Troy Carter acquires catalog of influential Pop Art RecordsCarter describes the catalog as 'some of the most important pieces of music in hip-hop history'
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What is harmony in music? A guide to triads, chord progressions, and scale degrees
Learn about triads, chord progressions, and the other music theory subtopics that constitute the vast but exciting world of harmony.

Solid State Logic (SSL) autoSeries BundleThe autoSeries Bundle contains autoBUS, autoDYN and autoEQ. SSL autoSeries: Dial in your sound with Profile and Style. Profile tells the AI assistance what source it's working with: kick, snare, vocal, or more, optimising processing for that signal type. Unlike a preset with fixed parameters, a profile adapts intelligently to your input. Style shapes the character of the processing: Neutral, Warm, or Bright, while the Intensity control lets you push processing from subtle to 200% for bold results. Together, Profile and Style give you flexible, editable starting points. Let sonible's AI analyse your audio and deliver real-time recommendations, so you can move fast, stay creative, and achieve musical results with the authentic SSL 4000E sound. Read More

Add this virtual guitar instrument from e-instruments to your arsenal for “warm, emotive and atmospheric” guitar soundsLooking for a virtual guitar pack to add to your production arsenal? German virtual instrument and plugin purveyor e-instruments has unveiled Velvet Guitars, a new instrument designed to explore “warm, emotive and atmospheric” guitar sounds.
The plugin comprises five distinctive instruments, each selected and performed for warmth and character, e-instruments says.

READ MORE: AlphaTheta’s flagship CDJ-3000X DJ player is now compatible with Apple Music

These are:

Velvet Guitar  – classic semi-hollow guitar, finger-played with subtle vibrato
Mellow Baritone – semi-hollow baritone with a “thick, woody tone”, played with a pick
Shimmer Guitar – ’60s-style solid-body offset with floating tremolo and unmistakable shimmer
Semi Hollow – non-traditional jazz guitar with a rounded, expressive sound
Amped Acoustic – vintage acoustic recorded via magnetic pickup and routed through the same amps as the electrics.

The sounds in Velvet Guitars were captured using a signal path comprising Shure SM57 dynamic and Royer R-121 ribbon microphones, through Rupert Neve Designs Shelford channels.
At its core, the tonal foundation of Velvet Guitars is driven by two classic vintage amplifiers. Each note has also been shaped by a real spring reverb, recorded numerous times through both amps with both wet and dry variations. There’s also a tremolo effect modelled directly from the original amplifiers.
Credit: e-instruments
Designed for “immediate playability”, Velvet Guitars features a streamlined interface with a simplified control panel, “allowing users to focus on expression”.
“Velvet Guitars elevates classic guitar tones with an elegant, velvety character,” says e-instruments. 
“From gentle sustains to imaginative articulations including bowed strings, shimmering harmonics, reversed swells, drifting feedback, and unconventional performances using tools such as violin bows, coins, and toothbrushes, it offers a uniquely emotional palette of sounds. The result is a deeply musical instrument that transforms every idea into a rich and evocative creation.”
Pricing & availability
Velvet Guitars is compatible with Native Instruments Kontakt 8.5.1 or the free Kontakt Player, and also works with NI’s NKS2.
Price-wise, the instrument is available at an introductory price of €99/$99 until 9 February, after which it’ll rise to €149/$149. Customers can also purchase a bundle featuring Velvet Guitars and e-instruments’ Desolate Guitars for an intro price of €229/$229.
For more information, head to e-instruments.
The post Add this virtual guitar instrument from e-instruments to your arsenal for “warm, emotive and atmospheric” guitar sounds appeared first on MusicTech.

GrabTracks ARA Sampler for macOS and Windows is FREE for a limited time
GrabTracks is a fairly new ARA sampler plugin for macOS and Windows that offers a tactile, intuitive way to manipulate audio in your DAW. The plugin usually costs $29, but you can download it for free using the promo code “GRABTRACKSPROMO100.” The promotion could end at any time, so grab it while it’s free. ARA [...]
View post: GrabTracks ARA Sampler for macOS and Windows is FREE for a limited time

Baby Audio update Tekno Just months on from its initial release, Baby Audio’s software drum synth has been treated to its first major update.

