Split-Flap Clock Flutters Its Way to Displaying Time Without NumbersHere’s a design for a split-flap clock that doesn’t do it the usual way. Instead of the flaps showing numbers , Klapklok has a bit more in common with flip-dot displays.
Klapklok updates every 2.5 minutes.
It’s an art piece that uses custom-made split-flaps which flutter away to update the display as time passes. An array of vertically-mounted flaps creates a sort of low-res display, emulating an analog clock. These are no ordinary actuators, either. The visual contrast and cleanliness of the mechanism is fantastic, and the sound they make is less of a chatter and more of a whisper.
The sound the flaps create and the sight of the high-contrast flaps in motion are intended to be a relaxing and calming way to connect with the concept of time passing. There’s some interactivity built in as well, as the Klapklok also allows one to simply draw on it wirelessly with via a mobile phone.
Klapklok has a total of 69 elements which are all handmade. We imagine there was really no other way to get exactly what the designer had in mind; something many of us can relate to.
Split-flap mechanisms are wonderful for a number of reasons, and if you’re considering making your own be sure to check out this easy and modular DIY reference design before you go about re-inventing the wheel. On the other hand, if you do wish to get clever about actuators maybe check out this flexible PCB that is also its own actuator.

“I was honoured to call Quincy a friend” : Kamala Harris, Barack Obama, and other public figures pay tribute to Quincy JonesOn Sunday, legendary record producer Quincy Jones sadly passed away at the age of 91. He leaves a staggering sonic legacy in his wake; from producing Michael Jackson’s 1982 record Thriller, the best-selling album of all time, to composing tunes for Frank Sinatra, Jones worked with countless musical superstars.

READ MORE: 10 lessons everyone in music can learn from Quincy Jones

Many public figures have stepped up to pay their respect to the bold producer. Previous president Barack Obama shared some words via X, praising Jones’ multi-faceted career.
“For decades, Quincy Jones was music,” Obama writes. “From producing [Michael Jackson’s] Thriller, to composing the score for The Colour Purple, to working with Frank Sinatra to Ray Charles, it seemed like every big record – and every big film – had Quincy’s name on it.”
“His music appealed to listeners of every race and every age,” the post continues. “By building a career that took him from the streets of Chicago to the heights of Hollywood, Quincy paved the way for generations of Black executives to leave their mark on the entertainment business.”

For decades, Quincy Jones was music. From producing Thriller, to composing the score for The Color Purple, to working with Frank Sinatra to Ray Charles, it seemed like every big record – and every big film – had Quincy’s name on it.
His music appealed to listeners of every race… pic.twitter.com/kKTJ8YFR3y
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 4, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris, has also shared some words amid the current presidential election. “Quincy Jones was a trailblazer,” she writes. “A composer, arranger, record and movie producer, he created art that brought joy to millions of people.”
“As an activist, Quincy championed civil and human rights,” she adds. “As a role model, he offered inspiration and mentorship, in particular for young people of colour in the music industry. I was honored to call Quincy a friend, and I will always remember his generosity of spirit, his selfless support, and his deep kindness.”

Quincy Jones was a trailblazer.
As a composer, arranger, record and movie producer, he created art that brought joy to millions of people. As an activist, Quincy championed civil and human rights. As a role model, he offered inspiration and mentorship, in particular for young… pic.twitter.com/IeqjpTPtKr
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) November 4, 2024

Elsewhere, Oprah Winfrey has also shared her love for her “beloved Q” in a touching tribute. Without Jones “discovering” her for 1985’s The Colour Purple.
“My life changed forever for the better after meeting him.” she writes on Instagram. “I had never experienced, nor have since, anyone who’s heart was so filled with love. He walked around with his heart wide open, and treated everybody as if they were the most important person he’d ever met. He was the Light. No shadows. He was the first person I ever loved unconditionally.”

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Jones also played a part in kickstarting Will Smith’s career, urging him to audition for The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. “Quincy Jones is the true definition of a Mentor, a Father and a Friend,” Smith writes on Instagram. “He pointed me toward the greatest parts of myself. He defended me, he nurtured me… he let me use his wings until mine were strong enough to fly.”

