Meta’s X competitor Threads invites developers to sign up for API access, publishes docsAfter opening its developer API to select companies for testing in March, Meta’s Twitter/X competitor Threads is now introducing developer documentation and a sign-up sheet for interested parties ahead of the API’s public launch, planned for June. The new documentation details the API’s current limitations and its endpoints, among other things, which could help developers […]
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Killer Mike and Fantastic Negrito Engineer Sets Up Shop in Los Angeles with the Lauten Audio EdenAlexandro ‘Migui’ Maloles has had a meteoric rise over the past decade. The four-time Grammy-winning engineer has brought his considerable live and studio engineering chops to bear with artists like Fantastic Negrito, Killer Mike, Daniel Caesar, Lil Dicky, Tate McRae, Doja Cat, E-40, and P-Lo. Having recently relocated to LA to be closer to his clients, Migui has assembled a new studio to accommodate the steady work he keeps getting offered. Looking for versatility in a streamlined setup, he has made the Lauten Audio Eden Large Diaphragm Tube Condenser his studio microphone of choice. 

Being a conduit for artistsLike many engineers, a key element of Migui’s success has been his ability to tap into the artistic worlds of the artists and performers that he works with. His easy-going manner and ability to authentically channel many different styles of music are a natural outgrowth of his innate curiosity. “What makes an artist choose an engineer is based on their ability to curate a creatively comfortable atmosphere,” he said. “Having that openness to create and low-key, positive attitude makes them feel like they can be themselves in the studio.”

“My whole goal is to be as transparent as possible, and I think of myself as being somewhat of an artistic chameleon. I just want to translate for these artists as clearly as possible and bring their interior worlds to life.”

Migui favors streamlined gear setups in his studio. In practice, he often chooses deliberately minimalist signal chains to minimize both the technical and conceptual distance between his artists and their performances.  “The gear is obviously a huge part of the process, and you want to know every inch of what you have,” he said. “When it comes down to the base of it, though, it’s about getting the idea out and if you can get that atmosphere and energy the gear is really just the icing on the cake of that.” 

“Given that, I take what I have really seriously and that’s one of the reasons why I started using the Lauten Eden for vocal performances — it was the perfect platform for that kind of setup.”

Simplicity and versatility Although he now works in major studios around the world, Migui still likes returning to his roots and working in small, minimalist rooms. His studio in LA, which he describes as ‘more of an overdub and finishing room’, has been streamlined for a quick and rewarding recording process. “One thing that I go for when buying gear is versatility,” he said. “What are the things that sound amazing, and I can get a lot out of, quickly? I want the stuff that sounds like butter and is easy to manipulate after the fact.”

“When I needed to pick my main studio mic I knew the Eden would be really good for that and also wouldn’t break the bank, so it was an obvious choice.”

Migui regularly utilizes Eden’s Multi-Voicing switch to give his artists a quick ‘vibe check’, empowering the artist to help find the sound that they want before delivering a performance. The ability to change things up while still maintaining a high-quality baseline sound is ideal for his workflow. “The Eden is always up and ready to go because it’s three different microphones in one with that Multi-Voicing switch,” he said. “There’s a simplicity to using it where I can just get straight to the point, get a few inspiring sounds without any trouble, and process it however we need after the fact. 

“Being able to change the sound up just enough is sometimes the x-factor that makes the artist go for it in the moment, and that’s what we want!”

Despite his success, Migui remains humble and continues to hone his skills and workflow to suit each project. Driven by his own curiosity, he’s always on the lookout for ways to keep his process simple, and inspiring. “At the end of the day I’m relying on my experience and taste to work with these artists and keeping that simplicity and transparency at the forefront of what I do,” he said. “Riding the vibe is so important, and if you do that, you can make some incredible art.” 

About Lauten Audio Lauten Audio is a family-owned maker of original, inspiring microphones. Currently available products include the flagship “Eden” tube microphone, the award-winning “Atlantis” FET condenser microphone, the groundbreaking “Synergy Series” of noise-rejecting condenser microphones, and the new Series Black family of condenser microphones. Lauten Audio and its diverse family of users can be found in studios, on stages, and in homes worldwide.  

 For more information, visit http://www.lautenaudio.com or call 1-877-721-7018. 

