Smart Speaker Gets Brain Surgery, Line-OutSometimes you find a commercial product that is almost, but not exactly perfect for your needs. Your choices become: hack together a DIY replacement, or hack the commercial product to do what you need. [Daniel Epperson] chose door number two when he realized his Yamaha MusicCast smart speaker was perfect for his particular use case, except for its tragic lack of line out. A little surgery and a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) breakout board solved that problem.
You can’t hear it in this image, but the headphones work.
[Daniel] first went diving into the datasheet of the Yamaha amplifier chip inside of the speaker, before realizing it did too much DSP for his taste. He did learn that the chip was getting i2s signals from the speaker’s wifi module. That’s a lucky break, since i2s is an open, well-known protocol. [Daniel] had an adafruit DAC; he only needed to get the i2s signals from the smart speaker’s board to his breakout. That proved to be an adventure, but we’ll let [Daniel] tell the tale on his blog.
After a quick bit of OpenSCAD and 3D printing, the DAC was firmly mounted in its new home. Now [Daniel] has the exact audio-streaming-solution he wanted: Yamaha’s MusicCast, with line out to his own hi-fi.
[Daniel] and hackaday go way back: we featured his robot lawnmower in 2013. It’s great to see he’s still hacking. If you’d rather see what’s behind door number one, this roll-your-own smart speaker may whet your appetite.

Sony Music Publishing wins 2025 Publisher of the Year at ASCAP Pop Music AwardsSMP songwriters honored for their work across 28 top-performing songs
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4 Takeaways from the Live Nation Earnings Call Q1 2025Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary missed forecasts, reporting an overall revenue decrease of 11% in Q1 2025. But the concert giant predicted a record year ahead based on advance ticket sales and tour volume.
The post 4 Takeaways from the Live Nation Earnings Call Q1 2025 appeared first on Hypebot.

Melbourne Instruments’ Roto-Control gains Bitwig integration Melbourne Instruments have teamed up with Bitwig to bring Bitwig Studio integration to the Roto-Control.

Track your DAW time and challenge your friends with Signalbash, a FREE Time Tracking VST Plugin
You can now get Signalbash, a time tracking utility plugin for Windows, macOS, and Linux, for free! Ever wondered how much time you’ve spent rotting in front of the computer, justifying it with an unimpressive amount of subpar DAW projects? Alternatively, have you ever wanted to track your “ingame” DAW time and see how you [...]
View post: Track your DAW time and challenge your friends with Signalbash, a FREE Time Tracking VST Plugin

Spotify Exec: Ignore per-stream rates and focus on engagementMuch of the debate over whether or not Spotify is paying artists and songwriters fairly centers on estimated per stream rates. But according to Spotify executive Sam Duboff, it's time to ignore per-stream rates which he calls "one of the most misleading metrics in music."
The post Spotify Exec: Ignore per-stream rates and focus on engagement appeared first on Hypebot.

TBProAudio Releases TBPAVolume, a FREE Precision Gain Plugin for macOS and Windows
TBProAudio has released TBPAVolume, a free volume control utility plugin for macOS and Windows built for precision gain staging and volume automation inside your DAW. Obviously, all modern DAWs already offer basic volume controls. However, TBPAVolume is one of those tools you don’t even know you need until you see them. It is a dedicated [...]
View post: TBProAudio Releases TBPAVolume, a FREE Precision Gain Plugin for macOS and Windows

This upcoming film is dubbed a “love letter to techno music and Berlin nightlife” – watch the trailer nowFancy taking a dive into the underbelly of the Berlin rave scene? Techno drama Rave On is set to debut later this month at Cannes Film Market, and it promises to be a “rave odyssey” like no other.
Written and directed by Nikias Chryssos and Viktor Jakovleski, the film will sink viewers into the vibrant world of Berlin’s nightlife. The film is a “singular cinematic experience that blends a fictional narrative with a guerrilla documentary approach and immersive cinematography,” Variety reports.

READ MORE: Another new club is opening in London – despite predictions that 57% of clubs will be closed by 2030

Filmed across a series of iconic Berlin clubs during real-life techno nights, the film follows a chaotic evening of clubbing. Sales agency The Playmaker will be sharing the film, and head of sales Moritz Hemminger considers it “a love letter to techno music and Berlin’s nightlife”.
While just one trailer for Rave On has been, it already showcases the film’s intensity. “Our international distributors are in for a wild ride!” he laughs.

The film stars a number of German talents. Aaron Altaras, star of dark comedy TV series The Zweiflers, is at the forefront, while Clemens Schick, who appeared in 2023 action-thriller Dogman, also features. A slew of DJs are also involved, from Hieroglyphic Being to Lucia Lu.
Musically, the film’s techno offerings will vary, spanning from club classics to new DJ mixes. Exclusive tracks have been provided by Ed Davenport and Berlin composer John Gürtler, who has also composed tracks for 2024 movie The Outrun and 2019’s System Crasher.
“Techno music is one of the most important German cultural exports,” producer Andro Steinborn tells Variety. “Rave On is as raw and as real as the music itself. It is an authentic and rare cinematic rollercoaster, bringing that culture to the big screen.”
Rave On will be screening at the Cannes Film Market on 15 May, and will hit German cinemas on 31 July.
The post This upcoming film is dubbed a “love letter to techno music and Berlin nightlife” – watch the trailer now appeared first on MusicTech.

