How Columbia University’s 89.9 FM found Radio’s ‘lost script’ [Fred Jacobs]Live campus radio coverage of recent protests proves that Gen Z is ready to reinvent broadcast radio if the current gatekeepers let them.....
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Tom Oberheim stayed up “36 hours straight” to play the first synthesizer he ever bought American synth designer Tom Oberheim has revealed his favourite synthesizers of all time – beyond the ones with the Oberheim branding on, of course.
In a recent interview with MusicTech, he talks about his first encounter with the ARP 2600 after being hired by Alan Robert Pearlman as an ARP Instruments dealer in Los Angeles.

READ MORE: “A listening experience unlike any other”: Sonos’s eagerly awaited launch into the headphone market is here – meet Sonos Ace

“I got my ARP 2600, and I was up playing it for 36 hours straight,” Oberheim says. “And I thought, ‘This is amazing! Where have these things been? Why has it taken so long?’ I still remember the sounds I made. I don’t really play an instrument but I found lots of things to do with that 2600, and it stayed with me.”
Interestingly, despite making some of the most coveted synths ever, Oberheim says he’s “never had a studio.” But that never quite stopped him from keeping an eye on other synthesizers and having a secret lust for them.
“It’s hard to ignore the Roland Jupiter-8,” he says. “At the time it came out, we were making either the OB-Xa or the OB-8. I saw the machine and just didn’t think I had the resources to go as far as [Roland did with the Jupiter-8. That’s a great machine.”
Tom Oberheim and the TEO-5. Image: Oberheim
Oberheim also discusses the one synth that he never really fell in love with – one that was so complex to use that he couldn’t get on board. Any guesses?
“I was never enamoured with the Yamaha DX7,” Oberheim says. “It was just too mysterious. You know, maybe five people on planet Earth could programme it – and they’re getting old now, like me!”
Oberheim has made some stellar instruments, from the OB-X to the DMX and now the TEO-5. But, when asked if there’s a synth he wishes he made but didn’t he instead reflects on a decision his late friend and colleague Dave Smith made; one that Oberheim wished he did, too. 
“One thing that I wish I had done sooner is what Dave did in the early 2000s. He realised that analogue was coming back. He got back into the business. At first, it was with the Evolver but when he did the Prophet ’08, it just exploded. I wasn’t going to start another company at the time but now things have changed. Now I’m in alliance with Focusrite and I’m back in the business.”
Oberheim is back in the business with the new TEO-5. You can read more about its creation in the MusicTech interview.
Read more news via MusicTech.
The post Tom Oberheim stayed up “36 hours straight” to play the first synthesizer he ever bought  appeared first on MusicTech.

“A listening experience unlike any other”: Sonos’s eagerly awaited launch into the headphone market is here – meet Sonos AceAfter years of clamouring by fans to bring their high fidelity sound to a pair of cans, Sonos is finally releasing a pair of headphones, Sonos Ace.
The brand’s new over-ear Bluetooth headphones feature lossless and spatial audio, world-class Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Aware Mode, while the company also promises “the most precise and immersive home theatre experience possible using Sonos’ new TrueCinema technology”.

READ MORE: Sonos’ Move 2 might just be 2023’s best portable speaker 

The headphones come in both Black and Soft White variations and will be available from 5 June, retailing at £449.
“They’re here! Fans have asked us for years to bring the Sonos experience to headphones – and we knew our first foray into the category needed to champion the type of innovation and sound experience Sonos has become synonymous with,” says Patrick Spence, CEO of Sonos, in a press release.
“Sonos Ace leverages everything we’ve learned over two decades as an audio leader to bring stunning sound, sleek design and long-standing comfort to one of the largest and most popular audio categories worldwide.”

