How much will ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’ earn this Holiday season?We all know how popular Christmas tunes take over every radio station during the holiday season, but have you ever thought about who’s getting compensated for all those streams? And. Continue reading
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Acustica Audio Christmas 🎄 compressor giveaway.
#free #Plugins #musicproduction #Mixing #Producers #Musicians

Kemper reveal Profiler Player Kemper's new Profiler Player comes in a compact stompbox enclosure, and is fully compatible with any Profile from the company’s extensive library of free and commercial offerings.

Firefly’s Alpha rocket reaches orbit for the fourth timeFirefly Aerospace sent its Alpha rocket to orbit this morning, with the company carrying a payload from Lockheed Martin to space. However, the company has yet to update the public on whether it successfully deployed the satellite to its destination orbit – which could suggest an issue with the rocket’s second stage. Today’s launch marks […]
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Behringer introduces Victor Eurorack module with a PRO-VS Mini engineMusic gear manufacturer Behringer has officially launched its Victor morphing oscillator module for Eurorack. The module is hailed as the “little brother” of the PRO-VS Mini, and is now ready for shipping.
It comes packed with all 128 waveforms found in the PRO-VS Mini engine and all four vector oscillators, offering “flexibility for sound design and patch creation”.

READ MORE: GForce launches AXXESS software synth inspired by a streamline ARP classic

The PRO-VS Mini was launched back in July, and is based on the 1986 Sequential Circuits Prophet VS which was used by artists such as Vangelis, John Carpenter, Brian Eno, Trent Reznor and Kraftwerk.
“It’s morphin’ time! The Behringer Victor quad vector morphing oscillator module is here and it’s ready to take your waveforms and transform them into searing lead tones, epic sounding chords and moody, ethereal soundscapes with the flick of a joystick!” says Behringer on its Facebook page.
The module also hosts an “all important” joystick control to morph between the oscillators and waveforms, plus there’s inputs and controls for CV and gate, frequency modulation and CV-Ins for control over the X and Y axis. A CV output for the X and Y enables users to use the joystick to control other modules in their set up too.
Watch the video below for a closer look:

Back in November, Behringer also launched its UB-Xa synthesiser – a reproduction of the 1981 Oberheim OB-X, after six years of development. It has 16 voices of “true polyphony,” with two VCOs per voice, plus dual pole or four pole VCFs.
The Behringer Victor Eurorack module is available now for £89 via Andertons. Find out more over at Behringer.
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Acustica Audio Offers FREE Grey Compressor Plugin Until January 7th
Acustica Audio offers the new Grey compressor plugin as a free download until January 7th, 2024. Grey is an audio compression plugin that uses Acustica Audio’s Hyper 3 technology to replicate the sound of a classic VCA compressor. Acustica Audio uses a unique type of dynamic impulse response technology to capture the sound of analog [...]
View post: Acustica Audio Offers FREE Grey Compressor Plugin Until January 7th

Thomas Coesfeld’s plan to refocus BMG on music rights continues, as Bertelsmann-owned firm divests live concert companiesUndercover and Karo transferred back to their minority shareholders
Source

🎄 New Year GIVEAWAY! 20 Winners, $2,000 Worth Of Prizes!
Bedroom Producers Blog launches the New Year Giveaway with over $2,000 in music production prizes for 20 winners. A huge THANK YOU to the sponsors who made this giveaway possible: Image-Line, UJAM, Cableguys, Techivation, Polyverse, Karanyi Sound, A Sound Effect, AudioThing, and Flame Sound. And another big THANK YOU goes to you, dear BPB readers, [...]
View post: 🎄 New Year GIVEAWAY! 20 Winners, $2,000 Worth Of Prizes!

France plans to tax music streaming & other countries are taking noteMusic streaming platforms, especially Spotify and Deezer, are in an uproar over France’s proposal for a new music streaming tax. This could be a precursor for other countries to do the same, but it. Continue reading
The post France plans to tax music streaming & other countries are taking note appeared first on Hypebot.

