GANUE Audio releases Rivet, a FREE FET compressor plugin
GANUE Audio has released Rivet, a free FET compressor plugin for Windows and macOS. Rivet is an input-driven compressor, so there is no threshold control. You drive the signal into the compressor with Input and compensate with Output, and the compression becomes stronger as the input level rises. Honestly, I don’t really need any more [...]
View post: GANUE Audio releases Rivet, a FREE FET compressor plugin

GC Audio’s new Producer Channel Designed for both studio and live duties, the Producer Channel pairs an all-analogue channel strip with digital control, and offers remote control and recall via a plug-in.

Synchron Solo Violin 2 & Viola (sordino) join VSL line-up VSL's latest offerings capture performances by Vienna Synchron Orchestra concertmaster Damir Oraščanin and solo violist Anna Firsanova, and blend seamlessly with the existing Synchron Solo line-up. 

Score up to 30% off Teenage Engineering gear – plus more studio hardware deals you can’t miss this weekGreat gear won’t magically make your tracks better – but a quality interface, a dependable pair of monitors, or an inspiring synth can certainly make the creative process a lot more enjoyable. Fortunately, there are plenty of worthwhile hardware deals doing the rounds right now. Over at MusicTech, we’ve picked out the biggest discounts on studio essentials and coveted kit so you don’t have to trawl through pages of sales yourself.
Here’s what’s worth a closer look…

READ MORE: Best wired headphones under $500 in 2026: Our picks for mixing, DJing and music production 

Universal Audio Apollo Twin X DUO Gen 2 (was $1,199, now $999)
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If you’re tired of tracking latency or flat recordings, Guitar Center is currently offering $200 off the Universal Audio Apollo Twin X DUO Gen 2, bringing it down to $999. This Thunderbolt interface cleans up digital bottlenecks by processing UA’s classic plugins directly on its built-in DSP core. Its two Unison preamps emulate legendary hardware like Neve and API, letting you track through vintage analogue character in real time without putting extra strain on your computer’s CPU.
Teenage Engineering (30% off everything)
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Teenage Engineering gear is famously brilliant, but it rarely comes cheap. That makes Guitar Center’s current 30% site-wide discount with the code TE30 a rare opportunity to grab their gear at a fraction of the cost.
Highlights include the flagship OP-1 Field which is now available at $1399.3 after discount, saving you nearly $600. Beyond the OP-1 Field, the sale includes the powerful OP-XY sequencer, portable sampling workstations like the EP-133 K.O. II and EP-136 K.O, the ultra-compact TX-6 Field Mixer, TP-7 Audio Recorder, CM-15 Field Mic, thematic machines like the EP-1320 Medieval and EP-40 Riddim, and their full lineup of Pocket Operators.
Sequential Fourm Analogue Synthesizer ($799.99)
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For producers wanting genuine analogue warmth with hands-on expressiveness, Sweetwater has sliced $200 off the Sequential Fourm, bringing this 37-key synth down to $799.99.
Built on the classic Prophet-5 formula, Fourm packs four real analogue voices, dual oscillators, and a 4-pole resonant low-pass filter into a rugged steel chassis. It also comes with a custom keybed equipped with polyphonic aftertouch, allowing you to manipulate modulation, pitch bend, or filter cutoffs independently per key as you hold down chords.
In our review, we praised the Fourm for delivering “authentic Prophet-like sound without the usual headaches of working with a true vintage analogue synth”.
Yamaha HS5 5” Powered Studio Monitors ($169.99 each)
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Do your mixes sound balanced in your studio but fall apart on other playback systems? A new set of studio monitors might help. Guitar Center has discounted the Yamaha HS5 powered monitors by $30 each, down to $169.99 per speaker ($339.98 for a stereo pair).
Available in both Black and White finishes, these 5-inch bi-amplified nearfield monitors are designed to deliver a flat, honest response – so you can make mixing decisions that translate accurately across consumer headphones, car stereos, and club rigs.
Sony MDR-M1 Closed-Back Studio Headphones ($228)
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Designed as the modern evolution of the iconic 7506s, Sweetwater has knocked $40 off the Sony MDR-M1 closed-back headphones, bringing them down to $228. They boast an ultra-wide 5Hz to 80kHz frequency response, making it easy to catch even the finest details and dynamic shifts in your music.
The MDR-M1’s closed acoustic seal prevents sound from leaking into sensitive condenser mics during vocal passes, while its lightweight frame keeps you comfortable through long monitoring sessions. Check out our full review of the MDR-M1.
The post Score up to 30% off Teenage Engineering gear – plus more studio hardware deals you can’t miss this week appeared first on MusicTech.

