Imaginando’s new GRFX granulation plugin invites “happy accidents” and experimental soundsImaginando has launched GRFX – Granular Effects, a new plugin designed to “radically transform sound” through granulation.
GRFX lets users break down ordinary audio into micro-particles and rebuild it into evolving pads and drones, glitchy rhythms, or even otherworldly tones and textures.

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At the core of its interface is a Harmonic Triangle, which Imaginando describes as an interactive, three-point control panel that morphs your sound into chords, arpeggios, and microtonal variations. The design is said to invite “happy accidents” and experimentation.
The plugin also offers drag-and-drop routing, instant amount control, and a global modulation panel. A probability-based routing system also lets users direct grains to two multi-effect engines, a mixer, and dedicated delay and reverb sends, each with independent routing.
Take a closer look in the video below:

If you want to find more new plugins to experiment with, you can check out our rolling guide of the best free and paid for releases.  In other new launches, Baby Audio has unveiled its Smooth Operator Pro, a new and upgraded version of its acclaimed spectral balancing plugin.
Building on the success of the original Smooth Operator from 2021 – which scored a 9/10 in our review – the Pro version arrives with an improved core algorithm and more detailed control, all while maintaining the fast workflow that made the original such a hit.
GRFX is available for an introductory price of €29 (25 per cent off its regular price of €39) until 30 April. Find out more over at Imaginando.
The post Imaginando’s new GRFX granulation plugin invites “happy accidents” and experimental sounds appeared first on MusicTech.

Denon’s new wireless earbuds are water resistant and designed for “all-day wear”Denon is launching two new wireless earbuds – the AH-C500W and AH-C840NCW – which are designed for comfortable wear, all day long.
Officially due for release on 15 April, both models are suitable for commuting, exercising, taking work calls, or relaxing. Both are also water-resistant, have a long battery life, and offer a quick charge feature, with an hour of extra listening time.

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Most specs are the same, but the models do vary when it comes to active noise cancellation (ANC) and playback time. The AH-C500W buds have a lightweight, sweatproof, open-earbud design. They offer Premium 12mm FreeEdge drivers for immersive audio quality, multipoint connectivity, and up to 24 hours of on-the-go listening time.
There’s also two microphones per earbud, wireless charging and 10-minute quick charge, plus Bluetooth LE Audio for enhanced audio quality, and Bluetooth Auracast for “seamless” audio sharing and enhanced connectivity. The AH-C500W buds are also IPX4-rated water resistant.
As for the AH-C840NCW, these are for a premium sound that can block out distractions, and have adaptive hybrid active noise cancellation onboard, with a transparency mode. They offer all the same features, but up the ante with up to 35 hours of on-the-go listening time and a shorter five-minute quick charge for an extra hour of playtime. These are slightly more expensive, coming in at over £150.
(L) AH-C840NCW and (R) AH-C500W. Image: Denon
At the end of 2024, MusicTech included Denon’s PerL Pro Earbuds in our round up of the best new headphones and earbuds of the year. Our review also awarded them a mighty 10/10 for their sound performance, effective ANC, and ample battery life.
The Denon AH-C500W and AH-C840NCW true wireless earbuds will cost £99 and £159, respectively. View more products from Denon.
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Lyor Cohen on YouTube Music’s Future and the Music Industry’s PastThis week Ari sits down with Lyor Cohen, Global Head of YouTube Music, to discuss the perpetual evolution of the music industry.

Don't Give It Away: The Jason Isbell Advice TrilogyOver the past two-plus decades of recordings, songwriter Jason Isbell has been crafting a trilogy of "Don't" songs, offering advice about parenting, facing your fears, and proper cookware maintenance. AllMusic offers an examination of these lessons through the years.

