NoizLabs offers the Beheader clipper plugin FREE for a limited time
NoizLabs has released Beheader, a free-for-a-limited-time clipper and saturation plugin for macOS and Windows. Beheader is a surgical clipper with a simple interface. Like any clipper, instead of pulling the whole signal down to avoid a ceiling, it clips only the peaks that exceed it, so you can control loud transients while keeping more of [...]
View post: NoizLabs offers the Beheader clipper plugin FREE for a limited time

AlphaTheta’s new XDJ-AN makes the leap from bedroom DJ to club booth a whole lot easierIf you’ve learned to DJ on a controller at home, stepping up to a club setup can feel like being thrown in at the deep end.
AlphaTheta’s new XDJ-AN is designed to smooth out that learning curve, packing a familiar club-style workflow into a 2-channel all-in-one system that works with USB drives, streaming services, laptops and even your phone.

READ MORE: Short on booth space? AlphaTheta’s new CDJ-1500X multi player packs flagship features into a smaller footprint

Borrowing its layout from AlphaTheta’s flagship CDJ-3000X multi player and DJM series mixers, the XDJ-AN is designed to make the jump from a bedroom setup to a club booth feel as natural as possible.
At the heart of the controller is a 7-inch touchscreen paired with two 132mm jog wheels, giving DJs a familiar hands-on experience inspired by club-standard gear. Performance features include three Beat FX – Reverb, Echo and Flanger – alongside six Sound Colour FX: Space, Dub Echo, Sweep, Noise, Crush and Filter for adding texture and movement to your mixes.
Credit: AlphaTheta
According to AlphaTheta, the XDJ-AN makes it “easy to perform using multiple music sources”. It supports USB drives, DJ apps on mobile devices and PC/Mac, and compatible streaming services, while StreamingDirectPlay lets you mix tracks directly from supported platforms.
There’s support for rekordbox Cloud Library Sync and CloudDirectPlay as well, allowing you to access cloud-based playlists and tracks without manually exporting them to a USB drive. If you’re using a compatible rekordbox subscription, edits such as Hot Cues and playlist changes are automatically synced with the cloud. The XDJ-AN also works with rekordbox and djay for iOS, as well as the DJM-REC app for recording and live streaming.
The unit also features a built-in SonicLink transmitter, allowing DJs to pair compatible wireless headphones for ultra-low-latency monitoring without additional hardware.
Finally, the XDJ-AN features balanced XLR and RCA outputs for everything from home speakers to professional PA systems, alongside Bluetooth input and output for added flexibility. The result is a compact all-in-one system that delivers professional connectivity and clear, powerful sound whether you’re practicing at home or playing out.

The XDJ-AN is available now with a price of €1,149 including VAT / $1,099 excluding tax / $1,199 (Only in the US, excluding sales tax).
Learn more at AlphaTheta.
The post AlphaTheta’s new XDJ-AN makes the leap from bedroom DJ to club booth a whole lot easier appeared first on MusicTech.

AlphaTheta XDJ-AN: A $1,200 Standalone 2-Channel Replacing the XDJ-RR, Only Takes USB-C DrivesA decade after the XDJ-RR, AlphaTheta's $1,200 XDJ-AN weighs the same and costs about the same, just with streaming and cloud sync built in.
The post AlphaTheta XDJ-AN: A $1,200 Standalone 2-Channel Replacing the XDJ-RR, Only Takes USB-C Drives appeared first on DJ TechTools.

The Over‍looked "Australian Invasion": The '80s Down Under Expl⁠osi⁠on Tha‍t Ne‌ver G‍ot Its DueFrom AC/DC's Back in Black to Men at Work, INXS, and Midnight Oil, Australian artists left an undeniable mark on the 1980s. In this exclusive excerpt from Down Under: The Men at Work and Colin Hay Story, Greg Prato investigates why this remarkable era has remained one of rock history's most underappreciated musical movements.

Bitcoin tumbles back to key $60K support level: What’s behind the sell pressure?Bitcoin faces renewed sell pressure amid an oil price surge, Japan economic contagion risks and a fresh round of selling from Strategy.

Feds demand autonomous vehicle companies stop interfering with first respondersThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said emergency scenes are not "edge cases."

