Bluesky launches Ozone, a tool that lets users create and run their own independent moderation servicesDecentralized Twitter/X rival Bluesky announced today that it’s open sourcing Ozone, a tool that lets individuals and teams collaboratively review and label content on the network. The company plans to open up the ability for individuals and teams to run their own independent moderation services later this week, which means users will be able to subscribe […]
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Save up to 50% on VSL string libraries Products across both the Synchron Series and Synchron-ized Series are currently subject to some generous pricing offers.

Playing Audio on The Pi Pico With No DAC To Speak OfNormally, if you want to play music or other audio on a microcontroller, you need to get yourself a DAC. Or at least, that’s the easiest way to go about it and the one most likely to get you good, intelligible audio. You don’t have to go that way, though, as [antirez] demonstrates.
[antirez] decided to do this with a Pi Pico, but it’s applicable to other microcontrollers too. It’s all done with a single pin and a PWM output. The PWM output is set to a very high frequency beyond human hearing. In this case, it was 100 KHz. Then, the duty cycle of the PWM is changed to essentially output various average voltage levels at the pin. Vary the output voltage as per your desired sound file by using each sample to vary the duty cycle of the PWM. Voila! You can output whatever sound you want on that pin! [antirez] steps through the basics of doing this, including processing simple WAV files into a raw format that can be dumped into MicroPython code.
There’s no sound sample on the project page, and we’d have to assume it sounds pretty crunchy when hooked up to a speaker. And yet, it could prove a useful technique if you’re designing your own audio greeting cards or something, so keep that in mind!

UMG’s East Coast labels officially restructured under ‘Republic Corps’ banner; Def Jam, Island, Mercury, Republic will operate ‘independently’ while sharing ‘integrated departments’Jim Roppo named President and Chief Operating Officer of Republic Corps reporting directly to Monte Lipman and Avery Lipman
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LED Choker Is a Diamond In the Junk PileIsn’t it great when you find a use for something that didn’t work out for the project it was supposed to? That’s the story behind the LED strips in this lovely blinkenlights choker by [Ted].
The choker itself is a 15 mm wide leather strap with holes punched in it. According to [Ted], the hole punching sounds like the absolute worst and hardest part to do, because the spacing of the holes must be greater than that of the LEDs to account for flex in the strap. [Ted] tested several distances and found that there is little margin for error.
Controlling those blinkenlights is a Seeed Xiao S3, which fits nicely behind the neck in what looks like a heat shrink tube cocoon. [Ted] chose this because there was one lying around, and it happens to be a good fit with its LiPo charge controller.
The choker runs on four 300 mAh LiPo batteries, which makes for more bulk than [Ted] would like, but again, sometimes it’s about what you have lying around. Even so, the batteries last around two hours.
Sometimes it’s about more than just blinkenlights. Here’s an LED necklace that reports on local air quality.

iZotope’s revived distortion plugin is Trash – no, seriouslyiZotope has revived a fan favourite plugin, and it’s Trash. Literally. The iconic distortion tool, Trash, first introduced in 2003, is back and boasts a set of new upgrades to offer a “whole new take on the joy of breaking things”.
Trash is now available as a desktop plugin and for use on iPad with Logic Pro using the AUv3 format. Both versions also include a new Trash Lite mode which is completely free.

READ MORE: iZotope Nectar 4 brings valuable updates alongside some unexpected creative tools

“Trash takes sound into new dimensions with unlimited ways to twist, mangle, and energise music,” says iZotope. The plugin now features an easy-to-use interface, and is driven by two engines: the Trash and Convolve modules.
The Trash module includes over 60 distortion types for subtle distortion all the way to “full-on sonic mutation”. Convolve, on the other hand, comes with over 600 impulse responses to morph and filter your sound, such as tin cans, piano cabinets, reversed reverbs, and underwater recordings.
Both modules include an “intuitive” XY pad, allowing you to blend between either four distortion algorithms, or four impulse responses. Other new features include an Envelope Follower, a Dice Roll button for inspiration, and a Scream filter. Trash also utilises intelligent auto-gain and limiter settings on your output levels.
Take a look below:

A few creatives have already got their hands on Trash, but seemingly the reviews are mixed. iZotope have a high standard to live up to following the well-loved Trash2, which landed nearly a decade on from the original Trash in 2012. Weaver Beats has given his thoughts on the new plugin in a two-hour long Twitch stream, while Low End Candy says he’s not so sure on the new version of the tool, but came to like it after playing around with some of its features. See his video below.

