S&P Global joins Singapore's Project Guardian tokenization trialsThe rating agency will provide its perspective on risk mitigation in tokenized fixed income transactions.

Robotics investments are gaining speed after post-pandemic slowdownThe first six months of the year have seen $4.2 billion invested in robotics, putting this year well on track to beat 2023’s 12-month total of $6.8 billion.
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Portable, Full-Size Arcade CabinetsBelieve it or not, there was a time when the only way for many of us to play video games was to grab a roll of quarters and head to the mall. Even though there’s a working computer or video game console in essentially every house now doesn’t mean we don’t look back with a certain nostalgia on those times, though. Some have turned to restoring vintage arcade cabinets and others build their own. This hackerspace got a unique request for a full-sized arcade cabinet that was also easily portable as well.
The original request was for a portable arcade cabinet, and the original designs were for a laptop-like tabletop arcade. But further back-and-forth made it clear they wanted full-size cabinets that just happened to also be portable. So with that criteria in mind the group started building the units. The updated design is modular, allowing the controls, monitor, and Raspberry Pi running the machines to be in self-contained units, with the cabinets in two parts that can quickly be assembled on-site. The base is separate and optional, with the top section capable of being assembled on the base or on something like a tabletop or bar, and the electronics section quickly drops in.
While the idea of a Pi-powered arcade cabinet is certainly nothing new, the quick build, prototyping, design, and final product that’s mobile and quickly assembled are all worth checking out. There is even more information on the build at the project’s GitHub page including Fusion 360 models. If you need your cabinets to be even more portable, this tabletop MAME cabinet is a great place to start.

Universal sued by Grammy-nominated songwriter Jon Hume over use of audio stems in Dean Lewis hit Be AlrightNashville-based songwriter files legal complaint against UMG
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A warning sign? Sweden has fewer paying music subscribers than it did 2 years ago, according to YouGov survey.New report suggests that Swedish consumers are potentially becoming more price-sensitive for streaming music
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Midi Fighter Utility 2.90 ReleasedA new version of the Midi Fighter Utility is now available! We focused this release on implementing some community feedback and fixing the connectivity issues that disabled online firmware updates in the past. Be aware that since 2.85 and previous releases can’t go online you won’t be notified via the app that an update is […]
The post Midi Fighter Utility 2.90 Released appeared first on DJ TechTools.

A Previously Unknown Supplier For A Classic ChipIt’s common enough for integrated circuits to be available from a range of different suppliers, either as licensed clones, or as reverse-engineered proprietary silicon. In the case of a generic circuit such as a cheap op-amp it matters little whose logo adorns the plastic, but when the part in question is an application processor it assumes much more importance. In the era of the 486 and Pentium there were a host of well-known manufacturers producing those chips, so it’s a surprise decades later to find that there was another, previously unknown. That’s just what [Doc TB] has done though, finding a 486 microprocessor from Shenzhen State Micro. That’s not a brand we ever saw in our desktop computers back in the 1990s.
Analysis of a couple of these chips, a DX33 and a DX2-66, shows them to have very similar micro-architecture but surprisingly a lower power consumption suggesting a smaller fabrication process. There’s the fascinating possibility that these might have been manufactured to serve an ongoing demand for 486 processors in some as-yet-unknown Chinese industrial application, but before any retrocomputer enthusiasts get their hopes up, the chips can’t be found anywhere from Shenzhen State Micro’s successor company. So for now they’re a fascinating oddity for CPU collectors, but who knows, perhaps more information on these unusual chips will surface.
Meanwhile we’ve looked at the 486’s legacy in detail  before, even finding there could still just be 486-compatible SoCs out there.

KIT Drums library from KIT Plugins KIT Plugins have announced the launch of the first instalment in their new KIT Drums series that was revealed at NAMM 2024.

Music Tectonics conference adds innovative Creator FairThe Music Tectonics conference is adding a Creator Fair to showcase music instruments, tools, toys, and creators alongside the popular music industry and music tech event. The first Creator Fair. Continue reading
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WebSampler allows you to sample any audio from the internet right within your DAWSampling and music production go hand in hand, so it’s no surprise that there’s a demand among producers for tools to make the sampling process easier.
While there are already a number of audio capture tools available, many producers still rely on online YouTube-to-MP3 websites, which themselves seem to appear and get taken down as regular as clockwork.