Sylvan Esso’s Amelia Meath says it’s “terrifying” how streaming has changed the way we consume music: “No one knows who they’re listening to now”Sylvan Esso’s decision to remove their catalogue from Spotify last year wasn’t just a protest against the platform’s leadership. According to vocalist and songwriter Amelia Meath, it also reflects a growing unease with how streaming has reshaped the way people discover – and just as quickly forget – music.
Speaking in a new interview with MusicRadar, Meath argues that streaming has encouraged increasingly disposable listening habits, leaving fewer listeners with an actual connection to the artists behind the songs they love.

READ MORE: AI artists are already making millions from Spotify and YouTube – and they’re only getting bigger

“I sound like an ancient grump now, but I find the way it has changed how people consume music really terrifying,” she says. “I hate that no one knows who they are listening to now. A song is something they listen to for a week, then it is gone, and there’s no ability to sit with a record.”
Sylvan Esso pulled their music from Spotify in September 2025 in protest of the platform’s practices and investments made by former CEO Daniel Ek. For the electronic duo, however, the move was never about persuading other musicians to follow suit.
Instead, they hoped it would encourage listeners to think more carefully about where and how they choose to stream their music.
“I don’t have a problem with the concept of streaming, I have a problem with Daniel Ek,” says bandmate Nick Sanborn. “I was tired of feeling like a frog in a pot and not realising the water was getting hot.”
“I think, for a lot of us, there are many terrifying things happening in the world right now, it leads everyone to this state of numbness and feeling like the bad guys winning is inevitable – and there’s nothing we can do about it – the truth is that this is not true, we can tell them to go fuck themselves any time we want.”
“The goal was not getting other artists to remove their music from Spotify – which is a logistically and financially tricky thing to do,” Sanborn continues. “Instead, we wanted the average person who listens to music to consider where they were getting it from and change their streaming service. I would also like to plug Ahmed Muin’s record, Life is Hard as Mud – Songs from the Gaza Strip, 2024-25. This is a bunch of field recordings of him singing along to drones and children in Gaza.”
As Sylvan Esso gear up for the release of their new album, Ow ∞ (due out 11 September), the band also share some advice for aspiring producers navigating today’s music industry. For Meath, the key is to stop chasing trends and focus on discovering what genuinely resonates with you creatively.
“The latest thing I’m coming back to is all you can do is work out if you like what you create, then keep on pursuing this,” she says. “You need to dig this trench to see what is under it – this is what I’m interested in – not reference points but the excavation of discovery.”
Sanborn, meanwhile, argues that creative communities are more important than ever in the current landscape.
“Do everything you can to be a part of a scene, get on the Discords, go to the places, do the things and be the person you want to come to your gigs,” he says. “Community and fellowship is the ultimate secret weapon against all forms of fascism. And in these times, feeding your local scene and being part of it is more important than ever.”
The post Sylvan Esso’s Amelia Meath says it’s “terrifying” how streaming has changed the way we consume music: “No one knows who they’re listening to now” appeared first on MusicTech.

Alesis’s new partnership with iconic cymbal maker Zildjian aims to “raise the bar for electronic drums”Zildjian has teamed up with Alesis Drums to bring the company’s cymbal sounds to Alesis’ electronic percussion ecosystem.
This partnership pairs one of the world’s most iconic cymbal makers with a leading innovator in electronic percussion, promising drummers and producers unprecedented access to handpicked, meticulously recorded samples.

