• All The Essentials On Using Reference Tracks in Music Production (…And A Couple Less Talked About Tricks)

    Reference tracks sit at the center of how I finish music consistently, especially when I want a track to translate outside my room without second-guessing every decision I make late in the process. I rely on them as a calibration tool, a reality check, and a way to move forward with confidence instead of hesitation, and if using reference tracks is good enough for Armin Van Buuren, it should be good enough for artists like you and me.
    When I talk about reference tracks, I mean finished records t
  • Donner Heads Into NAMM 2026 With New Pedals, HUSH Updates, and U.S. Drum Expansion

    NAMM is next week, and I have started narrowing down which booths are actually worth carving time out for once the floor opens. Donner keeps landing on that short list. This preview reads like a company arriving with a full 2026 plan rather than one headline product, with new artist collaborations, meaningful updates to existing instrument lines, and a bigger push into U.S. retail that signals intent.Donner is set to showcase new pedals tied to MIYAVI and Ruben Wan, expanded HUSH Series options,
  • How to Build an Effective Music Marketing Strategy in 2026

    Music marketing in 2026 rewards the artist who thinks like a builder, because the environment now demands structure, sequencing, and intent rather than constant posting or surface-level hype.
    Streaming continues to grow globally, short-form video keeps compressing how quickly attention is earned or lost, and ad platforms keep automating the mechanics that once separated experienced operators from everyone else, which means the real advantage now comes from how well those pieces are connected int
  • Universal Audio Releases the 610 Tube Preamp & EQ Collection as a Free Native Plug-In

    Universal Audio has released the 610 Tube Preamp & EQ Collection as a free download for a limited time, bringing one of the most historically important tube channel strips into modern native workflows. For the first time, UA’s end-to-end emulations of the 610-A and 610-B are available without requiring Apollo hardware, allowing producers to access the unmistakable tone of the original hardware directly inside their DAW.The original 610 modular console was introduced in 1960 by Bill Put
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  • Why Music Producers Should Play An Instrument (…And Why It Matters In 2026 More Than Ever)

    Table of ContentsMusic Theory and Composition Through InstrumentsPhysicality and Human FeelCommunication and Collaboration BenefitsCreativity, Composition, and InspirationEfficiency and Workflow AdvantagesCareer and Professional Advantages
    I’ve found that as music production has shifted almost entirely onto laptops and tablets, it’s become easier than ever to finish tracks without ever touching a physical instrument, but that convenience can quietly flatten how you understand music.
  • How to Make Your Music Sound More Human: Everything I’ve Learned After 13 Years As A Producer

    At A GlanceWhy Digital Music Often Sounds RoboticTiming and QuantizationHow to Make MIDI Feel PerformedNote Length and ArticulationSubtle Movement That Feels HumanLayering Synthetic SoundsControlled InstabilityAutomation as PerformanceHuman Feel Comes From Intentional DecisionsIf you have spent any amount of time producing music inside a DAW, you have likely experienced the moment where a track looks complete on the screen but still feels strangely lifeless when you listen back and you’re
  • How To Turn Clicks into Fans: An Interview with the Soundplate Team

    More often than not, new artists will think that making good music will equate to being successful. That’s only half of the truth – the other half is marketing.Think of it this way. You could be making some of the best music ever, but if nobody knows about it, then that’s not going to lead to a successful career. That’s why it’s crucial that independent artists know more and more about the tools that can get their music in front of people who may become their bigges
  • Midline Set to Redefine Miami’s Live Music Landscape with State-of-the-Art Venue in Wynwood

    Miami’s Wynwood district is preparing to welcome a major new player in the city’s cultural ecosystem. Midline, a 10,000-square-foot live music venue and raw event space located at the Arlo Hotel, is poised to transform Miami’s relationship with live sound, marking a deliberate shift toward quality-driven performance environments and forward-thinking cultural programming. It arrives courtesy of industry veterans Eric Fuller (former co-owner of Club Space) and Jeremy Waks (founde
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  • Trance Effect releases music video “Find Me” featuring Korea - Eastern Mirror

    Trance Effect releases music video “Find Me” featuring Korea  Eastern Mirror
  • eBook Release: What Artists Need to Know About U.S. Touring Visas

