Toontrack Music Beat Revamper EZmix Pack Beat Revamper EZmix Pack is an expansion for EZmix 3 focusing on creative sound design and experimental mixing for drums. This release marks the ninth expansion created uniquely for the new EZmix 3 format launched in Q4 2024. If you're looking for ideas for whenever you stumble on a drum part or beat in need of a new suit, this collection of presets for EZmix 3 is what to reach for. Featuring anything from the basic and mildly saturated to the completely mind-bendingly warped and experimental, it has settings that can be applied in virtually any context, genre or style. Be it for acoustic drums that may be lacking grit, flavor or vibe or for any stock- or static-sounding electronic beat in need of more organic mojo, dive into this pack and revel in presets that include overdriven amps, LFOs, feedback, pitch shifters and practically any other effect you can think of. As always with EZmix 3 and any collection of presets, don't let any instrument indicator dictate what you ultimately apply a setting to – experiment, stack, mix and match and let your ears guide you to where you want to go. This is a preset pack all about the beats and for making sure you don't miss a single one. Be it when mixing, painting with sound or composing – make an impact. Feature Spotlight: An expansion for EZmix 3. Presets designed primarily for drums but applicable on any audio source. Featuring complex chains of amps and effects involving reverbs, delays, distortion, LFOs and more. Ideal for elaborate sound design and experimental mixing. Read More

Deadmau5 apologises for drunken Coachella set: “Lemme work on some new music, and come back better”Deadmau5 has apologised following a drunken set at Coachella, which was reportedly cut short.
The artist, whose real name is Joel Zimmerman, performed under his Testpilot alias alongside ZHU at the festival last Friday (18 April) on its electronic stage, Quasar. Videos later surfaced online showing them drinking together, with some showing Zimmerman falling over and slurring his words when speaking through the mic.

READ MORE: Watch deadmau5 play the medieval EP-1320 while wearing a suit of armour. No, seriously

@edmboon
Deadmau5 took to the mic after the set was stopped #Deadmau5 #ZHU #Coachella2025 #FestivalDrama #SetCutShort #EDM #MusicFestival #LiveSetGoneWrong #TooLit #DJLife #RaveCulture #CoachellaVibes #UnfilteredFestival
♬ original sound – EDMBOON

Zimmerman later took to Instagram to share that he doesn’t “remember a thing” from the set, and that it would likely be his last Coachella performance. The electronic artist has been an open critic of other festival performances in the past, notably Grimes’ when she suffered major technical difficulties last year.
Another post from him later reads, “Man, even my cat is disappointed in me. Though, it could be argued that she always has been. Sorry about last night. To be fair, I felt the first 3/4 was great! Huge shout out to Zhu for introducing me to whisky and carrying my dumb ass till the bitter end. Lemme quit smoking, do some personal resetting here at home, find my spirit animal, work on some new music, and come back better.” Another post shows a video of his cat, with the simple caption of “I’m fine thanks.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by deadmau5 (@deadmau5)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by deadmau5 (@deadmau5)

In other deadmau5 news, back in March it was revealed that he had sold his catalogue to Create Music Group for $55 million. The deal means Create acquires the rights to the mau5trap Records catalogue, meaning the company now owns more than 4,000 new songs in total. It also marks the beginning of a new partnership between Create Music Group and deadmau5, who will work together on future deadmau5 records and mau5trap label releases.
The post Deadmau5 apologises for drunken Coachella set: “Lemme work on some new music, and come back better” appeared first on MusicTech.

Sesh superfan platform adds $7M, innovative Member CardThe Sesh superfan platform has raised $7 million to date. Like its many competitors, it connects artists directly with fans while giving them full ownership of the data. But Sesh adds an innovative twist.
The post Sesh superfan platform adds $7M, innovative Member Card appeared first on Hypebot.

