GEAR + TECH
3LAU Sells Record-Breaking $3.6 Million NFT in First-Ever Tokenized Album Sale
Tonight, in record-setting and groundbreaking fashion, electronic music producer 3LAU sold a collection of limited edition NFTs for $3,666,666. The dance music vet and cryptocurrency pundit also broke the record in non-fungible token sales by selling 33 unique items for a total of $11,684,101. NFTs are unique digital collectibles that are truly one-of-a-kind and unable to be replicated. Stored on a decentralized blockchain, each item is exclusive to its owner and cannot be deleted or duplicated. NFTs have been a major boon in the COVID-19 era for music producers, who are actively seeking ways to recoup revenues lost from touring due to the impact of the virus. deadmau5, Feed Me, and 3LAU are a few of the many electronic music artists capitalizing on the NFT boom. The sa...
Ableton 11 Live’s Demo Track Was Created by Rising Star Ninajirachi
Producers were delighted when Ableton 11 Live, the latest incarnation of the Ableton digital audio workstation software, dropped on Tuesday. The latest edition has a slew of newly introduced features, like comping and MPE, tools for new devices, and a host of others. Also included in 11 Live is a demo track from none other than Australian producer, DJ, and songwriter Ninajirachi, who created the track to allow users to explore her processes and utilize working stems within the project file. Music producers can find it within their version of Ableton and use it as inspiration. “It’s such an honor to work on a project like this and I’m really grateful for the opportunity,” said Ninajirachi in a statement on her track for Ableton. “Getting to know all of Ableton’s...
Spotify Launches New Snapchat-Like Clips Feature
Spotify hosted their version of an Apple-style product launch this week during their Steam On event. During the virtual program, which livestreamed on Monday, they broke down the power that audio has, the journey of music creation, and all the opportunities they have planned for both creators and the billions of fans who use their platform. One of those new features is the introduction of Spotify Clips. The format will look familiar because, just like Instagram, Spotify is drawing influence from Snapchat with the implementation of an ephemeral video format. The feature has been in the works since last year, when it was tentatively titled “Storyline,” but its beta testing phase was designated only for a few big names, like Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Lopez....
Feed Me Announces Debut NFT Release
Joining the growing list of electronic artists entering the world of non-fungible tokens, or NFT, is Feed Me. The announcement comes just hours after the famed British electronic music producer teased his next album. For those unfamiliar with the art phenomenon, NFTs are essentially crypto-powered digital collectibles that you can buy and sell. Feed Me took to Twitter to announce the upcoming release and share his excitement, since he’s been creating digital art for decades. The artwork will be sold on the SuperRare digital marketplace. On other marketplaces, many copies of each piece can be minted and multiple people can purchase one. SuperRare, on the other hand, sells only single-release content, so the purchaser will be the sole owner of the rare NFT. Feed Me’s de...
Apple Music Tests Lyric Sharing Features in iOS 14.5 Beta
Apple Music has shared beta versions of iOS 14.5 with developers, who say the software update now includes several new lyric sharing related features. The iOS 13.5 update allowed for the sharing of Apple Music songs within Instagram’s Stories feature. Today, Apple Music is doubling down, allowing users to now share song lyrics from within the Apple Music app directly to Instagram and iMessage. One developer, Federico Viticci, shared his experience testing the feature on Twitter. Viticci stated that while viewing real-time lyrics of the song currently playing, one long-press on the screen allows users to select and share lyrical segments. He also discovered that sharing lyrics within iMessage additionally creates a digital card that will allow the receiver to pla...
Introducing LEGO Vidiyo’s Hottest New DJs: Alien, Unicorn, and the Party Llama
Last year The LEGO Group and Universal Music Group announced their new partnership, which seeks to encourage creative expression through both play and music. It wasn’t until this year that we learned the exciting venture would include a brand new platform called LEGO Vidiyo, which brings the illustrious brand into the world of augmented reality. Now, the platform is ready to unveil its first range of products. With LEGO Vidiyo, users are able to create their own music videos using a variety of LEGO kits, Minifigures, and AR technology. They call these products Bandmates, BeatBoxes, and BeatBits. Fans will be able to purchase six unique and portable BeatBoxes, which include a Minifigure that represents a specific music genre, a scanning stage, two special Beat...