    Touring the United States as an international artist involves far more than securing bookings and confirming travel dates, and many performers only realize this once their plans are already in motion. U.S. immigration law treats live performance as work, which means entering the country without the correct visa can place shows, relationships with promoters, and future travel eligibility at risk. This reality has become stricter in recent years, with longer processing times, higher evidentiary st
  • “Music often speaks before language does” Hayden F interview

    Hayden F has built his sound around subtle pressure rather than obvious release. His productions favour repetition, restraint, and small shifts in energy, leaning into mood and texture over overt narrative. It is a style that rewards patience, where minimal harmonic ideas and evolving sound design are given the time to settle and do their work.Hayden has put together a fascinating studio video that documents the making of his track Between The Lines exclusively for us here at Magnetic. This inte
  • Ring Noord Explore Driving & Falling Energy In New Two-Track Single

    Today, Ring Noord kick off 2026 with a two-track release that turns a single vocal idea into two distinctly different tracks. Out now on VISION, “It Never Lasts Long Enough + It Never Whatever” serves as a paired statement, released together as one combined single, where shared source material is pushed toward two very different emotional outcomes. One track accelerates toward excess and momentum; the other settles into stillness, reflection, and resignation. Together, they
  • NYC Producer & Label Owner Kozlow Speaks on His New Pleasure Pack Series

    It’s hard to find an artist with a more unique story than New York City’s own Kozlow.In the music industry, you often find someone wearing one or two of the following hats: producer, DJ, live instrumentalist, event planner, promoter, label owner, A&R. Remarkably, Kozlow wears all of them with pride.
    A classically trained violinist, Kozlow is widely known for his skills on the instrument (he’s played alongside Carl Cox at Burning Man twice). He’s also renowned for his
  • How It Was Made: Amirali – Endless High

    For this edition of How It Was Made, Amirali breaks down the production of “Endless High”, taken from his new EP on Mélopée Records.
    Iranian-born and now UK-based, Amirali has built a reputation for records that balance emotional weight with club functionality, shaped by releases on Crosstown Rebels, Diynamic and Sincopat, and a background that spans classical piano, songwriting and live performance.The EP pairs “Endless High” with the more introspective &ld
  • The Loneliest Hunk Showcases Piano House at Its Best with New EP “The Keys”

    Longtime readers of our monthly Disco & Funk charts will recognize this name: The Loneliest Hunk is back at it again.Last month, he returned to Follow Joy Records with “The Keys“, a concise yet expressive EP that leans into one of dance music’s most enduring instruments: the piano. Across two tracks, the New Zealand–based producer delivers a statement rooted in warmth, optimism, and unbridled joy, reaffirming his ability to balance classic house values with a mod
  • How to Write An Amazing Hook In Music Production By Bringing It Back To The Basics

    Table of ContentsWhat Is a Hook in a SongWhy Hooks Matter So Much in Electronic MusicDance Music Songs With Great HooksTools and Resources for Developing Strong HooksAnd Finally, How to Write An Amazing HookImage Cred Above: Magnetic Magazine Recordings’ Artist DiscognitionWhen I talk about hooks with electronic music producers, I usually start with a simple truth: the hook is the part of the track people remember, hum, or wait for when it comes back around. In a streaming-driven environme
  • Floorplan on Emotional Weight, Faith, and Timeless Records

    Image Cred: Khris CowleyDetroit duo Floorplan continue to operate from a place of purpose, grounding their selections and productions in message, memory, and lived experience. Their work has long bridged house and techno through a shared spiritual language, shaped by Robert Hood’s legacy and Lyric Hood’s presence as an equal creative voice. That foundation remains central as they prepare to release fabric presents Floorplan via fabric Records on Friday, November 28.The mix marks a fu
  • GIK Acoustics Expands Its Diffuser Line With the New Q11D