ZAK Sound releases Echowaves, a FREE stereo delay plugin
Developer ZAK Sound has released Echowaves, a free stereo delay for macOS, Windows, and Linux. One of the things I like most about ZAK Sound is that we never quite know what’s coming next. The developer has provided us with a diverse collection of freebies over the last few years, including Orange Dreams 2 Lite, [...]
View post: ZAK Sound releases Echowaves, a FREE stereo delay plugin

Dim Mak at 30 🎂 Why Steve Aoki Is the King of the Live DJ StageDim Mak is turning 30 this year, and Steve Aoki is taking his brand on tour in 2026. Here's what has made Aoki one of the most influential, exciting live DJ performers on the scene. (Yes, throwing cake is part of it.)
The post Dim Mak at 30 🎂 Why Steve Aoki Is the King of the Live DJ Stage appeared first on Hypebot.

What the Spotify Data Scrape Means for Independent ArtistsA shadow-library called Anna’s Archive has scraped nearly all of Spotify’s music metadata (almost 300TB of data). Here's what that means.
The post What the Spotify Data Scrape Means for Independent Artists appeared first on Hypebot.

Universal Audio Volt 876 review: All the punch of an Apollo but with a friendlier price tag£860, uaudio.com
In addition to its coveted Apollo family of high-end audio interfaces, Universal Audio also makes the Volt series, a key difference being that the Apollo has onboard DSP for running UAD’s plugins with zero latency, whereas the Volt does not. Instead, it relies upon analogue circuitry to add character to your recordings.

READ MORE: Audient’s ORIA Mini review: A giant leap for hardware-hosted room EQ and monitor control

