Eight Songs To Chase Those January Blues AwayWhen the temperature drops and the hours of sunlight slowly slip away, it can be be tough to keep your spirits up. Music is the way to embrace this quieter season rather than bemoan it. While some of these songs bring up themes that can be helpful when the winter is getting you down, hopefully they'll all bring a spark of light to the winter darkness, or at the very least help you embrace it.

Pitchfork is laying off staff, merging with Condé Nast’s GQMusic is losing another trusted source as publisher Condé Nast “merges” Pitchfork with its men’s magazine GQ. Respected Pitchfork editor-in-chief Puja Patel will exit along with an unspecified number of. Continue reading
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Land Moto accelerates its electric bike battery play with $3M infusionCleveland-based electric motorcycle startup Land Moto is looking to diversify by powering up the battery design side of its tech, and has raised $3 million (on top of $7 million raised last summer) to do so in 2024. Land’s primary product is a striking electric motorbike called the District, which sits somewhat at the intersection […]
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Republic Records makes chart history, with 8 of the Top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 for two straight weeksRepublic Records' 2024 is off to a flying start
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A different kind of streaming fraud: Over 1m ‘manipulated’ tracks are on audio streaming servicesPex’s Rasty Turek believes the issue of ‘modified audio’ could be fixed by the DSPs
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Kali Audio announces LP-UNF Ultra Nearfield Studio MonitorsKali Audio has announced the LP-UNF Ultra Nearfield studio monitors. Similar to Kali’s IN-UNF, the LP-UNF is made for people working in desktop environments with limited space and ability to get loud. 

The LP-UNF is sold as a pair of speakers, with a primary speaker that houses the amplifier, electronics, and input section and a passive secondary speaker. Each speaker uses a 3.5-inch woofer and 1-inch textile dome tweeter, and measures 6.5 x 7.5 x 10 inches, taking up minimal space on a desktop. At the prescribed listening distance of 0.8 meters - about arm’s length - the LP-UNF delivers 85 dB max SPL with 20 dB dynamic headroom and has a frequency response from 37 Hz to 25 kHz. 

The LP-UNF is made to suit a wide spectrum of desktop applications. It includes tunings for optimizing the speakers’ sound to desktops whether the monitors are sitting directly on the desk, on desktop monitor stands, on the built-in stands found on recording desks, or even on speaker stands behind the desk. For all the of desktop applications, you can further optimize the sound for whether you’re against a wall or further out into the room. 

Robust inputs include stereo TRS for use with professional audio gear, 3.5mm for use with consumer equipment, USB-C for direct use with a computer or tablet, and Bluetooth 5.1 for casual listening. The USB-C connector will also allow users to keep firmware up to date as Kali adds features and improvements to the LP-UNF. 

The LP-UNF uses much of the same technology as Kali’s best-selling LP-6 and LP-8 V2 speakers. A 3-D imaging waveguide is employed to create a detailed, lifelike stereo image where all of the elements of the mix can be clearly perceived in space. The large front-firing port tube uses a unique. fluid dynamics derived shape that eliminates port noise and compression. This allows you to place the speakers against walls without worrying about adverse effects on the port’s performance. Like the larger LP-Series speakers, the LP-UNF uses Kali’s 2nd Wave amplifier technology for low noise, low distortion, and high dynamic range. 

The LP-UNF is available now in the United States, with an MSRP of $299 for the pair. More information can be found at KaliAudio.com/lp-unf  The post Kali Audio announces LP-UNF Ultra Nearfield Studio Monitors first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

IK Multimedia introduce iRig Stream Mic USB The new iRig Stream Mic USB makes many of the features found in their popular iRig Stream Mic Pro available at a lower price point.

