Tag Archives: Music

This Grand Piano Has a 20″ Touchscreen, and a Design Worthy Of A Supercar Showroom

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The grand piano has remained visually unchanged for generations, its familiar silhouette a fixture in concert halls and living rooms worldwide. Mohammad Limucci saw this consistency differently. Rather than accepting the traditional form as immutable, he recognized an opportunity to evolve the instrument’s aesthetic while preserving its acoustic soul. His creation, the Porochista Piano, applies automotive design principles to classical craftsmanship.

Measuring 8.7 by 6.2 feet, Porochista combines glass, metal, and matte black composites in flowing organic shapes reminiscent of Luigi Colani’s biomorphic philosophy. The rear section appears to float, creating visual tension between sculptural ambition and structural stability. A large integrated touchscreen offers digital functionality without compromising the acoustic purity professional pianists demand. This fusion of old and new earned recognition at the A’ Design Award, where judges appreciated its ability to attract modern design enthusiasts while respecting the instrument’s heritage. Porochista suggests what tradition might become when filtered through contemporary vision.

Designer: Mohammad Limucci

Designers slap touchscreens onto everything from refrigerators to bathroom mirrors these days, usually with results that make you question basic decision-making processes. A grand piano sporting what looks like a 20-inch display sounds like exactly that kind of misguided thinking. But Limucci clearly studied how supercar manufacturers like Pagani and Koenigsegg integrate function into form, where every curve serves both aerodynamic purpose and visual drama. That swept-back lid with its silver trim could’ve been lifted from a hypercar’s active aero system. The base, with its angular cutouts and geometric voids, solves the eternal design problem of making something massive feel light without actually compromising structural integrity. The solution here involves actual engineering rather than visual tricks.

The Colani influence runs deep, and anyone familiar with the German designer’s work will spot it immediately. Those seamless transitions between surfaces, the way hard edges soften into organic curves, the sense that this object could achieve flight velocity if you just gave it a runway. Colani designed everything from trucks to cameras using the same biomorphic language, always asking why objects should have corners when nature abhors them. Limucci applies that thinking to an instrument that’s been geometrically rigid since the 1700s. Production apparently requires CNC machining and molding techniques borrowed from automotive manufacturing, which makes sense given the compound curves involved. You can’t slap veneer on particleboard and achieve forms like these.

The touchscreen integration could’ve gone full sci-fi nightmare, all glowing edges and pulsing LEDs, but instead it sits flush and purposeful. The digital features (recording, playback, animated notation display) address actual pianist needs rather than adding gimmicks for marketing bullet points. There’s even a hidden compartment up top that slides out to hold sheet music, activated by touching a specific spot. That level of detail suggests someone actually thought about how musicians interact with their instruments over hours of practice, not just how the thing photographs for Instagram. The matte black finish with those copper-toned pedal details visible through the base cutouts gives it presence without screaming for attention, which is harder to achieve than it sounds.

Tehran to Zagreb doesn’t seem like an obvious design pipeline, but apparently that’s where this concept gestated. Whether it ever reaches production remains the question nobody’s answering yet, though the A’ Design Award recognition certainly helps with credibility. The manufacturing complexity alone suggests this won’t be competing with Yamahas at your local music store. Still, seeing someone finally treat piano design with the same innovative energy that automotive and consumer electronics enjoy feels overdue. Professional musicians deserve instruments that fit contemporary spaces without looking like props from period dramas.

The post This Grand Piano Has a 20″ Touchscreen, and a Design Worthy Of A Supercar Showroom first appeared on Yanko Design.

What we listened to in 2025

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If streaming services’ year-in-review campaigns have shown us anything, it’s that we’ve spent a staggering amount of time drowning out the hum of everyday life with music, podcasts and audio series. And with some incredible new releases this year, we were really eatin’ good. Here are some of the Engadget team’s favorite things we listened to in 2025.

Spiritbox - Tsunami Sea

I became aware of Spiritbox in late 2024 shortly before the band dropped its latest album, Tsunami Sea. At the time, I was in a deep Sleep Token phase, and I don’t remember how I stumbled upon Spiritbox, but I’m sure glad I did. Not knowing anything about the band, I initially thought it had two singers: one for clean vocals and another for the harsh, guttural screams. 

Well, I was wrong. Vocalist Courtney LaPlante handles it all, and she is a force of nature. After learning of a new band, I do what any self-respecting music nerd does: I looked up live videos of them on YouTube. The way LaPlante seamlessly transitions from airy, ambient singing to some of the best growls you’ll hear in metal music is effortless. And after seeing Spiritbox live in person earlier in December, I can attest to her ability to consistently nail both vocal styles for the entirety of an hour-long set. 

My infatuation with Spiritbox isn’t just with the vocalist though. Guitarist Mike Stringer, LaPlante’s husband, also has a lot of unique abilities to offer. Stringer’s use of noise and whammy effects in his riffs create a signature style, not to mention his mix of nu-metal, djent and metalcore sensibilities. He also has some of the thickest guitar tones I’ve ever heard live, and I was mesmerized for the full set. Stringer’s guitar work on Tsunami Sea is a prime example of a  unique musician at the height of his powers. 

