MBP #144 Zach Evans

Bio: nf (aka enneff aka Andrew) lives on the east coast of Australia.   As a programmer, he has built Open Source Software at Google Australia for the last 14 years. Originally part of the team that built the Go programming language (go.dev), he went on to co-create the Upspin storage system (upspin.io), and lead the team behind Open Source Insights (deps.dev).    As a musician he uploads clips to Instagram and sometimes produces dreamy IDM tunes. His new single 'Andromeda' is out now on streaming services. Summary: In this conversation, Andrew discusses his background as a programmer and his work on the programming language Go. He also talks about his involvement in securing supply chain issues and his role on the board of a wildlife hospital. The conversation then shifts to the topic of developing programming languages and the process involved. Andrew explains the evolution of programming languages from machine code to more abstract concepts and the role of compilers. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI on programming and the limitations of language models in writing code. The discussion concludes with a conversation about the ethical implications of using data to train AI models. The conversation explores the power requirements and environmental costs of compute farms, the potential for AI-generated music, the role of AI in the creative process, the importance of the artist in music, the ethical considerations of using AI-generated content, the impact of technology on society and capitalism, and the potential pitfalls of AI. enneff links Mr. Bill's Links Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Background 05:23 The Development of Programming Languages 25:43 Ethical Implications of Using Data to Train AI Models 31:19 The Power Requirements and Environmental Costs of Compute Farms 32:45 Exploring the Potential of AI-Generated Music 38:22 The Role of the Artist in Music Creation 43:59 Ethical Considerations of AI-Generated Content 49:48 The Impact of Technology on Society and Capitalism 53:19 The Pitfalls of AI and the Need for Human Connection

Bio: For those who love to experience music, look no further than Supertask. With deep roots in hip-hop and a focus towards immersion, Supertask creates sonic landscapes that dance between the intensity and stillness of the human consciousness. With a background in IT, Supertask frequently uses code and programming in his artistic vision, and the idea of infinity consumes his musical escapism offerings. A vision that his loyal community, the Dev Team, are directly involved in. Blending both analog and digital sound design, his unique approach has proven to be a driving force in the forward progression of electronic music. Through soundscapes that feel sentient, interactive live streams, and mind-bending visuals, Supertask is changing the way that we consume art. Supertask Links Mr. Bill's Links News: Single Release: 4/21 Collaboration EP With "Seeded Vision" comes out this summer. Show Takeaways: Brain-computer interfaces have the potential to revolutionize music creation, but there are challenges to overcome, such as data transfer and the role of musical knowledge. AI can be a useful tool in music production, from generating lyrics to providing information about plugins and audio files. Creativity is subjective, and the definition of creativity can vary from person to person. AI can be creative in its ability to generate music, but a sense of ownership and sentimental value may be lacking. Imperfections and randomness can add depth and authenticity to music production, and tools like Eurorack can provide unique sounds and experiences. Language has limitations in expressing emotions in music, and the complexity of defining concepts like holes and chairs highlights the challenges of categorization. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:35 Understanding Supertask 04:08 AI and Music in the Subset of Noise 07:59 Human Resolution with Color and Sound 09:39 Resolution and Possibilities in Audio 11:04 The Perception of Music and Noise 12:08 Cultural Influence on Music Perception 13:20 The Universality of Music Perception 14:25 Microtonal Scales and Musical Perception 15:21 Exploring Microtonal Music 19:22 The Concept of Simulation Theory 25:10 The Possibility of Living in a Simulation 28:08 Exploring Music and Visual Art 29:27 Scripted Looping in Music Production 34:29 The Ego and Live Performances 36:15 The Challenge of Performing Live Electronic Music 37:38 The Limitations of Live Performances 37:39 The Role of Input Devices in Music Expression 38:24 Exploring the Potential of Brain-Computer Interfaces 39:05 Speculating on the Future of Music Creation 40:00 The Role of Musical Knowledge in Brain-Computer Interfaces 40:49 The Challenges of Data Transfer in Brain-Computer Interfaces 42:19 The Role of AI in Brain-Computer Interfaces 42:50 The Increasing Predictability of Human Behavior 45:01 Using AI in Music Production 47:16 The Usefulness of AI in Answering Questions and Providing Information 48:34 The Definition and Nature of Creativity 51:17 The Subjectivity of Intellectual Property and Creativity 52:09 Exploring Unreal Engine and its Potential in Music Visuals 53:18 The Potential Disruption of AI and Sora in the Film Industry 54:00 The Limitations of AI in Music Generation 57:52 The Importance of Imperfection in Music Production 58:18 Using Randomness and Mistakes in Sound Design 01:00:19 The Appeal of Eurorack and Imperfections in Music 01:02:41 The Sense of Ownership and Sentimental Value in Music 01:04:34 The Potential of AI in Music Creation 01:06:28 The Interactive and Symbiotic Nature of Music Production 01:09:04 The Difficulty of Expressing Authenticity Through AI 01:11:36 The Limitations of Language in Expressing Emotions in Music 01:12:02 The Complexity of Defining Concepts like Holes and Chairs 01:14:04 The Process vs. the Final Product in Music Creation 01:14:46 Future Plans and Projects  

