My Forever Studio: Charlie Deakin Davies’ perfect vocal chain is attainableIn this episode of My Forever Studio, brought to you in partnership with Audient, we speak with self-taught production prodigy Charlie Deakin Davies. After kickstarting their professional career as a teenager recording in their shed, Davies went on to become the youngest producer ever to get BBC Radio 2 airplay, and has worked with huge artists like Fred Again, Laura Marling, and other My Forever Studio guests, Gary Barlow and Ellie Dixon.
But our guest wears more than one hat, and takes to the stage as Charlieeeee, a crossover indie Drum ‘n’ Bass artist with a live show that’s driven by high-energy singable tunes, audience participation – and Beyblades.
This time, Charlie joins us at TYX London as we learn what they use for an instantly great vocal sound, how they survived having their laptop drowned the day before Glastonbury, and why they chose to record two simultaneous drummers on a monster live Drum ‘n’ Bass session.
Watch the full episode below.

Last week, we heard from TOKiMONSTA, who joined us fresh off the release of Eternal Reverie to talk affordable bass synths, using field recordings, and the classic synth she’d steal off an iconic producer — if she could. The Brainfeeder mainstay reflected on her creative roots, her battle with Moyamoya disease, and how breaking the rules often leads to the most honest music.
The My Forever Studio podcast – created in partnership with Audient – sees artists, producers, and engineers create their dream fantasy Forever Studio, wherever they want in the universe. However, hosts Chris Barker and Will Betts impose some strict rules in the Forever Studio. Our guests are permitted a limited number of items in their creative space, so they must choose carefully. There will be nostalgia. There will be anecdotes. There may be gags. But there will be no bundles!
Subscribe to My Forever Studio on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and check out all episodes so far via MusicTech.
The post My Forever Studio: Charlie Deakin Davies’ perfect vocal chain is attainable appeared first on MusicTech.

US Prosecutors recommend 2 years for SEC hackerThe US government has asked a federal judge to impose a two-year sentence for Eric Council Jr., the individual who helped post a fake message announcing the approval of Bitcoin exchange-traded funds through the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC’s) X account.In a May 12 filing in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, prosecutors recommended Judge Amy Berman Jackson sentence Council to two years in prison for his role in posting a message to the social media platform X suggesting that the SEC had approved spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for the first time in January 2024. The fake announcement, which shook markets in the roughly 24 hours before the regulator actually approved spot Bitcoin ETFs, led to the arrest of Council.“This case deserves a guidelines range prison sentence,” said US prosecutors. “Defendant profited through a sophisticated fraud scheme involving fraudulently produced identification documents, a series of misrepresentations at telecommunication stores, and the transmission of password reset codes for victim online accounts to co-conspirators located in the United States and abroad. This conduct deserves a significant penalty.”US government’s May 12 sentencing recommendation for Eric Council. Source: PACERAs of May 12, Council’s legal team had not filed a response to the sentencing recommendation. He is scheduled to appear before Jackson on May 16.Related: Ledger secures Discord after hacker bot tried to steal seed phrasesCouncil pleaded guilty to being part of a group that took control of the SEC’s X account through a SIM swap attack. With control of the regulator’s social media account, the hackers posted a fake message announcing the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs. The SEC quickly removed the message and announced official approval of the crypto investment vehicles the following day.Many in the crypto industry had been anticipating whether the SEC would approve or disapprove of listing spot BTC investment vehicles on US exchanges when the fake X post appeared. The price of Bitcoin surged by more than $1,000 before then-SEC Chair Gary Gensler refuted the false post’s claims.DOJ leadership change-up under TrumpThe Council case and others will be decided under US Attorney picks who have not received confirmation in the Senate. President Donald Trump appointed interim leadership for the Eastern District of New York, the Southern District of New York, and the District of Columbia after facing pushback from Democrats.It’s unclear how the president’s influence could affect the Justice Department pursuing criminal cases involving digital assets, given his ties to the industry and his own crypto holdings. In New York’s Southern District, a judge ordered former Celsius CEO Alex Mashinsky to 12 years in prison after a December 2024 guilty plea. Magazine: SEC’s U-turn on crypto leaves key questions unanswered

AllTrails debuts $80/year membership that includes AI-powered smart routesAllTrails, the hiking and biking companion that was named 2023’s iPhone App of the Year, is launching a new premium membership called “Peak” that includes an upgraded feature set. This $80-per-year subscription will introduce AI tools to build custom routes, real-time trail condition forecasts, trail traffic heatmaps, and a feature that lets you identify trees […]

COIL: Mutated Scoring Guitars by The Very Loud Indeed Co. Rather than simply emulating the instruments it samples, COIL: Mutated Scoring Guitars provides a ‘playground’ that allows users to craft them into unique and inspiring new tones and textures.

