Reactions

  • Is Believe about to come off the stock market and re-privatize?Company's shareholders are reportedly exploring potential bids to go private
    Source

    Company’s shareholders are reportedly exploring potential bids to go…

  • TOP POSTS: Last week’s most read posts on HypebotCatch up on what everyone’s been talking about with last week’s most-read posts. We’ve got topics ranging from Spotify and music distributors to tips from an indie pro and more…
    The post TOP POSTS: Last week’s most read posts on Hypebot appeared first on Hypebot.

    Catch up on what everyone’s been talking about with last week’s most-read posts. We’ve got topics ranging from Spotify and music distributors to tips from an indie pro and more…

  • Taylor Swift’s music is streamed more in the US than the entire Jazz and Classical genresSwift claimed an audio stream market share of 1.28%; her market share including record sales was even bigger, at 1.79%
    Source

    Swift claimed an audio stream market share of 1.28%; her market share including record sales was even bigger, at 1.79%

  • Akai MPCs to gain stem separation Users of Akai Pro's MPC range will soon be able to split their samples into stems and process them individually. 

    Users of Akai Pro's MPC range will soon be able to split their samples into stems and process them individually. 

  • Best reverb plugins 2024: Our favourite free and paid-for reverb pluginsWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. For more information on how this works, read our terms of use.
    Reverb is often pivotal in crafting a professional and three-dimensional sounding mix. From the original spring, plate and chamber reverb techniques to hardware algorithms and captured impulse responses, there are many different techniques to add depth to your audio.

    READ MORE: The best rotary mixers to buy

    As a general rule, most plugins either fall into the algorithmic or convolution categories. For the former, the quality of the programmed algorithms is an essential marker for how the effect sounds, and for the latter, it’s the variety of the captured impulse responses.
    Whether you’re looking to place a drum kit in a realistic room or shoot your vocal to the Moon in a vast and unusual space, we’ve selected a wide range of reverbs for you to check out.
    FabFilter – Pro-R 2

    Pro-R 2 is the sequel to FabFilter’s original, much-loved reverb. The plugin features the same well-designed GUI with understandable controls such as Distance, Brightness and Space, and it has a unique Decay Rate EQ that lets you intuitively tweak the decay time for different parts of the spectrum.
    This version ups the ante and adds Vintage and Plate algorithms alongside the original’s smooth and natural Modern style. There’s also a Thickness control to saturate and compress the reverb tail, built-in Ducking and Auto-Gate features, a Freeze button, support for surround and Immersive Audio, extra output settings for each Decay Rate and Post EQ band, and an improved preset browser. Plus, an innovative Impulse Response import function that can turn IRs into algorithmic presets.
    Read our full Pro-R 2 review here.
    Key features:

    Price: £144 (also available in several bundles)
    Type: Algorithmic (Modern, Vintage, Plate)
    IR import functionality, built-in ducking and auto-gate, great GUI

    Get this plugin at Plugin Boutique.
    Overloud – REmatrix

    REmatrix isn’t far off being a decade old, but it’s a testament to its unique design and usefulness that it still makes the list. It lets you choose, edit and blend up to five different impulse responses, which are then combined to make a final reverb sound. This means you can take the best characteristics of plates, rooms, halls, early reflections and special reverb styles, and create a rich and complex 3D space.
    There are also built-in effects so you can modulate, compress, saturate and EQ the reverb, and add a delay effect and blend an algorithmic reverb underneath.
    Arguably the best part of REmatrix is the large, high-quality library of Impulse Responses and presets that comes with it. And if you want more, there are 14 expansion libraries at €79 a pop, plus three free ones available from the Overloud site.
    Read our full REmatrix review here.
    Key features:

    Price: €199
    Type: Convolution
    Massive factory library with 330 IRs and 60 presets, plus expansions available

