Universal Audio UAD Woodrow '55 Instrument Amplifier Available natively, the UAD Woodrow '55 Instrument Amplifier plug‑in captures every nuance of the iconic amp, giving players the punchy cleans and rich tube‑driven overdrive made famous by artists from Chuck Berry and Neil Young to modern players like Jason Isbell, and Joe Bonamassa. The UAD Woodrow '55 Instrument Amplifier plug‑in captures the classic tweed circuit in end‑to‑end detail, from its tube preamp and power section to tone stack and transformer. Built upon Universal Audio's industry‑leading amp modeling and component‑level circuit analysis, UAD Woodrow '55 puts a world‑class studio amp with expertly paired mic/speaker cabinets at your fingertips — no mics, pedals, or live room required. Features: Raw tube tones from the dawn of electric guitar, now in a plug-in. Play through a perfect emulation of the classic '50s American tweed amp, right in your DAW. Go from clean to crunch with a single knob for instant vintage sound. Enjoy authentic 5E3 tone — right down to the preamp and power tube stages, tone stack, and transformer. Go deep with customizable mic/speaker pairings and artist presets for any genre. https://youtu.be/5dxbL-GI1kQ Read More

Making Parts Feeders Work Where They Weren’t Supposed To[Chris Cecil] had a problem. He had a Manncorp/Autotronik MC384V2 pick and place, and needed more feeders. The company was reluctant to support an older machine and wanted over $32,000 to supply [Chris] with more feeders. He contemplated the expenditure… but then came across another project which gave him pause. Could he make Siemens feeders work with his machine?
It’s one of those “standing on the shoulders of giants” stories, with [Chris] building on the work from [Bilsef] and the OpenPNP project. He came across SchultzController, which could be used to work with Siemens Siplace feeders for pick-and-place machines. They were never supposed to work with his Manncorp machine, but it seemed possible to knit them together in some kind of unholy production-focused marriage. [Chris] explains how he hooked up the Manncorp hardware to a Smoothieboard and then Bilsef’s controller boards to get everything working, along with all the nitty gritty details on the software hacks required to get everything playing nice.
For an investment of just $2,500, [Chris] has been able to massively expand the number of feeders on his machine. Now, he’s got his pick and place building more Smoothieboards faster than ever, with less manual work on his part.
We feature a lot of one-off projects and home production methods, but it’s nice to also get a look at methods of more serious production in bigger numbers, too. It’s a topic we follow with interest. Video after the break.

[Editor’s note: Siemens is the parent company of Supplyframe, which is Hackaday’s parent company. This has nothing to do with this story.]

ASCAP, BMI, GMR, and SESAC have their say in US Copyright Office’s PRO inquiry…The four biggest PROs in the United States just filed with the Copyright Office. Here's what they said.
Source

Universal Audio release UAD Woodrow plug-in UAD Woodrow ’55 Instrument Amplifier has officially launched, bringing the renowned tones of its hardware counterpart into the hands of DAW users.

Blue FX Devices announce Fuzz Fields Kickstarter Combining an analogue fuzz circuit with three modulation voices, the Fuzz Fields is capable of generating a wealth of new and interesting sounds, and promises to keep users busy exploring new tones for hours on end. 

CashorTrade leads face value ticket resale revolutionWhile Trump and Congress are promising to end predatory concert ticketing, scrappy startup CashorTrade is already winning the war for the artists, promoters and 400,000 fans that use its platform for face value ticket resale.
The post CashorTrade leads face value ticket resale revolution appeared first on Hypebot.

💬 🔥 Weekly Deals & Freebies Thread
Welcome to the BPB Community Weekly Freebie Thread for April 14-20, 2025! 😊 Read the Thread Guidelines 💬 This section of our community is where BPB readers can share links to the latest freeware news and deals with fellow music producers in the comments. Thank you for contributing! To keep the discussion helpful and relevant, please [...]
View post: 💬 🔥 Weekly Deals & Freebies Thread

“A visionary whose contributions have left an indelible mark on the trajectory of contemporary music”: Richard Russell awarded MPG’s Inspiration AwardThe Music Producers Guild has announced another winner in the lead up to its official award ceremony next week. Following on from Lauren Laverne’s Special Recognition Award, producer Richard Russell has received his own prestigious MPG Inspiration Award.
Alongside founding the XL Recordings label, which platformed acts like Adele, Radiohead and The Prodigy, Russell’s production credits are varied. From newbie Samantha Morton’s eccentric trip hop debut record, Daffodils & Dirt, to collaborating with the legendary Peter Gabriel on 2023’s Four Kinds Of Horses, Russell is a versatile talent.