“Sonos Ace represents our ambition to create moving sound experiences that are equal to the moment we live in. It is an exciting new chapter as we embark on what it means to design for personal listening,” adds Maxime Bouvat-Merlin, Sonos Chief Product Officer. “True to Sonos’ heritage of premium products, each individual detail of Sonos Ace has been expertly crafted, custom designed, and tuned by the world’s leading sound experts to give you a listening experience unlike any other.”
Sonos Ace features two custom-designed drivers that help to produce the brand’s signature high-fidelity sound. The brand has also promised that the headphones can be part of “your own private cinema”, wherein users can swap the TV audio from a compatible Sonos soundbar to Sonos Ace with just the tap of a button. Meanwhile, spatial audio with Dolby Atmos means the sound remains detailed and clear in all directions while dynamic head tracking keeps users centred in the sound even if they move.
The headphones have an extended 30 hours battery life and charging for just 3 minutes gives an extra 3 hours of power.
Meanwhile, Sonos has emphasised that its new headphones are responsibly made to last with replaceable ear cushions, circular materials using 17 per cent less virgin plastic, and a 75 per cent recycled felt travel case made from plastic bottles. For improved energy efficiency, wear detection pauses your music when you remove Sonos Ace from your ears to reduce the need for charging.
Sonos’s Ace headphones have already begun whipping up a storm online, with MacRumors saying, “This is what the [Apple] AirPods Max should have been.” Meanwhile, The Verge calls them “damn impressive”.

The post “A listening experience unlike any other”: Sonos’s eagerly awaited launch into the headphone market is here – meet Sonos Ace appeared first on MusicTech.

Somerville Sounds Releases Free The Meyer Choir Plugin
Somerville Sounds launched The Meyer Choir plugin, a free release for Mac and Windows.  The plugin is available through a ‘pay what you like’ model, and you can donate to the developer or simply download it for free.  The Meyer Choir is available for AU, VST3, and AAX. Somerville Sounds describes The Meyer Choir as [...]
View post: Somerville Sounds Releases Free The Meyer Choir Plugin

My Forever Studio: Lauren Mia demands a patchbayLauren Mia is a composer turned DJ and producer, whose melodic and ethereal take on techno has caught the attention of some of the world’s best-known labels.
The LA native is still riding a high from the release of her debut album, RE:BIRTH, which packs a ton of soundscapes made with analogue synths and maintains her strong roots to melodic techno and progressive house. In this episode of My Forever Studio brought in partnership with Audient, we discover the unexpected synths Lauren would pick to make her sound, why practically is a top priority and why she’s not a fan of layering sounds.

The My Forever Studio podcast sees artists, producers and engineers create their dream fantasy Forever Studio, wherever they want in the universe. However, there are strict rules in the Forever Studio. Our guests are permitted a limited number of items in their creative space, so they must choose carefully. There will be nostalgia. There will be anecdotes. There may be gags. But there will be no bundles!
Last week, My Forever Studio spoke with musician and content creator SEIDS. Renowned for her quick and insightful Logic Pro tips, Sabrina Seidman has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers online and talks to us about her experiences in music production. She also reveals the “cheeseburger of audio interfaces”, and an affordable mic that, in her opinion, beats $10,000 mics.
Subscribe to My Forever Studio on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and check out all episodes so far via MusicTech. And you can check out SEIDS’ Logic Pro Crash Course – discounted by 30% for MusicTech readers – at seids.co
The post My Forever Studio: Lauren Mia demands a patchbay appeared first on MusicTech.

“We’re getting closer”: It looks like a Nopia update is on the wayOne of the major new inventions to come out of the music technology world last year was Nopia, a remarkable semi-modular MIDI chord generator that was the brainchild of Argentinian instrument designers Martin Grieco and Rocio Gal.
The prototype was unveiled almost exactly a year ago, featuring a beautiful mint green and white design. It revolves around the concept of tonal harmony, focusing on the relationship between chords, particularly the connection between the tonal centre (the home tone of the key) and the dominant (the fifth note in the key).

