XLN Audio’s Life brilliantly transforms the world into a drum kitSick of sample libraries? Bored of generic beats? The inspiration you’ve been looking for, it turns out, might just be hidden in the squeak of a hallway door, the beep of a crossing light, or the hum of a refrigerator. This is the premise behind Life, the new release from Sweden-based developer XLN Audio, creator of the revered RC-20 Retro Colour lo-fi plugin. Life comes with the promise to make personalised percussion out of everyday noise.

READ MORE: Steinberg’s Cubase Pro 13: The old master shows how it’s done

The idea that anything can be music is nothing new; using non-musical sounds as drum samples is a well-worn production trick. What makes Life special is not necessarily the end result – it’s how, and how fast, you get there.

The basic premise is this: using the Life Field Recorder mobile app for iOS and Android, you can go out and capture any noise that piques your interest. You upload the recordings to your XLN account and seamlessly sync to the Life desktop app or DAW plugin. Once there, the recordings you’ve gathered are automatically analysed for salient audio features and, based on this analysis, the file is neatly sliced into segments. But that’s not all; the app ingeniously generates dozens of rhythmic patterns to accompany your new sample instrument.
The whole process of analysing the source file and generating rhythmic patterns takes roughly three seconds on our M2 Macbook Air, and the results are genuinely awesome.
The sound of some street Karaoke in Vietnam becomes a perfect starting point for an EDM track, and rolling the dice to get a second variation lands on something closer to industrial techno. The chugging sound of a washing machine is transformed first into a lazy hip-hop beat, and then into something hard to quantify but enjoyable nonetheless

Judge accepts Binance CEO CZ’s guilty plea, with sentencing in FebThis court “hereby accepts the guilty plea of the defendant to the charge [...] and the defendant is adjudged guilty of such offense,” wrote Judge Richard Jones.

Commercial companies to collaborate for DARPA’s new lunar economy studyEstablishing commercial markets on the moon is going to require thinking a little differently. That’s DARPA’s hunch, anyway. DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) is the U.S. Department of Defense’s R&D arm, which has just selected 14 companies to participate in a new study to develop technological frameworks for a lunar future. “The next decade […]
© 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

4 producers celebrate their South Asian roots through music
Hear Nikitaa, Ikky, Chitra, and Leo Kalyan share their stories and sounds that celebrate their South Asian roots.

Bitwig Studio 5.1 arrives Following a recent beta release, Bitwig have announced that the full release version of their Bitwig Studio DAW is now available. 

The Department Of Sound Releases FREE EcoSlap Delay Plugin
The Department Of Sound has released EcoSlap, a free slap delay plugin that is available for both Windows and Mac systems. EcoSlap is derived from the company’s premium Ecoplate I plate reverb plugin. It uses Ecoplate’s shortest decay setting with additional controls.  It is a different kind of slap-delay since its signature sound originates from [...]
View post: The Department Of Sound Releases FREE EcoSlap Delay Plugin

Shazam hits 300m monthly active users worldwideApple acquired Shazam for $400 million in 2018
Source

SRM Sounds launches new plugin based on producer Max Richter’s own Steinway Model D Spirio | rSRM Sounds are set to release a unique series of virtual instruments for Native Instruments’ Kontakt software – and the first plugin to be shared with the world, The Max Richter Piano plugin, will allow creatives to harness a sound close to the composer’s heart.
Recorded at his countryside studio, Studio Richter Mahr, The Max Richter Piano plugin is built around the sound of Richter’s own Steinway Model D Spirio | r. Comprised of ten dynamic layers spanning from ppp to mf, five layers of round-robins, two varieties of reverb, the plugin is set to replicate every intricate sonic detail of Richter’s grand.

READ MORE: MSG says plans for London Sphere were “hijacked” by mayor Sadiq Khan

Every effort was made to accurately capture and sample the grand’s natural, full-bodied sound. With three microphones set up per instrument, the library promises to emulate even the softest of piano tones. It’s also equipped with action, dampers and pedal volume control.
“For composers, sound is an incredibly personal and emotional thing,” Richter explains. “For many of us, the experience of falling in love with the physical and tactile aspects of sound is what got us into music in the first place, so working with sounds that aren’t quite right is really disturbing.”
“Therefore, we decided to make our own Kontakt instrument collection, using the wonderful acoustics and technical resources of Studio Richter Mahr. These instruments have the colours that I love to use to tell the stories I want to tell,” he ays.
“Just like a real acoustic piano, this instrument has its own properties; it is not an ‘everything piano’,” Richter continues. “You wouldn’t perform Prokofiev on a piano that had been set up for Mozart, and the same applies here.”
Created in partnership with ex-Spitfire Audio CEO Will Evans and his new studio Song Athletics, the plugin will truly bring the digital piano to life.
“Max has a unique and revered relationship with sound,” Will Evans comments. “To collaborate with him and Studio Richter Mahr is a real privilege, and I’m excited to help share these inspiring instruments with the world.”
The Max Richter Piano plugin is currently available on SRM Sounds, with an introductory price of £119 until 31 January 2024, after which it will be £149.
For more info, head to SRM Sounds.
The post SRM Sounds launches new plugin based on producer Max Richter’s own Steinway Model D Spirio | r appeared first on MusicTech.

