Dan Clarke, Howard Jones keyboardist and ex-Behringer video host, passes awayDan Clarke, a former video host for Behringer and touring keyboardist for electronic musician Howard Jones, has passed away on Sunday after a cardiac arrest.
“Dan Clarke was a beloved member of my band, he brought energy and joy every night to the stage and was such great company on tour,” wrote Jones in a statement where he broke the news. “I’d like to dedicate our upcoming shows to him and his wonderful spirit. I will miss him so much. Words are never enough.”

Clarke’s career spanned over a decade, during which he made significant contributions to the music tech industry. Known for his dual roles as a musician and a branding expert, Clarke’s impact was felt both on stage and behind the scenes.
During his tenure at Behringer, where he served as the Global Branding Leader, Clarke hosted numerous demonstration videos on the company’s YouTube channel, including the official video for the Behringer Edge. He also had a successful career with Roland UK prior to that and worked as a videographer and producer under the name Dan Burton.
Of his passing, Behringer said: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dan Clarke, a truly wonderful person and a joy to collaborate with. His work on the Behringer synth videos was nothing short of amazing. Dan’s musical talent and positive spirit will be greatly missed. Rest in peace, Dan.”
Check out Clark’s videos with Behringer below.

The post Dan Clarke, Howard Jones keyboardist and ex-Behringer video host, passes away appeared first on MusicTech.

Native Instruments Traktor Pro 4 is a game-changing DJ suite for performersFull version: £129
Update from Traktor Pro 3: £64.50
Update from Traktor Pro 1 or 2: £90
native-instruments.com
Berlin’s electronic music scene is legendary so it’s no surprise that Native Instruments, headquartered in the east of the city, has been at the cutting edge of digital DJ software and hardware since the turn of the millennium.

READ MORE: Best headphones for music producers, DJs and musicians

The latest major release of Traktor has been brought right up to date, incorporating long-requested features like flexible beatgrids and stem separation. But it’s also given users new stock features that were previously paid extras, such as the Pattern Player and Ozone Maximizer. So will it tempt you to move over from Serato or Rekordbox?
Traktor Pro 4 is a much more technically advanced upgrade than a first glance might suggest, adding some much-requested and genuinely impressive new features while maintaining a workflow familiar to existing users. It’s also friendly enough for the uninitiated just dipping their toes in the water.
Running on macOS or PC, Traktor Pro 4 is reasonably priced and the upgrade fee is even more modest. What’s more, the app comes bundled with almost all of NI’s Traktor hardware controllers. Kudos to NI for ditching the Traktor Pro Plus subscription option and just giving every user the Pattern Player and Ozone Maximizer as standard.
The Pattern Player in Traktor Pro 4 by Native Instruments
Traktor is a modular DJ system with up to four decks, each of which can operate in a variety of modes. Track mode is the most conventional for linear playback, Remix mode lets you trigger tracks and samples from within a remix grid, Stem mode gives you four separate stems within a deck to toggle on and off in real time, and Input mode lets you route in an external audio source.
Each deck, in any mode, has access to a bunch of effects to animate and energise your performances. These range from simple reverbs through to filters, choppers, delays, beat crushing and many more, all tempo-synced and designed specifically for DJ sets. Tracks are analysed, with their beats, pitch and tempo all detected, then automatically tempo-synced during playback based on which deck you set as the master.
Looping, cues and beat markers are all highly accurate and easy to punch in and work with. Even someone with little experience can sound fairly skilful after only a short amount of practice. All this ties in with NI’s hardware controllers too, many of which also act as audio interfaces, making for a highly efficient all-in-one setup. Traktor has also accrued a lot of other cool additional features over the years including live online broadcasting, an integrated audio recorder for your sets and of course it also supports scratch hardware if you’re that kind of DJ.
So what more could users possibly ask for? Quite a lot as it turns out, and NI has certainly delivered. The first big new feature is flexible Beatgrids. Simply put, this means that where a track has a tempo change, Traktor will now instantly adjust to it without any input from you, and other synced tracks will follow. All cues and loops still work the same way. In use it’s so seamless that you don’t really notice it’s happening.
Native Instruments Traktor Pro 4’s generate stems
The other really significant new addition is built-in stem separation. Choose a track from your library and Traktor can strip it apart into drums, bass, vocal and ‘other’, which is anything that’s left. Powered by machine learning from iZotope’s RX, this is the same style of four-part separation seen in FL Studio, Logic Pro and some others. It’s less comprehensive than the likes of RipX DAW at the task of separation, but it’s adequate here where screen space is limited and DJs aren’t necessarily looking to strip apart every element of a track.
Traktor already had Stem decks that used pre-created Stem files (with not much uptake from users) but now you can split any audio file from your library, drag it to a deck and solo and mute any of the four parts. Effects, cues, loops and the rest all work in these decks as normal. Given how much of DJ’ing is blending tracks and parts of tracks together, stem separation is a game-changer for Traktor users. No longer do you have to try to find a capellas – you don’t even have to worry about using the beat from a track that’s in the wrong key; just extract it and it’s ready to go.
Two other new features were part of the soon-to-be-retired Traktor Pro Plus subscription, with NI now giving them to every Traktor Pro 4 owner. Pattern Player lives in the effects section and is a mini step sequencer complete with a number of sampled electronic drum kits that syncs to your playback and can be triggered using pads on a controller. It’s a fun and dynamic way to contribute musically to a set entirely from within Traktor. Then there’s Ozone Maximizer which also lives in this section and can be inserted to boost and level the overall volume without clipping. It’s super simple but well worth using for maximum punch and matching levels between songs.

