Melbourne by Organic Instruments Organic Instruments' latest instrument has been created with field recordings captured in Melbourne, Australia. 

Spotify appoints new CFO, formerly a defense firm veteran at Saab ABSpotify has appointed its new chief financial officer, with Christian Luiga confirmed to be taking over from Paul Vogel.

READ MORE: Avenged Sevenfold’s M. Shadows on his “biggest problem with Spotify” and why Web3 is the solution 

It was confirmed in December that Vogel would be leaving at the end of the first quarter of 2024, just after the streaming company confirmed its largest set of layoffs in 2023, in which 17 per cent of its workforce lost its jobs in a “hard but crucial” step for the business.
Luiga comes to the streaming company after working as the CFO and deputy CEO for Swedish aerospace and defense giant Saab AB, reports Spotify. He was also CFO, acting CEO and president at European telecommunications company, Telia. Spotify also confirms that Luiga would be joining the company from Q3 onwards (and will remain there no later than 3rd October). Ben Kung, Spotify’s VP of financial planning and analysis, will step up to become interim CFO in the meantime.
Luiga will be based in Sweden “and have responsibility for the following functions: financial planning and analysis, audit and risk, investor relations, accounting, corporate development, tax and treasury,” Spotify said.
The Spotify logo is being displayed on a smartphone with Spotify visible in the background in this photo illustration in Brussels, Belgium, on February 11, 2024. (Photo by Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, in a statement from Saab (via MusicBusinessWorldwide), Luiga said: “I have really enjoyed my time at Saab and it is a fantastic company with great opportunities. I will miss all the colleagues that I have got to know during these years and I look forward to following the continued success of the company from the sideline.” He worked for the company since September 2020.
The changes in Spotify’s chief financial officers come amid several major financial changes elsewhere in the company. Last summer, it raised its Spotify Premium prices for the first time ever and, according to reports this week, is set to do so again soon.
The streamer also recently implemented controversial changes to its royalty system in a bid to combat “drains on the royalty pool”  which involved demonetising songs that had been streamed less than 1,000 times.
Read more music technology news.
The post Spotify appoints new CFO, formerly a defense firm veteran at Saab AB appeared first on MusicTech.

ESL Releases FREE Padscape Lite Virtual Instrument
PadScape Lite by the developer Electronik Sound Lab is a free virtual instrument available for both Windows and Mac. I love pads, and I’m sure you do, too. Everyone does. Even when you dabble in DnB and similar genres, where bass design is crucial, you need some nice pads to fill out things here and [...]
View post: ESL Releases FREE Padscape Lite Virtual Instrument

Best MIDI controllers for creating music in your DAWEveryone has their own approach to making music. Whether you’re working with hardware or software, MIDI is one of the languages that lets your devices communicate.

READ MORE: 13 best Ableton Live controllers to buy

The beauty of MIDI lies in its flexibility. There’s something to suit your needs whatever your setup. Are you a pianist looking to control your virtual instruments expressively? A live performer who wants to trigger samples on the fly? Or perhaps you’re searching for a more organic way to program automation. These are just a handful of simple use cases for MIDI controllers, but the technology is infinitely expandable. It lets you chain together complex networks of synths, create an intricate live looping rig, or even control DMX lighting in sync with your playing.
Integrating a MIDI controller can inspire new ways of creating, taking artists away from the cumbersome point-and-click of a keyboard and mouse. For many, it feels more natural – and there’s certainly something to be said about making music free from the distractions of a screen.
So, where should you begin? It really depends on your needs. From keyboards and drum pads to customisable modular solutions, you’re sure to find something that ticks the box. Here’s 11 of the best MIDI controllers for creating music both live and in the studio to get you started.
Our picks for 11 of the best MIDI controllers for creating music:

Novation Launchkey 49 MK3
Alesis V49 MKII
Kontrol S-Series
Arturia KeyStep Pro
Ableton Push 3
Launchpad Mini MK3
Akai MPD226
Yaeltex Custom MIDI Controllers
Intech Studio Grid
Erae Touch
OSC/Pilot

Best keyboard controller – Novation Launchkey 49 MK3

Whether you’re making your first foray into the world of controllers or you’re simply looking for an all-rounder workhorse to pilot your DAW, the Novation Launchkey 49 fits the bill. There’s a bit of everything here – 49 velocity-sensitive keys, 16 high-quality drum pads, nine 45mm faders, and eight rotary knobs for hands-on music-making. There are also transport controls and inspiring creative tools like an arpeggiator plus Chord and Scale modes.
The Launchkey supports full integration with Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Cubase, and Reason, but can also be used standalone to control hardware synths and samplers. For the price, you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck.

