Watch full-length pro-shot Ultra Music Festival sets from Martin Garrix, Afrojack, Hardwell and moreLast weekend marked a huge milestone for Miami’s Ultra Music Festival. The electro music haven celebrated its 25th anniversary – that’s a quarter of a century hosting the very best DJs, platforming upcoming talents and giving punters a non-stop weekend of partying.
Thankfully, the party still isn’t over; a slew of artists have released full-length recordings of their Ultra Music Festival sets. Martin Garrix, Alesso and Hardwell have shared videos of their full sets, so fans can indulge in some Ultra Music Festival magic from the comfort of their own home.

READ MORE: The best free and paid-for plugins you need to know about this week

From Carl Cox, to Tiësto, to Zedd, countless top-tier DJs made appearances for the festival’s 25th birthday. There were even some world exclusives – one of which being Afrojack, David Guetta and Sia performing Titanium together for the first time ever. Thankfully, Afrojack has shared a full-length recording of his set, so fans can live back the historic moment.

Many sets were livestreamed, so plenty of high quality full-length sets could be shared down the line. We’re hoping Skrillex in particular shares his set soon. The weekend saw the iconic DJ making his grand return to the festival after 10 years. He received a true hero’s welcome, knocking through the classics like a pro. One fan has already uploaded a low-quality recording of the festival livestream.

The festival also saw a deadmau5 B2B Pendulum set, which saw the famed Canadian disk jockey indulging in some nasty drum and bass. Deadmau5 also hosted a Restro5pective set, unloading a dazzling, career-spanning set on the closing night. Again, a low-quality fan recording is available. We’re sure a high quality option will be sorted soon.

Despite the flash floods that attempted to rain on Ultra Music Festival’s parade, the weekend was a dazzling success. The weekend was so successful that the festival has already locked in for next year, with celebrations set to take place between the 27th and 29th of March 2026.
Tickets for Ultra Music Festival 2026 are on sale now. It will take place at Bayfront Park in Miami.

The post Watch full-length pro-shot Ultra Music Festival sets from Martin Garrix, Afrojack, Hardwell and more appeared first on MusicTech.

Classical Highlights for March 2025A few of the notable releases we reviewed this past month seemed to have a theme: lesser-known music. The complete nocturnes of John Field, newly recorded by Alice Sara Ott (pictured), seem to only appear on albums once a decade or so. Explore this and other unearthed and rediscovered gems in our classical highlights for March.

“This isn’t ‘The Matrix'”Last weekend, Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, found himself at the center of a digital fiasco when he was unexpectedly added to a Signal group chat with 17 U.S. government officials who were discussing imminent airstrikes in Yemen. For some, the incident has raised questions about how phone numbers end up in contact lists […]

ALBUM REVIEW OF "ALMOST HOME" BY GHOST HOUNDS (8/10)Gibson RecordsProducer: Chris Lord-Alge For this Nashville septet, it’s all about tradition, vivid imagery, and storytelling. Guitarist Thomas Tull’s words and lead vocalist SAVNT’s diverse and expressive delivery ignite all 11 songs with zeal. Their modern roots rock sound is mixed with country and blues. Highlights include the Stones-ish “She Runs Hot,” SAVNT and Patty Griffin’s duet on “Long Ride Home,” the emotionally riveting “You’ll Never Find Me,” and the familial and familiar “House A Home.” Their musical wheelhouse is boundless. The post ALBUM REVIEW OF "ALMOST HOME" BY GHOST HOUNDS (8/10) first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Help Propel The Original ARM OS Into The FutureWe use ARM devices in everything from our microcontroller projects to our laptops, and many of us are aware of the architecture’s humble beginnings in a 1980s Acorn Archimedes computer. ARM processors are not the only survivor from the Archimedes though, its operating system has made it through the decades as well.
RISC OS is a general purpose desktop operating system for ARM platforms that remains useful in 2025, as well as extremely accessible due to a Raspberry Pi port. No software can stand still though, and if RISC OS is to remain relevant it must move with the times. Thus RISC OS Open, the company behind its development, have launched what they call a Moonshots Initiative, moving the OS away from incremental development towards much bolder steps. This is necessary in order for it to support the next generation of ARM architectures.
We like RISC OS here at Hackaday and have kept up to date with its recent developments, but even we as fans can see that it is in part a little dated. From the point of view of RISC OS Open though, they identify support for 64-bit platforms as their highest priority, and to that end they’re looking for developers, funding partners, and community advocates. If that’s you, get in touch with them!

AngelicVibes BassheadBasshead delivers 128 hard-hitting 808s and deep, textured basses, pre-processed with high-end software and analog hardware to ensure unmatched depth, power, and clarity. Designed for trap, dance,... Read More

Sonora Cinematic release Panorama Acoustic Contrasting the post-rock and shoegaze soundscapes of its predecessor, Panorama Acoustic is said to explore a world of resonances and quiet reflections, and offer an inspiring palette of evocative tones.

