1+ day, 6+ hour ago (544+ words) Save on loads of Shokz, from the OpenRun Pro 2 to the OpenFit series As someone who both reviews fitness kit and runs long distances for fun, I've spent a lot of time testing running headphones, and it's hard to find many that are better than Shokz. I tend to alternate between the Shokz OpenFit 2+ open-ear headphones and the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 bone conduction headphones, preferring the OpenRun Pro 2 for race-day events. Yes, that's my ear in the picture above. Right now, you can save $55 as the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 have been reduced to $124.95 at Amazon (was $179.95), as well as on the Shokz website. Likewise, the Shokz OpenFit 2+, which are true wireless earbuds rather than a single unit, are on sale for $159.95 at Amazon (was $199.95), saving you $40. " Shop the Amazon Black Friday sale I recommend these headphones to all my friends…...

1+ day, 6+ hour ago (544+ words) Save on loads of Shokz, from the OpenRun Pro 2 to the OpenFit series As someone who both reviews fitness kit and runs long distances for fun, I've spent a lot of time testing running headphones, and it's hard to find many that are better than Shokz. I tend to alternate between the Shokz OpenFit 2+ open-ear headphones and the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 bone conduction headphones, preferring the OpenRun Pro 2 for race-day events. Yes, that's my ear in the picture above. Right now, you can save $55 as the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 have been reduced to $124.95 at Amazon (was $179.95), as well as on the Shokz website. Likewise, the Shokz OpenFit 2+, which are true wireless earbuds rather than a single unit, are on sale for $159.95 at Amazon (was $199.95), saving you $40. " Shop the Amazon Black Friday sale I recommend these headphones to all my friends…...

1+ day, 11+ hour ago (467+ words) This is your cheapest way into next-level sounds, digital trigger compatibility, expandable kit memories and more Black Friday has arrived, and it's already brought some surprising electronic drum deals. Roland recently delivered the power of its flagship 7 Series to a more real world price point with its 3 and 5 Series electronic drum sets. Now, in an almost unheard of move, the TD313 it's already had over 15% sliced off its price tag in Thomann's Cyber Week sale. Roland's TD313 is the entry-level kit in its brand new 3 Series range. Highlights include a universal sound collection as found in Roland's much more expensive 7 and 5 Series kits, compatibility with Roland's digital pads, and mesh heads all-round. The V31 module features a colour screen, Bluetooth and integration with Roland's Cloud online sound expansion resource. This kit has only been out a month, so it's a big surprise to…...

1+ day, 11+ hour ago (615+ words) Get Pittsburgh Modular's synths at a discounted price and get a Cre8audio Boom Chick free A discount on a synth is one thing, but throw in a free drum machine too and then we're really talking. That's exactly what you get with these Black Friday deals on Pittsburgh Modular synths. The synths in question are the Pittsburgh Modular Voltage Lab 2 and the Taiga Keyboard, both self-contained Eurorack-compatible synths housed in their own bespoke cases. With between $/200 and $/500 reductions on each at various retailers, there's pretty solid prices to be had on these quality instruments anyway. Those prices also net you a compact drum machine though, in the form of Cre8audio's recent Boom Chick. Voltage Lab 2 is an instrument with a decidedly West Coast vibe, taking influence from the likes of the Buchla Music Easel. It has two oscillator modules, which offer…...

1+ day, 14+ hour ago (532+ words) Tony Ware is Managing Editor, Gear & Commerce for PopSci.com. He's been writing about how to make and break music since the mid-'90s when his college newspaper said they already had a film critic, but maybe he wanted to look through the free promo CDs. Immediately hooked on outlining intangibles, he's covered everything audio for countless alt. weeklies, international magazines, websites, and heated bar trivia contests ever since. He lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and an 8-pound Aussie Shepherd-Japanese Chin mix who loves exploring national parks and impressing the thru-hikers. If your idea of "outside time" involves heart-rate zones and split times, not just playlists and enjoying the view, open-ear headphones are basically a cheat code. They pump in the pace, keep traffic and training partners audible, and don't turn your ear canals into saunas by the end of…...