Price: £229
Controls: 49 keys, 16 pads, 9 faders, 8 knobs, pitch-bend and mod wheels, sustain pedal input
Features: DAW integration, arpeggiator, chord and scale modes

Buy the Launchkey 49 MK3 on Thomann.
Best budget controller – Alesis V49 MKII

If you’re just getting started in music production, opting for a relatively cheap MIDI controller probably makes the most sense. With 49 full-size keys, plus four knobs and four buttons that can be assigned to whatever you wish, the Alesis V49 MKII will let you implement a hardware controller within your setup without breaking the bank. There are also pitch-bend and mod wheels for more expressive playing.
Many budget controllers rarely look stylish, but the V49 scores points here thanks to its slick, sharp appearance. If you can forego the knobs and buttons, the Alesis Nektar SE49 is another option worth checking out for its slightly lower price tag.

Price: £85
Controls: 49 keys, 4 knobs, 4 buttons, pitch-bend and mod wheels, sustain pedal input
Features: six-mode arpeggiator, octave and transpose

Buy the V49 MKII on Thomann.
Best keyboard and software bundle – Native Instruments Kontrol S-Series

Many musicians rely on Native Instruments’ ecosystem of instruments, plugins, and hardware. Throw an S-Series controller into the mix and deft command of your favourite sounds will be at your fingertips.
Available in 49, 61, and 88-key formats – with the latter boasting fully weighted hammer action – these controllers can easily become the centrepiece of your setup. The high-resolution colour screen lets you browse patches and tweak settings on the fly without losing focus on playing, and the intuitive Light Guide system can be used to highlight keys by scale, chord, and more. With polyphonic aftertouch, inputs for four expression pedals, eight encoders and myriad assignable buttons, S-Series controllers have all the bells and whistles you need as a producer.
On top, the bundled Komplete 14 Select software has all you need to create music. It includes synths like Monark and Massive, plus meticulously detailed virtual instruments like the Gentleman upright piano and Scarbee Rickenbacker Bass. Throw in a range of effects such as Guitar Rig 7 LE and iZotope Elements Suite, and you’ve got tools for everything from composing and arranging to mixing and mastering.

Price: £649 (S49) / £749 (S61) / £1,129 (S88)
Controls: 49/61/88 RGB-lit keys, high-res colour screen, 4-direction push encoder, 8 touch-sensitive rotary knobs, transport buttons, 4 TRS pedal inputs
Features: polyphonic aftertouch, scale/chord/arp mode, Kontakt integration, bundled Komplete 14 Select

Find out more about the Kontrol S-Series on Thomann.
Best keyboard/sequencer hybrid – Arturia KeyStep Pro

Billed by Arturia as a “polyphonic sequencing controller keyboard”, the KeyStep Pro is a force to be reckoned with. The 37 slim velocity-sensitive keys are highly playable, but the real star of the show is the sequencer.
There are four independent sequencer tracks in total, which can be used to control software instruments and external hardware alike thanks to four CV, Gate, and Mod outputs plus eight dedicated drum gates.
Ultimately, this versatile MIDI controller makes an excellent central hub for both laptop and DAW-less setups. As we’ve come to expect from Arturia, the KeyStep Pro looks beautiful too, owing to its high-quality build materials and splashes of colour.

Price: £399
Controls: 37 slim keys, 5 encoders, OLED display, sustain pedal input, 2 touch strips
Features: 4-track step sequencer, 7-mode arpeggiator, 4 CV/gate/mod outputs, 8 drum gate outputs

Buy the KeyStep Pro on Thomann.
Best Ableton Live controller – Ableton Push 3

For Ableton aficionados, Push is undoubtedly the granddaddy of all MIDI controllers. We’re now onto the third iteration of the instrument since it debuted in 2013. The new model retains its extensive integration with Ableton Live, while adding much-anticipated MPE support via the expressive, multi-directional pads.
Speaking of pads, there are 64 in total. You can use them to launch clips and scenes, Session View style, tap out or sequence a beat, or discover new melodic ideas with the intuitive Note Mode. The various configuration options make Push 3 an inspiring tool for improvisation and idea generation while simultaneously handling the bread and butter of music production. And if you want to go truly computer-free, there’s also the Ableton Push 3 Standalone.

