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  • Word Collections secures $5m in funding from investors led by Metallica’s Black Squirrel PartnersFunds will be used to accelerate Word Collections’ global direct licensing business
    Source

    Word Collections began as a rights management firm for comedians and other spoken-word performers, but has now expanded into music.

  • Sony Playstation is acquiring Audeze, maker of planar-magnetic studio headphonesEsteemed headphone manufacturer Audeze is set to be acquired by Sony Interactive Entertainment, with a focus on PlayStation.
    READ MORE: Sony’s MDR-MV1 headphones offer a stunning insight into your mixes and masters
    In a statement released today (24 August), Sony announced that it has “entered into an agreement to acquire Audeze.” The California-based tech giant said that the purchase will assist in the innovation of audio experiences of PlayStation games.
    Audeze will continue to operate independently, which likely means it will continue to build its high-end planar magnetic studio headphones, such as the £1,699 Manny MM-500s.
    However, elsewhere in Audeze’s catalogue is a selection of award-winning “audiophile gaming headphones.” Also built with planar magnetic tech, these headphones – such as the Maxwells – offer 24-bit, 96kHz via wifi dongle, plus Dolby Atmos capabilities.
    Audeze x Microsoft Ultraviolet Maxwell.Image: Audeze
    On the latter, Sony’s senior vice president of platform experience, Hideaki Nishino says: “We’re excited to bring Audeze’s expertise into the PlayStation ecosystem, building on the great strides we’ve made with PlayStation 5’s Tempest 3D AudioTech and the Pulse 3D wireless headset.”
    Meanwhile, Audeze’s CEO Sankar Thiagasamudram suggest that the acquisition will provide the brand with opportunities to expand its business and amp up PlayStation’s audio tech.
    “Sony Interactive provides Audeze with a unique opportunity to scale our business, as we continue with our mission to deliver best-in-class headphones to recording professionals, audiophiles, and gamers.”
    “We’re also looking forward to contributing to Sony Interactive’s efforts to take PlayStation audio experiences to the next level.”
    Previously, Audeze has collaborated with one of Sony’s main competitors, Microsoft, on limited-edition headphones for the Xbox. Sony’s press statement suggests that, as its fellow California-based company is still operating independently, it will continue to collaborate with Sony’s competition. No doubt Sony and Audeze co-branded products are in the works, though.
    Sony has recently been in the news for another announcement: PlayStation Portal, a new handheld gaming device to accompany the PS5.
    The statement ends, “Terms of this transaction, including the acquisition cost, are not disclosed due to contractual commitments.”
    The post Sony Playstation is acquiring Audeze, maker of planar-magnetic studio headphones appeared first on MusicTech.

    Headphone manufacturer Audeze is set to be acquired by Sony Interactive Entertainment, with a focus on PlayStation.

  • Scotland’s first-ever vinyl pressing plant set to arrive in the autumnScotland is set to welcome its first ever vinyl pressing plant later this year.
    Seabass Vinyl is an independent, family-owned pressing plant launched by Dominique and David Harvey, and it’s set to open in October at the Macmerry Industrial Estate in Tranent, East Lothian. They’re hoping to press between 50,000 and 60,000 records each month once they’ve got things set up properly, and want to become one of the greenest plants in the world too.

    READ MORE: US vinyl record sales increased by 21.7 per cent in the first half of 2023

    “We’re artist-centric with an emphasis on quality and sustainability,” they said to Resident Advisor. “We offer fair prices, short production runs and optimised production lead times.
    “Our ambition is to become a valuable partner to artists and the music industry in general, as well as our local community. We’ve recently been announced as a partner of the Scottish Album of the Year award and will be pressing the records for the winner of the Sound of Young Scotland award free of charge.”
    While Seabass Vinyl is yet to launch, they’re already active on Instagram. On there, Dominique and David have shared a glimpse of the plans for the plant.

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Seabass Vinyl (@seabassvinyl)

    It’s been in the works since at least 2022, when the first post on the Instagram account was posted, telling followers to “Watch that space”. According to a post from April this year, the company was blocked for six months as it waiting for confirmation that the plant could be built, and wasn’t going to be on a coal mine.

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Seabass Vinyl (@seabassvinyl)

    And it’s coming at a good time, too. Just under a year ago, vinyl became the UK’s second biggest selling physical format, overtaking PlayStation games. It’s overtaken CDs and DVDs too – it’s only Nintendo Switch games that are currently selling more copies.
    The post Scotland’s first-ever vinyl pressing plant set to arrive in the autumn appeared first on MusicTech.