    GIK Acoustics has added a new option to its growing diffuser lineup with the release of the Q11D, a one-dimensional quadratic diffuser designed to address midrange and upper-mid reflections with greater precision. Built on the foundation of the company’s well-established Q7D, the Q11D shifts the focus higher in frequency by using an 11-root well sequence, making it a useful tool for larger rooms and more demanding acoustic environments.Quadratic diffusion remains one of the most predictabl
  • Baby Audio Tekno V1.1 Turns Drum Synthesis Into a Full Production Workflow

    When Baby Audio released Tekno in late 2025, it landed with a clear purpose. This was not another sample-based drum machine competing on preset count. Tekno positioned itself as a circuit-modeled drum synthesizer built for producers who wanted hands-on control, fast sound shaping, and drums that responded like hardware. With Tekno V1.1, that foundation stays intact, but the plugin now steps into a much larger role inside the DAW.The headline addition in V1.1 is the new onboard sequencer, and it
  • Solarstone presents. Pure Trance Radio Episode 473

    Nox Vahn & Marsh – Come Together [Anjunadeep]
    Soul Alt Delete – There Was No Goodbye [Pure Progressive]
    Paul Thomas – Benediction [UV]
    Narel – Helion (Slam Duck Remix) [Forescape Digital]
    Basil O’Glue – Following the Light [BAGRUHM]
    Dinaire & Bissen ft. Isabella Gueck – Get Over You [Halfway Haus]
    It’s Not The Kind Of Thing We Usually Play… But We Like It Anyway:
    Micha Mendel – Offline [Pure Breaks]
    Aiden Francis – Floral
  • Moments In Time for Serum 2 by Just Make Music Review: Warm Melodic House Beauty, Instantly

    I think New Years’ Resolutions suck.Stick with me for a second. I think New Years’ Resolutions that serve a solely self-fulfilling purpose are awful. People don’t keep up with them for longer than 3 weeks most of the time, so why would you make a resolution you don’t follow just because you can? If you’re going to make one, why not make it about uplifting others instead of yourself? That way, you can help other people and feel good about yourself in the process. It&
  • Maxwell 2 Marks a Full Redesign of Audeze’s Gaming Headset Line

    Audeze has officially unveiled the Maxwell 2, a full redesign of its widely praised wireless gaming headset, aimed squarely at players who care as much about audio accuracy as they do comfort and reliability. Rather than a light refresh, Maxwell 2 is an inside-and-out rethink that builds on the original’s reputation while addressing long-session usability, spatial detail, and cross-platform flexibility.At the center of the update is Audeze’s new SLAM technology, which works in tandem
  • Roland Introduces KIYOLA KF-20 and KF-25 Artisan Digital Pianos

    Roland has expanded its KIYOLA series with the introduction of the KF-20 and KF-25, two artisan digital pianos built in collaboration with Karimoku, one of Japan’s most respected premium wood furniture makers. Crafted in Japan, these new models continue KIYOLA’s focus on merging refined piano technology with furniture-grade woodworking, resulting in instruments designed to live comfortably in modern homes rather than hide in practice rooms.Each KIYOLA piano is built around Karimoku&r
  • ISOVOX WorkSpace Brings Ergonomic Control to Minimal Studios

    Space has quietly become one of the biggest constraints for modern creators. Between portable vocal booths, nearfield monitors, laptops, and interfaces, even experienced producers find themselves improvising desk layouts that never quite feel stable or ergonomic. ISOVOX is addressing that reality head-on with WorkSpace, a studio desk add-on designed to mount directly onto standard PA speaker stands.Rather than introducing another piece of bulky furniture, WorkSpace rethinks the studio surface it
  • United UT Vintage87 Delivers Classic Studio Tone at a Working Price

    Certain microphones earn their reputation by simply working, day after day, across countless sessions, voices, and rooms. The UT Vintage87 from United Studio Technologies was designed with that exact expectation in mind. Announced this week, the UT Vintage87 takes the sonic foundation of United’s acclaimed Twin87 and distills it into a fixed-cardioid microphone built for speed, consistency, and accessibility.Rather than chasing novelty or overloading the design with options, United focused
  • NAMM’s 2026 Grand Rally Brings Music Education Back Into Focus