READ MORE: A. G. Cook, Charli xcx and Saltburn shortlisted for Music Producers Guild 2025 awards

Elsewhere, he’s also worked closely with Blur and Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn, co-producing Albarn’s 2014 solo debut, Everyday Robots. The pair went on to work together on R&B singer Bobby Womack’s 2012 comeback album, The Bravest Man In The Universe.

Collaboration is a key element of Russell’s creativity, and defined his 2018 music project, Everything Is Recorded. The project saw Russell incorporating a wide range of musical textures, melding dub, garage and soul, alongside the likes of Sampha, Obongjayar, Giggs, and Canadian indie pop violinist Owen Pallett. Everything is Recorded was even shortlisted for the 2018 Mercury Prize.

“Whether in the studio or guiding from behind the scenes, Richard Russell continues to inspire through his fearless approach to creativity and unwavering commitment to artistic freedom,” MPG Executive Director Anu Pillai says.
“The MPG is proud to honour a visionary whose contributions have left an indelible mark on the evolution and trajectory of contemporary music; from Kicks Like a Mule, to Everything Is Recorded, and countless highlights in between.”
The official Music Producers Guild Awards will take place on the 24 April. The awards span across 15 categories, including standout Self-Producing Artist and Breakthrough Producer of the Year. The nominees list includes Charli xcx, A. G. Cook, Rachel Chinouriri and more.
The event will take place at London’s Troxy next week on 24 April. Tickets for the ceremony are on-sale now.

The post “A visionary whose contributions have left an indelible mark on the trajectory of contemporary music”: Richard Russell awarded MPG’s Inspiration Award appeared first on MusicTech.

Women in Live Music: New report reveals gender disparitiesA new report, ‘Seat at the Table: LIVE Edition’ looks at the role of women in live music and the battle for more equitable gender representation.
The post Women in Live Music: New report reveals gender disparities appeared first on Hypebot.

Universal Audio transforms another of its amp modelling pedals into a plugin – this time the Woodrow ’55Want vintage guitar tones without the fuss? Universal Audio has transformed yet another of its classic amp modelling pedals into a plugin. The UAD Woodrow ’55 allows you to tap into the vintage tones of Fender’s 1955 5E3 Tweed Deluxe, all from the comfort of your DAW.
The UAD Woodrow ’55 plugin joins Universal Audio’s digital collection of studio-grade amp modelling plugins. It joins Dream ’65, another Fender emulation, as well as Marshall and Vox amp emulators Lion ’68 and Ruby ’63.

READ MORE: Pro-Ject’s new fully automatic A1.2 turntable is a masterclass in effortless vinyl playback

With the Woodrow ’55, users have a vast array of tone-shaping options, with the ability to fully customise mic and speaker pairings, or utilise presets for any desired genre. It’s a quick and easy way of injecting some rock ‘n’ roll grit to your mix, or toy with some soulful Americana.
From ripe cleans to tube-driven overdrive, the plug-in captures the circuit in end-to-end detail. It could be the perfect fit for anyone on the hunt for old school bluesy guitar tones – of if you want to add a Chuck Berry or Joe Bonamassa edge to your track.
Back in 2016, we argued that UA’s original Fender Tweed Deluxe emulation was “the most authentic and sonically detailed emulation we’ve seen of any guitar amplifier to date”, praising its dynamic response.
“This is the amp that defined what electric guitar sounds like – from the first fuzzed-out rock records to today’s alt-country and Americana,” Lev Perrey, VP of Product at Universal Audio, explains. “With UAD Woodrow ’55, we’ve made that iconic tone accessible to anyone producing music in the box.”
Credit: Universal Audio
For anyone keen to tap into Universal Audio’s full collection of vintage amp models, the company is currently running a UAD Guitar Amp Bundle deal, which includes UAD Woodrow ’55, Ruby ’63, Dream ’65, and Lion ’68 amps in one package for $399.
The release coincides with the 3rd anniversary of Universal Audio’s subscription service, UAD Spark. To celebrate the occasion, the company is offering users two years of UAD Spark for just $99 per year. The subscription allows access to over 50 of the company’s UAD plugins, including UAD Woodrow ’55.
The UAD Woodrow ’55 plugin is available now for $199. Alternatively, you can grab the UAD Guitar Amp Bundle deal for $399.
The post Universal Audio transforms another of its amp modelling pedals into a plugin – this time the Woodrow ’55 appeared first on MusicTech.