Equi=Tech Partners with Sound Vision Works to Launch Model 1RFor over three decades, Equi=Tech has been a quiet force—literally—in the world of professional audio. Founded in 1992 by the late Martin Glasband, the southern Oregon-based company has led the charge in symmetrical power technology, helping studios large and small eliminate electrical noise and interference at the source. From wall-mount to rack-mount systems, Equi=Tech’s offerings have long been trusted by top-tier recording and post-production facilities. Now, with a strategic new partnership and a product aimed at more compact setups, the company is preparing to bring balanced power to a broader audience.Equi=Tech has announced a new collaboration with Sound Vision Works, a sales, marketing, and distribution firm with deep roots in the professional audio industry. A statement from the company discloses that the partnership “aims to champion Equi=Tech’s three decades of innovation and support new product releases, beginning with the Model 1R Balanced Power System.”The Model 1R is the first product launched under this new partnership, and it’s designed with boutique studios and smaller-scale operations in mind. This 1U rackmount unit delivers 1000 watts of balanced power and plugs into a standard 120V outlet. Inside, a bifilar-wound isolation transformer generates a 60Hz sine wave based on Martin Glasband’s original specifications from 1992—technology that has not only stood the test of time, but continues to be more relevant than ever.“Equi=Tech is eager to introduce Martin’s legacy to a new generation of users,” said Jan Glasband, CEO of Equi=Tech. A statement from the company continues, “Martin conducted his groundbreaking research on the safe-use and nationwide standard of balanced power applications over thirty years ago, and yet the technology is more relevant than ever.”The 1R is aimed at users who want the benefits of Equi=Tech’s larger systems in a more accessible format. “The Model 1R is a fantastic entry point for engineers and studios curious about the benefits of symmetrical power,” Jan Glasband added. “It’s an easily integrable version of our larger wall-mount units that clients like Blackbird and Ardent Studios have come to rely on.”For Sound Vision Works Managing Director Will Kahn, the proof is in the performance. “Plugging in my Equi=Tech at the studio was mind-blowing,” Kahn shared. A statement from Kahn adds, “During my A/B test against wall power, I thought I'd made a mistake—the instant improvement seemed impossible. Beyond just reducing noise, I gained depth, width, and stability... I’ve heard converter shootouts with less dramatic differences.”The Model 1R includes a front panel with standby and power switches, two unswitched outlets, and ten filtered outlets on the back, making it flexible for a range of studio configurations. It can be rack-mounted or used on a desktop and, like all Equi=Tech products, is hand-assembled in Grants Pass, Oregon.Retailing at $1,990 USD, the Model 1R is now available through select retailers. For studios looking to minimize noise and maximize clarity without overhauling their entire power infrastructure, this new unit may be just the right fit.The post Equi=Tech Partners with Sound Vision Works to Launch Model 1R first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

5 ways to get the most out of forgotten gear from LAN Party
LAN Party shares a few of his favorite production techniques and devices for breathing new life into forgotten gear.

Revealed Recordings Revealed Spire Drops Vol. 2Revealed Spire Drops Vol. 2 is a collection of 100 cutting-edge presets designed to deliver maximum impact in the most critical moment: your drops. Spanning four preset categories (Acid, Leads, Sequences, and Synths), this pack arms you with a fresh suite of searing acid riffs, rave stabs, aggressive screeches, pulsating sequences, and high-powered leads. Each preset is equipped with modwheel controls and intuitive macros, giving you enhanced flexibility in shaping your sound just how you want it. Whether you're producing Techno, Hardcore, Big Room, House, Trance, or Hardstyle, you'll have a premium collection of next-gen source sounds to dominate the drop. Reveal Yourself. Revealed Spire Drops Vol. 2 - Details 4 Main Preset Categories: ACID [7] LEAD [45] SEQUENCE [20] SYNTH [28]. 100 presets Core synthesizer patch mapping and programming All presets assigned intuitive modwheel parameters All presets assigned all four macro controls for easy tweaking and multiple sound variations. Preset format(s): .swzip (Full Bank) + .spf2 (Individual Presets) Note: Presets Require Full Retail Version of Spire 1.5.11 or later. Read More