Artificial “mini-brain” made from blood cells of composer Alvin Lucier is making music – four years after his deathAn artificial brain made using blood cells from composer Alvin Lucier is making posthumous music, four years after his passing.
The American composer was the first artist to use brainwaves to generate live sound in his famous piece, Music for Solo Performer, back in 1965. Lucier was known for his experimental compositions, also notably the sound art piece, I Am Sitting In A Room. He died in 2021.

READ MORE: One of the world’s smallest acoustic pianos raises $45k on Kickstarter

In 2020, Lucier gave his permission to a team of scientists and artists to carry out the project, and agreed to donate his blood. Called Revivification, it was created by artists Nathan Thompson, Guy Ben-Ary, and Matt Gingold, alongside neuroscientist Stuart Hodgetts, as per The Guardian.
For the project, Lucier’s white blood cells were reprogrammed into stem cells and transformed into cerebral organoids, described as “clusters of neurons that mimic the human brain”. The artificial mini-brain is now on display in the Art Gallery of Western Australia, where a raised plinth hosts a magnifying lens showing “two white blobs” which form the lab-grown brain, as it composes “a posthumous score in real time”.
As outlined on the art gallery’s website, the walls of the exhibition are lined with 20 large, curved brass plates that are both sculptural and the source of the immersive sound environment. Each of the plates is directly connected to the neural activity of the brain organoid. “As the ‘in-vitro brain’s” signals pulse through transducers and actuators, they strike the brass, creating complex, sustained resonances that fill the space with sound”, the gallery explains.

Artist Ben-Ary says the team involved are “very interested to know whether the organoid is going to change or learn over time”. As for the ethical and philosophical questions raised by the project, the team say Revivification “is art first and science second”.
“Where does creativity lie?” Thompson tells The Guardian. “As cultural workers, we are really interested in these big questions. But this work is not giving the answers. Instead we want to invite conversations … Can creativity exist outside of the human body? And is it even ethical to do so?”
You can find out more about Revivification via the Art Gallery of Western Australia.
The post Artificial “mini-brain” made from blood cells of composer Alvin Lucier is making music – four years after his death appeared first on MusicTech.

“We recommend ordering within this month”: Sonicware warns price of its CyDrums drum machine will rise from $399 to over $900 due to Trump tariffs Hefty tariffs imposed by US president Donald Trump are already wreaking havoc, as manufacturer Sonicware now warns that the price of its CyDrums drum machine will likely jump to over $900 from a much smaller price tag of $399 for customers based in the States.
President Trump has already placed a 10 per cent universal tariff on the import of goods from foreign countries, but even higher rates – which he calls “reciprocal tariffs” – could be put in place for further specified countries by July. There is currently a 90-day pause on these higher tariffs for all countries except China, which is facing a whopping 145 per cent duty.

READ MORE: How will Trump’s tariffs affect the music gear and vinyl pressing industries? A Billboard journalist breaks it down

In a new notice on its website, Sonicware writes, “Due to new US customs regulations, a 145 per cent duty will apply to China-made products, including this item. This $399 item will incur over $578 in additional import charges starting next month. We recommend ordering within this month to avoid the new duties.”
A similar notice is also placed under many of its other products, including its SmplTrek portable sampler, which will face an extra $622 in import charges. Sonicware is based in Japan but some of its products are manufactured or use parts from China, hence the additional charges.
Recently, NAMM president and CEO John Mlynczak urged the Trump administration to “exempt musical instruments and accessories, along with materials used to manufacture musical products” from the tariffs.
In a statement he said, “The negative effects of these measures threaten the economic and cultural impact of US-made musical instruments and accessories, as well as cause our US music products industry to lose its global competitive advantage in producing high-quality products, especially at professional and entry levels.
“The 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs announced last week via executive order  is a welcomed measure, but the continued unpredictability of these tariff actions makes it difficult for companies to react in a meaningful way… The effects of these sudden and unpredictable tariff actions will have a long-term effect on musicians worldwide.”
Check out more from Sonicware. We will continue to report on any tariff updates that will impact the music industry.
The post “We recommend ordering within this month”: Sonicware warns price of its CyDrums drum machine will rise from $399 to over $900 due to Trump tariffs  appeared first on MusicTech.

