Introducing the AEA RPQ503 & Snaqbox—Plus a Special KU5A MomentOn Friday, AEA announced the launch of the RPQ503, a 500 Series preamp and EQ module built on the third-generation circuitry of the celebrated RPQ3."Drawing on over 45 years of ribbon mic expertise and nearly three decades of in-house manufacturing, the RPQ503 delivers the rich, natural sound and clean, high-gain performance that engineers and artists have come to expect from us," they said in a statement."RPQ503 builds on the legacy of the RPQ500, introducing an expanded EQ section and refined circuitry designed for clean, responsive performance. AEA’s CurveShaper EQ offers sweepable high and low EQ controls with up to ±20 dB of boost or cut, allowing engineers to shape tone directly at the front end of the signal path.""With 85 dB of clean gain and an ultra-high 68 kΩ input impedance, the RPQ503 is optimized for passive ribbon microphones while remaining fully compatible with dynamic and phantom-powered condenser mics.""Launching alongside the RPQ503 is the AEA Snaqbox, a portable and transparent two-channel 500 Series chassis.""Built with separate linear regulators for each slot, the Snaqbox ensures complete power isolation between modules — preserving signal integrity across any configuration. Its rugged steel frame and clear or fluorescent acrylic side panels provide a visual window into the 500 Series signal chain, while the LINK/CASCADE switch enables internal routing between channels without the need for external cabling.""Compact and durable, the Snaqbox is well-suited for use in studios, mobile setups, and live performance environments. Compatible with all standard 500 series modules."Both will begin shipping now. Check out the link below to learn more! RPQ503 MSRP: $749 USD                 Snaqbox (Clear or Orange) MSRP: $299 USDLEARN MOREThe post Introducing the AEA RPQ503 & Snaqbox—Plus a Special KU5A Moment first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Digital Currency Group sues subsidiaries over $1.1B promissory noteThe latest legal battle between Digital Currency Group and Genesis centered on a promissory note issued amid the collapse of Three Arrows Capital in 2022.

How your solar rooftop became a national security issueTexas solar company EG4 became the poster child for home energy cybersecurity risks this week after federal officials published an advisory detailing how hackers could hijack its inverters.

Hollywood Music In Media Awards Returns to Celebrate Original ScoresThe Hollywood Music In Media Awards (HMMA) is back to honor the composers, songwriters, and artists who bring visual media to life with original music. Recognized as the first award organization to celebrate original music across all visual media—from films and TV shows to video games, trailers, commercials, and documentaries—HMMA has become a key indicator of future award-season favorites.A statement from the company discloses that “HMMA nominations have historically been representative of the nominees of key award shows announced months later,” highlighting its influence in the industry.The 16th annual event will take place on November 19, 2025, at the Avalon Hollywood in Los Angeles. Attendees can expect live music performances, tributes to music industry icons, and recognition for outstanding contributions to music in visual media.A statement from the company also reveals that HMMA’s scope is broad, covering “original music (Song and Score) in all visual media from around the globe,” making it a truly international celebration of creativity.Entries for this year’s awards open August 31, 2025, inviting composers and songwriters worldwide to submit their work. With past honorees including legends such as Hans Zimmer, HMMA continues to showcase the music that defines and elevates our favorite screen moments.More info HERE.The post Hollywood Music In Media Awards Returns to Celebrate Original Scores first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Damon Armani Waves Studioverse — 30 Free Multi-Layer Synth Presets by Damon Armanihttps://youtu.be/bs6Xl_L4YCM?si=-4tJV3qBNFMxZmOD I'm back again with another free sound pack — this time, 30 unique multi-layer synth presets for Waves Studioverse, one of the most innovative tools from the legendary Waves Audio. Why Studioverse? Because it's not just a plugin — it's a creative ecosystem where you can layer multiple synths and effects in endless ways. You can split layers by velocity, octave, or however your imagination guides you. In some presets, you'll get drums, bass, leads, and arps all in one patch, making it super easy to build a powerful musical foundation in seconds. Fun fact: The music you hear in the promo video was created entirely using these presets. Who is this for? Whether you're a DJ, Producer, or a total beginner, this pack will add fresh energy to your sound palette. And the best part? It's 100% FREE — with 15 of these presets created entirely using the Waves Free Pack. How to get them. 1. Search method: Inside Studioverse, type Damon or Damon Armani in the search bar (don't press Enter — wait a moment) and select the artist profile that pops up to see all my presets. 2. Direct links: Use the list of individual preset links below — you can also listen to a quick audio demo of each sound online or directly inside the Studioverse UI. Go ahead, try them out — nothing to lose, everything to gain. Read More

Liberating a Collapsible Chair from a Single Piece of WoodOver on his YouTube channel our hacker [GrandpaAmu] liberates a collapsible chair from a single piece of wood.
With the assistance of an extra pair of hands, but without any power tools in sight, this old master marks up a piece of wood and then cuts a collapsible chair out of it. He uses various types of saw, chisels, a manual drill, and various other hand tools. His workspace is a humble plank with a large clamp attached. At the end he does use a powered hot air gun to heat the finish he uses to coat the final product.