Royal Typewriter Gets a Second (or Third) LifeUsually when we are restoring something with a keyboard, it is some kind of old computer or terminal. But [Make it Kozi] wanted an old-fashioned typewriter. The problem is, as he notes, they are nostalgically popular these days, so picking up a working model can be pricey. The answer? Buy a junker and restore it. You can watch the whole process in the video below, too, but nearly the only sound you’ll hear is the clacking of the keys. He doesn’t say a word until around the 14-minute mark. Just warning you if you have it playing in the background!
Of course, even if you can find a $10 typewriter, it probably won’t be the same kind, nor will it have the same problems. However, it is a good bet that any old mechanical typewriter will need many of the same steps.

The first order of business was to clean everything up. He was afraid of breaking springs with a brush, so much of the cleaning was done with an air gun. Even then, some of the linkages were prone to sticking. The keys also needed some very deep cleaning. Soaking the whole thing in a bath looks scary, but with enough air drying, it shouldn’t cause problems.
There were a few stubborn areas where a brush and mineral spirits were a must. Apparently, WD40 leaves a residue that can cause problems later. Once everything was reassembled, there was a problem. The cleaning had bent out the space bar support! Easily fixed, but it shows how hard it is to clean these things no matter how careful you are.
At least a $10 typewriter isn’t much to risk. We lose sleep every time we have to work on our old Selectric. They are pricey and, even for an electric typewriter, complicated. Of course, an electric has a lot more hacking opportunities.

German collection society GEMA’s revenues rose 8.4% YoY to $1.38bn in 2023GEMA to distribute $1.17bn to its members and rightsholders worldwide
Source

The Rise and Fall of Silicon GraphicsMaybe best known as the company which brought a splash of color to corporate and scientific computing with its Indigo range of computer systems, Silicon Graphics Inc. (later SGI) burst onto the market in 1981 with what was effectively one of the first commercial graphics operations accelerator with the Geometry Engine. SGI’s founder – James Henry Clark was quite possibly as colorful a character as the company’s products, with [Bradford Morgan White] covering the years leading up to SGI’s founding, its highlights and its eventual demise in 2009.
The story of SGI is typical of a start-up that sees itself become the market leader for years, even as this market gradually changes. For SGI it was the surge in commodity 3D graphics cards in the 1990s alongside affordable (and cluster-capable; insert Beowulf cluster jokes here) server hardware that posed a major problem. Eventually it’d start offering Windows NT workstations, drop its MIPS-based systems in a shift to Intel’s disastrous Itanium range of CPUs and fall to the last-ditch effort of any struggling company: a logo change.
None of this was effective, naturally, and ultimately SGI would file (again) for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009, with Rackable Systems snapping up its assets and renaming itself to SGI, before getting bought out by HPE and sunsetting SGI as a brand name.

Chechnya reportedly bans all music outside of 80-116 BPM range, Russian artists told to rewrite their musicChechnya, a republic of Russia, has reportedly banned all music that plays outside of the 80 – 116 BPM tempo range. This essentially means that fast-paced and double-time music such as dance and drum ‘n’ bass is forbidden from being played throughout the region.
The new tempo standard was announced following Chechen Culture Minister Musa Dadayev’s meeting with local state and municipal artists.

READ MORE: Best new mixing plugins, effects and VST instruments out this week

According to The Moscow Times , a statement from Chechnya’s Culture Ministry states that “from now on all musical, vocal and choreographic works should correspond to a tempo of 80 to 116 beats per minute”.
The statement also says that Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has instructed Dadayev to make Chechen music “conform to the Chechen mentality”, with Dadayev stating that “borrowing musical culture from other peoples is inadmissible”.
Local artists are currently facing a deadline of 1 June 2024 to rewrite their music to fit the tempo range, otherwise their music will “not be allowed for public performance,” wrote Chechnya’s Culture Ministry on Telegram (via The Moscow Times). 
Local artists were ordered to “rewrite” their music by June 1 to accommodate the changes. “Otherwise, they would not be allowed for public performance,” the Culture Ministry wrote on the messaging app Telegram.
This is a developing story. 
The post Chechnya reportedly bans all music outside of 80-116 BPM range, Russian artists told to rewrite their music appeared first on MusicTech.

Music Industry Trends Q1 2024: TikTok, AI, VR, IPOs, Superfans & MoreWith the first three months of the year just behind us, Jesse Kirshbaum looks at the trends and technology that are already reshaping music and the music industry this year.....
The post Music Industry Trends Q1 2024: TikTok, AI, VR, IPOs, Superfans & More appeared first on Hypebot.

Simple video tricks for singer-songwriters that grab people’s attentionAfter studying the most and least popular singer-songwriter videos on TikTok, here is a list of tips and tricks that have proven to make content more successful.....
The post Simple video tricks for singer-songwriters that grab people’s attention appeared first on Hypebot.