Steinberg launch Dorico 6 The latest version of Steinberg’s composition and music notation software comes packed with new features that promise to help users produce their scores faster than ever. 

Mango Markets exploiter sentenced to over 4 years on child porn chargesAvraham Eisenberg was sentenced to more than four years in prison on child pornography charges, unrelated to his role in the 2022 exploit that drained the decentralized exchange Mango Markets of roughly $100 million.According to reporting from Inner City Press, a judge sentenced Eisenberg to 52 months in prison at a May 1 hearing in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. The case was filed in April 2024 after Eisenberg’s 2023 indictment on fraud for the Mango Markets exploit.Eisenberg was initially scheduled to be sentenced in July 2024 following his guilty plea on the child porn charge. In May 2024, the judge suggested the sentencing for both cases would occur simultaneously in a consolidated proceeding. However, as of May 1, the fraud sentencing remains pending. The prosecution in the Mango Markets case reflects the growing probability of apprehension for hackers and cybersecurity exploiters plaguing the crypto industry with malicious attacks on platforms and users.Related: SafeMoon boss cites DOJ’s nixed crypto unit in latest bid to toss suitThe case of Avraham EisenbergMango Markets, a former decentralized crypto exchange, was exploited in October 2022 through a price oracle manipulation, losing $100 million in user funds as a result.The exchange’s native token, Mango (MNGO), also plummeted immediately following the hack, shedding 52% of its value within 24 hours and leading the Mango Markets team to suspend deposits.Eisenberg defended the exploit, arguing that the $100 million heist was done through “legal open-market actions” and claimed that he negotiated a settlement for the return of user funds after the exchange’s insurance fund failed to cover the shortfall.In December 2022, US federal law enforcement authorities arrested Eisenberg in Puerto Rico. FBI officials charged the hacker with one count of commodities fraud and one count of commodities manipulation.A jury found Eisenberg guilty of wire fraud, commodities fraud, and commodities manipulation in April 2024. The defense argued that the exploit was not a cybercrime and represented a “successful and legal trading strategy.”Following the conviction, the Mango Markets exploiter’s attorneys filed a motion for acquittal in September 2024, which was heavily opposed by US prosecutors, who argued that Eisenberg was correctly convicted through careful evaluation of a “mountain of evidence.”Magazine: Influencers shilling memecoin scams face severe legal consequences

Apple CEO Tim Cook says tariffs to add only $900M in costs in Q3, but future uncertainApple CEO Tim Cook commented on the impact of President Trump’s tariffs during Thursday’s second-quarter earnings call with investors. While the iPhone maker saw only “limited impact” from tariffs in the March quarter, Cook said Apple couldn’t forecast what that would mean for the coming quarter. However, if things remained the same, the company estimates […]

What is dubstep music? History, artists, and subgenres
Learn about the history, pioneers, subgenres, and more of dubstep, one of the most misunderstood and sonically diverse genres in modern music.

Live Nation starts 2025 strong: ‘No pullback’ on fan demandLive Nation starts 2025 strong, reporting a reasonable solid Q1, after markets closed Thursday. The concert giant claims its on track for a record year despite global economic uncertainty.
The post Live Nation starts 2025 strong: ‘No pullback’ on fan demand appeared first on Hypebot.

Signalbash SignalbashSignalbash is a free & open source plugin that allows you to track how much time you spend working in your DAW & compete against other artists worldwide to see who's spending the most time making music. When the plugin is placed in a session, your activity will accumulate and can be visualized in the following ways: Recent Activity Chart: This private chart gives you a granular, at-a-glance view of how long you've been working over the past 24 hours. Daily Heatmap: See your long term daily activity in an easy to understand heatmap showing how long you've spent in your DAW each day, synced to your local timezone. Current & All-Time Streaks: See how many days in a row you've actively worked in your DAW. All-Time DAW Activity Stats: See the total time you've spent active in your DAW: Today. Over the last 24 Hours. Over the last 30 Days. This Year. All Time. Leaderboard: The Signalbash Leaderboard ranks you based on the cumulative time you've spent working over the last 24 hours. It also displays the particular DAW. See the live leaderboard now: Signalbash Leaderboard Signalbash Overview Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlnmcL8KTHQ Signalbash Plugin Manual & Support: Support Site Read More

Make Your Own Telescope, Right Down To The GlassTelescopes are great tools for observing the heavens, or even surrounding landscapes if you have the right vantage point. You don’t have to be a professional to build one though; you can make all kinds of telescopes as an amateur, as this guide from the Springfield Telesfcope Makers demonstrates.
The guide is remarkably deep and rich; no surprise given that the Springfield Telescope Makers club dates back to the early 20th century. It starts out with the basics—how to select a telescope, and how to decide whether to make or buy your desired instrument. It also explains in good detail why you might want to start with a simple Newtonian reflector setup on Dobsonian mounts if you’re crafting your first telescope, in no small part because mirrors are so much easier to craft than lenses for the amateur. From there, the guide gets into the nitty gritty of mirror production, right down to grinding and polishing techniques, as well as how to test your optical components and assemble your final telescope.
It’s hard to imagine a better place to start than here as an amateur telescope builder. It’s a rich mine of experience and practical advice that should give you the best possible chance of success. You might also like to peruse some of the other telescope projects we’ve covered previously. And, if you succeed, you can always tell us of your tales on the tipsline!