Author: Christopher Laird Simmons

Christopher Laird Simmons

About Christopher Laird Simmons

https://christophersimmons.com

Christopher Laird Simmons has been a working journalist since his first magazine sale in 1984. He has since written for wide variety of print and online publications covering lifestyle, tech and entertainment. He is an award-winning author, designer, photographer, and musician. He is a member of ASCAP and PRSA. He is the founder and CEO of Neotrope®, based in Temecula, CA, USA.

Posts by Christopher Simmons:

UVI Vintage Vault 5 Virtual Sampled Instruments Library

UVI launches its VINTAGE VAULT 5 virtual sampled instrument collection with 7 notable new synthesizers including Casio and Kawai

Christopher Laird Simmons

MUSEWIRE – NEWS: UVI launches latest version of the acclaimed VINTAGE VAULT, now at version 5, expanding the legacy virtual instrument collection with 7 brand-new instrument series, each capturing the “soul of iconic hardware with authentic recordings, expert programming, and modern creative depth.” Vintage Vault 5 introduces seven new additions to the collection: HX-20, HX-Oddy, PX WaveFrame, PX Guitar Syn, Mission 6, KAWAI Vintage Legacy, and Vintage Casio Legacy.

Entanglement synthesizer by Dillon Bastan

Keep your VCOs and DCOs and surf the quantum wave function of sound design with ENTANGLEMENT by Dillon Bastan

Christopher Laird Simmons

MUSEWIRE – Music Tech / If you’ve gotten bored with the umpteenth iteration of yet another VCO or DCO based virtual synthesizer, with modelled filters and envelopes, and started saying “meh” with every new VST announcement, then you might find this new virtual synthesizer a breath of fresh waveform air! The newly released ENTANGLEMENT uses a 1D quantum wave function (Schrödinger equation) to produce evolving waveforms for use in a dual polyphonic wavetable synthesizer.

Paula Cole, returns to the stage in 2026 with THIS FIRE: 30

Songstress Paula Cole launches 2026 US Tour with ‘THIS FIRE: 30,’ performing the classic album in its entirety

Christopher Laird Simmons

MUSEWIRE – Music News: Grammy®-winning singer-songwriter, Paula Cole, has announced her return to the stage for Fall 2026, with “THIS FIRE: 30” — a special anniversary tour celebrating three decades of her iconic album “This Fire.” Paula will perform the album in its entirety each night — including hit songs like “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?” and “I Don’t Want to Wait.”

ISOVOX PRO

ISOVOX PRO is a new reference-grade vocal booth for home studios

Christopher Laird Simmons

MUSEWIRE – Music Gear News: Swedish music tech company ISOVOX has announced their new ISOVOX PRO, which they say represents the “next evolution of vocal recording, bringing professional, studio-level performance to any room.” Not just an update; but a complete redesign from the ground up, built on years of global feedback and rigorous acoustic development to redefine what professional, portable vocal recording can be.

Native Instruments ABSYNTH 6 preset explorer

Absynth 6 Virtual Instrument Returns in Partnership with Original Creator, MPE, and Surround Sound

Christopher Laird Simmons

MUSEWIRE – Music Tech / In a massive surprise for the end of 2025, Native Instruments has announced the long-requested return and re-invention of its early innovative semi-modular “weird sounds” virtual instrument, ABSYNTH 6. Developed in partnership with the original creator of Absynth, Brian Clevinger, Absynth 6 adds a sleek AI-powered browsing experience and modern compatibility.

