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Erica Synths has introduced another module in its educational DIY line, mki x es.EDU, created in cooperation with Moritz Klein.

The latest module is a versatile envelope generator, which join the recently announced VCO and VCF modules. The EDU DIY EG is described as ‘a slightly optimized ADSR envelope generator’, since it has only three controls. With sustain on, it outputs an ASR (attack/sustain/release) envelope, but when the sustain is set to a minimum, it becomes an AD (attack/decay) envelope generator, that ignores gate length.

Release and decay are controlled by the same knob, while a looping function and an inverted output make the module versatile for complex patches.

The mki x es.EDU project will consist of 9 kits, in addition to the DIY enclosure and PSU. This includes a sequencer, a VCO, a wavefolder, a noise/S&H module, a mixer, a VCF, an envelope generator, a dual VCA and an output stereo mixer with a headphone amplifier.

*Note – The full EDU DIY system is designed to have 2 EG modules, so order 2 EG kits, if you are wanting to build the entire system.

The EDU DIY EG is available now at the Erica Synths web shop for €55 (VAT excl.)/ $69

Bigwig has announced that Bigwig Studio 4.2 is now available.

Biwig Studio 4.2 latest update comes with three main new effects. They go by the names of Chorus+, Flanger+ and Phaser+.

Bitwig Studio 4.2 adds new modulation effects, and they are quite literally bursting with Character

Bigwig says that, because each of these effects has four different ‘Characters’, you are effectively getting 12 new audio processing tools.

Bitwig says that each of the Characters is similar to a different era of vintage studio hardware and, as a result, will give you a different type of sound.

If you want to get under the hood, you can mix and match LFOs, step sequencers and any of Bitwig Studio’s 38 modulator devices to make the algorithms your own, and it’s worth noting that all three of the effects are available as modules for Bitwig’s Grid modular sound design environment, as well.

Bitwig Studio 4.2 adds a third device to The Grid:  Note Grid. Designed for processing and even generating notes, this can access The Grid’s 184 modules and polyphonic structure.

In addition, there is a new Note Out module – connect a gate signal and this will start outputting notes. Pitch, velocity, and channel can be set manually or with dynamic signals, and MPE fans can go even deeper by accessing signals for each note’s timbre, pressure, gain and panning expressions. The Note Out module can also be used in the other Grid devices – Poly Grid and FX Grid.

Note Grid comes with eight “production-ready” presets that are designed to show off what it can do.

Bitwig Studio 4.2 includes other tweaks as well, and includes a French language option. Tres bon!

Anyone with an active Bitwig Studio upgrade plan can download the version 4.2 beta today, with the official release scheduled for March.

Find out more on the Bitwig website.

TikTok has launched its own music distribution platform, and TikTok is promising to pay artists 100% of royalties for the first year.

TikTok has provided another indication of how important music is to its business by launching SoundOn, an “all-in-one platform for music marketing and distribution”.

A new way to get your music heard

This is designed for new and undiscovered artists who want to grow their fanbases and get their music heard – and possibly even make a bit of money. Artists retain full ownership of their music and there are no admin fees.

SoundOn enables users to upload their music directly to TikTok and start earning royalties when that music is used. It’ll pay out 100% of any royalties earned for the first year, and 90% after that, while also offering what are described as “promotional tools and support”.

Examples include audience insight, advice from the SoundOn artist team, access to TikTok’s song tab, where music is linked to profile pages, and promotional support. We’re also told that SoundOn can distribute music to other platforms, widening your potential reach.

SoundOn is now out of beta and fully launched in the US, UK, Brazil and Indonesia.