There are seven members of the Volt family, six of which are portable. The 876 is the newest and largest, a 1U rack mount module with 24 ins and 28 outs that, like its siblings, uses USB-C for audio, but requires mains power. At £860, it costs significantly less than the larger Apollo units, which start at £2,200, but it aims to cover all the basic recording needs of a modest studio.
You will need to register the hardware online and download the UA Connect app from where you manage all your UAD hardware and software licenses. It’s compatible with Pads and iPhones and while it’s not clear how many people would be hooking their phone up to a device like this, there are serious DAWs like Cubasis and Logic Pro for iPad, so that’s a more likely use case. Sadly, though, there’s no Console app for iOS. The setup process is pretty straightforward, though the UA Connect app could make things a little clearer by separating your bundled plugins and software from those available in the shop. At present, you have to hunt around to find things sometimes.
Image: Press
Your purchase gets you several software downloads, including LUNA, UA’s own DAW, which does have some features specific to Volt 876, such as Assistive Auto Gain for listening and optimising input levels, and full session recall with the UA Console app, which lets you control and manage the interface from your computer. You also get the UAD Producer Suite of plugins — 12 quality mix processors, including the Teletronix LA-2A Tube Compressor, UA 1176 Classic FET Compressor, and Pultec Passive EQ Collection, as well as the PolyMAX Synth. The plugs that UA throws in are excellent workhorse mix tools that we found ourselves using regularly; the fact they run inside your computer make things more flexible when working on the move, away from the interface.
There are eight physical combo mic/line XLR inputs – two on the front for quick access and six on the rear. Also around back are six line outs, a stereo monitor out with the flexibility to hook up two pairs of speakers for main and alt monitoring, word clock I/O and full-size 5-pin DIN MIDI I/O. Additionally, two separate ADAT optical in/outs add 16 channels of digital audio to or from another audio device and this feature also enables you to chain up to three 876s together or to add the unit’s preamp channels to another interface by connecting them together using standalone ADAT mode. The interface uses 32-bit, 192 kHz converters, and the sample rate can be switched from either the Console app or the hardware front panel. It feels like UA has really thought about the I/O selection here, covering the needs of users from a small home recording setup to a more comprehensive setup with, for example, two pairs of monitors and extra channels coming in over ADAT.
Eight-channel select buttons let you choose your channel, then for each one you can activate phantom power, set gain, invert polarity for multi-mic phase alignment, toggle high-impedance instrument input mode and activate the compressor. To the right, you can activate direct monitoring via the two separate headphone outputs, talkback through the built-in microphone, switch between two pairs of speakers, main and alt, choose clock mode, and monitor levels via the level meters. It’s nice to be able to access the vast majority of these things from the hardware as well as the software control panel, giving you the choice to be more hands-on with your gear or alternatively more attached to your computer. For all its flexibility, the unit manages to be easy to understand.
Image: Press
The 876 is so named because its eight analogue input channels each contain a vintage preamp and a compressor inspired by UA’s iconic 610 tube channel strip and 1176 limiter. Introducing these effects at the recording stage means they are glued onto the sound rather than applied virtually and are more akin to a traditional way of recording through hardware. Integrating them into the circuitry of the interface means it’s an incredibly efficient way to add character to your takes, should you wish.
Vintage mode, when active, adds an analogue tube preamp emulation inspired by UA’s own 610 console, and this creates a subtle richness in anything you pass through it. The 76 compressor, on the other hand, based on the 1176 FET limiting amplifier, has different modes for Vocals, Guitar and Fast, which are all approximately a 6:1 ratio, fixed threshold compressors, with varying attack and release times for each mode.
It seems almost superfluous to say that the recordings I make with the 876 sound good – you’d expect nothing less from UA. I instantly appreciate the subtle yet noticeable character that the vintage and compressor stages add to my sounds, and decide to leave them switched on pretty much all the time. The ‘clean’ takes sound crystal clear, of course, but I particularly like what the processors bring to the table. The colouration is subtle, of course — we’re not talking crazy effects here — but they add a sense of coherence and warmth to recordings in a way that I had hoped they would before I started my tests.
Image: Press
As far as usability is concerned, once you’ve looked around a bit, the UAD system swiftly becomes familiar. If the unit is close at hand, it’s as easy to make settings on the front panel as it is using the software control panel – this will just depend on how your studio is set up. The LUNA DAW, which is included, is a solid system with some handy features specific to UAD’s hardware. In our review, we gave LUNA an 8/10, praising its forward-thinking features. The Console app also features the auto gain capability if you happen to be using a different DAW.
The Volt 876 is an excellent centrepiece for your recording setup. With sufficient physical channels for small to medium-sized studios, it can add more via its dual optical channels, sync via word clock and connect your MIDI gear. Dual sets of headphone and speaker outs mean flexible monitoring options, with easy control of everything from the front panel. The cost is higher than the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20, for example, available at £649 with slightly fewer ins and outs, and the Volt 867 adds UAD’s plugins and unique compressor and preamp models. Its design feels broadly better suited to recording bands and instruments than, say, a bunch of synths – taking advantage of the way its processors shape real instruments and vocals. That said, it will cope with more or less whatever you throw at it.
The built-in vintage and compressor tools add a welcome punch and clarity to your recordings, while the bundled plugins expand your toolset with some genuinely useful processors.
Despite the wealth of features, UAD has kept the workflow manageable and the system easy to learn and use. Clearly, it’s designed to live in a studio — the other Volts are portable if that’s what you need — and though it lacks the DSP of the Apollo family, it’s also significantly more affordable.
For many producers, the 876 will cover all your recording needs without breaking the bank.

Key features

24 in / 28 out USB audio interface
8 mic/line inputs (with instrument option on Inputs 1-2)
8 line outs
2 stereo headphone amplifiers
32-bit / 192 kHz conversion
Vintage 610 mic preamp mode on every channel
UA 76 analogue FET compressor on every channel
Digitally-controlled mic preamps with Assistive Auto-Gain
Dual ADAT I/O ports for digital expansion or linking of up to three Volt 876 interfaces
Onboard talkback mic
Zero-latency direct monitoring
UAD Producer Suite software bundle

The post Universal Audio Volt 876 review: All the punch of an Apollo but with a friendlier price tag appeared first on MusicTech.

