Waldorf Music announces final production run of its flagship Quantum MK2 synthesizer keyboard
REMAGEN, GERMANY / MUSEWIRE – Music Tech News: Waldorf Music this week announced the completion of the final production run of the Quantum MK2 synthesizer. No additional units will be manufactured, according to the company. The Quantum has been Waldorf’s flagship music instrument since its announcement in 2017 and debut in 2018, with the MK2 arriving in 2023 with added features like increased memory storage and poly-AT keybed.
ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Fest 2025, hosted by legendary composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, comes to Los Angeles in May
LOS ANGELES / MUSEWIRE – Music News: The ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Fest is back at The Wallis in Beverly Hills for another year of outstanding programming for a two-night event of performances from Broadway legends, live workshops hosted by Stephen Schwartz (composer and lyricist of “Wicked,” “Pippin,” and “Godspell”), networking and more. It’s all happening May 5 and 6, 2025 at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (The Wallis).
Eurorack modular synth innovator Knobula announces availability of Monumatic polyphonic synthesizer
MUSEWIRE – Music Tech News: This week, UK-based eurorack modular synthesis innovator, Knobula, announced its latest creation, Monumatic – a fully polyphonic 8-voice synthesizer and a monophonic synthesizer packed into a compact 12HP eurorack module. It features16 selectable oscillator modes to provide a diverse range of both classic and futuristic tone generation using exclusively virtual analog algorithms.
Heritage Audio introduces desktop 10 to 1 reversible and fully passive stereo switch, the SYNTH BUDDY
MUSEWIRE – Music Tech News/ — Heritage Audio has introduced a new desktop 10 to 1 reversible and fully passive stereo switch, called the SYNTH BUDDY. This nifty gadget is like a portable patchbay ideal for DAWless and live setups allowing merge of up to 10 sources to one output, or one output to up to 10 sources. Seamlessly connect up to 10 stereo (or 20 mono) line level sources and toggle between them with the turn of a knob.
Arturia has announced an update to its flagship ‘polychrome’ virtual instrument, PIGMENTS 6
MUSEWIRE – Music Tech News/ — Arturia has announced an update to its flagship “polychrome” virtual instrument, PIGMENTS, now at version 6, with new Modal engine, filters, modulators and more. The most significant update since Pigments 2. Pigments is an all-in-one software synthesizer for modern producers, blending 6 cutting-edge synthesis engines, a color-coded interface, effortless drag-and-drop modulation, premium effects and generative sequencing. Shape your sonic vision with boundary-pushin
The Crow Hill Company Announces Release of Tina Guo STORM CELLO Virtual Instrument for Composers
MUSEWIRE – Music Tech News/ — The Crow Hill Company has nnounced release of their latest virtual instrument sample library for film and media composers, Tina Guo STORM CELLO. According to the company, “This meeting of minds in collaboration with Steve Mazzaro & The Crow Hill Company combines traditional electric cello multi-samples together with articulations that will make you feel like Tina is interpreting your music live as you compose it.”
Eventide Third Man Hardware Knife Drop Guitar FX Pedal Now Available
MUSEWIRE – Music Gear News/ — Eventide has announced today that their Third Man Hardware Knife Drop Guitar FX Pedal is now available. It is described as: “From the twisted minds at Third Man Hardware and the mad scientists at Eventide, comes Knife Drop—a pedal so maniacal, so drenched in sonic chaos, you’ll wonder if you’re dreaming… or already trapped in a nightmare.” SRP $299.
Haken Audio has announced the new EaganMatrix Micro, the smallest device so far sporting the expressive synthesizer engine built for MPE
MUSEWIRE – Music Tech News/ — Haken Audio, the company that brought the expressive playability of the Haken Continuum Fingerboard to market, as well as many other MPE-capable electronic music devices, has announced their new EaganMatrix Micro. Packed with the power of the EaganMatrix Sound Technology in the smallest product ever. The EaganMatrix Micro is a full-featured EaganMatrix sound engine in a small self-contained form factor, and is powered and controlled via USB.
The Moody Blues’ John Lodge announces 2025 U.S. Tour Dates starting in Feb. in NY
MUSEWIRE – Music News — The Moody Blues’ John Lodge announces 2025 U.S. Tour Dates. Playing ‘Days of Future Passed’ in its entirety, plus a selection of CLASSIC HITS. Lodge will be bringing his Days of Future Passed Tour back on the road starting in February 2025, with special guest Jon Davidson of YES. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster, with limited VIP packages available.
ASCAP announces its Top Holiday Songs for 2024 lineup
MUSEWIRE – Music News — This week, ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers) announced its 2024 list of top classic holiday songs as a Spotify playlist. Clever choices include “You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch” by Aimee Mann, “Silver Bells” by Stevie Wonder, and “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” by Justin Bieber. 25 songs in total are designed to keep you in the holly jollies this season.
Synth maestro Howard Jones to continue tour of U.S. with ABC and DJ Richard Blade in 2025
MUSEWIRE — Music News: Howard Jones recently announced that following a wildly successful run of North American tour dates earlier in 2024, Howard Jones and ABC are set to return to the U.S. for more co-headlining tour dates in February, 2025. The 2025 tour dates kick off in San Francisco at The Masonic on Thursday, February 6.
Maestro Steven Allen Fox, and the Golden State Pops Orchestra and Chorale return to Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center for 2024 HOLIDAY POPS
MUSEWIRE – Music News/ — The annual joyous tradition, the “Holiday Pops Spectacular,” returns with festive film music, traditional favorites, and high spirits. Celebrate the holiday season at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, by joining the Golden State Pops Orchestra, Maestro Steven Allen Fox, and the GSPO Chorale, led by Maestra Marya Basaraba, for Holiday POPS Spectacular Friday, December 20, 2024, at 8 p.m.
Now in Kindle Edition, Moog Family’s Cookbook, ‘Moog’s Musical Eatery: A Cookbook for Carefree Entertaining’
MUSEWIRE – Music News / — Chances are if you are a musician you would likely conjure up visions of patches, cables, dials, ladder filters when you hear the term “Moog cookbook.” In this case however, it’s an actual cookbook, “Moog’s Musical Eatery: A Cookbook for Carefree Entertaining,” by Shirleigh Moog (Author, Foreword), Karl Wolff (Illustrator), Kate Lanner (Illustrator), and Bob Moog (Photographer). Published by Bob’s daughter, Michelle Moog-Koussa (“Moogstress”).
Lowell Chamber Orchestra Music Director Orlando Cela Named a 2024 Amplify Latinx ALX100 Honoree in Massachusetts
MUSEWIRE – Music News / — Boston-area-based Lowell Chamber Orchestra’s Music Director, Orlando Cela, has been named one of the ALX100 Honorees for 2024 by Amplify Latinx. This prestigious recognition celebrates Latinx leaders across Massachusetts who are making an outstanding impact in their respective fields and communities.
Boutique pedal company McGregor Pedals has launched its newest pedal: The Classic Fuzz
MUSEWIRE – Music News / — International boutique pedal company McGregor Pedals has launched its newest pedal: “The Classic Fuzz.” Designed for both guitar and bass, the Classic Fuzz pedal captures the sound, feel, and response of the original 1960s two-transistor fuzz boxes using all modern, stable parts. It is rich, moody, interactive and in the right hands, untamed.