HoRNet Releases FREE TreBande Classic Equalizer Plugin
HoRNet Plugins released TreBande, a freeware three-band equalizer plugin for Windows and macOS. HoRNet TreBande is a free three-band semi-parametric equalizer VST plugin. It was designed to replicate the sonic characteristics of a traditional mixing console equalizer. The underlying DSP code was originally part of the Cassette644 plugin. According to the developer HoRNet Plugins, TreBande [...]
View post: HoRNet Releases FREE TreBande Classic Equalizer Plugin

Solid State Logic offering up to 90 percent off its X-Series plugins just in time for ChristmasBlack Friday and Cyber Monday may have passed, but Oxford-based audio brand Solid State Logic is offering up to 90 percent off its X-Series plugin range as part of a special Christmas sale.
If you’re looking for a little Christmas gift for yourself or a fellow music maker in your life, then you have nine plugins to choose from across the sale, with some prices chopped by over £100.

READ MORE: Solid State Logic’s PlateVerb is a pro-sounding reverb in a pedal-style plugin package

Featured in the sale is the X-Comp, X-Delay, X-Echo, X-EQ 2, X-Gate, X-Limit, X-Phase, X-Saturator, and the X-ValveComp. SSL fans can also make the most out of a 3-for-2 custom bundle deal across its full range.
Let’s take a closer look at each X-Series plugin deal:
X-Comp
This stereo compressor offers “mastering grade” audio fidelity with an analogue feel, and can be used for everything from subtle dynamic control for mastering, to dramatic effects. Reduced from £159.99 to £15.99.

X-Delay
The X-Delay is inspired by legendary hardware processors from the 80’s era. Deliver classic rock-style big delays, or something more modern. Down from £179.99 to £23.99.

X-Echo
This tool is inspired by early tape delay hardware from the ‘60s and ‘70s, but also introduces “SSL’s signature sound” and is brought up-to-date with improved workflow. Down from £159.99 to £21.99.

X-EQ 2
Built upon SSL’s proprietary anti-cramping algorithms, this plugin brings 17 different classic and modern EQ type/curve options, and is now available for £25.99 rather than £239.99.

X-Gate
Inspired by the workflow from SSL’s digital broadcast consoles, this “highly visual” gating plugin features a rolling waveform graph, mid/side processing options and adjustable hysteresis using independent open and closed thresholds. Was £119.99 now £23.99.

X-Limit
A limiting tool which increases the loudness of tracks and busses without clipping or changing tonal balance, according to SSL. Reduced from £89.99 to £19.99.

X-Phase
Ideal for “correcting awkward phase issues”, this all-pass filter plugin offers manual control and enables the user to apply a phase shift at a specified frequency within a signal. Was £127.99 and is now only £7.99.

X-Saturator
An emulation of an analogue circuit that offers either 2nd order valve style, 3rd order transistor style distortion, or a blend of the two. Use low drive settings for mild distortion, or crank it up for heavy distortion. Was £95.99 and is now £12.99.

X-ValveComp
A mono or stereo channel compressor with a full set of classic channel compressor controls and an added valve emulation stage. Reduced from £95.99 to £19.99.

Find out more over at Solid State Logic.
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Spitfire Audio Winter Sale now live Spitfire Audio are continuing their 15th anniversary celebrations with the launch of their Winter Sale, which is now live until 1 January 2024.

You can now get the entire Cinesamples catalogue in one plugin with MusioCinesamples, which creates sample libraries for the world of movie, TV, and video games, has now curated all of its catalogue in one plugin – Musio.
Musio is available now via subscription or perpetual licence, with the aim of dropping “the clutter and friction of traditional, complex sampler plugins” for composers and producers.

READ MORE: Introducing Wavetick, a beatmaker marketplace where sellers retain up to 90 percent of royalties

The Cinesamples library hosts instruments for cinematic, contemporary, electronic and world music creation. It is well known for its orchestral libraries such as the CineSymphony series, which can now be found within Musio.
Users also get an array of new synthesisers, drum machines, acoustic instruments, choirs, and much more within Musio, alongside the original Cinesamples library. Cinesamples says it offers a “clean, learning-curve-free” interface with a range of tone-shaping controls and effects.