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NAMM 2024: IK Multimedia’s new iRig Stream Mic USB is an “accessible” recording solution for musicians and streamersNAMM 2024: IK Multimedia has released a “more accessible” version of its iRig Stream Mic Pro – the iRig Stream Mic USB – which offers a “refined solution” for sharing your voice and music.
The iRig Stream Mic USB offers a unidirectional, cardioid pattern, which the brand says is ideal for focusing in on the speaker or singer, and rejecting any background noise. It also hosts an adjustable gain and selectable high-pass filter for eliminating rumble.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about the IK Multimedia UNO Synth Pro X

Media players, keyboards, mixers, turntables, soundboards and more can be connected to the product via a “high-grade” stereo 3.5 mm audio input, which can be found directly on the mic. A monitoring mix control allows users to blend the direct or recorded audio via the headphone output.
A Loopback feature allows audio – such as backing tracks or sound effects – from a Mac/PC to be mixed into any recording or stream. Its headphone output offers direct monitoring and lets users check levels with any app, and its 16-bit, 48 kHz converters are said to offer “broadcast-ready” sound for both the mic and stereo aux input.
Each input has its own volume control, so users can make quick adjustments if needed when live on camera. It operates in stereo and pre-mixes multiple sources of audio down to a stereo track, ready to send to streaming apps such as Instagram, Facebook, or Twitch.

iRig Stream Mic USB is powered by its host. It includes a USB-C to USB-C cable, plus audio and video recording app, iRig Recorder 3 LE (iPhone/iPad/Android), plus MixBox CS (iPad) and MixBox SE (Mac/PC) – a suite of effects including dynamics, EQ, reverb and others.
Back in 2021, we rated the iRig Stream Solo and iRig Stream Pro an 8/10 in our review. We noted that both products were highly portable for recording and broadcasting on the move or in smaller spaces, and suggested that streamers should look at the Solo while musicians may prefer the Pro model.
iRig Stream Mic USB is available now for $/€99.99. It ships with a table stand and USB-C cable for Mac, PC, iPad and iPhone 15. Find out more at IK Multimedia.
The post NAMM 2024: IK Multimedia’s new iRig Stream Mic USB is an “accessible” recording solution for musicians and streamers appeared first on MusicTech.

New BandLab Licensing service gives creators “unparalleled avenues to monetise their music”BandLab, acknowledged as the world’s largest social music creation platform, has unveiled BandLab Licensing, a new programme to help users monetise their music.

READ MORE: BandLab’s Meng Ru Kuok: “I think there will be over 1 billion music creators by 2030, potentially even sooner”

This initiative is designed to provide musicians with avenues to monetise their music while retaining full artistic control. BandLab Licensing offers a comprehensive licensing solution, covering synchronisation for various mediums such as film, TV, games, and advertising, along with extending streaming licences for exclusive, rights-cleared content.
Musicians on BandLab can now find opportunities to showcase their music on preferred platforms and in popular shows, thereby amplifying their exposure, potential earnings, and fan base. This development is an extension of ReverbNation’s Sync Licensing programme, known for facilitating placements with renowned brands and on well-received shows.
Meng Ru Kuok, CEO & Co-founder of BandLab Technologies, highlights the importance of this launch in a press release, stating, “The launch of BandLab Licensing marks a significant milestone in the expansion of offerings available to BandLab users.
“It not only opens up new revenue streams for our creators and a new at-scale partner for the music supervisor and licensee community, but also strengthens our purpose to democratize and grow the value of music creation worldwide. With BandLab Licensing, our users’ music becomes the soundtrack to the world’s creative, consumption, and connection experiences.”
BandLab is on a mission to provide real opportunities for artists on its platform, it seems. In November 2023, it partnered with FUGA to launch BandLab Distribution, which aids its users in distributing their music to platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, TikTok and more.
Find out more about BandLab Licensing at licensing.bandlab.com.
Editor’s note: BandLab Technologies and MusicTech are both a part of Caldecott Music Group.
The post New BandLab Licensing service gives creators “unparalleled avenues to monetise their music” appeared first on MusicTech.

These LEGO Sennheiser HD25 DJ headphones are just a concept – for now​​Hungarian designer Tamás Borján, known for designing DJ gear made of LEGO, has now built a pair of LEGO Sennheiser HD25 DJ headphones.