Arturia: 25 Years and Beyond As part of their 25th anniversary celebrations, Arturia will be making a special announcement on Tuesday 9 April at 6pm CEST.

How to pitch music to editors (for Musicians & Writers!)Music editors can get your music to the ears of your target audience, which can ultimately be a game changer for artists and songwriters. Here are some tested tips on how to nail your pitch and prove your stuff is worth listening to......
The post How to pitch music to editors (for Musicians & Writers!) appeared first on Hypebot.

Mike Dean leaks a glimpse of Moog’s Muse, a forthcoming mystery synthYou may remember following Usher’s jam-packed Super Bowl Halftime Show that a Moog synth was teased by Andrew Huang. The synth had been used during the mighty performance, and well, one high-profile producer has revealed another glimpse at this mysterious bit of gear.
At the time, it was believed to be called the Moog Mirror, but a new leak from Mike Dean suggests it’s actually called the Muse.
READ MORE: Moog’s Apple Vision Pro Animoog Galaxy softsynth is a “multidimensional sonic, visual and spatial experience”
The producer recently posted a snap of its mixer section to his Instagram Story (now disappeared, as Stories do), revealing a closer look at what seems to be a new eight-voice, polyphonic, analogue Moog. Screenshots of the Story have since been shared on Reddit.
New Moog Muse on Mike Dean’s story byu/TheMarinatorr insynthesizers

Back when Huang shared some images of the synth in February, it appeared that it had a screen display, two oscillators, a chord function and a Unison mode, suggesting polyphony. The pictures also revealed a five-octave keyboard with wooden cheek blocks.
Dean’s image further adds a piece to the puzzle, showing that the prospective product is indeed an eight-voice polyphonic analogue synth with two oscillators. It also shows a ring modulator, a mod oscillator, a noise generator, an overload circuit, and an arpeggiator.
However, as nothing has been confirmed by Moog itself at the time of writing, it’s important to bear in mind that these details are not official and could potentially be subject to change.
In other Moog news, the brand recently moved out of its famous Asheville home into another new building within the city. At its new base, the company will be carrying out product design, development, and engineering.
For further updates as we get them on the suspected Moog Muse, be sure to check back on MusicTech.
The post Mike Dean leaks a glimpse of Moog’s Muse, a forthcoming mystery synth appeared first on MusicTech.

Kanye West samples underground producer TSVI “without permission”: “We’re at the bottom; he’s at the top with billions in his bank”An underground dance music producer, TSVI — who recently discovered that Kanye West allegedly sampled his music without permission — has criticised the artist’s use of sampling “without any repercussions”.

READ MORE: Spotify demonetises all tracks under 1,000 streams

Posting to Instagram on Monday, TSVI, who also goes by Anunaku and is the founder of record label, Nervous Horizon, purports that his 2016-released track 12345678 was sampled by West. The track in question is West’s 2021-launched Believe What I Say.
Listen to both tracks for comparison below:

“So, as you might have seen, last week I found out that Kanye sampled my track ‘12345678’ that was released on Chevel’s label Enklav back in 2016,” wrote TSVI – real name Guglielmo Barzacchini – on Instagram on Monday morning.
“It’s been a few days since I discovered this (in a totally random way, searching myself on WhoSampled), and I think it is one of the most surreal things that has happened to me in my music-making career.
“Fuck Kanye though. I’ve seen stories of him stealing samples from other producers in the underground music scene, and it sucks. We producers are at the bottom of the chain; he’s at the top with billions in his bank account, with a team of producers who have complete freedom to sample whatever they want. He has an infinite sample pack at his disposal, which he can use as he pleases, without any repercussions.
“Anyway, I’ll probably never see any money from this, but I appreciate all of your support and kind messages.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by TSVI Anunaku (@gu_tsvi)

Fellow DJs/producers have reacted to the news in the comments. Eris Drew suggests “As long as you own your music maybe hire a lawyer in the States to negotiate a writing credit and royalty,” while UK techno DJ James Newmarch says he should “100% go after it”, referring to a friend who “received a 60k settlement” from Drake for sampling without permission.
MusicTech reached out to TSVI for comment. He said, “The minimum that I’d like to gain from this situation is at least a credit on the song.”
So far, there has been no response from Kanye West or his team.
Keep an eye on TSVI’s Instagram page for more updates and be sure to check out his music on Bandcamp.
The post Kanye West samples underground producer TSVI “without permission”: “We’re at the bottom; he’s at the top with billions in his bank” appeared first on MusicTech.