Curious about The John Lennon Songwriting Contest?In honor of John Lennon, The John Lennon Songwriting Contest is an international songwriting contest that began in 1997 to give songwriters an opportunity to express themselves, gain recognition, and get their music heard. The JLSC is made possible by Yoko Ono Lennon.

The contest is open to everyone. Enter your original songs in any of the 12 Categories: Rock, Pop, Hip-Hop, Country, Jazz, R&B, Children's, Folk, World, Latin, Electronic and Gospel/Inspirational.

You don't need a professional recording. Entries will be judged on originality, melody, composition, and lyrics (when applicable).

Each year, judges select 72 Finalists and 24 Grand Prize winners. The Grand Prize winners compete for the 12 Lennon Awards, one of which will be selected "Song of the Year." Click here for a complete list of prizes.

George Clinton, Prince Royce, 311, and Flea are some of the members on our Executive Committee of Judges. Meet the Judges

Proceeds from the contest help support the non-profit John Lennon Educational Tour Busmobile recording studio which is dedicated to providing young people with opportunities to create original music and digital media.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO AND TO ENTER

CONTEST DEADLINE ALERT!

Entries for Session II must be received by December 31st!

Enter your original songs to compete for the enormous 2023 prize list which includes pro gear like Genelec 8030C monitors, an Apogee Duet 3, a pair of Epiphone guitars, Audio-Technica studio mic + headphones, Avid Pro Tools, hot plugins from SSL, Apogee/Clearmountain, and Universal Audio, as well as Reason+ and so much more - including the $20,000 CASH prize for Song of the Year.

Enrique Iglesias sells catalog to Influence Media Partners in nine-figure deal (report)Agreement also marks Influence Media's first-ever Name, Image, and Likeness deal
Source

Spotify’s Campaign Kit brings together its Artist marketing toolsSpotify offers a range of music marketing tools, including playlist pitching, Discovery Mode, Marquee, and Showcase. Each is designed to help reach the right listeners, drive engagement when they’re listening,. Continue reading
The post Spotify’s Campaign Kit brings together its Artist marketing tools appeared first on Hypebot.

Sona adds musician-friendly streaming, marketplace with $6.8M fundingSona has launched a new web3-based, no-subscription, ad-free streaming music platform and a marketplace where artists can auction off SONA, the “digital twins” of songs. The startup was co-founded by. Continue reading
The post Sona adds musician-friendly streaming, marketplace with $6.8M funding appeared first on Hypebot.

Klavis Grainity Eurorack module now available Klavis' new Eurorack module employs a granual filter design which the company say is is new to the world of analogue VCFs.

Two notes announce ReVolt & OPUS deal Two notes Audio Engineering have announced the immediate availability of two Fly-Rig Saver bundles for customers in the US.

Creamfields to house the “largest indoor festival superstructure in the world”Next August, Creamfields is set to debut a brand new stage – and it’s going to be the “largest indoor main stage superstructure” in the world.

READ MORE: MSG says plans for London Sphere were “hijacked” by mayor Sadiq Khan

Making the monumental announcement on Instagram, the EDM festival has revealed that the APEX stage will hold an “epic 30,000 capacity,” with an extra perk of an extended 4am closing time on Saturday.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Creamfields (@creamfieldsofficial)

The huge 30,000-capacity of the stage will be able to hold just under half of the 70,000 headcount attending the festival. The stage will serve as a mega step forward for the festival, allowing headliners to put on more intricate light shows within the confines of the huge space.
However, some regular attendees aren’t pleased about the announcement – namely due to the fact the stage is set to replace the beloved Horizon stage.
“Horizon is always the best stage at sunset time,” one festival goer writes. The shift from an outdoor stage to a tent has also disappointed some punters as it will restrict acts from closing with climactic firework displays.
Other fans name-dropped the 20,000-capacity Steel Yard stage as the real stage needing a switch up. Despite being one of the festival’s most innovative stages, designed to “transform the space” and to immerse attendees in “a feast for the senses,” it has served as a bugbear for Creamfield goers.
While impressive, the stage is notoriously difficult to worm your way inside due to it being a hot-spot, and is regularly crammed full.
But the plans are in place and the APEX will be making its first appearance on the Cheshire festival grounds next year. While we will certainly mourn the iconic Horizon stage, Creamfields are known for trying to re-define the festival experience. The APEX is sure to be a truly game-changing festival structure.
2024 will also see XXL and Teletech joining Creamfields as first-time stage hosts, and the rest of the line-up is yet to be unveiled. Limited day, weekend and camping tickets are available to buy now. 
The post Creamfields to house the “largest indoor festival superstructure in the world” appeared first on MusicTech.