READ MORE: “Enough’s enough”: deadmau5 threatens to pull music from Spotify following Daniel Ek “cost of creating content” comments

WebSampler, a new tool from WXAudio, aims to eliminate the need for YouTube-to-MP3 tools by offering producers the ability to record audio from any website from directly within a DAW.

How it works is simple; WebSampler is a VST plugin with an internet browser built right in, where you can head to any website and record a sample and insert it as an audio clip right in your DAW’s timeline.
While WebSampler definitely streamlines the practicality of creating samples for your mixes, it still should be remembered that samples, more often than not, require permission to be used in songs and other projects. That said, WebSampler doesn’t claim to have anything to do with clearing rights for samples, for what it does – quick and easy sampling from anywhere on the web – it really does seem like a knockout idea.
WebSampler costs a very reasonable $10 and is available in VST3, AU and standalone formats. For more info, head to WXAudio.
The post WebSampler allows you to sample any audio from the internet right within your DAW appeared first on MusicTech.

Best free sample packs for IDM and trip hop soundsAd feature with BandLab Sounds
Rooted in the 1990s, IDM is characterised by complex, intricate compositions. The genre is as diverse as it is esoteric, incorporating elements from breakbeat, trip-hop, acid house, and ambient to name a few – so this week’s sample pack round-up is sure to be a goldmine of hidden gems.
Inspired by the vast back catalogue of Machinedrum off the back of his latest release, 3FOR82, you’ll find everything from snappy percussion for creating off-kilter rhythms, to atmospheric pads perfect for lush, detailed soundscapes.
READ MORE: Machinedrum: “That’s what’s exciting about making music: learning, evolving and experimenting”
Experimentation is integral to IDM – don’t be afraid to mangle and warp these samples into entirely new sonic ideas. If you’re really looking to get into the spirit of things, why not load up a tracker like Renoise for some of that old-school workflow?
Whether you’re looking to add complexity to your beats or evoke a moody, atmospheric vibe, this free sample collection is sure to get your brain working.
Machinedrum Presents Micron Sounds
Travis Stewart AKA Machinedrum.Image: Ben Bentley for MusicTech
Put together by Machinedrum himself, this intriguing collection of characterful sounds comes from a ‘90s Micron computer. There’s plenty here to get you started on your IDM journey, from crunchy bit-crushed drums to bouncy bass sounds and glitchy keys.
Download Machinedrum Presents Micron Sounds
Trip Hop Volume 1
Bring the tempo down with this old-school trip hop pack, filled to the brim with mellow grooves, psychedelic pad swells, and organic textures. Of course, there’s a healthy dose of delay on top of these crusty, crunchy loops too.
Download Trip Hop Volume 1
Trip Hop Volume 2

If you didn’t get your fill with the first instalment, Trip Hop Volume 2 is almost double the size. This pack offers a slightly more modern take on the genre than its predecessor, with heavier half-time drum loops and a selection of FX samples to add some flourish to your arrangement.
Download Trip Hop Volume 2
Belibat Trip Hop
This next trip hop bundle, courtesy of Belibat, is darker and more melancholic in tone. You’ll find plenty of psychedelic loops and effects in the pack, along with emotive orchestral phrases – perfect if you’re making music in the vein of Massive Attack or Portishead.
Download Belibat Trip Hop
Patch & Play Lab: Experimental Ear Candy
A hallmark of IDM is the level of detail in its arrangements. Experimental Ear Candy from Patch & Play Lab touts plenty of intriguing gestures and abstract noises to pepper across your production.
Download Patch & Play Lab: Experimental Ear Candy
Intelligent Dance Music

If you’re new to the genre, this collection of IDM sounds is an excellent foundational toolkit. Crisp and snappy drums, weird and warped pads, meandering leads – there’s loads here to get you started.
Download Intelligent Dance Music
Sample This: Smooth Liquid Drum & Bass
Bringing up the tempo, Smooth Liquid Drum & Bass from Sample This offers up deep grooves and skittish drum loops, with plenty of atmospheric sounds to build up your listeners and bring them back down.
Download Sample This: Smooth Liquid Drum & Bass
Classic Atmospheric Liquid D&B

Another collection of liquid D&B sounds, these samples have a little more old-school flavour, harking back to the early noughties. Inside you’ll find 100 loops at 172 beats per minute across drums, bass, pads, keys, and more.
Download Classic Atmospheric & Liquid D&B
Modular Samples

