My Forever Studio: Chris Lake on Ableton’s most powerful effectThe cure to “option paralysis”? The Yamaha keyboard that started his career? His favourite “happy accident synthesizer”? LA-based British producer Chris Lake reveals all in this episode of My Forever Studio, brought to you in partnership with Audient.  Speaking to hosts Chris and Will from TYX Studios in London, Chris Lake gets deep into his music production philosophies and techniques, and selects the six items he’d make music with forever — no bundles, of course.
Lake started his music production career in 1997, but found breakout success with his 2006 single, Changes, and has been a staple in the progressive house and tech house scene ever since. But one thing has been missing from his 20-year discography: a full-length album. That changes now, with his debut album Chemistry out on his own Black Book Records label, featuring artists such as Kelly Lee Owens, Bonobo, Black Lotus and more.
Elsewhere in this episode, Chris shares some of his production secrets, including how he gets bass to sound just as powerful on headphones as club-shaking sound systems, Ableton Live’s most powerful stock effect, and a fantastic way to find never-before-heard sounds for your tracks. Along the way, find out how a Yamaha keyboard saved him at an ill-fated gig, the setup he “stole” from Bonobo to endlessly inspire singers, and which DAW he’ll never get his head around.
Listen to the show on your favourite podcasting platform and watch the whole show below.

The My Forever Studio podcast – created in partnership with Audient – sees artists, producers, and engineers create their dream fantasy Forever Studio, wherever they want in the universe. However, hosts Chris Barker and Will Betts impose some strict rules in the Forever Studio. Our guests are permitted a limited number of items in their creative space, so they must choose carefully. There will be nostalgia. There will be anecdotes. There may be gags. But there will be no bundles!
Subscribe to My Forever Studio on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and check out all episodes so far via MusicTech.
The post My Forever Studio: Chris Lake on Ableton’s most powerful effect appeared first on MusicTech.

Should AI Artists Have Fans, Custom Music For SyncThis week, Ari is joined by Jess Furman to discuss custom music for TV/film and the ethics of AI music artists.

Experience your gear exactly as it was meant to sound.Wolff Audio released a statement on Tuesday, enthusiastically introducing the public to the 500 Series RefPre. "The preamp that champions ribbon mics without ever coloring your sound," they said. "Its ultra‑transparent, transformerless design and minimal signal path ensure every nuance of your mic’s smooth highs and rich lows comes through pure and untouched."The preamp, they say, is for "when you need to tame a high‑output ribbon or coax delicate detail from vintage models."Details, directly from Wolff Audio, are as follows.Ribbon‑Ready Gain: Stepped rotary control from –10 dB to 60 dB, plus a dedicated +10 dB ribbon circuit with auto‑impedance matching and phantom‑power lockout

Pristine Headroom: +28 dBu output and –125 dBu EIN keep noise and distortion invisible. Even at extreme settings

Pro‑Level Tools: 80 Hz high‑pass filter, polarity switch, front‑panel Hi‑Z input, and hard‑wired relay bypass for true signal integrity

Rock‑Solid Reliability: All gain stages and switches are relay‑based, built to last session after session"Originally crafted for the Wolff Console, RefPre shines as a stand‑alone 500‑series module in studios, broadcast suites, or any rig that demands total fidelity," they say. "Swap in RefPre for your ribbon, dynamic, or condenser mics—and rediscover what transparent really means. Ready to elevate your recordings? Try RefPre today and experience your gear exactly as it was meant to sound."LEARN MOREThe post Experience your gear exactly as it was meant to sound. first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Price predictions 7/22: SPX, DXY, BTC, ETH, XRP, BNB, SOL, DOGE, ADA, HYPEBitcoin continues to face selling near $120,000, but the bulls have kept up the pressure, increasing the likelihood of an upside breakout.

Apple alerted Iranians to iPhone spyware attacks, say researchersResearchers say Apple sent out threat notifications to several Iranians in recent months, saying their iPhones had been hacked. Iran is likely behind the attacks.

Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath frontman and heavy metal pioneer, dies aged 76"It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning," said his family in a statement
Source