Tsunami Sea takes you on a ride. The first two tracks are all-out ragers, and after a slight respite in “Perfect Soul” and “Keep Sweet,” the album’s best song comes fifth. I’ve heard LaPlante dedicate it to “all the people I love to fucking hate,” and it’s clearly written about her enemies. It’s also the perfect example of what this band is capable of. It’s three minutes of LaPlante’s screams interlaced with plenty of Stringer’s trademark guitar work. 

The rest of the album showcases the band’s ability to blend dynamics, with “No Loss, No Love” and “Ride The Wave” providing the highlights on the back half of the record. The album’s title track is a great vehicle for LaPlante’s clean vocals, serving as the introduction to the album’s second act. If you’ve been enamored with Sleep Token this year like I have, give Spiritbox a go — you won’t be sorry you did. — Billy Steele, Deputy Editor, Reviews

Bandsplain

I didn’t discover Bandsplain in 2025, but I definitely listened to it more than any other podcast in terms of total time spent. Sure, that’s because most episodes are over three hours long, but I digress. Host Yasi Salek does a deep dive on “cult bands and iconic artists” to… ahem, bandsplain why people love them. There’s a deep catalog of back episodes, so there’s sure to be an in-depth analysis of a band you’re familiar with. But even if you think you know an artist, I’m willing to bet Salek will divulge parts of the story you weren’t aware of. 

Jimmy Eat World’s Clarity is a top 5 all-timer for me, and Salek had plenty to offer about the narrative around that album I didn’t know. Her grunge series from 2024 was a history lesson I wish I’d had in middle school when I first discovered Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and the rest of the lot. An older episode about Nine Inch Nails served as the primer for me seeing the band live for the first time in September. And that’s the thing about the show: the back catalog holds up. If you’re waiting for the next installment to drop, there’s certainly something in the archives you’ll enjoy. 

No shade to Salek’s colleagues at The Ringer, but the best episodes of Bandsplain are when the guest is a musician. Thursday front man Geoff Rickly was excellent on that Nine Inch Nails episode, and Death Cab for Cutie singer Ben Gibbard had me on the edge of my seat when he was on to discuss The La’s — a band I’d never heard of before. I’d also highly recommend the episodes on Oasis and the more recent one on Alanis Morissette. But, really, you can’t go wrong starting from anywhere on the episode list. — B.S.

Lucy Dacus - Forever is a Feeling 

I remember being a teenager and hearing from an adult that they did not religiously seek out, research, evaluate and introduce new bands and songs into their lives as if all existence would cease without the life-sustaining energy of new music. I was confused, concerned and damn sure that wouldn’t happen to me. 

You know where this story goes: Job. Kid. House. Spouse. Pets that will die if I don’t feed, walk, play with and/or medicate them. I allow the algorithm to feed me new songs but rarely does something stick, so I end up listening to tracks I bonded with in my teens and twenties. 

This year, Blossom & Bones, a three-day music festival in Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, managed to push through the churn and lodge new music into my brain. Along with my kid and some friends, I camped among some of the most beautiful landscapes imaginable and ambled over to the stage each evening for performances by Santigold, Ani DiFranco and about a dozen more. 

Lucy Dacus, one third of the indie group Boygenius, did a one-hour set with plenty of songs from her latest album Forever is a Feeling. Hearing the songs for the first time, I felt like I’d been listening to them for years. Lilting harmonies and layered strings create a lovely backdrop for Dacus’s velvet voice, but there’s a sharpness to her observations about relationships, rejection and sex. I’ve been looping the album ever since. — Amy Skorheim, Senior Reporter, Buying Advice

Blanco White - “So Certain” (single)

Early on the last concert of the day at that same festival, Blanco White took the stage. People were aimlessly milling about and the sun hadn’t yet set. Kids were playing on the lawn and the smell from the food trucks was intense, but I was enrapt by the four people on stage. The sad violin and strummy guitars floated with the hand-beat drum out into the red hills. The music sounded like I felt: rooted and wrapped in the harsh beauty of the desert and I was really glad to take that home with me. — A.S.

Martian Revolution 

If you're as big a nerd as I am, you might know that Leo Tolstoy didn't consider War and Peace to be a novel. The story is what most people read for, but in the author's mind, all the drama was a parable to illustrate his grand theory of history.

Over the last year, history podcaster Mike Duncan has accomplished a similar feat using a medium Tolstoy never imagined. Duncan's Revolutions podcast has covered ten different revolutionary upheavals across history, starting with the English Civil War and ending with the Russian Revolution. After wrapping up the Bolsheviks, Duncan took a few episodes to suggest a grand theory of how revolutions unfold. For a while, it seemed like that was all we'd get. Then, in the middle of 2024, he started posting original sci-fi — without any indication that this tale, which followed future Martians revolting against their corporate overlords on Earth, was in any way different from the previous ten seasons.

Part of what makes the Martian Revolution so excellent is Duncan's deadpan delivery. He never once breaks character. He rattles off lists of fictional sources, apologizes for inaccuracies in prior episodes, and introduces made-up historical figures with the same gravity he once used to mention George Washington or Simon Bolivar. If you're a fan of Revolutions, you'll have a blast recognizing character archetypes. (Mabel Dore is the Liberal Noble! Timothy Werner is the Man of Blood!)

