💬 🔥 Weekly Deals & Freebies Thread
Welcome to the BPB Community Weekly Freebie Thread for April 7-13, 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 [...]
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Microsoft reportedly fires staff whose protest interrupted its Copilot eventOn Monday, Microsoft reportedly terminated the roles of two software engineers, Ibtihal Aboussad and Vaniya Agrawal, who protested the company’s reported dealings with the Israeli military during Microsoft’s Copilot and 50th anniversary event last week. According to an internal message viewed by CNBC, Microsoft wrote that Aboussad could have raised concerns “confidentially with your manager, […]

Corporate Bitcoin treasuries drop more than $4B on US tariff hike impactCorporate Bitcoin (BTC) treasuries collectively shed more than $4 billion in value after US President Donald Trump’s tariffs triggered a global market sell-off, data shows. As of April 7, corporate Bitcoin holdings are worth approximately $54.5 billion in the aggregate, down from roughly $59 billion before April 2, according to data from BitcoinTreasuries.net.The cryptocurrency’s volatility has also weighed on publicly traded Bitcoin holders’ share prices. The Bitwise Bitcoin Standard Corporations ETF (OWNB) — an exchange-traded fund (ETF) tracking a diverse basket of corporate Bitcoin holders — has lost more than 13% since Trump announced sweeping US import tariffs on April 2, according to Yahoo Finance.Even shares of Strategy — the de facto Bitcoin hedge fund founded by Michael Saylor that pioneered corporate Bitcoin buying — are down, clocking losses of more than 13% since April 2, Google Finance data showed. The losses highlight ongoing concerns about Bitcoin’s increasing popularity as a corporate treasury asset. Historically, corporate treasuries hold extremely low-risk assets like US Treasury Bills. “Cryptocurrencies' high volatility and uncertain regulatory landscape are misaligned with the fundamental goals of treasury management [such as] stability, liquidity, and capital preservation,” David Krause, a finance professor at Marquette University, said in a January research publication. Entities holding Bitcoin. Source: BitcoinTreasuries.NETRelated: Bitcoin, showing 'signs of resilience', beats stocks, gold as equities fold — BinanceIs Bitcoin right for corporate treasuries?In 2024, surging Bitcoin prices pushed Strategy’s shares up more than 350%, according to data from FinanceCharts. Strategy’s success has inspired dozens of copycats, but investors are becoming skeptical.In March, GameStop lost nearly $3 billion in market capitalization as shareholders second-guessed the videogame retailer’s plans to stockpile Bitcoin. “There are question marks with GameStop's model. If bitcoin is going to be the pivot, where does that leave everything else?” Bret Kenwell, US investment analyst at eToro, told Reuters on March 27. The case for Bitcoin as a corporate treasury asset. Source: Fidelity Digital AssetsStill, adding Bitcoin to corporate treasuries can “potentially be a valuable hedge against growing fiscal deficits, currency debasement, and geopolitical risks,” asset manager Fidelity Digital Assets said in a 2024 report.That thesis may already be playing out as Trump’s tariffs rattle markets, Binance said in an April 7 research report.  “[I]n the wake of recent tariff announcements, BTC has shown some signs of resilience, holding steady or rebounding on days when traditional risk assets faltered,” Binance said.Investors “will be watching closely to see if BTC is able to retain its appeal as a non-sovereign, permissionless asset in a protectionist global economy,” according to the report.Magazine: Bitcoin heading to $70K soon? Crypto baller funds SpaceX flight: Hodler’s Digest, March 30 – April 5

