musicians Archives

AppWizard

February 26, 2026

“Square Enix, hire us, I’m not joking,” says team of Final Fantasy modders who gave Final Fantasy 7 new voice acting and audio, because “we must fix” the JRPG’s busted new PC version

A new PC version of Final Fantasy 7 was released by Square Enix, replacing the 2013 version, which has been delisted. Existing owners can access the new version for free, while newcomers must purchase the 2026 edition. User reviews on Steam have been "very negative," citing performance issues, including a glitch that causes battles to run at double speed. The modding team Tsunamods has proposed to Square Enix to hire them to fix these issues, highlighting their experience with mods for Final Fantasy 7. The 2013 version is still available on the PlayStation Store, and players are advised to wait for updates on the new release before playing.

AppWizard

February 18, 2026

Gemini’s music generator is here, and I think this is where everyday AI gets interesting

Gemini now generates 30-second songs with lyrics based on text prompts or photos, powered by Google's Lyria 3 model. Users can type a prompt or upload an image/video to create a share-ready song with custom cover art. The feature includes automatic lyric generation, style control, and produces more realistic audio. It will debut on YouTube Shorts in the U.S. and expand globally, allowing for customizable backing tracks and lyrics for short videos. Each track includes SynthID, an invisible watermark for identifying AI-generated content. Lyria 3 is available in the Gemini app for users aged 18 and older, supporting multiple languages. The launch will start on desktop, with mobile access planned, and higher usage limits for subscribers to Google AI Plus, Pro, and Ultra.

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.

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.

Winsage

February 11, 2026

Windows 11 KB5077181 & KB5075941 cumulative updates released

Microsoft has released cumulative updates KB5077181 and KB5075941 for Windows 11, affecting versions 25H2, 24H2, and 23H2, which include the February 2026 Patch Tuesday security patches. Users can install these updates via Start > Settings > Windows Update or manually from the Microsoft Update Catalog. The build numbers will change to 26200.7840 for 25H2, 26100.7840 for 24H2, and 226x1.6050 for 23H2. Key enhancements include: - Fixed gaming device eligibility issues. - Resolved connectivity issues with WPA3-Personal Wi-Fi networks. - Introduced new Secure Boot certificate targeting data. - New Cross Device Resume feature for continuing activities from Android phones on PCs. - Enhanced MIDI support for musicians with compatibility for MIDI 1.0 and 2.0. - Improved Narrator control over on-screen announcements. - New Device card in Settings for PC specifications. - Ability to toggle Smart App Control without a clean installation. - Revamped Voice Access setup process. - New Wait time setting for Voice Typing commands. - Enhanced sign-in security for Windows Hello with peripheral fingerprint sensors. No new issues have been reported with this month's updates.

Tech Optimizer

January 6, 2026

MENXTT NG to pre-install Bitdefender Antivirus on all laptops from 2026

MTN Nigeria, in collaboration with ONErpm and Ultima Studios, announced Ayodeji Benson, known as Ayo Benzi, as the winner of the Next Afrobeats Star reality show during the grand finale on December 13, 2025, at Ultima Studios in Lekki, Lagos. The competition began in September and attracted over 15,000 participants. Ayo Benzi received a ₦150 million music deal, while the first runner-up, Dave Cash, won ₦100 million. Other finalists, Kaeko, Somto O’Laker, and Lucky Yay, received ₦75 million, ₦50 million, and ₦25 million, respectively. The contestants were mentored by notable Afrobeats producers, including Puffy Tee. The event featured guest performances from Iyanya and Bella Shmurda.

AppWizard

November 21, 2025

YouTube Tests Revival of In-App Messaging in Ireland and Poland

YouTube is testing the revival of its in-app direct messaging feature, which was discontinued in 2019. The limited rollout is currently available to users in Ireland and Poland and is aimed at users over 18, focusing on privacy and community guidelines. This feature allows for private conversations and video sharing within the app, reflecting user demand for integrated communication. The original messaging system, launched in 2017, was shut down due to low adoption rates and moderation challenges. The current testing phase suggests YouTube is refining the feature before a broader launch, with potential implications for creators to engage with fans directly. However, there are concerns regarding privacy and content moderation. The initiative aligns with industry trends emphasizing in-app communication and could enhance user engagement and advertising opportunities for YouTube.

AppWizard

November 20, 2025

Ultimate Guitar: Chords & Tabs For Android

Ultimate Guitar is a platform for music enthusiasts that provides a vast library of tabs and chords for various instruments, including guitar, bass, piano, ukulele, violin, drums, and vocals. It features songs from artists like The Beatles, Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, and Billie Eilish. Users can access guitar tabs, bass tabs, ukulele chords, and lyrics, with search functionalities for filtering by type, difficulty, tuning, and rating. Additional features include offline access, left-handed mode, customizable tabs, video playback options, integration with Spotify and YouTube, a metronome, a built-in tuner, and dark mode. The platform encourages community engagement through sharing creativity, uploading original tabs, and participating in forums. Pro membership offers access to over 2 million songs, 29,000 Official Tabs, Tonebridge presets, personalized feedback via Practice Mode, transposition capabilities, and SmartScroll and Autoscroll features. Ultimate Guitar also provides over 230 video lessons through UG Courses and instant feedback on singing performance with interactive songs. Users can contact Ultimate Guitar via email or social media for inquiries and suggestions.

AppWizard

November 20, 2025

DistroKid For Android

DistroKid is a music distribution service that allows independent artists to upload unlimited songs to over 150 streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, and YouTube Music. It enables artists to retain 100% of their earnings, provides access to official artist accounts, and offers tools for creating promotional materials. Artists receive real-time notifications about their earnings and can check streaming statistics anytime. DistroKid also allows artists to edit their releases as needed and has a user-friendly app available on various devices.

AppWizard

November 10, 2025

Mick Gordon is asking ‘how heavy can we get it?’ in his first full game soundtrack since Doom Eternal: ‘I’m really exploring the extremes of distortion with this project’

Australian composer Mick Gordon is known for his distinctive future-metal sound in videogame music, particularly for his work on id Software's Wolfenstein and Doom. After parting ways with Bethesda, he has worked on various projects, including the soundtrack for Atomic Heart and recently announced his involvement in the soundtrack for the upcoming cyberpunk game Defect. The game features a sprawling metropolis and an omnipresent surveillance AI, drawing inspiration from the 2011 film Dredd. Gordon aims to integrate his musical style into Defect while experimenting with microtonal sounds and off-tempo beats. He plans to use synthesizers to create an immersive auditory experience that reflects the game's grim cityscapes. Gordon also cited the 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie as an unexpected source of inspiration for capturing a nostalgic energy in his work. Players can wishlist Defect on Steam as they await its release.