Waldorf PROTEIN desktop wavetable synthesizer module

Waldorf Music has announced their latest tool for electronic musicians, the Protein, an 8-voice polyphonic wavetable synthesizer

Christopher Laird Simmons

MUSEWIRE – Music Tech news: Waldorf Music has announced their latest invention for electronic musicians, the Protein, an affordable and compact desktop-friendly 8-voice polyphonic wavetable synthesizer based on the original Microwave 1 ASIC oscillators and combined with modern features of Iridium heritage. like a sophisticated arpeggiator, a step sequencer, chord mode, diversity of effects and more.

ascap experience 2026

ASCAP Experience 2026 in L.A. Announced

Christopher Laird Simmons

MUSEWIRE – Music News / ASCAP Experience returns for 2026, and will be held in Los Angeles Thursday, February 12. The ASCAP Experience is a one-of-a-kind gathering for music creators to hone their craft, find their community and navigate the future of music.

BOB MOOG Tribute Library 2 by Spectrasonics, for OMNISPHERE

Bob Moog Tribute Library Vol. 2 for Omnisphere from Spectrasonics benefits the Bob Moog Foundation

Christopher Laird Simmons

MUSEWIRE – Music News: Highly-regarded virtual instrument company, Spectrasonics, has marked the 20th anniversary of the passing of electronic instrument pioneer Bob Moog, and reminding electronic musicians about their Bob Moog Tribute Library to benefit the Bob Moog Foundation in North Carolina. Produced by Eric Persing, the v2.0 edition of the Bob Moog Tribute library features over 1300 stunning sounds for Omnisphere – created by more than 50 of the world’s top synth artists. [UPDATED]

Crow Hill Company, season 2, Pocket Strings Launched

Crow Hill Co’s Season 2 Sounds Off with New Pocket Composer Kit, Re-imagined Flagship ‘Glass Strings’ and Free VAULTS Bridge Guitar

Christopher Laird Simmons

MUSEWIRE – Music News: UK-based The Crow Hill Company has launched their self-proclaimed “second season” with a wealth of innovative and inspiring tools for music composition, film and game scoring, and sound design. With a new hybrid instrument called Pocket Strings, Crow Hill brings the best of sampled orchestra with classic analog string synths. The free Vaults Bridge Guitar offers creative sonic explorations. Finally, the revamped flagship Glass Strings instrument further refines a “main go-

Schiit Audio Asgard X (front)

Schiit Audio Powers up its New Class-A ASGARD X Modular Headphone Amp and Preamp, including Halo X Technology for Affordable High-end Audio

Christopher Laird Simmons

MUSEWIRE – Music News / Schiit Audio today announced their latest high-quality, high-value audiophile solution, their new ASGARD X, a Class A Modular Headphone Amp & Preamp. Priced from $399US (in black, silver is added $30 cost), the Class A, zero-feedback Asgard X also offers the Mesh DAC card with Unison 384 input and Forkbeard EQ.

Waldorf Quantum MK2 synthesizer

Waldorf Music announces final production run of its flagship Quantum MK2 synthesizer keyboard

Christopher Laird Simmons

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

ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Fest 2025, hosted by legendary composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, comes to Los Angeles in May

Christopher Laird Simmons

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).

Knobula Monumatic

Eurorack modular synth innovator Knobula announces availability of Monumatic polyphonic synthesizer

Christopher Laird Simmons

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 Audo Synth Buddy

Heritage Audio introduces desktop 10 to 1 reversible and fully passive stereo switch, the SYNTH BUDDY

Christopher Laird Simmons

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 Pigments 6

Arturia has announced an update to its flagship ‘polychrome’ virtual instrument, PIGMENTS 6

Christopher Laird Simmons

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 Tina Guo STORM CELLO

The Crow Hill Company Announces Release of Tina Guo STORM CELLO Virtual Instrument for Composers

Christopher Laird Simmons

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

Eventide Third Man Hardware Knife Drop Guitar FX Pedal Now Available

Christopher Laird Simmons

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 EaganMatrix Micro posed image

Haken Audio has announced the new EaganMatrix Micro, the smallest device so far sporting the expressive synthesizer engine built for MPE

Christopher Laird Simmons

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 performs Days of Future Passed

The Moody Blues’ John Lodge announces 2025 U.S. Tour Dates starting in Feb. in NY

Christopher Laird Simmons

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

ASCAP announces its Top Holiday Songs for 2024 lineup

Christopher Laird Simmons

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.

