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  • ai16z’s Eliza Labs, Stanford clinch AI research partnershipThe ai16z developer is researching the intersection of artificial intelligence and Web3.

  • iRobot co-founder’s new home robot startup hopes to raise $30MColin Angle, one of the co-founders of Roomba maker iRobot, is raising cash for a home robotics venture. A filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reveals that Angle’s new company, Familiar Machines & Magic, is trying to raise $30 million. So far, it has raised $15 million from a group of eight investors. […]
    © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

    Colin Angle, one of the co-founders of Roomba maker iRobot, is raising cash for a home robotics venture called Familiar Machines and Magic.

  • Merlin tells tech companies not to use its members’ music to train AI without authorizationUsing Merlin members' music to train AI requires “explicit written authorization,” the organization has declared
    Source

    Using Merlin members’ music to train AI requires “explicit written authorization,” the organization has declared.

  • Using A Smartphone As A Touchscreen For ArduinoIf you want a good display and interface device for an embedded project, it’s hard to look past an old smartphone. After all, you’ve got an excellent quality screen and capacitive touch interface all in the same package! [Doctor Volt] explains how to easily set up your old smartphone to work as a touchscreen for your Arduino.
    [Doctor Volt] demonstrates the idea with a 2018 Samsung Galaxy A8, though a wide variety of Android phones can be put to use in this way. The phone is connected to the Arduino via a USB-to-serial converter and an OTG cable. Using a USB-C phone with Power Delivery is ideal here, as it allows the phone to be powered while also communicating with the Arduino over USB.
    The RemoteXY app is built specifically for this purpose. It can be installed on an Android phone to allow it to communicate effectively with Arduino devices, which run the RemoteXY library in turn. Configuring the app is relatively straightforward, with a point-and-click wizard helping you designate what hardware you’re using and how you’ve got it hooked up. [Doctor Volt] does a great job of explaining how to hook everything up, and how to build some simple graphical interfaces.
    There are a ton of display and interface options in the embedded space these days, many of which can be had cheaply off the shelf. Still, few compete with the resolution and quality of even older smartphones. It’s a neat project that could come in very handy for your next embedded build! Video after the break.

    If you want a good display and interface device for an embedded project, it’s hard to look past an old smartphone. After all, you’ve got an excellent quality screen and capacitive touch…

  • UMG’s Virgin to acquire Downtown Music, CD Baby, SongtrustUniversal Music Group' Virgin to acquire Downtown Music Holdings, significantly expanding its independent music footprint, for $775 million.
    The post UMG’s Virgin to acquire Downtown Music, CD Baby, Songtrust appeared first on Hypebot.

    Universal Music Group's Virgin to acquire Downtown Holdings, expanding its independent music footprint in a $775 million deal.

  • Vevo dscvr artists to watch 2025: Towa Bird, Lucky Love, WispThree more artists from the Vevo DSCVR Artists To Watch List...
    Source

    Three more artists from the Vevo DSCVR Artists To Watch List…

  • 3D-Printed Boat Feeds The FishesIn most natural environments, fish are able to feed themselves. However, if you wanted to help them out with some extra food, you could always build a 3D-printed boat to do the job for you, as [gokux] did.
    The concept is simple enough—it’s a small radio-controlled boat that gets around the water with the aid of two paddle wheels. Driven together, the paddle wheels provide thrust, and driven in opposite directions, they provide steering. A SeeedStudio XIAO ESP32 is the brains of the operation. It listens into commands from the controller and runs the paddle drive motors with the aid of a DRV8833 motor driver module. The custom radio controller is it itself running on another ESP32, and [gokux] built it with a nice industrial style joystick which looks very satisfying to use. The two ESP32s use their onboard wireless hardware to communicate, which keeps things nicely integrated. The boat is able to potter around on the water’s surface, while using a servo-driven to deliver small doses of food when desired.
    It’s a neat build, and shows just what you can whip up when you put your 3D printer to good use. If you’d like to build a bigger plastic watercraft, though, you can do that too. Video after the break.