    Get this plugin at Overloud.
    Soundtoys – SuperPlate

    It took five years from the release of Little Plate for Soundtoys to finally bring us its big brother, SuperPlate, but it was worth the wait. SuperPlate gives you the option of five different emulations, meticulously captured from vintage hardware units like the EMT140, Goldfoil EMT240, and Stocktronics RX 4000. Each brings a different plate flavour to the table, which can be further tweaked with three preamp options, modulation controls and a simple, built-in EQ.
    The feature that really stands out, though, is the Auto-Decay function. Where other reverbs often have ducking effects that work by pulling down the volume, SuperPlate instead reduces the decay time. This works wonders on faster passages, as you still get a thick reverb sound, but the tails are much tighter, which results in a more prominent signal.
    If you like the sound of plates, then this one is a no-brainer. Especially if you already own the Soundtoys bundle, as the upgrade cost is fairly cheap.
    Read our full SuperPlate review here.
    Key Features:

    Price: $149
    Type: Algorithmic (EMT140, Goldfoil EMT240, Audicon, EcoPlate III & Stocktronics RX40000)
    Unique Auto-Decay ducking function, three preamp options with modulation and simple EQ

    Get this plugin at Plugin Boutique.
    Valhalla – Supermassive

    Valhalla DSP makes a range of affordable, high-quality reverb plugins, including the revered VintageVerb, which you’ll find in many a producer’s toolkit. For this round-up though, we’ve chosen the exceptional Supermassive, which also happens to be free.
    It’s just been updated to version three and now includes a huge 20 different reverb modes to choose from, which all have varying settings for attack, decay, density and repeating delays. These can be tempo-synced or left free-running, with various controls for Delay time, Warp, Density, modulation, low and high cut EQ, Mix and Width.
    Although Supermassive can do shorter and more traditional reverb sounds, it excels at gigantic spaces with long, swelling waves echoing out into infinity. It’s an absolute wonder for sound design and creating atmospheric beds from anything you throw at it.
    Key Features:

    Price: FREE
    Type: Algorithmic (20 reverb/delay modes)
    Highly characterful algorithms for creating large epic spaces

    Get this plugin at Valhalla DSP.
    Baby Audio – Crystalline

    Crystalline is arguably the least traditional-looking reverb here in terms of its design. The Baby Audio team has built a modern plugin that lets you control the size and reflection characteristics of its algorithm, rather than choosing between a small room or a hall.
    You use icon-like graphics to tweak each control in sections called Reflections, Depth, Clean-up and Shape, which allow you to change the room size, stereo spread, modulation amount, reflection density, overall tone and more. There’s also a useful transient processor for controlling the attack and sustain portions of the reverb sound, a built-in ducker, and a freeze button.
    Instead of pre-delay and decay time, you choose a start and end point for your reverb sound, which can also be synced to your DAW to get note-length divisions. It sounds fantastic, but can be a little heavy on the CPU. Thankfully though there’s an eco mode that can help with this.
    Read our full Crystalline review here.
    Key Features:

    Price: $99
    Type: Algorithmic
    Intuitive algorithm editing, plus transient control of reverb tail

    Get this plugin at Plugin Boutique.
    Strymon – BigSky Plugin

    If you’re familiar with the world of effects pedals, then you’ll no doubt have heard of the BigSky reverb by Strymon. The pedal has been around for 10 years, but due to its popularity, Strymon has finally decided to make the excellent algorithms available in plugin format.
    There are 12 Reverb Machines in total, including traditional sounding Room, Hall, and Plate settings alongside the more unique and beautiful sounding Bloom, Cloud and Shimmer. Some of these use a range of pitch shifting, and reverse techniques, making this a very creative and flexible reverb plugin. As you select each algorithm, you get access to its specific controls for further tweaking, which gives the plugin an advantage over the menu diving required on the pedal version.
    It’s also worth noting that Strymon has added an Infinite Sustain and a Freeze function to the plugin version, which can be used for creating larger textures.
    Read our full BigSky plugin review here.
    Key Features:

