GEAR + TECH
A Stadium in North Carolina is Using AI to Detect if Attendees are Wearing Masks
While the global health community at large continues to develop new strategies to contain the novel coronavirus, the University of North Carolina’s Reese Innovation Lab is turning to artificial intelligence to try their hand at helping to get things back on track. On October 10th, 2020, the Reese Innovation Lab in partnership with Lenovo first deployed their AI-powered “Health Greeter Kiosks” at the Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The kiosks made use of large screens, depth-sensing cameras, and real-time anonymized data to determine whether or not attendees were wearing masks and if they were social distancing. If someone wasn’t wearing a mask or was too close to another person, the screen issued an alert advising a correction ...
Spotify Will Soon Allow Streaming from Apple Watch Without iPhone Nearby
Streaming giant Spotify is heavily favored among music fans, even those who stream via their Apple devices. The popular Apple Watch is a great tool for this purpose, but previously, the Spotify app did not allow streaming directly from the watch without an iPhone tethered. A new update will alleviate that inconvenience, as the Spotify app will now be usable directly from the Apple Watch without the need for an iPhone to be paired with the device. While the watch previously acted as more of a remote for the iPhone, its newer incarnations boast expanded functionality, including this Spotify update. Spotify Everywhere Users can now leave the iPhone behind when it comes to streaming from Spotify, making things especially convenient for those looking to play music during a run o...
10 Christmas gifts for travellers
Our annual list of 10 Christmas gifts for travellers, be they bookworms, shutterbugs, adrenaline junkies or culture vultures I welcomed 2020 with friends in Milan. It was going to be a big year for me and, in some ways, it was. Take It Back came out in paperback in March and its follow-up, Truth Be Told, was out in September. I launched Asian Booklist, a non-profit organisation that helps readers discover new books by British-Asian authors and I finished the first draft of my next novel – all while running Atlas & Boots. Meanwhile, Peter climbed one of the seven summits in January. He managed to fit in treks in Germany and Croatia, and completed the ‘microchallenge’ of climbing all 41 mountains in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. On the flip side, we had trips to Gambia, ...
Armin van Buuren Announces Series of VR Performances via Sensorium Galaxy
As the global pandemic continues to delay the return of live music, artists have worked tirelessly to keep their virtual sets as creative and fresh as possible. Armin van Buuren is the latest artist to announce he’ll be taking the stage inside of virtual reality via Sensorium Galaxy. Sensorium Galaxy Sensorium Galaxy is a new TIDAL-backed company offering unique VR experiences set to launch in early 2021. As a social VR platform, their goal is to provide artists a space to connect with fans in new ways and completely change the virtual concert game. van Buuren has expressed he’s ready to take things to the next level in VR. “By not being subjected to the laws of physics and the boundaries of the real world, I can develop performances where the immersive environment become...
Listen to Grimes’ Ambient, AI-Powered Electronic Lullaby
Synth-pop icon Grimes is a new mother to X Æ A-Xii (yes, that is the child’s actual name, in case you hadn’t heard) with her husband, billionaire Elon Musk. Of course, every new mother can sympathize with sleepless nights, as an infant can cry for hours at a time, keeping everyone in the house awake. New mothers such as Grimes are no strangers to lullabies, and the eccentric art pop artist has taken things a step further by creating her own in partnership with AI mood music startup Endel Pacific. The lullaby is an electronic ballad that’s described as a “limited edition sleep soundscape.” Grimes’ vocal work and music form the basis for the song, and the AI elements are then incorporated to adapt the soundscape to many diffe...
Armin van Buuren is Re-Releasing His “Balance” Album in Immersive Dolby Atmos
You can now experience Armin van Buuren‘s iconic trance sound like never before. The dance music legend and “A State Of Trance” proprietor has teamed up with Dolby to re-release his seventh studio album Balance in immersive Dolby Atmos. The unique re-issue of Balance, which was released exactly one year ago, will be available across TIDAL’s HiFi tier and Amazon Music HD starting today, October 26th. Music processed in Dolby Atmos “makes listeners feel like they’re inside the music” by adding more space, clarity, and depth. Songs produced using the technology offer a more immersive listening experience because creators are able to strategically place distinct audio elements in a 3D sound field, which isn’t possible in stereo....
