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Krotos Studio update adds Quick FX and AI-powered presets

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Krotos Studio update adds Quick FX and AI-powered presets
Krotos Studio update adds Quick FX and AI-powered presets
Image courtesy Kratos

Krotos has unveiled a “groundbreaking update” to its Krotos Studio application at the NAMM 2024 show in Anaheim. The Quick FX module allows you to intuitively position sounds within a scene, quickly and efficiently. In addition, the update adds new AI-powered sound effect presets.

Krotos Studio

Krotos Studio is designed to simplify sound design and foley (adding sound effects) in film and video post-production. It is available as a standalone app or as VST, AU and AAX plug-ins. The plug-in version of Krotos Studio can also be used in all of the major DAWs as well as DaVinci Resolve. You can choose from a range of over 200 presets to begin your sound design before adjusting the timing and length to suit your scene. In addition, Krotos Studio has an extensive library of samples with new samples and presets added each month.

Quick FX

With the new Quick FX module, you can place any sound effect in a real space and then easily adjust its distance or apply a muffle effect. Using Quick FX’s Reverb Only, Distance and Filter Only modes you can also shape how a sound is rendered. Quick FX integrates seamlessly with Krotos Studio, so you can apply the effects to any of the existing presets. In addition, Quick FX is designed to allow users to create realistic audio environments without requiring extensive expertise in sound manipulation. This means it is ideal for content creators and video editors as well as sound designers and audio professionals.

AI-powered presets

The AI features in Krotos Studio have been enhanced with AI-powered sound effect presets. The new presets showcase an X-Y pad interface with a cluster of colored pins, representing each sound segment by timbre and intensity. You can use this to create sound effects through intuitive interaction and shape the sound in real-time to suit your project. There is also a new AI-powered search engine which employs machine learning. Krotos says this significantly improves search efficiency, which is a productivity drain on other sound design platforms.

What we think

Krotos Studio is a powerful sound design tool that delivers high-quality audio. With the introduction of Quick FX, Krotos has opened up that creativity to content creators and video editors as well as audio specialists. The addition of new AI-powered presets will also enhance the soundscapes you can put together. The subscription model of paying for software isn’t always popular. However, there is a free version of Krotos Studio if you want to try it before you buy.

Pricing and availability

Krotos Studio is available on a subscription-based model. This costs $120 billed annually or $15 if you prefer to pay monthly. There’s also the option to get started for free with the cut-down Krotos Studio Free.

7 Things You Can Link Together on Z-Wave in Your Home

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7 Things You Can Link Together on Z-Wave in Your Home
7 Things You Can Link Together on Z-Wave in Your Home

If you thought Z-Wave was another post-apocalyptic zombie flick, be glad it’s not. Z-Wave is really a new radio frequency (RF) protocol that smart home devices can use to communicate. It uses a lower frequency than typical wireless networks, which allows it to avoid interference and more effectively penetrate walls. It’s also markedly cheaper to set up than many current-day competitors.

A defining feature of the new technology is the way Z-Wave devices actually communicate better with one another as more devices are added to the network. Communication is controlled by a Z-Wave hub, to which you can add new devices using an app on your computer or smartphone. Devices “mesh” with one another, and the network becomes stronger with each new addition.

Z-Wave is one of the best-supported smart home protocols on the market today, with more than 375 vendors offering a wide array of solutions for your home. Here are a few examples.

Smart Locks

Security is a concern for any homeowner, and the Internet of Things (IoT) is making home protection more practical than ever. Schlage, a longtime leader in lock design, already offers Z-Wave-approved smart locks, as do several other manufacturers.

Climate Control devices

No home is complete without a well-orchestrated heating and cooling system. There are a number of Z-Wave-compatible thermostats already on the market, plus offerings including the popular Honeywell brand.

Window Coverings

The IoT lets you control light in and out of a room without getting up, thanks to technologies like ZebraBlinds’ smart blinds and shades. The removal of cords and drawstrings makes smart blinds longer-lasting, which means no more worrying about the kids destroying your blinds!

Emergency Sensors

Whether it’s a fire detector, carbon monoxide detector or even a water or flood sensor, you can replace all of the old-fashioned disaster-response equipment in your home with modern, network-aware versions that run longer and alert you to the need for new batteries through your phone or computer.

Light and Fan Controls

Set the dimmers on your lights in one room and turn off the ones from the room you left using your smart home app. You can also pre-program lights in specific areas to come on during nighttime and act as a nightlight or follow a set schedule while you’re out of town to protect your home. There are plenty of these currently available, such as these in-wall switches from Aeotec.