But the podcast is great even if you've never listened to an episode of Revolutions. It has an excellent grasp of character and a sense of inevitable tragedy, but with moments of joy leavened throughout. I certainly hope we don't wind up in the megacorp-ruled future of the podcast, but if we do, it'll be a great consolation if it eventually turns out the way Duncan imagines. — Sam Chapman, Senior Writer

Ron Gallo - Checkmate 

My favorite artists are ones that surprise me, and Ron Gallo is a master of reinvention. He's dabbled in absurdist punk, psychedelia, garage rock, Beatles-tinged pop and, now, stripped-down acoustic music. This is not a genre I am typically a fan of, Elliott Smith withstanding, but Checkmate is something special. His lyrical prowess is off the charts here, trading his usual wordplay for simple and emotionally-gutting truisms about life, love and, well, the end of the world. 

Of course, the lyrics wouldn't work if the songs weren't good. The songs are very good. The title track is just about the perfect love song, with a primary hook that gets lost in your head for weeks. Other tracks offer hints of Mac DeMarco, Dan Fogelberg, Kevin Morby and just about everyone else who has crafted great songs on an acoustic guitar. It's fitting that Gallo has found a home on the label Kill Rock Stars, which released so much of Elliott Smith's work back in the day. As an aside, Gallo regularly posts songs about current events on TikTok and other social media platforms, which are worth checking out if you like stuff like Jesse Welles. — Lawrence Bonk, Contributing Reporter

De La Soul - Cabin in the Sky

There have been hip-hop albums that explored the finality and tragedy of death, but not many that truly tackled spirituality and long-term grief. De La Soul has done just that, following the passing of founding member Trugoy the Dove. This album serves as a final testament of sorts for Trugoy, as he's heavily featured throughout. In that way, Cabin in the Sky is reminiscent of A Tribe Called Quest's 2016 masterpiece We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service, which followed the death of rapper Phife Dawg. 

Like Tribe's modern classic, Cabin in the Sky is filled with absolute bangers. It features standout beats by DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Trugoy, Jake One and others. The rhymes are great and all three primary De La members are given time to shine. Guest rappers like Common and Nas got the memo, delivering some of their most memorable verses in years. Heck, even Giancarlo Esposito is on board as the narrator. Some reviewers have dinged this album for being too long but, come on, that's like complaining there's too much pizza. It's De La Soul. — L.B.

FKA twigs - Eusexua

This was a really good year for new music IMO, so much that I've been finding it pretty difficult to think back and settle on my favorite releases. But, FKA twigs' Eusexua undeniably did some heavy lifting for me, pretty much carrying me through the first six or so months of the year without much competition, and I've circled right back to it as the year closes. It's an album that somehow seems to meet every vibe. It'll have you in club mode and ready for a night of sweaty, filthy dancing in under three minutes, or feeling bright and upbeat like a midday walk on the first day of spring — yet it still hits when you're having a good ol' car cry. 

"Girl Feels Good" is for sure one of my most-played songs of the year, followed closely by "Eusexua," "Perfect Stranger," "Keep It, Hold It" and "Striptease." If ever I can't decide what I'm in the mood to listen to, I throw this album on and it doesn't disappoint. — Cheyenne MacDonald, Weekend Editor

Faetooth - Labyrinthine 

Faetooth's sophomore album, Labyrinthine, is face-melting, melancholic perfection. The band describes its sound as "fairy doom," but don't let that first word fool you into thinking it isn't heavy as hell. Labyrinthine goes unbelievably hard, and will have you feeling like you're eternally wandering a cursed bog, surrounded by the wailing of the unfortunate souls who came before you. Don't believe me? Put on "White Noise." This is really an album that should be enjoyed in its entirety, though, and I can't individually name half the songs on it because I tend to just keep the whole thing playing on rotation. — C.M. 

Orville Peck - Appaloosa 

This EP is truly a testament to my ability to run my obsessions into the ground, because it only came out in mid-November and somehow landed on my most-listened wrapup for the end of the year… which was released some two weeks later. It's front-loaded with its strongest songs, a powerful and kind of haunting trio that just flows beautifully from one into the other: "Dreaded Sundown," to "Drift Away" into "Atchafalaya" (ft. Noah Cyrus). As a fan of musicals, I also loved the inclusion of "Maybe This Time," a cover from Cabaret, especially since I was pretty bummed to have missed Peck's stint as the Emcee in Cabaret on Broadway this summer. — C.M.

Case 63 

I got into an audio series kick this year, and dove into shows like Unicorn Girl, Stalked! and more. But none of the dramatized fiction I listened to in 2025 had me hooked like Case 63. Setting aside that it’s voice-acted by A-listers Julianne Moore and Oscar Isaac, which is a phenomenal pairing that won me over on star power alone. The best thing about Case 63 is its storytelling. 

Moore stars as a psychologist, meeting Isaac for the first time in a prison interview. Isaac has been claiming to be a traveler of sorts, and through recorded sessions and voice notes, we hear his side of the story, as well as her reactions and ultimate involvement in the adventures. Every step of the way, particularly in the beginning, there is clear explanation as to why the exchange is being recorded. It isn’t necessary, but it’s helpful in my buying into the realism of the story. 

