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Sampling Like a Pro: How to Flip Samples and Avoid Legal Issues

October 6, 2024

Sampling has been a cornerstone of modern music production, allowing producers to reimagine and breathe new life into old tracks. Whether you're producing hip-hop, EDM, or any genre, knowing how to...

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What Makes an EQ or Compressor VST High-Quality: Insights and Examples from Pros

October 6, 2024

When selecting EQ and compressor plugins, musicians and producers look for more than just a shiny interface or brand recognition. It's all about how these tools perform in real-world scenarios...

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Sound Design 101: Crafting Killer Drum Sounds Using Synthesizers

October 6, 2024

Drum sounds form the backbone of many music genres, and while sample packs are popular, designing your own drum sounds from scratch can elevate your production to a whole new level. Crafting custom...

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Mastering Multiband Compression Sidechaining: A Solution to Clashing Frequencies

October 6, 2024

In modern music production, one of the most common challenges is the clash of frequencies between instruments. For example, bass guitars and drum kits often compete for space in the lower end of...

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Studio One Workflow Tips for Faster Music Production

October 1, 2024

Studio One by PreSonus is an incredibly powerful DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) that offers a variety of tools to streamline your music production workflow. However, like many DAWs, getting the...

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Solving the Issue of Buried Crash Cymbals in the Mix

October 1, 2024

Crash cymbals often get buried in the mix, especially when using complex miking techniques like Glyn Johns, which balances close mics with overheads. While re-recording with higher cymbals may be a...

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GarageBand Hacks: Creating Professional-Sounding Tracks Without Expensive Plugins

October 1, 2024

GarageBand is often seen as an entry-level DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), but it has powerful tools that, when used effectively, can create professional-quality tracks. Many indie musicians and...

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Solving the General MIDI Program Change Dilemma in Ableton

October 1, 2024

When working with MIDI in Ableton, one might notice that although MIDI clips can send program changes, most of Ableton's native plugins don’t seem to respond to these changes effectively. This can...

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Escaping 'Tutorial Hell': Stay Motivated and Actually Progress in Music Production

September 21, 2024

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Should You Write Music or Lyrics First? Solutions from Famous Creators

September 20, 2024

One of the most common challenges for songwriters is deciding whether to write the music or lyrics first. This can feel like a "chicken-or-egg" situation, but there's no one-size-fits-all answer...

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How to Plan the Perfect Release Day for Your Single or Album

September 20, 2024

Releasing a new single or album is a huge milestone for any musician. However, without proper planning, your work may not get the attention it deserves. It’s not just about putting the song online...

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Mastering the Low End: Compression Tips for a Tight Mix

September 20, 2024

When it comes to music production, getting the low end right can be tricky. Many producers face a common issue: after the initial mix sounds perfect, a few days later, the low end starts to feel...

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MTV VMAs 2023

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Photo Source: MTV

After nearly four hours of must-see performances, a surprise guest appearance, record-breaking award victories, and an epic celebration of hip-hop's 50th anniversary, MTV's greatest music event came to an end late on Tuesday night. 

Shakira had a big night as she became the first South American performer to receive the prestigious Video Vanguard Award, which honors an artist for their contributions to music videos and pop culture. In addition to winning big, Ice Spice was also voted Best New Artist. 

A record-breaking night for Taylor Swift saw her win nine awards, including Album of the Year and Artist of the Year for "Midnights." According to MTV, she is currently tied for second place in terms of the most victories in a single night.

Another huge surprise the event gave us was the surprise appearance of NSYNC, who hadn’t been on the same stage together since they last performed at the 2013 VMAs. The group is also now rumored to be working together and will be creating music sooner than we expect.

You can find the full list of the 2023 MTV VMAs winners below: 

  • Video of the year: Taylor Swift — “Anti-Hero”
  • Artist of the year: Taylor Swift 
  • Song of the year: Taylor Swift — “Anti-Hero” 
  • Best new artist: Ice Spice 
  • Push performance of the year: April 2023: Tomorrow X Together — “Sugar Rush Ride” 
  • Best collaboration:  Karol G, Shakira — “TQG”
  • Best pop: Taylor Swift — “Anti-Hero”
  • Best hip-hop: Nicki Minaj — “Super Freaky Girl” 
  • Best R&B: SZA — “Shirt”
  • Best alternative:  Lana Del Rey featuring Jon Batiste — “Candy Necklace” 
  • Best rock: Måneskin — “The Loneliset” 
  • Best latin: Anitta — “Funk Rave” 
  • Best K-Pop: Stray Kids — “S-Class”
  • Best Afrobeats: Rema & Selena Gomez — “Calm Down”
  • Video for good: Dove Cameron — “Breakfast” 
  • Best direction: Taylor Swift — “Anti-Hero." Directed by Taylor Swift.
  • Best cinematography: Taylor Swift — “Anti-Hero." Cinematography by Rina Yang.
  • Best visual effects: Taylor Swift — “Anti-Hero." Visual effects by Parliament.
  • Best choreography: Blackpink — “Pink Venom," Kiel Tutin, Sienna Lalau. 
  • Best art direction: Doja Cat — “Attention." Art direction by Spencer Graves. 
  • Best editing:  Olivia Rodrigo — “vampire." Edited by Sofia Kerpan and David Checel.
  • Show of the summer: Taylor Swift 
  • Group of the year: BLACKPINK 
  • Song of the summer: Jung Kook featuring Latto — “Seven” 
  • Album of the year: Taylor Swift— "Midnights"

MTV VMAs 2023mtv-vmas-2023 Kareem HalabiSep 13, 2023After nearly four hours of must-see performances, a surprise guest appearance, record-breaking award victories, and an epic celebration of hip-hop's 50th anniversary, MTV's greatest music event came..