Zach Evans is the head of the Harmonai research lab, the music research wing of Stability AI, working on open-source generative AI tools for musicians. "We're launching new models and features in Stable Audio (www.stableaudio.com) including the ability to upload your own audio for style transfer. We're also working on new open-source text-to-audio models and improvements to Dance Diffusion." Zach Evans Links  Mr. Bill’s Links Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:26 Dance Diffusion: An Overview 14:34 Inference and Output Generation 25:00 The Subset of Sound and Music 30:16 Current Projects and Future Plans 34:29 Why is GPU faster for this kind of stuff? 36:07 Main use case of text-based version 37:49 Challenges with text prompts for audio 39:18 Improving control mechanisms for models 42:06 The core process of generative AI 43:56 The future of AI in the audio space 46:03 AI models and overfitting 47:19 Automated mixing and mastering 50:22 Personal reinforcement learning 53:08 AI as a tool, not a replacement for humans 56:33 The impact of AI on jobs and artistry 58:23 The importance of personal taste and ownership in art 01:00:32 The complexity of AI's impact on the music industry 01:01:36 Where to find Zach Evans and his work

Robert Freund is an experienced advertising attorney and advisor. He focuses his practice on online marketing and e-commerce issues. Before opening his own firm, Rob honed his legal skills working at Greenberg Traurig, LLP, one of the largest and most respected international law firms. Rob has lectured about advertising law at the University of Southern California, the University of San Diego, and the University of Tennessee, and he has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Bloomberg Law, and Vox on those issues. Rob was named a Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Star in Media & Advertising for 2020–2024. Rob Freund Links Mr. Bill’s Links: https://linktr.ee/mrbillstunes   Podcast Produced & Edited by: Robert Fumo

Reecard Farché (aka Anklepants) is an Australian born convict, multi instrumentalist, instrument builder, and solo member of Anklepants. You can check out the bulk of his work here: Anklepants Links Mr. Bill’s Links: https://linktr.ee/mrbillstunes   Podcast Produced & Edited by: Robert Fumo

This podcast episode will delve into the life of David Mordechai Packouz, a former American arms dealer, musician, and inventor born on February 17, 1982. Packouz joined forces with Efraim Diveroli in September 2005 at AEY Inc., an arms company that quickly secured numerous contracts worth millions. Their notable achievement was a nearly $300 million contract in 2007 to supply the Afghan Army with vast quantities of ammunition, which controversially included prohibited Chinese ammunition, leading to significant legal and ethical issues. Packouz played a key role in concealing the origin of these munitions, resulting in a sentence of seven months of house arrest for conspiracy to defraud the United States. His story caught public attention and was later depicted in the 2016 film War Dogs, where Packouz made a cameo appearance. Beyond his controversial past, Packouz has reinvented himself as an inventor and CEO of Singular Sound, where he developed the BeatBuddy, a guitar pedal drum machine, showcasing his transition from arms dealing to music technology. David Packouz Links Mr. Bill's Links 00:00Introduction and Background 02:23 Transition to Music Business 05:47 Creation of the BeatBuddy 10:34 Transition from Weapons to Music 21:02 Legal Trouble and Charges 30:07 Media Coverage and Scandal 36:47 Raid and Evidence 41:33 Sentencing and Plea Agreement 43:39 Legal Troubles and Plea Agreements 45:07 Testifying in Trial and Sentencing 46:06 Restrictions and Violations 47:23 Entrapment and Arrest 49:46 Sentencing and Laws 50:57 Law Enforcement Tactics 51:27 Violating Plea Agreement 52:34 Inequities in the Justice System 53:16 AI in the Justice System 54:08 AI as an Impartial Judge 55:33 Sentencing and Emotion 56:03 Sentencing and Timing 56:55 Personal Experience in Jail 57:55 Entrepreneurial Spirit 59:42 Entrepreneurial Ventures 01:08:14 Starting the Bed Sheet Business 01:14:32 Current Agenda and Future Products 01:18:38 Instafloss and Non-Music Products 01:22:23 NAMM Exhibition 01:23:15 Changes in Exhibition Strategy 01:24:06 Adapting to New Ways of Doing Things 01:25:15 Diminishing Returns of Exhibiting 01:26:41 Expanding Market Beyond Musicians 01:28:06 The Birth of InstaFloss 01:29:27 Effectiveness of Water Flossing 01:30:24 Proper Use of Water Flossers 01:32:03 Identifying Gaps in the Market 01:33:20 Balancing Passion and Profit 01:34:26 War Dogs Academy 01:36:26 Opportunities in Government Contracting 01:38:23 Investment and Support for Government Contracts 01:40:16 Future Ventures