Price: £879 / £1,669 (standalone)
Controls: 64 pads with MPE, 8 encoders, transport controls, jog wheel, touch strip, LCD display
Features: unparalleled Ableton Live integration, built-in audio interface, can be used standalone

Buy the Push 3 on Reverb.
Best all-round pad controller: Novation Launchpad Pro MK3

If you’re dabbling with the idea of a grid-based MIDI controller, the Launchpad Pro could be an excellent choice. You’ll get 64 RGB-lit pads, each of which is velocity-sensitive for expressive playing.
The Launchpad Pro features strong integration with both Live and Logic, with handy transport and editing controls to keep you in the flow. You can use it to control Session View or Live Loops, or swap to a traditional drum grid or keys mode to play samples and virtual instruments. It has a four-track 32-step sequencer built in, along with a Custom Modes feature so you can flexibly map it to any MIDI-compatible hardware or software.
If the 8×8 grid layout appeals but you want faders alongside, the Akai APC Mini is worth a look — and is also a little more budget-friendly.

Price: £299
Controls: 64 RGB pads
Features: session/keys/drums modes, 3 custom modes, Logic and Ableton integration

Buy the Launchpad Mini MK3 on Thomann.
Best sampler-style workflow – Akai MPD226

It’s hard to understate the legacy of Akai’s legendary MPC samplers. For those seeking some of that old-school workflow, the MPD range reimagines the 16-pad grid in MIDI controller form. There are models to suit all needs, but the MPD226 offers a solid balance between functionality and price.
Alongside 16 new and improved ‘Thick Fat’ backlit pads, users can tweak and adjust with the assignable faders, knobs, and buttons. Classic MPC features like Note Repeat, MPC Swing, and 16 Level are baked in too. The MPD226 integrates flawlessly with both the free MPC Beats software and Akai’s fully-fledged MPC2 DAW.

Price: £149
Controls: 16 backlit pads, 4 sliders, 4 knobs
Features: up to 4 banks of pads, quantisation, tap tempo

Buy the MPD226 on Thomann.
Best customisation – Yaeltex
Despite the plethora of MIDI controllers on the market, sometimes the only solution is one tailored to you. Customisation is well within the wheelhouse of Yaeltex, a bespoke hardware manufacturer based in Argentina.
Producers can pick a preset layout off the shelf, ‘remix’ it to suit their own needs, or design their own controller from scratch using the Yaeltex Factory website. Available components include RGB or arcade-style buttons, X/Y joysticks, faders, and rotary encoders or potentiometers.
It must be said that Yaeltex’s controllers look incredible too. Each one is housed in a wooden case handmade in Patagonia, and the faceplate can be customised with text, images, and indicators.

Price: from $443 (preset Dört model)
Controls: any combination of buttons, joysticks, faders, and rotary knobs
Features: custom layout and faceplate, handmade wooden enclosure, configure your device with the Kilowhat software

Find out more on Yaeltex.
Best modular – Grid by Intech Studio

Hungarian company Intech Studio is another name behind customisable MIDI controllers. The name owes to the fact you’ll be magnetically snapping together a choice of square modules. That’s a major advantage of the platform – you can start with just a single module and expand your system as you see fit. There are six available currently, offering different combinations of knobs, faders, jog wheels, and buttons.
Once you’re happy with your layout, you can customise the functionality of your Grid using the Editor software, from assigning simple MIDI CC changes all the way to scripting advanced workflows with Lua. Add one of Intech’s accompanying Knot USB MIDI host devices and you can control your favourite hardware easily.

Price: $109–$199 per module
Controls: buttons, knobs, faders, jog wheels
Features: combine modules via magnets, configure your controller via Editor, no ‘hub’ module required

Buy the Grid on Intech Studio.
Best multi-function MPE – Embodme Erae Touch

The Embodme Erae Touch is a truly unique MIDI controller – it can be pretty much whatever you want it to be. It starts out quite literally as a blank slate, but beneath its silicone surface lie 1,000 sensors that output X/Y/Z values.
Using the free Lab software, users can combine preset elements like faders, buttons, sequencers, keyboards, and drum pads in any manner they wish, with RGB LEDs illuminating the layout on the device’s surface.
The Erae Touch supports MPE and recognises all ten fingers independently – you can even play it with drumsticks, SPD style – making it one of the most dynamic and expressive MIDI controllers on the market.

Price: €700
Controls: 1,000 MPE-enabled X/Y/Z touch sensors, range of interface elements
Features: fully custom layout, highly expressive, 1ms latency, MIDI 2.0

Find out more on Embodme.
Best iPadOS controller – OSC/Pilot

As wonderful as a custom MIDI controller might sound, the cost of a hardware unit can be prohibitive. Enter OSC/Pilot, a UI-building tool that runs on Windows, macOS, and iPadOS. Just like the Erae Touch, you can design your own layout using drag-and-drop components and individually assign each control.
If you’ve already got a suitable device lying around, OSC/Pilot gives you fully customisable control of your setup at a fraction of the price of hardware. And if you’re still not convinced, the software has been developed in collaboration with Deadmau5, forming an integral part of his live shows. Want an even cheaper alternative? Take a look at TouchOSC.