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Many musicians have also shared photos and tales of their experiences with Jones. In an Instagram post, Dr Dre explains how Jones’ work inspired him to pursue music. “Quincy is the reason why I decided to become a record producer,” he explains. “His records were my go-to when I started engineering. All of the time that I spent hanging out with him was priceless and I love how open he was- the advice he gave me, the conversations we had have helped me in my life and career. Forever inspired by the incomparable Quincy Jones.”
Rapper LL Cool J’s Instagram post honours Jones as an inspirational mentor. “You were a father and example at a time when I truly needed a father and example,” he says. “Mentor. Role model. King. You gave me opportunities and shared wisdom. Music would not be music without you. My condolences to the entire family. I love you. Rest in the sweetest music eternally.”
DJ and producer David Guetta took to X to share his own photo with Jones. “It’s hard to find the words to express the impact Quincy Jones has had on me, as well as on music and culture as a whole,” he writes. “Quincy wasn’t just a legend, he was an inspiration, a trailblazer, and a true genius. He produced my favorite album of all time, ‘Thriller’, an album that set the standard for what music could be, blending genres and pushing boundaries.”
“I had the honor of meeting Quincy, notably at the Grammys, where we even had the chance to speak in French, a language he mastered so beautifully,” he adds. “Those moments will stay with me forever.”

It’s hard to find the words to express the impact @QuincyDJones has had on me, as well as on music and culture as a whole. Quincy wasn’t just a legend, he was an inspiration, a trailblazer, and a true genius. He produced my favorite album of all time, ‘Thriller’ by… pic.twitter.com/LzADJWoyLl
— David Guetta (@davidguetta) November 4, 2024

Elton John praised the producer, noting that “nobody had a career as incredible as Quincy Jones.” Mariah Carey also called Jones “a legend, a titan, a mentor” in another tribute post.
Respect is also being shared by actors. Cockney acting legend Michael Caine had a particularly unique bond with Jones. “My Celestial twin Quincy was a titan in the musical world,” he writes on X. “He was a wonderful and unique human being, lucky to have known him.”
Frank Sinatra’s daughters Tina and Nancy took to their father’s official Facebook page to reflect on Jones’ passing. “Quincy was an ever-present force in our lives – in good times and bad – constant and loving,” they write. “He was our ‘brother from another mother,’ he’d say. We were blessed to know him. We love you, Q – from here to eternity. Hug Pop and save us a seat at the bar!”

Quincy was an ever-present force in our lives—in good times and bad—constant and loving. He was our "brother from…
Posted by Frank Sinatra on Monday, November 4, 2024

Alongside his musical legacy, Jones leaves behind seven children and… 22 girlfriends, if he managed to keep them all since his 2018 interview with GQ. Classic Q.
The post “I was honoured to call Quincy a friend” : Kamala Harris, Barack Obama, and other public figures pay tribute to Quincy Jones appeared first on MusicTech.

Open-Source Robot TransformsBesides Pokémon, there might have been no greater media franchise for a child of the 90s than the Transformers, mysterious robots fighting an intergalactic war but which can inexplicably change into various Earth-based object, like trucks and airplanes. It led to a number of toys which can also change shapes from fighting robots into various ordinary objects as well. And, perhaps in a way of life imitating art, plenty of real-life robots have features one might think were inspired by this franchise like this transforming quadruped robot.
Called the CYOBot, the robot has four articulating arms with a wheel at the end of each. The arms can be placed in a wide array of positions for different operating characteristics, allowing the robot to move in an incredibly diverse way. It’s based on a previous version called the CYOCrawler, using similar articulating arms but with no wheels. The build centers around an ESP32-S3 microcontroller, giving it plenty of compute power for things like machine learning, as well as wireless capabilities for control or access to more computing power.
Both robots are open source and modular as well, allowing a range of people to use and add on to the platform. Another perk here is that most parts are common or 3d printed, making it a fairly low barrier to entry for a platform with so many different configurations and options for expansion and development. If you prefer robots without wheels, though, we’d always recommend looking at Strandbeests for inspiration.