READ MORE: Nopia is a beautiful semi-modular MIDI chord generator 

Nopia also includes an arpeggiator that creates arpeggiations based on the selected key. Additionally, there is a Synth section with a slider for blending the sounds of two banks. For example, Martin Grieco demonstrated blending a choir and an ’80s-sounding pad using MIDI to play the keys.
The Nopia prototype is complemented by an Ableton rack, which allows for sound customisation. Notably, each section of the hardware emits separate MIDI information, enabling individual tracking of bass, synth, arpeggiator, and keys.
However, new things seem to now be afoot in the world of Nopia. The company shared a video to their YouTube channel where they thank supporters who have backed their product in the last year and go on to hint at what is to come.
“Hopefully one day Nopia will be its own standalone instrument,” the creators say in the video. “Never would I have imagined the winds blowing so strongly when I said that a year ago.
“This wouldn’t be possible without you. Thanks so much for all the amazing support. We’re getting closer.”
What could we be about to find out? Only time will tell…

Visit Nopia.io for more information.
The post “We’re getting closer”: It looks like a Nopia update is on the way appeared first on MusicTech.

How a Sony JV Record Label Develops ArtistsThis week, Ari is joined by David Rishty, President of Palm Tree Records

Donald Trump says his campaign will accept cryptoFacing several criminal cases, the presumptive Republican Party nominee for U.S. President is expected to face off against President Joe Biden in November 2024.

Save The Date: MBW presents the Music Business UK Awards in London, November 5The event will once again celebrate the best examples of A&R and talent development in the UK market, while recognising standout artist/songwriter management
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Microsoft wants to make Windows an AI operating system, launches Copilot+ PCsCopilot, Microsoft's brand of generative AI, will soon be far more deeply integrated into the Windows 11 experience.
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Justin Timberlake at the Kia ForumAs soon as I entered the Kia Forum on Friday, the energy felt different. Maybe it was the DJ hyping up the crowd with 90s tunes or the giddy rumbling of people. Chatting about Justin Timberlake and reminiscing about those NSYNC days. Whatever the case is, it was obvious we were in store for a good time.

As is now the norm for more established acts, no opener for Timberlake's The Forgot Tomorrow World Tour. A giant video introduction of the performer appeared on stage teasing his appearance around 9 pm. The crowd of course screamed with anticipation. From the stage, Timberlake appeared to the sounds of "No Angels," the second single from his recent sixth studio album, Everything I Thought It Was. 

Accompanying him was his backing band, The Tennessee Kids -- composed of three background vocalists, a horns section, his band and dancers. The big symphonic production brightened the room. The chemistry between him and his team was undeniable. It was like we were watching lifelong friends having fun onstage, everyone in sync with the beat of the music. Especially during the performances of "Imagination" and "Technicolor," the venue came alive with harmonic R&B melodies and theatrical elements.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - APRIL 29: Justin Timberlake performs onstage during his "The Forget Tomorrow" world tour at Rogers Arena on April 29, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)

Even with the stage full of performers, all eyes were on Timberlake. As he stole the show with his quick dance moves, soulful singing and charismatic humor. Timberlake has been in the business since he was 11 and has developed into quite a versatile performer. He knows his strengths and weaknesses when it comes to his vocal capabilities.

The two-hour-plus performance featured tracks from his entire discography including "Señorita" from his debut Justified to mega-hits like "SexyBack" from FutureSex/LoveSounds. 

Keeping things interesting, towards the end of the show he made his way dancing and singing through the audience to a smaller stage at the end of the venue floor where he performed eight songs including acoustic versions of “Selfish,” and “What Goes Around … Comes Around.” 

For the grand finale, he kept everyone at the edge of their seats as he appeared harnessed on atop a floating platform for the last song of the night “Mirrors.” The crowd cheered in amazement as he cruised across the Kia Forum one last time.

Photo Credit: Kevin Mazur

For more on Justin Timberlake, vist justintimberlake.comThe post Justin Timberlake at the Kia Forum first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Home Automation Terminal Has Great Post-Apocalyptic LookIf you use home automation these days, you’re probably used to using smart speakers, your smartphone, or those tabletop touchscreen devices. If you wanted something cooler and more personal, you could try building something like [Rick] did.
A Raspberry Pi 400 is the basis for the machine, and it still uses the original keyboard. It’s paired with a 3D-printed shell with a 7″ Waveshare HDMI touch display in it. The LCD is placed behind a Fresnel lens which provides some magnification. It displays a glowing blue command line which accepts text commands. It’s hooked up to the OpenAI API, so it’s a little smarter than just any old regular terminal. It’s hooked up to [Rick’s] home automation system, so he can use natural language queries to control lighting, music, and all the rest. Think Alexa or Siri, but in text form.
The design of the case, with its rounded edges, vents, and thick bezels gives it a strong retro-futuristic look, reminiscent of something out of Fallout. [Rick’s] neat application of weathering techniques helped a lot, too.
It reminds us of some of the cooler Pip Boy builds we’ve seen. Meanwhile, if you’ve got your own creative terminal build in the works, don’t hesitate to drop us a line!