Maestro Steven Allen Fox, and the Golden State Pops Orchestra and Chorale

Maestro Steven Allen Fox, and the Golden State Pops Orchestra and Chorale return to Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center for 2024 HOLIDAY POPS

Christopher Laird Simmons

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.

Moog's Musical Eatery: A Cookbook for Carefree Entertaining

Now in Kindle Edition, Moog Family’s Cookbook, ‘Moog’s Musical Eatery: A Cookbook for Carefree Entertaining’

Christopher Laird Simmons

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”).

Expressive E OSMOSE can easily control external devices

Expressive E announces v2.0 firmware update to OSMOSE keyboard instrument

Christopher Laird Simmons

MUSEWIRE – Music News/ — Today, the folks at Expressive E announced formal release of their v2.0 firmware update for the ground breaking MPE music synthesizer keyboard, the OSMOSE. As an early backer, I have been awaiting this to “firm up” (pun intended) some of the features based on evolution and also user feedback over the past year. OSMOSE ia the next-gen standalone expressive synthesizer that allows a performer-player to add emotion and movement to music with a simple touch.

Primate Labs Geekbench AI 1.0

Primate Labs announces new generation benchmark tool, Geekbench AI 1.0

Christopher Laird Simmons

/MUSEWIRE/ — Today, well-regarded long-time benchmarking firm, Primate Labs, who make the venerable Geekbench testing tool, have announced the next generation solution, Geekbench AI 1.0. The new Geekbench AI is a cross-platform AI benchmark that uses real-world machine learning tasks to evaluate AI workload performance. Geekbench AI measures your CPU, GPU, and NPU to determine whether your device is ready for today’s and tomorrow’s cutting-edge machine learning applications.

Composer Tatiana Mikova: In Modo Lidico, at Carnegie Hall

Composer Tatiana Mikova’s String Quartet ‘In Modo Lidico’ debuts July 1 at Carnegie Hall

Christopher Laird Simmons

MUSEWIRE – Music News/ — Film and classical music composer, Tatiana Mikova, has announced that her String Quartet, “In Modo Lidico,” will debut at Carnegie Hall’s Progressive Musicians Laureate Gala on July 1, 2024. The piece will be performed by the Lehner String Quartet in the intimate Weill Recital Hall, home to hundreds of recitals, chamber music concerts, panel discussions, and master classes. Mikova is a multi-award-winning Czech classical and film music composer based in London.

Alison Moyet album 'KEY' (2024)

British Singer-Songwriter Alison Moyet Announces Upcoming Release of New Solo Album, ‘KEY’ and World Tour

Christopher Laird Simmons

MUSEWIRE – Music News / Singer-songwriter Alison Moyet has announced this week her eagerly-awaited, tenth solo studio album, “Key,” to release on October 4, 2024. Marking Alison’s 40-year anniversary as a solo artist, “Key” is an 18-track collection, showcasing the breadth and depth of her artistic creativity and song writing over these four decades to […]

2024 ASCAP Screen Music Awards Recognize 93 Prominent Film and TV Composers

ASCAP Screen Music Awards for 2024 Recognize 93 Prominent Film and TV Composers

Christopher Laird Simmons

MUSEWIRE Music News / The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) has recently announced the recipients of the 2024 ASCAP Screen Music Awards, including the highly-anticipated winners of the ASCAP Composers’ Choice Awards; honoring the composers whose music enriches the art of visual storytelling. ASCAP is a membership association of more than 975,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers.

Thomas Dolby New Hair

Thomas Dolby Blinded Me With His New Hair – SCIENCE!

Christopher Laird Simmons

MUSEWIRE / Long time fans of Thomas Dolby have likely noticed over the years the ’80s recording artist losing his hair, often wearing hats on stage in modern solo and group performances. Well, this week (May 17) Dolby posted a video on social and my first thought was “It’s Dolby’s ‘evil twin brother’!” He was going to reveal something new – not a new song, tour or album, but new hair. He posted a full video showing off his new shock of grey hair yesterday, and frankly, he looks great.