Though Traktor works with third-party controllers it’s when paired with one of NI’s own models (the S2, S3 or S4 or the Z1) that its potential is truly unlocked. Passing audio and data between computer, headphones, speakers or club PA, they provide a range of pre-mapped controls that make performances feel far more natural. If the bigger models are a stretch, the S2 at £309 or even the Z1 at £184 are more affordable and all give you Traktor Pro 4 for free. It’s quite the bargain, especially with these two models.
Serato and Rekordbox both offer some of Traktor 4’s features, plus boast their own specific directions and skill levels – and both cost more — but they are different enough that you might not necessarily change platforms. If you’re in NI’s world, you’re probably comfortable there, especially if you have Traktor hardware as well as software.
With Traktor 4, Native Instruments has built on an already stellar performance tool that’s as approachable for new performers as it is powerful for experienced ones. Stem separation will revolutionise the way you think about mixing and layering, the beat detection is near-flawless and the integration with NI’s hardware for live performance control makes for an outstanding all-round DJ experience. You’ll have no trouble at all getting the party well and truly started.
Native Instruments Traktor 4 key features

macOS or PC app
4 multi-purpose playback decks
Customise the interface based on your needs
Stem separation of any track
Extensive effects selection
Flexible Beatgrids
Pattern Player and Ozone Maximizer
Remix decks
Integrates with NI’s hardware controllers
Online broadcasting, audio recording of sets

The post Native Instruments Traktor Pro 4 is a game-changing DJ suite for performers appeared first on MusicTech.

MEDO: multi-function instrument from Donner Donner’s latest hardware instrument manages to pack a surprising amount of functionality into a tiny handheld unit.

5 sample processing techniques you need to try
We explore a few innovative sample processing techniques that can help take your production chops to the next level.

AI music startup Suno claims training model on copyrighted music is ‘fair use’Following the recent lawsuit filed by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) against music generation startups Udio and Suno, Suno admitted in a court filing on Thursday that it did, in fact, train its AI model using copyrighted songs. But it claimed that doing so was legal under the fair-use doctrine. The RIAA filed the lawsuit […]
© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Jack Dorsey’s Block sees Bitcoin revenue grow 9% to $2.6BBlock’s Bitcoin revenue exceeded $2.61 billion during the second quarter of 2024, contributing to a total net revenue of $6.16 billion for the period.

Warner Music Group shake-up: Max Lousada to exit; Elliot Grainge named CEO of Atlantic Music Group, with Julie Greenwald as ChairmanRobert Kyncl-led restructure will see regional heads report directly to WMG's CEO
Source

Cardboard R/C Plane Actually FliesMany makers start by building mock-ups from cardboard, but [Alex-08] has managed to build an R/C plane that actually flies, out of cardboard.
If you’ve been thinking of building an R/C plane from scratch yourself, this guide is an excellent place to start. [Alex-08] goes through excruciating detail on how he designed and constructed this marvel. The section on building the wings is particularly detailed since that’s the most crucial element in making sure this plane can get airborne.
Some off-the-shelf R/C parts and 3D printed components round out the parts list to complement the large cardboard box used for most of the structural components. The build instructions even go through some tips on getting that vintage aircraft feel and how to adjust everything for a smooth flight.
Need a wind tunnel instead? You can build that out of cardboard too. If paper airplanes are more your thing, how about launching them from space? And if you’re just trying to get a head start on Halloween, why not laser cut an airplane costume from cardboard?

2024 Tiny Games Contest: Pi-O-Scope-Pong[Aaron Lager]’s Pi-O-Scope-Pong project takes a minimal approach to Pong by drawing on an oscilloscope to generate crisp paddles and ball. A Raspberry Pi takes care of the grunt work of signal generation, and even uses the two joysticks of an Xbox controller (connected to the Pi over Bluetooth) for inputs.
Originally, [Aaron] attempted to generate the necessary signals directly from the Pi’s PWM outputs by doing a little bit of RC filtering on the outputs, but was repulsed by the smeary results. The solution? An old but perfectly serviceable 8-bit MAX506 DAC now handles crisping up the visuals with high-quality analog outputs. Code is available on the project’s GitHub repository.
There isn’t any score-keeping or sound, but one thing that it has over the original Pong is a round ball. The ball in the original Pong game was square, but mainly because cost was a concern during design and generating a round ball would have ballooned the part count.
In many ways, Pong itself is a great inspiration for the Tiny Games Challenge, because the simplicity of its gameplay was likely a big part of its success.