It isn’t just the method and technical aspects of the storytelling, of course. Narratively, Case 63 is a gripping ride, and thanks to its short episodes, it’s easy to binge really quickly. There is certainly a generous use of cliffhangers to help speed things along, but I found myself eager to devour the entire series in one commute. The story continued to linger in my mind days after I finished both existing seasons, and I’m hoping the new one drops soon. If you’re looking for a quick and easy sci-fi audio series, do not miss Case 63. — Cherlynn Low, Managing Editor

Secure Love 

I spent a lot of time this year trying to learn more about my attachment style and how it shows up in all the relationships in my life. Between Stephanie Rigg’s On Attachment podcast, the TV show Couples Therapy and all the books on the topic of attachment styles, trauma and more, I’ve consumed them all. And while they’ve all been helpful in different ways, one podcast stuck out to me this year. It’s hosted by Julie Menanno, MA, LMFT, LCPC, creator of the @TheSecureRelationship account on Instagram and the author of Secure Love: Create a relationship that lasts a lifetime. 

You can probably tell from that introduction what Menanno’s work is all about. Relationships, from the lens of attachment styles. The Secure Love Podcast doesn’t just re-deliver the same information we’ve seen published across various media and platforms, though. Each season of the podcast (it’s partway through the second as of this writing) sees Menanno work with one couple through their negative cycles, using somatic practices to help each partner understand their emotions, triggers and reactions. Because we’re listening to real people talk about real-life happenings, it’s not only easy to relate, but listeners often see themselves in these scenarios. At the start of each episode, too, Menanno reads out or plays notes from the audience, and you can see how fellow listeners have reacted. 

This season, for example, my friend and some other listeners seemed to really dislike Brian, the anxious male partner in this season’s pair. While I’ve certainly found some of Brian’s ways of speaking borderline offensive, I had a lot more sympathy for him as I started seeing his traits in my loved ones. I also started to identify with his partner Bethany, who Menanno typed as having an avoidant attachment style. 

As I listened to Bethany and Brian describe the reasons they got into fights and explain where they were coming from, suddenly it felt like the world made sense. I saw similar patterns and reasonings in my own relationship, as well as those of my parents, relatives and friends. 

It is slightly voyeuristic to listen to something so intimate, of course, but Menanno makes it all educational rather than just entertaining. She gently interrupts parts of each episode to tell the audience why she asks certain questions or what she’s attempting to achieve by asking Brian or Bethany to sit with their difficult feelings. 

I found her method familiar, as I recently started working with a somatic coach whose approach is similar to Menanno’s, which is rooted in emotion-focused therapy (EFT). Staying with uncomfortable feelings makes me want to jump out of my skin, but being able to endure them, question why they arise and then understand where they come from is crucial to helping uncover the thinking that causes them. Sometimes they’re the result of flawed logic, catastrophic thinking or a simple lack of context, but often they’re very reasonable reactions. 

If you’re looking to understand yourself and your emotions a bit better, or just want to get an idea of what EFT or couples therapy sounds like, I can’t recommend The Secure Love Podcast highly enough. — C.L.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/music/what-we-listened-to-in-2025-201308584.html?src=rss

This concentric turntable with a CD player is the ultimate Hi-Fi system for newbie audiophiles

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Revival of the vinyl records and CD players was inevitable, as we’re seeing a swarm of physical media players that bring the invincible charm of analog music with the twist of modern design and technology. The rich and warm sound of record players is unmatchable, and the resurgence of physical audio is not going to tone down anytime soon.

Mixx Audio, known for their affordable turntables, wants to spice up the audio accessories market with a turntable that lets you have the best of both worlds – CDs and vinyl record players. Driven by the need to create a player that fits modern homes, the Analog Plus 2-in-1, fully automatic vinyl turntable has a built-in CD player. That means you don’t have to buy separate players for both to enjoy your vinyl records and CDs.

Designer: Mixx Audio

Design takes precedence here as the concentric turntable makes judicious use of the space below the platter for fitting in the CD player. The idea is to make it simple for listeners who want to enjoy both their vinyls and CDs with minimum fuss. Analog Plus is inspired by the industrial design of the 80s hi-fi components that weighed heavily into the sharp angular visuals. On the inside, it gets the Audio Technica AT3600L moving magnet cartridge, capable of playing 7-inch and 12-inch records at 33/45 rpm. Apart from this, you can enjoy your digital media as well, since there’s Bluetooth 5.3 and aux output. The included remote makes it convenient to toggle tracks, volume, or other player options.

The physical controls are mounted on the front for ease of use, alongside the small display that shows the current track progress and the mode selection buttons. The CD player of the turntable has a top-loading mechanism at the center. You can play normal CDs, or audio CDs, and RW discs as well. The audio quality output from these digital audio files is quite good, as it plays MP3 and WMA at up to 16-bit/44.1 kHz, and WAV files at 48kHz. Of course, the delivered audio will depend on the audio equipment you hook it to via the RCA audio outputs. That way, you can connect it to traditional hi-fi systems or modern speakers.

