Arduino PLC Keeps the BeatFor most of our prototype, hobby, or one-off electronics projects it’s perfectly fine to use a development platform like an Arduino Uno or something to that effect. They’re both easy to program and easy to wire up to projects without breaking the bank. But if you step into an industrial setting where reliability is paramount even in places that are noisy, vibrating all the time, hot, or otherwise unpleasant for electronics, you’ll want to reach for a programmable logic controller (PLC) that are much more robust. There is actually a PLC from Arduino, and if you want to dip your toes into the PLC world then take a look at this drum kit based on the Arduino Opta.
With the PLC at the core of the build, it’s on to making the drumming mechanisms themselves. For that, project creator [JC Audio] is using a series of solenoids attached to camera mounts with a custom 3D printed part that allows for quick assembly and disassembly so he can get the positioning of each drum sound just right. The high hat is taken care of by the noise of an internal solenoid, with the other drums striking various real drums and other solid objects in his shops. The solenoids themselves are driven by a solid-state relay expansion module to ensure there’s enough power
While the build doesn’t sit inside a factory and run for years at a time, a musician’s stage is certainly a rough enough environment that we might reach for a PLC over a standard development board for its benefits. The code for this project is available as well at the project’s GitHub page for those looking for a more advanced timekeeper to play along with their music practice, and for more details on why you might choose a PLC for your project take a look at this Arduino vs PLC showdown from a few years ago.

AIR Legends Pack Is $9.99 (94% OFF) On Plugin Boutique
Plugin Boutique’s summer deals continue, and today, we will look into a great discounted bundle with some old but still quite useful instruments. AIR Legends Pack from AIR Music Tech is currently on sale on Plugin Boutique for the low price of $9.99 until July 5. That is a whopping 94% off. The bundle includes [...]
View post: AIR Legends Pack Is $9.99 (94% OFF) On Plugin Boutique

Tackle cymbal spill with THR deBleed The latest plug-in from THR is a specialist noise gate that has been designed specifically to remove cymbal bleed from the likes of kick, snare and tom mics.

Apple approves Epic Games’ marketplace app after initial rejectionsAfter multiple rejections, Apple has approved Fortnite maker Epic Games’ third-party app marketplace for launch in the EU. As now permitted by the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Epic announced earlier this year it planned to bring both the digital storefront and its flagship game, Fortnite, back to iOS in Europe. However, on Friday, Epic […]
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Bitcoin miners ‘near capitulation’ as profits dry up alongside BTC sell-offCryptoQuant analysts say Bitcoin miners are showing signs of “capitulation” as profit margins tighten in the post-halving climate and BTC price falls close to $50,000.

A Look Back at the USSR’s Mi-6 Helicopter AirlinerMost of us would equate commercial airline travel with fixed-wing aircraft, but civilian transport by helicopter, especially in large and sparsely populated regions, is common enough. It was once even big business in the Soviet Union, where the Aeroflot airline operated passenger helicopters in regular service for many decades. In the mid-1960s they even started work on converting the Mil Mi-6 — the USSR’s largest and fastest helicopter — to carry paying passengers. Unfortunately this never got past a single prototype, with the circumstances described by [Oliver Parken] in a recent article.
This passenger version of the Mi-6 got the designation Mi-6P (for passazhirskyi, meaning passenger) and would have seated up to 80 (3 + 2 row configuration), compared to the Mi-8 passenger variant that carried 28 – 31 passengers. Why exactly the Mi-6P never got past the prototype stage is unknown, but its successor in the form of the Mi-26P has a listed passenger variant and features. Both have a cruising speed of around 250 km/h, with a top of 300 km/h. The auxiliary winglets of the Mi-6 provided additional lift during flight, and the weight lifting record set by the Mi-6 was only broken by the Mi-26 in 1982.
An obvious disadvantage of passenger helicopters is that they are more complicated to operate and maintain, while small fixed wing airliners like the ATR 72 (introduced in 1988) can carry about as many passengers, requires just a strip of tarmac to land and take off from, travel about twice as fast as an Mi-6P would, and do not require two helicopter pilots to fly them. Unless the ability to hover and land or take-off vertically are required, this pretty much explains why passenger helicopters are such a niche application. Not that the Mi-6P doesn’t have that certain je ne sais quoi to it, mind.

Hacking a Quansheng Handheld To Transmit Digital ModesHave you ever thought about getting into digital modes on the ham bands? As it turns out, you can get involved using the affordable and popular Quansheng UV-K6 — if you’re game to modify it, that is. It’s perfectly achievable using the custom Mobilinkd firmware, the brainchild of one [Rob Riggs].
In order to efficiently transmit digital modes, it’s necessary to make some hardware changes as well. Low frequencies must be allowed to pass in through the MIC input, and to pass out through the audio output. These are normally filtered out for efficient transmission of speech, but these filters mess up digital transmissions something fierce.  This is achieved by messing about with some capacitors and bodge wires. Then, one can flash the firmware using a programming cable.
With the mods achieved, the UV-K6 can be used for transmitting in various digital modes, like M17 4-FSK. The firmware has several benefits, not least of which is cutting turnaround time. This is the time the radio takes to switch between transmitting and receiving, and slashing it is a big boost for achieving efficient digital communication. While the stock firmware has an excruciating slow turnaround of 378 ms, the Mobilinkd firmware takes just 79 ms.
Further gains may be possible in future, too. Bypassing the audio amplifier could be particularly fruitful, as it’s largely in the way of the digital signal stream.
Quansheng’s radios are popular targets for modification, and are well documented at this point.

