BABY Audio Releases Atoms Physical Modeling Synth (Intro Sale)
Baby Audio releases Atoms, a physical modeling synth that brings sound to life. Atoms is available at the special intro price of $59 (usually $99) until March 30th. As a big fan of plugins like TAIP and Transit, I’m always excited to hear that Baby Audio is releasing a new product. I’m especially excited about [...]
View post: BABY Audio Releases Atoms Physical Modeling Synth (Intro Sale)

These gold speaker systems are a level of bougie we’d probably never be able to affordVoid Acoustics has launched KROME, a new range of metallic speakers.

READ MORE: PreSonus Eris Studio 5 review: an affordable fit for home studios

The high-end club and venue installation manufacturer first put its chrome speakers on the market in 2016, with custom-designed systems for KOR cocktail bars in Shanghai and Taipei. The new KROME range offers an update to that range in response to “customer demand” in the corporate sector.
The speakers are made from fibreglass and are available in a selection of colours including black, gold and silver. In addition, they are compatible with Void’s existing audio systems, including Air, Nexus and Incubus.
Attendees of the trade show ISE were the first to get a look at the speakers. “We are incredibly proud to unveil our KROME surface finish at ISE,” said Rog Mogale, co-founder of Void Acoustics.
Credit: Void Acoustics
“Void’s approach has always been to provide exceptional audio solutions that are as stunning to the eye as they are to the ear. We’re looking forward to seeing attendee’s reactions to this show stopping distinctive finish at our stand.”
Void Acoustics has not yet confirmed when the KROME range will be on the market or pricing, but we’ll endeavour to keep you in the loop if we find out more.
For more info in the meantime, head to Void Acoustics.
Credit: Void Acoustics
In other news, researchers at John Hopkins University claim they’ve created a new method of pitch correction that’s “more than just Auto-Tune on steroids”, which uses AI to “enhance the naturalness and quality of pitch correction, surpassing previous tools”.
They’ve also said that the new technology potentially has applications other than music.
“The technology could revolutionise treatment for a spectrum of speech-related disorders, offering valuable support for post-laryngectomy patients and contributing to the voice rehabilitation of stroke victims,” says team member Jiarui Hai, a PhD student in the Whiting School of Engineering’s electrical and computer engineering department.
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Atoms: Physical modelling virtual instrument from Baby Audio Baby Audio's latest virtual instrument uses physical modelling to generate a wide range of otherworldly sounds.

Skrillex says the next big music-sharing app after TikTok will be whatever’s “accessible to the kids”Skrillex has shared his thoughts on TikTok, and what’s next for artists following the recent news that Universal Music Group pulled all of it’s music from the platform.

READ MORE: TikTok testing generative AI songmaking tool – and so far, it absolutely sucks

Speaking to Complex at The Grammys on Sunday, the American producer and DJ was asked about what’s next for the popular video sharing app, which often has a hand in skyrocketing emerging artists to success.
“It’s always gonna be what’s accessible to the kids, because they’re making the new stuff, and whatever’s easiest – that’s how culture starts,” he says.
“SoundCloud was just there because it was easy for people to use. That’s what’s changing music right now. The landscape is kids making stuff and it blowing up and you don’t know where it’s from, and it just sounds crazy.”

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It’s unknown what’s next for TikTok after UMG made the major decision to remove all of its music from the platform. The move followed a fiery letter in which it accused TikTok of attempting to “bully” the record label into “accepting a deal worth less than the previous deal, far less than fair market value and not reflective of its exponential growth”.
Considering that UMG represents some of the biggest artists on the planet, including Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and BTS, the move is likely to have a direct impact on TikTok user satisfaction.
Not to mention that many artists, like Grammy-nominated Noah Kahan, are sharing their concern about the fact that they can no longer share new music on the app that made them famous.
“I won’t be able to promote my music on TikTok anymore,” the singer recently on the app. I’ll probably be OK, right? I’ll probably land on my feet, right? Right?”
Responding to UMG’s announcement, TikTok says that “It is sad and disappointing that Universal Music Group has put its own greed above the interests of its artists and songwriters.”
“Despite Universal’s false narrative and rhetoric, the fact is they have chosen to walk away from the powerful support of a platform with well over a billion users that serves as a free promotional and discovery vehicle for their talent,” said the company.
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Legowelt, Dopplereffekt & more will play at Houghton Festival 2024Norfolk electronic music festival Houghton has announced the lineup for its 2024 edition, happening in August.