AFK Audio launch Drumbeam Kickstarter campaign Boasting an ultra-compact form factor and a completely customisable interface, the Drumbeam has been designed to provide players with a comprehensive drum controller that fits in a backpack. 

Believe and TuneCore say they ‘strongly refute’ copyright infringement claims in UMG’s $500m lawsuit and ‘will fight them’The lawsuit, filed on Monday (November 4) alleges that Believe has built its business through industrial-scale copyright infringement'
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Let Clubs Close: A Controversial Solution to the Live Venue CrisisOverall concert attendance grew 20% last year, but smaller independent live music venues are closing at unprecedent rates. Music industry commentator’s Bob Lefsetz has the solution: “Let clubs close.” Let. Continue reading
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Soundtoys’ PhaseMistress analogue phaser plugin is available totally free until 15 NovemberFor a limited time, you can get your hands on Soundtoys’ PhaseMistress analogue phaser plugin without spending a penny. Dropping from its usual price of $99, PhaseMistress is available for free up until 15 November.
To access the offer, users will need to create a Soundtoys account – and that’s it! After making your account, you’ll instantly gain access to a free download for PhaseMistress.

READ MORE: “This plugin transforms your audio sources into deep, mesmering textures”: ModeAudio Airspace review

PhaseMistress is a great way to inject some nostalgia into your mix. The plugin is designed with the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s in mind, capturing the old-school charms of analogue phasers. If you want to emulate funky disco, hair-raising stadium rock or sultry jazz, this plugin could be for you.
The plugin is packed out with 69 unique style presets to explore, and each can be tweaked and twisted to find your perfect sound. Users can toy with resonance, colour, and intensity, as well as the ability to alter your phase staging from 2-stage phasing right up to 24 stages.

A series of unique oscillator shapes are also available to experiment with. While hardware phasers often rely on low frequency oscillation, the digital world isn’t subject to typical LFO limitations. PhaseMistress provides users with a host of different frequency shapes, as well as the ability to change waveshapes via a Tweak panel.
Rhythm mode is also a solid percussion modelling tool. It offers up a selection of pre-loaded rhythmic patterns, which can be altered to program your own rhythms, crush drums and more. An Envelope mode is also a rhythm-triggered effect that responds to your music, allowing you to discover more dynamic, funky sounds to spice up your mixes.
Whether you’re in the market for a new phaser plugin or not, it’s worth giving PhaseMistress a spin. It’s free, after all!
Sign up for an account and download your free copy of PhaseMistress at Soundtoys.

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UMG sues Tunecore and Believe: $500M in ‘industrial scale infringement’UMG sues Tunecore and Believe for what it says is “industrial-scale copyright infringement” worth at least $500 million in damages. Concord Music Group and ABKCO Music & Records are also plaintiffs
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Musicians Guide To Spotify Wrapped: DEADLINE IN 10 DAYS!There are just 10 days left to use the Musicians Guide To Spotify Wrapped to prepare accounts to make the most of Spotify Wrapped 2024.
The post Musicians Guide To Spotify Wrapped: DEADLINE IN 10 DAYS! appeared first on Hypebot.

Oasis add South America dates in Argentina, Brazil and Chile amid ‘resounding global response’ to 2025 world tour plansWhat began as a limited series of concerts on the British Isles is now turning into a full-fledged world tour
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BPB Exclusive: 40% OFF Pipe In A Lava Field By HydraTek and Hidden Sound
HydraTek and Hidden Sound offer an exclusive deal on their Pipe In A Lava Field collaborative sound pack until the end of November. The pack was crafted from the raw field recordings made by sound recordist Hidden Sound with the finest equipment (Sound Devices Mix Pre 10, DPA 4060s, and Sennheiser MKH 8020s) inside a [...]
View post: BPB Exclusive: 40% OFF Pipe In A Lava Field By HydraTek and Hidden Sound

Split mixed tracks with LANDR Stems LANDR's latest AI-powered plug-in allows users to extract vocals, drums, bass and other instruments from mixed tracks with just a few clicks.

