Pentacom releases ChordBloom, a free chord exploration plugin for Windows & macOS
Pentacom has released ChordBloom, a free plugin for macOS and Windows that makes chord exploration intuitive and fun for producers, songwriters, and live performers. There are plenty of MIDI plugins to help with chords, but I love that ChordBloom has a very straightforward approach to triggering chords. The lower octave of your MIDI keyboard (C2–B2) [...]
View post: Pentacom releases ChordBloom, a free chord exploration plugin for Windows & macOS

Meltone soft synth from quietformat Meltone aims to combine the sought-after sound of classic analogue instruments with the expressive possibilities offered by MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression. 

My Big Mouth: The Wit and Wisdom of OasisThe new Simon & Schuster book "Oasis Talking Shite" lays out some of the best of the worst quotes from the Gallagher brothers, roughly organized by topic and accompanied by photos spanning decades of haircuts and parkas. Check out the highlights in our book review.

2025 One Hertz Challenge: RPI TinynumberHat9This eye-catching entry to the One Hertz Challenge pairs vintage LED indicators with a modern RPi board to create a one-of-a-kind clock. The RPI TinynumberHat9 by [Andrew] brings back the beautiful interface from high end electronics of the past.
This project is centered around the red AL304 and green ALS314V 7-segment display chips. These 7-segment displays were produced in the 1970s and 1980s in the Soviet Union; you can still find them, but you’ll have to do some digging as they are only becoming more rare. [Andrew] included the data sheet for these which was a good find, it is written in Russian but doesn’t hold any surprises, these tiny LEDs typically forward current is 5mA at 2V. One of the things that jumps out about these LEDs is the gold leads, a sure sign of being a high-end component of their day.
When selecting a driving chip for the LEDs, [Andrew] looked at the MAX7219 and HT16K33; he settled on the HT16K33 as it supports I2C as well as allows the easy addition of buttons to the HAT. Due to being driven by I2C, he was also able to add a Qwiic/Stemma I2C connector, so while designed initially to be a HAT for a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W board, it can be connected to other things in the Qwiic/Stemma ecosystem.
Thanks [Andrew] for submitting this beautiful entry into the One Hertz Challenge. We love unique 7-segment displays, and so it’s pretty awesome to see 40-year-old display tech brought into the present.

‘Wizard of Oz’ blown up by AI for giant Sphere screenThe massive Las Vegas venue known as Sphere will be screening its first classic movie, “The Wizard of Oz,” starting on August 28. And as detailed in a segment on CBS Sunday Morning, this isn’t just a matter of taking the existing movie and projecting it on Sphere’s 160,000 square foot, wraparound LED screen.

Revealed Recordings Revealed Spire Ultimate Plucks Vol. 1Revealed Spire Ultimate Plucks Vol. 1 is a collection of 100 presets designed to supercharge your breakdowns, main themes, and melodic sections. From euphoric trance plucks and lush progressive tones to melodic house sparkles and raw techno-inspired grit, this pack gives you the tools to unlock endless creative possibilities. Additionally, each preset has modwheel controls and all 4 macros programmed to give you more control fine-tuning your sound. With Spire Ultimate Plucks Vol. 1, you'll have a suite of source sounds to craft emotionally charged, high-energy productions in Trance, Progressive House, Big Room, Techno, Eurodance, and Melodic genres. Reveal Yourself. Revealed Spire Ultimate Plucks Vol. 1 - Details PLUCK [100]. 100 presets Core synthesizer patch mapping and programming All presets assigned intuitive modwheel parameters All presets assigned all four macro controls for easy tweaking and multiple sound variations. Preset format(s): .swzip (Full Bank) + .spf2 (Individual Presets) Note: Presets Require Full Retail Version of Spire 1.5.16 or later. Read More

Rob Papen introduce WirePluck As its name suggests, WirePluck concentrates on creating plucked instrument sounds, but aims to tread new ground rather than attempting to recreate real acoustic instruments.

U.K. starts enforcing online age check rulesA U.K. law requiring that pornography websites verify the age of their users took effect Friday.

