Latest news with #GarageBand
Engadget
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Engadget
Fender just launched its own free DAW software for recording music
The iconic instrument and amp maker Fender is diving deep into the digital domain. The company just announced Fender Studio, an all-in-one music-creation software platform. It's basically a digital audio workstation (DAW) but one that's intended for newbies. Think GarageBand and not Pro Tools. Just like GarageBand, Fender Studio is free. The software looks perfect for going straight into an audio interface without any complications. Players can select from a wide variety of digital amp recreations. These include some real icons, like the '65 Twin Reverb guitar amp, the Rumble 800 bass amp, the '59 Bassman, the Super-Sonic, the SWR Redhead and several more. More amp models are likely on the way. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. Along with the amp models, the software comes with a bunch of effects inspired by iconic Fender pedals. There's a vintage tremolo, a stereo tape delay, a small hall reverb, a triangle flanger, a compressor and, of course, overdrive and distortion. There's an integrated tuner and plenty of effects presets for those who don't want to fiddle with virtual knobs. The software includes several dedicated effects for vocalists. There's a de-tuner, a vocal transformer and a vocoder, in addition to standard stuff like compression, EQ, reverb and delay. There's also a cool feature for those who just want to practice. Fender Studio offers "remixable jam tracks" that lets folks play along with songs in a wide variety of genres. These let players mute or delete an instrument, for playing along. To that end, users can slow everything down or speed things up. Fender promises that new songs will be added to this platform in regular intervals. As for the nuts and bolts of recording, the arranger can currently handle up to 16 tracks. Despite the track limitation, the software offers some real pro-grade features. There are various ruler formats, a global transpose, input monitoring, looping abilities, time stretching and even a simple pitch-shifting tool. Tracks allow for fades, FX sends and more. The mobile version of the app includes a pinch-to-zoom feature, which is always handy with recording software. All of those squiggly lines can get tough on the old eyeballs. Fender Studio is available on just about everything. There's a version for Mac, Windows, iOS, Android and Linux. It should even run well on Chromebooks. Again, this software is free, though some features do require signing up for a Fender account. This is certainly Fender's biggest push into digital audio, but not its first. The company has long-maintained the Mustang Micro line of personal guitar amplifiers. These plug straight into a guitar or bass and offer models of various amps and effects . The company also released its own audio interface, the budget-friendly Fender Link I/O , and a digital workstation that emulates over 100 amps . If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Legacy of Lovers Rides the Wave With New Single "Calm Cool Connection"
"Calm Cool Connection" YouTube and Spotify Website I Bandcamp I Facebook I Instagram TORONTO, May 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Music is the wind that lifts the wave, the rhythm of the road, the pulse of a restless heart. With his latest single, "Calm Cool Connection," Ryne D. Trevlon—the force behind Legacy of Lovers—delivers a track that doesn't just play; it breathes, soars, and crashes like the tides. A sun-drenched anthem for seekers and dreamers, the song is the heart of his new EP Calm Cool Connections, already making waves on international charts. Born from a period of intense personal transformation, "Calm Cool Connection" is more than a song—it's Trevlon's testimony. "After 27 years of alcohol addiction and hitting the basement floor of rock bottom, I had to start over," he shares. With zero budget and an iPhone 7, he recorded the song in a bathroom using GarageBand and a busted earbud—learning the app as he went. The result is raw, honest, and electrifying. Trevlon's path changed when legendary promoter Gary Taylor offered a pivotal piece of advice: "Record something that makes you happy and don't give us any of this cookie-cutter stuff." And that's exactly what he did. With breezy melodies, hypnotic grooves, and lyrics pulsing with self-discovery, "Calm Cool Connection" invites listeners to embrace change and ride life's waves. "Let your flowing hair turn silver," Trevlon sings—a call to acceptance and surrender. The track's rise on independent charts proves its resonance. It peaked at #13 on The World Independent Radio Charts and #21 on The Euro Charts—an impressive feat for a DIY track recorded with a headset mic. But more important than numbers is connection. "I never thought my songs were good enough for radio," Trevlon says. That changed when industry veteran Stephen Wrench (Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tom Petty, Toto) recognized its potential. Legacy of Lovers is the sonic embodiment of Trevlon's journey from Kirkland Lake to the West Coast to the world stage. With cover art by renowned surf artist Mo Sherwood and a growing global audience, "Calm Cool Connection" is just the beginning. As Trevlon puts it: "Life's a wave—see where it flows." And with this song, he's inviting us all to ride along. Media Contact: Eric Alper 647.971.3742 395034@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Legacy of Lovers Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Geeky Gadgets
05-05-2025
- Geeky Gadgets
Personalize Your iPhone! Create UNIQUE Custom Ringtones!