    Price: £198
    Type: Algorithmic (12 modes)
    Notable features: A large number of different sounding, creative algorithms now available in one plugin

    Get this plugin at Thomann.
    Denise Audio – Perfect Room

    Some room algorithms can tend to add metallic resonances that smother the original sound, but not so with Perfect Room. Denise Audio uses something they call TXVerb reverb technology to enhance the inherent character and colouration of your signal, without cluttering it with unwanted resonances and tinny artefacts. This means you can use it on lead instruments, bass guitars and kick drums, or even busses and whole mixes, as it avoids adding harshness.
    It can also be used to turn mono instruments into expansive environments without any phase issues and comes with five different room types, and three tail shape options. There’s also a built-in ducker (which you can probably tell by this point is a must for a modern reverb plugin!), plus Shimmer and Detune parameters, making Perfect Room capable of more traditional spaces and extreme sound-designed effects.
    Read our full Perfect Room review here. 
    Key Features:

    Price: $59
    Type: Algorithmic (5 rooms and 3 tail shapes)
    Shimmer, Detune and Ducker effects

    Get this plugin at Plugin Boutique.
    LiquidSonics – Seventh Heaven

    LiquidSonics brings the coveted Bricasti M7 hardware reverb to life in this high-quality reverb plugin that captures the natural, lush, smooth and transparent sound of the original. It manages this through LiquidSonics proprietary Fusion-IR technology, which tracks the behaviour of a reverb through its early reflection through to the final tail stage. This results in a more evolving sound compared to a more traditional static IR snapshot. Although it’s based around convolution, you then get the ability to tweak a range of parameters as though you are editing an algorithmic reverb.
    The full Professional version includes over 230 multi-sampled Fusion-IR presets, 32 selectable early reflection patterns, full surround support, an internal ducking effect, and a five-band oversampled master EQ. It has an exceptional sound that sits well in the mix, and the range of different captured algorithms makes it highly versatile.
    Read our full Seventh Heaven Professional review here.
    Key Features:

    Price: $69 Seventh Heaven, $299 Seventh Heaven Professional
    Type: Convolution (over 230 Fusion-IR presets)
    Unique technology manages to capture the high-quality evolving sound of the hardware

    Get this plugin at LiquidSonics.
    sonible – smart:reverb

    Sonible is one of the companies at the forefront of innovative, AI-based plugin design. Its smart:reverb plugin is a source-adaptive effect that can listen to your audio and create a custom preset to perfectly complement the source. You simply select an instrument from a drop-down menu and then click a record button to listen to a short portion of the track. The tailored preset can then be edited to your liking.
    The controls are a little different to a traditional algorithmic reverb, with time-based graphs for controlling the Decay, Spread and Density, and an X/Y pad that lets you morph between Intimate, Rich, Natural and Artificial parameters. There are also controls for Width, a ducker (called Clarity), a basic EQ, and Freeze and Infinite buttons.
    It may not be the best-sounding reverb in this list, but it has an excellent knack for getting sounds to sit well in the mix with minimal editing.
    Read our full smart:reverb review here.
    Key Features:

    Price: $129 (also available in several bundles)
    Type: Algorithmic (X/Y pad morphs between settings)
    Unique time editing, AI adaptive preset creation can help generate presets in seconds

    Get this plugin at Plugin Boutique.
    Cableguys – ReverbShaper

    Our final entry is also the most recently released. ReverbShaper loads into Cableguys’ excellent ShaperBox plugin and includes unique envelope-based editing features.
    It’s a convolution-based plugin that comes with 127 varied IRs, plus the ability to load your own. You have more traditional controls for the decay time, width and pre-delay, and a Size slider that resamples the impulse to make it longer or short, whilst also affecting its pitch. The fun starts when you begin editing the volume of the reverb using the tempo-synced LFO tool, which has flexible drawing tools to create simple swells or complex, gated rhythms.
    There’s also a graph to edit the Send signal, so you could just highlight a single snare in a loop to send through to the reverb, thus saving time with fiddly automation. On top of this, you have an envelope follower and audio or MIDI triggering, plus low, mid and high bands to split the IRs and controls. It’s probably the most creative tool on offer here, and also one of the cheapest.
    Key Features:

    Price: €39 / $39 (or €89 / $89 for full ShaperBox 3 with 10 effects)
    Type: Convolution (127 IRs)
    Notable features: Draw your reverb tails, envelope follower, audio triggering, multi-band functionality

    Get this plugin at Pluqin Boutique.
    Read more buyer’s guides via MusicTech.
    The post Best reverb plugins 2024: Our favourite free and paid-for reverb plugins appeared first on MusicTech.

  • CES has almost fully succeeded in chasing sex-tech off its show floorsCES has long been a launchpad for innovation and cutting-edge technology. However, at this year’s event, there was a conspicuous void: the near-absence of sex tech. Despite being an industry that caters to a universal human experience, sex tech has always had an uneasy association with CES. This year, its conspicuous absence begs the question: […]
    © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

    CES has long been a launchpad for innovation and cutting-edge technology. However, at this year's event, there was a conspicuous void: the near-absence of

  • Native Instruments’ FM8 and Massive 8 are available from £10 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.
    Two of Native Instruments‘ most celebrated software synthesizers, Massive 8 and FM8, are both on sale with a discount of up to 92% on Plugin Boutique. In addition, NI’s Komplete 14 Select bundle is currently half-price, which includes Massive 8, Scarbee Rickenbacker Bass, Monark, and 15 other plugins plus eight expansion packs.
    Famously used by the likes of Skrillex, Bonobo, deadmau5, Brian Eno and more, FM8 and Massive are modern classics that some would argue are must-haves. At a seriously low price of £10 for FM8 and £39 for Massive 8, they might be worth adding to your plugin folder, too.
    FM8 – £10 until 15 January

    FM8 is a frequency modulation (FM) synth that Native Instruments first released in 2007. Used by EDM heavyweights such as Skrillex, it boasts six operators, twelve built-in effects, 1,200 presets, an arpeggiator, and an intuitive GUI with a Morph Square for easy navigation. You can even load patches from classic FM hardware synths, such as the iconic Yamaha DX7.
    Get it for £10 now at Plugin Boutique until 15 January 2024. 
    Massive 8 – £39 until 15 January

    Massive 8 is a wavetable synthesizer capable of creating huge, layered sounds and complex, unique patches. According to NI, Bonobo says “Massive is the most versatile synth out there. I use it relentlessly for a huge variety of sounds — from atmospheric pads to deep, layered basslines. Its capabilities seem endless.”
    With three wavetable oscillators, assignable envelopes with deep modulations, built-in effects and an easy-to-understand interface, it’s no wonder that so many established artists have been flocking to Massive since its release in 2006. If you’ve always wanted it in your arsenal without spending £129, now’s your chance.
    Get it for £39 now at Plugin Boutique until 15 January 2024
    Native Instruments Komplete 14 Select – 50% off until 15 January 2024

    Not satisfied with just FM8 and Massive 8? No worries – the Komplete 14 Select bundle has you covered. For £89.50 you can get 18 synths and eight expansion packs to amp up your sonic palette.
    Massive, Monark, Scarbee Rickenbacker, Scarbee Mark 1, Reaktor, and more – this bundle will give you some seriously powerful instruments that will give you all you need to lay down a track.
    Get it for £89.50 now at Plugin Boutique until 15 January 2024
    Check out more music technology deals. 
    The post Native Instruments’ FM8 and Massive 8 are available from £10 for a limited time appeared first on MusicTech.

    Plugin Boutique's Native Instruments January sale is now on, with up to 92% off FM8, Massive 8, and Komplete 14 Select

  • Streamtech Music’s Millennium French Organ Millennium French Organ has been developed in collaboration with a team of professional organists and media composers, and aims to deliver the ultimate film scoring organ library.

