Google’s AI Overviews have 2B monthly users, AI Mode 100M in the US and IndiaGoogle shared new stats about its AI features' adoption during its Q2 earnings.

SOL price drop to $180 would be 'golden' entry before rally to new highsSOL is down nearly 10% on the day, but charts suggest the bull trend remains intact.

Producer Lex Luger and Lemonaide launch ‘creator-first’ AI Model with BeatStarsThe Lex Luger AI Model offers music creators royalty-free WAV and MIDI loops generated in Luger’s signature style
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Why having a PRO isn’t enough to collect all publishing royaltiesOne question we hear songwriters, producers, and artists ask all the time is “why do I need a music publisher if I’m a member of a PRO?”. It’s a fair question.

Fusing Cheap eBay Find Into a Digital RangefinderOne of the earliest commercially-successful camera technologies was the rangefinder — a rather mechanically-complex system that allows a photographer to focus by triangulating a subject, often in a dedicated focusing window, and and frame the shot with another window, all without ever actually looking through the lens. Rangefinder photographers will give you any number of reasons why their camera is just better than the others — it’s faster to use, the focusing is more accurate, the camera is lighter — but in today’s era of lightweight mirrorless digitals, all of these arguments sound like vinyl aficionados saying “The sound is just more round, man. Digital recordings are all square.” (This is being written by somebody who shoots with a rangefinder and listens to vinyl).
While there are loads of analog rangefinders floating around eBay, the trouble nowadays is that digital rangefinders are rare, and all but impossible to find for a reasonable price. Rather than complaining on Reddit after getting fed up with the lack of affordable options, [Mr.50mm] decided to do something about it, and build his own digital rangefinder for less than $250.
Part of the problem is that, aside from a few exceptions, the only digital rangefinders have been manufactured by Leica, a German company often touted as the Holy Grail of photography. Whether you agree with the hype or consider them overrated toys, they’re sure expensive. Even in the used market, you’d be hard-pressed to find an older model for less than $2,000, and the newest models can be upwards of $10,000.
Rather than start from scratch, he fused two low-cost and commonly-available cameras into one with some careful surgery and 3D printing. The digital bits came from a Panasonic GF3, a 12 MP camera that can be had for around $120, and the rangefinder system from an old Soviet camera called the Fed 5, which you can get for less than $50 if you’re lucky. The Fed 5 also conveniently worked with Leica Thread Mount (LTM) lenses, a precursor to the modern bayonet-mount lenses, so [Mr.50mm] lifted the lens mounting hardware from it as well.
Even LTM lenses are relatively cheap, as they’re not compatible with modern Leicas. Anyone who’s dabbled in building or repairing cameras will tell you that there’s loads of precision involved. If the image sensor, or film plane, offset is off by the slightest bit, you’ll never achieve a sharp focus — and that’s just one of many aspects that need to be just right. [Mr.50mm]’s attention to detail really paid off, as the sample images (which you can see in the video below) look fantastic.
With photography becoming a more expensive hobby every day, it’s great to see some efforts to build accessible and open-source cameras, and this project joins the ranks of the Pieca and this Super 8 retrofit. Maybe we’ll even see Leica-signed encrypted metadata in a future version, as it’s so easy to spoof.

The Best Gig I Ever Saw: Nova Twins Debate Beyoncé and DeftonesUK alt-rock duo Nova Twins told us about their Beyoncé and Deftones experiences...Georgia South: The best gig I have ever been to would be Beyoncé on the I Am Sasha Fierce Tour. I would have been no older than 11 years old, and my curious mind was blown by the sheer power of Queen Bey and her incredible all-female band commanding the stage. I went with my family for my dad’s birthday. Originally, our seats were up in the heavens, but due to late postage, they compensated us with 3rd-row seats! This was definitely one of the catalysts for wanting to pursue being a bass player in a band. I saw her bassist Divinity Roxx and guitarist Bibi McGill whipping their dreadlocks and head-banging their afros wildly, doing killer solos in front of a roaring arena. I could feel the sweat dripping off Beyoncé’s face as she prowled across the stage. My feet were firmly planted on the ground, mesmerized and in a trance for the entire performance. These women played such an important moment in history, one that I’m so grateful for and will never forget.Amy Love: The best gig I have ever seen is such a hard question. Queen B brings such an incredible production, and her performance is unmatched, so I have to mention her. But also, there was this incredible moment where we were playing a festival in Australia, and we got to watch Deftones in Brisbane side stage in the middle of the city. Their cinematic music against the skyscraper backdrop, twinned with the sunset melting away into the night sky and a sea of mosh pits as far as the eye could see, was a sight to behold. It was so stunning and mesmerizing.Nova Twins play Zebulon on July 23. The Parasites and Butterflies album is out August 29.(Photo courtesy of Nova Twins)

The post The Best Gig I Ever Saw: Nova Twins Debate Beyoncé and Deftones first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Rob Grimaldi (BTS, BLACKPINK) shares his K-pop production tips
Watch Rob Grimaldi (BTS, BLACKPINK) share his production tips and techniques as he walks through his Pro Tools session for a K-pop instrumental.