BABY Audio Smooth Operator ProThe definitive clarity tool: Smooth Operator Pro removes the bloated frequency energy your tracks don't need. Achieve clarity in your mixes by eliminating mud, harsh resonances and masking. Fix specific problem areas with surgical control or re-shape the tonal balance entirely. Instant track optimizer Set the desired target curve, then turn the global threshold knob until the plugin starts rebalancing your audio. Dive into deep settings optionally for total control. Smooth Operator Pro removes fatiguing frequency energy as and where it occurs, improving your audio's clarity. Dial it in gently and it will feel like lifting a blanket from your speakers. Resonance suppression 2.0 Smooth Operator Pro brings unprecedented depth: Overwrite the global settings for any frequency node to set individual dynamic profiles across the spectrum. Examples (within the same plugin instance): Target the left side at 7500 hz to fix a harsh cymbal. Address only the sides at 150 hz to clean up the bass. Tame a vocal at 2.5 kHz with a softer compression profile. Smooth(er) Operator: The all-new Pro version incorporates four years of user feedback since V1. Enhanced performance and sound quality. Full control over all dynamic and imaging parameters. Freely add and remove nodes across the spectrum. Create individual dynamic processing profiles per node. Two cutting-edge correction algorithms: Even and Skew. A pro-Level spectral workstation Smooth Operator's spectral processing manipulates each of the tiny particles that make up a signal individually – instead of the whole signal at once. By splitting a sound into individual components, we can rebalance harmonic material more effectively than traditional EQ and compression tools. The plugin brings surgical control over your sound at the 'DNA level'. Fixing problems is only the beginning: Use Smooth Operator Pro to dramatically re-shape the tonal balance with fewer side-effects and smoother results. Presets by the world's top engineers Smooth Operator Pro ships with 184 presets created by some of the world's most renowned engineers for use in their own sessions. V1 upgrade pricing Owners of Smooth Operator v1 are eligible to upgrade to Smooth Operator Pro for $29. Read More

“Here’s the proof that I wrote it”: Ed Sheeran films every studio session for evidence in potential future lawsuit claimsBack in 2015, Ed Sheeran found himself the subject of a copyright claim for his 2014 single Thinking Out Loud. Now, he says he records every studio session he does, for evidence in case something similar happens again.
The claim, which was brought by the heirs of Ed Townsend, co-writer of Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On, sued Sheeran on the basis that they believed he had copied the chord progression and rhythm from Gaye’s 1973 hit. 

READ MORE: Aphex Twin’s MIDI-modified Yamaha GX-1 is up for sale – for just £100,000

Following a two-week trial in New York, a jury found that Sheeran was not liable, and that he had independently created Thinking Out Loud. Again in 2022, Sheeran won another similar case which alleged that his Shape of You single had copied the chorus of Sami Switch’s Oh Why. The UK High Court declared that Shape of You did not infringe copyright.
Now, in an interview with ITV, Sheeran says that he records all of his studio sessions for evidence in potential future cases.
“I filmed everything since the first lawsuit claim, which was 2015,” he says. “Ever since then I’ve filmed every single studio session just so, if ever that happens again, I’m like ‘Well here’s the proof that I wrote it.’ It’s actually great because I’ve got this hard drive of every single song that’s become successful – the writing process of it.”
Elsewhere, Sheeran believes the barrier to entry for musicians is higher than it has ever been. “I think there’s a higher level of entry now,” he says. “Because there are so many songs put out every single day, the songs you put out have to matter and they have to be good … I think it’s always been quite a high level of entry, but it’s more now. To be heard above the noise, I think it has to be something special.”
Sheeran recently wrote an open letter pleading with the government to invest funds into music. “Music education in the United Kingdom is in a pretty dire place, so being able to speak up about it … A lot of people feel how I feel, basically, and it’s good to keep pressure on the government.”
The post “Here’s the proof that I wrote it”: Ed Sheeran films every studio session for evidence in potential future lawsuit claims appeared first on MusicTech.

Live Music stocks fell more than overall markets MondayMonday, April 7th, 2025 was a volatile day for the stock market as investors continue to react to concerns surrounding potential tariff escalations. Here's a look at how key live music-related stocks fared vs. the overall market.
The post Live Music stocks fell more than overall markets Monday appeared first on Hypebot.