Use Trash for free via the Trash Lite mode, or you can purchase the full edition now via iZotope. Trash for desktop is priced at £95/$99 (with an introductory price of $79 through 16 April 2024), and at £19.99/$19.99 for iPad via the App Store.
The post iZotope’s revived distortion plugin is Trash – no, seriously appeared first on MusicTech.

MusicWatch study points to continued growth but offers some surprisesA new MusicWatch study says 90% of US internet users stream music, and consumer willingness to spend money on music points to more strong growth ahead. But there were also several surprise findings.....
The post MusicWatch study points to continued growth but offers some surprises appeared first on Hypebot.

Drooling over this limited-edition black Erica Synths Pērkons HD-01? Too bad – it’s already sold outErica Synths launched a black version of its Pērkons HD-01 drum synth just last week, and they completely sold out almost within an instant.
In the extremely limited drop, just 20 units were made available and sold like hot cakes. It’s clear there’s a huge demand for a full production run of this black edition, but only time will tell whether or not the brand will be offering it a full-time position among its lineup of other gear.

READ MORE: Richie Hawtin and Erica Synths’ Bullfrog can easily help you teach and learn synthesis

The original version of the drum synth landed in 2021, and MusicTech rated it a glowing 9/10 in our review for its generous amount of performative control and excellent build quality.
It seems this limited version packs in all the same features, including four hybrid voices (digital sound engine and analogue multimode filter with overdrive), eight controls per voice, external trigger inputs for each voice, and individual voice outputs.
It also has individual FX sends and returns, a master FX send and return, and modulation LFO with morphing waveforms, with up to eight modulation destinations per voice.

The black version was priced higher than the original (€1800.00 rather than €1700.00), and showcased side panels crafted from hand picked wood, engraved using the Lichtenburg burning method.
“The timelessly black finish of Pērkons HD-01 matches our other instruments and visually complements the dark aesthetic that has become synonymous with Erica Synths modules and desktop instruments all over the world,” the brand states on its website.
“What truly sets these side panels apart is the mesmerising Lichtenburg burning method employed in their creation. This technique, named after the physicist Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, involves applying high-voltage electricity to the wood’s surface, resulting in striking patterns reminiscent of lightning strikes.
“The method has gained notoriety due to numerous incidents of death and severe injuries when people have attempted it at home, with at least 33 people having died between 2017 and 2022. Pērkons HD-01 engraved side panels have been hand-made by Sandis Vāgners in the deep woods of Latvia. To prevent his certain death during the engraving process Erica Synths developed a special emergency power cut circuit.”
You can shop the original Pērkons HD-01 now via Erica Synths.
The post Drooling over this limited-edition black Erica Synths Pērkons HD-01? Too bad – it’s already sold out appeared first on MusicTech.

iZotope revive Trash distortion plug-in iZotope's distortion plug-in has returned with desktop and iPad versions, and also offers a Lite mode that can be enjoyed for free on all platforms.

How to maximize a music release’s potential for success [VIDEO]The right planning and preparation can make or break how well a music release does. This guide breaks down the steps needed to put out a successful song.....
The post How to maximize a music release’s potential for success [VIDEO] appeared first on Hypebot.

Alert to users did the impossible and united Congress against TikTokTikTok's attempt to rally users and replicate big tech's Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) protests seems to have backfired, and Congress and President Biden have united against the social video platform.....
The post Alert to users did the impossible and united Congress against TikTok appeared first on Hypebot.

iZotope Releases FREE Trash Lite Distortion Plugin
iZotope released Trash Lite, a freeware distortion plugin based on the new commercial plugin called Trash (€109). Now, if you’ve been around VST plugins for a while, you’re probably already familiar with iZotope Trash. It’s a legendary distortion plugin and one of iZotope’s flagship products before the age of Ozone and other currently popular tools. [...]
View post: iZotope Releases FREE Trash Lite Distortion Plugin

Somerville Sounds Releases FREE Rubber Bridge Guitar Virtual Instrumet
Rubber Bridge Plucks is an acoustic guitar sample-based virtual instrument from Somerville Sounds that can be yours for FREE.  As a longtime guitarist, I will say that I always give virtual guitar instruments a shot. I have friends who do absolute magic using Shreddage and other libraries, so it’s always interesting to see what’s on [...]
View post: Somerville Sounds Releases FREE Rubber Bridge Guitar Virtual Instrumet

