Reason 13 gains Bassline Generator device Reason Studios have launched Bassline Generator, a new Player device designed to simplify bassline programming across a wide range of genres.

IK Multimedia release Grand Piano Y7 This meticulously crafted virtual piano is based on the iconic Yamaha C7, a grand piano originally built in the late 1980s at Yamaha’s Hamamatsu factory in Japan.

Why Are Cassette and CD Players So Big Now?The early 2000s were the halcyon days of physical media. While not as svelte as MP3 players became, why are those early 2000s machines smaller than all the new models popping up amidst the retro audio craze?
We’ve bemoaned the end of the electromechanical era before, and the Verge recently interviewed the people at We Are Rewind and Filo to get the skinny on just why these newer cassette and CD players aren’t as small as their predecessors. It turns out that all currently produced cassette players use the same mechanism with some small tweaks in materials (like metal flywheels in these higher quality models) because the engineering required to design a smaller and better sounding alternative isn’t warranted by the niche nature of the cassette resurgence.
A similar fate has befallen the laser head of CD mechanisms, which is why we don’t have those smooth, rounded players anymore. Economies of scale in the early 2000s mean that even a cheap player from that era can outperform a lot of the newer ones, although you won’t have newer features like Bluetooth to scandalize your audiophile friends. A new Minidisc player is certainly out of the question, although production of discs only ended this February.
If you’re looking to get back into cassettes, this masterclass is a good place to start. If you don’t fancy any of the players the Verge looked at, how about rolling your own incarnation with the guts from a vintage machine or just going for the aesthetic if cassettes aren’t your jam?

Researchers explore how to build shapeshifting, T-1000-style robotsResearchers have developed small robots that can work together as a collective that changes shape and even shifts between solid and “fluid-like” states — a concept that should be familiar to anyone still haunted by nightmares of the T-1000 robotic assassin from “Terminator 2.” A team led by Matthew Devlin of UC Santa Barbara described […]
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What is amapiano music? An in-depth guide with Kooldrink
Expert producer Kooldrink overviews the essential elements of amapiano music, from key artists and instruments to production techniques and more.

GETTING THINGS DONE: Independent Musician News Last WeekLast week's top independent musician news included tips and advice on approved ways to promote music on Spotify, Instagram updates and tips, songwriter royalties, vocal production tips, and more...
The post GETTING THINGS DONE: Independent Musician News Last Week appeared first on Hypebot.

REWIND: Last week’s Top Music Business NewsCatch up on what everyone's talking about with last week’s top music business news from Clio Music Award winners, to an FCC investigation of iHeartRadio, a NIVA SXSW must-attend panel, and more...
The post REWIND: Last week’s Top Music Business News appeared first on Hypebot.

Marshal Brass from The Crow Hill Company Sample library combines the sound of a flugelhorn and three euphoniums, adding a unique character compared to more typical brass ensembles.

Darkpalace Studio ButterflyButterfly is the ultimate audio plugin designed for precise stereo manipulation. With Butterfly, you gain full control over your mix, featuring Mid/Side Gain and Phase adjustments,... Read More

Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets Stun a packed TroubadourThe combination of veteran Brit pub-rocker Nick Lowe and Nashville surf rockers Los Straitjackets doesn't make any sense at first glance. Lowe has never really been one for flamboyance on stage; a dapper shirt and pants is his usual get-up. So the idea of him sharing a stage with these Tennessee titans, all sporting startling Mexican wrestling masks, is a bit odd.The thing is, when you actually witness it, and hear the wonderful noise that they create together, it makes all the sense in the world.To be fair, this is nothing new. Lowe and Los Straitjackets have been touring and recording together since 2019. Clearly, and perhaps against the odds, this is a match made in heaven. Despite the aesthetic gimmick, the Los Straitjacket fellas are tremendous musicians. Alright, it's not that weird after all.The pairing performed at the Troubadour on two consecutive nights, and we were at the first. The room, an L.A. institution, was sardine can-packed, making it difficult to maneuver around the place at all (never mind actually take some photos). The set was a career-spanner for Lowe. The brilliant "So it Goes" kicked things off, and we would later get new wave classic "Heart of the City," his version of "What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love & Understanding" (popularized by his pal Elvis Costello), and his original version of "Cruel to be Kind" (a hit for Letters to Cleo).There was time for some Los Straitjackets interludes--manic versions of "The Theme from the Magnificent Seven" and "Bird Dance Beat." That afforded Lowe the chance of a breather. The show ended with Lowe alone on stage, strumming though Costellos's "Alison" (which Lowe produced).It was a beautiful way to conclude a stunning set.The post Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets Stun a packed Troubadour first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Bitcoin spot and margin longs push BTC to $85K, but the bottom isn’t in yetIs the Bitcoin bottom in, or is today’s price action simply an oversold bounce that will trap overleveraged bulls?

Startup co-founded by longevity guru Peter Attia emerges from stealthBiograph, a company co-founded by longevity guru Peter Attia and a prominent Silicon Valley VC, has emerged from stealth.
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Cheap Fiber Optic Wand Toy Becomes Tiny Weird DisplayIf you’ve ever seen those cheap LED fiber optic wands at the dollar store, you’ve probably just thought of them as a simple novelty. However, as [Ancient] shows us, you can turn them into a surprisingly nifty little display if you’re so inclined.
The build starts by removing the fiber optic bundle from the wand. One end is left as a round bundle. At the other end, the strands are then fed into plastic frames to separate them out individually. After plenty of tedious sorting, the fibers are glued in place in a larger rectangular 3D-printed frame, which holds the fibers in place over a matrix of LEDs. The individual LEDs of the matrix light individual fibers, which carry the light to the round end of the bundle. The result is a tiny little round display driven by a much larger one at the other end.
[Ancient] had hoped to use the set up for a volumetric display build, but found it too fragile to be fit for purpose. Still, it’s interesting to look at nonetheless, and a good demonstration of how fiber optics work in practice. As this display shows, you can have two glass fibers carrying completely different wavelengths of light right next to each other without issue.
We’ve featured some other great fiber optic hacks over the years, like this guide on making your own fiber couplings. Video after the break.

[Thanks to Zane and Darryl and Ash for the tip! This one was all over the tipsline!]

UK-based physical distributor Proper Music Group acquired by Netherlands’ ArtoneProper will no longer be affiliated with Switzerland-headquartered Proper Group AG, formerly known as Utopia Music.
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THE MUSIC CONNECTION MARCH 2025 DIGITAL RESOURCES PLAYLIST IS LIVEListen along with MC!Our monthly issue playlists will allow you to hear the featured artists as you read about them, and the March, 2025 Everything Indie playlist is live now!Check out cover star Damiano David, the DIY Spotlighted Clay & Kelsy, and all of the artists included in our Signing Stories, Album Reviews, New Music Critiques, and Live Reviews (as long as they are on Spotify).Hear the playlist here:  https://open.spotify.com/playlist/51PdJx2k59Kz9MSeJvXcqv?si=335d8185321646c9While you're there, please "Like" the playlist and "Follow" Music Connection's profile.Previous playlistsHear our 2024 Year End playlist here!Hear the Mastering Studios playlist here!The post THE MUSIC CONNECTION MARCH 2025 DIGITAL RESOURCES PLAYLIST IS LIVE first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.