Neural DSP unveil Mantra Leveraging the company’s expertise in modelling analogue equipment, Mantra promises to deliver the warmth and musicality associated with vintage hardware, but with the precision, control and liability offered by modern, digital alternatives.

Get Bloom Drum Machine Lite FREE when you complete Plugin Boutique’s Survey
Excite Audio is offering Bloom Drum Machine Lite for free when you complete a quick survey on Plugin Boutique. Bloom Drum Machine Lite is a stripped-down version of Excite Audio’s flagship drum instrument, designed to bring a combo of vintage drum sounds and modern grooves to your productions. The Lite edition usually retails for around [...]
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UK adds songwriter stipends, ups session fees 40%. Is US next?Sony, Universal, and Warner Music have committed to new policies that mean tens of millions of new dollars for UK songwriters and musicians over the next 5 years. As the UK adds songwriter stipends, increases session fees 40% and forgives legacy contract advances, will the US follow?
The post UK adds songwriter stipends, ups session fees 40%. Is US next? appeared first on Hypebot.

Live Music News: VenuesNow, Eurosonic, Outside Lands & MoreIn the latest live music news, the initial schedule for the VenuesNow Conference 2025 has been released, Sessions will include booking trends, premium experiences, revenue generation, tech innovations, sustainability and more. 
The post Live Music News: VenuesNow, Eurosonic, Outside Lands & More appeared first on Hypebot.

“A world-class vocal studio in one plugin”: Neural DSP unveils Mantra, its first-ever vocal processing pluginNeural DSP has long been a main player in digital amp modelling for guitar and bass, but with Mantra, the Finnish brand looks to expand its reach into the world of vocal processing.
The company’s first-ever vocal plugin, Mantra is designed to “reimagine the entire vocal chain”, by unifying all the essential tools for recording, mixing and editing vocals into a single, intuitive interface, and eliminating the need for complex plugin stacks which, let’s face it, we producers could all do without.

READ MORE: Nektar’s Impact LX mk3 MIDI keyboards offer enhanced DAW navigation at a totally reasonable price point

If you’ve ever dabbled in vocal processing, you’ll know that you’ll generally add a separate compressor, EQ, pitch corrector, and de-esser to your vocal channel, along with any other effects you choose to add.
Neural DSP says this laborious process “disrupts creative momentum”, so with Mantra, all the tools you need for vocal processing are housed intuitively within a single plugin.
“Our mission with Mantra was simple,” says Francisco Cresp, CPO and Co-Founder of Neural DSP Technologies.
“We wanted to put a world-class vocal studio into one plugin so artists can focus on feeling, expression, and performance instead of wrestling with technical hurdles.
“Mantra marks an exciting expansion into the broader world of audio production, giving vocalists, producers, and creators a powerful, streamlined way to achieve incredible results with no compromises.”
Credit: Neural DSP
“We believe technology should serve the art, not get in its way,” adds Neural DSP Plugin Product Manager Francois Barrillon.
“Mantra removes barriers and gives creators the freedom to experiment, push boundaries, and trust their instincts – knowing their vocal sound will stay consistent, inspiring, and professional from the very first take.”
Chiefly, Mantra offers two distinct modes: Tracking Mode for low latency and light CPU usage for confident real-time monitoring; and Mixing Mode for enhanced quality and detail when working on a final vocal polish.
Mantra also features a Correction Section, combining pitch correction, gating, de-essing and a powerful Sculpt module, which intelligently analyses your voice and mic in real time, and applies a refined tonal curve. “Think of it as 80% of your EQ work done in seconds, with no setup required,” says Neural DSP.
When in Mixing Mode, Sculpt adds dynamic spectral shaping for taming harshness and balancing tone – like a smart multiband compressor without needing to set it up.

