Automatic Garbage Can Keeps Cooking CleanerOver the last decade or so, we’ve been inundated with appliances with wireless or “smart” technology that is often of dubious utility. No one really needs a tablet in their refrigerator or Wi-Fi on their coffee maker. A less glamorous kitchen appliance that actually might benefit from some automation and connectivity is the garbage can, or “bin” for those speaking the Queen’s English, and [Mellow_Labs] is here to show off just how to get that done with this automatic garbage can lid.
As he explains, the real impetus behind this build is to not have to touch a dirty lid while cooking to avoid having to take time to wash one’s hands again afterwards. There are a few other design criteria as well; it has to be roommate-approved so nothing permanently attached to the lid, overly complicated, or with an unnecessary amount of wires or other fixtures. A servo with an extension sits on the lid itself, and when activated forces the lid open. A distance sensor provides basic gesture recognition and a microcontroller with wireless connectivity controls both and provides home automation integration as well. With a 3D printed case that includes a quick disconnect function for easy cleaning of the lid, the build was ready to be put into service.
The first iteration used an infrared distance sensor, but placing it by an open window caused it to continuously open and close since sunlight has the same wavelengths of light the sensor is tuned for. A quick swap with an ultrasonic sensor solved the problem, and the garbage can is working flawlessly in the kitchen now. Another appliance that is generally not targeted by off-the-shelf automation solutions is the range fume hood, but another build tackled that problem a while back.

Daniel Ek talks new Spotify ‘deluxe’ tier, the company’s relationship with the music business and more on Q2 earnings callSpotify's Daniel Ek says his business aims to improve the wellbeing of the entire music industry
Source

2024 Tiny Games Challenge: Improving Reaction TimeWhat lies at the heart of many games? In a sense, it’s your response time, which is a function of hand-eye coordination. Although the 2024 Business Card Challenge has come to a close, [gokux] tends to go small anyway, and has taken their miniature approach to the Tiny Games Challenge with this awesome little reaction time game.
It’s basically whack-a-mole, but instead of striking down fuzzy puppets, you get fast and furious on big buttons that light up. Press any button to start, and there is a 3-2-1 countdown to get you geared up for action. Once the screen says ‘GO’, you’re off to the races. Each of the four buttons will light up in random order, and your overall response time is taken as the average of these four.
While there are many microcontrollers that would work here, [gokux] chose the Seeed Studio Xiao ESP32-C3. If you want to make one of these for yourself, there are excellent build instructions waiting for you. Be sure to check it out in action after the break. Oh, and be sure to let [gokux] know if you can beat 220 ms.

US court orders Utopia Music to pay $1.9M to former owners of Lyric FinancialThe financially troubled music company had failed to make the final payment on its acquisition of Lyric Financial
Source

Win $1,000 and a one-of-a-kind opportunity to collaborate with Oliver
Create your own sample pack and produce a track with it and Oliver's sounds for the chance to win $1,000 and a one-of-a-kind collaborative opportunity.

Recording Academy's GRAMMY GO Launches Music Production Specialization on CourseraGRAMMY GO, a new online initiative from the Recording Academy®, has partnered with Coursera, a leading online learning platform, to offer classes tailored for music creators and industry professionals. Continuing the Academy's ongoing mission to serve all music people, this partnership empowers the next generation of the music community with practical, up-to-the moment digital content that provides wisdom for both emerging and established members of the industry. With a variety of specializations tailored to creative and professional growth, GRAMMY GO on Coursera includes courses taught by Recording Academy members, featuring GRAMMY® winners and nominees and offering real-life lessons learners can put to work right away.

"Whether it be through a GRAMMY Museum® program, GRAMMY Camp® or GRAMMY U®, the GRAMMY organization is committed to helping music creators flourish, and the Recording Academy is proud to introduce our newest learning platform GRAMMY GO in partnership with Coursera," said Panos A. Panay, President of the Recording Academy. "A creator's growth path is ongoing, and these courses have been crafted to provide learners with the essential tools to grow in their professional and creative journeys."