    Millennium French Organ has been developed in collaboration with a team of professional organists and media composers, and aims to deliver the ultimate film scoring organ library.

  • All the future of transportation tech that stood out at CES 2024Another CES has come and gone and transportation was still one of the central actors on one of the world’s largest tech stages. It wasn’t just electric cars either that captured our attention at CES 2024. Companies and startups focused on automated driving, EV charging, software (and more specifically AI), sensors, aviation, boats, drones, micromobility […]
    © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

    TechCrunch walked the floors of CES 2024 to find all the interesting transportation tech. Here are the biggest trends we spotted.

  • CES showcased a lot of products with AI. But it runs the risk of devolving AI into a buzz word, making it harder to be impressed with all the great engineering involved.

  • Subscribe To Sampleson On YouTube To Get FREE Wursy Electric Piano
    Sampleson offers the Wursy electric piano plugin for FREE to everyone who subscribes to their YouTube channel. It always feels like the post-holiday rush is a hangover of sorts. Lots of questions about whether I should’ve purchased something, tinkering with things that may have been an impulse purchase, and so forth. Thankfully, to help alleviate [...]
    View post: Subscribe To Sampleson On YouTube To Get FREE Wursy Electric Piano

    Sampleson offers the Wursy electric piano plugin for FREE to everyone who subscribes to their YouTube channel. It always feels like the post-holiday rush is a hangover of sorts. Lots of questions about whether I should’ve purchased something, tinkering with things that may have been an impulse purchase, and so forth. Thankfully, to help alleviateRead More

  • Getting It Done: The Week in D.I.Y. and Indie MusicLast week, our tips and advice for the independent, do-it-yourselfers out there covered how to manage your stress as a musician, what Instagram is bringing to 2024, and more…
    The post Getting It Done: The Week in D.I.Y. and Indie Music appeared first on Hypebot.

    Last week, our tips and advice for the independent, do-it-yourselfers out there covered how to manage your stress as a musician, what Instagram is bringing to 2024, and more…

  • REWIND: The new music industry’s week in reviewLast week was a busy week by any definition; the music industry was no exception, with Soundcloud up for sale, Bandsintown hitting new records, a post-pandemic livestreams boom, and more…
    The post REWIND: The new music industry’s week in review appeared first on Hypebot.

    Last week was a busy week by any definition; the music industry was no exception, with Soundcloud up for sale, Bandsintown hitting new records, a post-pandemic livestreams boom, and more…

  • Global music streams grew by 33.7% to 7.1tn in 2023 according to Luminate.
    That’s 7. 1 trillion music streams last year across the world. The stat comes from research firm Luminate’s 2023 Year-End Music Report, which was published this week:
    • The 7.1tn streams were across audio and video services, with that total up 33.7% year-on-year. Of that total, 4.1tn were on-demand audio song streams, up 22.3%.
    • Luminate’s report doesn’t state the video total outright, but it’s easy to calculate from its figures for total streams and audio streams. There were 3tn on-demand video song streams in 2023, up 63.3% from the 1.9tn in 2022.
    • It may be an uncomfortable topic for music rightsholders to think about, but video streams appear to be growing nearly three times faster than audio streams.
    • Luminate’s ‘Track Streaming Pyramid’ data is very interesting in the light of Spotify’s decision to not pay royalties to tracks until they reach 1,000 streams in the previous 12 months.
    • According to Luminate’s calculations, 152.2m tracks were streamed less than 1,000 times in 2023. That’s a startling 82.7% of all the audio ISRCs that it tracks for this research.

    #MusicIndustry #MusicBusiness #MusicAlly

    Yes, that's 7. 1 trillion music streams last year across the world. The stat comes from research firm Luminate.

  • Teach your pet how to play the piano 😀
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhyHQnZzuV0
    #musictech #Music #cats #dogs