Customizing your iPhone ringtone is a great way to make your device feel more personal and unique. Whether you want a distinctive sound for incoming calls, text alerts, or specific contacts, creating a custom ringtone is a straightforward process. By using the free GarageBand app, you can easily import, edit, and export audio files to craft a ringtone that reflects your style. The video below from Apple Support will take you through the steps in detail, making sure you can complete the process with ease. Watch this video on YouTube. Step 1: Install GarageBand To begin, ensure that GarageBand is installed on your iPhone. This free app, available on the App Store, is a versatile tool for audio editing and ringtone creation. If it's not already on your device, download and install it. Once installed, open the app and take a few moments to explore its interface. Familiarizing yourself with the layout will make the process smoother as you proceed. GarageBand's user-friendly design ensures that even beginners can navigate its features effectively. Step 2: Start a New Project Open GarageBand and create a new project. From the main menu, select the option to start a new audio recording. This will bring you to the tracks view, which serves as your workspace for managing and editing audio files. The tracks view is where you'll perform all the necessary adjustments, such as trimming and refining your audio to fit the ringtone format. By starting with a clean project, you can focus entirely on crafting your custom ringtone. Step 3: Import Your Audio File To use your chosen audio, navigate to the loops browser within GarageBand. Tap the 'Files' tab to access audio files stored on your iPhone or in cloud storage. Locate the file you want to use and drag it into the tracks view. This step ensures that your audio is ready for editing. If you don't already have a specific audio file in mind, you can download or create one beforehand. GarageBand supports various file formats, making it easy to work with your preferred audio. Step 4: Edit the Audio Once your audio file is in the tracks view, it's time to edit. Use the track handles or the precision editor to trim the audio to a maximum of 30 seconds, as this is the standard limit for iPhone ringtones. Focus on selecting the most impactful or recognizable part of the audio. Adjust the start and end points as needed to ensure a seamless loop. For additional customization, you can apply effects, adjust volume levels, or even layer multiple tracks. GarageBand's editing tools provide flexibility, allowing you to create a ringtone that stands out. Step 5: Export the Ringtone After editing your audio, save the project within GarageBand. To convert your file into a ringtone, tap the 'Share' option and select 'Ringtone' from the export menu. GarageBand will automatically ensure the file meets the 30-second limit required for ringtones. Assign a name to your ringtone for easy identification, and the app will export it directly to your iPhone's ringtone library. This seamless integration makes it simple to access and use your custom ringtone immediately. Step 6: Set Your Custom Ringtone Once exported, your custom ringtone will appear in your iPhone's sound settings. To set it, go to 'Settings,' then 'Sounds & Haptics,' and select 'Ringtone.' From there, choose your newly created ringtone. You can set it as your default ringtone, a text tone, or assign it to a specific contact. This level of personalization allows you to tailor your iPhone's notifications to suit your preferences and make your device truly your own. Why Create Custom Ringtones? Custom ringtones offer several advantages, enhancing both functionality and personalization. Some of the key benefits include: Quickly identifying specific contacts with unique tones, making it easier to prioritize calls or messages. Adding a personal touch to your device's notifications, making sure your iPhone stands out from the crowd. Expressing your creativity by crafting audio that reflects your personality or interests. Breaking away from default tones, which can often be repetitive or generic. By creating custom ringtones, you can elevate your iPhone experience and enjoy a more personalized connection with your device. Whether it's for practical reasons or simply for fun, the ability to customize your notifications adds a unique element to your daily interactions with your phone. Below are more guides on Custom iPhone ringtones from our extensive range of articles. Source & Image Credit: Apple Support Filed Under: Apple, Apple iPhone, Guides Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
BBC News
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
YouTube jazz pianist, 84, plays in Northampton market stall