    Scotland is set to welcome its first ever vinyl pressing plant later this year as Seabass Vinyl comes to East Lothian.

  • AI-powered music creation app Moises launches new tools for easier productionMoises, an AI-powered app for music creation, has launched three new features which aid the production process.
    The new features – AI Lyrics Transcription, Song Sections, and Extended Chords – will “empower singers, songwriters, and musicians to unlock their full potential”, according to the brand.

    READ MORE: New music platform Myvox lets artists licence and monetise their own AI voice models

    The app’s new AI Lyrics Transcription tool can transcribe lyrics from songs in multiple languages, such as English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and French, and can synchronise lyrics with “word-by-word precision”.
    Users can also access their transcribed lyrics on all platforms, so you record an idea on a mobile device, import it into Moises, and continue to work on the same project on a desktop device for easier collaboration, or producing on the go.
    Also now in the app is Advanced Chords, a new addition to the Chord Detection feature. This provides more accurate chord detection and advanced chord capabilities so that users can access complex jazz chords and more.
    Chords are also categorised into three different types (easy, medium, and advanced) so that musicians have the right chords for their skill level.
    And finally, due to user requests, the platform is also now offering an AI-powered Song Sections feature which automatically detects and can loop different parts of a song such as the intro, verse, and bridge. The tool has been created to offer gigging musicians who need to learn fast a swifter way to practice.
    “Each of these features provides new functionality unique to Moises,” says Spencer Mann, VP of Growth at Moises in a press release. “Our product team has listened to our incredible customers and these new features are the result. They are all designed to help intermediate and advanced musicians get the most from their experience in Moises.”
    Find out more at Moises.
    The post AI-powered music creation app Moises launches new tools for easier production appeared first on MusicTech.

    Moises, an AI-powered app for music creation, has launched three new features which aid  the production process.

  • BABY Audio Industry Standard Bundle 10 Industry-Leading Plugins Our Industry Pro Bundle offers the most cost-effective way to get your hands on all of Baby Audio's award-winning plugins. 3 Modern Mix... Read More

  • Antares update Auto-Tune Pro X With the latest update to Antares' Auto-Tune Pro X, users of Cubase and Nuendo can now enjoy enhanced integration with their DAW thanks to ARA2 support.

    With the latest update to Antares' Auto-Tune Pro X, users of Cubase and Nuendo can now enjoy enhanced integration with their DAW thanks to ARA2 support.

  • BABY Audio Industry Pro Bundle 10 Industry-Leading Plugins Our Industry Pro Bundle offers the most cost-effective way to get your hands on all of Baby Audio's award-winning plugins. 6 Modern Mix... Read More

  • New UAFX pedals by Universal Audio emulate vintage effects from ’50s to ’80sUniversal Audio has launched four new single-footswitch stompbox effects pedals – the Orion Tape Echo, 1176 Studio Compressor, Heavenly Plate Reverb & the Evermore Studio Reverb. Each pedal emulates a classic effects pedal made between 1950 and 1980 but in more compact units.

    READ MORE: Strymon Cloudburst reverb is a washy wonder for the pedalboard and studio

    The Orion Tape Echo, according to UA, is an authentic emulation of the vintage Maestro Echoplex EP-III tape echo launched in 1970, albeit far more portable. The brand has captured the essence of the original’s analogue preamp, making for fat tones and effects, and it has different tape types: Mint, Worn, and Old, and a Wonk control for added vintage flavour.
    Universal Audio Orion Tape Echo
    Universal Audio’s 1176 Studio Compressor emulates the iconic 1176LN Limiting Amplifier launched in 1967. It has Single, Dual, and Sustain modes, and you can adjust the Input, Output, Attack, and Release settings as with the original. There’s also a Ratio knob with the “all buttons in” mode, making for gritty results.
    Universal Audio 1176
    The Heavenly Plate Reverb pedal offers the same vibe of 1950s German-crafted studio reverbs. There are three vintage studio plate reverb types to pick from here – Vintage Bright, Vintage Dark, and Modern Full plate settings. You can also fiddle with the pedal’s Mod, Pre Delay, and EQ controls for precise and detailed effect crafting.
    Universal Audio Heavenly
    Finally, the Universal Audio Evermore Studio Reverb captures the textured ambient trails and captivating modulations found in vintage digital hardware from the late 70s. There are distinct sounding Room, Small Hall, and Large Hall programs within a compact stompbox design. You also get accurate vintage bass, mid, and treble decay controls.
    Universal Audio Evermore
    If you’re a fan of Universal Audio pedals, we recently reviewed the brand’s multi-effects UAFX Del-Verb. We called it an “ambience companion”, writing that it “potentially contains every ambient sound you could ever wish for”.
    Each pedal costs $219, apart from the 1176 Studio Compressor, which will set you back $199. Check them out  over at Universal Audio.
    The post New UAFX pedals by Universal Audio emulate vintage effects from ’50s to ’80s appeared first on MusicTech.