Mixx Audio has chosen the minimalist white and black color options for the record player that should go well with any interior. Analog Plus 2-in-1, priced at £299 (approximately $400), is a good starting point for budding audiophiles who want to ease into the hobby. The added convenience of loading your CD into the platter is another big advantage that goes a long way for music lovers.

The post This concentric turntable with a CD player is the ultimate Hi-Fi system for newbie audiophiles first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Engineer Built a 9-Instrument Orchestra From Vintage Computers

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You know that moment when someone takes something impossibly complicated and makes it look like the most natural thing in the world? That’s exactly what happens when you watch Linus Akesson perform Maurice Ravel’s Boléro on nine homemade 8-bit instruments. And honestly, it’s the kind of thing that makes you stop scrolling and just stare.

Akesson isn’t your average musician or engineer. He’s both, which is probably the only way a project like this could exist. The Swedish creator has spent years building custom electronic instruments from vintage computer parts and retro gaming hardware, and this 15-minute performance might just be his magnum opus. We’re talking about a piece that required nearly 10 hours of footage and 52 mixer channels to capture. This isn’t just a fun weekend project. It’s a full-blown technical and artistic achievement.

Designer: Linus Akesson

Ravel’s Boléro is one of those classical pieces that you recognize even if you don’t think you know classical music. It’s hypnotic and repetitive, building slowly over 15 minutes with the same melody cycling through different instruments until it reaches this massive crescendo. It’s also notoriously difficult to perform because of how exposed every musician is. There’s nowhere to hide when you’re playing the same pattern over and over. Now imagine tackling that with a collection of beeping, blooping 8-bit computers that you built yourself.

The instruments in Akesson’s arsenal include things like the Chipophone, an organ-like device that uses old computer sound chips, and the Commodordion, which is essentially a Commodore 64 turned into an accordion. Yes, you read that right. These aren’t instruments you can just buy off the shelf or even find in some obscure music shop. Akesson designed and built them from scratch, combining his deep knowledge of electronics with a genuine love for the aesthetic and sound of vintage computing.

What makes this performance so compelling isn’t just the technical wizardry, though there’s plenty of that. It’s the way Akesson treats these humble, squeaky sounds with the same reverence you’d give to a string section in a concert hall. Chiptune music, the genre that emerged from early video game soundtracks, often gets dismissed as novelty. But in Akesson’s hands, it becomes something genuinely moving. The piece still builds, still swells, still commands your attention the way Ravel intended.

There’s something deeply satisfying about watching someone honor both the past and the present in the same breath. Akesson isn’t trying to prove that 8-bit sounds are better than traditional orchestras, and he’s not making a joke out of classical music. He’s finding a middle ground where nostalgia, craftsmanship, and artistry all meet. It’s retro without being kitsch. It’s technically impressive without being cold or showy.

The video itself is a treat for anyone who loves behind-the-scenes peeks at creative processes. You see Akesson switching between instruments, his workspace cluttered with wires and vintage gear, every sound painstakingly triggered and mixed. It’s a one-man orchestra in the truest sense, except the orchestra is made of machines that were obsolete before many of us were born. In a world where we’re constantly told to upgrade, to move forward, to embrace the newest and shiniest technology, there’s something quietly rebellious about what Akesson does. He takes the discarded, the outdated, the supposedly useless and turns it into art. And not just functional art or conceptual art. Beautiful art. The kind that makes you feel something.

If you’re someone who gets excited about the intersection of design, technology, and culture, this project is basically catnip. It’s proof that limitations can breed creativity, that old technology still has stories to tell, and that sometimes the best way to appreciate a classic is to reimagine it completely. Akesson’s 8-Bit Boléro doesn’t replace the original. It sits alongside it, offering a new way to hear something we thought we already knew.

So do yourself a favor and watch it. Turn up the volume, let those retro beeps wash over you, and marvel at what one person with vision and skill can create. It might just change how you think about what’s possible when art and engineering collide.

The post This Engineer Built a 9-Instrument Orchestra From Vintage Computers first appeared on Yanko Design.

Pirate group Anna’s Archive says it has scraped Spotify in its entirety

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Anna's Archive, the open-source search engine for shadow libraries, says it scraped Spotify's entire library of music. The group acquired metadata for around 256 million tracks, with 86 million actual songs, and is just under 300TB in total size.

"A while ago, we discovered a way to scrape Spotify at scale. We saw a role for us here to build a music archive primarily aimed at preservation," the group said in a blog post. The pirated treasure trove of music represents over 15 million artists with over 58 million albums.

The group intends to make all files available for download for anyone with the available disk space. "This Spotify scrape is our humble attempt to start such a “preservation archive” for music. Of course Spotify doesn’t have all the music in the world, but it’s a great start," the group wrote. The 86 million songs that the group has archived so far represent about 99.6 percent of listens on the platform. This only represents about 37 percent of the total and the group still has millions left to be archived.

The open-source site is normally focused on text like books and papers, which it says offers the highest information density. The group says its goal of "preserving humanity's knowledge and culture" doesn't distinguish between media types. Of course none of this is exactly legal, and the sharing or downloading of all these files is flagrantly in violation of IP protection laws.