An 84-year-old jazz pianist who made a name for himself on YouTube during the coronavirus lockdown has taken up residency at a tiny arts centre, based at a market stall, in order to meet other Kemp started an online channel to help with his mental health during the Covid-19 about his new audience online, he said: "If lockdown hadn't occurred, my career would have come to an end because of my health."Mr Kemp's stint at the centre, alongside Northampton-based artist Musetta Seagrove, continues until the end of Saturday. The Creative Place (TCP) arts centre, run by Northampton Film Festival, opened six months ago in Northampton's refurbished Market lockdown, Mr Kemp said he collaborated online with other musicians said he wanted to do the residency to meet other YouTubers, musicians and filmmakers, to learn how to improve the technicality and reach of his "intricacy" of constructing videos and experimenting with different editing software like GarageBand provided a distraction and "comfort" to him during that time, he added."People always ask me, 'Have you been playing all your life?' And I say, 'Not yet'," he said. Mr Kemp, originally from Coventry, worked in electronics before playing piano with a jazz said he enjoyed his job in electronics but it "felt like [I] was wearing somebody else's shoes".Mr Kemp said it felt like he had not worked "a day in his life" since 1960 when he began his music career. Becky Carrier, who runs the arts centre, said it promoted "connection, inspiration and creativity"."Everybody has a story to tell and everybody has a unique voice," she said."It is for people that have a creative bone in their body, but also for people that just want to try something new."It is really nice for people to use their ears and their eyes to experience quite different things." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
New York Times
27-02-2025
- New York Times
How to Make Your Old Computer Feel New Again
Rozette Rago/NYT Wirecutter Over time, dust can build up inside a computer, making it run hotter and feel slower. We have a detailed guide to cleaning laptops (and How-To Geek has one for desktops), but the gist is this: If you can, open up your computer—whether it's a laptop, desktop, all-in-one, or mini PC—and use compressed air to blow out any dust you see, especially in vents and fans. If you can't open up your PC, carefully angle the compressed air to remove dust from vents and ports without blowing it deeper inside; alternatively, you can use a microfiber cloth or cotton swab. You can also clean crumbs and other particles from your keyboard with compressed air and give it a quick wipedown with a microfiber cloth. Easy-peasy! It's easy to forget that your laptop needs to be cleaned. Thankfully, it's not hard to clean out dust and stray crumbs. Computers run slower when their solid-state drives (SSDs) are nearly full. If it's been a while since you tidied up your drive (or if you, like me, are a bit haphazard about your file management), this step might take a bit longer. Block out an hour and grab a nice mug of coffee or tea before you settle in. Windows Settings is a good starting point for cleaning up your drive. In Windows Settings, click System and then Storage to find out what's taking up the most space on your drive. (Don't worry about the apps yet, we'll get to those soon.) This menu offers handy shortcuts to folders that you can organize based on our advice. Removing files listed in the Temporary Files menu is an easy way to reclaim some space, though we recommend manually checking your Downloads folder for anything you want to keep before you blow it up. With the right setup of folders and file names, you'll always be able to find what you need on your computer. On a Mac, open System Settings and navigate to General > Storage . You can click the 'i' symbol next to each item for more information on what's taking up space on your computer and shortcuts to delete files or other things you don't need. (I do not need a 2.38 GB GarageBand Sound Library, thank you.) The Documents section here has tabs to highlight Large Files and Downloads you may want to trash, and you can do a more thorough dive by opening the Finder in the File Browser tab. You can also remove unused apps in the Storage menu, though we'll get to that in a couple of steps. In the Storage menu on macOS, you can see what's taking up space. Don't forget to organize your desktop during this step! Delete the shortcuts and files you don't need, and sort the things you do need into your filing system. You'll be left with a handful of shortcuts to your most frequently used files and apps. If you have a chronically messy desktop, our cleaning tips can help spruce it up. This is also a good moment to make sure that your files are properly backed up so that you don't lose important documents or photos if something happens to your computer. The prospect of figuring out a backup system