Born and raised in New Jersey, Au5 (Austin Collins) has been a lifelong musician. Trained in classical piano since age 4 and studying bass guitar and music production since age 13, Austin is a well-rounded composer and music technologist unbounded by genre.  Au5 Links Mr. Bill Links 00:00 Introduction and Tour Recap 03:00 Sleep Schedule and Adjustments 07:00 The Importance of Energy in Live Shows 13:00 Discussion on the Legality and Effects of Different Substances 19:00 The Evolution of Sound Design and Mixing Techniques 25:00 New Modules and Techniques in Ozone 11 30:00 Target Metrics for Loudness and Sub Level 35:00 Alternative Techniques for Sidechain Processing 37:23 Setting Up Templates for Mixing 39:18 Using Kickstart for Sidechaining 40:23 Using Simple and Lightweight Plugins 41:12 Using Ableton's Multi-Band Dynamics for Mixing 42:01 Using Ozone for Mastering 42:45 Using Spectral Compressor for Precise Compression 44:55 The Importance of Linear Phase in Mixing and Mastering 49:23 Using ShaperBox for Additive Mixing 53:47 Using Serum Effects for EQ Movement 56:24 Conclusion

Rooted deeply in Minneapolis's vibrant music culture, Ternion Sound is an embodiment of three bass enthusiasts. Their relentless commitment to intentional artistry and underground culture has solidified their distinct position in the electronic music landscape. The new album "Digital Artifice" is out as of October 13th via Noisia's Vision Imprint. “This album has been years in the making, and it’s the most challenging creative work we’ve ever put together.” -Ternion Sound Ternion Links Mr. Bill’s Links Podcast Produced and Edited by: Robert Fumo

Dirty Funky Bass Music, but make it pretty. The vibe and soul of the Maddy O’Neal project combine soundscapes from all across the spectrum of genres. Rich in texture and atmosphere, her roots in funk and soul shine through in a bed of low-end frequencies, making for a unique environment for future bass and synth design to tie it all together. Hailing from Denver, Colorado, you can hear the direct electro-soul inspiration sprinkled in her productions, but she has managed to carve out her own unique lane within the bass community. As a self-taught producer and DJ with a wildly creative upbringing, Maddy’s expression was formed by way of soulful melodic overtones, driven basslines, and glitched-out hip-hop grooves. Maddy’s live performances consist of original compositions, drum pads, and an interwoven storyline ranging from down-low grimey bangers to shimmery mid-tempo vocal bass tracks and head-nodding disco. Her momentum is unstoppable, as she has been touring the country for the last 5 years, playing 90+ shows a year, spreading her infectious energy from stage to stage. With hits like “Zest Please," a collaboration with the iconic Clozee that amassed over 2 million Spotify plays in just one year, five EPs, and a massive sophomore LP “Ricochet” in 2022, followed by two volumes of remix albums, Maddy’s repertoire is ever-expanding, leaving fan bases across the world wanting more. Maddy O’Neal has played Coachella, Lollapalooza, Lost Lands, Electric Forest, Bonnaroo Envision, North Coast, Red Rocks (x3), and many, many more. Her touring resume is long and accomplished by supporting such artists as Clozee, Pretty Lights, Griz, Big Gigantic, Liquid Stranger, The Floozies, Opiuo, Wreckno, STS9, Manic Focus, and more! Maddy O'Neal Links Mr. Bill Links

Channeling a love affair with classic '90s hip-hop, an affinity for otherworldly themes and an ear for raw funk, Barclay Crenshaw uses his given birth name to bare his soul and deliver a slowed-down, emotive collection of collaborations and instrumentals. His 2017 self-titled debut album was a left-field departure from his better-known alias, Claude VonStroke, but the quality is undeniably the same. This project represents a mixture of modern bass and organic beats blended with gorgeous melodic moments and underlying grittiness to create an experience that is eclectic, expressive and expansive. Coded art and epic visuals depicting ancient alien abductions and explorations of time and space furthers the sense of mystery and the unknown, harking back to the past while gazing into the future.  In 2022, Barclay announced his hiatus from Claude VonStroke and Dirtybird to focus full time on Barclay Crenshaw.  Barclay Crenshaw Links Mr. Bill’s Links Podcast Produced & Edited by:  Robert Fumo