Anna's Archive contends that current collections of music, both physical and digital, are over-indexed to the most popular artists or composed of unnecessarily large file sizes due to collectors' focus on fidelity. The group says that what it's amassed is by far the largest music metadata database publicly available. The music files will be released in order of popularity in stages.

“Spotify has identified and disabled the nefarious user accounts that engaged in unlawful scraping,” a spokesperson told Engadget in a statement. “We've implemented new safeguards for these types of anti-copyright attacks and are actively monitoring for suspicious behavior. Since day one, we have stood with the artist community against piracy, and we are actively working with our industry partners to protect creators and defend their rights.”

Update, December 22, 2025, 10:45PM ET: This story has been updated to add Spotify’s statement.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/pirate-group-annas-archive-says-it-has-scraped-spotify-in-its-entirety-211914755.html?src=rss

This Turntable Spins Vinyl Vertically So Records Become Wall Art

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Vinyl has come back as much for the ritual and artwork as for the sound, yet most turntables still hide records flat on a plinth, as if they are shy. People lean records against walls or shelves to show them off, while the deck itself sits in a corner doing its work horizontally. The VS-01 is a vertical Bluetooth turntable that treats the spinning disc as a display piece instead of something to tuck away.

The VS-01 Bluetooth Vertical Turntable is a retro-futuristic record player that stands the platter upright behind a low, mid-century-inspired base. The front is all CNC-machined aluminum grille and vegan-leather-wrapped MDF, with a handcrafted carbon fiber tonearm reaching across the record. The design blends cool metal and warm materials, so the whole thing reads like a small hi-fi sculpture that happens to play vinyl and stream Bluetooth audio when you ask it to.

Designer: CoolGeek

Inside sits a 2.1-speaker system with two 2-inch tweeters and a 4-inch 30 W mid-bass driver, driven by a Hi-Fi-grade amplifier. The desktop reflective acoustic structure uses the surface it sits on to reinforce bass, aiming for layered, expansive sound that can handle vocals and low-end without needing separate speakers cluttering the room or demanding extra cables and shelf space.

The turntable side is a belt-drive platter with 33.3 and 45 RPM speeds controlled by a closed-loop system that keeps rotation stable. A zirconia ceramic spindle and high-precision mechanical design reduce friction and wear over time. The tonearm geometry is carefully specced, with low tracking distortion and adjustable tracking force, so the engineering backs up the visual drama and ensures your records are not getting chewed up while spinning vertically.

Bluetooth 5.3 lets the VS-01 act as a wireless speaker for your phone when you are not spinning records. It can also transmit vinyl audio out to Bluetooth headphones or speakers, turning analog grooves into a private listening session without cables. A line-out port and RCA outputs let you feed an external amplifier or active speakers if you want bigger sound or bypass the integrated drivers.

The vertical format changes the everyday experience. Records become a kinetic art installation you can see from across the room, especially with colored vinyl. The footprint on a shelf is shallower than a traditional deck, which helps in tight spaces. Purists may still prefer a classic horizontal setup, but the visual payoff and integrated speakers will outweigh that concern when your living room needs the turntable to double as decor.

The VS-01 treats vinyl as something to see while you hear it, with a vertical platter that makes every record into spinning artwork. The combination of serious belt-drive mechanics, a 2.1-speaker system, and Bluetooth flexibility wrapped in a retro-modern chassis means it can handle the full range from late-night wireless listening to showing off splattered-vinyl art during a party. Records become the centerpiece of the room, doing their work upright instead of lying flat and being forgettable.

The post This Turntable Spins Vinyl Vertically So Records Become Wall Art first appeared on Yanko Design.

AI-powered headphones for private conversations even in the most crowded places

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We’ve come a long way when it comes to noise isolation used in headphones and earbuds. The Active Noise Cancellation technology employed in current-generation audio accessories has reached a level that allows for adaptive ANC levels depending on the ambient noise environment. A handful of brands even go the distance to implement turning on transparency mode automatically when someone is talking to you. That’s a novelty, but still, you’ll hear the voices of other people in the vicinity if you are in a crowded environment.

That could change with an innovation that aims to eliminate any unwanted voices in the conversation. For instance, when you are talking to your pal on the street, you’ll only hear his voice, and all the other voices of people will be muted out. This innovation will not be helpful as a daily driver, but it will assist people with hearing impairments in hearing better. The initial prototype developed by the group of researchers at the University of Washington is known as the proactive hearing assistant,” and it filters the conversation partner’s voice only and looks promising.

Designer: University of Washington

The AI-powered headphones do all the filtering automatically without any manual input which is a potent functionality current-gen headphones can hugely benefit from. The speech isolating technology suppresses the voices that don’t match the pattern of turn-taking conversation. The AI model on board keeps a tab on the timing patterns and filters out anything that doesn’t fit. Application of this exciting tech could not only be limited to audio accessories and hearing aids but also come integrated with wearable tech like smart glasses or VR headsets. The most practical implementation could come in handy at crowded places where you have to really focus on the person in conversation.

According to Senior author Shyam Gollakota, “Our insight is that when we’re conversing with a specific group of people, our speech naturally follows a turn-taking rhythm. And we can train AI to predict and track those rhythms using only audio, without the need for implanting electrodes.” The current prototype supports one wearer and up to four other people which is impressive. More so when you factor in the lag-free overall experience. Currently, the team is testing two different models of the iteration: one that runs a “who spoke when” check to look for any overlap between the speakers, identifying who’s speaking when. The second model cleans the raw signal and then feeds real-time isolated audio to the user. The latter, so far, has scored well with the 11 participants in the study.