Product Profile: Universal Audio Apollo x8 Gen 2 Audio Interface The Universal Audio Apollo x8 Gen 2 Audio Interface (Ax8G2) stands out as a flagship choice for professional music producers, engineers, and recording artists seeking a high-end audio interface with cutting-edge features. Designed for professional studio setups, the Ax8G2 offers class leading AD/DA conversion, real-time UAD processing, and an abundance of connectivity options. The Ax8G2 is housed in a road-worthy 1U rack-mountable chassis. The Ax8G2’s elegant metal finish and sturdy construction reflect Universal Audio’s commitment to premium build quality. The Ax8G2 features four Unison-enabled preamps which allow users to emulate the exact impedance, gain staging, and behavior of classic preamps from Neve, API, Manley, and other legendary brands. The front panel includes essential controls such as a high-resolution metering display, preamp gain knobs, headphone outputs, and input selection buttons. The LED meters provide real-time feedback on input, output, and overall level, ensuring precise monitoring during your tracking and mixing sessions.All of the converters on the Ax8G2 have been upgraded to Universal Audio’s elite-class 24-bit/192kHz converters that offer superior dynamic range and ultra-low distortion. These converters offer the sharpest stereo image and most detailed playback of any Apollo interface to date. The Ax8G2’s converters provide an impressive 130 dB dynamic range on the DA side and 123 dB on the AD side, ensuring pristine sound reproduction. The upgraded Ax8G2 monitor and headphone outputs now have significant improvements in dynamic range and total harmonic distortion.The Ax8G2 features Hexa Core DSP processing powered by six SHARC processors dedicated to running Universal Audio’s extensive library of UAD plug-ins. This provides plenty of real-time processing capability to allow you to confidently track and mix high track count sessions with Universal Audio’s analog-modeled plugins, such as classic compressors, EQs, reverbs, and tape machines, without taxing your computer’s CPU and with zero latency.The Ax8G2 is built for home and commercial studio environments and includes 4 Unison-enabled mic/line preamps, eight line inputs and eight line outputs (both with balanced TRS) two Hi-Z instrument inputs (which are located on the front panel), dedicated monitor outputs (stereo TRS), two independent headphone outputs, optical ADAT and S/PDIF I/O Word Clock I/O (BNC), and Thunderbolt 3 connectivity.The inclusion of Thunderbolt 3 ensures ultra-low latency operation and high-bandwidth communication between the interface and your Mac or PC. This makes the Ax8G2 an excellent choice for large-scale recording sessions and high-track-count projects.Like the Apollo x8 Gen 1, the Ax8G2 can support up to 7.1 surround sound monitoring. This is particularly beneficial for producers working in film, TV, and game audio production. The Ax8G2 dedicated monitor control functionality allows users to seamlessly switch between different speaker configurations, control volume levels, and manage multiple monitoring setups.All Apollo interfaces from the Twin x to x16 come with full monitor controller functionality. Let’s say you started your journey with Universal Audio’s interfaces with a desktop version of Apollo—like the Twin x or x4—that unlocks the ability to use the Universal Audio’s DSP plugins and allows you to experience real-time workflows like I mentioned earlier. The Twin x or x4 interfaces also have a built-in talkback mic, and you can talk directly to an artist or collaborator just like you would in a pro studio. If you add an Apollo rack interface into your studio rig (like Apollo x6, x8, or x8P), that Apollo Twin x or x4 will now become your remote monitor controller which you can use to switch between your loudspeakers connected to the rack unit, sum to mono, dim and talk back to speak with someone you’re helping to record. In an expanded system where you’re integrating your Ax8G2 and Apollo Twin in the same setup, you will be able to leave your Ax8G2 in the studio, pick up your Twin X or X4 desktop unit, and head out to your remote session. Apollo Monitor Correction, which was introduced in X8 Gen 1, now incorporates Sonarworks Sound ID Reference room correction software, which integrates directly with the Ax8G2. Sound ID Reference helps you hear your music more accurately by checking how different speakers sound in a room and fixes any problems such as room modes and standing waves which can cause peaks and dips in the frequency response of your listening environment. This enables you to create, mix, and master all of your music with the same confidence and accuracy that you might have if you had rented a pro studio for your project.There’s also a useful new bass management tool in the Ax8G2. This isn’t a part of the Sonarworks software but it’s especially helpful if you are looking to manage complex speaker setups. The bass management tool allows you to configure the correct crossover, slope, and trim without having to awkwardly fiddle with the controls from behind the unit. The bass management is available for Apollo x Gen 1 and Gen 2 interfaces and does not require any further purchase or third-party software. Assistive Auto Gain is a brand new feature that’s exclusive to Ax8G2 interfaces and it takes the guesswork out of gain staging. Assistive Auto Gain, accessible through UAD console, will automatically set all your levels—even across classic recording console unison emulations such as API, Neve, and SSL20—all of which makes setting for high channel count tracking sessions (like recording drums) a breeze.Today, many popular UAD plug-ins are available natively and work even when you’re not plugged into your Apollo. This means you now have even more flexibility in how you mix and master; it also means you’re no longer required to use UAD-2 versions when tracking and mixing. If you want to collaborate with other musicians who don’t own Apollo’s or mix when you’re away from your Apollo, you have the flexibility of using native plugins, which sound just as good as the UAD-2 versions. One of the biggest changes with the Ax8G2 is the added-value software packages that are included with your purchase. Apollo x8 Gen 2 comes with the Essentials + version. You get auto-tune real-time access, plus over 25 more plugins like the LA-2A, Pultec, UA-610B, and much more. Apollo Twin x, x4, x6, x8, and x8P Gen 2s come with the option for the Studio Plus version and includes the flagship Auto-Tune Real-Time X. Plus, you get 50 more plugins including the legendary Avalon VT-737, 1176s, Fairchild 660 and 670, Lexicon 224, Studer A800 tape machine, and so much more. There is a ton of value in this bundle, and it includes Unison UAD-2 and native plugins. The Ax8G2 is a versatile and powerful professional tool for recording, mixing, and monitoring professional level projects. The Unison preamps and new elite-class 24-bit/192kHz converters provide exceptional tonal flexibility, allowing users to shape their sound with precision. The Hexa Core DSP ensures that even large sessions with multiple plugins run smoothly, freeing up your computer resources for other tasks. The Ax8G2 is a solid choice for professional home and commercial recording studios. If you’re in the market for a new recording interface or are looking for an upgrade, the Ax8G2 is well worth checking out. Highly recommended!The Universal Audio x8 Gen 2 Audio Interface is available now starting at $2,899. Find out more at uaudio.com.The post Product Profile: Universal Audio Apollo x8 Gen 2 Audio Interface  first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Sam Altman firing drama detailed in new book excerptAn excerpt from the upcoming book “The Optimist: Sam Altman, OpenAI, and the Race to Invent the Future” offers new details about why OpenAI’s board briefly fired CEO Sam Altman back in 2023. Written by Wall Street Journal reporter Keach Hagey, the book claims the nonprofit’s board members became increasingly concerned after learning about issues […]