    In most natural environments, fish are able to feed themselves. However, if you wanted to help them out with some extra food, you could always build a 3D-printed boat to do the job for you, as [gok…

  • Get 11 plugins worth $471 for only $48 With Loopcloud
    Loopcloud has kicked off the holiday season with a $48 deal that allows you to score 11 free plugins worth a total of $471 with any Loopcloud annual subscription plan.  The Loopcloud offer ends on January 6, 2025, and by starting a subscription, you’ll also get access to four million sounds and the various features [...]
    View post: Get 11 plugins worth $471 for only $48 With Loopcloud

    Loopcloud has kicked off the holiday season with a $48 deal that allows you to score 11 free plugins worth a total of $471 with any Loopcloud annual subscription plan.  The Loopcloud offer ends on January 6, 2025, and by starting a subscription, you’ll also get access to four million sounds and the various features

  • Congress poised to help AM Radio while ignoring Payments to PerformersCongress is poised to hand broadcasters a multi-million gift by guaranteeing a place for AM radio in every vehicle while ignoring a bill to finally pay US musicians when their songs are played on the radio.
    The post Congress poised to help AM Radio while ignoring Payments to Performers appeared first on Hypebot.

    The AM Radio in Every Vehicle Act: What it means for broadcasters and musicians in the US. Find out more about this proposed law.

  • Reason 13.1 now available Reason Studios have announced the launch of the latest free update to their popular DAW and virtual instrument platform. 

    Reason Studios have announced the launch of the latest free update to their popular DAW and virtual instrument platform. 

  • Joué Music, creator of the award-winning Play expressive MIDI controller, shutters its businessJoué Music, the French company known for its innovative MIDI controllers, is officially shutting down its business.
    Founded in 2016 by Pascal Joguet, Joué Music gained recognition for its Joué and Joué Play devices, which combined the expressiveness of traditional instruments with the flexibility of digital music production.
    In our review of the Joué Play — where it scored an impressive 9/10 — the controller was lauded for its premium finish and affordability: “Play is a fun way of helping players of all levels generate new musical ideas,” we said. “For beginners, it’s fun and rewarding to play… For more experienced players, there’s the MPE functionality and this is one of the most affordable ways to get into the MPE control world.”

    READ MORE: Trent Reznor thinks “the culture of the music world sucks” and that music has been “relegated to something that happens in the background”

    In its announcement, Joué Music said that it has made the “difficult decision” to close its doors as it was “unable to achieve the financial sustainability needed” to continue its journey — despite “two years of strong growth and international success.”
    “Along the way, we were honored to share J-Play instrument with music lovers around the globe, winning several international prizes and inspiring creativity in countless musicians. We are immensely proud of what we’ve accomplished together,” the statement continued.
    “A heartfelt thank you to our partners, team members, shareholders, suppliers, and – most of all – our clients and users who believed in our vision and supported us through every step. You made this journey unforgettable.”
    “Special thanks to our amazing team: Arnaud, Emmanuel, Marjorie, Pascal, and Sebastien, who stood by us during the challenging year. From all of us at Joué Music Instruments, thank you for being part of this adventure. Let’s keep the music alive, always.”

    MusicTech has reached out to Joué for a statement.
    Read more music technology news.
    The post Joué Music, creator of the award-winning Play expressive MIDI controller, shutters its business appeared first on MusicTech.

    Joué Music, the French company known for its innovative MIDI controllers, is officially shutting down its business.

  • Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross to score soundtrack for Naughty Dog’s new video game franchiseNine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross are scoring the soundtrack for Naughty Dog’s brand new video game franchise, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, which is currently in development for PlayStation 5.
    Reznor and Ross have been composing for a range of films over recent years. So far, the duo have composed music for movies such as Challengers, Queer, and the new Tron film which will release in 2025. Reznor has worked on a number of games in the past, including Call of Duty: Black Ops II, and Ross has formerly composed for the FIFA franchise.