Sender Spike releases SN Zero, a FREE hybrid synthesizer plugin for Windows
Developer Sender Spike has released SN Zero, a free FM/vector hybrid synthesizer plugin for Windows. SN Zero is a four-operator FM synthesizer that blends classic FM synthesis with vector-style crossfading. The resulting combo is a hybrid instrument that feels familiar (if you’ve used FM synths before) but ever so slightly off the beaten path thanks [...]
View post: Sender Spike releases SN Zero, a FREE hybrid synthesizer plugin for Windows

“The best sound in gaming just got better”: Audeze’s SLAM-equipped Maxwell 2 headset is set to supercharge your gaming sessionsAudeze has launched the Maxwell 2, the next evolution of its popular wireless gaming headset, featuring better audio quality, improved comfort, and a host of exciting new features.
Designed to refine what already worked, Audeze says every aspect of Maxwell 2 has been engineered to deliver “unmatched audio fidelity, exceptional comfort, and seamless connectivity” across just about every platform you can throw at it.

READ MORE: Fender forays into consumer audio with two Bluetooth speakers and a set of wireless over-ear headphones

One of the headline upgrades is the inclusion of Audeze’s patent-pending SLAM technology, which is said to deliver “heightened spatial immersion and precision along with punchier bass response”.
First introduced in Audeze’s 2024 flagship CRBN2 electrostatic headphones, SLAM works alongside the brand’s massive 90mm planar magnetic drivers that incorporate Audeze’s patented Fluxor magnets and Fazor waveguides. The result is an “expansive 10 Hz to 50 kHz frequency range” that captures everything from the faintest footsteps to the most earth-shattering explosions with near-zero distortion.
Voice comms also get a notable upgrade. Maxwell 2 features an upgraded AI-powered noise-cancelling microphone system, powered by Audeze’s FILTER AI noise removal technology. With twice the bandwidth of the original Maxwell, the removable hypercardioid boom mic keeps voices sounding clear and natural while effectively cutting out background noise so you can always sound your best on chat and on stream. Onboard hardware controls, meanwhile, make adjusting volume levels quick and intuitive.
Credit: Audeze
Comfort is another major focus this time round. Built for long gaming sessions, Maxwell 2 features a wider, softer suspension strap with added ventilation holes to reduce heat buildup. A redesigned closed-back earpad offers more internal space for a better over-ear fit, while a new magnetic attachment system makes swapping pads quick and fuss-free.
Connectivity wise, Maxwell 2 ships with an ultra-low-latency USB-C wireless dongle for lag-free, high-resolution audio, while Bluetooth 5.3 includes LE Audio and LDAC support for mobile listening and everyday use.
Powering it all is a high-capacity lithium-polymer battery that boasts over 80 hours of wireless playback at 80dBA, with fast charging delivering up to 24 hours of use from just 20 minutes on charge.
Launching alongside Maxwell 2 is an all-new Audeze app that lets you easily customise the headset. The app also supports the original Maxwell and is available for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
The Audeze Maxwell 2 for PlayStation will retail for $329, while the Xbox version comes in at $349. Both models also support Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Nintendo Switch, and are available now via Audeze and select retailers.

Learn more at Audeze.
The post “The best sound in gaming just got better”: Audeze’s SLAM-equipped Maxwell 2 headset is set to supercharge your gaming sessions appeared first on MusicTech.

Universal Music Group and NVIDIA’s new partnership aims to be a “direct antidote to generic AI slop”Universal Music Group (UMG) has announced a collaboration with chipmaker giant NVIDIA to pioneer “responsible AI” for music discovery, creation, and fan engagement.
The partnership, which leverages NVIDIA’s Music Flamingo model and UMG’s catalogue of millions of recordings, seeks to “enrich and enhance the music experience of the billions of music consumers worldwide”.
The companies plan to develop AI tools that take music discovery, engagement, and consumption beyond traditional search and personalisation. They will also explore ways to use AI to protect artists’ work and ensure proper attribution of music-based content.

