Native Instruments announce Kontrol S-Series MK3 The latest version of NI's MIDI controller keyboards offer even deeper Kontakt and NKS integration, as well as introducing polyphonic aftertouch. 

How Raye Zaragoza Makes a Living as a DIY Artist (Hint: Not Streaming)This week, Ari is joined by Raye Zaragoza, a DIY artist who is making waves with her new album, writing for Netflix shows, and has been recently cast as Tiger Lily in the Peter Pan National Tour.

Focal unveil ST6 Trio6 Focal have announced the upcoming release of the next addition to their ST6 line-up, an updated version of the Trio6.

“You don’t need the fanciest equipment to start”: Miso Extra embraces limitationsMiso Extra, a producer, singer and rapper born in Hong Kong to a British father and Japanese mother, bridges cultural divides through music. She created her musical persona, Miso Extra, as a bold response to past racism, turning a derogatory phrase into empowerment.

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Her latest EP, MSG, continues her exploration of identity, blending influences of MF DOOM with J Dilla and anime. It’s incredible, delirisouly catchy and refreshing. We ask her about how she made the EP, out now on Transgressive Records, and she tells us about this and gives a brief insight into some of the gear she uses.

Hey, Miso Extra! Your brand new EP, MSG, is about being stuck, as you say, “in drive” mode. When are you hard on yourself? How are you changing that?
I’m sure I’m not alone in this when I say I get obsessed with trying to get the right take. I’ve been known to take 30+ vocal takes to comp from, but, recently, I’ve been doing my best to try and enjoy the imperfections more.
Dog in Miso Extra’s studio. Image: Claryn Chong
Tell us a bit about the studio.
I share the studio space with the producers TrickyNDuke, who worked with me across most of my music for the last four years. I consider the studio to be something of a cross between a spaceship, Aladdin’s cave, and a superhero hideout. It allows me to be transported to anywhere my imagination desires.
What atmosphere do you try and create in the studio, and how does the studio environment help you with your creativity?
I love the studio to feel warm and cosy, so candles and fairy lights are a must. We recently got a Phillips Hue Go lights to be able to create just the right lighting on demand.
What is your favourite piece of gear and why?
I love my Teenage Engineering OP-1! Its versatility is incredible.
Teenage Engineering OP-1 in Miso Extra’s studio. Image: Claryn Chong
What synth or effect can be heard the most on the MSG EP?
The key difference between this EP and the last one is the use of the Antares vocal plugin. Finding a way to level up the vocal production was important on this project.
On this EP, you switch between English and Japanese lyrics. Why?
It feels closest to my internal dialogue and how I would most prefer to communicate, so it’s a no-brainer for me to blend the two.
What can you tell us about the samples in general on the EP? What do they add to the tracks?
MF DOOM is the biggest inspiration when it comes to samples, in the way they help to build an environment and develop the narrative of a song. Like MF DOOM used samples of TV shows that he liked, I try to similarly copy that style, so you can hear talking samples of either myself or shows that I like.
Miso Extra in her studio. Image: Claryn Chong
Charli XCX recently said that in the future, pop music will be more minimal, “with only 3 or 4 elements + a vocal.” Do you think she’s right?
What we know as pop music is very broad and, personally, I am a maximalist when it comes to music, so I would struggle to agree with this statement when it comes to my own music. As for the future of music, we will just have to wait and see; I can’t wait!
If you were left on a desert island, what one item would you take with you to make music with forever?
The OP-1.
Do you have any frustrations with your current set-up and why?
No matter how good your laptop is, it always struggles to run all the plugins you want to use.
Ableton Push 2 in Miso Extra’s studio. Image: Claryn Chong
Who are some other all-rounder producer/singer/rappers we should know about?
You’ve gotta check out Artyn.
What is your top piece of production advice?
Don’t forget to back up your files in more than one place. You don’t want to be faced with a corrupt hard drive.
What is the one piece of advice you would give someone starting out building a studio?
You don’t need the fanciest equipment to start. Sometimes the best stuff can be made from limitations. Just start with what you have.
Check out the rest of Miso Extra’s music via Spotify.
The post “You don’t need the fanciest equipment to start”: Miso Extra embraces limitations appeared first on MusicTech.

Synchron Smart Orchestra from VSL Vienna Symphonic Library’s latest release places an entire orchestra across the keyboard, offering a quick and simple way to sketch out new ideas with a large symphonic sound.