“VR concerts are here to stay but people will always complain”: Avenged Sevenfold’s M. ShadowsAvenged Sevenfold are revered for their avant-garde approach to metal. From soaring prog to blistering heavy metal, the Californians have always embraced experimentation — as shown in 2023’s album,  Life Is But A Dream…. 
Unsurprisingly, the band’s creative approach means that they’re rather fond of how modern technology is impacting the concert-going experience. The group’s vocalist, M. Shadows thinks that such tech — namely VR concerts — isn’t going anywhere and should be embraced.

READ MORE: “We’re taking power away from corporate networks, and saying, ‘No, we’re gonna reward our fans, not you’”: M. Shadows on Avenged Sevenfold’s new Fortnite-style Season Pass

In a recent interview with M. Shadows, the frontman says, “It blows my mind that there’s any sort of pushback on VR concerts — they are here to stay.”
To M. Shadows, the age of live show DVDs is long gone. It’s a “played out” art form, while he sees VR as a revolution of how fans can experience a live performance. “VR is amazing because it checks the box of ‘people get to see us live,’ but they get to do it in a way that has never been experienced before – you are in the production. You are a part of the show.”
“To all the people saying, ’just make a DVD!’ or ‘just put yourselves in the videos!’ – that’s what this is, but this is the next iteration of it,” he continues. “This is the cool version of what you’re asking for… It’s an experience unlike any other.”

A7X has reportedly seen pushback from a number of its fanbase, though. “You can put out a new record and people are gonna complain; you can do a VR concert, people are gonna complain,” M. Shadows says, adding that he’s eager to see the future of VR gigs. “I cannot wait until more artists that I enjoy do them.”
Last month, the group dropped their own AmazeVR Concert, Looking Inside. The 27-minute show features performances of Mattel, Hail to the King, Interlude – (D)eath, Nightmare and Nobody. The group have also created an immersive VR experience for the We Love You music video.
The art of the VR show is an entirely new creative realm for A7X to toy with. “It’s a video game, a movie, a play, it’s live, it’s interactive – it’s everything,” M. Shadows explains. “And it’s just gonna get better and better. It takes all of those things that people are wishing for and just wraps it up into a new thing.”
Elsewhere in the interview, M.Shadows discusses the impact of Spotify and why he thinks that “not every artist deserves to be rich,” and why he believes in Web3 as a means of connecting with his fans.
 
The post “VR concerts are here to stay but people will always complain”: Avenged Sevenfold’s M. Shadows appeared first on MusicTech.

Rigid Audio release Kontakt GUI Maker Rigid Audio's new software tool makes it possible to create custom Kontakt instruments from a simple and intuitive GUI. 

‘Make me a playlist to cringe to’: Spotify’s AI now builds playlists with your text promptsSpotify has launched an AI Playlist tool for its Premium users that lets them turn their wildest ideas into specially curated collections of music using text prompts.
The tool is in its Beta testing phase and is currently available to users on Android and iOS devices in the United Kingdom and Australia only.

READ MORE: No, Daniel Ek, the music industry isn’t like professional football

Spotify hopes the tool will aid users in finding new music discoveries – of which it says nearly two billion happen on its platform per day – and “bring fans closer to the artists they love”.
Spotify AI Playlist. Image: Spotify Newsroom
As an example, Spotify says users can generate AI playlists by feeding it prompts such as “relaxing music to tide me over during allergy season”, or “a playlist that makes me feel like the main character”.  You can use prompts that reference places, animals, activities, film characters, colours, and even emojis. Spotify claims the most successful playlists are generated with prompts that combine genres, moods, artists, and decades.
To find AI Playlist in the Spotify mobile app, select Your Library at the bottom-right corner of your screen. From here, tap the ‘+’ button at the top-right corner of the app and then select AI Playlist.
Once you’ve provided your prompt, Spotify will begin generating tracks. From there, you can manage the selection of songs by previewing and deleting those you don’t like. You can also provide further revisions such as “more pop” or “less upbeat” if the music is not the vibe you’re looking for.
In addition, Spotify caveats that while AI Playlist is “designed to be fun, the tool is still in beta and won’t produce results for non-music-related prompts, like current events or specific brands. We also have measures in place around prompts that are offensive—so please prompt responsibly.”
The streaming giant has already introduced AI to its platform with the AI DJ feature. The tool selects music based on your listening habits and has a DJ voice, named X, speaking at intervals to introduce new tracks.

Find out more at the Spotify Newsroom.
The post ‘Make me a playlist to cringe to’: Spotify’s AI now builds playlists with your text prompts appeared first on MusicTech.