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Music Production

It's in the SongDNA: an 'immersive' Spotify test that lets you discover everyone involved
AppWizard
March 25, 2026

It’s in the SongDNA: an ‘immersive’ Spotify test that lets you discover everyone involved

Spotify has launched a beta feature called SongDNA for its global Premium users, allowing them to explore the songwriters, collaborators, and contributors behind their favorite tracks. Accessible through the Now Playing > SongDNA card, it provides information on collaborators, music samples, interpolations, covers, and the songwriters involved in the creation of the track. SongDNA complements the existing "About this song" feature, which focuses on the artist's creative process. Additionally, Spotify introduced "Taste Profile," which tracks users' musical preferences and curates recommendations based on their listening habits.
Windows 11 finally hits right note: MIDI 2.0 support arrives
Winsage
February 18, 2026

Windows 11 finally hits right note: MIDI 2.0 support arrives

Microsoft has introduced MIDI 2.0 support for Windows 11, allowing multiple applications to access the same MIDI device and port simultaneously, and enabling users to customize MIDI port names. MIDI 2.0, which includes updates for device discovery and fallback capabilities, was first introduced in 2020. The update maintains backwards compatibility with MIDI 1.0 and includes a new USB MIDI 2.0 class driver, usbmidi2.sys, while retaining the legacy usbaudio.sys driver. The enhancements promise faster connection speeds and two-way communication, improving the music production experience.
Making music with MIDI just got a real boost in Windows 11
Winsage
February 17, 2026

Making music with MIDI just got a real boost in Windows 11

MIDI serves as a crucial tool for musicians, enabling instrument synchronization, effects control, and electronic music creation. It began at the 1983 NAMM Show with the introduction of MIDI 1.0, which transmitted messages over a DIN serial cable. MIDI 1.0 has limitations, such as a control parameter range of 0-127 and inadequate support for orchestral articulation. In 2020, MIDI 2.0 was introduced, offering improvements like bidirectional communication, automatic device discovery, and high-resolution controllers. Windows 11 now supports both MIDI 1.0 and MIDI 2.0 through Windows MIDI Services, which includes features like multi-client support, customizable MIDI endpoints, built-in loopback, and tighter message timing. A new USB MIDI 2.0 class driver has been developed, and tools for MIDI scripting will be released soon. The development of Windows MIDI Services involved community collaboration, and future enhancements are planned for music creation on Windows.
Slipknot's Clown Calls His New Minecraft Server, "The Biggest Art Piece I've Made In My Entire Life", Speaks On Embracing AI
AppWizard
December 29, 2025

Slipknot’s Clown Calls His New Minecraft Server, “The Biggest Art Piece I’ve Made In My Entire Life”, Speaks On Embracing AI

M. Shawn “Clown” Crahan, the percussionist and creative director of Slipknot, has launched a custom Minecraft server called Vernearth, driven by a passion for creativity rather than financial gain. He has a long history with video games, starting with systems like Atari and Intellivision, and has engaged with various games that have influenced his creativity. Crahan views Vernearth as a significant artistic endeavor that combines music, coding, and community interaction. He has a deep respect for Minecraft, having followed its development since its release, and it has served as a therapeutic outlet for him. Crahan embraces artificial intelligence as a tool for enhancing his creativity, comparing it to a personal assistant that helps him express his artistic ideas. He acknowledges concerns about AI but believes it is an integral part of modern life and emphasizes the inevitability of technological progress.
silver Android smartphone
AppWizard
September 25, 2025

This digital hand pan is as useful for meditation as it is for learning the Minecraft soundtrack

The Mood Pan is a novel musical instrument featuring nine responsive pads and a smaller control pad, capable of producing various sound profiles, including traditional hand pan tones and custom samples via the Mood Pan Plus app. It is made from durable plastic with a silicone-feel top cover, includes built-in speakers, and operates on USB-C or six AA batteries. The instrument has a headphone jack for private listening and offers a range of scale, timbre, and effect controls on its front panel. It is priced at 9.99 / £572.99 / AU9.
Here's all of the best top-tier Android apps and games now on sale for Memorial Day
AppWizard
May 26, 2025

Here’s all of the best top-tier Android apps and games now on sale for Memorial Day

Memorial Day sales feature a variety of discounted Android games and applications, including gaming deals, productivity apps, and creative tools. Users can find reduced prices on popular titles, efficiency-enhancing apps, and artistic applications. These offers present an opportunity to explore new digital experiences during the holiday weekend. Subscribing to relevant channels can help users stay informed about the latest deals.
Windows-on-Arm woes: Amazon warns customers about Surface laptop returns
Winsage
March 25, 2025

Windows-on-Arm woes: Amazon warns customers about Surface laptop returns

Qualcomm and Microsoft are enhancing the Windows-on-Arm ecosystem, highlighted during the Microsoft Build event in May 2024. The Surface brand laptops with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite processors received positive feedback for performance and battery life. However, the Microsoft Surface Laptop (7th Edition) has been flagged by Amazon as a "frequently returned item," prompting buyers to check reviews. Customer feedback indicates that app compatibility issues are a primary reason for the returns. Intel's interim Co-CEO suggested that devices with Snapdragon chips are returned at higher rates due to unmet functionality expectations. Despite this, the market for Windows-on-Arm systems remains strong, with major manufacturers adopting Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors. Other Snapdragon-powered devices, like the Microsoft Surface Pro 11, have not faced similar return warnings. The Surface Laptop may have higher return rates due to its popularity and specific shortcomings noted in reviews, such as display quality and keyboard comfort. Microsoft also offers Intel versions of the Surface Laptop and Surface Pro, which may confuse consumers. Qualcomm and Microsoft are working with developers to improve software support for Windows-on-Arm, with notable applications like DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Photoshop now available. Challenges remain, including Qualcomm's discontinuation of its Snapdragon Developer Kit for Windows and limited native support for some applications. Users with specialized needs may prefer traditional x86 Windows versions. Qualcomm plans to unveil its second generation of Snapdragon X processors in late 2025.
Latest Windows 11 build adds full MIDI 2.0 support and improved performance
Winsage
February 7, 2025

Latest Windows 11 build adds full MIDI 2.0 support and improved performance

Microsoft has released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27788 in the Canary Channel, which includes significant enhancements to the MIDI standard. This update supports both MIDI 1.0 and MIDI 2.0, designed exclusively for 64-bit operating systems, and extends full MIDI compatibility across all modern Windows architectures, including Arm64-based PCs. The MIDI 2.0 standard features high-speed data transmission, high-fidelity messages, and endpoint discovery and negotiation. The new MIDI stack improves performance with better timing and reduced jitter, and a faster MIDI driver supports both versions with automatic API translation for interoperability. The update also includes a USB MIDI 2.0 class driver developed in collaboration with the Association of Musical Electronics Industry of Japan and AmeNote, ensuring compatibility with both MIDI 2.0 and legacy MIDI 1.0 devices. Additionally, the preview introduces a 1-click resume function for OneDrive and selective installation options for games in the Microsoft Store.
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