Unwinding an Unusual Slide RuleIf the Otis King slide rule in [Chris Staecker’s] latest video looks a bit familiar, you might be getting up there in age, or you might remember seeing us talk about one in our collection. Actually, we have two floating around one of the Hackaday bunkers, and they are quite the conversation piece. You can watch the video below.
The device is often mistaken for a spyglass, but it is really a huge slide rule with the scale wrapped around in a rod-shaped form factor. The video says the scale is the same as a 30-inch scale, but we think it is closer to 66 inches.

Slide rules work using the idea that adding up logarithms is the same as multiplying. For example, for a base 10 logarithm, log(10)=1, log(100)=2, and log(1000)=3. So you can see that 1+2=3. If the scales are printed so that you can easily add and then look up the antilog, you can easily figure out that 10×100=1000.
The black center part acts like a cursor on a conventional slide rule. How does it work? Watch [Chris’] video and you’ll see. We know from experience that one of these in good shape isn’t cheap. Lucky that [Chris] gives us a 3D printed version so you can make your own.
Another way to reduce the scale is to go circular, and you can make one of those, too.

Ed Newton-Rex: Why I’m deleting my SoundCloud account.This MBW Views op/ed comes from Ed Newton-Rex (pictured), CEO of the ethical generative AI non-profit, Fairly Trained.  
Source

Tilr releases FREE Gate-12 Volume Modulation Effect with Custom Curves
Tilr has released Gate-12, a free volume modulation plugin for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Gate-12 is the latest iteration of the developer’s Gate-1 plugin. It includes several upgrades that make it more versatile and optimized for live performances. For me, the coolest new feature is Audio Trigger mode. It allows the gate to respond to [...]
View post: Tilr releases FREE Gate-12 Volume Modulation Effect with Custom Curves

HoRNet Planer Clipper Plugin is FREE until May 14
HoRNet has released Planer, a versatile and high-quality audio clipper plugin that you can get for free until May 14 (23:59 Italian time) with the code PLAN10048. I’ve got to say—I’m glad I finally had the time to share a HoRNet freebie on time. They usually run 48-hour flash deals, and I’ve missed several of [...]
View post: HoRNet Planer Clipper Plugin is FREE until May 14

“Steve pursued many fields of interest”: Steve Albini’s estate is selling the “treasures” he amassed throughout his lifeSteve Albini’s estate is selling some of his belongings, a year on from his death at the age of 61.
The esteemed producer, who famously worked with Nirvana as well as PJ Harvey and the Pixies, died of a heart attack last year. He worked on over 2,000 albums across his career. A generous portion of his belongings are currently being sold via a website called Steve Albini’s Closet, with all proceeds directed back towards his estate.

READ MORE: Read Steve Albini’s 1992 letter to Nirvana: “Paying a royalty to a producer is ethically indefensible…there’s no fucking way I would take that money.”