READ MORE: NAMM 2024: AlphaTheta debuts with OMNIS-DUO portable DJ controller

The festival takes place on the grounds of Houghton Hall in Norfolk and, since its first edition in 2017, has garnered a cult-like following for ravers. Even Catherine, the Princess of Wales, made an unexpected appearance at the festival in 2023.
Several debut Houghton performances will take place this year. These include live sets from Legowelt, Dopplereffekt, Actress, Barker, Marie Davidson, Nightmares On Wax Soundsystem and Object Blue & Natalia Podgórska. Skee Mask, Luke Una and many more will also be DJing at the event for the first time.
Notable names returning to Houghton this year include the likes of Hammer, Mathew Jonson, Mr Scruff, Pangaea, Ricardo Villalobos, Saoirse and Voigtmann.
Credit: Jake Davis / Khroma Collective
Houghton’s popularity is thanks to its packed lineups of underground electronic talent in the form of live acts and DJs, art displays, 24-hour license and no-frills approach to staging and setups, instead taking a keen focus on the sonic experience.
According to Houghton, “Each stage has its own unique sonic, whether warehouse or woodland”. This year Houghton has teamed up once again with audio brand d&b audiotechnik, which will create a sound system for each stage, including a “jaw-dropping 360 degree Soundscape system” in The Warehouse Stage, it says.
“Every festival makes its own journey,” Craig Richards, Houghton Festival’s founder/curator and Fabric resident DJ, said in a recent press release. “Ours has been extraordinary and unique on so many levels. Two super years where we experienced a vision of the future and gained a loyal following. A subsequent three years of cancellations due to an unimaginable storm and COVID-19.
“We returned on a hot and dusty year, determined to re-engage with our audience and our statement. Every single step of the way we focused on belief and longevity. It made us stronger and more determined.”
Credit: Daisy Denham / Khroma Collective
“Last year we felt that we came nearer to the festival we envisaged eight years ago whilst it was in its infancy. We are incredibly proud of our yearly gathering in Norfolk, it felt logical that we consider 2023 year 1 and therefore in many ways just the beginning. Every year we evolve our presentation of this long-term project and with this in mind we are delighted to present the music programme for Houghton year 2 (in its eighth year).”
Houghton Festival 2024 is not just about music and non-stop partying. Attendees can also enjoy Houghton Hall’s sculpture park, this year featuring artists such as Turrell, Kapoor, Gander, Scully, and Antony Gormley.
The festival runs from Thursday 8 August 2024 til Sunday 11 August 2024 at Houghton Hall in Norfolk.
Tickets are available at Houghton Festival.
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A producer is remaking classic songs in the style of Runescape music – and we absolutely love itThere’s something to be said about Runescape soundtracks and their ability to take us back to the good ol’ days of endless woodcutting, boss battles, and burning shrimps on makeshift barbecues. Those whimsical tunes, with their MIDI magic and catchy melodies, have long cemented their place in the internet’s collective childhood memory.
Now, YouTuber Unpragmatic Covers has taken things one step further by remaking popular songs in the style of Runescape – with some jaw-droppingly good results that will absolutely blow your mind.

READ MORE: Play “hyperrealistic” turntables in the rebuilt Algoriddim djay app for Apple Vision Pro

From Blink-182 to Aphex Twin to Yiruma and even Pokémon theme songs, the idea of genre limits clearly doesn’t exist when it comes to these covers. And of course, the songs also come with Runescape-styled art covers to match.
The producer also details his approach behind some of the remakes, such as in the case of this ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit cover in OldSchool RuneScape soundfont’. Explaining their process in the comment section, the producer shares that “Everything was arranged and recorded from scratch using a MIDI keyboard and Logic Pro X”.