Pi 5 Becomes ALSA-Compatible TOSLINK Sound CardThis is one of those hacks that makes you stop in your tracks and say, “wait, you can do that!?” — before realizing, oh, yes, of course you can do that. With enough computational power, you can do a lot of things, and the Raspberry Pi 5 is a far cry from the single-board computer’s humble beginnings. In this case, the “you can do that!?” is both that [Oliver] was able to get the digital audio TOSLINK working via an LED tied to one GPIO pin on the Pi, but also the larger project that is embedded in: using the Pi as a full featured 8-channel USB sound card called Camilla DSP.
For the first one: the old TOSLink standard is very simple, and all you need to do is blink an LED quickly enough. Considering the clock frequency of the Pi 5 is in the GHz range and the TOSLINK is the same 3.1 Mbit/s S/PDIF signal you could pull off your CD-ROM drive to your Sound Blaster, there’s no problem there. Except, wouldn’t the operating system get in the way? Well, not when you have enough clock cycles to throw at the problem. Using a Pi 5 doesn’t hurt: the RP1 I/O chip included on the board is keeping things smooth with its included PIO while Linux mucks about in the background. There’s a reason we called it the most important product Raspberry Pi ever made.
As for making a USB sound card from an SBC — well, we’re not sure why that got the “you can do that” reaction. The Raspberry Pi family had ‘gadget mode’ for over a decade now, allowing you to present the computer as a USB device, so why not a sound card? That’s a valid class of USB device.

How 23dB Productions Is Revolutionizing Audiobook Recording with Focusrite Scarlett 4th GenPictured L-R: Denis Orynbekov, 23dB Productions co-founder and chief engineer; and Fela Davis, 23dB Productions co-founder.

The audiobook boom shows no signs of slowing down—and 23dB Productions is making sure geography doesn’t either. The company has expanded its remote production services into a streamlined audiobook workflow that allows authors to record professional-grade narration from just about anywhere, no studio commute required.

At the center of this operation is the Focusrite Scarlett 4th Generation audio interface, a piece of gear that’s quietly doing a lot of heavy lifting. By pairing intuitive hardware with a highly managed remote workflow, 23dB Productions has effectively turned bedrooms, offices, and hotel rooms into viable recording spaces for authors across the country.

The idea didn’t come out of nowhere. It evolved naturally from the company’s remote podcast services, which gained traction during the pandemic and quickly revealed a broader opportunity. “Our podcast clients started asking if we could help them create audiobook versions of their books,” said co-founder Fela Davis in a press release. “We had already been helping authors on a limited basis, but when we realized how effectively we could manage the entire process remotely, it opened the door to a completely new service offering.”

What 23dB ships out isn’t just a mic and a wish for the best. Authors receive a curated recording kit—complete with a microphone, laptop, and Scarlett interface—along with real-time support from an engineer who remotely monitors each session. The result is a guided experience that feels closer to a studio session than a DIY recording attempt.

According to co-founder and chief engineer Denis Orynbekov, the Scarlett 4th Gen has been a game changer for simplifying what could otherwise be a technically intimidating process. “The ability to control the interface through software allows us to remotely manage critical functions without asking authors to deal with technical settings,” he explained. “Many of our clients have never recorded professionally before, so the simpler we can make the experience, the better.”

The system recently proved its value during the production of former NBA player and coach Bill Cartwright’s audiobook. With a schedule that made traditional studio bookings nearly impossible, Cartwright was able to record on his own time while 23dB handled everything behind the scenes. “The author simply connects to the internet and starts reading,” said Orynbekov. “Meanwhile, we’re managing the session, monitoring performance and making sure we capture the cleanest audio possible.”

For Davis, the appeal of the Scarlett platform goes beyond convenience—it’s about authenticity. “What I love about Focusrite is how accurately it captures the human voice,” she said. “Audiobook listeners want authenticity. Authors want to sound like themselves. Scarlett delivers that natural, transparent sound without adding anything artificial.”

That balance of quality and reliability has been key as 23dB scales its services. Whether working with musicians, podcasters, or first-time authors, the company relies on consistent performance across every session. “We know what we’re going to get every time,” Davis added. “That consistency gives us confidence when we’re recording someone who may be hundreds or thousands of miles away.”

Focusrite, for its part, sees 23dB as a prime example of how adaptable technology can unlock entirely new creative workflows. “We've had the privilege of watching 23dB Productions grow alongside Focusrite for many years, and it's exciting to see how they've continually adapted our technology to meet new creative opportunities,” said Dan Hughley, Director of Marketing, Focusrite Group. “From music and podcast production to today's rapidly growing audiobook market, they've demonstrated that when dependable technology is paired with creative thinking, entirely new business models become possible. We're proud that Scarlett continues to be a trusted part of that journey.”

As for what’s next, 23dB Productions is betting big on the future of audiobooks. With a large percentage of published titles still unavailable in audio form, the runway is long—and their remote-first model is built to meet the moment.

“The audiobook market is still massively underserved,” said Orynbekov. “Focusrite gives us the ability to bring studio-quality production directly to authors wherever they are…without compromising audio quality.”