Believe generated $510 million in the first six months of 2024, up 12.3% YoYBelieve has published its financial results for the first half of 2024
Source

Karanyi Sounds Vapor Dimension Is FREE With Code SANJAYFREE
Karanyi Sounds has teamed up with Youtuber SanjayC for a time-limited deal, where you can grab their Vapor Dimension plugin for free when you use the code SANJAYFREE at checkout until August 4th! Vapor Dimension is described as a “vintage modulation FX” plugin with effects like wideners, phasers, chorus, and more. Like Karanyi Sounds have showcased [...]
View post: Karanyi Sounds Vapor Dimension Is FREE With Code SANJAYFREE

Becos FX reveal CompIQ Twain Pro MkII Becos FX's updated pedal replaces the two saturation engines used in the original design with switchable feed-forward or feedback operation modes and some other nice-to-have extras. 

SONGWRITER and PRODUCER KILL DAVE SIGNS WITH POSITION MUSICFrom left to right: Mark Chipello (Partner and Head of A&R, Position Music), Kill Dave, Jake Versluis (Partner and A&R, Position Music)

President and CEO Tyler Bacon announced today that Kill Dave has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Position Music. The LA-based songwriter, producer, and instrumentalist recently worked with Riot Games to produce VALORANT’s 2024 anthem “SUPERPOWER” by KISS OF LIFE and Mark Tuan.

Kill Dave first achieved mainstream success in 2017 with the #1-charting Weezer single, "Feels Like Summer.” Since then, he has collaborated with artists such as aespa, AURORA, Pierce The Veil, Joji, K.Flay, Tkay Maidza, Royal & the Serpent, Tom Morello, bülow, Sophie Powers, DREAMERS, Hayley Kiyoko, UPSAHL, KiNG MALA, Miya Folick, ill peach, and more. He recently co-produced the debut track "PARANOIA" by League of Legends' virtual band HEARTSTEEL, featuring BAEKYHUN, tobi lou, Cal Scruby, and ØZI,which reached #1 on the global viral charts. Kill Dave is also one-third of the alien-fronted band MILKBLOOD whose first single “SICK OF BEING HONEST” went viral. Their single “NO MIND” landed a synch in the 2022 box office hit Uncharted. MILKBLOOD has also made waves in the video game world with “DISCO CLOSURE” featured in the FIFA 23 soundtrack and “WICKED” with PVRIS featured in the Need For Speed Unbound soundtrack.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of the Position family. When I first met with Jake Versluis, Tyler Bacon, and the team at Position, I was inspired by their deep knowledge of the industry and enthusiasm for my music as both an artist and a producer. Working with a publisher that not only values my music but also champions my growth as a producer, composer, and artist is a huge win. I’m excited to see where this creative partnership takes us!” says Kill Dave.

Kill Dave is managed by Evan Lipschutz of Double Down 11.

“We are extremely excited for the next era of Kill Dave’s writing career to be partnering with Jake and the entire team at Position,” says Lipschutz. “They immediately understood Dave’s unique skills, amazing sound design, and ability to write not only for film, TV, and video games, but also across a genre-spanning list of pop, rock, and alternative artists.”

Kill Dave joins a Position music publishing roster that includes Tinashe, Zach Skelton, Audien, Jack LaFrantz, Khalid Yassein, Dru “Falconry” DeCaro, Cannons, Keith Varon, Maya Kurchner, Sam Merrifield, Kyle Reynolds, Erik Ron, and more.

“The first time I heard Kill Dave’s electronic group MILKBLOOD, I knew I had to be a part of his future,” says Jake Versluis, Partner and A&R at Position Music. “It’s rare to find someone who is gifted in so many ways: an accomplished writer with pop cuts (K.flay, UPSAHL, AURORA, Kiss of Life, Piece the Veil), a genre-bending producer creating incredible electronic sounds for MILKBLOOD and others, as well as the touch needed to craft music for storytelling such as film trailers and video games. He’s surrounded himself with a really strong management team on the writer side (Evan Lipshutz) and artist side (Ryan Hambsch), and it’s going to be an incredible team effort. Position Music is the perfect home for someone like Kill Dave who can excel as a pop writer, artist, and composer for media. It’s an absolute thrill that he chose Position Music as his home, and his producer and co-writer credit on the recently released VALORANT Champions 2024 Anthem (Riot Games) is just an indication of things to come.”The post SONGWRITER and PRODUCER KILL DAVE SIGNS WITH POSITION MUSIC first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

32 vertical video ideas to market music on TikTok, Reels, YouTube ShortsVeteran music marketer Michael Brandvold offers 32 vertical video ideas for marketing music on social media platforms, including TikTok, Facebook and Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.
The post 32 vertical video ideas to market music on TikTok, Reels, YouTube Shorts appeared first on Hypebot.

CloZee: Journey from Emerging Artist to Global Electronic Music StarDiscover the strategies that led to the rise CloZee as an international electronic music star. This case study reveals her journey from emerging artist to global sensation. CloZee: Journey from. Continue reading
The post CloZee: Journey from Emerging Artist to Global Electronic Music Star appeared first on Hypebot.