Tech - Mixmag Asia

Richie Hawtin’s new drum machine can sequence pretty much anything

Bullfrog Drums by Erica Synths is fully sample-based, so your "drums" can be chord stabs, drones or abstract noise, with probability & micro-timing built in

Spotify faces backlash over launch of paid Premium AI remix tool

The platform’s co-chief said he wants Spotify to be “the one that’s legal” when it comes to AI features

Bang & Olufsen launch limited edition collaboration with Fragment

The Tokyo-based creative imprint by Hiroshi Fujiwara reimagines four products in its signature monochrome aesthetic

Symbol Audio & USM launch speaker collection built into modular furniture

The USM Speaker Module Collection comes with Sonos amplifier support & comes in 14 colour options

NOTHING announces Charli xcx as shareholder & first global brand ambassador

The British artist appears in the announcement wearing the brand's Headphone (a)

RND synth allows you to generate 4.29 billion sounds with just one button

"Most instruments are designed to give control; over pitch, over timbre, over time. Not this one," says co-creator Bambounou

YouTube Studio adds AI music generator to fix copyright claims

With a global launch set for later in the year, creators can swap out flagged audio for an AI-generated instrumental track

Drift DJ Zero brings DAWless mixing & recording into a pocket-sized box

The device combines two-deck playback, a mixer, multi-track recording & full gear sync into a small battery-powered unit

PETRU's vinyl stand turns audio into a live LED visualiser

The device’s built-in microphone picks up sound & displays it as real-time frequency animations on an integrated screen

SAINTSABIO introduces a wearable USB for DJs

The CYBER USB EXOSKELETON has already been seen worn by ISOxo, Sara Landry, Tinashe & Anyma

km5 unveils Neon Collection with transparent Bluetooth CD players

The drop adds glowing finishes, Bluetooth support & new accessories to the brand’s Instant Disk Audio line-up

The Akai Pro MPC Sample offers portability for sequencing & music production

Built around the legacy of the Akai MPC series, the standalone unit features pad-based control, onboard effects & flexible connectivity

Roland claims new AI tool has "human intent at its core"

DAW plug-in Melody Flip gives users melody recommendations based on an existing audio file's characteristics

Void Acoustics adds real wood finishes to Venu V2 series

Previously custom-only, the Natural Wood Collection crafted from real timber is now a regular offering across selected models

Tembo is a magnetic instrument built for playful beat-making

Sampler, sequencer & drum machine in one, the Musical Beings instrument builds rhythms through tokens snapped onto a grid

NOTHING’s Headphone (a) comes with customisable tactile controls & 5-day battery life

Built for long listening sessions, the over-ear headphones arrive in black, white, pink & a limited-edition yellow colourway

Apple Music to inform listeners if music on platform is AI-generated

The new metadata information will only be available if labels declare use of the tech

Bela introduces touch-based control for Eurorack systems, Trails

Designed as a four-channel polyphonic touch recorder, it uses finger movement to shape notes, modulation & rhythm

Google gives Gemini the ability to make AI-generated music

While streaming services like Deezer and Apple Music are working to demonetise AI-generated music, Google boasts its "most advanced music generation model yet"

Eventide revives Laurie Spiegel’s Music Mouse as a modern MIDI plug-in

The intelligent composition tool from 1986 now integrates with modern production setups, offering scale-constrained improvisation & flexible MIDI routing

Roland launches ASPIRE electronic music education programme across Asia & Australia

Developed with Musical Futures International, the project brings hands-on learning to schools in Bangkok, Melbourne & Singapore