might seem intimidating, but if you follow the steps in our guide to backing up your computer, the process should take less than 15 minutes to set up and will then happen automatically going forward. After hundreds of hours researching the best local storage and online backup services, we've put together a guide to backing up your Mac or Windows computer. The quickest way to make your old computer feel new again is to reset the operating system to its initial state. I do it for my desktop PC every few years. If your computer is fairly new, or if you'd prefer to manually clean up your apps one at a time, skip to the next step. But if your computer is more than three years old, if it's acting funky, or if you'd like to save some time, resetting its OS will be faster, easier, and more effective than combing through several years' worth of apps manually. Resetting Windows is the fastest shortcut to a fresh-feeling PC. Before you reset Windows, go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps and make a list of which programs you use frequently. Also, confirm that you have access to your product keys for any essential software that requires them—in the next step, you'll need to reinstall any apps you need that didn't come with your computer. To reset Windows, go to Settings > System > Recovery and click Reset PC . Choose Keep my files and Cloud download . This process will remove all your installed apps and return all your settings to their defaults, but it will keep all of your newly organized personal files. It will also download a fresh copy of Windows, including all the latest updates, in case your install has gotten goofed up over the years. You probably don't need to reset your Mac unless something isn't acting right. If you do, first boot into macOS Recovery and then choose to reinstall macOS. Unlike a Windows reset, performing a reinstall on a Mac won't remove any existing apps or files, so you'll need to audit those in the next step. This process will take a while—from 30 minutes to a couple of hours—but it doesn't require any supervision. Set it up and go do something else for a while. Now it's time to audit your apps. Removing unused software and games will make your computer feel faster by freeing up valuable drive space and reducing the number of apps running in the background in a given moment. You should remove anything you don't use, whether it's preinstalled bloatware or a program you installed years ago and have since forgotten about. If you reset your Windows PC in the previous step, remember to download and reinstall any frequently used apps that the reset process deleted. You can remove unused apps using the three-dot menu. In Windows, go into Settings > Apps > Installed apps to view every program on your PC. Then, to remove anything you don't need, click the item's three-dot icon and choose Uninstall . If you're not sure what an app is, search for it on Should I Remove It? for more info. (We don't recommend installing the Should I Remove It? software, because it's a bit bloated itself.) On a Mac, the Storage menu offers the easiest way to cull your apps—Apple helpfully sorts them by size here. Macs don't come with as much preinstalled bloatware as Windows PCs typically do, but it's still a good idea to go through your apps and remove anything you previously installed that you no longer need. If you didn't already do this earlier, you can remove apps by opening System Settings , navigating to General > Storage , clicking the 'i' symbol next to Applications, and deleting apps you don't use. When you're finished, we recommend restarting your computer to complete any lingering uninstall processes before you move on to the next step. The hardest parts are over! Now that you have only the apps you need, it's time to select which ones you want to launch every time the computer starts up. Turning some startup apps off will make your computer boot faster, and it'll feel faster with fewer programs running constantly in the background. Most apps do not need to launch every single time you boot your computer. In Windows, you can see which apps launch automatically on startup by going to Settings > Apps > Startup . You should toggle most of them off—keep only those apps and features that you want running every single time you launch your computer, such as your password manager, backup software, or any software necessary for your peripherals. Specific apps such as Slack or Discord may not need to launch automatically every time you start your computer. On a Mac, you can customize which apps open when you log in and which ones can run in the background. In macOS, open System Settings and go to General > Login Items and Extensions . Here you can remove items you don't want automatically launching when you log in and trim those that you don't want running in the