The Church Studio Celebrates Shure's 100th AnniversaryMichael Echart in front of exhibit at The Church Studio.The Church Studio has unveiled a new exhibit called Century of Sound, which commemorates Shure’s 100th anniversary in April.It's a worthy exhibition, as Shure has stood as an inspiration of quality, innovation, and excellence in audio technology for a century. "In celebrating the 100th anniversary of Shure microphones, The Church Studio pays tribute to a legacy of sound and the extraordinary evolution of microphones that has transformed music, broadcasting, and live performance," reads a statement. "The exhibit at The Church Studio honoring Shure's milestone features some of the most iconic microphones in the company's past, including renowned types that have revolutionized the field."Founder Teresa Knox said, “It's an incredible honor to host the Shure exhibit at The Church Studio; two legacy brands coming together to celebrate over a century of innovation in sound. In 2025, The Church Studio marks 110 years, and Shure celebrates its 100th anniversary. America's music landscape would look vastly different without Shure. From Leon Russell's era in the 1970s to today, Shure has played a critical role in shaping our studio and the recording industry at large, with great sound engineers, producers, and musicians coming together. Shure's impact on music is unquestionable, and we're proud to pay tribute to their extraordinary legacy through this exhibit.”Included among the mics on display are:Model 11N Hand Microphone (1933)

70H Crystal Mic with Branded Stand (1935)

Model 74B “Spheroid” Crystal Mic (1936)

701A "Grille-Type" Crystal Mic (1937)

70H "Curvi-Linear" Diaphragm and "Bimorph" Crystal Mic (1938)

720A "Tri-Polar" Crystal Mic (1938)

701D "Skyscraper" Crystal Mic (1939)

702D "Spherical" Wide Range Crystal Mic (1939) 100MC “Ultra” Wide Range Crystal Mic (1940)

705A "Rocket" Wide Range Crystal Mic (1940)

717A "Tenite" Design Crystal Hand Mic (1940)

700D "Ultra" Crystal Mic (1942)

730B "Uniplex" Single-Unit Cardioid Crystal Mic (1946)

Model 55 “Unidyne” Dynamic Mic (1949) Model 51 Dynamic Mic (1951)

55 6 S “Small Unidyne” Dynamic Mic (1951)

300 Bi-Directional Gradient Ribbon Mic (1952)

737A "Monoplex" Crystal Super Cardioid Mic (1952)

M33 “The Johnny Carson” Ribbon Mic (1974)