“In those situations, you’re not really selected for your technical ability”: Engineer and producer Gloria Kaba says landing jobs with big artists is about personality and temperamentGloria Kaba, an engineer and producer who’s worked with some of the biggest artists in popular culture, believes that personality and temperament can sometimes prevail over your skill set when it comes to landing jobs.
Kaba has been working for roughly a decade in a studio environment, often under the name Redsoul. She’s worked with the likes of Madonna, Beyonce, Phil Ramone, Kanye West, Salaam Remi, Aretha Franklin and Frank Ocean, with A Tribe Called Quest on their final album We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service, and on Solange’s famous A Seat At The Table. She’s also worked closely with hip-hop artist and producer Q-Tip

READ MORE: The Human League’s Don’t You Want Me was recorded in a toilet with an SM58

In the latest episode of EarthQuaker Devices’ Show Us Your Junk, Kaba provides a tour of New York’s Power Station Studio where she is currently serving as Technical Director. Here, she also teaches classes on engineering. She explains that having good chemistry with an artist is at the core of operating as an engineer/producer.
“In a lot of those situations, you’re not really selected for your technical ability,” she says (via Music Radar). “It’s really about being a good fit for the people around and that artist… I’m sure [Q-Tip] was sizing up my personality, my temperament – because that goes a long way.
“Being able to stay calm in high-pressure situations. Not being distracting in a creative environment. Being likeable and pleasant to be around – that goes a long way,” she adds. “That’s a lot of it.”
In the video, Kaba also explains how she brings both her skills in production and engineering together when working on a project: “To me there’s no real clean distinction between the production and engineering as I approach a project. So I could be producing and I’m thinking about a mix so that factors into my sound selection.”
She adds, “An artist, and I can say that for myself too, gets used to what they’ve been hearing, so I like to be intentional and deliberate about the effects I’m adding in the production process or early on in the engineering process.”
Watch the full studio tour with Kaba below:

The post “In those situations, you’re not really selected for your technical ability”: Engineer and producer Gloria Kaba says landing jobs with big artists is about personality and temperament appeared first on MusicTech.

DJ Laurent Garnier listens to “500 EPs a day” looking for new musicFrench techno DJ and producer Laurent Garnier has claimed he listens to 500 EPs a day, roughly equating, he estimates, to between 1,000 and 1,500 songs daily.

READ MORE: Long live pub raves: How big-name DJs are helping to save British pubs

The huge number was revealed during a keynote with the Man With The Red Face producer at the AVA London conference on Thursday 29 February at the British Library. Hosted by writer Séamas O’Reilly, the conversation covered the art of DJing, his early career at the legendary Manchester club, The Haçienda, and the difference between clubs then and now.
“How many tracks do you say you listen to every day?” Quizzed O’Reilly during the keynote.
“About 500,” Garnier responded.
“Are you skipping them, or are you listening to them all the way through?”
“No! Come on!” Garnier snapped back. “We all skip. That’s a normal thing. I skip through 500 Different EPs a day, which makes it about 1,000, 1,500 tracks. I do, because I want to know what’s going on.
“When we DJ, we should try to play the best music that is out and there is a lot of music – a hell of a lot of music. On Spotify, there are between 100,000 and 200,000 tracks a day. So, listening to 500 records is nothing. I basically know nothing about what’s going on but I’m trying to know a little bit. My job is to search for music.”

Garnier went on to further justify this vast number, highlighting that, of the tracks he downloads in a day, some will be used in live DJ sets, some for a show on PBB radio, and the rest will be used on his [DEEP]Search radio show.
Garnier went on to say how it’s important to search for your own music and not accept whatever an algorithm recommends.
“I believe human curating is still more important than what the machines or the the algorithm is proposing to me,” he said. “I’m not happy with the algorithms, so I have to do it myself. The funny thing is, I do find amazing records every day – really, really good stuff.
“I don’t download too many tracks. But yesterday, travelling here… I had 70 new tracks on my computer in 24 hours. So, it’s quite a lot.”
For more artist news, head to MusicTech.
The post DJ Laurent Garnier listens to “500 EPs a day” looking for new music appeared first on MusicTech.