The human body, its movement, and musicWatching and listening to a pianist’s performance is an immersive and enjoyable experience. The pianist and the instrument, with a blend of skill, training, and presence, create a series of memorable moments for themselves and the audience. But is there a way to improve the performance and our understanding of how the performer and their instrument work together to create this magic, while also minimizing performance-related injuries?Mi-Eun Kim, director of keyboard studies in MIT’s Music and Theater Arts Section, and Praneeth Namburi PhD ’16, a research scientist in MIT’s Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, are investigating how the body works when pianists play. Their joint project, The Biomechanics of Assimilating a New Piano Skill, aims to develop mechanistic insights that could transform how we understand and teach piano technique, reduce performance-related injuries, and bridge the gap between artistic expression and biomechanical efficiency. Their project is among those recently selected for a SHASS+ Connectivity Fund grant through the MIT Human Insight Collaborative.“The project emerged from a convergence of interests and personal experiences,” Namburi says. “Mi-Eun witnessed widespread injuries among fellow pianists and saw how these injuries could derail careers.”Kim is a renowned pianist who has performed on stages throughout the United States, in Europe, and in Asia. She earned the Liszt-Garrison Competition’s Liszt Award and the Corpus Christi solo prize, among other honors. She teaches piano and chamber music through MIT Music’s Emerson/Harris Program and chamber music through MIT’s Chamber Music Society. She earned advanced degrees from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor of arts degree in history from Columbia University.Namburi’s work focuses on the biomechanics of efficient, expressive, and coordinated movement. He draws inspiration from artists and athletes in specialized movement disciplines, such as dancing and fencing, to investigate skilled movement. He earned a PhD in experimental neuroscience from MIT and a bachelor of engineering degree in electrical and electronic engineering from Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University. Pursuing the projectKim and Namburi arrived at their project by taking different roads into the arts. While Kim was completing her studies at the University of Michigan, Namburi was taking dance lessons as a hobby in Boston. He learned that both expressive and sustainable movements might share a common denominator. “A key insight was that elastic tissues play a crucial role in coordinated, expressive, and sustainable movements in dance — a principle that could extend beyond dancing,” he notes.“We recognized that studying elastic tissues could shed light on reducing injury risk, as well as understanding musical expression and embodiment in the context of piano playing,” Kim says.Kim and Namburi began collaborating on what would become their project in October 2023, though the groundwork was in place months before. “A visiting student working with me on a research project studying pianists in the MIT.nano Immersion Lab reached out to Mi-Eun in summer 2023,” Namburi recalls. A shared Instagram video showing their setup with motion capture sensors and a pianist playing Chopin on a digital keyboard sparked Kim’s interest. The Immersion Lab is an open-access, shared facility for MIT and beyond dedicated to visualizing, understanding, and interacting with large, multidimensional data.“I couldn't make sense of all the sensors, but immediately noticed they were using a digital keyboard,” she says.Kim wanted to elevate these studies’ quality by pairing the musicians with the proper equipment and instrument. While the digital pianos they’d previously used are portable and provide musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) data, they don’t offer the same experience as a real piano. “Pianists dream of playing on an ideal instrument — a 9-foot concert grand with perfectly regulated 24-inch keys that responds to every musical intention without resistance,” Kim says.The researchers brought a Spirio grand piano to the Immersion Lab and observed that the instrument could both capture pianists’ hammerstrike velocities and reproduce them to play back the performance. Monitoring Kim’s performance on the concert grand piano, for example, both noted marked differences in her playing style.“Despite all the sensors, lighting, and observers, playing felt so natural that I forgot I was in a lab,” she says. “I could focus purely on the music, without worrying about adapting to a smaller keyboard or digital sound.”This setup allowed them to observe pianists’ natural movements, which was exactly what Kim wanted to study.During Independent Activities Period 2025, Kim and Namburi hosted a new course, Biomechanics of Piano Playing, in the Immersion Lab. Students and faculty from MIT, Harvard University, the University of Michigan, the University of Toronto, and the University of Hartford took part. Participants learned how to use motion capture, accelerometers, and ultrasound imaging to visualize signals from the body during piano playing.Observations and outcomesIf the efficiency and perceived fluency of an expert pianist’s movements comes from harnessing the body’s inherent elastic mechanisms, Kim and Namburi believe, it’s possible to redesign how piano playing is taught. Each wants to reduce occurrences of playing-related injuries and improve how musicians learn their craft.“I want us to bridge the gap between artistic expression and biomechanical efficiency,” Namburi says.Through their exploratory sessions at the Immersion Lab, Kim and Namburi found common ground, gathering information about their observations of and experiences in piano and dance through sensor technology, including ultrasound.Beyond these, Kim saw potential for transforming piano pedagogy. “Traditional teaching relies heavily on subjective descriptions and metaphors passed down through generations,” she says. “While valuable, these approaches could be enhanced with objective, scientific understanding of the physical mechanisms behind skilled piano performance — evidence-driven piano pedagogy, if you will.”