Martin Garrix Reveals Custom Postage Stamp That Gives Access to Private Augmented Reality Performance
One fact you may not know about Martin Garrix is that he has a special affinity towards stamps. While he’s referenced it in the past by naming his label STMPD RCRDS, the connection actually comes from his youth, when he grew up with a father who owned a stamp auction house. In a true full-circle moment, the world-renowned electronic music artist has now been honored with his very own stamp through PostNL. WOPA+ Stamps & Coins Many DJs and producers strive for global success, but for someone who has reached that level and beyond, the honor of having a stamp named after you is next level kind of glory, especially when your family has such deep ties to it. While some may think, “Who uses stamps anymore?” PostNL is looking to alter that mindset by bringing the littl...
How to choose a tent: a buying guide
Our comprehensive guide on how to choose a tent will ensure dry and comfortable nights whatever the weather If you ask me, time in a tent is time well spent. I’m usually at my most content when under canvas. With the distractions of modern life left behind, I find that camping has a detoxifying effect on me. At the end of a day on the trail, I pitch my tent, eat, drink, sleep. In the morning I strike my tent and then repeat. It’s a simple but good life. Of course, knowing how to choose a tent is not so simple. There is a slew of options available with a glossary of bewildering jargon to match. It can be a confusing affair and potentially an expensive one if you get it wrong. If you get it right, however, you will enjoy comfort, reliability and some of the best views money can’t buy night a...
Aphex Twin and Novation Unveil AFX Station, a Reimagined Version of an Iconic Synth
After Aphex Twin‘s logo mysteriously surfaced on billboards around the world earlier in the month of October, the legendary electronic music producer has returned. However, fans hoping for new music will have to hold their breath. Aphex Twin, whose last official release is 2018’s Collapse EP, has announced a new collaboration with renowned music hardware manufacturer Novation. Dubbed AFX Station, the synth is a reimagined version of the brand’s iconic Bass Station II model. The instrument features “AFX Mode,” which allows producers to introduce new patches on every key, transforming it into a flexible and dynamic analogue drum machine. Novation The AFX Station also comes pre-installed with 128 new synth patches and seven new overlay ba...
Modestep Releases Enormous Sample Pack With 1,200 Sounds
Modestep is sharing their wealth of knowledge with the next generation of producers through the release of their new sample pack on Splice. Containing over 1,200 samples, the pack enables music producers to experiment with many of the building blocks that make up some of their dubstep and bass classics. On YouTube, Modestep shared a video via Disciple‘s channel wherein they go over the new sample pack. In the extensive walkthrough, you can learn more about some of the featured sounds and see them in action. While it’s geared mostly towards producers, fans who may not be musically-inclined can still enjoy learning more about the production of some of their favorite songs. Modestep’s enormous sample pack is available for purchase now on Splice. You can check out what&#...
You Can Finally Search for Music by Humming, Singing, or Whistling
The Holy Grail of music identification has arrived. How many times were you unable to secure that elusive Shazam, only to have a sick beat incessantly poke at you like an annoying little brother? The earworm is in your head, but it doesn’t have lyrics, so you can’t search for it anywhere and it’s not like you can just clumsily hum it into your phone—until now. Thanks to Google‘s new “Hum To Search” feature, you can now search for music by humming, singing, or whistling a melody. Gone are the days of agonizing, tedious lyric searches and Reddit rabbit holes. All you have to do is use the Google Search app or Google Search Widget, tap the microphone icon, and ask “what is this song?” or click the “Search a song” button. From there, ...
How to Not Suck at DJing, According to Beat Spot
Thanks to Beat Spot, a popular educational platform dedicated to demystifying music production, mixing, and engineering, you can finally find out how to “not suck” at DJing. It’s no secret that beat-matching is the crux of DJing, but the ability to cohesively mix each track in key is one that eludes many artists. Beat Spot points to harmonic mixing as the most crucial aspect of putting together a perfect DJ mix. Knowing the key of every song an artist cues up—as well as compatible keys—is essential to a smooth performance. Mixed In Key Harmonic mixing is done by blending tracks that are in the same or related keys, which you can determine by detecting on your own or using a program such as Mixed In Key. Using the Camelot Wheel as a bedrock, Mixed In Key al...