2025 One-Hertz Challenge: A Clock Sans SiliconJust about every electronic device has some silicon semiconductors inside these days—from transistors to diodes to integrated circuits. [Charles] is trying to build a “No-Silicon digital clock” that used none of these parts. It looks like [Charles] is on the way to success, but one might like to point out an amusing technicality. Let’s dive in to the clock!
Instead of silicon semiconductors, [Charles] is attempting to build a digital clock using valves (aka tubes). More specifically, his design relies on seven dekatrons, which are the basic counting elements of the clock. By supplying the right voltages to the various cathodes of the dekatrons, they can be made to step through ten (or sometimes twelve) stable states, used as simple memory elements which can be used as the basis for a timepiece. [Charles] will set up the first dekatron to divide down mains frequency by 5 or 6 to get down to 10 Hz, depending on whether the supply is 50 Hz or 60 Hz. The next dekatron will step down 10 times to 1 Hz, to measure seconds. The next two will divide by ten and six to count minutes, while a further two will divide the same way to create an impulse per hour. A final dekatron will divide by 12 to count the hours in a day.
Naturally, time will be displayed on Nixies. While silicon semiconductors are verboten, [Charles] is also considering the use of some germanium parts to keep the total tube count down when it comes to supporting hardware. Also, [Charles] may wish to avoid silicon, but here’s the thing about tubes. They use glass housings, and glass is made of silicon.
Cheeky technicalities aside, it’s a great project that promises to create a very interesting clock indeed. Progress is already steaming along and we can’t wait to see the finished product. We’ve seen dekatrons put to good use before, too. If you’re cooking up your own practical projects with mid-century hardware, don’t hesitate to let us know!

'Parabolic bull markets and devastating bear markets are over’ — BTC analystBitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have permanently reduced volatility and altered Bitcoin market dynamics, according to analysts.