Buyer Beware: Cheap Power Strips Hold Hidden HorrorsWe’ve got a love-hate relationship with discount tool outlet Harbor Freight: we hate that we love it so much. Apparently, [James Clough] is of much the same opinion, at least now that he’s looked into the quality of their outlet strips and found it somewhat wanting.
The outlet strips in question are Harbor Freight’s four-foot-long, twelve-outlet strips, three of which are visible from where this is being written. [James] has a bunch of them too, but when he noticed an intermittent ground connection while using an outlet tester, he channeled his inner [Big Clive] and tore one of the $20 strips to bits. The problem appears to be poor quality of the contacts within each outlet, which don’t have enough spring pre-load to maintain connection with the ground pin on the plug when it’s wiggled around. Actually, the contacts for the hot and neutral don’t look all that trustworthy either, and the wiring between the outlets is pretty sketchy too. The video below shows the horrors within.
What’s to be done about this state of affairs? That’s up to you, of course. We performed the same test on all our outlets and the ground connections all seemed solid. So maybe [James] just got a bad batch, but he’s still in the market for better-quality strips. That’s going to cost him, though, since similar strips with better outlets are about four times the price of the Harbor Freight units. We did find a similar strip at Home Depot for about twice the price of the HF units, but we can’t vouch for the quality. As always, caveat emptor.

Thanks to [cliff claven] for the tip.

CEDAR Audio unveil icons plug-ins Available though their new online store, the icon series aims to bring CEDAR Audio's renowned products to a new generation, and looks set to attract a much wider customer base thanks to significantly reduced pricing.

