Flavour your recordings with the sound of the Sunset Strip with this new reverb plugin from IK MultimediaIK Multimedia has unveiled Sunset Sound Studio Reverb II – a standalone version of its popular T-RackS plugin emulating the sound of the famous Sunset Strip recording studio.
Located at 6650 Sunset Boulevard, Sunset Sound is one of Hollywood’s most iconic studios, with classic albums including Van Halen’s debut and the Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main St. recorded at the facility. The new plugin utilises impulse responses from Studios 1, 2 and 3 so you can use them in your own recordings.

READ MORE: A Minimoog Model D for less: Save over $1,000 on one of the most influential synths of all time

The plugin harnesses IK’s Volumetric Response Modelling (VRM) technology to accurately capture the acoustic detail of the rooms, and features up to 27 different live room source positions per studio.
It also features both directional and omnidirectional modes, with dual-engine architecture so you can combine the sound of Live Rooms, Chambers, Iso Booths, EMT plates and AKG spring reverbs, each with their own EQ, stereo control and routing options.
There’s also a size control, so you can dynamically scale the virtual room between 0% and 200%, all while “preserving the original capture’s tonal fingerprint and spatial behaviour”.

Additionally, the plugin’s onboard capture library features 336 live room stereo impulse responses, with variable acoustic damping modelling available in studios 1 and 3, which emulate the real Sunset Sound’s adjustable absorption panels.
You can also choose between two preamp and signal path emulations modelled on Sunset Sound’s professional gear: the API/DeMedio Sunset Sound Custom and Class-A Discrete NEVE 8880.
The new standalone version of Sunset Sound Studio Reverb sports an updated 3D user interface, offering “immediate feedback while maintaining precise control”.
Sunset Sound Studio Reverb II is available now, priced at $/€149.99. Get it now at IK Multimedia.
The post Flavour your recordings with the sound of the Sunset Strip with this new reverb plugin from IK Multimedia appeared first on MusicTech.

A Minimoog Model D for less: Save over $1,000 on one of the most influential synths of all timeGuitar Center is currently offering a huge deal on Moog’s 2022 reissue of its Minimoog Model D, with over $1,000 off its original price.
Regarded as one of the most influential synthesisers of all time, the Minimoog Model D was introduced in 1970, and condensed the sound of Moog’s modular systems into a portable instrument. The Minimoog marked the first portable synth to land on the market, and was used by artists like Herbie Hancock, Pink Floyd, Kraftwerk, and more.
[deals ids=”2WA6ia41KwUdjkmd9pxRmI”]
Its three-oscillator analogue architecture, famous ladder filter and hands-on interface made sound design much more easier to navigate. This 2022 reissue features modern enhancements including a dedicated LFO, MIDI and CV connectivity, custom reissue transistors, and a premium Fatar keybed with velocity and aftertouch.

READ MORE: Six synths that define Radiohead’s sound

It retains the classic three-voltage-controlled oscillator design at the core of this synth to deliver the  rich textures it is best known for. These oscillators feed directly into Moog’s legendary 24dB/oct ladder filter, known for its saturation and warmth. Learn more with the videos below:

Back in 2022, MusicTech looked back on the legacy of the Minimoog Model D in a feature with artists Lisa Bella Donna, Gareth Jones, Ashibah and Goldfrapp’s Will Gregory. In the piece, Gregory said, “The Model D is the distillation of a lot of processes into a format that was accessible to more lowly musicians without the wall space or the budget for a modular synthesiser.
“My first experience of it was that it had this punch to it. There’s something about the speed of the attack that is huge. It’s also got these low and warm oscillators. It doesn’t sound like some of the other American synthesisers, the Arps or the Oberheims, or the Japanese, like Roland. What they don’t have that the Minimoog has is this low, animalistic punch…”
The Minimoog Model D is available for $3,749.25 – down from $4,999 – over at Guitar Center.
The post A Minimoog Model D for less: Save over $1,000 on one of the most influential synths of all time appeared first on MusicTech.

Gong Piano from The Crow Hill Company The Crow Hill Company’s latest release delivers an answer to that age-old question: “what would a piano sound like if its strings were replaced by gongs?”