    READ MORE: Trent Reznor: “The terrible payout of streaming services has mortally wounded a whole tier of artists”

    In a blog post from Neil Druckmann, Studio Head at Naughty Dog (the same studio which delivered games such as The Last Of Us and Uncharted) he states, “Our incredible voyage into the cosmos also needs an equally incredible soundtrack. As tremendous fans of their work, I’m excited to announce our collaboration with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross who’ll be scoring Intergalactic! The guys are cooking, and the trailer is just a small tease of their work for the game.”
    The game marks the studio’s first new franchise in over a decade, and follows protagonist, Jordan A. Mun, “a dangerous bounty hunter who ends up stranded on Sempiria – a distant planet whose communication with the outside universe went dark hundreds of years ago… Jordan will have to use all her skills and wits if she hopes to be the first person in over 600 years to leave its orbit.”
    You can check out the first trailer below:

    In a recent interview with IndieWire, Reznor opened up on his film score work alongside Ross, and explained how the pair are flourishing within its industry as opposed to the music world.
    “What we’re looking for [from film] is the collaborative experience with interesting people. We haven’t gotten that from the music world necessarily, for our own choice. You mentioned disillusionment with the music world? Yes. The culture of the music world sucks,” he said.
    “That’s another conversation, but what technology has done to disrupt the music business in terms of not only how people listen to music but the value they place on it is defeating. I’m not saying that as an old man yelling at clouds, but as a music lover who grew up where music was the main thing. Music [now] feels largely relegated to something that happens in the background or while you’re doing something else. That’s a long, bitter story.”
    Read more music technology news.
    The post Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross to score soundtrack for Naughty Dog’s new video game franchise appeared first on MusicTech.

    Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross are scoring the soundtrack for Naughty Dog’s brand new video game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

  • SiriusXM downgrades streaming ambitions in shift back to in-carBucking industry and consumer trends, the leading satellite broadcaster is shifting focus back to in-car listening, as SiriusXM downgrades streaming. The goal is to reclaim its spot in the car dashboard and take on traditional radio, but can it work?
    The post SiriusXM downgrades streaming ambitions in shift back to in-car appeared first on Hypebot.

    SiriusXM takes a bold move by downgrading streaming and focusing on in-car listening. Will this strategy help them regain their dominance?