Security Cameras

Thanks to Z-Wave’s affordable price, you can reinvest in some high-tech security gadgets like motion-sensing cameras. View all the streams, or whichever one you choose, directly from your mobile app or computer.

Digital Assistants

In the future, the Z-Wave Alliance (a group of supporting vendors) has promised to offer increased levels of integration with devices like Apple’s HomeKit and Amazon’s Echo. This will deliver new levels of integration and open up even more possibilities for your smart home.

These are just some of the ways you can take advantage of this new technology. Check out the Z-Wave homepage to learn more about how you can optimize your smart home using Z-Wave and GearBrain’s guide for how to get started on building your own smart home.

-Scott Huntington has written for Forbes, Business Insider, and CarBuzz.

Echo (4th Gen) | With premium sound, smart home hub, works with Z-Wave devices and Alexa | Charcoal

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Etro | SS24 Campaign Etro’s newest reality-bending campaign

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Etro | SS24 Campaign Etro’s newest reality-bending campaign

Etro | SS24 Campaign Etro’s newest reality-bending campaign

ETRO‘s SS24 campaign emerges from the collaboration between Marco De Vincenzo, the brand’s creative director, digital artist Silvia Baldotti, and Artificial Intelligence. The resulting images are both manmade and machine-made, designed by AI software but prompted by Baldotti’s textual cues.

The collection transports to places that stretch the limits of reality, inhabitable only through an active imagination and shine with an otherworldly glow in gardens teeming with oversized flowers and alien creatures as their velvety complexions melt into pastel palaces.

This dialogue between man and machine mirrors the conversation that occurs between an article of clothing and the wearer. Fashion is an art form hinged on the combination of numerous factors that can occur in infinite iterations as the article of clothing interacts not only with the person wearing it but the rest of their outfit. Imagination and creativity, then, invite endless opportunities for expression.

Microsoft Azure revenue growth accelerates in Q2

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Microsoft Azure revenue growth accelerates in Q2

Microsoft said Azure delivered revenue growth of 30% in its fiscal second quarter and CEO Satya Nadella noted that moved from “talking about AI to applying AI at scale.”

The company reported second-quarter net income of $21.9 billion, or $2.93 a share, on revenue of $62 billion, up 18% from a year ago. Wall Street was looking for fiscal second quarter revenue of $61.12 billion with non-GAAP earnings of $2.78 a share.

CFO Amy Hood noted that Microsoft Cloud revenue was $33.7 billion, up 24% from a year ago due to “strong execution by our sales teams and partners.”

Microsoft said revenue in its productivity and business processes unit was $19.2 billion, up 13% from a year ago, with Office commercial and cloud services revenue gaining 15%. Dynamics had revenue growth of 21%.

For the Intelligent Cloud unit, powered by Azure, second quarter revenue was up 20% from a year ago. The personal computing division saw Windows revenue gain 9% from a year ago.  

Azure revenue in the second quarter accelerated sequentially.

Microsoft Azure revenue growth accelerates in Q2

Also see: How Generative AI Has Supercharged the Future of Work | Generative AI articles | Why you need a Chief AI Officer | Software development becomes generative AI’s flagship use case | Enterprises seeing savings, productivity gains from generative AI | Work in a generative AI world will need critical, creative thinking

Volie incorporates STELLA AI into its BDC call center software

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Volie incorporates STELLA AI into its BDC call center software
Volie incorporates STELLA AI into its BDC call center software

Automotive BDC software provider Volie is integrating STELLA Automotive AI’s conversational artificial intelligence technology into its call center software with the goal of delivering a “next-generation” customer experience.

The deal integrates STELLA data into Volie’s call screen to give dealers enhanced interactions for streamlined communication. The combination is designed to provide relevant customer details from previous STELLA conversations, reducing repetitive questions and creating a more seamless experience.

Volie president and co-founder Scott Davis called the integration “a win for auto dealers and their customers.”

“The goal is to provide a better experience for our dealers’ customers,” he said. “Working with STELLA Automotive AI will allow our dealers more time to focus on growing their business through outbound calls.”

Volie’s call center software is designed to simplify BDC operations, eliminating the need for desk phones. The integration campaign engine consolidates data from the DMS, CRM, OEM, web leads and all data sources to optimize daily workflows and prioritize the most important areas for dealership agents.

STELLA is designed to manage repetitive calls and transfer customers to dealership personnel, like BDC agents, using Volie software.

The companies said the integration enhances dealership operations, reduces costs and improves customer satisfaction scores.