1+ day, 14+ hour ago (191+ words) Soundtoys 5.5 is available for $360 off RRP and you can save 61% on the new SpaceBlender reverb We interview a lot of producers here at MusicRadar, and across all of those conversations, there's one brand that gets mentioned more than any other: Soundtoys. These effects plugins are some of the most popular processors on the market for a reason - they simply sound great. Just ask Jack Antonoff, who has name-checked Soundtoys' FilterFreak as one of his go-to tools for vocal production. If that sounds like a bit too much of an investment, Soundtoys is offering some fantastic discounts across individual effects, with some of its most popular titles (including FilterFreak) available for up to 75% off. Scroll down for a few of our top picks. Described by Soundtoys as "the ultimate realization" of their absolute obsession with delay effects, this plugin captures decades…...

1+ day, 15+ hour ago (329+ words) Save space on your pedalboard " and money There's a strong case to be made for having one 'Swiss Army Knife' stompbox on your pedalboard. Especially if the Black Friday music deals just gave us one of the finest around for an absolute bargain, because Thomann has the TC Electronic Plethora X1 for just "99 right now. Our review called the Plethora X1 "astounding" in its utility and "a convenient do-it-all pedal which could be adapted to any 'board". The smallest of TC's Plethora series on multi-effects by a long shot, it combines the company's most popular compact pedals in one with delay, reverb, modulation, compressor, harmonizer and more. It was excellent value at its launch price of "159, now it's a steal! If you are fighting for space on your pedalboard or only need specific effects now and again, the Plethora X1 is the perfect…...

1+ day, 17+ hour ago (1419+ words) Cassette tapes and CDs are joining the vinyl-led retro audio boom, driven by listener desire for physical media as well as the stronger revenue potential for artists, which have both been lacking in the streaming era. The return to physical audio technology has seen equipment to manufacture records, discs and tapes that was destined for scrapping instead restored and capacities ramped up across the country. Meanwhile overseas, production lines for devices that play the historic audio mediums are reopening, and local retailers are selling boombox and Walkman-like devices ahead of Christmas. Red Eye Records customer Aidan Mulholland looking through albums this week.Credit: James Brickwood Since the mid-2010s, records have most noticeably led the renaissance in vintage formats. Vinyl record manufacturing generated about $287.4 million in revenue in Australia between 2020 and July 2025, according to industry analysis from IBISWorld. CD duplication and replication…...

1+ day, 20+ hour ago (564+ words) This is the untold story of how those sounds were once created and how new technologies are improving them for the future. The Original Craft: How Star Wars Sounds Were Born Why Modern Star Wars Audio Needs Something New That volume puts real pressure on sound teams. Hand making each audio cue, just as pioneers once did, would stretch the schedule beyond reason. Here's where today's AI tools start to make a difference. The Rise of AI in Sound Design Some audio teams using modern AI tools report workflow acceleration of 30 percent or more, especially during large productions. AI can assist in generating raw materials, which sound designers later refine. Working together, creators concentrate on crafting a moving, original score, stepping away from the minutiae of sound engineering. Enhancing Classic Sounds Without Replacing Them Some fans fear AI will tamper…...

2+ day, 13+ hour ago (1419+ words) Cassette tapes and CDs are joining the vinyl-led retro audio boom, driven by listener desire for physical media as well as the stronger revenue potential for artists, which have both been lacking in the streaming era. The return to physical audio technology has seen equipment to manufacture records, discs and tapes that was destined for scrapping instead restored and capacities ramped up across the country. Meanwhile overseas, production lines for devices that play the historic audio mediums are reopening, and local retailers are selling boombox and Walkman-like devices ahead of Christmas. Red Eye Records customer Aidan Mulholland looking through albums this week.Credit: James Brickwood Since the mid-2010s, records have most noticeably led the renaissance in vintage formats. Vinyl record manufacturing generated about $287.4 million in revenue in Australia between 2020 and July 2025, according to industry analysis from IBISWorld. CD duplication and replication…...