The latest Musio release includes the first title in the World Adventure Series, Iceland – a collection of 42 historic pitched and percussion instruments which are said to capture Icelandic heritage and character, all recorded at Studio Sýrland in Reykjavik.
Users will also get access to the complete CineSymphony Series (CineStrings, CineBrass, CineWinds, CinePerc), The Cinesamples Artist Series (Tina Guo, Taylor Davis, Apocalyptica, and more), Musio-exclusive orchestral collections, plus monthly catalogue updates and continually added new instruments.
“We’re starting with this vast catalogue of instruments that we’ve recorded over the years, and we’ll continue to add to it until we hit that impossible goal of sampling every instrument on earth,” says CEO, Mike Patti.
At MusicTech, we round up the best new mixing plugins, effects and VST instruments released each week. You can check out our latest guide to view new offerings from Solid State Logic, UVI, SampleScience and more.
Musio is available for $9.99 per month. For users who prefer a perpetual licence, Musio 1 offers lifetime access for $399. Find out more at Musio.
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Original programmer who worked on Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean reveals how he created its iconic four-chord stackBill Wolfer, who originally programmed and performed on the iconic Yamaha CS80 heard in Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean, has revealed exactly how he created the famous four-chord stack that repeats throughout the song.
Anthony Marinelli, a composer and performer, broke down how the chord stack was put together and how to recreate it in a YouTube video posted last week (15 December). Marinelli also worked on the Thriller album himself as a performer and arranger. Since then, Wolfer has left a comment underneath the video further adding some clarity to exactly how he achieved that unforgettable tone.

READ MORE: Michael Jackson’s first-ever studio recording released digitally

In his video, Marinelli says that the stack “consists of four completely different sounds that all play at the same time”, adding: “Back in the early 1980’s it was unheard of to use this many tracks of tape to record just one musical part. Sound one is stringy, sound two is brassy, sound three is voice-like, and sound four is actually Michael singing ‘oohs’ in two-part harmony.”
Watch Marinelli’s video below for his break down of the chords:

In Wolfer’s comment, he notes that Marinelli’s take on the synth sound “is very close” to the original. “It started when Michael heard me fooling around with trying a string/brass combination patch on a CS80 during the ‘81 Jacksons tour,” he adds.
“Afterwards, he asked me to work on the demo, and then do the part on the record at Westlake. For the record, I didn’t use the chorus circuit, because that thing was noisy as hell. I used pulse width modulation and a bit of detuning to animate the string sound. I also didn’t use any noise in the patch. The key to it, especially on the string side, is the release envelopes.
“My secret sauce was to have a shorter release on the filter than the VCA. If the cutoff frequency of the filter is set right, along with the right amount of envelope control, it simulates the resonance you get from a hollow body string instrument,” he explains.
“I recorded it in Studio B with Matt Forger, as Michael and Quincy were under a deadline for that E.T. children’s record they did. I knew the tune, so I got Michael to come approve the sound, and then recorded it just with Matt there. Then Michael and Quincy came down to listen.”
Recorded in 1982, Billie Jean was released as the second single from Jackson’s famous Thriller album. In 1984, it was certified as being the best selling album of all time.
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Sonos’ Move 2 might just be 2023’s best portable speaker£449, sonos.com
Sonos has found serious success with its Roam and Move portable speakers since branching out from its more traditional home cinema line-up. Now, the company has released the Move 2, a significant upgrade to the original but with a higher price.