Whether you’re eschewing traditional drums or simply looking for some interesting textures to spice up a beat, this pack of 120 modular one-shots has you covered for all your glitchy, abstract needs.
Download Modular Samples
Patch & Play Lab: Modular Patch Experiments
This experimental sound pack from Patch & Play Lab includes everything from acidic lead sounds to bubbling arpeggiators and squelchy bass sounds – all of which have been heavily processed by analogue hardware for extra character.
Download Patch & Play Lab: Modular Patch Experiments
Marie Ann Hedonia: Sounds From Another Place

Marie Ann is back with another modular synth pack, this time taking us on a journey to worlds beyond our own. Inside, you’ll find plenty of strange effects and stabs, along with spaced-out melodic ideas and modulated drums.
Download Marie Ann Hedonia: Sounds From Another Place
Patch & Play Lab: 50s Sci-fi

Analogue sounds from the future but with a decidedly retro feel are what you’ll find in this Patch & Play Lab pack inspired by ‘50s sci-fi. Watch out Delia Derbyshire, you could be about to get upstaged!
Download Patch & Play Lab: 50s Sci-fi
The post Best free sample packs for IDM and trip hop sounds appeared first on MusicTech.

Shure’s MV7+ microphone sounds amazing but has major control problems£269, shure.com
Shure is back with a new version of its hybrid USB/XLR microphone, the MV7+. We tested the original MV7 in 2021, praising it for its vastfeaturesey and a sound quality approaching that of the revered SM7B, from which the MV7 gets its styling tips.
What’s new with the Shure MV7+?
Onboard signal processing expands on the existing EQ, compression, limiting and auto-gain functions to include reverb and a denoiser. Touch controls (which were fiddly on the MV7) have been pared down to only control muting, with the touch display beneath monitoring incoming audio in a pulsing, colourful way.
Shure has also tweaked the look and sound. A 1.5cm-longer foam windscreen provides even more of an SM7B resemblance. Meanwhile, the raw sound from the capture is smoother than ever with a contoured high-mid range that’s less fatiguing than rivals like RØDE’s PodMic USB.
Shure MV7+
Just like the original MV7, the mic acts as an audio interface in USB mode, with a quality headphone amp on tap. The USB-C connectivity is handy for modern laptops, but users with only USB-A might need a powered hub to feed the MV7+ enough voltage.
USB and XLR signals can be captured simultaneously, although DSP is applied to the USB stream only.
What is the Shure MV7+ like to use?
We love the sound of the MV7 and Shure’s revoicing of the MV7+ makes us smile even more. It’s not quite an SM7B but it’s the closest you can get with the convenience of USB connectivity. Muting is easy and we welcome the colourful display meter of the live signal as a stylish addition.
For voiceover work, we tilt the EQ towards the darker end for a smooth result that thickens the voice with flattering proximity without making it sound dull.
There is, however, noticeable latency, particularly when the headphone level is low. Our PodMic USB gets far closer to ‘zero-latency’ monitoring even with DSP enabled, but perhaps this is the pay-off for Shure doing smarter things under the hood. If you like to monitor loud or you’re less sensitive to latency, then it might not be an issue.
Talking of smart features, the new denoiser is a wonder. Far less choppy than a conventional noise gate, it effortlessly removes preamp hiss and ambient noise without getting in the way or being perceived as uncomfortable phase trickery. And there’s no balancing act with thresholds, or confusing attack and release controls. For capturing the spoken word with minimal room noise or hiss, you’d struggle to do better. In fact, getting reacquainted with the PodMic USB’s noise gate after spending time with the MV7+ feels like a primitive step backward.
Shure MV7+
But that all falls part when using the new desktop software — MOTIV Mix — which controls the mic and offers routing and recording functionality. Still in beta, it’s clearly unfinished. Yes, in a few clicks you can access almost all of the DSP settings, including customising the colours of the LED meters, however, there currently seems to be no way to save settings via a user preset (or select any helpful ‘starter’ presets for different applications). Recording quality and recording paths cannot currently be changed in MOTIV Mix. On a brighter note, the mic does retain its last-used settings.
Working on iOS, the tried-and-tested MOTIV Audio app allows quicker access to settings but cannot access LED colour settings. You can save user presets though — hooray — but Shure must make both versions of the software operate in the same way.
Disappointing too are the reverb presets on the MV7+. These are all dense, mono and have decay times in the range of multiple seconds. We don’t expect onboard reverbs to sound oustanding, but at least with ambience or smaller room settings you can more easily tuck the reverb in behind what you’re recording.
Should I buy the Shure MV7+?
Shure reassures us that software updates are on their way, but for the meantime, if you need to customise recording quality or wish to save presets on a desktop app, then you’re out of luck.
Shure MV7+
If that doesn’t bother you or you’re happy to wait for them, then this mic is a real winner. It looks and sounds great and nearly all the DSP functions are genuinely useful for a host of applications, be it podcasting, music recording or online meetings, with the new denoiser being the stand-out feature that is surely set to become indispensable for many a workflow..
The MV7+ should be earning its rightful place as one of the best-sounding, most versatile USB mics available at any price. It’s just a shame it isn’t yet ready for prime time.
Shure MV7+ key features