Variety of Sound releases epicVerb mkII, a FREE reverb plugin for Windows
From Variety of Sound comes epicVerb mkII, a free early-reflection-based reverb plugin for Windows. When Variety of Sound releases a new plugin or update, I like to imagine Windows users dancing and punching the air, like the Microsoft team did when launching Windows 95. Please don’t tell me otherwise. In any case, a Variety of [...]
View post: Variety of Sound releases epicVerb mkII, a FREE reverb plugin for Windows

No one has a good plan for how AI companies should work with the governmentAs OpenAI transitions from a wildly successful consumer startup into a piece of national security infrastructure, the company seems unequipped to manage its new responsibilities.

US authorities seek to recover $327K USDt from romance fraud schemeA February report claimed that Tether had frozen about $4.2 billion worth of its USDt stablecoin allegedly connected to illicit activities since 2023.

FILM - TV - THEATER - GAMES: DROPS for March '26Gibson Films premiered Volume One, the first installment of a limited music docuseries series called Iommi: The Godfather of Heavy Metal, streaming exclusively on Gibson TV throughout 2026. Best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of heavy metal icons Black Sabbath, Tony Iommi’s life and career—from his humble roots in the U.K.’s Birmingham to building a lasting, influential legacy across international stages—is captured in this series. Viewers are offered in-depth interviews with the likes of Brian May, Slash, Zakk Wylde, and Rob Halford, as well as Iommi himself. For more information, contact Libby Coffey at lcoffey@primeprgroup.com.

East West Players will present the world premiere of David Henry Hwang’s newly updated 2026 book for Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Flower Drum Song, opening in April at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center’s Aratani Theatre in Los Angeles. Directed by EWP Artistic Director Lily Tung Crystal, the production will serve as the finale of the company’s 60th Anniversary Diamond Legacy season and the final show before the venue’s major renovation. The reimagined musical will feature a cast led by Grace Yoo, Emily Kuroda, Marc Oka, and more, with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Set in 1960s San Francisco Chinatown, the revival explores themes of identity, assimilation, and cultural legacy through a contemporary Asian American lens. Visit eastwestplayers.org for tickets and details.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), featuring an original score by Academy Award-, Emmy-, Golden Globe-, and GRAMMY-winning composer Hildur Gudnadóttir, is out now via Milan Records. The album accompanied the second chapter of the Nia DaCosta-directed horror saga, which is a dark exploration of survival, with a foreboding blend of strings, primal percussion, and unsettling instrumental effects. The film stars Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, and Alfie Williams. Gudnadóttir made history with her soundtrack for Todd Phillips’ dark psychological thriller Joker when she became the first solo woman winner of the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score (Motion Picture) since the category’s introduction in 1947. For further details, contact Sarah Roche at sarah@whitebearpr.com.

In response to early demand, Pasadena Playhouse extended its production of Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus to now run through March 15. Directed by Tony Award-winner Darko Tresnjak, the production stars Tony winners Jefferson Mays as Salieri, Sam Clemmett as Mozart, and Tony nominee Lauren Worsham as Constanze, alongside a talented ensemble including Kenajuan Bentley, Matthew Patrick Davis, Jennifer Chang, and more. Theater goers will see rivals Antonio Salieri, the court’s celebrated musician, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the vulgar prodigy, go head to head in this beloved, award-winning and witty drama. Visit pasadenaplayhouse.org for tickets and more information or contact Peter Goldman at p.goldman@dcpublicity.com.

The digital soundtrack for Return to Silent Hill is out now, coinciding with the 20th anniversary since the first Silent Hill film hit theaters. Directed by Christophe Gans and starring Jeremy Irvine as James Sunderland, the film was based on Konami’s classic horror video game Silent Hill 2. The score was composed by longtime series collaborator and executive producer Akira Yamaoka, who revisited familiar melodies in tracks like “Chasing Laura” and “Moth Mary.” Yamaoka’s soundscape was intentionally composed not to tell listeners or viewers what to feel, but to leave them with an unsettling feeling of ambiguity. Contact Greg O'Connor-Read at greg@topdollarpr.com for more information.The post FILM - TV - THEATER - GAMES: DROPS for March '26 first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Live Nation Antitrust Trial: 3 things to know as landmark case kicks off in New York courtHere are three things to know as the trial gets underway.
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SNES Controllers are (Almost) SPI-CompatibleConsidering that the Serial Peripheral Interface bus semi-standard has been around since the early 1980s, it’s perhaps not that shocking that the controllers of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) would take at least some strong design hints for the used protocol. This does however raise the question of exactly how compatible a SNES controller is when connected to the SPI master peripheral of any random MCU. Recently [James Sharman] set out to answer this question decisively.
The impetus for answering this question came after [James] designed a separate SNES controller board for his homebrew computer system, which led to many comments on that video saying that he could just have hooked the controller up to the SPI board in said homebrew system.
Here the short answer is that the SNES controller protocol is very close to SPI Mode-1, with a similar arrangement of clock/data/chip select (latch) lines and clocking. If you think of the SNES controller as an SPI device with just a MISO line, you’re basically there already. The only niggle that popped up was that the ‘MISO’ line does not get pulled into a high-impedance state when the active-low latch connection is pulled high.
This was fixable by introducing a 74HC125 tri-state buffer IC, after which both the original SD card and twin SNES controllers could be used simultaneously.