    Every year, The NAMM Show moves fast. New gear, packed halls, nonstop meetings, and a calendar that barely leaves room to breathe. The Grand Rally for Music Education has always functioned as a necessary pause inside that chaos, and in 2026, it feels especially well timed.Taking place on Saturday, January 24, the Grand Rally will once again bring the focus back to why the industry exists in the first place: access, education, and long-term participation in music. Hosted by NAMM and The NAMM Foun
  • Why Every Independent Artist Needs a Spotify Promotion Service

    Spotify’s role in an artist’s career has become oddly distorted over the last few years, partly because it sits at the intersection of creative ambition, platform economics, and algorithmic opacity, and partly because artists are asked to project meaning onto numbers that were never designed to carry that weight in the first place. On one side, it’s framed as a hollow metric that strips value from music, and on the other, it’s treated as a scoreboard that defines relevanc
  • What Campers and Festival Travelers Should Know About TSA Rules in 2026

    Airports appear the same, but security measures seem more complicated, especially for campers and festivalgoers. Most flyers imagine a trip interrupted by forgotten expenses. However, campers and music festivalgoers know the true issue is security. Before buying a ticket, check the latest TSA rules and regulations update on their website, not a last-year blog article or gossip. A little check today can save time, money, and gear tomorrow. Campers and festivalgoers can board smoothly or wait long
  • Top 15 Dubstep Releases Of 2025

    Welcome back to our year-end roundup of standout dubstep releases. To close out 2025, we are highlighting the top 15 EPs and singles that defined the year across the bass music landscape.Specifically focused on dubstep, his list is limited strictly to EPs and singles, with no albums included. For a deeper dive into full-length projects, check out our article, ‘The Absolute BEST Electronic Dance Music Albums of 2025.’Zingara, Steller – Is This Real? (EP)Steller and Zingara&rsquo
  • The 15 Best Melodic Techno Tracks Of 2025

    Welcome back to our monthly roundup of standout melodic techno tracks. We are switching it up to close out the year and selecting the top 15 melodic techno anthems released across 2025.Our list includes anthems from genre heavyweights like Anyma, Massano, Mathame, Kasablanca, and Korolova, alongside hypnotic cuts from rising talent and underground favorites including Goom Gum, Citadelle, Eklipse, and TIMELAPSE. Veteran producers round out the mix, delivering depth and versatility
  • Camp Snap Pro vs. Flashback One35 V2: Two Cool Digital Cameras With Old School Ideas

    Table of ContentsCamp Snap Pro Review: Minimalist, Screen-Free, and StraightforwardFlashback One35 V2 Review: Disposable Vibes, Elevated ExecutionCamp Snap Pro vs. Flashback One35 V2: The Key DifferencesFinal VerdictThere’s a quiet rebellion happening in photography right now, and it’s not what you would expect. It’s not about more megapixels, faster autofocus, or AI-powered everything. It’s about going retro or back to the old school. No screens and no instant gratificat
  • The 25 Best Disco & Funk Tracks Of 2025

    That’s a wrap on 2025! This year has been full of amazing Disco & Funk music, and the renewed popularity in the Disco House genre has been something to behold! Let’s celebrate some of the best Disco and Funk music the year had to offer!Check out the 2025 year-end SoundCloud playlistRead Past Disco and Funk Charts HereJANUARY:Supertaste – Supernova (Jafunk Remix) [Supertaste Music]If you are familiar with Supertaste‘s original version of “Supernova&rdqu
  • Trance Effect wraps up 2025 with standout performance at Vietnam’s HOZO Music Tết Festival - MokokchungTimes.com

    Trance Effect wraps up 2025 with standout performance at Vietnam’s HOZO Music Tết Festival  MokokchungTimes.com
  • Telepathic Instruments Orchid Review: A Cool Quirky Chord Synth Built For Inspiration

    When I first saw the Telepathic Instruments Orchid, I wanted it. Immediately. The design looks like something from the 90s had sex with something from the 70s, and you get a Mac/WORProcessor/IBM typewriter-looking thing with one octave worth of keys, some knobs, and a lot of mystery. Even the marketing was mysterious; you couldn’t tell if you were the joke, it was the joke, or it was a legitimate device.
    So when I was at ADE back in October and saw the Telepathic Instruments Pop Up store,
  • PartyKeys Keyboard & PartyStudio Review: A Fun Music Creation System Without The DAW