Price: £41
Controls: range of interface elements
Features: fully custom layout and configuration, drag-and-drop editor, supports mouse or touchscreen control

Find out more on OSC/Pilot.
Head to MusicTech for more buyer’s guides.
The post Best MIDI controllers for creating music in your DAW appeared first on MusicTech.

How Spotify’s Algorithm Works (From Its Creator)This week, Ari is joined by Glenn McDonald, Spotify’s data alchemist and the creator of the music exploration site Every Noise at Once.

Techivation launch AI-Loudener Techivations latest plug-in has been designed to increase the loudness of mixes without raising their peak level. 

True Anomaly CEO finds the silver lining in the startup’s anomalous first missionTrue Anomaly‘s first mission didn’t go as planned by any stretch of the imagination, but the space and defense startup’s CEO, Even Rogers, said he doesn’t consider it a failure. Providing new details on what went right and wrong, he explained how they’re turning this anomaly into a “success story.” Though the company has yet […]
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5 beat making apps for iOS
Let's take a look at five useful iOS apps for creators who are looking to dive deeper into the mobile beat making world.

New US bill could make developers disclose their use of copyrighted music to train generative AI modelsAll uses of copyrighted materials would have to be registered with the Register of Copyrights under the proposed Generative AI Copyright Disclosure Act
Source

Soldering the Elusive USB C PortMany SMD components, including some USB C ports, have their terminals under the component. When installed, the pins are totally hidden. So, how do you solder or unsolder them? That’s the problem [Learn Electronics Repair] encountered when fixing a Lenovo Yoga, and he shows us his solution in the video below.
He showed the removal in a previous video, but removal is a bit easier since you can just heat up the area, yank the connector, and then clean up the resulting mess at your leisure. Installation is harder because once the socket is down, you no longer have access to the pads.

Unsurprisingly, the process starts out with plenty of flux and some hot air to preheat the pads. he then tins the pads with a conventional soldering iron. The penultimate step is to align the connector and preheat it almost to the melting point. Then hot air reflows the solder beneath the connector.
We were worried he might disturb the adjacent components, but he has a steady hand. We might have masked the area off with Kapton tape.
The result looked good. We’d encourage you to test for shorts or opens electrically where possible. High-end techs can inspect with X-ray, but most of us don’t have that kind of gear.
If you need some SMD practice, there are plenty of kits to try. Just remember that when doing SMD sometimes less is more.

Sleater-Kinney at the Showbox, SeattleA surge of excitement rushed through The Showbox – one of Seattle’s most historic venues- and transformed into an electrified, hushed pause as Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker took the stage. The longtime founding members of Sleater-Kinney, the Pacific Northwest-based band whose brazenly bold lyrics and strikingly sharp compositions helped place “Riot Grrl” into the glossary of essential musical history, grabbed their guitars and strummed out the delicately dark intro to “Hell,” from their 2024 release Little Rope. After several stated measures highlighting Corin’s crystalline calls and Carrie’s sustained chords, the two careened into the song’s chorus. The sound of the band’s iconic incendiary wails and intricate guitar work took to the air, hit the walls, and pierced the ears of the awestruck, sold-out crowd on the first of two back-to-back shows. 

Sleater-Kinney continued to fill the venue with their distinctive sonic aberrations that featured acerbic lyrics exploring the weight of the world from internal and external vantage points. Carrie embraced the lead in the angularly structured “Needlessly Wild” (Little Rope), with Corin stepping in to create the co-fronted vocal/guitar collaboration found in many of their compositions, including the brusque “Bury Our Friends” from 2015’s No Cities to Love, and the sleek “The Center Won’t Hold,” the title track from the band’s 2019 release.  

Corin and Carrie’s clarion calls moved into a round of classics, which included “One More Hour” from 1997’s Dig Me Out and 2000’s eponymous “All Hands on the Bad One.” Together, the consecutive songs showcased Sleater-Kinney’s signature polyphonic sonic lexicon where mellifluous vocals effortlessly intertwine with complex guitar arpeggios. The band then moved toward darker poetic odes that explored multifaceted themes: confronting humanistic fears in “Hunt You Down” (Little Rope), the depths of depression with “Jumpers” (from 2005’s The Woods), and tackling precarious situations in the cautionary Brothers Grimm-meets-Aesop’s fable “The Fox” (The Woods) - each song performed with guttural beauty and biting grace.  