Reverb is now independently operated again after being sold by EtsyReverb has been sold by Etsy, and is now a privately held, independently operated company for the first time since 2019.
The online music gear marketplace has been bought by Creator Partners and Servco, two investment firms with strong ties to the music industry. Creator Partners, for example, owns SoundCloud and BMI, while Servco is a majority shareholder of Fender. Creator Partners founder is also the former CEO of SoundCloud.

READ MORE: “We need more listeners and dancers and less DJs”: JKriv says DJs should have “more anonymity” when performing

Reverb CEO David Mandelbrot stresses that Reverb will not be merging with Creator Partners, Servco, or any of the companies in which they invest, that Reverb’s team will remain intact and that buyers and sellers on the platform will not notice any disruption as a result of the deal.
“Creator Partners and Servco share our passion for the musical instruments industry and a community-first approach, plus a deep desire to strengthen creative industries,” Mandelbrot says. 
“The musicians, shops, and brands who use Reverb have always been at the centre of all that we do, and these two partners will help us support our music-making community in new and better ways.”
Reverb also says that while both Creator Partners and Servco are investors in Fender, Fender will not receive preferential treatment on the platform as a result of the deal.
“We’ve got a lot of exciting changes in the works,” Mandelbrot says. “We’re expanding access to music-making software on Reverb and we’re getting ready to pilot a new option for selling that allows musicians to get paid faster, while skipping the listing and shipping process.
“Our teams are working on improving our search functionality, making it easier to ship, and shortening the time it takes to resolve support issues. All in all, there’s a lot for our community to look forward to and I’m very excited about what’s coming as we move forward as an independent company again.”
“Reverb is the #1 global marketplace for musicians, and a one-of-a-kind platform that has transformed access to quality used gear for creators of all levels,” says Creator Partners founder Kerry Trainor. “We are thrilled to join the Reverb mission to make the world more musical, and grow the entire industry through seamless secondhand commerce.”
“We are thrilled and honoured to be a part of Reverb’s continued success,” adds Executive Chair of Servco, Mark Fukunaga. “For nearly 90 years, Servco has been deeply involved in musical instruments and music education programs. And we remain committed to being good stewards of leading musical instrument companies, like Reverb, and supporting players everywhere in pursuing their passion to create music.”
Learn more about Reverb, Creator Partners and Servco.
The post Reverb is now independently operated again after being sold by Etsy appeared first on MusicTech.

5 Surprising and Sustainable Earth Friendly Music VenuesCelebrate Earth Month with Sofar’s look at sustainable earth friendly music venues ranging from local backyards and a hydroponic farm in Brooklyn to an ancient temple in Japan. Learn how unforgettable performances in eco-conscious spaces are redefining what it means to enjoy live music without harming Mother Earth.
The post 5 Surprising and Sustainable Earth Friendly Music Venues appeared first on Hypebot.

Venus Theory releases forms:piano, a FREE emotive piano library for Decent Sampler
Developer Venus Theory has released forms:piano, a free emotive piano library for the Decent Sampler. Decent Sampler is a treasure trove of sometimes weird and usually wonderful free libraries (there are paid libraries, too, but plenty of freebies to keep you busy). If you haven’t tried Decent Sampler yet, check it out; it’s free to [...]
View post: Venus Theory releases forms:piano, a FREE emotive piano library for Decent Sampler

Musio gains Mic Position Mixes feature Musio have announced the launch of an update which they say brings their self-titled application and plug-in one step closer to being the ultimate tool for composers in search of the perfect sound.