    Universal Audio has launched four pedals – the Orion Tape Echo, 1176 Studio Compressor, Heavenly Plate Reverb & the Evermore Studio Reverb.

  • Applications open for two $40K Bob Dylan Center Songwriter FellowshipsThe Bob Dylan Center will award two annual $40,000 Songwriter Fellowships designed to mentor and develop aspiring songwriters. Universal Music Publishing Group is supporting the effort. Each fellowship will include $40,000,. Continue reading
    The post Applications open for two $40K Bob Dylan Center Songwriter Fellowships appeared first on Hypebot.

    The Bob Dylan Center will award two annual $40,000 Songwriter Fellowships designed to mentor and develop aspiring songwriters. Universal Music Publishing Group is supporting the effort. Each fellowship will include $40,000,. Continue reading

  • 6 Questions with soulful indie singer-songwriter Shawn JamesFor this latest edition of ‘6 Questions With…’ I caught up with soulful indie singer-songwriter Shawn James while he was prepping for his  27-date fall tour. Onstage, James can be wonderfully. Continue reading
    The post 6 Questions with soulful indie singer-songwriter Shawn James appeared first on Hypebot.

    For this latest edition of ‘6 Questions With…’ I caught up with soulful indie singer-songwriter Shawn James while he was prepping for his  27-date fall tour. Onstage, James can be wonderfully. Continue reading

  • A remix created by Frankie Knuckles nearly a decade ago has been releasedA remix that iconic house music producer, Frankie Knuckles, co-created with Eric Kupper has been newly released nearly a decade on.
    The remix is of a track from Ultra Naté and Michelle Williams (Destiny’s Child), titled Waiting On You, which originally landed as part of Ultra Naté’s 2013 album, Hero Worship.

    READ MORE: “I’ve never used a MIDI instrument in my life”: Jack Antonoff on his love of analogue gear

    The new remix lands just shy of the Chicago holiday Frankie Knuckles Day (celebrated on 25 August), which honours the late producer who passed away in 2014. Knuckles played a vital role in the early popularisation of house music back in the early 1980s.
    Knuckles and Kupper had originally produced the remix under a collaborative alias of Director’s Cut. According to EDM, Naté has confirmed that the Knuckles had provided his approval to release the track prior to his death.
    “The remix was blessed by my mentor, big brother and cultural icon, Frankie Knuckles, officially ‘The Godfather of House Music,’ who at the time, was making his way back into remix and production work as ‘Director’s Cut’ along with Eric Kupper,” Naté says in a press release.
    “Waiting On You has always been a centrepiece of the Hero Worship album and there’s no better time than now to drop it for Frankie Knuckles Day.”
    Stream the remix below:

    Everyone knows that the beauty of music is that it lives for long after so many great artists leave us – the well-missed EDM producer Avicii has just hit two billion streams on Spotify with his 2013 track Wake Me Up. The song joins an exclusive 40-strong club of tracks in the two billion region.
    It joins the likes of 2018’s Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi, 2019’s Dance Monkey by Tones and I and Sunflower by Post Malone and Swae Lee in the two billion club.
    The post A remix created by Frankie Knuckles nearly a decade ago has been released appeared first on MusicTech.

    A remix that iconic house music producer, Frankie Knuckles, co-created with Eric Kupper has been newly released nearly a decade on. 

  • Using earned media to get your music noticed: Lessons from a PR ProTechnology has allowed musicians to make and release music from their bedrooms, but that also means the competition is tougher than ever. Here’s a guide on how you can build. Continue reading
    The post Using earned media to get your music noticed: Lessons from a PR Pro appeared first on Hypebot.