From earlier in the year, enrollment is open for GRAMMY GO's first Coursera specialization, "Building Your Audience for Music Professionals," taught by Joey Harris, international music/marketing executive and CEO of Joey Harris Inc., and featuring Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and five-time GRAMMY winner Jimmy Jam, 10-time GRAMMY nominee Janelle Monáe and three-time GRAMMY winner Victoria Monét. This specialization will help participants gain the skills, knowledge and confidence to build a strong brand presence and cultivate a devoted audience within the ever-changing music industry.

The partnership's second course has now launched, aiming to strengthen the technological and audio skills of a music producer. "Music Production: Crafting An Award-Worthy Song" is taught by Carolyn Malachi, Howard University professor and GRAMMY nominee, and will include appearances by GRAMMY winner CIRKUT, three-time GRAMMY winner Hit-Boy, artist and celebrity vocal coach Stevie Mackey, five-time GRAMMY nominee and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr., and 15-time GRAMMY winner Judith Sherman. Enrollment for "Music Production: Crafting An Award-Worthy Song" is open.

"We are honored to welcome GRAMMY GO, our first entertainment partner, to the Coursera community," said Marni Baker Stein, Chief Content Officer at Coursera. "With these self-paced online Specializations, aspiring music professionals all over the world have an incredible opportunity to learn directly from iconic artists and industry experts. Together with GRAMMY GO, we can empower tomorrow's pioneers of the music industry to explore their passion today."

GRAMMY GO also serves as the music community's newest digital hub for career pathways and editorial content that provides industry insights for members of the industry; visit go.grammy.com for more. For information and enrollment, please visit the landing pages for "Building Your Audience for Music Professionals" and "Music Production: Crafting An Award-Worthy Song."

The post Recording Academy's GRAMMY GO Launches Music Production Specialization on Coursera first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Production Music Awards 2024 The Production Music Awards are inviting composers to submit their music for this year’s awards ahead of the upcoming submission deadline.

Sonuscore introduce The Orchestra Elements Sonuscore's latest release provides users with a free selection of orchestral samples derived from their renowned all-in-one scoring tool.

Free & Low-Cost Social Media Contest and Giveaway Ideas for MusiciansKeeping fans engaged does not have to be complicated or expensive. Here is a list of free and low-cost Social Media contest and giveaway ideas for Musicians.
The post Free & Low-Cost Social Media Contest and Giveaway Ideas for Musicians appeared first on Hypebot.

Musicians’ Earnings Remain Stagnant Despite Higher Ticket PricesA new survey reveals concerning stats about what is traditionally most musicians' top income source: performing live. Despite higher ticket prices, most Musicians' earnings remain stagnant.
The post Musicians’ Earnings Remain Stagnant Despite Higher Ticket Prices appeared first on Hypebot.

Most Popular Music Instruments to Learn in the USLearn about the most played musical instruments in the U.S., with an emphasis on their cultural significance and historical context making them the top choices in the country.
The post Most Popular Music Instruments to Learn in the US appeared first on Hypebot.

Koma Elektronik announce Chromaplane Kickstarter Koma Elektronik's new synthesizer relies on ten tunable electromagnetic fields, and can be played using a pair of handheld pickups. 

Best headphones for music producers, DJs and musiciansTrusted and reliable monitoring is an essential part of music production at every step of the process. To this end, most will opt for headphones, speakers, or a combination of the two.
Naturally, certain production tasks specifically call for headphones – audio playback while recording a vocal track, for example. They’re often a sensible choice if you’re dealing with noise constraints in a shared apartment, or your music-making space is lacking acoustic treatment.