Venus Theory’s new free piano library is sampled from Benn Jordan’s unique upright YamahaMusician and sound designer Venus Theory has launched yet another free goodie, and this time it’s a piano library sampled right from his good friend Benn Jordan’s own home studio piano.
Jordan’s piano is described as a “unique” upright Yamaha, which also happens to have a MIDI input. The pair had been meaning to sample it for quite some time, and finally, it’s available free of charge for the Decent Sampler plugin (handily, this is also free).

READ MORE: “You have eight months to soundtrack an AAA game in a style you’ve never done before”: Venus Theory on his ‘trial by fire’ soundtrack for Avowed

Venus Theory, also known as Cameron, launches free tools thanks to support from his patrons, and has a mission to make inspiring and easy to use music tools that are completely free of charge with “No strings attached. No stupid subscription bullshit. Just sound.”
The new piano tool marks the start of another new free series from the creative, which will all fall under the name of “forms”. The series introduces a new interface, but currently there are no other plans or ideas in motion for what might come next.
In a newsletter speaking of the launch, Venus Theory recalls of their joint project, “I packed a few extra goodies with me and we set up his Yamaha Upright with my piano sampling template and got to work drinking some bourbon while the piano played itself. Turns out a piano with MIDI Inputs makes for a very easy sampling session comparatively.
“This session was done as a ‘test’ to see if we could get the sound we wanted from the piano and experiment a bit with the recordings to come up with other ideas and we had no real intention of ever releasing this set of sounds since it was just an experiment more than a proper session. However, once we put them together in a test instrument and played around with it we liked the result too much to not share it,” he says.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Venus Theory (@venustheory)

Forms:piano is available to download for free now. Check out more from Venus Theory and Benn Jordan.
The post Venus Theory’s new free piano library is sampled from Benn Jordan’s unique upright Yamaha appeared first on MusicTech.

“We need more listeners and dancers and less DJs”: JKriv says DJs should have “more anonymity” when performingArtist and label owner JKriv feels we should focus less on DJs during live sets, and instead shift our priorities to the energy in the room and the people dancing.
JKriv, who co-founded the Razor-N-Tape label with Aaron Dae, has opened up on the different “hats” he wears as both a music maker and label co-owner, sharing his opinions on matters such as streaming and the current state of live music in a new interview with MusicTech.

READ MORE: “Your favourite producer’s sounds are made here”: Vaughn Oliver shows off his synths and studio

Speaking as an artist when asked what he hopes to see more of in clubs and venues, JKriv responds, “I’d love to see a move back towards dark rooms and more anonymity for the DJ. My least favourite way to play is up on a stage where the focus is directed towards you and less about the energy in the room and people interacting and dancing. I think festival culture has driven that – it’s now about the personality of the DJ and the ‘performance’ they’re giving.
“We need more listeners and dancers and less DJs, too,” he adds. “Back in the day, music discovery was a different process. You had to spend money on it. You’d have to go and dig for records and learn the craft of doing it. And now, with digital DJing and digital record collecting, it’s much easier. That’s good, obviously, but also the market is just flooded.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Razor-N-Tape (@razorntape)

Further into the interview, he also gives his take on streaming among ongoing criticism of the low payouts the system provides to artists. “[With vinyl], you sell a white label record, you press 1,000 copies, you sell it, and when that’s done, you’re probably not going to repress it. So that’s all the money the artist will make from it, right? Streaming is obviously pennies, but the music will sit there forever. And it grows – you start to see over time how that income stream can build for you and for the artists. So that’s a positive thing,” he says.
“I would love to see a platform like Bandcamp build out some features that could compete with a streaming service like Spotify. Most people would love to know that the money they’re paying for music is supporting artists a bit more. I think if you gave people the opportunity to do that, they would go for it, and it would be a real success.”
JKriv’s new EP, Intuition, is out now. You can check it out, plus more releases, via Razor-N-Tape.
The post “We need more listeners and dancers and less DJs”: JKriv says DJs should have “more anonymity” when performing appeared first on MusicTech.