  • These are the best new headphones and earbuds of 2024, according to MusicTech2024 saw a slew of excellent headphones and earphones of all shapes and sizes, and happily, the trend among the models we reviewed tended towards them remaining pretty affordable. With wireless earbuds now a common sight, it was refreshing to see companies pushing the envelope in terms of battery life, personalisation and audio quality. At the other end of the scale, bespoke developers are making premium wired models that are pricey but possess a fidelity that has to be heard to be believed.
    It’s perhaps musicians and producers who have the most to be happy about this year however, with sensibly-priced studio and reference headphones released that continue legacies as well as breaking new ground, especially in terms of frequency response and yes, affordability again. There’s simply never been a better time to mix and master on headphones. We were impressed by every model we tested in 2024, for different reasons. Here’s a list of the models our expert reviewers loved this year, from buds that fit in your pocket to serious audiophile luxury.
    READ MORE: Best headphones for music producers, DJs and musicians
    Denon PerL Pro Earbuds
    Denon PerL Pro up close
    When Denon acquired Nura in 2023 it inherited the company’s product line, which includes the excellent NuraTrue earbuds, effectively re-badged here as the Denon PerL Pro. When we reviewed them (https://musictech.com/reviews/consumer/denon-perl-pro-review/) we were blown away by the sound personalisation system that outshines the competition, and also their support for high-bitrate, lossless codecs including aptX Lossless if your hardware supports it. We love the impressive battery life, with eight hours in the buds and 24 in the case, plus their up-to-the minute features like spatial audio, active noise cancelling, multipoint and pairing with a well-designed companion app.
    There’s virtually nothing more we could ask of a pair of earbuds. Best of all, they are currently available for significantly less than they cost when first reviewed. Denon has taken Nura’s tech and given it a good home.
    Need more? Check out our full review of the Denon PerL Pro. 
    dSONIQ Realphones 2.0
    dSONIQ Realphones 2.0
    OK — this isn’t a pair of headphones, but is certainly an innovation worthy of merit. Estonian company dSONIQ has been researching advanced headphone modelling and measurement since 2015, and this year, Realphones 2.0, a suite designed to dramatically improve the accuracy of mixing on headphones, was released. This has been something of a holy grail for the undustry. Why? It’s impossible to physically test your mixes on as many systems as you’d ideally like – there are just too many variables. But with the Realphones 2.0 software, the dream can become a reality. Hardly any producers have access to the range of speakers and environments modelled here – a total of over 45 virtual playback setups from PA systems and cars to high-end studio monitors. And real-world variables you can control too, like crossfeed and room ambience that just aren’t covered by other apps.
    How easy is it? Just load up your headphone model into the application, which works both as a plugin and system-wide on your Mac or PC so everything goes through it, and then choose from the incredible range of speakers and environments to model to hear how your track will sound on multiple setups, all without needing any extra hardware at all. Version 2.0 boasts much-improved algorithms and an expanded selection of top-end systems to emulate. With more producers than ever needing to mix on headphones this is a game-changer that, given its very modest pricing, seems sure to find a global audience.
    Need more? Read our full review of dSONIQ Realphones 2.0.
    Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro X Limited Edition
    Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro X Limited Edition
    Many producers and musicians find it more realistic to have a strong all-round pair of cans for studio work than juggling multiple sets. Find the right one and it makes more sense economically too. Beyer’s DT770 family is as close as you’ll get to stone cold classics of the pro audio world, yet this model is also surprisingly affordable. The Pro X provides stunning stereo separation and a well-rounded, neutral sound for tracking, arranging and mixing.
    Their frequency response is a crazy 5Hz to 40KHz, far beyond the range of regular cans and also of human hearing – so you can be sure no part of the signal is being lost. They’re also comfortable to wear for long periods, their circumaural, closed-back design sitting over your ears and blocking most external sound. They’re designed to handle anything you throw at them from casual listening through to tracking and mixing, and at a price that won’t break the bank. We loved their coherence, creating a warm and well-balanced soundstage and while Beyer makes pricier models these are a set you will feel comfortable relying on day in, day out.
    Need more? Read our full review of the Beyerdynamic DT-770 Pro X Limited Edition
    Meze Audio Elite
    Meze Audio Elite headphones
    Founded in 2011, Romanian audio specialists Meze Audio build very nice headphones indeed and if you value audio fidelity above all else – and we really do mean all else – its Elite open-backed, magnetic planar headphones will certainly make your ears very happy. Hand-built from extremely high-end custom components, they use Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array drivers with a frankly bonkers frequency response of 3Hz – 112kHz, far outside the range of what our ears can actually detect.
    Stats aside though, they sound phenomenal, and we found they offered a supremely detailed, rich and open soundstage with flawless stereo separation. Everything you listen to on these will sound better than you’ve ever experienced it before, whether you’re listening for pleasure, mixing or mastering. At $4000 they are far from affordable but audiophiles can be comfortable spending these amounts – the company also makes the Empyrean II for $3000 though when we reviewed those we could tell where the extra money goes in the pricier Elites. They’re niche, but by heck they sound the absolute business.
    Need more? Read our full review of the Meze Audio Elite. 
    Sony MDR-M1
    Sony MDR-M1. Image: Press
    Best known for its consumer products, Sony has long had a presence in the pro audio world too, particularly in the field of reference headphones. At around half the price of the MDR-MV1s, Sony’s MDR-M1 is a fully analogue, closed-back headphone designed for mixing and mastering work in the studio. We loved their neutral and open sound, comfort and quite honestly their price too, which is very reasonable for headphones of this calibre.
    In everyday studio use we appreciated the way they present an honest picture of your sound rather than flattering with boomy bass or overt sheen – a behaviour that’s crucial if you are to trust them during the mixing and mastering processes. We did notice a little brightness in the mid-range at higher volumes though this can be compensated for with software EQ. On the whole these are excellent, affordable workhorse studio headphones. Anyone trading up from even a decent pair of consumer ‘phones for studio use will notice an immediate and significant improvement in fidelity, and an openness not found in many other closed-back models.
    Need more? Read our full review of the Sony MDR-M1. 
    ADAM Audio H200
    Image: Press
    Germany’s ADAM Audio is best known for monitor speakers but also produces some excellent headphones. Designed for the budget-conscious musician and producer, the company’s H200s () are a closed-back, over-ear model with an insanely low frequency floor of just 2Hz, and 23.5kHz at the top end.
    Despite a couple of minor issues we found with the practicality of their design, we were impressed with their sonic performance, finding a rich bass end and detailed reproduction all through the frequencies without the boxiness exhibited by some closed back models. In fact we declared them to be “near-perfect for beginners, professionals, and everyone in-between”.
    They come with a VST/AU format plugin that lets you simulate crossfeed between left and right channels, like we experience when listening on stereo speakers, which can help you create more accurate mixes and masters. It also lets you simulate different frequency response curves, which we found greatly improved their flexibility. All this for $150 – a price lower than you might expect given their performance – makes them a serious contender for your Christmas list.
    Need more? Read our full ervie of ADAM Audio’s H200. 
     
