Michael Jackson, Carlos Santana, The Bee Gees, The Beach Boys, and Rodgers & Hammerstein. Tickets are available here. The post $500,000 Gift from Mike Curb Foundation Endows New Program at Occidental College first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Renato Vanzella promoted to General Manager of LATAM at Downtown-owned FUGAExec was formerly FUGA’s General Manager of Brazil
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Pulley System Makes Headphone Cables More ManagableIt’s 2024. You’ve probably got one or more pairs of wireless headphones around the house. [Barnso] prefers wired headphones with a long cable, but he also decries the fact that it often gets tangled in his chair. The solution? A pulley system to make everything easier.
The concept is simple. [Barnso]’s system uses three pulleys. The headphone cable goes to the PC, and then runs over the first pulley. It then runs under a second pulley which is free to move, but weighted so that it naturally wants to fall down under gravity. The cable then comes back up over a third pulley, and then runs to the headphones on [Barnso]’s head. Basically, it’s a super simple cable retraction mechanism that keeps the long headphone cable organized and in one place.
It’s nice to see a simple mechanism that makes life easier, particularly one that solves a problem so many of us have faced in real life. The construction shown in the video is almost (intentionally?) maddeningly hacky but it does the job. If you prefer to go wireless, though, we can show you how to do that too.

Sony Music GSA restructures under new CEO Christoph BehmSony Music's GSA labels to sit within three new frontline label groups, including the Ariola Label Group, the Columbia Label Group, and the RCA Label Group
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It’s harder than ever to be an independent musician, new study confirmsIt's harder than ever to be an independent musician, a new study by Right Chord Music, Musosoup, and the Major Labl Artist Club confirms.
The post It’s harder than ever to be an independent musician, new study confirms appeared first on Hypebot.