background. Next up, you should remove unused browser extensions and disable the ones you use only occasionally. Doing so can improve performance and sew up potential security holes. In Chrome and other browsers, you can remove unused extensions and disable those you don't use often. Here's how to navigate to your extensions in the most commonly used browsers: Chrome: Under the three-dot menu, go to Extensions > Manage extensions . Click the Remove button to uninstall unused extensions, and use the toggle to disable those you don't need running all the time. Under the three-dot menu, go to button to uninstall unused extensions, and use the toggle to disable those you don't need running all the time. Edge: Click the three-dot menu and then click Extensions . In the new window that appears, click Manage extensions . The Remove button uninstalls extensions, while the toggle disables them until you need them again. Click the three-dot menu and then click . In the new window that appears, click . The button uninstalls extensions, while the toggle disables them until you need them again. Safari: Click Safari in the menu bar and then choose Settings > Extensions . Here you can select extensions from the list and click Uninstall on the items you don't need. Click in the menu bar and then choose . Here you can select extensions from the list and click on the items you don't need. Firefox: Click the puzzle piece in the upper-right corner and then choose Manage extensions . To uninstall unused extensions, click the three-dot menu next to the extension and select Remove . As in the other browsers, you can use the toggle to disable extensions. If you use Windows, you should check your extensions in Edge even if you don't use that browser regularly. Edge may have automatically imported everything from Chrome, even if you didn't tell it to. Also consider using an ad blocker, which can make web pages load faster, especially on older, lower-performance PCs. Blocking ads also offers the bonuses of making websites look cleaner and making your browsing experience more secure. These free, easy-to-install browser extensions are simple add-ons that can help block ads, reduce tracking, and improve your privacy online. Now you need to make sure that your operating system is current and that you have automatic updates enabled so you don't have to think about it going forward. This helps keep your computer secure, and the updates can also fix bugs, improve performance, and add new features. Toggle these four options on in macOS to enable automatic operating system and app updates. On a Mac, open System Settings > General > Software updates to install any outstanding updates. Also in this menu, you can click the 'i' symbol next to Automatic Updates and toggle on all four options to keep your operating system and apps automatically updated. In Windows 11, go to Settings > Windows Update and then select Check for updates . Download and install any updates that are currently outstanding. Windows 11 is already set to automatically download and install updates, but you can go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options and set your active hours so that Windows Update doesn't run during your workday. Then open the Microsoft Store, click the portrait in the top-right corner, select Settings , and make sure the App updates toggle is enabled. You can check for, download, and install any available updates in Windows Update. If you have a Windows PC, you should also check for driver updates to keep all your hardware in working order. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced Options > Optional updates . There you'll find drivers to install for specific devices. Windows Update should take care of most drivers, but you may also want to check for and run any updates available in the app provided by your computer manufacturer—Dell SupportAssist, Lenovo Vantage, MyAsus, HP Support Assistant, and the like—to ensure that your PC continues to run smoothly. If you have a gaming PC with a dedicated graphics card, you can also update your graphics drivers using the Nvidia App, AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition, or Intel Arc Control. Even though future OS updates should download and install automatically, you may need to reboot your computer now and again to complete the update process. Be sure to do so when it asks! You may also be able to improve performance, reclaim storage, and reduce visual clutter by turning off operating system features you're not using. By default, the Windows search screen and taskbar are a cluttered mess. But with a bit of cleanup, you can more easily access the apps, files, and settings you use. By default, the Windows search screen and taskbar are a cluttered mess. Here are a few quick and easy ways to tidy up Windows 11: Right click the Taskbar at