    Let’s just start this review by saying this is not professional gear; it’s more akin to the Rock Band video game than it is a Logic Pro. What’s cool is that it takes you out of that “serious” music making universe and puts you in an on the fly let’s go jam or busk mentality.The PartyKeys Keyboard and PartyStudio combo is designed for a very specific kind of musician—the one who wants to play, not program. It’s not trying to replace a DAW, compete w
  • Solarstone presents. Pure Trance Radio Episode 471

    This week’s show is a Chillout Moment Special for Christmas Eve 2025.
    Stoby – Light Harbour (Ambient Mix)
    Solarstone – The Last Defeat PT. I
    Solarstone – innermost
    Coldcut – Autumn Leaves (Irresistable Force Remix)
    Solarstone – Twilight
    Solarstone – Forever (Update Project Mix)
    Air – A New Star in the Sky
    Pippa-Reid Foster – Turning Tides
    Conjure One – Sleep (Solarstone Afterhours Mix)
    Clare Stagg – Stargazing (Solarstone Afterhou
  • Electronic dance music | House, Techno & Trance - Encyclopedia Britannica

    Electronic dance music | House, Techno & Trance  Encyclopedia Britannica
  • Solarstone presents. Pure Trance Radio Episode 472

    Solarstone pres. Pure Trance Radio Episode 472
    This week’s show is a Requests Special for New Year’s Eve 2025.
    Worakis – Adagio for Square [Parlophone]
    Alucard – Sliver [Solaris]
    Highasakite – God Don’t Leave Me (Solarstone Subterranean Mix) [White Label]
    Solarstone – Shards (Lostlegend Remix) [Pure Trance]
    Timo Maas pres. Mad Dogs – Better Make Room (James Holden Remix) [Silver Planet]
    Winterlight – Mirror (Solarstone Subterranean Mix) [Sola
  • The Wonderful HumminGuru Orbit Vinyl Static Remover: Editor’s Choice Award

    Table of ContentsWhat Problem the HumminGuru Orbit Actually SolvesWhy Static Electricity Is a Real Issue for VinylHow the HumminGuru Orbit WorksThe Rotating Design Is the Secret SauceBuild Quality & DesignSet It and Forget it –Who This Is The HumminGuru Orbit For?Environments Where Static Is a ProblemHow It Fits Into a Real-World Vinyl SetupThe Bigger Picture On Record CareFinal ThoughtsThere are a lot of things that can go wrong with the vinyl listening experience, from warped records
  • ROLI Piano and ROLI Airwave: The Future of Learning Meets the Future of Performance – Editor’s Choice Award

    I remember the first time I heard about ROLI and saw that squishy MPE Seaboard keyboard for the first time at NAMM almost a decade ago, it was mind-blowing. Multi Polyphonic Expression was in its infancy, and the music producer community was intrigued and at the same time intimidated, or at least I was.The product demonstrations were stunning, but made you feel like a neophyte, even if you did play an instrument. The performers were taking it to another level, doing things no one had ever seen b
  • Martin Jensen on Flow, Confidence, and Me, Myself, Online

    Martin Jensen has spent the past few years refining how he balances crowd energy, personal instinct, and large-scale creative concepts within his DJ sets. While his club and festival performances remain rooted in direct audience interaction, his broader work has increasingly explored how context, location, and format can reshape what a set communicates.That curiosity recently resurfaced through the return of Me, Myself, Online, Jensen’s livestream series that first gained global attention
  • Digital Merch Platforms for Musicians: 6 Sites To Sell Your Amazing Drip, Swag, And More

    All Images Are Sourced And Credited From Respective Brands’ Websites.Table of ContentsFourthwallGumroadSellfyPayhipBandzoogleFanhouseFAQs About Digital Merch Platforms for MusiciansIt’s no secret these days that making a living from your art often means wearing many hats, and one of those involves selling digital merch directly to fans; in fact that’s a phrase we hear so often that it’s almost cliche even if there’s a lot of truth to it.Digital merch platforms for m
  • The Incredible iLoud Precision 6 MK II with ARC X – 2025 Editor’s Choice Award Winner