“By seamlessly integrating our advanced conversational AI technology with Volie’s all-in-one BDC software,” STELLA CEO Rich Sands, CEO said, “dealers are empowered with more robust information, gaining an edge for more intelligent interactions with their customers. We already have dealers taking advantage of this integration and reporting enhanced customer interactions as a result.”

Katherine Lowry, Elaine Dick Discuss Data-Driven Law Firm at SKILLS.law

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Katherine Lowry, Elaine Dick Discuss Data-Driven Law Firm at SKILLS.law
Katherine Lowry, Elaine Dick Discuss Data-Driven Law Firm at SKILLS.law

Alert

Delaware Supreme Court Upholds Enforceability of Forfeiture-for-Competition Provisions in Limited Partnership Agreements, Rejecting Chancery Court’s Application of ‘Reasonableness’ Scrutiny from the Employment Non-Compete Context

01/30/2024|4 minute read

Rare Porsche 356/2 Could Fetch $3.5 Million

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Rare Porsche 356/2 Could Fetch .5 Million

Rare Porsche 356/2 Could Fetch $3.5 Million | Carscoops <!—-> <!– –> <!– –> <!—->

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The carmaker built just 52 examples of the original 356/2 and this one has a well-documented past 

 https://www.carscoops.com/author/bradcarscoops-com/

Rare Porsche 356/2 Could Fetch $3.5 Million <!––>

by Brad Anderson

1 hour ago

<!––> Rare Porsche 356/2 Could Fetch $3.5 Million
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Few brands doe sports cars as well as Porsche and while it’s hard to pinpoint its single most important production vehicle, one could make an argument that the 356/2 is it. Were it not for it, Porsche may have never become the brand that it currently is.

The first Porsche built came in the form of the 356/1 which had no fixed roof and a mid-mounted flat-four engine. Soon after, Porsche received the necessary funds it needed to bring a sports car into production thanks to a Swiss entrepreneur by the name of Rupprecht von Senger.

That model was the 356/2 and just 52 examples were ever manufactured. This car is number 32 and is available through DK Engineering in the UK with a claimed value of $3.5 million.

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DK Engineering

Unlike so many other vehicles of this age, the history of this 356/2 has been comprehensively detailed throughout the decades. It was built on June 12, 1950, and delivered to a customer in Gothenburg, Sweden. In 1952, it was purchased by Gert Kaiser who raced at the Midnattssolsrallyt or Rally to the Midnight Sun in the Arctic Circle.

Read: The Porsche Vision 357 Is A Retrotastic Homage To The Original 356

The car passed through the hands of several other Swedish residents during the 1950s and 1960s before being deregistered in Sweden in 1974 and sold in Norway. It was later sold to a collector in California before being acquired by collector Jim Barrington in 1994. The 356/2 was then sold to Cal Turner III and displayed at numerous events before it was purchased by someone in the UK in 2007 and then picked up by DK Engineering last year. It is now ready for a new home having recently benefited from a full service.

A variety of different engines powered the 52 units that were built, including two different 1.1-liter flat-fours and a larger 1.5-liter engine. Given this car’s age, it looks to be in excellent condition and will no doubt be a welcome addition to even the most comprehensive and expensive collection.

DK Engineering

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Apply by March 31 for Automotive, Heavy-Duty Scholarships

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Apply by March 31 for Automotive, Heavy-Duty Scholarships

Hundreds of scholarships, including scholarships for service and repair, engineering, supply chain, finance and IT/cybersecurity fields of study, will be awarded

By University of the Aftermarket Foundation

Bethesda, Md.—The University of the Aftermarket Foundation (UAF) reminds students that March 31 is the deadline to submit applications on its Aftermarket Scholarship Central websites at AutomotiveScholarships.com and HeavyDutyScholarships.com.

Hundreds of scholarships, including scholarships for service and repair, engineering, supply chain, finance and IT/cybersecurity fields of study, will be awarded for the 2024-25 academic year to students enrolled in four-year and two-year colleges as well as ASE/NATEF certified automotive, collision and heavy-duty/diesel post-secondary programs. In 2023, 378 scholarships totaling $640,250 were awarded. 

Apply by March 31 for Automotive, Heavy-Duty Scholarships

The foundation’s AutomotiveScholarshps.com and HeavyDutyScholarships.com websites are streamlined, mobile-ready portals with easy navigation and a simplified online application process for students interested in careers in the motor vehicle aftermarket. By completing a single application online, students will be considered for multiple scholarships for which they are eligible. The websites allow applicants to view the details of all scholarships available and continue to update their application until the March 31 deadline.