Tip Jar: A Personal Reflection: The Journey, The Shift, and The CallingBy Keith MitchellWhen I considered writing this piece, I knew it was time to be vulnerable—to release certain elements of my story that haven’t been shared in other versions.Let me begin with what’s familiar: I was part of the group After 7, a journey that opened many doors and opportunities for myself and the two other gentlemen I sang with for over 34 years—Kevon Edmonds and his brother, Melvin Edmonds. We were produced by mega-producer Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, their younger brother, along with his creative partners Daryl Simmons and L.A. Reid. Together, they crafted some of the most passionate, heartfelt, and classy music that continues to resonate—songs like “In the Heat of the Moment,” “Ready or Not,” “Can’t Stop,” and “One Night.”In 1989, Virgin Records signed us sight unseen, purely on the reputation of Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds. He even gave us our name, After 7—defined as casual elegance. We embraced that identity through our attire, photography, videos, and performances. Our first album earned two gold singles, reached platinum+status, and even garnered a GRAMMY nomination.Looking back, there wasn’t much representation for a group like ours in the early days. But we seized the moment, creating a legacy that still stands.We toured for two years before recording our second album, Taking My Time—this time, without Babyface’s direct involvement. Fortunately, Daryl Simmons and Dallas Austin stepped in, producing hits like “Baby, I’m For Real” and “Kickin’ It.” Al Haymon also played a pivotal role, placing us on shows with legends like Regina Belle, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, The Whispers, Gladys Knight, and Whitney Houston.Tip #1: In the music business, expect the unexpected. Be flexible and commit to responding, not reacting, to situations beyond your control. We didn’t anticipate Babyface stepping back for the second album, but we pushed forward and gave it our all.The Reflections album was the last studio project recorded prior to After 7’s musical hiatus of 20 years, after which we re-emerged with the Timeless album. During the season of Melvin Edmond’s passing, his son Jason Edmonds stepped in to support the group. Thirteen years later, Daniel McClain joined us during the recording of the fifth album, Unfinished Business.It’s worth mentioning that while attending Indiana University, I majored in business so I could understand how to run a business successfully. That education taught me music is more than art—it’s a business. Many may not know this, but I served as the road manager for After 7 at one point. That meant handling money, per diems, salaries, making sure the tour bus was funded, and reporting weekly to the business manager. It’s sobering to realize that after all the logistics and travel, you can come home with little to show financially. That kind of disparity can cause tension in any group—especially when family dynamics are involved.Tip #2: Learn everything you can about the music industry—because it is a business. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Diversify your interests to build long-term stability and income.Over time, we began to grow apart in how we processed and responded to the challenges. What kept me rooted was loyalty. I pledged Kappa Alpha Psi while in college, where I was taught not to desert or condemn. So staying committed to the group—despite disagreements—wasn’t always easy, but I showed up. Even when Melvin stepped away at times, we kept pushing, doing more of one thing, less of another, whatever it took.Then came the inevitable. In January 2025, I decided it was time to say goodbye.It felt like a train journey—one where people get on, and eventually, people get off. Most people do not know that I was never financially compensated at a rate that reflected an escalating value for a member who was loyal to a group for 30 plus years. Often, valuable tools to maintain my professional sound quality were stripped away from me and I was marginalized to singing the equivalent of back up vocals with occasional one liners in songs. Thus I chronically felt undervalued and underpaid both on and off stage. Rather than continue to compromise my self-worth, I knew it was time to leave. God opened up the doors and on His timing I departed from the often toxic environment. I had given everything—my time, my energy, my heart—to individuals and the group. Was I perfect? No. Did I always make the right decisions? No. But I showed up. I didn’t miss engagements. I was on time for rehearsals. I participated in every promotional effort.Eventually, it became clear that my personal interests no longer mattered within the group dynamic. One member began focusing on themselves more than honoring our three-man unity. That was just one of the reasons I left.The other was this: God called me back to gospel music—my first love, and where I first discovered my gift. I was also navigating the emotional toll of a divorce I didn’t want. I felt completely alone. But in that brokenness, God revealed my life to me. He walked me through healing, and that process birthed new purpose.It was during that season—while attending World Changers Church, under the teachings of Creflo Dollar—that everything changed. That’s when I began writing the songs that would become my new gospel album, Food for Your Life. That’s when I made the decision to walk away from After 7.Tip #3: Know when your time in a certain situation has ended. Plan your exit with wisdom and discretion. Stay committed until the shift becomes clear. Keep God at the center of everything you do, and never move without His guidance.The post Tip Jar: A Personal Reflection: The Journey, The Shift, and The Calling first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Tukan Dance Rocket FlangerOur first plugin, Rocket Flanger, is here — and it's completely free. Put together by Eternal Self and used in his own music (on labels like Street Tracks), this plugin is designed to take your sound to the moon — with a tempo range that goes all the way to 512. Read More

Independent Musician News Last Week: PR, Live, Merch & MoreIndependent musician news last week was filled with tips and guides to thriving in a competitive industry from live show booking hacks, finding the best PR team, to selling the right merch items, and more...
The post Independent Musician News Last Week: PR, Live, Merch & More appeared first on Hypebot.

Music Business News Last Week: Equity, Rock, Super ListenersMusic business news last week included Chartmetric reports on gender roles in music and rock's latest resurgence, Spotify targets Super Listeners, and much more...
The post Music Business News Last Week: Equity, Rock, Super Listeners appeared first on Hypebot.

New Music Critique: AhhmandaContact: vivavillamusic@gmail.comWeb: instagram.com/_ahhmanda_Seeking: Label, Booking, New listenersStyle: Psychedelic Rock, Alternative, IndieAhhmanda’s debut track “Holy Mountain” introduces a promising new voice in psychedelic rock. The Los Angeles-based artist leans into hazy distortion and swirling textures, crafting a moody, atmospheric sound that pulls the listener in. It’s a bold move to submit just one song for review, but it mostly paid off—“Holy Mountain” feels intentional and vibey, if still a bit raw. “I only have one song out so far (my first),” she notes, “and more to come very soon.” It’s a solid foundation that hints at a distinct artistic identity in the making.The post New Music Critique: Ahhmanda first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.