Month in music tech: the biggest news of June 2021

Behringer came back this June. After a few quiet months, the controversial audio manufacturer teased a few new synths, some inspired by classics and some brand new instruments. Speaking of classic instruments, Bram Bos’ 1997 drum machine, the HammerHead Rhythm Station, has returned primed for the 21st century as an iOS app.

Elsewhere, Apple made headlines after announcing Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos on Apple Music, among other updates to its products. Producers are sure to be intrigued by the implementation of Spatial Audio tools for Logic Pro – an update that will arrive later this year.

In this month’s news roundup, we recap the biggest and best news of June 2021, keeping you in the loop on announcements, product releases and new freeware you might have missed.

Industry

• Spotify launched the interactive Only You in-app experience, giving users the opportunity to see their unique listening habits.
• US Congress expressed its fears of Spotify’s proposed Discovery Mode, which they say could lead to artists receiving lower royalties.
• In the UK, the Music Producers Guild and Musician’s Union backed an open letter that calls for a new UK regulatory body to ensure fair payment from streaming services. Brian Eno, The Rolling Stones, Bicep and more are among those who signed.
• According to a former Spotify executive, Twitch is helping musicians earn 10 times more than music streaming platforms.
• Deadmau5 gushed over Billy Corgan’s Ichabod modular system in an episode of the My Forever Studio podcast.
• Moog denied claims of misogyny within the company after an ex-employee filed a $1.1million lawsuit.
• Universal Audio acquired Townsend Lab inc. assets, meaning the Sphere L22 Microphone System will join UA’s line of products.

Gear

• Novation brought its Circuit Rhythm groovebox to life, with a focus on quick sampling and sequencing.
• Behringer begins shipping its Swing MIDI controller, a controversial product among the music production community.
• The TR-909-inspired drum machine from Behringer, the RD-9, is now shipping, after three years of teasing and development.
• Behringer has a new Eurorack multi-engine oscillator, Brains, sporting over 20 synth engines.
• A new LinnDrum-inspired drum machine is coming courtesy of Behringer, called the LmDrum.
• Behringer’s last gear release of the month is due on 28 June, with hints at an 808-sounding drum machine – possibly an update to the RD-8.
• Black Corporation is set to release a Jupiter-8-inspired synth, the ISE-NIN desktop poly, later this year.
• IKEA and Sonos’ hotly-anticipated picture frame speaker is now listing at a modest price of $179.
• Apogee unveiled the Duet 3 portable audio interface, with onboard DSP and optional desktop dock.

Software

• Beatport has launched a new iOS app that lets users tweak and manage their playlists and stream music.
• Apple hosted its WWDC event, announcing Dolby Atmos for Spatial Audio, macOS Monterey, iOS 15 and more. Logic Pro will get immersive audio tools later this year.
• Splice announced a major update, with new subscription plans and three new plug-ins.
• Bram Bos reboots the 1997 HammerHead Rhythm Station – one of the first software drum machines – as an iOS app.
• Softube’s Tape Echoes plug-in is an ode to old-school tape delays, with a GUI that gives you nostalgia right off the bat.
• A new browser-based AI vocal synthesizer, Uberduck, generates vocals from the lyrics you input.

Freeware

• Check out the best freeware of this month in our June 2021 freeware round-up.