READ MORE: NAMM 2024: The hottest rumours and latest announcements from this year’s show

Borján, who last year constructed a pair of LEGO Pioneer CDJ 2000 Nexus and a DJM 900 Nexus mixer, revealed the headphones on Instagram, writing, “I thought the DJ equipment wouldn’t be complete without a nice pair of headphones.”
“The Sennheiser HD25 is an iconic piece among DJs”, he continues, “it is beloved by a lot of users around the world. I was also using these while I was DJing.
“This Lego version has the mechanical features of its real counterpart. The earphone can be rotated and the 2 bands can also be rotated to help make a perfect fit for anyone,” he says.

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A post shared by Tomasso Builds (@tomassobuilds)

According to the designer, the LEGO headphones consist of 350 pieces. While it’s sadly just a 3D render for now, he plans to build the headphones “for sure” in the future.
This creative journey began in July 2023 when Borján unveiled his playable Pioneer CDJ 2000 Nexus concept on the LEGO Ideas platform, where creators can submit designs for potential commercial products. Achieving 10,000 supporting votes can lead to the consideration of ideas for production, with creators earning 1 per cent of product royalties upon success. Currently, Tomasso Builds’ LEGO Ideas CDJ 2000 campaign boasts over 8,200 supporters, placing him just under 1,800 votes away from official consideration. Vote via ideas.lego.com.
Image: LEGO Ideas
Borján’s impressive LEGO constructions aren’t the only musical equipment to be made using toy blocks. In 2022, Brick Technology, a YouTube channel, crafted a fully functional drum machine entirely from Lego Technic pieces that can play Taylor Swift and Blur. Using a Roland TD-9 drum module and piezo pickups, the machine has a pianola-style rolling mechanism as a sequencer, utilising Lego Technic pins to create drum patterns.
Well, we for one can’t wait to see if Tamás Borján ends up making his Sennheiser headphones a LEGO reality.
Until then, keep up to date with actual headphone releases via MusicTech. 
The post These LEGO Sennheiser HD25 DJ headphones are just a concept – for now appeared first on MusicTech.

Moog Moogerfooger plugins are on sale at just £30 for a limited timeWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. For more information on how this works click here.
For a limited time, a selection of Moog Moogerfooger time effects plugins are available for over half their original price at £30 each.
The deal, redeemable at Plugin Boutique, sees the price of the Moogerfooger MF-104s Analog Delay slashed by 62%, while the Moogerfooger MF-103S 12 Stage Phaser is discounted by 57%.
READ MORE: Universal Audio UAD bundles are 90% off until the end of today!
Based on the original hardware pedals of the same name, the Moogerfooger plugins bring the classic Moog sound into your DAW at a fraction of the price. A second-hand Moogerfooger MF-104s hardware pedal, for example, could set you back as much as £2,000 — over 66 times the price that Plugin Boutique has it on sale for. Not bad!
The MF-104s plugin brings a Bucket Brigade Device (BBD)-style delay to your DAW, with delay times ranging from 40ms to 800ms. As Plugin Boutique says, this plugin has been designed to “capture all of the warm, organic texture and character of the original analogue delay circuitry, while adding 21st-century flexibility and ease of use.”
Meanwhile, the MF-103S 12-Stage Phaser emulates the original 6-stage/12-stage voltage-controlled Phaser which Plugin Boutique says brings “not only the psychedelic enveloping sound of the original, but also the organic way in which the parameters interact to create a musical playing experience.”
Both plugins sport CV interconnectivity, stereo functions, and presets, and support for running multiple instance simultaneously.

When the Moogerfooger plugins were first announced in late 2022, Moog said, “The new Moogerfooger S-series plugins have been lovingly recreated to impart the same lush, distinctive tones of the original analogue circuits and can now be used in DAW-based environments. Great for audio engineers, guitarists, sound designers, synthesists, [and] composers — the ultimate creative and versatile tool.”
Get the plugins from Plugin Boutique until 22 January 2024.
Check out more music technology deals. 
The post Moog Moogerfooger plugins are on sale at just £30 for a limited time appeared first on MusicTech.

Too many choices? How Musicians Can Overcome Option ParalysisThe advancement of technology and the fact that artists can compose, produce, and promote their music from the comfort of their bedrooms, leaves musicians overwhelmed with options. from ArtistVerified via. Continue reading
The post Too many choices? How Musicians Can Overcome Option Paralysis appeared first on Hypebot.