READ MORE: The best new music plugins this week, free and paid

Rather than pulling from off-the-shelf sound libraries, the teams went straight into Zildjian’s sacred Artist Vault – a collection historically reserved for official Zildjian artists to shape their signature sound.
“The Artist Vault is sacred ground – for decades this is where the world’s greatest drummers have come to choose their cymbals and find inspiration,” says Michael Weber, Director of Marketing at Alesis Drums. “Capturing them with the BFD team’s meticulous sampling process means that when an Alesis player strikes a cymbal, they’re experiencing the nuanced sound of those cymbals, with all the depth and character that makes a Zildjian a Zildjian.”
With the partnership launch, Alesis and BFD users will gain access to a new collection of exclusive Zildjian sound expansion packs. The first release, Zildjian Session Mix Vol. 1, is now out, with additional expansions set to arrive in late August and throughout the year.
Drawing from iconic cymbal families and modern favorites, these sound packs will be available across BFD Player, BFD 3.5, and Alesis Strata modules.
Today’s announcement marks just the beginning of the collaboration, with both brands confirming that further joint developments are already underway across Alesis Drums, BFD, and the wider inMusic family.
“Zildjian cymbals have shaped the sound of modern drumming for generations, making them a perfect partner as we continue to raise the bar for electronic drums,” says Weber. “We’re excited to put these sounds into the hands of drummers of all skill levels and see what they’re inspired to create.”
Zildjian CEO John Stephans adds that the partnership “allows more musicians than ever to experience the sound of authentic Zildjian cymbals”.

Learn more at Alesis Drums.
The post Alesis’s new partnership with iconic cymbal maker Zildjian aims to “raise the bar for electronic drums” appeared first on MusicTech.

Your table awaits: Exhibit at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 to be seen by thousands Not everyone needs a keynote slot to make noise at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. Sometimes the best way to meet investors, customers, and partners is by exhibiting directly on the Expo Hall floor at San Francisco’s Moscone West from October 13-15. That’s exactly what our Exhibit Program offers, and it’s still open to showcase your startup.  Here’s what $12,500 buys you:  Joining fellow exhibitors is the fastest, lowest-lift way for a […]

Dirtwire at Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro, NCWeb: dirtwire.netContact: dirtwire@mammothmusicgroup.comPlayers: David Satori, violin, banjo, guitars, guimbri, percussion; Evan Fraser, kalimba, jaw harp, kamale, n’groni, global percussion

The stage is almost completely dark. The 700-seat room is packed shoulder-to-shoulder right up to the edge of the stage, and only a handful of curious objects scattered across the floor offer any clue as to the musical adventure about to unfold. When Dirtwire finally emerges from the shadows, dressed entirely in black and nearly disappearing into the black backdrop, the sense of mystery only deepens. It feels less like the beginning of a concert and more like the opening moments of some strange sonic experiment.

Before a single recognizable melody arrives, odd sounds begin drifting through the house system. Strange drones, rattles, whistles, and tones emerge from seemingly nowhere. Unfamiliar instruments appear under faint stage lights. The audience waits, intrigued but uncertain. Then a groove begins to form. It comes from an instrument that is difficult to identify and even harder to describe. Slowly it gathers momentum, building layer upon layer of anticipation until a massive bass frequency suddenly locks into place. A steady four-on-the-floor beat erupts from the subwoofers, and in an instant the entire room is moving. The evening has officially taken flight.

For the next 90 minutes, Dirtwire unleashes a dizzying parade of soundscapes, textures, rhythms, and instrumental experiments. The performance feels simultaneously ancient and futuristic, as though forgotten folk traditions have collided headlong with modern electronic dance music. The groove remains constant and infectious, driven by an ever-present pulse that keeps the audience tethered to the journey no matter how strange the scenery becomes.

The duo wanders fearlessly across musical landscapes, collecting sounds and influences from every imaginable direction. At one moment the music resembles a beggar’s banquet of world instruments and tribal rhythms. Moments later it transforms into a towering wall of sound generated by instruments few people could name, much less pronounce. Every texture seems designed to surprise. Every new sound opens another door.