READ MORE: Surround mixing on headphones just got serious with OLLO Audio’s S5X

Typically, speakers tend to fall either into the category of portable but lower tech, or shelf-mounted but more advanced. The Move 2 manages to be portable yet very advanced – could it be the ultimate go-anywhere speaker?
Sonos 2 battery, connectivity and durability
The unit is extremely solid, weighing 3kg and fitted with internal shock-mounting to make it resistant to drops – though, obviously, that’s something you’d try to avoid. It’s also IP56 water and dust resistant so splashes and rain aren’t going to cause it any problems.
It ships with a power adapter with USB-C and also a dock into which it can be placed to charge, with a full three-hour charge giving you up to 24 hours of playback, which is a significant improvement over the original Move’s 11 hours. The internal battery can also charge smaller devices like smartphones over USB-C which is a nice bonus, and is replaceable should you ever need it.
Sonos Move 2 in White, in use on a kitchen counter
You’ll need to download the excellent Sonos app for iOS or Android and initiate setup from your phone or tablet, registering the unit and performing any available updates. This gets it onto your wi-fi network and makes it available as an Airplay 2 device. It can be paired with other Sonos units for multi-room playback or with another Move 2 for true stereo, though sadly it’s incompatible with a Move 1.
The app gives you access to multiple streaming services including Sonos Radio, which is controlled from inside the Sonos app, and you’re also able to set up other services including Apple Music, Deezer, Spotify, Bandcamp and a host of others. The app can also connect to shared media folders on your local network, which is a welcome addition for anyone who has a bunch of music stored locally, perhaps in uncompressed formats.
Sonos Move 2’s microphones
The speaker has multiple microphones that serve several purposes, the first being voice recognition using the “hey Sonos” command, which works effectively even when music is playing. You can use this to play and control music on one or more units. There’s support for the Amazon Alexa voice assistant, though no longer for Google Assistant, which is a shame for those using Google Home. The mics can be disabled using a hardware switch on the rear if you are concerned about privacy, though this does also turn off voice control and related functions.
The second thing the mics can do, if you switch it on, is power the unit’s TruePlay technology that monitors reflections from nearby surfaces and tweaks playback accordingly, which is helpful since it’s designed to be used in all kinds of environments. In use, this seems to attenuate bass slightly when placed near a wall and, for example. There’s a simple bass and treble EQ in the software too, as well as a Loudness button. In our tests, we find leaving these flat works well, though the Loudness control does nicely boost the low end when engaged, without ever seeming too boomy.
Sonos Move 2 in Olive, in use outdoors
There are a couple of other hardware changes from the first model, starting with touch-enabled controls on the top that let you affect volume and playback without having to go to the app or another device. The second is a line input on the rear, which requires you to add a £19 Sonos adapter to convert 3.5mm to USB-C to connect other audio devices with a compatible cable. While it might be nice to throw this in with your purchase, it’s probably niche enough that many users wouldn’t need it, and £19 isn’t a huge stretch but does put the unit over the £450 mark.
The third change is that while the original Move allowed you to use Bluetooth or wi-fi, the Move 2 lets you use both at once, sharing streamed Bluetooth audio from a smartphone, for example, to other Sonos units over wi-fi. Again, perhaps a little niche but nice to have.
What codecs does the Sonos Move 2 support?
Only SBC and AAC codecs are supported which is a bit of a shame for owners of devices capable of higher-quality aptX or LDAC streaming (so this excludes Apple users). If you are using the speaker away from a broadband network it’s unfortunately not able to create an ad hoc wi-fi hotspot, so any cellular streaming from your phone will be over Bluetooth and by definition, data-compressed. This is a shame in such an explicitly portable speaker, and perhaps something that Sonos could enable in future software updates.
Where the Move had a single woofer and tweeter the Move 2 has a woofer and two angled tweeters, giving a sort-of-stereo field. It’s not really stereo as that would require a second larger driver, but it does make an appreciable difference to widening the sound field especially at closer quarters. There’s no Dolby Atmos – for that, you’d want to look at the Sonos Era 300.
Music services available on the Sonos app
How does the Sonos Move 2 sound?
The Move 2 sounds excellent. Its three amplifiers provide tons of headroom and plenty of volume, with digital signal processing kicking in to prevent distortion at high playback levels. The soundstage is rich but balanced, and the low end is remarkably powerful and accurate, especially given the lack of any porting.
Chase and Status’ 2 Ruff crackles with energy and deep bass, while a selection of very different music from jazz to rock is also beautifully rendered. While there’s EQ available, we find it unnecessary to use it indoors, adding just a notch or two of bass and treble while outdoors for more punch.
If you already own a Move 1 – still on sale for £399 – the doubled battery life, dual tweeters and smartphone charging of the 2 could be a reason to upgrade. For potential new owners, the Move 2 is an incredible portable smart speaker with an immense sound, a powerful and comprehensive app, weather resistance and effective voice control. That price is going to be a sticking point for some – you have to really value the portability here when the mains-powered Era 300 with Atmos is available online for £50 less – but for impressive sound and performance inside the house and out, the Move 2 is a superb performer.
Sonos Move 2 key features

3 class-D digital amplifiers, woofer and dual tweeters
24-hour battery with USB-C charging and dock
Touch controls and Sonos app
Sonos Radio and many streaming stations
IP56 waterproof, shock protection
Trueplay environmental audio adjustment
AirPlay 2, Bluetooth and multiroom
Voice control, Amazon Alexa
Adjustable EQ
USB-C phone charging

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