NAMM 2024: Korg’s KR-11 is a compact yet feature-packed rhythm boxNAMM 2024: Korg has announced the KR-11, a compact rhythm machine that echoes the features of its 1963-launched Korg Doncamatic.
READ MORE: All of Dillon Bastan’s Max For Live tools are now free to download in one giant bundle

Arriving just in time for NAMM Show 2024, this retro-looking unit looks to follow Korg’s 2013-launched KR Mini. It also dons a similar size to products in Korg’s Volca range, clocking in at a similar size of just 160 by 115 by 44 millimetres.
While the KR-11 is small, affordable and described as “simple” by Korg, it is feature-packed, offering loads of sound presets and even velocity-sensitive pads.
With an intuitive interface, the KR-11 offers 126 rhythm patterns spanning various genres such as EDM, blues/R&B, jazz/latin and rock, and you can customise and save up to 14 patterns. Listen to its audio demos below:

The 16 velocity-sensitive pads make for fun finger drumming, providing a realistic drumming experience. In Pad Play mode, users can create authentic drum-like performances, further expanding the device’s versatility.
If you’re looking for hands-free control, an optional pedal switch is available, allowing you to start and stop or change patterns. This, along with its nifty size, makes it an ideal option for live performance.
The device features a headphone/line-out jack for external audio output, connecting to PA, mixer, amp, or other devices. With a metronome function, it caters to the needs of guitarists, bassists, keyboardists, and orchestral players.
Credit: Korg
It also has an in-built speaker that’s been newly developed and delivers a powerful yet compact sound range, complemented by Korg’s Acoustage Bass technology. This is an original sound enhancement technology designed by Korg to virtually enhance the bass range in audio output.
The Korg KR-11 isn’t the first piece of music tech to be announced ahead of NAMM, which takes place from 25 to 28 January 2024. We’ve also seen a new “completely redesigned” MOTU 828 audio interface, and Yamaha has revealed its intriguing new SEQTRACK, an all-in-one music creation machine. Another interesting release is the Dtronics DT-303, an FX box built to compliment 303 basslines specifically.
No price has yet been revealed. Find out more about the KR-11 via Korg.
The post NAMM 2024: Korg’s KR-11 is a compact yet feature-packed rhythm box appeared first on MusicTech.

All of Dillon Bastan’s Max For Live tools are now free to download in one giant bundleDillon Bastan, the developer whose name you’d be hard pressed to miss in the Max For Live community, has released a free, all-in-one bundle containing the full collection of his free M4L devices.

READ MORE: NAMM 2024: Yamaha unveils SEQTRACK, an all-in-one music creation station for composing and performing anywhere

For the uninitiated, Max For Live is an integrated environment in Ableton Live that offers a wide range of creative tools, including synths, samplers, effects, and experimental MIDI generators.
Given the buckloads of devices – both free and commercial – available to choose from, the world of M4L can be pretty overwhelming if you’re new to the game. Here’s how Bastan’s latest release comes in, as it offers a great starting point for all you rookies out there looking to foray into the weird and wonderful world of M4L.
The package, which arrives as a single, downloadable bundle, features all 10 of Bastan’s free M4L devices. They include:

Fractal filters: a 50-band filterbank that uses a visualisation of Julia Set fractals
Strange Mod: a device that uses Strange or Chaotic Attractors to produce a moving 3D coordinate
Cellular Degradation: a polyphonic tone generator that combines cellular automation
Swarmalators T: a swarm synthesizer device
Swarmalators N: a swarm MIDI generator device
Spectral Attractors: a device that uses a physics simulation and a phase vocoder
Screaming Janus: a device comprising a simulation of Janus Bunch Oscillators and a corresponding bank of brutal oscillators.
Markov Variations: a tool to transition between Ableton Live variations using Markov Chains
Logistic Mod: a modulator device that uses the logistic equation for modelling population growth
Image2Wavetable: a tool that turns an image into a wavetable to be used by Live’s wavetable (and others).

Download the full bundle from Dillon Bastan’s website.
The post All of Dillon Bastan’s Max For Live tools are now free to download in one giant bundle appeared first on MusicTech.