    Technology has allowed musicians to make and release music from their bedrooms, but that also means the competition is tougher than ever. Here’s a guide on how you can build. Continue reading

  • “Bouncing MIDI to audio is powerful for me creatively”: Chris Lake shares top tipsHouse and EDM producer Chris Lake has shared some of his top tips for music production, praising the benefits of bouncing tracks down to audio as you go.

    READ MORE: “I’m an engineer first, producer second, performer third”: Deadmau5 follows up on his comments about pre-recorded DJ sets

    Speaking in the latest edition of Future Music Magazine and for MusicRadar, Lake says that by bouncing down any MIDI sections to audio and seeing the waveform in front of you, you identify any issues you might have missed before.
    “Committing parts to audio is powerful for me creatively.” He says. “I immediately think about how I can use the part in different ways. It’s always great to see what the part is doing via the waveform this creates in your DAW – things like audio tails or clicks that you maybe didn’t realise were there that you want to remove.”

    Also in the interview, the Changes producer advises those making dance music to focus on breakdown sections by looping them with main sections to see if they work together.
    “Like many, I start by building a 4 or 8-bar loop section that I vibe with,” he says, “but I always find it helpful to create breakdown sections within that loop. That can be as easy as dropping the bass in and out like I would if I was DJing, so I get a groove that feels good both with the low end in and out.”
    The UK-born, LA-based musician goes on to urge producers to really think about the build-up to drops.
    “Another thing I find really helpful is setting a loop region around the ‘drop’, so for example, having the loop region start two bars before the drop and loop for four bars, then focus on getting the impact of the drop to hit the way that feels good. It’s a very important part of the track. Focus on it.”
    Check out all things Chris Lake via his official website.
    The post “Bouncing MIDI to audio is powerful for me creatively”: Chris Lake shares top tips appeared first on MusicTech.

    Chris Lake has shared some of his top tips for music production, praising the benefits of bouncing tracks down to audio as you go.

  • Tomorrowland voted as world’s No.1 festival in DJ Mag pollElectronic music festival Tomorrowland has been voted as the number one festival in the world in a reader poll run by DJ Mag.
    The EDM festival was launched in 2005 and takes place annually in Boom, Belgium. This year’s festival took place in late July and saw names such as Steve Aoki, Eric Prydz, and Martin Garrix hosting sets.

    READ MORE: Aphex Twin’s new augmented reality app lets you enjoy the “festival experience” in your living room

    DJ Mag’s poll collected verified votes from 100,000 readers between 26 April and 21 June. This year’s poll marks a shift to a public vote for the first time, as opposed to being decided by top DJs.
    Tomorrowland had previously landed the top spot back in 2019, but this year marks the first time the festival has been chosen as winner by a general public vote.

    Speaking about the festival being crowned as number one, founders and owners of Tomorrowland, Manu and Michiel Beers, said in a statement, “We are delighted to once again receive this recognition from the public, festival goers and DJ Mag readers.
    “What once started as a dream, took wings thanks to the tireless efforts of a passionate young team and the enthusiasm and unconditional support of the Tomorrowland community, the People of Tomorrow. We are already looking forward to the 20th anniversary next year but now we are getting ready for the return to Brazil in a few weeks.”
    Also coming in close to the top spot was Ultra Music Festival of the US in second place, with the UK’s Glastonbury Festival coming third. EDC came in fourth, with Coachella landing in fifth place.
    DJ and TV personality Paris Hilton played a set at Tomorrowland earlier this year, afterwards she shared a clip of herself responding to audience members who accused her of not mixing live which went viral. “This is dedicated to the two haters at the front holding signs up saying I’m not playing live, ‘cause honey, yes I fucking am,” she said. “Sorry I’m a girl, I’m hot, I’m blonde. We can do everything. Go hate on someone else.”
    The full top festival list by DJ Mag is now available. Find out more about Tomorrowland on its website.
    The post Tomorrowland voted as world’s No.1 festival in DJ Mag poll appeared first on MusicTech.

    Electronic music festival Tomorrowland has been voted as the number one festival in the world in a reader poll run by DJ Mag.

  • Strymon unveil Deco Plugin Strymon have released their second plug-in, offering users the chance to employ the popular Deco Tape Saturation & Doubletracker in their DAW sessions.

    Strymon have released their second plug-in, offering users the chance to employ the popular Deco Tape Saturation & Doubletracker in their DAW sessions.