We love videos like this which communicate, record, and capture old know-how. Even in our electrified future with factory-made commodities everywhere, we’re all still gonna appreciate having something portable to sit on. If you’re interested in collapsible furniture you might also be interested in The Ultimate Workstation That Folds Up.

From Chord Music Partners’ $2 billion+ raise to UMG’s Drake lawsuit drama… it’s MBW’s weekly round-upThe biggest headlines from the past seven days... all in one place
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Winner at Outside Lands Fest is must use App for Indie Musicians38 teams competed in the Outside LLMs Music & AI Buildathon, held alongside San Francisco’s Outside Lands Music Festival. The winner Hear Me Out is a my new favorite must use app for indie musicians.
The post Winner at Outside Lands Fest is must use App for Indie Musicians appeared first on Hypebot.

“The computer case you can’t buy… ‘cause it’s free”: A Teenage Engineering freebie? The Computer-2 is hereForget OP-1 Field price tags and $1,599 flat-packed desks: Teenage Engineering is now handing out a DIY computer case for free.
The Swedish tech firm has been shaking up expectations all year with its Flipped Out ’25 campaign, which kicked off in June with a “set your own price” experiment for the coveted OP-1 Field synth, sampler, and drum machine. An interactive slider lets users pick a price anywhere between £1,399 and £9,999 for the synth – because why not?

READ MORE: Teenage Engineering just gave its Field System a sleek black makeover – and we want it more than ever

According to the brand, it’s all part of “a delicate experiment” in testing what’s possible, with more offers promised throughout 2025, “or until the world is a little bit more stable,” TE teases on its website.
True to that playful spirit, the company has now taken things a step further with a giveaway. Enter the Computer-2, a plastic, snap-together successor to the 2021 Computer-1 aluminium case.
Limited to one per customer (shipping excluded), Computer-2 is a small form factor case designed to house a mini-ITX motherboard, SFX power supply, and dual-slot graphics cards up to 180mm.
Its single-piece, semi-transparent plastic body features flexible living hinges and snap hooks, i.e. “no screws needed”. Assembly, it seems, is almost too easy.
Why free? Teenage Engineering calls it a marketing experiment, but also a mission: to create “the cheapest computer case in the world.” Their website notes, “Our engineers worked day and night to really push the limits and they went beyond all expectations. They engineered it all the way down to a cost of 0. Now, that’s Teenage Engineering.”
As expected, the case sold out in mere hours online, though availability may vary by region. For anyone still curious, it’s worth checking the Teenage Engineering website – you might just snag a lucky one.
Learn more at teenage.engineering.
Read more music technology news. 
The post “The computer case you can’t buy… ‘cause it’s free”: A Teenage Engineering freebie? The Computer-2 is here appeared first on MusicTech.

NIVA and Portland venues stop Live Nation Music Hall, for nowThe leadership of NIVA (National Independent Venue Association) travelled to Portland, Maine last week to stand with local venue owners in opposition to a proposed 3,300 capacity Live Nation venue.
The post NIVA and Portland venues stop Live Nation Music Hall, for now appeared first on Hypebot.

TapeFi releases Fail, a FREE cassette tape emulator for macOS and Windows
TapeFi is a brand-new developer celebrating the launch of its debut plugin, Fail. Fail is a cassette tape emulator that recreates the much sought-after imperfections of analog tape machines. TapeFi spent months refining the nostalgic and unpredictable character of tape to package it in a straightforward, easy-to-use interface. If you can’t get enough cassette tape [...]
View post: TapeFi releases Fail, a FREE cassette tape emulator for macOS and Windows

AEA launch the RPQ503 & Snaqbox chassis AEA have just announced the launch of a new 500-series module based on the third-generation circuitry of their renowned RPQ3 preamp, and a two-slot 500-series chassis.

AIR Music Tech offers Pitch Shifter plugin for FREE for a limited time
AIR Music Tech offers the Pitch Shifter, a pitch modulation plugin for macOS and Windows, for free for a limited time. Pitch Shifter is part of the AIR Creative FX Collection 2, a bundle that usually sells for $199. While the whole collection isn’t free, AIR is currently offering Pitch Shifter as a standalone freebie [...]
View post: AIR Music Tech offers Pitch Shifter plugin for FREE for a limited time

Music Expo 25: Early Bird Tickets There are just two days left to purchase Early Bird tickets for Music Expo 25. The show, which will take place on 14–15 November 2025 at The Midway SF, San Francisco offers two days packed with expert-led workshops, inspiring conversations, hands-on gear demos and opportunities for networking and mentoring.

Sonimus releases DelaySon, a FREE analog-style delay plugin for Windows and macOS
Sonimus has released DelaySon, a free analog-style delay plugin for macOS and Windows. If you’ve been producing music for a while, the name Sonimus might bring back memories. I first discovered them fifteen years ago when they released SonEQ, a rare kind of freebie back then. With its sleek (especially for 2010) GUI, analog-style saturation, [...]
View post: Sonimus releases DelaySon, a FREE analog-style delay plugin for Windows and macOS