READ MORE: Best speakers to buy in 2024: 12 best small studio monitors

What’s more, a good set of cans will set you back far less than studio monitors of the same quality, so they’re one of the best investments you can make at the start of your music production journey. Typically, you won’t need any extra hardware to connect your headphones to your setup either.
Make no mistake, monitor speakers hold a valuable position in a music producer’s arsenal. However, headphones offer greater flexibility and portability, and a cheaper barrier to entry – not to mention you won’t upset your neighbours when you’re tweaking mixes at 3am.
There’s no shortage of choice when it comes to headphones, from simpler entry-level models to sophisticated audiophile headsets capable of reproducing microscopic detail. Check out our round-up below for ten of the best headphones across a range of budgets and applications.
Best headphones at a glance:

Our pick: Sennheiser HD 490 Pro
Best budget headphones: RØDE NTH-100
Best DJ headphones: Korg NC-Q1
Best closed-back monitoring: Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro X
Best open-back monitoring: HEDDphone Two
Best wireless studio headphones: AIAIAI TMA-2
Best audiophile headphones: Meze Audio Elite
Best spatial audio/surround headphones: OLLO Audio S5X
Best everyday headphones: Focal Bathys
Best wireless earbuds: Denon PerL Pro

Best overall pick: Sennheiser HD 490 Pro
Sennheiser HD 490 Pro Image: Sennheiser.
HD 490 Pro: £349
Plus version: £419
Coming in as our top overall pick is Sennheiser’s flagship HD 490 Pro headphones. Marking the upper end of the HD range the manufacturer is so well known for, the 490 Pros tick all the boxes.
Their open-backed design and frequency response from 5 Hz to 36.1 kHz means you’re getting an accurate reproduction of your mix at all times, without the hyped low or high frequencies found in some headphones. The Plus model also comes with a licence for the dearVR Mix SE plugin, which virtualises different listening environments so you can see how things might translate to another space.
The HD 490 Pros don’t just sound stellar – they feel great too. They weigh just 260 grams without the cable, and come with interchangeable ear pads in velvet and fabric, so you’ll remain comfortable during longer sessions.
[products ids=”6zeJZHIvXCWYrIgvKH8m0u”]
Read our full Sennheiser HD 490 Pro review.
Best budget headphones: RØDE NTH-100
RØDE NTH-100
NTH-100: £119
Offering pro-level audio at a fraction of the price, RØDE’s NTH-100 headphones fit the bill – whether you’re looking for your first set of studio cans or just a cheaper headset without sacrificing on quality.
Due to the smaller transducers in headphones, it’s often tricky to accurately reproduce bass frequencies, and many budget models compensate with an overhyped low end. That’s not the case with the NTH-100s, which also perform well in the mids and highs.
And despite the lower price tag, RØDE has imbued these headphones with a premium feel thanks to an attractive contoured design, CoolTech gel to stop your ears overheating, and soft Alcantara for the pads – a suede-like material often used in luxury cars.
[products ids=”75Bm4BrBuuJOCYoshARtlt”]
Read our full RØDE NTH-100 review.
Best DJ headphones: Korg NC-Q1
Korg NC-Q1
Korg NC-Q1: £279
Although Korg isn’t a name typically associated with audio monitoring, the manufacturer set a new standard in the realm of DJ headphones with its NC-Q1 model.
Tailored for high-noise environments, the NC-Q1’s construction naturally reduces outside noise, while the advanced Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) technology is capable of handling sound levels over 120 dB, ensuring you’re getting clear monitoring even in the loudest clubs.
On the ergonomic side, the NC-Q1s boast swivelling headphone cups, allowing for one-ear monitoring with ease. There’s deep and punchy bass response here too, so you can be certain the low end isn’t clashing when you’re mixing tracks.
Read our full Korg NC-Q1 review.
Best closed-back monitoring: Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro X
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro X Limited Edition
DT 770 Pro: £119
DT 770 Pro X: £179
Enter any professional studio in the world and there’s a strong chance you’ll see a pair of Beyerdynamic’s iconic DT 770 Pro headphones. What made them so popular? The perfect balance of comfort, build quality, and sound – all at an affordable price significantly lower than many other pro-grade cans.
Designed for studio use, the DT 770 Pros feature a frequency response of 5 Hz to 40 kHz. As the headphones are closed-back, they’re excellent at blocking external sounds, with 16 dB of ambient noise isolation .
The Pro X Limited Edition model, released to celebrate Beyerdynamic’s 100th birthday, offers a few refinements on the well-worn classic, including a detachable three-metre cable and sleek, all-black design.
[products ids=”197g2De6ZETpHAFTGI7J8N”]
Read our full Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro X review.
Best open-back monitoring: HEDDphone Two
HEDDphone TWO
HEDDphone Two: £1,749
Open-back versus closed-back is always something to consider when choosing a pair of headphones, with the former typically offering a more natural and spacious soundstage at the cost of less impactful bass and increased leakage.