“Your favourite producer’s sounds are made here”: Vaughn Oliver shows off his synths and studioVaughn Oliver – one half of the iconic production duo Oliver – is giving fans a peek inside the studio where the magic happens, showing off his synth collection and the gear he swears by.
Known for crafting genre-blending sounds that often fuse disco, funk, and electronic music, the Canadian producer, DJ and mix engineer has worked with the likes of Chromeo, Kaytranada, and Nicki Minaj, and has produced official remixes for artists like Foster the People and Beck.

READ MORE: Sample libraries are here to stay – so why do some producers still find their use illegitimate?

He’s also the mastermind behind the Power Tools sample packs on Splice, one of the platform’s most downloaded series, used by producers behind hits from Dua Lipa, Doja Cat, SZA, The Weeknd, and Adele. So yeah, his studio is probably a goldmine for synth nerds and production heads alike.
Kicking things off with what he calls his “favourite” piece in the room, Oliver introduces a Roland SH-5 from 1976: ”This is like the oldest synth I have, probably my favourite one,” he says. “It doesn’t actually have MIDI on it but I use this Kenton thing here for like CC to MIDI so I can still run MIDI from Ableton to this.”
Describing the instrument as “very badass”, Oliver says he loves it “‘cause I kind of never know what I’m going to get out of it.”
“It’s not a go-to if I’m like ‘Oh I want a nice clean bass patch’ or something. I just turn it on and kind of do what I just did there for like half an hour and then I have all kinds of crazy stuff to choose from.”
From there, he runs through a stacked collection of analogue classics, including the Roland Jupiter 8 (“one of the most coveted synths of all time… This one has a MIDI mod”) and the Juno 106, which he says he uses more than anything else because “it’s hard to make it sound bad”.
“I probably have [the Juno’s Chorus effect] on more records than anything else,” the producer notes.
The Sequential Prophet 10 and Jupiter 6 also make an appearance, with Oliver noting he might like the 6 “equally if not better” than the 8. And then there’s his new Rhodes MK8, which he bought “as a reward”.
“Some people get like a new car or a Rolex,” he jokes. “I was like, I want the new Rhodes, please.”
“It’s just cool to have something in the studio I can turn on and make sound,” Oliver adds. “I know that sounds crazy, but a lot of studios you go into and you’re like, ‘Wait, what key is this in?’ There’s nothing to just hit to make sound.”
While most of his production still happens “in the box,” Oliver says these synths are “fun” to have around for their character, and sometimes unpredictability.
“I use them for the more unexpected things that happen,” he says of the Roland SH-5 and Jupiter 8 in particular.
As for what’s next on his gear wish list? The producer admits the only thing he wants right now is a “a bad workstation synth.”
“By bad I mean like a Triton or Motif. I love those sounds – like an M1 or something.”
Check out the full studio tour below.

The post “Your favourite producer’s sounds are made here”: Vaughn Oliver shows off his synths and studio appeared first on MusicTech.

Audio Technica’s $10k Hotaru turntable spins your records on a floating, light-reactive platformAudio-Technica is reimagining the vinyl experience with Hotaru, a $9,999 floating turntable that fuses light, levitation, and high-fidelity sound into a single analogue machine.
Unveiled recently at Milan Design Week as the second installment of Audio-Technica’s “analog ~ naturally” program, the Hotaru turntable (Japanese for “firefly”) is designed to deliver more than sound. With its unique floating structure and lighting display, the deck adds a striking visual element to analogue audio, creating a unique ambience where sound and light intertwine.