The guitar riff, specifically, is a “blend of the original and Righteousness from the RuneScape OST” that they had re-recorded on piano. And for you music nerds, “the original uses power chords and palm muting whereas my version alternates between a lower root note and a combination of the root and perfect fifth one octave up. The rhythm is different and the lower note is used to substitute palm muting, to prevent a robotic grating sound,” says the producer.
Check out the other tracks below. And for more from Unpragmatic Covers, head to their official YouTube channel.

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After its recent leak – the uber-compact Akai MPC Key 37 has officially landedThe Akai MPC Key 37 has finally landed. Yes, we’ve been expecting it ever since that sneaky leak right before NAMM, but Akai has now made the release official, and you can snag yours right away.

READ MORE: Best DJ Gear 2024: 11 best DJ software for mixing and playlisting in 2024

As its name suggests, the MPC Key 37 is a compact version of Akai’s MPC Key 61. Featuring 37 full-size synth-action keys with aftertouch and 16 velocity-sensitive RGB pads, the keyboard boasts the same multi-core processing as its 61-key flagship sibling and the MPC X SE.
Despite its small footprint, the MPC Key 37 has the same 7” multi-touch screen featured in other Akai MPC models. It also comes with four 360-degree Q-Link knobs.
Elsewhere, the MPC Key 37 is loaded with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, as well as more than 8GB of samples and drum kits and eight plugin instruments.
New customers will also receive a voucher to redeem one additional plugin from Akai’s premium collection. The premium collection features advanced instruments like Moog Model D and JURA, two synths hugely popular in the ’80s. There are also multi-effects insert plugins to utilise, including Flavor Pro, AIR Delay Pro, and Flex Beat.
Image: Akai Professional
In terms of connectivity, in addition to audio and MIDI I/O, the machine comes with USB-A and USB-B ports, four CV/Gate output jacks for sending up to eight CV or gate signals to modular systems, and an SD card slot. There’s also Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for fast, wireless updates, downloads, and authorisations of all MPC instrument and insert effect plugins.
Support for MPC Stems will also be included in future updates, says Akai. Meanwhile, each unit will come shipped with MPC2 Desktop Software for Mac/PC.
Senior Product Developer Dan Gill says: “MPC Key 37 picks up the baton and runs with the legacy of the MPC legend, providing integral control and expressive playing in an inviting layout that will fit into any studio setup. MPC Key 37 not only encapsulates the rich history of MPC but is also the first look into the future. We’re proud to announce the next chapter of sampling, MPC Stems support on MPC2 Desktop.”
Priced at $899, the MPC Key 37 is now available to order through authorised Akai Professional dealers worldwide.

Learn more at Akai Professional.
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MPC Key 37 joins Akai Pro's workstation range The new MPC Key 37 packs much of the functionality of its larger sibling into a more compact footprint.

Download FREE Sample Packs From The New Wavetick Platform
Producer Sharooz Raoofi recently launched the Wavetick platform, a “newly founded marketplace founded by artists for artists.” The website lets you sell and buy sounds, and it already has a wide range of samples for free download. Wavetick sells copyright-free tracks and sounds. The platform is open to anyone to sell, and Wavetick takes a [...]
View post: Download FREE Sample Packs From The New Wavetick Platform

PreSonus Eris Pro 8 packs a big, articulate sound for main monitoring and immersive masterpieces£355 / $499 each (street price), presonus.com
The Pro 8 studio monitor sits at the pinnacle of the recent Eris line shake-up from PreSonus, as the model with the largest woofer. In contrast to the near-field Eris Studio 5 we recently looked at, the Pro 8 is designed to be used in a main monitor pair (typically at a midfield distance), with immersive audio firmly in mind.