In other words, the studio hasn’t disappeared—it’s just been shipped directly to your door.The post How 23dB Productions Is Revolutionizing Audiobook Recording with Focusrite Scarlett 4th Gen first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Parish Audio E42 EqualizerE42 Equalizer is a high-performance, easy-to-use dynamic and static equalizer built for shaping tone, controlling problem frequencies, and making detailed adjustments without slowing down the session. Up to ten bands can be placed anywhere across the frequency range. Each band can use Bell, Low Shelf, High Shelf, High Pass, Low Pass, or Notch filtering, giving E42 the range to handle broad tonal changes, narrow cuts, low- and high-frequency shaping, and more focused control from the same interface. Bands can operate in either Dynamic or Static mode. Static mode works like a traditional equalizer, applying the selected adjustment continuously. Dynamic mode allows the band to react only when the energy around that frequency crosses the threshold. This makes it possible to reduce harshness when it appears, control low-end buildup on louder notes, soften an occasional resonance, or add presence only when a source needs it. Each Dynamic band includes Threshold, Range, Attack, and Release controls. Threshold determines when the band begins to react, Range sets how far it can move, and Attack and Release control how quickly the response begins and returns. These controls make it possible to create anything from fast, focused control to smoother movement that follows the performance more naturally. The interactive graph is designed to keep the workflow simple. Bands can be added and moved directly on the display, while dedicated Frequency, Gain, and Q controls allow more precise adjustment. The real-time spectrum shows where energy is concentrated, and the response display shows both the main EQ curve and the movement created by Dynamic bands. E42 can be used for quick tonal adjustments, detailed frequency shaping, changing resonances, uneven low end, harsh upper frequencies, and other situations where a traditional EQ alone may apply more processing than necessary. It provides the flexibility of a full dynamic equalizer while keeping the controls clear and straightforward. E42 Equalizer includes up to 10 adjustable bands, six filter types, Dynamic and Static processing, an interactive EQ graph, a real-time spectrum display, dynamic response visualization, factory presets, user preset functionality, and a resizable interface. E42 Equalizer is available for Windows in VST3 format and for macOS in VST3 and Audio Unit formats. Read More

Strymon unveil the TimeLine MX The TimeLine MX offers a signifiant upgrade over the standard version, introducing four new delays engines and a reverb, as well as the ability to run any two engines at once with a choice of series, parallel or split modes. 

Arturia has reskinned its KeyLab Mk3 with a bright orange finish – don’t look at these pictures or you might accidentally buy itTwo years after its launch in 2024, the KeyLab Mk3 – despite being a rock-solid keyboard controller option chosen by many producers – was in need of little refresh. And Arturia has come through with the goods, with a special-edition version finished in bright orange.
We were mightily impressed when we got our hands on the KeyLab Mk3 in 2024, giving it a 9/10 in our review and praising the well-balanced weighting and smooth action of the keyboard, top-drawer build quality, DAW control and ease of use.

READ MORE: Arturia’s KeyLab MK3 is a seriously impressive MIDI keyboard controller

For all intents and purposes, the new orange-finished version is the exact same keyboard controller, with expressive playability, deep DAW control and studio-to-stage workflow, it just boasts a vibrant orange skin that’ll no doubt make it the centerpiece of your production setup.
Credit: Arturia
Offering your rig a “true command center”, the KeyLab Mk3 also features responsive pads and touch-sensitive faders – the responsiveness of which we were also impressed by – as well as MIDI connectivity, a high-resolution colour display, and Chord and Scale modes designed to expedite and music composition in the absence of robust music theory knowledge.
The KeyLab Mk3 ULTRA is available in both 49- and 61- key configurations, priced at €449 and €549, respectively.
Learn more about the KeyLab Mk3 ULTRA, and get yours now at Arturia.
Credit: Arturia
The post Arturia has reskinned its KeyLab Mk3 with a bright orange finish – don’t look at these pictures or you might accidentally buy it appeared first on MusicTech.

NewJeans face copyright lawsuit from US music publisher over ‘ETA’All Surface Publishing claims "ETA" copied a combination of musical elements from a dance track released nearly two decades earlier, without a license.
Source

Analog Obsession releases TheBus, a FREE analog-style compressor plugin
Analog Obsession has released TheBus, a free analog-style compressor plugin for macOS and Windows. Coming from one of my favorite indie developers, I was super excited to test this one. Analog Obsession describes TheBus as a fully custom compressor rather than a clone or variation of a specific hardware unit. My first impressions are good. [...]
View post: Analog Obsession releases TheBus, a FREE analog-style compressor plugin

MonkeyC update Rando sampler plug-in Described as “the sampler that made thousands of producers fall in love with their sound library again”, Rando 2.5 builds on the success of previous versions, introducing the ability to create multiple keyboard zones that each correspond to different search criteria. 

Get 50+ FREE plugins in the KVR Developer Challenge 26
KVR is celebrating 20 years of its Developer Challenge, as Developer Challenge 26 gets underway! For anyone new to the annual Developer Challenge, it’s a chance for developers to showcase their creativity by creating a new free plugin, app, or sound library/pack that benefits the broader music production community. KVR members vote on their five [...]
View post: Get 50+ FREE plugins in the KVR Developer Challenge 26