GEAR + TECH
Facebook Gaming Expands Free Music Usage to Protect Creators
Facebook Gaming streamers now have more access to licensed music without fear of their content being taken down. Facebook recently revealed that two tiers of creators on their platform will be given access to a large library of popular music to use in their streams. Users in both the Level Up and Partner tiers can now use music from major labels in the background of their streams. For those unfamiliar with the platform: streamers are able to obtain Partner and Level Up status via a combination of activity, number of followers, and time spent streaming, similar to how Twitch operates its Affiliate Program. An announcement shared on Facebook Gaming’s official blog notes the company has been “working closely with the music industry.” It also mentions...
iHeartRadio Music Festival and OneOf Partner to Launch Seismic Drop of 1 Million Free NFTs
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, Las Vegas’ iHeartRadio Music Festival is partnering with emerging NFT platform OneOf to mint a staggering amount of NFT poker chip collectibles. Up to one million NFTs will drop on OneOf between now and September 14th. Over the course of the next couple weeks, fans can visit OneOf daily in an effort to collect a complete set of chips, which will earn them eligibility for additional prizes. As Cointelegraph notes, fans who snag a complete set will earn a limited edition NFT designed by digital artist Cory Van Lew, who previously helped design collectible assets in partnership with the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, Mike Tyson. Collecting all the chips also earns participants a chance to win tickets to the festival i...
The Robots Are Coming and They Like to Rave: What We Learned From Interviewing Sensorium’s AI Avatars
When Sensorium’s virtual PRISM world finally opens its doors to concert-goers later this year, don’t be surprised to find yourself striking up a conversation in the crowd—with an AI-driven avatar. It’s no secret AI has been a pillar of Sensorium Galaxy’s overall development strategy, but the technology—developed in partnership with Mubert—has been kept vastly under wraps. When it comes to AI, Sensorium’s computer-generated avatars serve multiple functions. Some are artists with the potential to produce an endless stream of electronic music in a live performance setting. The remaining AI personalities—each possessing unique behavioral traits and professional and personal backgrounds—are residents of the Sensorium ecosystem. They have the “freedom” to navigate t...
Elon Musk Introduced Tesla’s New AI Robot With a Human Awkwardly Dancing to EDM in Tights
On August 19th Tesla hosted “AI Day,” which came with a spate of details about the company’s innovative technology for their vehicles—and an AI robot. Dubbed Tesla Bot, its purpose will be to eliminate tasks that are considered “dangerous, repetitive and boring” such as using a wrench to fix a car part, according to CEO Elon Musk. The technology behind Tesla Bot is reportedly derived from the same mechanics powering its vehicles. “It makes sense to put that onto humanoid form,” Musk said. “This, I think, will be quite profound. Essentially, in the future, physical work will be a choice. If you want to do it, you can, but you won’t need to do it.” Elon Musk. Dan Taylor/Heisenberg Media Tesla Bot was announ...
How to prevent and treat blisters when hiking
Don’t let blisters ruin your time in the outdoors. Our guide on how to prevent blisters and treat them will keep your feet trail happy Whether you’re an experienced trekker or a newcomer to the trails, you will invariably suffer from one of the most common hiking injuries. Therefore, we’ve put together a simple guide on how to prevent and treat blisters when hiking. How to prevent blisters When it comes to blisters, prevention is always better than a cure. Knowing how to prevent blisters will save you from those painful footsteps later on. What causes blisters? Blisters are actually part of the body’s healing process and develop to protect damaged skin and help it recover. They can be caused by allergies, skin conditions, burns or even insect stings and spider bites. But the most common ca...
From Fan to Family: How Discord Gave Artists a Platform to Connect With Purpose
The social media landscape has changed over the past few years. Myspace took the world by storm when it launched in 2003. Then came Facebook a year later, revolutionizing the way that we connect with friends, family, and loved ones. But now Facebook’s imminent doom lingers like a roadkill stench, and other platforms are swooping in to pick up the slack. Twitter created a platform that allows people to share bite-sized pieces of information and join conversations from all around the world. YouTube has provided creators with a podium to share their stories and build their brands. TikTok has replaced Vine and filled the void of video memes millennials and Gen Z’ers yearned for during a global pandemic. While every social media platform has a unique position within the online social community,...