Native Instruments Hybrid KeysNative Instruments Hybrid Keys Hybrid Keys is a unique and innovative virtual instrument from Native Instruments, designed to push the boundaries of traditional keyboard sounds. Rather than simply providing faithful recreations of pianos and synthesizers, it blends sampled acoustic instruments, classic synthesizers, mallets, and other eclectic sound sources, then processes them with creative effects to forge entirely new sonic textures. This instrument is part of Native Instruments' "Play Series," known for delivering high-quality sounds with an intuitive, streamlined interface, making it accessible for both seasoned producers and those new to music production. The core concept behind Hybrid Keys lies in its ability to combine two distinct sound sources, A and B, which can be blended and manipulated to generate a vast array of expressive and unconventional sounds. Native Instruments achieved these unique sounds through innovative recording techniques, including re-amping, creative microphone placement in diverse spaces, and experimental vari-speed tape effects. This meticulous approach results in a collection of presets that range from ethereal pads and shimmering leads to gritty basses and percussive plucks, all imbued with a distinctive character. The instrument's intuitive macro controls allow for quick and effective sound sculpting, enabling users to dial in effects like dirt, reverb, lo-fi tape warble, and noise with ease, transforming the initial sound into something entirely new. Beyond its rich sound palette, Hybrid Keys offers robust sound design capabilities. Users can delve into the Sound Editor to fine-tune individual sound sources, adjusting parameters such as tuning, filters, panning, and envelopes. The Effects Editor provides a customizable chain of effects, allowing for easy swapping and reordering of processing modules to further shape the tone. For dynamic and evolving textures, the integrated 16-step sequencer enables the creation of melodic phrases and offers six additional lanes for modulating assignable macros. This level of control, combined with the initial blend of unique sound sources, ensures that Hybrid Keys is not just a preset player but a versatile tool for sonic exploration and creative expression. Features: Hybrid Sound Blending: Combines sampled pianos, synthesizers, mallets, and other unique sound sources. Intuitive Interface: Designed for quick sound tweaking with a focus on playability. Dual Sound Layers (A/B): Blend two distinct sound sources to create complex textures. Six Assignable Macro Knobs: Quickly adjust key parameters for instant sonic transformation. Sound Editor: Access detailed controls for tuning, filters, panning, and envelopes for each sound layer. Effects Editor: Customize effect chains with various processing modules, including dirt, reverb, tape warble, and noise. 16-Step Sequencer: Create melodic sequences and modulate up to six macros for dynamic sound design. Macro Editor: Assign and manage macro controls, set parameter ranges, and customize mappings. Settings Page: Adjust key ranges, velocity curves, glide, note priority, and bend range. Extensive Preset Library: Over 100 carefully designed presets across categories like Acoustics, Electrics, Harpsichords, Mallets, Organs, and Synthy. Part of the Play Series: Offers high-quality sound in an easy-to-use package, ideal for quick inspiration. Read More

2025 One Hertz Challenge: A 555, but not as we know itWe did explicitly ask for projects that use a 555 timer for the One Hertz Challenge, but we weren’t expecting the 555 to be the project. Yet, here we are, with [matt venn]’s Open Source 1Hz Blinky, that blinks a light with a 555 timer… but not one you’d get from Digikey. 
Hooking a 555 to blink an LED at one hertz is a bog-simple, first-electronics-project type of exercise, unless you have to make the 555 first. Rather than go big, as we have seen before, [matt venn] goes very small, with a 555 implemented on a tiny sliver of Tiny Tapeout 6.
We’ve covered projects using that tapeout before, but in case you missed it, Tiny Tapeout gives space to anyone to produce ASICs on custom silicon using an open Process Design Kit, and we have [matt venn] to thank for it. The Tiny Tapeout implementation of the 555 was actually designed by [Vincent Fusco].
Of course wiring it up is a bit more complicated than dropping in a 555 timer to the circuit: the Tiny Tapeout ASIC must be configured to use that specific project using its web interface.  There’s a demo video embedded below, with some info about the project– it’s not just a blinking LED, so it’s worth seeing. The output isn’t exactly One Hertz, so it might not get the nod in the Timelord category, but it’s going to be a very strong competitor for other 555-based projects– of which we could really use more, hint-hint. You’ve got until August 19th, if you think you can use a 555 to do something more interesting than blink an LED.

Setmixer live recordings offer new Income for Artists & VenuesSetmixer has built and launched a platform that, once installed in a music venue, delivers quality live recordings for sale to fans within 12 hours.
The post Setmixer live recordings offer new Income for Artists & Venues appeared first on Hypebot.

HeadRush introduce the VX5 The latest arrival to the HeadRush range is aimed purely at vocalists, and offers a compact and cost-effective way to incorporate industry-standard pitch-correction into a live performance.

15 Ways to Make Money From Live ShowsMost musicians focus on ticket sales, but that's just the start. These 15 ideas show how to make money from live shows while also connecting with fans.
The post 15 Ways to Make Money From Live Shows appeared first on Hypebot.