UVI Quadra Modular Vector GUI

UVI release Quadra Modular, a multi-instrument blending the raw sound of modular synths with cross-fading ‘vector’ style interface

Christopher Laird Simmons

/MUSEWIRE – Music Tech News/ — One of the most interesting new virtual instruments I’ve seen in awhile, UVI’s Quadra Modular synthesizer allows you to choose, modify, then combine four different highly-sampled instruments, then cross fade and modulate among them in realtime. UVI’s “Quadra series” instruments are designed to be immediately inspiring, delivering 4 customizable instrument layers with keyzone support, XY and dynamics morphing, fully-editable synthesis and numerous effects.

Onkyo's New TX-8470 2-Channel Network Stereo Receiver (2024)

New ONKYO TX-8470 2-Channel Network Stereo Audio Receiver Blends Modern Connectivity with Audiophile Specs

Christopher Laird Simmons

/MUSEWIRE – Home Audio News/ — ONKYO has announced its new TX-8470 Network Stereo Receiver for 2024. According to the company it has been “built by and for audiophiles.” The TX-8470 seamlessly combines exceptional audio fidelity for music lovers with modern connectivity options for hassle-free home entertainment. The TX-8470 offers 2-Channel, 110-watts per channel, and is designed for high-performance audio playback, packaged with all modern streaming technologies.

Jazz Vocalist Sybil Evans Stages Comeback at Age 90

Jazz Vocalist Sybil Evans Stages Comeback at Age 90, Performing at the Annual 2024 Park Avenue Day in New York

Christopher Laird Simmons

NEW YORK /MUSEWIRE – Music News/ — While some industrious individuals are busy looking for their second act, 90-year-old Sybil Evans, longtime resident of Manhattan’s Murray Hill section is still going strong, forging ahead into her third with the Sybil Evans Trio. The dynamic, Brooklyn-born and raised nonagenarian singer was inspired by her 90th birthday to return to her love of bringing her pop-jazz stylings before a live audience.

ARTURIA Astrolab Keyboard

For its 25th anniversary, Arturia launches ASTROLAB stage synthesizer keyboard with 34 iconic instruments onboard

Christopher Laird Simmons

/MUSEWIRE – Music News/ — ARTURIA today announced a new, innovative stage and studio synthesizer keyboard, they call ASTROLAB, an “Avant-garde Stage Keyboard,” as part of their 25th anniversary in the music instrument business. Accorsing to the company, “Astrolab offers a vast spectrum of classic and modern sounds. AstroLab is a 61-key stage keyboard combining the power of synthesis, intuitive controls, and an innovative ecosystem – inviting musicians to focus on their creative expression.

2024 ASCAP Composers’ Choice Awards

2024 ASCAP Composers’ Choice Awards Now Open for Voting, Nominees Announced

Christopher Laird Simmons

NEW YORK /MUSEWIRE – Music News/ — Honoring the musical storytellers scoring the past year’s top films, television series and video games, The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) announced this week the nominees for the 2024 ASCAP Composers’ Choice Awards. A first-of-its-kind program among US performing rights organizations, the ASCAP Composers’ Choice Awards gives the ASCAP composer community a forum to recognize the artistic accomplishments of their peers.

The Crow Hill Company - Small String Gestures

The Crow Hill Company’s New Small String Gestures Sample Library Enhances Composing for Film, TV and Pop

Christopher Laird Simmons

EDINBURGH, UK /MUSEWIRE – Music News/ — Take control of an intimate string section performing an evocative collection of shifting musical passages with The Crow Hill Company’s new Small String Gestures sample library, the second release in what they are calling a “hysteresis” approach to sample collection and music instrument playing. It’s a complement to their prior release, String Murmurations.

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