Amyl and the Sniffers at The Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WAAmyl and The Sniffers (Amy Taylor, Declan Mehrtens, Gus Romer, Bryce Wilson) kicked off their biting, bona fide Aussie-punk set with lead singer ‘Amyl’ bounding onto the stage. After a few fist pumps and pogo-style jumps, she emphasized respect for one another during the show before screaming, “Now, let’s get rowdy!” Her strong ‘Strayan’ voice and visceral energy prompted the packed pit at the Paramount Theatre to thrash at will as the Sniffers careened into the fast-paced, three-chord slammer “Control,” from their self-titled first release (2019). The song’s ‘Be Resilient, Be a Boss, and Believe in Yourself’ themes continued in the rocking banger “Do It Do It,” from their recent release Cartoon Darkness (2024). The pair of tracks made for a ripping opening subset encapsulating the band’s unrestrained, in-your-face punk lyrics and licks, with wallops of way back classics: Wendy O. William’s “It’s My Life” mashed with Dale Bozzio’s (Missing Persons) “Destination Unknown” attitude, crashing with Motörhead-meets-AC/DC’s gritty rock riffs.The band’s skull-crushing performance was chock-full of punk-rock anthems loaded with savage power chords, thunderous basslines, and brash wit. “Security” and “Freaks to the Front,” both from Comfort to Me (2021), were hard-hitting and had the crowd moshing as Amyl moved across the stage—her presence, a force-to-be-reckoned with. The Sniffers’ raw edge and dynamic performance further lured enamored fans into their ferocious lair. The realness made for a refreshing antithesis to the polished, pretty-from-afar acts that tend to dominate today’s touring scenes.While the fourpiece highlighted their love of all things rock on their sleeves, beneath the band’s tongue-in-cheek sneers, Amyl and the Sniffers are observing, seething, and writing about darker societal themes. “Big Dreams,” the band’s first single from Cartoon Darkness moves away from their signature brash punk, slithering into a grim requiem that touches on the concept of the strength of the human spirit in the throes of trying to move beyond the daily grind and challenging times.The band’s talent for confronting unsettling topics also cuts through in “Knifey” (Comfort to Me).  Amyl’s voice carved a hole through its driving rhythm, piercing the veil of the foreboding unknowns—in doing so, capturing a fear felt by many while walking alone, particularly at night, and confronting a rising ‘what if’ panic by pulling out a comforting ‘knifey.’Amyl and the Sniffers retained their bite for the duration of their set, broaching portentous tropes with spiky, cynical tones that describe a sense of urgency while unshackling self-restraints to find purpose in life. The booming ‘know your worth’ single from Cartoon Darkness, “U Should Not Be Doing That,” and the breakaway escapism in “Hertz” (Comfort to Me) were two standouts.Amyl and the Sniffers round-kicked it back to their touchstone high-voltage energy by closing the superb set with “GFY.” The song’s self-reliance punk ethos served as a perfect ending to the night. Concertgoers left the historic hall with reminders from the band, to keep a head up while advocating for oneself, resonating within, ready to resurface when needed.SETLISTControlDo It Do ItDoing In Me HeadSecurityChewing GumSnakesFreaks to the FrontGot YouMutts (Can’t Be Muzzled)Big DreamsIt’s MineGuided by AngelsCapitalKnifeyMe and The GirlsJerkin’Tiny BikiniFactsU Should Not Be Doing ThatHertzENCORE:Balaclava Lover BoogieGFYPhotos by Megan Perry Moore.The post Amyl and the Sniffers at The Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Sarah Gabrielli promoted to Head of A&R at Sony Music Publishing UKGabrielli first joined the company in 2016 as an A&R Assistant
Source

Aphex Twin’s MIDI-modified Yamaha GX-1 is up for sale – for just £100,000With less than 100 ever produced, the three-tiered Yamaha GX-1 is  something of synth legend. First released in 1973, the extremely rare model marks Yamaha’s historical entry into the synth market. And one is currently up for auction for £99,950.
But this isn’t an ordinary GX-1. The synth was once owned by none other than electronic visionary Aphex Twin. While in his possession, he also asked Colin Fraser of Sequentix to restore the synth to its former glory, as well as requesting the addition of MIDI functionality.

READ MORE: “FL Studio’s duty is to get more people to stick with music-making”: CEO Constantin Koehncke on FL Studio 2025 and beyond

While the synth was first owned by British producer Mickie Most, who worked with the likes of Lulu and Hot Chocolate, Aphex Twin acquired it in the late ‘90s. Aphex Twin would go on to use it for his side project, The Tuss, notably on GX1 Solo, which showcases the synth’s hazy beats and futuristic whirring.
According to an interview shared by Sequentix back in 2014, Aphex Twin was enamoured with his GX-1 – and had big dreams for its restoration. “It is the best sequencer ever made ‘til now, in terms of analogue input/output, timing,” he said “It’s got a long way to go, but I can’t endorse it enough!”
“I’ve never been into endorsing anything – I’ve been asked by a lot of people but i hate the idea of it, makes my skin crawl…” he continued. “[But] Colin [Fraser] is totally on it and in it for the right reasons. I hope Colin does really well out of it, he deserves to. The guy’s a genius.”