    The post These are the best new headphones and earbuds of 2024, according to MusicTech appeared first on MusicTech.

    A roundup of our favourite headphones of the year, from budget-conscious reference cans and workhorse studio models to earbuds with sound personalisation and luxury magnetic planar models.

  • UKF15 at Drumsheds — the worst-organised event at the venue yet?The UK’s nightlife industry is not in a strong place right now. With a reported 10 nightclubs closing per month since 2020, fewer people are participating in the nighttime economy. This only adds to the disappointment we, and others, felt on Friday at Drumsheds, a venue which is one of the UK’s flagship nightclubs and a beacon for the rest of the country’s nightlife scene.
    And with a lineup including Pendulum, Nero, Knife Party, Modestep, Flux Pavilion and many other dance titans, it’s no wonder UKF15 at Drumsheds drew such a large crowd. But the measures in place to control the 15,000-plus attendees at Tottenham’s repurposed IKEA building on Friday 13 December were woefully inadequate, with many guests expressing serious concerns during and after the event regarding their safety.
    READ MORE: Spotify Wrapped live in London: A Top Of The Pops-style end-of-year celebration at IKEA-turned-superclub Drumsheds
    MusicTech was kindly invited to attend the event as a guest, and we were able to bypass a tightly packed queue of thousands waiting to enter. Still, we were forced to wrestle sideways through the crowd to reach the badly signposted guestlist entrance with just one steward responsible for maintaining its integrity.
    But hundreds of attendees report on Instagram, Reddit and Google that they queued for two hours or more just to enter the venue, meaning they missed the sets of some of the earlier – and even headline – acts.
    “The queue to get in was ridiculous,” one Reddit user writes. “We arrived early but still ended up waiting nearly two hours after ticket scanning. Because of this, we completely missed the three non-headliner acts we were most excited to see.”
    Another writes: “I queued for two hours, [and] missed two acts I wanted to see. At one point it was an actual crowd surge to the point I was pushed so close between two people [that] when the crowd moved forward I moved without my feet touching the ground. Have venues not learned anything from what happened at Astroworld a few years ago?”
    UKF – unsafe conditions/Rant byu/Sea_Flow_83 inDrumsheds