AI music generator Suno raises $125m, valuing company at $500m (report)"It’s very early days, but 10 million people have already made music using Suno," said Suno Co-Founder and CEO Mikey Shulman
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Producers: You can now sample Billie Eilish’s vocal stems — and win exclusive prizes for itBillie Eilish has released an isolated vocals version of her new album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, for producers to sample and remix. Better yet, a remix competition with BandLab and Interscope means you can flip her vocals and win exclusive prizes.
READ MORE: Fabiana Palladino is balancing perfectionism and knowing when to let go
You can download the isolated vocals version of the album by purchasing the Exclusive Digital Album for $7.50 via Eilish’s website — the vocal stems are bundled in with the sale.  The download is reportedly a  205mb ZIP folder that contains each song’s vocal stems as an MP3 file.
Once you’ve got the vocals and remixed them to your taste, you can head to this BandLab post and enter the competition. According to BandLab and Interscope, you can submit your song by leaving a comment on the post and linking to whichever online hosting platform you’ve uploaded it to.
So — what’s up for grabs? According to the post, BandLab and Interscope will be “picking one lucky winner to take home an exclusive merch pack with a “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” vinyl autographed by Billie, and a pair of tickets to her upcoming tour.”
The competition ends on June 28 2024, so you’ve got some time to upload your track. To access the vocals, you’ll need to be logging in from a US or Australian residence. Also, it’s important to remember that, even after uploading the track for the remix competition, you should clear any samples through Eilish’s label if you wish to distribute your remix.

Billie Eilish has released an isolated vocals version 'HIT ME HARD AND SOFT'.
Containing no instrumentation, only vocals. pic.twitter.com/cxIcgOe1y5
— chart data (@chartdata) May 19, 2024

The pop superstar’s third studio album arrived on 17 May and is already dominating the charts. Her brother and production partner, FINNEAS, says that HIT ME HARD AND SOFT is his “favourite thing I’ve ever been a part of making.
“There were so many times during the making of it that I thought we’d never finish it or had no idea what we were doing I lost count- just goes to show- when you’re in it, you might just have to try to keep swimming- you can only really see the ocean once you’re on the shore.
“I’m going offline now because what you all think of this album is your business, not mine but I really do hope you like it- we make everything with you in mind and we owe it all to you- thanks for the sick job/life. We’re so lucky”
Find out more at Billie Eilish’s website.
[Editor’s note: MusicTech and BandLab are part of Caldecott Music Group.]
The post Producers: You can now sample Billie Eilish’s vocal stems — and win exclusive prizes for it appeared first on MusicTech.

Tabletop Handybot is Handy, And Powered By AIDecently useful AI has been around for a little while now, and robotic arms have been around much longer. Yet somehow, we don’t have little robot helpers on our desks yet! Thankfully, [Yifei] is working towards that reality with Tabletop Handybot.
What [Yifei] has developed is a robotic arm that accepts voice commands. The robot relies on a Realsense D435 RGB-D camera, which provides color vision with depth information as well. Grounding DINO is used for object detection on the RGB images. Segment Anything and Open3D are used for further processing of the visual and depth data to help the robot understand what it’s looking at. Meanwhile, voice commands are interpreted via OpenAI Whisper, which can feed prompts to ChatGPT for further processing.
[Yifei] demonstrates his robot picking up markers on command, which is a pretty cool demo. With so many modern AI tools available, we’re getting closer to the ideal of robots that can understand and execute on general spoken instructions. This is a great example. We may not be all the way there yet, but perhaps soon. Video after the break.