What is most remarkable is the relentless momentum. There are no pauses, no breaks for lengthy introductions, and virtually no downtime. Instead, the music flows continuously, one groove melting into another. Beats intertwine with drones, melodies emerge briefly and then dissolve, and rhythmic patterns chase one another through the room in endless combinations. The experience becomes hypnotic, with each musical idea serving as a launching point for the next.

In many ways, Dirtwire’s performance resembles a modern electronic interpretation of Bach’s variations on a theme. Yet even that comparison falls short because the theme itself never remains fixed. It shifts constantly, mutating from moment to moment. 

The result is less a collection of songs than a single immersive experience—part dance party, part musical expedition, and part sonic fever dream. By the time the final notes fade into the darkness, the audience has traveled a considerable distance without ever leaving their seats, carried along by grooves, textures, and imagination.The post Dirtwire at Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro, NC first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Following primary loss, crypto PACs invest $1.5M in 3 US state racesThe Defend American Jobs and Protect Progress PACs reported spending more than $1.5 million on media for four House and Senate races ahead of Aug. 18 primary elections.

Phantomdrive Keeps Your Secrets Out of SightIt’s a complex world out there, and more than ever folks may find themselves in a situation where they want to keep particular bits of information away from prying eyes. At the same time, overly complex methods of file security can make it difficult to share said information with the intended recipients impractical. So what’s the solution?
One proposal from [Ryan Walker] AKA [machinehum] is the Phantomdrive — a fully open source USB flash drive that features a secret secondary filesystem. Not only is the existence of this data hidden from the operating system under normal circumstances, but it’s encrypted with AES-256. Rather than relying on software running on the computer to handle the decryption, the CH569 chip that powers the drive does it internally.
To complete this platform-agnostic approach, [machinehum] had to come up with a way for the user to unlock the secure storage that didn’t require running any code on the client machine. A hardware solution such as a keypad is the obvious answer, but in this case, was out of the question as it would immediately tip off an observer about the drive’s true nature. A covert storage device needs a similarly inconspicuous method of authentication.
That’s why the firmware on the Phantomdrive keeps an eye on all the write operations to the unsecured section of the drive looking for the string password:. Once it sees that, it treats whatever follows as the decryption key. If it’s correct, the previously inaccessible data will appear to the operating system as a new drive.
[machinehum] cautions that none of this has been professionally audited from a security standpoint, and that you should treat this whole concept as an experiment. In other words, it’s probably more than sufficient for the average person, but no guarantees on how long it would last should a three letter agency gets too interested in what you’re up to.
If this seems a bit familiar, it’s because the Phantomdrive follows up [machinehum]’s self-destructing USB flash drive from a few years back. The concept is essentially the same, except this time there’s no Magic Smoke getting released.

How He Got a Million Monthly Listeners and a Sold Out Tour IndependentlyThis week, Ari is joined by Nashville-based independent artist Jared Benjamin.

IK Multimedia gives away Pianoverse Black Pearl B200 with newsletter signup
IK Multimedia is offering Pianoverse Black Pearl B200 as a free download for users who subscribe to the IK newsletter. The offer runs through September 1st, 2026. IK says you get Black Pearl immediately after subscribing, but you need to stay subscribed to the newsletter for 90 days to keep it forever. Black Pearl B200 [...]
View post: IK Multimedia gives away Pianoverse Black Pearl B200 with newsletter signup

The Music Industry Is Trying to Guess the AI Recipe After Dinner Was ServedThe following MBW op-ed comes from Andreea Gleeson, former CEO of TuneCore and founder of AGA (Andreea Gleeson Advisory)
Source

Hallowed Bells from ebbandflow The latest offering from ebbandflow captures a celesta, or celeste, played in a lush-sounding scoring hall, and includes a selection of sound-design tools that have been created with modern productions in mind. 

fedDSP releases RAIJU saturator plugin, FREE until August 20th
fedDSP has released RAIJU, a zero-latency saturator plugin for macOS and Windows, and you can get it for free until August 20th, 2026. RAIJU normally costs £30, but the developer is offering it for free as an introductory deal until August 20th at 9 PM UK time. After that, it moves to its regular price. [...]
View post: fedDSP releases RAIJU saturator plugin, FREE until August 20th