READ MORE: The PreSonus Eris Studio 5 monitor is an affordable fit for home studios

Here, the growing influence of Dolby Atmos manifests itself in the form of a two-way coaxial driver for pinpoint localisation accuracy and improved time alignment of frequencies recaching the listener — both crucial to an accurate immersive experience — plus there’s also mounting holes on the sides for wall and ceiling brackets (really welcome, as many other monitors require expensive mounting plates/brackets, or else some serious DIY tinkering to make it affordable).
The form factor is reminiscent of Tannoy’s classic coaxial (dual concentric) designs, which tend to be front-ported just like the PreSonus.
With its eight-inch woofer, 1.25-inch attached tweeter and 140 Watts of amplification, the Pro 8 is a hefty beast, weighing in just short of 10 kg per side. For those with concerns about such big monitors being slung from the ceiling or taking up too much space in side and rear surround positions, PreSonus has launched more dainty Pro 4 and Pro 6 variants that can be partnered with the Pro 8s, and there’s also a matching 10-inch active sub to complete the set.
PreSonus Eris Pro 8 monitors on a studio desk
What controls are on the PreSonus Eris Pro 8?
The Pro 8 has the same controls around the back as the Studio 5, namely variable gain, a low-cut filter, plus a fixed mid band and high shelf. Room boundary correction is present once again, but just like the Studio 5, there’s no desktop filter. It could be argued that such an omission is more excusable at this more premium end of the range, where a typical user may well have access to room equalisation software, but it’s frankly unfortunate that such a simple yet crucial facility isn’t there.
A single ProSonus Eris Pro 8 monitor
What does the PreSonus Eris Pro 8 sound like?
Given its eight-inch woofer, the Pro 8 gives a really solid bass extension, easily reading into the sub bass region but with plenty of articulation and not overly boomy — as with the Studio 5, front-facing ports help in this respect.
The overall impression could be described as flat and honest — mids and highs sit comfortably with the tight low end without being particularly hyped in any way to form a convincing whole, and the coaxial arrangement is great for stereo imaging (we missed this when switching back to our own Genelec two-ways).
There is a self noise issue similar to that we experienced with the Studio 5 — slight hum and hiss, but potentially not as noticeable in this case as these monitors would be placed further from the listening position.
A pair of PreSonus Eris Pro 8 monitors
Listen awhile
We take a long listen to the Pro 8s on our own mixes and a whole host of favourite reference tracks over a period of multiple weeks.
Turning to Jamie Woon’s synth-layered Sharpness, sub bass lines and kick come across confidently, whilst highs are suitably present without ever causing discomfort. With third-party software room equalisation disabled — and the Pro 8s on our desk — there’s a problematic, disappointing low-mid hump that leads to congestion in this pad-heavy range of the mix. With software EQ switched on, everything is tidied up and has its rightful place in the mix.
Once more, the jazzy number Little Fugue (Jacques Loussier Trio) deserves a mention in the listening section, with an absolutely epic combination of stick attack and check thump on the thundering floor tom hits in the opening section, and crisp under-snare detail to boot. The grand piano sounds full and natural and all the important details of the double bass line are revealed. Learning from our experiences, we do have some low mids notched out with software EQ, however.
A trio of PreSonus Eris Pro 8 monitors on a studio desk
Should I buy the PreSonus Eris Pro 8?
In main monitor duty, the Pro 8 is a highly capable and truthful speaker with plenty of bass extension and clarity. The lack of more detailed equalisation controls is unfortunate, but might not affect users that already have software equalisation running. The Pro 8 really comes into its own in surround and immersive set-ups, where the pinpoint localisation accuracy of its coaxial driver provides a tangible advantage alongside an integrated mounting option. That all said, it faces stiff competition from the Kali Audio IN-8, a three-way monitor with coaxial mid and bass speakers. If the street price of the PreSonus drops over time, this might become a closer race.
Key features