Get Illume by Moonwave FX FREE via Pluginomat (Limited Time Only)
Pluginomat is currently offering Illume by Moonwave FX as a free download for a limited time. The plugin usually costs $34.96, so it’s an excellent opportunity to snag it as a freebie if you enjoy quick and easy tools for brightening your mix. Illume is a one-knob signal enhancer in the style of Waves’ OneKnob [...]
View post: Get Illume by Moonwave FX FREE via Pluginomat (Limited Time Only)

AI music awards organisation bans viral AI band Velvet Sundown from entering: “This doesn’t align with our values…”The Future Sound Awards – a ceremony positioning itself as the “Grammys of the AI music space” – has officially banned controversial AI band The Velvet Sundown from participating.
The project, described as “a multidisciplinary artistic project blending music, analogue aesthetics, and speculative storytelling,” recently drew attention for amassing hundreds of thousands of monthly listeners on Spotify and landing on several prominent playlists.
But what seemed like an emerging indie band was soon revealed to be something else entirely.

READ MORE: “It’s unstoppable”: ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus says artists who resist AI are “stupid” and “luddite”

After initially denying any use of generative AI, the creators behind Velvet Sundown eventually admitted that the entire project – music, vocals, and all – had been created using AI tools, specifically Suno. The move, while effective in generating buzz, has been widely criticised for its deceptive nature. And now, the organisers of the Future Sound Awards have weighed in.
In a statement, the Fanvue World AI Creator Awards, the group behind the Future Sound Awards, explains that Velvet Sundown has been disqualified for violating the award’s core principles.
“The Future Sound Awards was launched to demonstrate the ethical use of AI tools in music – and celebrate the millions of creators using these tools,” it states. “After noticing a registration through our awards platform from ‘The Velvet Sundown’ we have since proactively taken the step to ban the band from entering the awards.”
The organisation also stresses that “our belief and the mission of the awards is to promote the responsible use of AI in music – not displace artists which The Velvet Sundown is based on. This doesn’t align with our values or our submission requirements which are operated through our partner, TwoShot, and their industry-leading licensing technology to protect artists.”
The controversy highlights a growing debate in the AI music space: at what point does creative experimentation with AI cross the line into deception or exploitation? And as the industry scrambles to define its boundaries, Velvet Sundown may have just served as a cautionary tale of what not to do.
In other AI music news, Spotify has reportedly published AI-generated songs under the names of dead artists without the knowledge or consent of their estates or rights holders, according to a new investigation by 404 Media.
The post AI music awards organisation bans viral AI band Velvet Sundown from entering: “This doesn’t align with our values…” appeared first on MusicTech.

Acustica release Mahogany filter plug-in Mahogany sets its sights on one of Moog’s classic filter designs, and relies on a combination of Acustica's Hyper engine and the new modulation architecture introduced in their Marea instrument series. 

Spotify posting AI-generated songs of dead artists without permission, new report revealsSpotify has been posting AI-generated songs attributed to dead artists without the consent of their estates or rights holders, a new report by 404 Media reveals.
Over the weekend, a track titled Together was uploaded to the Spotify page of Blaze Foley, an American country singer-songwriter who died in 1989. The song, which the article describes as sounding vaguely “like a new, slow country song”, was accompanied by an AI-generated album artwork featuring a male singer who “looks nothing like Foley”.

READ MORE: Fraudulent streams of AI-generated music are being filtered out of royalty payments from Deezer

Craig McDonald, who runs the record label responsible for distributing Foley’s catalogue and managing his official Spotify page, says he never thought that an AI-generated track could appear on Foley’s page without his permission. He also tells 404 Media that fans of the musician would immediately recognise Together as a fake.
“I can clearly tell you that this song is not Blaze, not anywhere near Blaze’s style, at all,” he states. “It’s kind of an AI schlock bot, if you will. It has nothing to do with the Blaze you know, that whole posting has the authenticity of an algorithm.”
McDonald adds that the incident is “harmful to Blaze’s standing” and places the blame squarely on Spotify.
“It’s kind of surprising that Spotify doesn’t have a security fix for this type of action, and I think the responsibility is all on Spotify. They could fix this problem,” he argues. “One of their talented software engineers could stop this fraudulent practice in its tracks, if they had the will to do so. And I think they should take that responsibility and do something quickly.”
In response, Spotify says it had “flagged the issue” to the song’s distributor, SoundOn, and has since removed the track for violating its “Deceptive Content policy”.
Still, it appears that Foley’s episode was not an isolated case. 404 Media traced the upload of Together to a company called Syntax Error – whose name also appears in the copyright section of another now-removed Spotify track: an AI-generated song attributed to Grammy-winning country artist Guy Clark, who passed away in 2016. That song, titled Happened To You, was uploaded just last week and likewise featured an AI-generated image of someone bearing no resemblance to Clark.
At the time of writing, Spotify has not addressed the existence of Syntax Error or how it was able to upload songs under the names of deceased artists.
The controversy comes amid a wider wave of AI-generated music slipping through the cracks of streaming services. Just recently, a ‘band’ named The Velvet Sundown managed to rack up over a million Spotify streams before revealing that all their music, including vocals, had been generated entirely by AI.
The post Spotify posting AI-generated songs of dead artists without permission, new report reveals appeared first on MusicTech.