READ MORE: “There’ll be some swings and misses across the industry”: Universal Audio CEO is bullish on his firm’s new LUNA AI features – but says AI in music is broadly “overhyped”

One key focus of the partnership is a new artist incubator, designed to put musicians, songwriters, and producers at the heart of AI music creation. UMG and NVIDIA say the incubator will co-develop tools that empower artists rather than replace them, and calls this a “direct antidote to generic, ‘AI slop’ outputs”.
On the discovery front, the partnership will expand NVIDIA’s Music Flamingo model to transform how fans find and engage with music. Unlike typical algorithms that rely on basic metadata or genre tags, Music Flamingo can analyse full-length tracks, capturing harmony, structure, timbre, lyrics, and even cultural context.
The model uses advanced reasoning to interpret chord progressions, emotional arcs, and other subtle musical details, helping listeners explore music in a more meaningful and personal way.
The collab will also employ both companies’ research capabilities, including the use of UMG’s world-class studio operations such as Abbey Road Studios in London and Capitol Studios in Los Angeles. In addition, UMG will use NVIDIA AI infrastructure in the development of responsibly trained AI-driven business and creative processes.
UMG CEO Sir Lucian Grainge has previously warned against low-quality, mass-produced AI music flooding streaming platforms, calling it “platform pollution”. The new partnership aims to “set new standards for innovation within the industry, while protecting and respecting copyright and human creativity.”
“We’re entering an era where a music catalogue can be explored like an intelligent universe – conversational, contextual, and genuinely interactive”, says NVIDIA’s VP/GM of Media Richard Kerris. “By extending NVIDIA’s Music Flamingo with UMG’s unmatched catalogue and creative ecosystem, we’re going to change how fans discover, understand, and engage with music on a global scale. And we’ll do it the right way: responsibly, with safeguards that protect artists’ work, ensure attribution, and respect copyright.”
The deal follows a series of AI-focused partnerships from Universal, including collaborations with Splice and Udio.
The post Universal Music Group and NVIDIA’s new partnership aims to be a “direct antidote to generic AI slop” appeared first on MusicTech.

AlphaTheta’s flagship CDJ-3000X DJ player is now compatible with Apple MusicApple Music has launched an update enabling integration with AlphaTheta’s CDJ-3000X, following the massive launch of the flagship DJ player last year.
The update – which also follows an initiative from Apple Music last year which enabled integration with a range of DJ units from and software from AlphaTheta, Serato, RANE DJ, Denon DJ and more – gives CDJ-3000X users who are also subscribed to Apple Music access to over 100 million songs on the platform.

READ MORE: FiiO’s Snowsky Disc is a no-nonsense retro touch-screen music player

Once users are set up on CloudDirectPlay – which allows wireless streaming to access your music library – and logged into Apple Music on rekordbox, they simply need to authenticate by holding their smartphone – also logged into Apple Music – over the NFC tough area on the front panel of the CDJ-3000X.
The launch expands Apple’s DJ with Apple Music ecosystem, now featuring a new dedicated page with curated playlists, platform guides, and tools to help users get the most out of the CDJ-3000X integration.
Additionally, DJs can find exclusive mixes and playlists curated by AlphaTheta on the AlphaTheta DJ Mix Curator Page.
“AlphaTheta has long been at the forefront of music technology, pushing the boundaries of creativity in the space for over 30 years,” says Stephen Campbell, Global Head of Dance, Electronic & DJ Mixes at Apple Music.
“We’re excited to have Apple Music integrated into the new CDJ-3000X, bringing the power of 100 million songs and our editorial curation to users around the world.”
AlphaTheta CDJ-3000X. Image: Press
Launched in September last year, the AlphaTheta CDJ-3000X built on the heritage of the CDJ series, adding – as well as improved speed, precision and responsiveness – a 10.1” touch screen and other upgrades to hardware, built-in WiFi and streaming capabilities.
We were lucky enough to get our hands on the unit for our review, where we gave it a strong 8/10, commending it for its stunning build quality, faster browsing and tagging and sharper screen, while pointing out its high price tag and lack of stems functionality.
You can learn more about the CDJ-3000X over at AlphaTheta.
The post AlphaTheta’s flagship CDJ-3000X DJ player is now compatible with Apple Music appeared first on MusicTech.

DAD reveal Junior controller The Junior features a set of customisable tactile controls that provide seamless, real-time operation of pre-configured Control | Pack settings, and promises to make the interfaces more flexible and easier to use than ever before.