AMSAT-OSCAR 7: the Ham Satellite That Refused to DieWhen the AMSAT-OSCAR 7 (AO-7) amateur radio satellite was launched in 1974, its expected lifespan was about five years. The plucky little satellite made it to 1981 when a battery failure caused it to be written off as dead. Then, in 2002 it came back to life. The prevailing theory being that one of the cells in the satellites NiCd battery pack, in an extremely rare event, shorted open — thus allowing the satellite to run (intermittently) off its solar panels.
In a recent video by [Ben] on the AE4JC Amateur Radio YouTube channel goes over the construction of AO-7, its operation, death and subsequent revival are covered, as well as a recent QSO (direct contact).
The battery is made up of multiple individual cells.
The solar panels covering this satellite provided a grand total of 14 watts at maximum illumination, which later dropped to 10 watts, making for a pretty small power budget. The entire satellite was assembled in a ‘clean room’ consisting of a sectioned off part of a basement, with components produced by enthusiasts associated with AMSAT around the world. Onboard are two radio transponders: Mode A at 2 meters and Mode B at 10 meters, as well as four beacons, three of which are active due to an international treaty affecting the 13 cm beacon.
Positioned in a geocentric LEO (1,447 – 1,465 km) orbit, it’s quite amazing that after 50 years it’s still mostly operational. Most of this is due to how the satellite smartly uses the Earth’s magnetic field for alignment with magnets as well as the impact of photons to maintain its spin. This passive control combined with the relatively high altitude should allow AO-7 to function pretty much indefinitely while the PV panels keep producing enough power. All because a NiCd battery failed in a very unusual way.

Forever 89 releases FREE Topos Play tone shaping toolbox
Topos: Play is the little brother of the currently discounted Topos plugin. It is a saturation plugin based on emulations of classic gear and physical modeling. While Topos: Play has more limited functionality than the paid version, this freebie is definitely worth checking out if you want a fast and flexible tool to shape individual [...]
View post: Forever 89 releases FREE Topos Play tone shaping toolbox

Music Business News Last WeekIt was a busy week by any definition and music business news last week was no exception with MIDiA reporting on music subscribers, a look at My Seats, Crokomoko testing. Continue reading
The post Music Business News Last Week appeared first on Hypebot.

DIY and Independent Musician News Last WeekLast week, our tips, advice and independent news covered house concerts, YouTube Shorts, current music marketing trends, and more...
The post DIY and Independent Musician News Last Week appeared first on Hypebot.

NatLife Sounds Retro Dream for Waldorf BlofeldRetro Dream is a Synthwave and Cyberpunk soundset designed for both the hardware and plugin versions of Waldorf Blofeld. This collection brings 50 carefully crafted presets that capture the nostalgic... Read More

MAGIX acquired by RMEP MAGIX Software GmbH, the developer behind audio software ranges including Samplitude, Sound Forge and Sequoia Pro, have been taken over by Russmedia Equity Partners (RMEP).