Berlin-based company HEDD aims to deliver all the benefits of an open-back design with HEDDphone Two, the sequel to its highly lauded original. Smaller and lighter in design, the Twos offer a sophisticated adjustable strap that ensures they’re comfortable for prolonged use.
Of course, there’s a pretty significant price tag to these headphones, but given how they sound, we reckon it’s justified. Powered by HEDD’s handmade Air Motion Transformers, these cans deliver an accurate but pleasing sound signature, with exceptional clarity, detailed transients, and even response across the entire spectrum.
Read our full HEDDphone Two review.
Best wireless studio headphones: AIAIAI TMA-2
AIAIAI TMA-2 Studio Wireless+
AIAIAI TMA-2: £300
Wireless monitoring has long remained out of the conversation when it comes to producing music, namely due to the latency and compression inherent to Bluetooth. However, AIAIAI is looking to rewrite the script with its TMA-2 headphones, letting producers unplug without the usual drop in audio quality.
These cans are paired with a W+ Link transmitter capable of transmitting 16-bit, 44.1 kHz audio over a dedicated radio frequency band with a latency of just 16ms. Ample battery power and a comfortable design keeps the TMA-2s in action for longer sessions, while the Bluetooth mode can be used for everyday listening for up to 80 hours.
Designed in collaboration with Richie Hawtin, the TMA-2s and AIAIAI’s other headphones are really quite unique, owing to their modular nature. You can upgrade or replace specific components of your headphones – the headband, speaker units, or earpads for example – and even mix and match parts to create your own configurations.
[products ids=”4XkalKxGqMaPL8P3J8GPcn”]
Read our full AIAIAI TMA-2 review.
Best spatial audio/surround headphones: OLLO Audio S5X
OLLO S5X headphones
OLLO Audio S5X: £379
Mixing surround on headphones is always going to present challenges – that’s simply down to physical constraints. OLLO Audio aims to deliver a proper portrayal of surround sound in binaural form with its S5X cans.
The S5Xs aren’t truly surround sound. Instead, they’re designed to downmix to stereo in the most accurate way possible. Part of this is the calibration process using OLLO’s plugin. By providing your serial number, the plugin accounts for the unique characteristics of your specific set of headphones, ensuring what the manufacturer describes as ‘accurate object positioning in virtualised 3D audio’ through subtle processing on the master channel.
What’s more, the S5X headphones are beautifully designed with robust metal components and sleek wood accentuations.
[products ids=”6C24q3OrHAqizXf2hcAKBw”]
Read our full OLLO Audio S5X review.
Best audiophile headphones: Meze Audio Elite
Meze Audio Elite
Meze Audio Elite: £3,749
If money’s no object, you might want to consider a pair of audiophile headphones like the Meze Audio Elite for your home listening. Undoubtedly, the price tag is significant – but five minutes with these headphones and that initial sticker shock will begin to fade into the background, replaced with an exquisite auditory experience that lets you discover new layers of nuance and detail in your favourite recordings.
Plenty of science has gone into the engineering of the Elites, with each diaphragm driven by a hybrid array of neodymium magnets that provides better frequency targeting within different parts of the ear, and an incredible frequency response of 3 Hz to 112 kHz. Thanks to materials like tungsten and Alcantara, these headphones boast a premium build quality worthy of their eye-watering cost.
[products ids=”1kAyRZfMA1shDAQ858BFTA”]
Read our full Meze Audio Elite review.
Best everyday headphones: Focal Bathys
Focal Bathys. Image: Sylvie Bessou
Focal Bathys: £699
Looking for a high-quality daily driver that can do a bit of everything? Focal has created an excellent all-rounder with Bathys, a pair of headphones supporting wired analogue connection, Bluetooth wireless, and onboard USB-C DAC that touts 24-bit, 192 kHz resolution.
While the 15 Hz to 22 kHz frequency response may not be quite as wide as some other headphones on our list, it’s still more than enough for most applications, offering accurate and neutral sound reproduction.
Alongside, Bathys offers three levels of ANC, eight built-in microphones for making calls, a transparency mode, and six-band EQ which can be adjusted via an app. Really, the only reason we’d think twice about the Focal Bathys is its appearance, with a somewhat Y2K-looking design that’s sure to trigger those with trypophobia.
[products ids=”3YkGhI9pDlDxTtOSi4yH7e”]
Read our full Focal Bathys review.
Best wireless earbuds: Denon PerL Pro
Denon PerL Pro
Denon PerL Pro: £300
Rising from the ashes of the NuraTrue Pro wireless earphones after Denon acquired Nura in 2023, the PerL Pros are identical in all but name.
While the price may seem a little steep, what you’re getting with these earbuds is a truly personalised audio experience. Using something called Masimo Adaptive Acoustic Technology – the original tech that put Nura on the map – the PerL Pros can be accurately calibrated to your own ears.
Like most competitor buds, the PerL Pros also benefit from ANC, spatial audio, and up to 24 hours of battery with the case. But it’s the acoustic personalisation that’s the showstopper here, and it’s certainly worth hearing for yourself if you’re in the market for a new set of earphones.
[products ids=”5zq87rNGVciLN9P9rGnCQx”]
Read our full Denon PerL Pro review.
The post Best headphones for music producers, DJs and musicians appeared first on MusicTech.