Universal Music Group is suing TuneCore and its parent company Believe for $500MUniversal Music Group (UMG) – as well as ABKCO Music & Records and Concord Music Group – are suing TuneCore and its parent company Believe for $500 million, alleging that Believe’s business model operates on “industrial-scale copyright infringement” of “the world’s most popular copyrighted recordings”.
Per Music Business Worldwide, UMG, ABKCO and Concord accuse Believe of distributing “overtly infringing versions of original tracks by famous artists with notations that they are ‘sped up’ or ‘remixed’.

READ MORE: Universal Music is working with an AI company to build an “ethical” music generator

They say Believe has enjoyed significant growth by distributing unauthorised versions of copyrighted recordings to platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Spotify, Apple Music and Instagram.
“Believe is a company built on industrial-scale copyright infringement,” says a spokesperson for UMG. “Their illegal practices are not limited to cheating artists on major labels but artists on independent labels as well – including artists on the independent labels within the trade bodies of which Believe is itself a member.”
The lawsuit cites examples of “sped up” or “remixed” versions of recordings by the likes of ABBA, Ariana Grande, Beastie Boys, Bon Jovi, Daddy Yankee, Drake, Elton John, Fall Out Boy, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Nirvana and the Rolling Stones.
“While Believe is fully aware that its business model is fuelled by rampant piracy, it has eschewed basic measures to prevent copyright violations and turned a blind eye to the fact that its music catalogue was rife with copyright infringing sound recordings,” the lawsuit later states.
Elsewhere, UMG, ABKCO and Concord accuse Believe of manipulating YouTube’s Content ID system – which flags instances of copyright infringement – “to claim ownership of the copyrights in the recordings embodied in the tracks it distributes, and uses those systems to monetise uses of those recordings”.
It says Believe, even after losing disputes on YouTube, continues to distribute the same illegal tracks on other platforms.
“It’s no wonder that Believe has been outspoken against the streaming reform principles for which so many major and independent labels have been advocating. Why? Because such reforms would undermine and expose their system of building scale and market presence by distributing music for which they have no rights and illegally collecting royalties to enrich themselves and their co-conspirators,” UMG says.
The suit goes on: “As the distributor of these tracks, Believe had specific knowledge of infringement or, at minimum, was actually aware of facts indicating a high likelihood of infringement, but continued to distribute and purport to licence the same tracks to other services, continuing to violate Plaintiffs’ copyrights and to divert royalties that ought to have flowed to Plaintiffs.”
Take a look at the lawsuit – which has been filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York – at Music Business Worldwide.
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Antares move to iLok licensing Antares have announced that all of their software is moving away from its existing licensing system in favour of PACE’s iLok system.

10 lessons everyone in music can learn from Quincy JonesQuincy Jones, one of the great musical geniuses of the 20th century has passed away at the age of 91. A polymath, hitmaker, entrepreneur, industry mogul, and philanthropist, he leaves a legacy that extends far beyond the music industry. As we reflect on his incalculable cultural contributions, here are some lessons we can all take from Jones’ remarkable life.

READ MORE: What can you do with a degree in music production or music technology?

1. Creative collaboration is a powerful force
Jones was undeniably a singular talent, but he always pointed out that his biggest achievements were team efforts. Part of his genius was trusting his collaborators and giving them room to shine. Interviewed in 2007, he said, “To me, the most powerful records come from a collective creativity. You get good records when you let all the people who work on it put their personality in their particular area.”
Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson at the 1994 Grammy Awards. Image: Chris Walter/WireImage via Getty Images
…but don’t compromise when you know you’re right.
Jones also wasn’t afraid to put his foot down when the music needed it. In an interview with The Detail, Jones recounts a memorable moment when Michael Jackson asked him to remove the iconic violin runs that kick off Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough. Jones’ answer? “No way.”