Super 55 Special Edition (2010)For more, visit thechurchstudio.com/shures-century-of-sound-exhibit-at-the-church-studioThe post The Church Studio Celebrates Shure's 100th Anniversary first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Bitcoin price could rally even as global trade war rages on — Here is whyCrypto and equities traders were hopeful for a last-minute solution that would prevent the US from enacting 104% tariffs on Chinese goods entering the United States, but in a press conference, the White House confirmed that the tariffs would start on April 9. Markets deteriorated when Peter Navarro, trade adviser to US President Donald Trump, stated that tariffs were “not a negotiation.”As a result, the S&P 500 index closed on April 8 with a 1.6% loss, reversing earlier gains of 4%. This downturn has left traders wondering whether Bitcoin (BTC) can regain its bullish momentum amid worsening macroeconomic conditions.Spiraling US debt issues remain, paving the way for Bitcoin gainsBetween April 2 and April 7, the S&P 500 index dropped by 14.7%, causing panic among Bitcoin holders and forcing a retest of the $75,000 level—the lowest in more than five months.S&P 500 futures (left) vs. Bitcoin/USD (right). Source: TradingView / CointelegraphDuring an appearance with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on April 7, President Trump reportedly said his goal was to "reset the table" on trade. He added that “there can be permanent tariffs, and there could also be negotiations because there are things that we need beyond tariffs.” Amid this uncertainty, IPOs and mergers have been delayed, while leveraged loan deals and bond sales were sidelined, according to Yahoo Finance.It becomes clear that the stock market is likely to rally if trade war risks subside. Economists have cautioned that tariffs could trigger inflation and significantly raise the chances of an economic recession, according to Reuters. However, assessing the impact on Bitcoin’s price remains a challenging task. This is because some investors see the cryptocurrency’s fixed monetary system as a safeguard against the continuous expansion of global fiat currency supplies.Short-term correlations hurt BTC, but possible interest rate cuts could turn the tideIn the short term, the positive correlation between Bitcoin and the stock market is expected to persist. Nonetheless, the US government’s fiscal challenges present a potential opportunity for Bitcoin’s price to grow. On April 8, the US 10-year Treasury yield rose to 4.28%, following a brief dip to 3.90% on April 7. This increase suggests that investors are demanding higher returns to hold these assets.US Dollar Index (DXY, left) vs. US 10-year Treasury yield (right). Source: TradingView / CointelegraphThe rising cost of rolling over the $9 trillion in federal government debt set to mature within the next 12 months is expected to increase fiscal imbalance and weaken the US dollar. The US Dollar Index (DXY) has diverged from US Treasury yields, falling to 103.0 on April 8 from 104.2 on March 31. This situation could potentially support Bitcoin’s price—a sentiment shared by BlackRock CEO Larry Fink in his March 31 letter to investors.Related: Weaker yuan is 'bullish for BTC' as Chinese capital flocks to crypto — Bybit CEOMichael Gapen, Morgan Stanley’s chief US economist, stated in a client note on April 8: “We think the right answer is for the Fed to wait in its current stance for longer,” as reported by CNBC. According to Morgan Stanley’s updated forecast, the US Federal Reserve is expected to maintain interest rates at 4.25%-4.50% until March 2026, adding that “only a recession would change the calculus” and “a recession could mean earlier and larger up-front cuts.”Bitcoin’s momentum is likely to turn positive as traders realize that the US Federal Reserve has limited tools to avoid a recession without risking inflation. While predicting the exact timing of a breakout remains uncertain, prolonged delays in resolving trade war issues could drive investors toward scarce assets like Bitcoin, especially amid fears of potential US dollar devaluation.This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.

Instagram is beefing up its search to compete with TikTokInstagram head Adam Mosseri says the company is looking to improve the app’s search functionality, admitting this is an area where Instagram could do more to compete. The remarks, made on a recent episode of the “Build Your Tribe” podcast, come at a time when younger Gen Z users often turn to social apps like […]

Orpheus Effects PhiVerbPhiVerb is an all-in-one reverb solution that brings you the latest reverb technology as well as extensive sound-shaping capabilities. Its four distinct algorithms cover all basic use cases in one package. Read More

Live Music Stocks mixed Tuesday amid market uncertaintyLive music stocks presented a mixed picture Tuesday. While Live Nation (LYV) and Madison Garden (MSGE) continued their decline, The Sphere (SPHR) experienced a sharper downturn after a positive showing yesterday.
The post Live Music Stocks mixed Tuesday amid market uncertainty appeared first on Hypebot.

Designing A Tone Control ProperlyMany years ago, audio equipment came with a tone control, a simple RC filter that would cut or boost the bass to taste. As time passed, this was split into two controls for bass and treble, and then finally into three for bass, mid, and treble. When audiophile fashion shifted towards graphic equalisers, these tone controls were rebranded as “3-band graphic equalisers”, a misleading term if ever we heard one. [Gabriel Dantas] designed one of these circuits, and unlike the simple passive networks found on cheap music centres of old, he’s doing a proper job with active filters.
The write-up is worth a read even if you are not in the market for a fancy tone control, for the basic primer it gives on designing an audio filter. The design contains, as you might expect, a low-pass, a bandpass, and a high-pass filter. These are built around TL072 FET-input op-amps, and an LM386 output stage is added to drive headphones.
The final project is built on a home-made PCB, complete with mains power supply. Audiophiles might demand more exotic parts, but we’re guessing that even with these proletarian components it will still sound pretty good. Probably better than the headphone amplifier featured in a recent project from a Hackaday writer, at least. There’s a build video, below the break.

Vote for the Splice blog in the 29th Annual Webby Awards
For the 29th Annual Webby Awards, we're happy to share that the Splice blog has been nominated for the "Websites and Mobile Sites - Music" category.