Hybrid USB-C/XLR dynamic microphone with onboard audio interface
Recording qualities up to 24-bit/48 kHz
Available in black and white
3.5mm headphone socket
Foam windscreen/pop shield
Integral yoke/standmount
Built-in DSP with auto-gain, compressor, limiter, tilt EQ, denoiser, pop stopper and reverb
Customisable colour meter display
Touch control muting
MOTIV Mix desktop software / ??? Mobile
Includes USB-C cable

The post Shure’s MV7+ microphone sounds amazing but has major control problems appeared first on MusicTech.

“Enough’s enough”: deadmau5 threatens to pull music from Spotify following Daniel Ek “cost of creating content” commentsdeadmau5 has threatened to remove his music from Spotify following comments made by the platform’s CEO Daniel Ek, in which he said the cost of creating content is “close to zero”.
When Ek made the comments last month, outrage from across the music world – the very world Ek and Spotify profit from – predictably ensued.

READ MORE: Record labels sue AI music generators Suno and Udio alleging “unimaginable scales” of copyright infringement

Pondering the “concept of long shelf life versus short shelf life” with regards to music, Ek wrote: “Today, with the cost of creating content being close to zero, people can share an incredible amount of content.”
While such comments may not have been as inflammatory from a different source, Daniel Ek is, himself, a multi-billionaire, and many artists who distribute music via his platform feel significantly underpaid for their contributions to its growth.
Many smaller artists understandably took issue with his viewpoints at the time, and now a more notable voice has taken opposition to them in the form of DJ and producer deadmau5, who has said he may remove his music from Spotify, and called those who run the platform “fucking vultures”.
Sharing a screenshot of a headline on Instagram which reads: “Spotify CEO claims “the cost of creating content” is “close to zero”, deadmau5 responds in the caption: “Incorrect. The cost of creating content was 25+ years of my life and much of those proceeds going to your company you complete fucking idiot.”
And in response to a user’s comment on his post – which reads: “We hate Spotify so much” – deadmau5 replies, “I feel that, I’m about to pull my catalogue from these fucking vultures, enough’s enough.”

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A post shared by deadmau5 (@deadmau5)

deadmau5’s threats came five days ago at the time of writing, and his music remains available to listen to on Spotify. It’s unclear at this stage whether he plans to follow through and remove his catalogue.
This isn’t the first time Daniel Ek has landed himself in hot water with the creators his platform relies on. In March, he justified low royalty payments to artists by likening the music industry to professional football, saying only a handful of artists ever become successful enough to make a sustainable living.
“Football is played by millions of people – but there’s a very small number that can live off playing full time,” he said.
The post “Enough’s enough”: deadmau5 threatens to pull music from Spotify following Daniel Ek “cost of creating content” comments appeared first on MusicTech.

Billie Eilish’s Email Marketing Secrets (that you can use too)Discover how Billie Eilish’s team has successfully used email marketing to boost her fan engagement and sales and keep reading to learn how to apply these strategies to your campaigns.. Continue reading
The post Billie Eilish’s Email Marketing Secrets (that you can use too) appeared first on Hypebot.

The Value of Free: Lessons from Tubi’s SuccessWhen everything nowadays is a paid subscription, it’s important to recognize how Tubi discovered a different path to success… by Fred Jacobs of Jacobs Media These days, it seems like. Continue reading
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