Ableton Announces the Release Date for Live 11
Producers can finally start the countdown to the release of Ableton Live 11. Announced last fall was the next iteration of one of the world’s most popular digital audio workstations. Since then, producers have been anxiously awaiting the release of the upgraded software. While the release date was not known at the time of the announcement, developers have now confirmed that the new workstation will hit the market later this month. On Twitter, fans were notified of the release date and that there is a beta available now. For the Live 10 users reading this article, developers have shared a YouTube video comparing the two versions and explaining what’s new in 11. Ableton Live 11 will be available for purchase both online and in-stores on Tuesday, February 23rd, 202...
Monstercat’s NFT Debut Generates $180,000 in Just Two Minutes
Although most of the world is preoccupied with gaming the stock market, Monstercat has broken into the lucrative realm of non-fungible tokens or NFT. For those who haven’t caught the wave, NFTs are virtual collectibles similar to items found in video games. Oftentimes digital art or audio, the collectibles are powered by blockchain technology and are exclusive to the purchaser. For their digital debut, Monstercat released two separate drops on the NFT marketplace, Nifty Gateway. Dubbed, the ORIGINS Collection and Constellations Pack, the new collectables were designed by the digital artist, Giant Swan, and soundtracked by Varien. Before they hit the market, on Twitter, the label shared a preview of the two drops, showcasing some of the sights and sounds inside. A ...
LEGO’s New VIDIYO Augmented Reality Platform to Feature Music by Marshmello
Perhaps the world’s most popular toy, LEGO bricks have captivated the imaginations of children and professional builders for decades. The illustrious brand has spawned video game creations, television series, and interactive figures. Now, LEGO is set to move into the world of augmented reality with its new VIDIYO sets. In partnership with Universal Music Group, LEGO has created a new series of sets that will allow users to create custom music videos. VIDIYO centers around a mobile app that will record the brick sets, which include special 2×2 components called BeatBits that interact visually with the app. The augmented reality technology allows the user to create custom visuals and effects within their own video creations. As for the music, EDM superstar Marshmello&nbs...
Enter Porter Robinson’s Immersive 360° “Look At The Sky” Audiovisual Experience
After waiting eight agonizing months for “Look At The Sky,” it’s now clear that the release was worth the wait. Two days after finally unveiling his long-awaited Nurture cut, Porter Robinson has now launched an immersive 360° audiovisual experience for the song. Developed by VR and AR experience designer Active Theory, the intricate world of “Look At The Sky” uses gyroscope sensor technology to allow its inhabitants to scan the locale in 360°. Once you access the site, you enter into a cavernous night sky with a countdown gleaming in the distance. Once the clock sputters out, you’re instantaneously warped into a breathing, fantasy-like green meadow as the song’s lyrics come to life before your eyes. The “Loo...
Razer Unveils Prototype for “World’s Smartest Mask”
Gaming hardware and technology brand Razer has developed what they call the “world’s smartest mask.” Titled Project Hazel, the mask has the promise of being a more customizable and sustainable alternative to disposable surgical masks without compromising on safety. Following the initial onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Razer was one of the companies that stepped up to provide much-needed PPE amid a global shortage. To date, the company has produced over 1 million surgical masks. However, as Razer’s Director of Design Charlie Bolton explains, that endeavor led to the realization that a more sustainable option was missing from the market. Thus, Project Hazel was born. First and foremost, Project Hazel has the high-quality filtration equivalent to that of an N95 respira...
Richie Hawtin’s PLAYdifferently Manufacturer Releases MODEL 1.4 DJ Mixer
Four years ago, Richie Hawtin‘s instrument manufacturer, PLAYdifferently, released the MODEL 1 DJ mixer, seeking to change the way a standard mixer functions. “With MODEL 1, we set out to build a new breed of DJ mixer, more akin to an instrument, with levels of control and quality that inspired creativity,” Hawtin said. Now, the MODEL 1.4 has arrived, to better suit those looking to mix at home or on tour. The compact MODEL 1.4 is a smaller incarnation of the MODEL 1, offering more convenience without compromising the quality or function of the mixer. The four-channel MODEL 1.4 mixer is built to suit modern times, where streaming DJ performances from home is a more feasible way of sharing music amid quarantine measures in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbs...