Waves launch Curves AQ Curves AQ relies on Waves' AI Spectral Targeting Technology, and is capable of generating a choice of custom EQ settings tailored to the source material. 

Epidemic Sound’s revenues jumped 29% to $181.6m in 2024, as EBITDA soared 150% YoY to $13.9mThe company expanded its audio library with the acquisition of sound effects company Soundly
Source

How will Trump’s tariffs affect the music gear and vinyl pressing industries? A Billboard journalist breaks it downA reporter has broken down how tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump could impact the music industry, revealing how sectors such as the musical instrument business or the vinyl industry will be impacted.
Most popular instrument brands sell gear that has been manufactured (or houses parts) made in places such as Mexico, China, or Canada. Now that Trump has imposed hefty tariffs on goods entering the United States from across these markets, music industry figures are growing concerned for the future of their businesses.

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What are Trump’s tariffs? 
A tariff is a tax imposed on the import of goods from foreign countries. Per The Guardian, as of 5 April, all imported goods arriving in the US are subject to a 10 percent universal tariff. On 9 April, certain countries will face even higher tariff rates, which are deemed “reciprocal tariffs” by Trump, in retaliation for tariffs the countries have placed on American exports.
Asian countries face some of the highest tariffs of all, and EU exports are looking at a 20 percent tariff. Canada and Mexico, meanwhile, are facing a proposed 25 percent tariff, and Trump has even threatened to place an additional whopping 50 percent tax on goods from China.
What do they mean for music?
Billboard’s Kristin Robinson has shared an explainer video on her TikTok. In it, she breaks down the effects on different music markets, starting with musical instruments, off the back of an interview with NAMM president, John Mlynczak.
Mlynczak has said that these tariffs are a problem for cheaper guitar models, which are mostly made in Mexico or overseas countries. An impact on their trade could have a knock-on effect on the wider guitar market too, as they act as a gateway for buyers to work their way up to more highly priced models in the future.
“When you start raising the price everywhere of what it costs to import goods, it’s challenging, and it really threatens everything we’ve learned to do as an industry,” said Mlynczak.
“The reason why we have companies that can afford to build their highest-end products in the U.S. is because they have the revenue from the mid-to-entry level products from overseas. Our supply chain is deeply interconnected. It’s not like an instrument is solely made in China or Mexico. What happens is you have certain components that are made really well in China that are then imported for final assembly. Or you have a factory in Mexico that has a specialty in making certain components that are imported. Then they are assembled in the U.S. This happens because this work is highly specialized.”
Robinson also shares that bands have faced difficulty bringing unsold merchandise back to the US from international tours, as these also face tariffs, unless the artist is selling only American-made merch. Vinyl prices are likely going to rise too, as the materials used to make them are from overseas countries, including PVC and their paper sleeves.
You can watch Robinson’s full video below:

@wordsbykristin
#greenscreen how Trump tariffs will affect the music business #musicbusiness
♬ original sound – Kristin Robinson – Billboard

What else do we know? 
Another manufacturer that has also shared fears over the tariffs is Electro-Harmonix. Mike Matthews, founder of the pedal brand, recently told Bloomberg that EHX has an inventory that will help it “ride out” the storm, but the future of the company is looking rather uncertain. EHX uses components that are manufactured internationally, though it builds the pedals in the US.
Matthews said he has ruled out the idea of bringing circuit board manufacturing into the US as it would be “a really huge investment”. Further to this, he also revealed, “I am open and have been in the process of trying to sell the company. It’s a difficult time.”
For further updates, check back on MusicTech. We will keep you updated with any further details on the tariffs.
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Musicians: Do not rely on social media to reach fansOn social media, a significant portion of your followers typically don't see each post, with organic reach averaging around 2% to 6% of total followers. The lesson for musicians? Do not rely on social media to reach fans.
The post Musicians: Do not rely on social media to reach fans appeared first on Hypebot.