the bottom and select Taskbar settings . There you can turn off Widgets and customize how much space Search takes up. You can unpin taskbar shortcuts you're not using by right-clicking the icon and selecting Unpin from taskbar . . There you can turn off Widgets and customize how much space Search takes up. You can unpin taskbar shortcuts you're not using by right-clicking the icon and selecting In the Start menu, you can right-click apps you don't use and select Uninstall to remove them. You can also select Unpin from Start for any apps you don't want pinned there. to remove them. You can also select for any apps you don't want pinned there. Go to Settings > Personalization > Start and disable Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more and Show account related notifications . You can also customize the ratio of pinned apps to recommended apps and recently opened files. and disable and . You can also customize the ratio of pinned apps to recommended apps and recently opened files. Click Settings > Privacy & Security > Search permissions , scroll all the way down to More settings , and toggle Show search highlights off to remove a bunch of clutter from the search menu. , scroll all the way down to , and toggle off to remove a bunch of clutter from the search menu. To turn off the ads and widgets that appear when you log in to your computer, go to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen . Under 'Personalize your lock screen,' select Picture to get access to the option to uncheck Get fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen . Then, next to 'Lock screen status,' select None . Under 'Personalize your lock screen,' select to get access to the option to uncheck . Then, next to 'Lock screen status,' select Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > General to disable personalized ads, turn off suggested content in the Settings app, and more. (I personally toggle them all off.) to disable personalized ads, turn off suggested content in the Settings app, and more. (I personally toggle them all off.) You can turn off feedback notifications by going to Settings > Privacy & Security > Diagnostics & feedback and setting 'Feedback frequency' to Never . . And finally, go Settings > System > Notifications , scroll all the way down, and click Additional settings . Uncheck all three boxes there to reduce the number of times your computer bloops at you about Game Pass and disable future full-screen 'Finish setting up your PC' nags. In macOS, if you don't use GarageBand (and you didn't do this in a previous step), you can free up a couple gigabytes of storage by going to System Settings > General > Storage > Music Creation > Remove GarageBand Sound Library . And if you have a Mac with 8 GB of memory or a relatively small SSD, you may be able to improve your computer's performance by disabling Apple Intelligence if you don't want to use any of those features. Apple's documentation says that the on-device models take up about 7 GB of storage and that those models 'may be removed from your device' if you disable Apple Intelligence. We weren't able to free up storage this way in our testing, but it's worth a shot if you aren't using the features anyway. To disable it, open Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and toggle off Apple Intelligence . You did the hard part! Now for the fun part: making your computer look uniquely your own. Ah, all tidied up. In Windows, you can customize your desktop background and lock screen by going to Settings > Personalization > Background and Lock Screen , respectively, and selecting an image or creating a slideshow. And under Personalization > Colors you can select Light or Dark mode and choose fun accent colors for windows and menus. You can choose from Apple's fun dynamic wallpapers or set a photo of your own. On a Mac, you can change your wallpaper by going to System Settings > Wallpaper . There you can select from Apple's options—some of which change depending on the time of day—or add your own. You can also set a screensaver in System Settings > Screen Saver and choose from Apple's options or add your own by choosing Other > Photos and selecting a folder of photos you'd like to cycle through. To choose Light or Dark mode and change the accent color, go to System Settings > Appearance. You can't go wrong with photos of family or pets, but if you're looking for some artistic inspiration, my favorites are these 1970s NASA space colony illustrations. If you've followed all of our guidance, and your laptop is still slow to boot up, it might be time for a new computer. We have a range of picks for every task and budget, backed by hundreds of hours of research and testing, in our guide to the best laptops. Max Eddy contributed reporting. This article was edited by Signe Brewster and Caitlin McGarry.