Musio’s new highly-requested mic position feature is made with real microphone recordings from studios across the worldVirtual instrument platform Musio has officially launched a new mic positioning feature, created using real recordings of physical microphones in authentic studios across the globe.
The new addition, called Mic Position Mixes, is described as highly-requested, and utilises real-life mic recordings captured with “state-of-the-art setups” such as rare (and expensive) Neumann M50 tube mics in a Decca Tree array. The recordings were mixed by top engineers like Dennis Sands, who has worked on countless films, has been nominated for four Academy Awards, and has mic positioning down to a tee.

READ MORE: Native Instruments has partnered with DJ Mustard on some ultra-limited gear – here’s how you can enter to win it

The Musio team also travelled across the globe to capture culturally unique sounds in locations such as Reykjavík, Iceland, and Cape Town, South Africa to ensure that every mic position “reflects the depth, space, and authenticity of its original recording environment”. Users can also now explore a new built in mixer to control levels and compare their different sound sources.
Chris Hayzel, who stepped into the CEO role at Musio in late 2024, says of the launch: “It’s always exciting to release something that we know our users really want. And they’ve been very clear: They want more control over their sounds. The nice thing is the recordings were already designed for this – we just had to bring it all together.”
You can find out more in the video below:

Musio became the new home of Cinesamples back in late 2023. The integration aimed to decrease “the clutter and friction of traditional, complex sampler plugins” for composers and producers, and welcomed its vast range of sample libraries for the world of movie, TV, and video games to the platform.
For further information or to purchase a licence, head over to Musio.
The post Musio’s new highly-requested mic position feature is made with real microphone recordings from studios across the world appeared first on MusicTech.

Mensla releases Stereo Tool, a FREE two-in-one stereo effect plugin
The newly released Stereo Tool from Mensla combines a customizable vectorscope and stereo shaper in a single free plugin. Mensla (Angelo Fazari) is the developer behind previous freebies, including FMD (FM distortion) and MS-3 (waveshaper synth). Stereo Tool is available in AU and VST formats for macOS, Windows, and Linux. I’m on macOS Sonoma 14.5, [...]
View post: Mensla releases Stereo Tool, a FREE two-in-one stereo effect plugin

Tomorrow: Join Ali Ghodsi and Dario Amodei for a fireside chatJoin this free virtual event, featuring Ali Ghodsi, the trailblazing co-founder and CEO of Databricks, alongside Dario Amodei, the pioneering co-founder and CEO of Anthropic. Uncover how their revolutionary collaboration is poised to fast-track the advancement of domain-specific AI agents. Not only will you experience an engaging exchange between the visionary leaders of two AI […]

Women in Music Presents Shop TalkWomen in Music LA is a chapter of WIM, estabished in 2017, that is "dedicated to fostering equality in the music industry through the support and advancement of women. Providing knowledge, strategy & solutions to our members and the greater community is our driving purpose."Women In Music​ Los Angeles' Shop Talk returns to The Village Studios​ on April 26th, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the fourth edition of this popular annual workshop, diving even deeper into the heart of studio recording. "Shop Talk 104 is designed specifically for women creators and those working alongside them, offering a welcoming and inclusive space to explore the fundamentals of audio production," they say. "Whether you're an artist or on the support team, with questions about working in a commercial studio or recording tracks at home, Shop Talk 104 is your chance to learn directly from the women engineers and producers at The Village Studios, who will explain essential recording terminology and demystify the gear and workflow of the control room.""Don't miss this unique opportunity to visit this world-renowned studio where legendary artists like The Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga, Dr. Dre, Fleetwood Mac, Whitney Houston, Bob Dylan, Shakira, Janet Jackson, and Gwen Stefani have recorded — and get your questions answered without fear or judgement," they continue. "If you've ever felt like you should know more about the technical side of music but didn't know where to start, this event is for YOU!"Register here.The post Women in Music Presents Shop Talk first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.