Currently, these basic over-ear headphones are loaded with extra microphones, and the team is working on slimming down the size. In conjunction with the research that is going on, small chips are being developed that run these AI models, so that they can be fitted inside hearing aids or earbuds. So, are we ready for a future where intelligent hearing is part of our daily drive?

 

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JBL’s AI Wireless Speakers Can Remove Vocals, Guitars, or Drums From Any Song While You’re Jamming

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Walk into any rehearsal space and you will see the usual suspects. A combo amp in the corner, a Bluetooth speaker on a shelf, maybe a looper pedal on the floor. Each tool has a single job. One makes your guitar louder, one plays songs, one repeats whatever you feed it. You juggle them to build something that feels like a band around you.

JBL’s BandBox concept asks a different question. What if one box could understand the music it is playing and reorganize it around you in real time. The Solo and Trio units use AI to separate vocals, guitars, and drums inside finished tracks, so you can mute, isolate, or replace parts on the fly. Suddenly the speaker is not just a playback device. It becomes the drummer who never rushes, the backing guitarist who never complains, and the invisible producer nudging you toward tighter practice.

Designer: JBL

This ability to deconstruct any song streamed via Bluetooth is the core of the BandBox experience. The AI stem processing happens locally, inside the unit, without needing an internet connection or a cloud service. You can pull up a track, instantly mute the original guitar part, and then step in to play it yourself over the remaining bass, drums, and vocals. This is a fundamental shift in how musicians can practice. Instead of fighting for space in a dense mix, you create a pocket for yourself, turning passive listening into an interactive rehearsal.

The whole system is self-contained, designed to work straight out of the box without a pile of extra gear. Both models come equipped with a selection of built-in amplifier models and effects, so you can shape your tone directly on the unit. Essentials like a tuner and a looper are also integrated, which streamlines the creative process. You can lay down a rhythm part, loop it, and then practice soloing over it without ever touching an external pedal. It is this thoughtful integration that makes the BandBox feel less like a speaker and more like a complete, portable music-making environment.

The BandBox Solo is the most focused version of this idea, built for the individual. It is a compact, easily carried device with a single combo input that accepts either a guitar or a microphone. This makes it an obvious choice for singer-songwriters or any musician practicing alone. The form factor is all about convenience, with a solid build and a top-mounted handle. A battery life of around six hours means you could take it to a park for an afternoon busking session or just move it around the house without being tethered to a wall outlet. It is a self-sufficient creative station in a small package.

When practice involves more than one person, the BandBox Trio provides the necessary expansion. It is built on the same AI-powered platform but scales up the hardware for group use. The most significant change is the inclusion of four instrument inputs, which transforms the unit into a miniature, portable PA system. A small band or a duo can plug in multiple guitars, a bass, and a microphone, all running through the same box. This is a clever solution for impromptu jam sessions, stripped-down rehearsals, or music classrooms where setting up a full mixer and multiple amps is too cumbersome.

Both units share a clean, modern design that aligns with JBL’s broader product family. The controls seem to be laid out for quick, intuitive access, a must for musicians who need to make adjustments without interrupting their flow. Connectivity extends beyond just playing music; a USB-C port allows the BandBox to double as an audio interface. You can connect it directly to a computer or tablet to record your sessions or lay down a demo, adding a layer of studio utility that makes the device even more versatile. It is not just for practice, it is for capturing the ideas that come from it.

Of course, none of this would matter if the sound was not up to par. JBL’s reputation in audio engineering creates a high expectation, and the BandBox aims to meet it by delivering a full-range sound that can handle both a dynamic instrument and a complex backing track simultaneously. The goal is to provide a clear, responsive guitar tone that cuts through, while the underlying track remains rich and detailed. This dual-functionality is key, ensuring it performs just as well as a high-quality Bluetooth speaker for casual listening as it does as a dedicated practice amp.

The JBL BandBox series has started its rollout in Southeast Asian markets, with promotions and availability already noted in the Philippines and Malaysia. A wider international release is expected to follow. While pricing will fluctuate by region, the BandBox Solo appears to be positioned competitively against other popular smart amps on the market. The Trio, with its expanded inputs and group-oriented features, will naturally sit at a higher price point, offering a unique proposition as an all-in-one portable rehearsal hub.

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Yale Engineers Created a 3D-Printed Carbon-Fiber Cello That That Never Cracks or Warps

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Traditional wooden cellos and violins are exquisite but fragile. They crack in dry weather, warp in humidity, and require constant environmental monitoring. A professional instrument can cost tens of thousands of dollars, yet one bad flight or unexpected temperature change can cause irreversible damage. This vulnerability has long kept quality instruments out of reach for traveling musicians, students in varied climates, and performers who need reliability above all else.