Ten Classic College Radio AlbumsIf you walked onto a college campus in the mid-'80s, incredible bands were everywhere, blaring out of dorm windows, spinning in heavy rotation on college-radio stations at the left of the dial. Author Daniel de Visé offers a list of college radio classics.

Google’s big antitrust trial kicks off, with even bigger implicationsThe Justice Department’s landmark antitrust case against Google kicked off in court today, marking the beginning of a trial that will stretch on for months, potentially upending the tech world in the process. At issue is Google’s search business. The Justice Department says that Google has run afoul of antitrust laws in the course of […]

Israel, Hong Kong complete retail CBDC test emphasizing privacy, inclusivityThe Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Bank of Israel and Bank for International Settlements teamed up to address the complex issues of rCBDCs.

Goldrush: Sonoran Skies Announces Stage Line-Up

PARADISE PRAIRIE - the picturesque main stage, featuring Goldrush: Sonoran Skies biggest artists...

Alison Wonderland • Louis The Child (Playground Set) • Tiesto • Zeds Dead • ZHU • Dabin • Frosttop • Hamdi • Kayzo Unleashed • Madeon (DJ set) • Nostalgix • Ship Wrek • S!ck!ck • Austin Feldman • Dxnte

MOONRISE MOUNTAIN - presented by Beatbox Beverages - from atop Moonrise Mountain, the BASS echos through the valley below...

ATliens • Bou • Brondo • Champagne Drip • Dion Timmer • Jessica Audiffred • Kai Wachi • Khiva • Lady Faith • Lizzy Jane Riot Ten • Slushii • Sed's Vortex B2B PrettyHard • Svnday Drvr

COYOTE COVE - presented by OneAZ Credit Union - fueled by driving underground beats and a cast of eclectic character performers...

Amémé • Ben Böhmer (Live) • Blond:ish • Cloonee • Detlef • Dombresky • Marie Vaunt • Pawsa • Sonny Fodera • Tobehonest • Weiss • Will Clarke • Anatta • Michael Hooker

SOUND CABIN ART CAR - presented by Aeriz - soundtracked by the hottest upcoming talent & serving as a central piece of The Highland Cannabis Park...

Alliesun • Avello • Disco Shrine • Galo • Gibson Parker • Jacknife • Jake Shore • Maximo • Monstr • MPort • So Sus

COWBOY CORRAL SILENT DISCO - presented by Flav - 3-channel silent disco, featuring some of the most prominent local talent in Arizona...

Afterparty • Alex Anders • Arboreal • Arietta • Average Joe • Bisonn • BlvckRose • BMarz • Braydon Terzo • Chef Julez • Convince • Creepz • Daytona • Deep• Chetty • Dominatrix • Dustin Moye • E-Girl • Elase • Fairydvst • Gio Lucca • GTJ • Guestli$t • Indaze • Infimice • J1nky • Joe Label • Jimii • Justin Irby • Last  • Minx • Lodin • Loose Leaf • Lujan • McWhite • Migz • M-Okay • Ophion • Randy Perez • Rare • Raven & Ali • Residuo • Sava. • Seb • Sergik • Stvrxd • Sweaty Already • Who? • Wrld Cyphr • Yewz

Soundiron Iron Pack 13 - Cyborg Bytes The Iron Pack series is a line of compact, affordable, and great-sounding virtual instrument libraries for Kontakt. Iron packs are handcrafted musical color palettes, perfect for inspiring... Read More

SampleScience Organic Alien Drones Organic Alien Drones Light comprises a set of 15 drones that have been crafted by modulating synthesizer chords with field recordings. These drones were created using two distinct... Read More

Universal just launched a fan platform in Germany that sounds a lot like its own version of Weverse. Here’s what’s in it…Universal Music Germany has launched YOUniverse, a 'virtual and interactive fan platform…where fans can meet and interact, and in future even meet their idols'.
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Touring in the US “not viable”, say The Chemical BrothersIconic British dance duo The Chemical Brothers have highlighted the rising costs of touring, bleakly admitting that taking their stage show to the US is “not viable”.

READ MORE: The Chemical Brothers and Beck join forces for new single Skipping Like a Stone

The Galvanize creators make the comments during a recent interview with Billboard in which they discuss their new album, For That Beautiful Feeling, how the Covid-19 pandemic affected its creation, and what keeps them inspired after 34 years.
“The costs have gone up so much,” band member Ed Simons says. “It’s just not really viable at the moment… I’m apologetic to the people who do want to see us that it is increasingly difficult for us to get to America, because we have had the times of our lives playing there.”
The pair go on to say that while there was “a debate that raged over Zoom,” sadly neither the duo nor their team could come to an agreement to tour the US in the way that the pair would have wanted – that is, with the live gear rig, large LED screens and animations that have become a mainstay of their live shows.