Agastya Jindal releases Aethis (FREE alpha), an all-in-one guitar plugin for macOS and Windows
Aethis, a new project from Agastya Jindal and billed as the “end-all, be-all guitar plugin,” is now in free alpha for macOS and Windows.  The project is basically a one-stop shop for classic and unique guitar tones. The plugin includes amp models, built-in FX, and an interesting Multivoicer. You’ve got everything you need to shape [...]
View post: Agastya Jindal releases Aethis (FREE alpha), an all-in-one guitar plugin for macOS and Windows

Battersea Audio ShaperShaper is Battersea Audio's endeavour to create an expressive tool that can instantly transform any audio source whatsoever into inspirational and rhythmic layers. Combining traditional sidechain plugins with 'trancegate' style sequencing. From very simple sidechain effects, to complex 32-beat volume or filter effects, Shaper is a unique tool that instantly can turn any audio into inspiration. Shaper: Includes a free library of 100+ creative starting points — from subtle movement to extreme chops and cinematic pulses. Extremely CPU efficient: no bloat. Perpetual license with lifetime updates — plus simple installation and a comprehensive user guide. Full MIDI automation for seamless automation. Limitless Creativity: Instant Inspiration: Create inspiring rhythmic patterns for synths, vocals, drums, or any source material. Advanced Sidechain: Go beyond simple 'Pumping' effects using the layering capabilities of SHAPER. Swing and Smooth: Dial in the exact rhythm you need with SWING and SMOOTH options. Read More

Watch Fred again.. perform with Thomas Bangalter during final night of Alexandra Palace residencyAfter joining the British DJ onstage in Paris in October last year for his first DJ set in 16 years, Daft Punk legend Thomas Bangalter has once again accompanied Fred again.. for a performance, this time to wrap up Fred again’s Alexandra Palace residency.
After teasing the collab in an Instagram story last week – which said the pair had been “in the studio all week” preparing [via DJ Mag] – Fred again brought out the Daft Punk hero for a set packed with mashups, including one of Fred’s Delilah with Daft Punk’s Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger, and another of Fred’s Victory Lap 5 with Punk’s Aerodynamic.
You can see a multi-angle clip of the pair performing legendary Daft Punk hit, One More Time, below:

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Fred again’s recent Ally Pally residency consisted of four nights on 12, 13, 26 and 27 February. Thomas Bangalter was only present at the final show on Friday the 27th. Before Bangalter took to the stage on Friday, Fred again was joined by Ezra Collective, Joy Anonymous, BERWYN, Jamie T and Kano. The residency also featured appearances from Blanco, D Double E, JME and synth-pop act La Roux, who you might remember for the likes of Bulletproof and In for the Kill.

The post Watch Fred again.. perform with Thomas Bangalter during final night of Alexandra Palace residency appeared first on MusicTech.

Pro Synth Network: Synth South West Taking place on 21 March 2026 in the beautiful seaside resort of Dawlish, Pro Synth Network's debut event will see musicians, enthusiasts, creators and developers gather to celebrate their shared passion for electronic music creation and performance.

Win a FREE copy of Afro Percussion by Kumbengo (BPB Giveaway)
BPB is giving away five copies of Afro Percussion, a percussion engine plugin by Kumbengo. To enter, submit your email address here or use the form linked at the bottom of this article. This also subscribes you to the BPB weekly newsletter, which covers the latest freeware news, deals, and freebies. If you’re already subscribed, [...]
View post: Win a FREE copy of Afro Percussion by Kumbengo (BPB Giveaway)

Bitwig Studio 6 incoming Bitwig Studio 6 significantly overhauls the automation system, introduces a new Clip Alias function that provides a new way to manage a track’s structure, and delivers some new editing tools while making improvements to some of the existing line-up.