Apogee Electronics Certified By the Women’s Business Enterprise National CouncilApogee Electronics a business specializing in professional audio technology, has announced national re-certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the WBEC WEST, a regional certifying partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). WBENC Certification is the gold standard for women-owned business certification in the United States. "Beyond the immediate benefits of WBENC certification, I see it as a long-term investment in the future. It sends a message to the next generation of female entrepreneurs that they too can build successful businesses. It's about creating a legacy of opportunity and paving the way for a more inclusive and dynamic business landscape." – Betty Bennett, CEO

The WBENC standard of certification implemented by the WBEC WEST is a meticulous process, including an in-depth review of the business and a site inspection. The certification process is designed to confirm that the business is at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by a woman or women and that it has appropriate structure and strategic business planning and implementation in place. 

apogeedigital.comThe post Apogee Electronics Certified By the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

From Sony Music’s mystery Queen catalog co-investor to UMG’s neural beats patent application… it’s MBW’s Weekly Round-UpThe biggest stories from the past week – all in one place
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The diminished chord: What it is and how to use them
Learn about what a diminished chord is and how to use half-diminished seventh chords, diminished seventh chords, and triads in your music.

Steinberg drops FREE X-Stream monophonic spectral synthesizer
Today Steinberg released the free X-Stream monophonic spectral synthesizer, a Windows and Mac release. X-Stream requires the free Halion Sonic player or the paid Halion player to run.  The developer said the synth has been developed for sound design, ambient music, beat making, soundtrack work, and electronic music.  The drag-and-drop design of X-Stream allows you [...]
View post: Steinberg drops FREE X-Stream monophonic spectral synthesizer

Real cost of Creating Music and ContentWhat is the real cost of creating music and content? Spotify CEO Daniel EK recently said that it's close to zero, but any musician with a pulse knows he's wrong. Explore this detailed breakdown of actual content creation costs.
The post Real cost of Creating Music and Content appeared first on Hypebot.

Diplo under police investigation for hosting illegal rave in Ibiza American DJ and producer Diplo is under investigation following an illegal rave in Ibiza, Spanish news outlet Olive Press reports. The unlicensed rave reportedly occurred at the famous Cala d’Hort viewpoint, known for its scenic views and unique location.
The Sant Josep City Council and Ibiza police are now investigating the event which allegedly took place on 24 June. It could result in Diplo and event organisers being fined up to €300,000, according to IB3.

READ MORE: Who is the Glastonbury Dua Lipa busker? Check out more from celeb serenader Liam C

According to Olive Press, Diplo shared photos of the party on social media encouraging fans to attend the party. Videos on Instagram show the DJ performing a set with a crowd of attendees on the beach.

.@diplo being investigated over illegal ‘party’ in Ibiza. Full Story https://t.co/roxqftkHNF
: @rukes pic.twitter.com/2IkUThnAsq
— We Rave You (@weraveyou) June 29, 2024

Sant Josep City Council has since released a statement addressing the ecological vulnerability of the illegal rave site. “The space where this event was held is a Protected Area by the European Union through the Natura 2000 Network, in addition to a Natural Area of Special Interest, among other figures of environmental protection,” it says.
The organisation adds: “A vulnerable area in which this type of illegal activities promote the risk of fires, noise problems, waste, etc and, of course, endanger the integrity of the people attending.”
In response to the investigation, Diplo has posted a statement on Instagram: “Don’t believe what you read in the news. I don’t own a 100 million dollar mansion, and I didn’t pay 450k euros to rave in Ibiza.”

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In response to the report, The Ibiza Leisure Association, a non-profit nightlife organisation, has released a statement calling for “maximum respect” to be paid towards Ibiza’s land and local communities. 
“The area of Cala d’Hort is a magical area that for some years has attracted hundreds of people to watch the sunset and at the same time there are already many citizens who have demonstrated in defence of this environmentally sensitive area,” they say.
The post Diplo under police investigation for hosting illegal rave in Ibiza  appeared first on MusicTech.

The power of branding for musiciansThis week's Hypebot Flashback Friday looks at the power of branding for musicians and how to attract an audience. It starts with telling a story and a deliberate approach to building an artist's brand.
The post The power of branding for musicians appeared first on Hypebot.

Danny Awards to honor musicians with disabilities: Submit Now!The Danny Awards will honor musicians with disabilities. Its sponsor, the Daniel’s Music Foundation, is dedicated to promoting disability awareness and enhancing music accessibility through community-based initiatives.
The post Danny Awards to honor musicians with disabilities: Submit Now! appeared first on Hypebot.