The website is selling weird and wonderful items such as CDs, records, cassettes, zines, books, original art, and much more. The vast majority of items are currently listed as sold out, however, the website will continue to be updated every Friday, and you can sign up to be notified when new items are posted by filling out a simple form.
“Steve Albini’s Closet is an entity created to distribute the treasures amassed by the late polymath, Steve Albini. Steve pursued many fields of interest, and most of them are represented somewhere in his collections,” reads an ‘about’ notice on the website.
“All items purchased are accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity from the collection’s administrator, Byron Coley, and the proceeds are directed towards Steve’s estate. All materials are guaranteed authentic, and listings are updated on a weekly basis. Some items are sold through other sites like Discogs and EBay,” it states.
Following Albini’s sudden passing, NME reshared an interview from 2018, in which he shared his views on record labels and contractual agreements within music that have become ever more fitting to today’s music business, as artists continue to pivot away from the major label model.
In it, he said, “I don’t think we need to concern ourselves too much with the record business, just because the record business is such a trivial aspect in most bands’ careers now. Most bands make their living performing live now, or occasionally lining their music up with other projects like doing film stuff, or sync stuff, or licensing their music for advertising.”
He went on to add, “I’ve long argued against the use of contracts in music – I think they’re counterproductive. They tend to create an adversarial relationship, and they put bands on the defensive. I think they favour the party that has more money and resources, and so they’re no protection for a band. I don’t think contracts are useful.”
Head over to Steve Albini’s Closet to sign up for notifications when new items become available.
The post “Steve pursued many fields of interest”: Steve Albini’s estate is selling the “treasures” he amassed throughout his life appeared first on MusicTech.

Ticketmaster launches all in pricing, other changes in U.S.Ticketmaster launches all in pricing in the U.S. All ticketing, facility and other fees expect taxes will now be displayed upfront when the consumer sees the initial ticket price. Ticketmaster. Continue reading
The post Ticketmaster launches all in pricing, other changes in U.S. appeared first on Hypebot.

SUPERBOOTH 2025: Polyend Mess Polyend were showcasing the Mess at Superbooth 2025, a new pedal that combines a vast collection of modulation, delay and reverb effects with powerful multitrack step sequencer.

“Downright dreadful and awful – true f**king crap”: Jazz pianist Matthew Shipp takes aim at André 3000’s new piano EPMusic is probably the most subjective art form there is, and what sounds like a masterpiece to some may sound like, well, “atrocious shite” to others – as proven in jazz pianist Matthew Shipp’s response to André 3000’s new piano EP.
The new piano-based release, titled 7 Piano Sketches, landed on 5 May, shortly following the former Outkast creative’s bold Met Gala outfit featuring a grand piano strapped to his back. The release also follows on from his 2023 flute album, New Blue Sun, and Shipp is really not a fan.

READ MORE: “There’s a disposable attitude to making music that’s prevalent these days”: Producer Danny L Harle says musicians must take time to reflect on their work

The EP is mostly improvisational, and in fact, André 3000 didn’t originally plan on sharing it. Most of the recordings were made using his iPhone or laptop microphone. At its release, he said in a statement, “These piano pieces weren’t recorded with the intention of presenting them in any formal way to the public. They were personal, at home recordings. I would sometimes text them to my family and friends.”
Despite this, Shipp seemingly thinks we’re all being taken for a ride with the release, and has branded it a “fraud” that “does not even deserve the attention of a critique it is so dreadful”. In a lengthy Facebook post, he says a friend told him about the EP, leading to his review.
“I think it is complete and utter crap, horrific-god awful insipidly wretched nothing,” he writes. “This is some atrocious shite – is he some type of fucking asshole? Is he a complete and utter dilettante? I could go into detail about why each cut is stillborn but why bother, it does not even deserve the attention of critique, it is so dreadful.
“The guy is not a pianist – that is the beginning and the end of it – what an ugly piano sound,” he continues. “What a lack of respect for the discipline by someone who in my opinion is a complete asshole for doing this. It is depressing that this garbage will get any attention because he has a name and fame.”
You can read the full post below:

so a friend called me up and mentioned that Andre 3000 has a piano album out–i was like what . I checked it out on…
Posted by Matt Shipp on Friday, May 9, 2025

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by André Lauren Benjamin (@andre3000)

Shipp has since released another statement in light of his comments going viral, and has clarified, “I am sure Andre is a great guy and I am also sure there is no ill intent whatsoever. I should not have used the word asshole, but I stand by what else I said. He is an amazing hip-hop artist – all I ask is that he respect[s] the art of people who can really do a certain thing.”

the last 24 hours have been out to say the least being a jazz musician and the center of a story involving an extremely …
Posted by Matt Shipp on Sunday, May 11, 2025

André 3000 has not responded to Shipp’s comments at the time of writing.
The post “Downright dreadful and awful – true f**king crap”: Jazz pianist Matthew Shipp takes aim at André 3000’s new piano EP appeared first on MusicTech.