READ MORE: Pro-Ject’s new fully automatic A1.2 turntable is a masterclass in effortless vinyl playback

At the core of Hotaru’s appeal is its floating structure. Magnets in both the upper turntable and lower speaker sections of Hotaru repel one another, causing the turntable section to levitate – physically separating it from the sound system and eliminating vibrations that can degrade sound. This dramatically reduces resonance and increases the playback accuracy of the cartridge.
The platter is powered by a concealed belt-drive system with a DC servo motor and supports both 33⅓ and 45 rpm speeds. Playback is handled by a specially designed VM stereo cartridge mounted on a statically balanced carbon tonearm.
Image: Audio-Technica
That said, it’s the light-reactive element that truly sets Hotaru apart. As records spin, a custom lighting system interprets and reacts with your music and projects colour accordingly. Users can select from three lighting modes: Basic Mode, where the colour of the light remains unchanged; Gradation Mode, where light smoothly transitions from one color to the next; and Link Mode, where the light’s color changes in response to the character of the music.
The light show spans a palette of twenty colours and adds a meditative or energetic glow depending on the selected mode and music playing. “This multisensory design allows listeners to engage with the music – and the space – more deeply to form lasting memories of the entire environment,” says Audio-Technica.
Image: Audio-Technica
Complementing the light and levitation is a built-in speaker system housed in the aluminum case. The setup includes two 2.5-inch full-range speakers and two 0.75-inch tweeters, delivering a frequency response of 60Hz to 20kHz and a sensitivity of 82 dB. Thanks to its floating isolation and high-end materials, like the brass feet and “precision-crafted acrylic”, the speaker system stays free from unwanted resonance and maintains remarkable clarity and dynamic range.
In terms of connectivity, Hotaru features a line-out, a subwoofer output, and a power connector for its 12V supply, making it flexible for use in standalone setups or integrated systems.
Priced at $9,999, Hotaru is firmly in luxury territory – but for vinyl aficionados and audiophiles seeking a unique fusion of form, function, and sensory delight, it may well be worth the splurge. Pre-orders are now open, with an official release expected this fall.
Learn more at Audio-Technica.
The post Audio Technica’s $10k Hotaru turntable spins your records on a floating, light-reactive platform appeared first on MusicTech.

My Forever Studio: Will Clarke won’t spend 7 years making a trackWhat would your dream music studio look like? Where would it be? And, if we only gave you 6 items to make music with forever, what would you choose? We pose these questions and more to producers, engineers, DJs and beatmakers in the My Forever Studio podcast, created in partnership with Audient.
Revered British artist, DJ, producer and podcast host Will Clarke joins us for the opening episode of My Forever Studio Season 7.
Recorded at TYX London, Clarke shares his prodigious journey from playing at a local caravan site to blowing up in Ibiza’s club scene. Along the way, he reveals the unique Russian drum machine that forms the backbone of his techno tracks, and explains how he avoids using other people’s samples in the studio.
Check out the entire episode below to find out about his Somerset dream studio, the must-have synth that could fuel his creativity forever, and which readily available mic he trusts for capturing vocal recordings.

The My Forever Studio podcast – created in partnership with Audient – sees artists, producers, and engineers create their dream fantasy Forever Studio, wherever they want in the universe. However, hosts Chris Barker and Will Betts impose some strict rules in the Forever Studio. Our guests are permitted a limited number of items in their creative space, so they must choose carefully. There will be nostalgia. There will be anecdotes. There may be gags. But there will be no bundles!
Subscribe to My Forever Studio on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and check out all episodes so far via MusicTech.
The post My Forever Studio: Will Clarke won’t spend 7 years making a track appeared first on MusicTech.

Before Nirvana: 11 Great Alternative Rock Albums from the Late 1980sA lot of great music in the 1980s didn't sell, and many of the best artists reaped neither fortune nor fame. Author Daniel de Visé covers 11 great records from the pre-Nirvana years, 1987 to 1990, focusing on albums that represent an artist's best work.

Oliver (Kim Petras, Chromeo) gives an exclusive studio tour
In celebration of the release of his new sample pack, Oliver invited us to his studio to share the insights and anecdotes behind his go-to gear.