Jacob Collier: “Another thing I recommend to people is to try and make the worst song in the world”Stuck in a creative rut? British multi-instrumentalist and producer Jacob Collier has a piece of advice for you: try to make the worst song in the world. This unusual approach, he suggests, can lead to surprising results in your music.

READ MORE: Four Tet’s production hack for creating “a world” within his tracks so people connect to them “without even understanding why”

Speaking in a recent Guitar feature, the six-time Grammy winner says that the fear of getting stuck creatively is something every artist – himself included – experiences.
“I don’t know any musicians or creative people who don’t know that feeling, because it’s just part of it,” Collier admits. “I will say I’ve come to understand myself better in it, and I realise what I need in those kinds of situations.”
“Sometimes you need space, sometimes you need food, sometimes you need to go for a walk, sometimes you need to cry, sometimes you need to talk to your friends, sometimes you need to persist, sometimes you need to change tack, or sometimes you need to go and play a show.”
As Collier explains, it’s important to keep an open mind when making music so you don’t get bogged down by expectations.
“I find myself locked when I’m covered by expectation,” he says. “And if something isn’t a certain way then I’m failing. But some of the process, for me, is trying not to hold onto expectations too closely and let something be whatever it needs to be.”
“Another thing I’ve tended to enjoy over the years that I recommend to people is to try and make the worst song in the world,” Collier adds.
By aiming for something intentionally bad, musicians can break free from the pressure of perfection and allow their imagination to run wild.
”I’m perpetually surprised by how interesting my ideas become without the fear of them having to be good,” he says. “In fact, they can actively be bad. It’s a guaranteed way of making something interesting.”
Earlier this year, Jacob Collier aimed criticism at veteran producer Rick Rubin, after he shared his philosophy that the audience should come last when it comes to songwriting.
“I would critique Rick in a sense that I don’t think his audience is creative people,” Collier said. “I think his audience is people who aren’t creative, for whom creativity is novel. And they’re thinking ‘Gosh, wow! I never even thought that you could make something for yourself!’ But I feel that anybody who’s inherently creative in some way knows that there’s no one way to do anything.”
The post Jacob Collier: “Another thing I recommend to people is to try and make the worst song in the world” appeared first on MusicTech.

Forcount crypto scheme promoters plead guilty to wire fraud conspiracyOn July 22, two of the five individuals who allegedly stole $8.4 million from investors between 2017 and 2021 by promoting Forcount pleaded guilty.