Speaking about their massive stage production, The Chemical brothers go on to tell Billboard why they made the decision to include all the theatrics.
“[The production] originally came from the fact that we didn’t want to inflict [audiences with] just the two of us awkwardly standing with the synthesisers,” says Simons, “so we wanted a big back job, but it’s just grown and grown, and now we’ve got these 40-foot clowns voicing the words.”
Buy For That Beautiful Feeling now via The Chemical Brothers’ website.
The post Touring in the US “not viable”, say The Chemical Brothers appeared first on MusicTech.

“There’s going to be people who will make music in ways they weren’t previously able to”: James Blake on AIProducer and singer James Blake has commented on the benefits of AI technology in music production, predicting more accessibility for everyone as a result of it.

READ MORE: “Elevator music or commercial music is where you’ll see people out of jobs”: Bombay Bicycle Club’s lead guitarist on AI

Discussed during the latest episode of The Zane Lowe Show on Apple Podcasts, Blake also talks about Grimes’ democratising use of AI and his own stance on the controversial topic.
“AI is going to open up a lot of possibilities for composition.” He says. “I think there’s a lot of exciting things going on with it.
“For example, there’s this one guy who created a synth called Synplant – you can put in any sample and then the synth will recreate that sound on a synth, magically – it just does it. You don’t have to do anything. It’s like, you can just imagine a thing and it just… can be there.
“If you wanted to do that now, you’ve got to sit at a synth, know how to use it, figure it out. There’s going to be a lot of people who [will] make music, who weren’t previously able to in the ways that they want to. It’s really interesting.”

Blake and Lowe go on to discuss singer, producer and DJ Grimes as an example of an artist who embraces AI technology to democratise music creation, even if it means putting her name on art made by others. They refer to Elf.tech, Grimes’ AI platform that allows you to create and distribute your own music using her voice.
“She has democratised herself, right?” Says Blake. “Which is an interesting and new way of thinking about it.”
On whether it’s fair for the artist, he says: “It’s about making sure that the artists are remunerated. I just want to take part in making sure that it doesn’t end up creating music in people’s likenesses that are sold without them having shares in it.”
James Blake’s new album, Playing Robots Into Heaven, is out on 22 September. Pre-order it at his official website.
The post “There’s going to be people who will make music in ways they weren’t previously able to”: James Blake on AI appeared first on MusicTech.

“This project felt like being a beginner producer again. Suddenly everything is possible”: KOAN Sound on recording cello and piano on their new albumKOAN Sound has revealed why they chose to focus on cello and piano on their newest album, Led By Ancient Light.

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In an interview with MusicTech, the electronic duo explain why they used the two instruments for their newest project, which acts as a soundtrack to their 9,000 word story, written to accompany the album.
“We chose those instruments partly because they’re so versatile. We associate them on one hand with emotiveness and vulnerability,” says one half of the duo Jim Bastow.
“On the other hand, they could be transformed into these much more aggressive and foreboding elements. That was really fun for us to explore all the different types of energies that we could create through processing them in different ways,”
However, as both Bastow and Will Weeks explain, a lot of this fun comes from the experimental ways to record, and therefore transform the instrument.

“Being literally close to the instruments that we were recording you get these incredibly detailed and up close takes,” explains Will Weeks. “It makes you want to let them breathe and let them exist by themselves.”
During the recording process, Will Weeks discovered that the cello produces waveforms like a sawtooth wave when it plays low notes. He would then tune the cello down as low as possible and process those ‘saw waves’. He also used mallets and beaters to tap the wooden body of the cello, before transforming them into new forms on his DAW.
For the piano, Bastow borrowed a recording technique from Nils Frahm. This involved covering the strings of the piano with felt and placing the microphones extremely close to grab the mechanical sounds of the hammers and other internal components of the piano, which they then processed into oblivion.
“One of the most exciting things about this project is that it felt like being a beginner producer again. We tried so many new things; literally everything about the process was new,” continues Weeks. “It’s very freeing to reset to everything being new. Suddenly everything is possible.”
The post “This project felt like being a beginner producer again. Suddenly everything is possible”: KOAN Sound on recording cello and piano on their new album appeared first on MusicTech.