A complete list of scholarships offered by UAF and affiliated organizations is featured on the websites with links to information outlining each organization’s scholarship details, eligibility requirements and awards. To be considered for as many scholarships as possible, UAF urges applicants to read the individual pages thoroughly to ensure they include the proper information required by each organization with their application.

“The University of the Aftermarket Foundation’s scholarship program has helped countless students get the education and training needed to begin a successful automotive or heavy-duty career,” said Roger McCollum, MAAP, chairman, University of the Aftermarket Foundation. “We encourage all those who are interested to visit the UAF scholarship websites soon so they have plenty of time to complete and submit their applications by the March 31 deadline.”

To receive information, reminders and updates about the University of the Aftermarket Foundation scholarship program, interested parties can text their name and email address to 720-903-2206. To learn more about the University of the Aftermarket Foundation, visit UofA-Foundation.org.

GM Just Changed Course On Plug-In Hybrid Electric Cars

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GM Just Changed Course On Plug-In Hybrid Electric Cars
GM Just Changed Course On Plug-In Hybrid Electric Cars

In the same call, Mary Barra also said that GM plans to produce 200,000 to 300,000 EVs across all of its brands this year. GM still plans to transition to a fully electric light-duty fleet by 2035, a mere nine years from now. 

That all sounds well and good, but at the beginning of 2024, General Motors, across all brands, only offered six electric cars: the Chevy Bolt EV and EUV, the Chevy Blazer EV, the Cadillac Lyriq, and the GMC Hummer truck and SUV. Both variants of the Bolt are not Ultium-based. It’s also worth noting that GM has had a very difficult time in past years selling any meaningful amount of EVs. 

As of now, GM has not released any info as to what the new plug-ins will be or what the exact timeline is. But if it wants to get everyone in an electrified car, it has to start actually shipping models out sooner rather than later. 

Stellantis Boss Says Rapid Acceleration Of EVs Is A Safety Feature

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Rare Porsche 356/2 Could Fetch .5 Million

Stellantis Boss Says EV’s Rapid Acceleration Is A Safety Feature | Carscoops <!—-> <!– –> <!– –> <!—->

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While are some are worried by the availability of high-powered EVs, Tavares does not share such concerns 

 https://www.carscoops.com/author/bradcarscoops-com/

Rare Porsche 356/2 Could Fetch $3.5 Million <!––>

by Brad Anderson

2 hours ago

<!––> Stellantis Boss Says EV’s Rapid Acceleration Is A Safety Feature
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The rise of electric vehicles has seen the acceleration figures of everyday runabouts and family SUVs drop to levels once reserved for sports cars and supercars, and according to Stellantis chief executive Carlos Tavares, the quick acceleration of EVs could be considered a safety feature.

While speaking at the reveal of the company’s new STLA Large platform, which will support models with a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in as low as 2 seconds, Tavares noted that quick acceleration is important when overtaking and could help drivers avoid certain dangerous situations.

“I am living on a farm in the deep countryside of Portugal, and I often drive on the small roads around here,” Tavares told Top Gear. “The acceleration power is first a matter of safety. It is first a matter of overtaking in safe conditions, making sure that you can change lanes, you can overtake a truck on a two-lane road. So, it is not necessarily about speed. It’s about acceleration power to overtake in safe conditions, and we are very happy that the electric vehicles carry that kind of capability.”

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Stellantis Boss Says EV’s Rapid Acceleration Is A Safety Feature
Stellantis STLA Large platform

Anyone who’s ever driven a slow car knows that it can be quite dangerous when trying to overtake and that’s exactly the type of scenario that Tavares believes EVs will help drivers avoid.

Read: Stellantis To Launch 8 New Models On STLA Large EV Platform That Supports ICE

“I think it’s something that customers can enjoy,” he added. “And there is nothing more difficult than starting to overtake a truck and then having to jump on the brakes because you just discovered that the acceleration of the car you’re driving is not good enough to overtake in safe conditions. So, you jump back on the brakes, and you go back behind the truck. The acceleration capability for us is first a safety measure. The more acceleration you have, the safer the conditions under which you overtake can be, and from that perspective, the BEV technology is great as we all know.”

While Tavares may have a point in regards to overtaking, we’re not convinced that the blistering acceleration offered by EVs is necessarily a good thing. Sure, enthusiasts like ourselves love the thrill that an EV can provide off the line but do you want to be sharing the road with inexperienced and distracted drivers piloting 500hp+ family cars that can hit 62 mph in 3 seconds? We’re not sure we do.

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