Protect Your Hearing Health With Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earplugs
When we start to get ready for a live show, our minds don’t tend to go straight to hearing protection. However, the average concert causes damage to our ears after only seven and a half minutes of unprotected exposure. In an effort to combat Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL), it is important to be aware of your exposure to loud sounds and always use proper protection—such as Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earplugs—when being exposed to anything over 85dB for prolonged periods of time. Everyone knows live music events are loud, yet very few people seem to realize the dangers of the decibels. The average concert weighs in at about 98-110dB, evidently classifying as extremely loud and dangerous to hearing. Have you ever experienced that post-show ear-ringing? Not only is i...
New Skin-Reactive Analog Synthesizer Taps Into Users’ “Inner Energy”
For great musicians, their instruments become extensions of their bodies, acting as a conduit for creative expression. A new analog synthesizer from SOMA Laboratory seeks to do the same, applying this mind-body connection to electronic music. Blending together “inner” and “energy,” the ENNER synthesizer is described as a “body-patching synth” that connects a player’s emotional state to its metal pads through weak electrical currents. Its sounds are deeply sensitive to human touch, dependent on the pressure, speed and angle with which a performer uses the device. “Your hands become the central part of the circuitry,” the synth’s description reads. “Signals (passing) through your body define the mixing, volume, timbre, fe...
Watch Behind-the-Scenes Footage of Black Coffee’s VR Avatar Creation for Sensorium Galaxy
Since joining Sensorium Galaxy‘s star-studded lineup of DJs in late 2020, iconic South African electronic music artist Black Coffee has been getting acclimated to the future of virtual concerts. In a new behind-the-scenes cut, we take the journey with Black Coffee as he becomes immortalized in the mind-bending metaverse of Sensorium Galaxy’s PRISM world in virtual reality. As we’ve seen with the rest of Sensorium’s talent roster, which includes Eric Prydz, David Guetta, Carl Cox, and more, Black Coffee traveled to Moscow, where the team performed a complete 360° scan of the producer’s image. The comprehensive process utilizes motion capture technology to map each the precise movement patterns of each artist, including their ...
UNTOLD Festival Strikes Creative Partnership With $1 Billion Blockchain Unicorn Elrond
UNTOLD Festival has confirmed a landmark partnership with Elrond, an internet-scale blockchain giant. The two Romanian powerhouses will join forces for the 2021 festival set to take place from Thursday, September 9th to Sunday, September 12th. The lineup for the event includes performances from David Guetta, Martin Garrix, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, The Script, Tyga, and many more. According to a press release issued by Elrond, the creative collaboration will offer Untold attendees the chance to experience “a special ‘NFT moment,'” which organizers maintain is one-of-a-kind blockchain-music crossover. Each attendee will secure their own NFT via the Maiar marketplace. They’ll also be able to purchase tickets with EGLD, the cryptocurrency that...
This Random Pennsylvania Warehouse Preserves Electronic Gear Used by Kraftwerk, Jimi Hendrix, More
Located about an hour north of Philadelphia, Harleysville, Pennsylvania is not exactly an EDM destination town. However, a warehouse in the town of 9,500 is reportedly the resting place of a treasure trove of rare electronic music artifacts used by legendary artists from the 1930s through the late 80s. The nearly 3,000-piece collection was started 20 years ago by Vince Pupillo, a longtime fan and player of electronic music. Over time, he became known as “the guy who would buy instruments that otherwise might be thrown away,” according to a report by WHYY. “I did whatever I had to do to get those instruments under one roof and preserved,” Pupillo said. “A lot of musicians and folks in the music industry, they want to preserve their legacy, and they see what we’re doi...
Hands-On With the Exquisite ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker Special Edition Gaming Laptop
It’s no secret that many of our favorite music producers are also hardcore gamers. We’ve seen countless video game and electronic music crossovers over the years, and even more so during the pandemic-induced live music shutdown. At this point, it’s not even the least bit surprising to hear your favorite artist’s music in a game or even see their image modeled into the action. Alan Walker has now decided to take things a step further and move from software to hardware. Enter the ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker Special Edition, a custom gaming laptop created by ASUS and Republic of Gamers (ROG) in partnership with Walker. ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker Special Edition and case. ASUS Pretty and Powerful The ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker Special Edit...