2. There are many ways to make a living in the music business, so try all of them
Throughout his life, Jones moved seamlessly from performer to arranger, to composer, to record producer – and that’s just in the music business.
He also had a hand in founding TV production companies, music magazines, and producing major motion pictures. No matter the situation, Jones had a knack for identifying opportunities and making the most of them.
3. Being critical is not a bad thing
Jones was never one to pull any punches when it came to music (he infamously described The Beatles as “the worst musicians in the world”). However, it would be a mistake to view this as simple negativity.
For Jones, being honest about what you like and do not like was essential to creating music with lasting impact. “One thing you don’t want around you is a lot of yes-men that tell you everything is great,” Jones once said. “That’s bullshit. I want everyone to always feel free to say what they think.”
Quincy Jones in a recording studio in 1963. Image: Gai Terrell/Redferns via Getty Images
4. A good producer needs a good process
To reach a discography as gigantic as Jones’, you need to develop a good workflow.
A classic technique was to take what he called musical ‘polaroids.’ When working on a demo, he’d start by recording the rhythm section and then try a few vocal takes on top. Based on that, he’d assess the song’s potential, adding additional instrument parts if it was worthy. During his three-album stint working with Michael Jackson, Jones recalls putting together between 600 and 700 ‘polaroids’ before whittling them down to the twenty tracks they would release together.
5. Get educated
Jones’ genius didn’t come out of nowhere. He worked tirelessly to master not only the nuts and bolts of music theory, scoring, and arranging, but also developed an encyclopaedic knowledge of music across countless genres.
Jones once declared that “music is emotion and science”, challenging budding musicians to do their homework, develop their technique, and listen widely.
Quincy Jones at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1972. Image: David Redfern/Redferns via Getty Images
6. Don’t be afraid to mix genres
Jones’ expansive love of all genres – he stated that “the only music I don’t like is bad music” – allowed him to bring a versatility into the studio that few producers could match.
When Michael Jackson wanted to break away from the saccharine sweetness of the Jackson 5, Jones pulled together soul, jazz, funk, disco, R&B, and rock to remake pop music for a new generation.
7. Keep the music moving
Jones’ best tracks are utterly addictive – once you press play they pull you along until the closing note. This is no accident: Jones’ producing style prioritised details and developments to always keep the listener hooked.
“You have to keep the ear candy going because the mind turns off when the music doesn’t change,” Jones said in 2018. “You’ve got to keep the ear busy.”
Quincy Jones and Ray Charles during the recording of ‘Duke Ellington… We Love You Madly’ tribute show in 1973. Image: David Redfern/Redferns via Getty Images
8. Everyone needs a bit of luck
Jones worked tirelessly to build his storied career, but luck also played a pivotal role. A chance encounter with Ray Charles would result in Jones’ first musical partnership while he was still in his early teens, and a casual conversation with Michael Jackson, where the pop star asked Jones if he knew any producer that could work on his first solo album, would eventually lead to the best-selling album of all time.
In perhaps the most stunning example of this, Jones narrowly missed getting caught up in the infamous Manson murders – not turning up at Sharon Tate’s house that ill-fated night for the simple reason that he’d forgotten about the invite.
9. Burnout can happen to the best of us
In the mid-80s, Jones had been working at full-tilt for years. A breaking point came after his work on The Colour Purple, the Academy Award-winning film that he not only produced but scored the soundtrack for. The pressure was so intense that Jones would suffer a mental breakdown upon the completion of the project.
“I put too much on my plate and it took its toll,” Jones recalled of the experience. “You learn from your mistakes and I learned I couldn’t do that again.”
Quincy Jones at the Steiger Award ceremony in 2014. Image: Sascha Steinbach/Getty Images
10. Don’t give up
Jones’ childhood was brutal. Throughout his formative years, he had to grapple with a fractured family, gang violence, poverty, and racism. Even once his career was well underway, he still suffered no shortage of setbacks. In his 20s, he toured a production of the jazz musical, Free and Easy, which went so badly that it almost ruined his career and left him nearly $150,000 in debt.
Through it all, Jones never lost sight of his goals and never surrendered his passion for music – instead, he picked himself back up and made history.
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