Additionally, Mantra features a Multimode Compressor with three classic flavours – Tube, Stress and Multi – for musical, aggressive or modern compression. A Multimode Saturation module offers Tape, Tube and Digital modes for warmth, drive or gritty textures.
In terms of effects, Mantra features four unique delay types, a selection of reverbs, studio-grade Chorus, Flanger and Phaser effects – plus a proprietary Doubler for width and thickness, and the ability to stack up to eight pitch-shifted voices with natural variation in pitch and timing.
“Most vocal tools are either too basic or too complex,” says Francisco Cresp. “Our goal with Mantra is to strike a balance, offering an intuitive solution that benefits both beginners and experienced producers alike. That vision has come to life, and we look forward to growing alongside our community as they redefine what’s possible in vocal production.”
Mantra is available now, priced at €199.
For more information, head to Neural DSP.
The post “A world-class vocal studio in one plugin”: Neural DSP unveils Mantra, its first-ever vocal processing plugin appeared first on MusicTech.

Momo Novation Circuit Rhythm EditorThe "Circuit Rhythm Editor" is a VST / Standalone - Controller for the Novation "Circuit Rhythm" sampler and drum machine. Editor Features: - It is perfect to integrate the Circuit Rhythm into your DAW. - You can control and mixing the Sessions, change and create new sounds "on the fly". - It provides a simple access to all important parameters. - The Plug-In allows you to set the hardware easily and automated the controller movement from the DAW, they can be stored in your Project. - With the X-Y-Pad any controller can be selected and controlled. - You have an overview of all 8 tracks. - The parameter can be changed on the "Circuit Rhythm Editor", and stored on Circuit Rhythm Hardware. Info and Download: https://circuit-midi-editor.jimdo.com Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7nw7i_XlmU Read More

Nektar’s Impact LX mk3 MIDI keyboards offer enhanced DAW navigation at a totally reasonable price pointNektar – the California company renowned for its MIDI keyboards and their seamless DAW integration – has unveiled its new line of Impact LX mk3 keyboards.
Comprising four models – the LX25, LX49, LX61 and LX88, with 25-, 49-, 61- and 88-key configurations, naturally – the Impact LX mk3 line is designed to “enhance the creative process through customised DAW integration and performance-friendly tools”.

READ MORE: You can get 90% off the entire Sonnox catalogue right now at Plugin Boutique

What an intriguing prospect. Let’s dive into some of the features you’ll find on the new Impact LX mk3 line.
Nektar LX mk3: features
First up, each model has a re-engineered keybed for an expressive playing experience with “clean action and subtle velocity control”, as well as full-resolution encodes for superior parameter control, and Nektar’s signature coloured LED buttons for a satisfying visual experience.
Of course, DAW control is the headlining feature of Nektar’s Impact LX mk3 keyboards, and they include timeline options for fast and tactile navigation, as well as loop creation, too.
Users can activate loop record via the dedicated Impact LX mk3 looper button, which Nektar describes as a “creativity-boosting experience”.
Credit: Nektar
Each keyboard also features a global control, which can be toggled between three encoder states: Channel volume, Cutoff and any selected parameter, which enables control of any DAW or plugin parameter.
Elsewhere, Nektar boasts about the Impact LX mk3’s global encoder, which offers more precise parameter control at either standard MIDI or a finer 10-bit resolution.
“This fine control option, pioneered on the Nektar Panorama CS12, delivers a level of UI-precise control that’s typically not possible from a controller keyboard,” Nektar says.
Additionally, the Impact LX mk3 line features Native Instruments NKS (Native Kontrol Standard) support. For those unaware, NKS was developed by NI to enhance integration between software instruments and effects and hardware controllers.
Of course, more tactility is always better, so each Impact LX mk3 keyboard features eight pads, freely assignable to send any MIDI note or MIDI cc message.
Nektar
There’s also an eight-channel control surface, with controls for volume, pan, solo and mute, with LED colours used throughout to identify solo, mute and arm status.
The Impact LX mk3 line is aimed at both advanced and beginner players alike, with Scale and Chord assist features designed to only permit notes and chords within a selected scale and key.
Nektar LX mk3: pricing and availability
The Nektar Impact LX mk3 range begins shipping 1 August, 2025, and pricing is as follows:

Impact LX25mk3: $129.99 / €109,99 / £94.49
Impact LX49mk3: $199.99 / €179,99 / £154.99
Impact LX61mk3: $229.99 / €199,99 / £172.99
Impact LX88mk3: $339.99 / €299,99 / £259.99

Additionally, to celebrate the launch, Nektar and Bitwig are giving away a complete copy of Bitwig Studio Essentials – worth $99.99 – to the first 500 registered Impact LX mk3 users.
For more information, head to Nektar.
The post Nektar’s Impact LX mk3 MIDI keyboards offer enhanced DAW navigation at a totally reasonable price point appeared first on MusicTech.

Alan Parsons’ latest ASSR Workshop With tickets for the ASSR's latest in-person workshop sold out, the organisation are now offering streaming tickets that will allow those who aren’t able to attend the chance to experience the two-day event remotely.