Forte3D’s answer combines 3D printing technology with carbon fiber construction. The team, led by Yale student Elijah Lee and co-founder Alfred Goodrich, created instruments with flat carbon fiber panels and 3D printed polymer components that maintain their shape regardless of environmental conditions. The sound quality matches traditional instruments because the team used computer-aided design to control every structural element and dial in the acoustics precisely. These instruments also include adjustable string heights and smooth tuning mechanisms, making them accessible for players at different skill levels.

Designer: Forte3D

The project originated from a practical challenge. Lee’s orchestra director asked if he could use his early 3D printing skills to design a cello that was strong, low cost, and easy for more people to use. Rather than simply replicating traditional designs in new materials, Lee and Goodrich rethought the entire structure. They tested different thicknesses and configurations using computer-aided design tools, discovering they could shape the sound in more controlled ways than traditional luthiers. This digital precision allowed them to dial in the acoustics by controlling every part of the structure.

The final design breaks from tradition in significant ways. The top and back panels are made from carbon fiber and shaped as flat and concave surfaces rather than carved forms. The ribs and neck come from 3D printed polymer material. However, certain classical elements remain unchanged because they work perfectly as they are. The sound post, fingerboard, and bridge are still made using traditional methods and materials, creating a hybrid that respects acoustic principles while embracing modern durability.

Carbon fiber’s core advantage is its stability. Unlike wood, which expands and contracts with atmospheric changes, carbon fiber maintains its dimensions regardless of humidity or temperature. This means musicians can bring their instruments to outdoor performances, different climates, or even extreme environments without worrying about structural damage. The material also eliminates the need for specialized maintenance products. A simple cloth and common household cleaners are sufficient to keep these instruments in excellent condition.

Forte3D also addressed playing comfort, which directly affects technique and long-term health. When strings sit too high or too low, musicians experience hand pain and their personal technique becomes harder to execute. The team built in an adjustable string height system that lets each player move the strings up or down using a small tool that comes with the instrument. The cello also includes smoothly moving tuning pegs and tools for stopping wolf tones, which are unwanted resonances that plague certain notes on string instruments. A printed guide ensures the bridge sits in the correct position, and all these design elements work together to support both playing comfort and sound production.

The violin version carries the same philosophy. Players can adjust string height to match their needs, and the body features a hole at the back to support sound flow. Like the cello, it ships with strings and tuning pegs designed for easier tuning. Both instruments handle weather changes and physical bumps that would damage wooden counterparts. For the Forte3D team, these instruments are not about making a style statement. They focus on what musicians actually need, which means less worry about damage, easier carrying, simpler care, and lower cost. The result is an instrument that honors centuries of acoustic development while finally freeing musicians from the constraints that wood has always imposed.

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DIY Lo-Fi Cassette Machine turns Bluetooth streaming into a living, analog kinetic sculpture

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This Lo-Fi Cassette Machine feels like something pulled straight from an alternate timeline—one where streaming never erased the tactile magic of analog media. It takes the quiet charm of a vintage cassette deck, stretches the tape into a kinetic sculpture, and fuses it with modern Bluetooth convenience to create an experience that’s as visual as it is sonic. The moment you see the exposed tape gliding across acrylic panels and the fluorescent VU tube pulsing to the beat, the build instantly recalls the nostalgic futurism that makes retro tech so irresistibly alive.

At its core, this DIY creation is more than a typical Bluetooth speaker. Julius Curt engineered a fully analog tape loop recorder and player with Bluetooth input, custom electronics, and a striking stainless-steel enclosure. Instead of playing streamed music directly, the device first records the Bluetooth audio onto a continuous loop of magnetic tape. The tape then travels through the playback mechanism before delivering sound through an integrated amplifier and speaker. This process infuses the music with the warm saturation, gentle hiss, and subtle pitch fluctuations that define lo-fi tape character, giving familiar digital tracks a tangible, analog soul.

Designer: Julius Makes

Magnetic tape formats, such as compact cassettes, once dominated personal audio, prized for their portability and DIY spirit. They faded from mainstream use as digital formats and streaming services rose to prominence. Yet, they have maintained a cult resurgence among audiophiles and makers who appreciate their physicality and imperfections. Curt’s project taps into this resurgence by exposing every moving part, turning what is usually hidden into the centerpiece of the experience.

The construction blends salvaged and custom components. An old cassette deck forms the foundation, but it is repurposed to drive a looped tape rather than a standard cassette reel system. Custom printed circuit boards designed in KiCad house the Bluetooth module, analog op-amps, and a TDA2030 amplifier, while a reclaimed cold-cathode fluorescent lamp serves as an analog VU meter that visually dances with the audio signal. The housing combines laser-cut acrylic, 3D-printed elements, and sheet-metal work, reflecting a high degree of craftsmanship.

Using the system is simple and engaging. After pairing a Bluetooth device and starting music playback, there is a brief delay—typically around three seconds—while the streamed signal is recorded onto the tape loop and then read back. Once the loop engages, listeners hear their chosen tracks transformed by the analog circuitry and tape path, complete with the characteristic warble and texture that tape enthusiasts seek out.

Beyond its technical novelty, the Lo-Fi Cassette Machine invites reflection on how we interact with sound. Modern streaming prioritizes clarity and convenience, often at the expense of emotional engagement with the medium. This one-off creation takes the opposite route with its unique approach, and that’s what I love.

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