    Table of ContentsBuild Quality: Compact, Serious, and Quietly ConfidentSound Quality: Honest, Controlled, and DeepLow EndMidrangeHighsARC X Calibration: The Room Finally Joins the TeamLogic Pro X IntegrationWho This Is ForCompetitors: How It Stacks UpiLoud Precision 6 MK II SpecsLiving With Them:Final Thoughts: Editor’s Choice, EarnedFlipping out monitors in your studio is like breaking up with someone: you have doubts and a roller coaster of emotions. I recently made the switch from a set
  • The Awe Inspiring Union Audio Elara.6 – Review By Magnetic and Junior Sanchez

    In the world of boutique analog mixers, there are only a handful of names that command instant respect. Union Audio is one of them. Founded by Andy Rigby‑Jones—best known for his pivotal role in designing legendary mixers for Allen & Heath (think Xone:92 and its peers) and PLAYDifferently Model series with Richie Hawtin—Union Audio has quietly but confidently become the go‑to for purists and audiophiles who demand nothing but the best. Based in Cornwall, UK, their rep
  • The Best Gear For Music Producers That Released In 2025: Magnetic Magazine’s Editor’s Choice Award

    Every year, we spend an unreasonable amount of time putting new gear into real situations and seeing what actually holds up once the excitement fades and the work starts. Some products feel impressive for a few days, some look good on a spec sheet, and some quietly become part of the routine without ever asking for attention. By the end of 2025, the difference between those groups was obvious.This list brings together the pieces of gear that earned their place through daily use, long sessions, a
  • The Future of Music Promotion Platforms in the Streaming Era

    The music industry has fully crossed into a streaming-first economy, and after more than a decade of transition, the consequences are now impossible to ignore. Global recorded-music revenue surpassed $30 billion in 2024 and is projected to approach $45 billion within the next five years, yet the real story sits beneath those headline figures. Independent music now accounts for roughly 40 percent of recorded-music revenue, signaling a structural shift in who holds leverage across the industry.Tha
  • Best Digital Record Pools for DJs Who Perform Live

    All Product Images Courtesy OfTheir Respective Brands And Are Used For Promotional Purposes Only. Above Image C/O Magnetic Magazine Recording Artists Discognition at Arc 2025.
    Quick BreakdownDJcityBPM SupremeClub KillersDigital DJ PoolHeavy HitsHeadliner Music ClubFranchise Record PoolBest for high-volume coverage and frequent gigsFAQ about Record Pools for DJsDigital record pools for DJs play a quiet but essential role in how modern DJs prepare, perform, and stay relevant. For club DJs, open-fo
  • Learn The Essentials Of How Editorial and Algorithmic Playlists Impact Your Streaming Revenue

    If you have ever released a track and then watched Spotify for Artists like it was a heartbeat monitor, you already understand how central playlists are to the entire streaming ecosystem. Streams rarely arrive in a straight line, and they almost never come from a single source. Understanding how editorial and algorithmic playlists impact your streaming revenue can make or break the early stages of an artist’s professional career.
    Spotify responds to patterns, engagement, and consistency, a
  • How SEBS Learned to Let the Room Lead the Set

    SEBS and Sohail close out 2025 on MoodCollective with Nah, a club-ready single that marks their debut on the MOOD sublabel and caps off the label’s year. Released on December 12, the track leans into a direct, high-energy framework built for peak moments, pairing a rolling groove with a rap vocal that locks quickly into the room.For SEBS, Nah represents a turning point in confidence and execution. The record came together fast and began circulating almost immediately, reinforcing an approa
  • How Sohail Built Trust in Muscle Memory Behind the Decks

    SEBS and Sohail close out the year on MoodCollective with Nah, a high-impact club record that signals a new chapter for both artists. Landing on December 12, 2025, the release marks their debut on Nicole Moudaber’s MOOD sublabel and arrives as the final MoodCollective cut of the year.Built around a rolling groove and a direct rap vocal, Nah reflects a shared focus on dancefloor momentum and instinctive energy. For SEBS, the track represents a fast-moving creative breakthrough that gained t

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