According to the auction listing on Vemia, the custom-modded GX-1 is in “gorgeous condition” following its restoration. And it does look gorgeous; the brushed chrome and off white aesthetic of the three-tiered polyphonic analogue synth makes it look like something out of a sci-fi film.
“After some painstaking work at the Sequentix studio it is in full working order as envisaged by Yamaha all those years ago,” the listing reads. “It is complete, with the main console, bench, pedals, two massive speakers, two programmers, and all cabling.”
Credit: Vemia Auction Listing
Fraser is also open to adding more custom modding for whoever wins the auction. “[While] one person might want the GX1 as original as possible, another might want bells and whistles,” the listing says. “Colin has designed and prototyped a programmer for the extended sound capabilities he has envisaged. If required, he could extend the MIDI capabilities to the bass pedals.”
Fraser is also currently in the process of “producing a preliminary brochure for his MIDI retrofit” for anyone keen to explore the “the depth of his exploration of the GX1’s architecture”.
Credit: Vemia Auction Listing
Online forums have been trying to work out just how many GX-1s exist for years. A Gearspace thread from 2016 pinning down a list including Keith Emerson, Hans Zimmer, Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones, Stevie Wonder, ABBA, and, of course, Aphex Twin.
The Vemia auction starting bid sits at £99,950, and is scheduled to end on April 12.
Credit: Vemia Auction Listing
The post Aphex Twin’s MIDI-modified Yamaha GX-1 is up for sale – for just £100,000 appeared first on MusicTech.

Kendrick Lamar, SZA Top Most Expensive Concerts of 2025 ListA new analysis of concert tours announced so far in 2025 ranked them based on their average ticket price to find the most expensive concerts of 2025.
The post Kendrick Lamar, SZA Top Most Expensive Concerts of 2025 List appeared first on Hypebot.

Tech investment firm Tiny has paid $66 million for a 66% stake in SeratoFollowing on from AlphaTheta’s blocked proposal to buyout Serato last year, a new investor has acquired a majority stake in the company. In a $66 million deal, Canadian tech investment firm Tiny now owns 66% of Serato.
Speaking to DJ Mag, the co-founder of Serato, AJ Wilderland, is optimistic about the new partnership. “We’ve always believed that Serato’s strength lies in our ability to innovate and stay true to our community of artists,” he says. “After 25 years of building and guiding this business with my co-founder, Steve [West], we couldn’t ask for a better partner than Tiny.”

READ MORE: “FL Studio’s duty is to get more people to stick with music-making”: CEO Constantin Koehncke on FL Studio 2025 and beyond

“[Tiny’s] long-term vision and strategic approach align with the future we’ve always envisioned for Serato.” he concludes.
Serato’s CEO Young Ly has also commented on the deal, noting: “Serato’s long history of success is driven by a single-minded focus of serving artists. We are incredibly proud of the strength of our business today, and the loyal users that surround us.”
The DJ software company has been on the hunt for a new investor since 2023. Originally, Pioneer DJ’s parent company AlphaTheta proposed a total buyout of Serato for upwards of $100 million. This would have brought it into AlphaTheta’s pre-existing collection of companies – including competitor Rekordbox.
The deal would have resulted in AlphaTheta owning 90% of market shares in the DJ software business. The New Zealand Commerce Commission eventually blocked the proposal, with the NZCC chairman Dr John Small stating that the merger would “substantially [lessen] competition” in the markets for DJ software and DJ hardware.
“While other DJ software providers would remain in the market, we did not consider these rivals… would be sufficient to replace the level of competition that would be lost with the merger,” Dr Small explained.
“We therefore could not exclude a real chance that the merger would result in a substantial lessening of competition for DJ software, resulting in price rises to consumers and/or a lower quality software offering.”
“The evidence before us also indicated that the merger could give ATC [AlphaTheta Corporation] the means to either eliminate or worsen DJ hardware rivals’ ability to integrate their products with Serato,” he concluded.
InMusic also cited fears of a monopoly situation. The US audio equipment manufacturer even bought out ad-space in a New Zealand newspaper, noting how the deal would “hurt the DJ community”.
In light of the news, AlphaTheta’s CEO Yoshinori Kataoka does not hold any ill will towards Serato. Speaking to DJ Mag, the CEO says: “AlphaTheta are aware. There is no change to the relationship between Serato and AlphaTheta post-acquisition”.
Image: Reddit
The post Tech investment firm Tiny has paid $66 million for a 66% stake in Serato appeared first on MusicTech.

GIK Acoustics announce PIB V2 & PIB Pack The latest version of GIK's innovative Portable Isolation Booth (PIB) range provides users with a quick and easy way to cut back on room sound and capture cleaner, more focused recordings.