Active studio monitors
Coaxial design with 8-inch woofer and attached 1.25-inch tweeter
Front ported
35 Hz – 20 kHz frequency response
EQ customisation: High and Mid dials (-/+ 6 dB at 10 kHz and 1 kHz); Low Cut filter (80 Hz / 100 Hz); Acoustic Space switch (-2 dB / -4 dB)
Inputs: XLR, TRS jack and unbalanced RCA
Variable input gain
140 W amplifier (75 W woofer / 65 W tweeter)
Standby mode
Weight: 9.5 kg each

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Cake sought deals with Harley-Davidson, automakers before bankruptcyElectric motorcycle company Cake held talks with Harley-Davidson and other automakers in 2023 as it fought to stay alive, founder and CEO Stefan Ytterborn told TechCrunch in an interview Tuesday. The talks, which have not been previously reported, ultimately did not pan out for the Swedish startup, which slid into bankruptcy last week. Still, Ytterborn […]
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The Lion King at Segerstrom Center for the ArtsFor more than 20 years, the North American touring productions of The Lion King have beenseen by over 21 million theatergoers. Having already played more than 9,000 performances inover 90 cities across North America, The Lion King now returns to Costa Mesa, CA at theSegerstrom Center for the Arts.

The production features Peter Hargrave as “Scar,” Gerald Ramsey as “Mufasa,” Mukelisiwe Goba as “Rafiki,” Nick Cordileone as “Timon,” Nick LaMedica as “Zazu,” John E. Brady as “Pumbaa,” Darian Sanders as “Simba,” Khalifa White as “Nala,” Forest VanDyke as “Banzai,” Martina Sykes as “Shenzi” and Robbie Swift as “Ed,” with “Young Simba” alternating between Mason Lawson and Julian Villela and the role of “Young Nala” alternates between Jaxyn Damasco and Aniya Simone.

Photo-by-Matthew-Murphy

Now spanning three decades since the original 1994 animated film, the legacy of The Lion King--story, music, performances, adaptations--transcends generations. What is so unique to experiencing the Lion King musical live and in-person, is that the audience is transported to the Sahara and Pride Rock through the scale of its sets, beauty and artisanship in the costumes, and especially the authenticity of the African inspiration with additions of traditional songs chanted in Swahili.

From Rafiki's opening call to usher in "The Circle of Life," the theater welcomes the animals: puppeteered gazelles, antelopes, flying birds, stilt-driven giraffes and the multi-manned (though the cast is largely balanced and diverse) elephants, all entering from every aisle to see the presentation of protagonist Simba. If lucky enough, try to select a seat near an aisle to fully appreciate the details of the animal characters who will sing and interact as they make their way to and from the stage. The humanity under the masks is what keeps The Lion King compelling and timeless.

Photo-by-Deen-van-Meer

Photo-by-Joan-Marcus

In Costa Mesa, The Lion King will play Tuesdays through Fridays at 7:30 PM, Saturdays at2:00 PM and 7:30 PM, and Sundays at 1:00 PM and 6:30 PM.

Tickets are available at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts Box Office, by calling (714) 556-2787 Monday-Friday 10 AM to 5 PM, or at SCFTA.org.

Photo-by-Matthew-Murphy

MOTU UltraLite-mk5 gains Wi-Fi access & control room features MOTU have announced the release of a firmware update and new ‘Gen 5’ driver that equips their popular UltraLite-mk5 audio interface with significant new features.

Spotify’s spat with Apple, its new deal with Joe Rogan and further cost-cutting: 3 things we learned on the company’s latest earnings callSpotify would be experimenting with a variety of payment models, were it not for the Apple Store’s so-called “app tax,” Spotify co-founder and CEO Daniel Ek said on the company’s latest earnings call. Asked whether Spotify was looking to move beyond its “all-you-can-eat” pricing model – i.e., a monthly flat fee for access to the … Continued
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Four big music takeaways from Spotify’s Q4 earnings callWhile Spotify’s Q4 earnings call focused more on podcasts, audiobooks, and bottom-line numbers than music, there were still some critical music-related takeaways. MORE: Spotify passes 602 Million Monthly Active Users. Continue reading
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