    They are, of course, referring to the tragedy at Travis Scott’s Astroworld festival in 2021, during which crowd surges and poor crowd management claimed the lives of 10 people.
    Once inside, the old IKEA car park which hosted a bar, locker section, and various other popup stalls provided some much-needed space after the conditions of the entry queue. But poor crowd management reared its head once again at the entrance to the venue’s main room, Room X.
    Between acts, attendees were directed, for no reason that we could see and as part of a glacially-paced crowd, outside into the cold simply to come back inside again.
    “Whilst waiting to get in for Caspa and Rusko, many of us were subjected to a massive bottleneck in the lobby which caused a bit of crowd crushing and a poor girl near me was having issues breathing because of it,” one guest recalls. It was extremely unsafe. There was no announcement or anything of the sort to explain what was going on. Again – managed terribly by event staff.
    The person adds – and MusicTech can confirm – that in these bottleneck situations, entering and exiting the main room, stewards were rarely seen, adding to the confusion. “We were funnelled outside, five minutes into Pendulum’s set for an unknown reason – and then sent back up the adjacent stairs whilst having to wait in the cold – for what reason?”
    Absolutely appalling evening, welcome to 'Queuesheds'… byu/milancosens inDrumsheds

    Elsewhere, some attendees reported crowd surges during Pendulum’s set, and others say they were denied entry.
    “We were denied entry to Room X just before Pendulum started their set,” one writes. “Pendulum was the main reason we came, so this was heartbreaking. At that point, we got caught in the crowds outside of Room X with people pushing and shoving. It was so bad that we left early as we felt unsafe. The entire night was completely ruined for us.”
    Drumsheds has not yet responded to MusicTech’s request for comment on the handling of the event.
    A website has been set up to gather people’s negative experiences of the night, and a Change.org petition has even been launched demanding refunds due to the “frightful conditions” that risked guests’ safety. The petition has gathered 1,151 signatures at the time of writing.
    Following the wave of backlash, Drumsheds has deleted its Instagram post for UKF15, and have yet to put out an official statement addressing guests’ grievances. Online users are also reporting that their one-star Google reviews are going missing, though we are unable to confirm the legitimacy of these claims. Many have contacted Drumsheds asking for refunds, and have been met with the a copy-paste response email, as shared by some users on Reddit.
    “We want to start by sincerely apologising for the challenges you faced at the event on 13th December,” the email reads. “We understand how frustrating this must have been, and we’re genuinely sorry for the impact it had on you and your evening.
    “As a team, we have always strived to create a great experience for everyone who joins us. It is incredibly upsetting to hear about your personal experience, and we want you to know that this is the last thing we would ever want.
    “We faced a number of challenges on the night, including much longer-than-usual queues and congestion in some areas, due to a combination of factors, including enhanced security procedures. While these measures were necessary on the night, we understand they caused frustration and discomfort, and for this, we sincerely apologise.”
    The venue says it is conducting a “full internal review of the event”, including a “thorough examination” of guest feedback and “reports from independent safety consultants who were present on the night”.
    Reponse from Drumsheds byu/tomathy15 inDrumsheds

    Grievances aside, once inside the music rooms, we were treated to some truly bass-face-inducing sets from Nero, Knife Party, Flux Pavilion and Pendulum, who played a nostalgic set packed with classics like Propane Nightmares, Witchcraft and Watercolour, as well as thumping new single Napalm. We also commend the venue for its thoroughly immersive and exciting visuals.

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Pendulum (@pendulum)

    Venues and brands can make mistakes. That’s ok. But as they face intense economic pressure and a dwindling interest in attending nighttime events, deterring punters by remaining silent after a dangerous event will do little to restore faith in those who attended and those who look to attend future events.
    We sincerely hope Drumsheds remedies this issue and puts out an official statement addressing the genuine concerns of those in attendance on Friday 13 December.
    Read more music tech and industry features.
    The post UKF15 at Drumsheds — the worst-organised event at the venue yet? appeared first on MusicTech.

    Attendees report a two-hour long entry queue and crowd surges – and some say they were denied entry to the main room to see headliner Pendulum.