The hour-and-a-half show neared its dénouement as Corin unleashed herself from her guitar to perform the stunning “Untidy Creatures” (Loose Ends) alongside the adoring crowd. Following a brief interlude, Sleater-Kinney returned for the time-honored encore with a selection of songs including the critically acclaimed indie-hit “Dig Me Out” and the searing “Entertain” (The Woods). Sleater-Kinney’s impactful show made a palpable impression on the concertgoers, who emerged from The Showbox with a renewed sense of strength, prepared to tackle whatever strange, circumstantial haunts might lurk around life’s sharp corners. 

Playlist:

Hell

Needlessly Wild

Bury Our Friends

The Center Won't Hold   

Small Finds 

One More Hour  

All Hands on the Bad One  

Hunt You Down 

Hurry On Home

Start Together 

Don't Feel Right  

Slow Song 

Jumpers   

Can I Go On 

Six Mistakes   

Dress Yourself

The Fox  

Modern Girl  

Untidy Creature

Encore:

Good Things

Say It Like You Mean It

Dig Me Out

Entertain

Double-Checking NASA’s Eclipse Estimate at HomeIf you were lucky enough to be near the path of totality, and didn’t have your view obscured by clouds, yesterday’s eclipse provided some very memorable views. But you know what’s even better than making memories? Having cold hard data to back it up.
Hackaday contributor [Bob Baddeley] was in Madison, Wisconsin for the big event, which NASA’s Eclipse Explorer website predicted would see about 87% coverage. Watching the eclipse through the appropriate gear at the local hackerspace was fun, but the real nerding out happened when he got home and could pull the data from his solar system.
A graph of the system’s generated power shows a very clear dip during the duration of the eclipse, which let him determine exactly when the occlusion started, peaked, and ended.

What’s more, by comparing the output of the panels at their lowest with the pre-eclipse peak, [Bob] was able to calculate that the light falling on them dropped by roughly 87 to 90% — right where NASA pegged it. Similarly, the timing of the eclipse as experienced by his solar system lined up within a few minutes of what the website predicted.

That the world’s leading space agency was able to properly model one of the biggest celestial events in recent memory is perhaps not overly surprising. That’s part of what we’re paying them for, honestly. But it’s always good to run a second set of eyes over the numbers.

Canada an unsung heavyweight of global music, but new Canadian content law could backfire: reportCanadian artists rank third behind only US and UK artists in their share of the world’s top 1,000 singles, a new report says
Source

Arturia unveil AstroLab stage keyboard Arturia's new standalone keyboard packs in 35 sound engines, bringing the power and sound of their virtual instruments to the stage. 

Arturia AstroLab puts all of the brand’s synth emulations in one hardware unitArturia announces AstroLab today during a 25th-anniversary livestream event on its YouTube channel.

READ MORE: Behringer releases its first synth plugin, Vintage, for free…or does it?

AstroLab is a 61-key stage keyboard that combines an ecosystem of software synths and intuitive tactility, with a wide range of both classic and modern sounds. It boasts ten synthesis engines, 35 engines, and over 1,300 presets to cater to myriad genres and eras.

The AstroLab ecosystem can be used to expand, manage, and control sounds and settings, and integrate with any DAW, thanks to Analog Lab, so it becomes easier for musicians to go live with their custom settings and sounds. It’s made with live musicians in mind, allowing them to personalise their own unique stage setup.
With the navigation wheel and screen, you can scroll through the vast library of presets, while there are delay and reverb controls to let you customise with up to 12 insert FX to choose from.
Another option is to plug in an external mic to AstroLab and send your voice through its vocoder and harness multi-octave vocal transformation. Combine with Vocoder V to boost supported voice-input presets. And with the chord, scale, and arpeggio modes, you can embellish your performance while staying in key and prompting more vibrant sequences all simultaneously.
You can loop any sound by up to 32 bars with AstroLab, too, which should come in useful if you want to add a back-bone melody or chord progression for freeform play. It captures the MIDI, too, so you can change to any instrument.
Don’t forget the mobile app, AstroLab Connect, either, which allows users to organise AstroLab’s library, find sounds faster, and get more sounds from the store. Meanwhile, there’s a desktop app, too, with over 2,000 sounds.
You can find out more about AstroLab on Arturia’s website.
The post Arturia AstroLab puts all of the brand’s synth emulations in one hardware unit appeared first on MusicTech.