Thursday, March 31, 2011

April Only: Buy Ableton Suite 8, Get Max For Live For free


Ableton has announced some special deals for April.
For April only, you can buy Ableton Suite 8 and get Max for Live for free
Ableton Suite gives you Live 8, plus the full array of instruments and sounds from the Ableton sound designers. With Max for Live, you tap into an active community of musicians that are creating an ever-expanding collection of customized instruments, effects and extensions made for Ableton Live.
The deal also applies if you upgrade from Live Lite or Live Intro in the month of April. Upgrade from Live to Ableton Suite in April and you can get Max For Live for 50% off.

Music from Numbers: An Eclectic, Free (CC) Compilation of Numbers Station-Inspired Tracks by Peter Kirn

Number stations, making their appearance in the post-war radio landscape, were shortwave radio stations of streams of symbols, mysterious to their listeners and apparently code. Here, the idea of lost and indecipherable broadcasts inspires a wonderfully-varied collection of reflective artists, in a free, Creative-Commons licensed compilation by PublicSpaces Lab. That Barcelona-based netlabel has been reliably curating some of the smartest, most forward-thinking music collections around. This time, the artists are impressive not only in their output but in their range of backgrounds and extra-musical sources of inspiration.

[PS025] Various Artists - Number Stations part II by PublicSpacesLab

The set, curated by Made by Robot (whose own, mechanical track lives up to the artist’s name), begins with an amiable and catchy vocal tune but then covers a wide gamut of constructed frequencies. Kieron James’ Preska Zero Zero helps the compilation hits its stride with grooving repetition of numbers. ambienteer and (monome creator) Tehn sit comfortably back to back with cool-but-cosy layers of samples, stretched and pitched like tents. % and ro have gently-swinging, sparse takes on the theme. Marcus Fischer, Dionysiac, Weather Balloons, and Swaying Smoke really sound like strange, intercepted transmissions. Grooveshysta’s cinematic montage of scenes and beats sets up the otherworldwly conclusion. Concrete Sound System (Primus Luta, appearing Saturday at our own Handmade Music) launches the whole list into outer space with a dense, alien-sounding raucous wall of sound.
So many compilations release artists but tell you nothing about them; here, PSL has produced a thoughtful PDF insert that reveals a lot about the artists and their approaches to production. It’s not so much a matter of recording on tool XX as it is beginning to understand what happened that made the sounds you hear happen. For me, at least, it gave me a different appreciation of what I got from my ears, like adding an additional dimension.
We definitely need a new genre name, as I don’t hear leftfield often, ambient doesn’t really describe everything here, and IDM is … well, just sort of over. Smart electronica? Or just … music? I’m open to suggestions.
Head to the blog post to download the compilation as an MP3 or FLAC. (See tips on how to listen to lossless FLAC from earlier today) The files are hosted by The Internet Archive thanks to their free license.
[PS025] VA – Number Stations part II
And check out part 1 of this series, featuring many of the same artists – and some other surprises.

[PS015] VA - Number Stations by PublicSpacesLab

[PS015] VA – Number Stations
(Note the low number of PSL releases – they are thoughtful about what they put out, rather than dumping too much stuff.)

Qbert's Breakfast Of Champions


Uploaded by on Mar 7, 2011 
See the world's scratch elite devour the new generation of Traktor DJ gear in this spectacular performance.

Traktor was on the menu at a Breakfast of Champions recently, hosted at Qbert's crib in San Francisco. Witness a three-way jam session with DMC Champs Qbert, Shiftee and Rafik performing on 4 turntables with just one Traktor Scratch Pro 2 system in this video, making full use of the 10 inputs and outputs of the included Traktor Audio 10 interface.

Native Instruments Maschine is used as a MIDI controller for Traktor. All Traktor generation 2 products like Traktor Scratch Pro 2 or its included Traktor Audio 10 interface (also available separately) will hit stores worldwide on April 1st.

You can see the full Traktor range and preorder products at http://www.native-instruments.com/traktor

The Limited Edition Thud Rumble Skratchy Seal vinyl used in this video can be pre-ordered here: http://www.djqbert.com/product/skratchy-seal-traktor-scratch.html

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

DJ Craze performs on the new Traktor Scratch Pro 2


Uploaded by on Mar 30, 2011
When it comes to matching the latest technology with world-class turntablism skills to produce next-level routines, Miami's DJ Craze is the ultimate choice.

In this video, the 5x DMC World Champion showcases the power of the new Traktor Scratch generation by creating a live dubstep remix, controlled by his golden Technics turntables and two controllers.

Kontrol X1 is used to play a live beat using one-shot drum samples in Traktor's new Sample Decks, while Craze also triggers various other samples and cue points with his custom white Maschine controller. A beat juggling section in the middle leads to the finale where Craze combines fast cue-point juggles and vocal samples with the integrated Traktor effects.

All things combined, this latest Turntable Tricknology routine effectively highlights the vastly expanded creative potential of the new Traktor generation. For more videos and detailed product information, please see: http://www.native-instruments.com/traktor

Traktor 2 - Complete Feature WalkThrough


Uploaded by on Feb 10, 2011 
For more information on Traktor 2 please visit our article: http://www.djtechtools.com/2011/02/10/traktor-pro-2-now-released

The Korg Monotribe Analog Electribe Rumored at Musikmesse Rumor

Musikmesse 2011 rumor: What would you do if you were Korg, and two of your hottest products in recent years were the Monotron and the Electribe?

If you think like me, you’d try cross-breeding them to see what happens.

And it looks like something like this may be in the works….

Korg recently registered the name Monotribe as a trademark for “multi-track rhythm and drum machines”. It was published for opposition yesterday, 3/29/2011.

We’d like to see the Korg Monotribe turn out to be Monotron-style synth with an Electribe-style sequencer – sort of a modern take on the classic Roland TB-303 bassline synthesizer. If they could to this at “Electribe sized” prices, it would be a monster hit.

At this time, though, the Korg Monotribe is just a rumor. A pretty cool rumor.

Discuss.

Build A Track In 40 Minutes In Ableton Live


Uploaded by on Feb 11, 2011
As a little treat, I here offer a 40 min video, showing how I would go about when I start working on a new track myself. My tempo, no voice overs, just producing. Enjoy!

FL Studio 10 Contest

Image Line has announced a contest to introduce FL Studio 10.
Help them spread the word that FL Studio 10 has been launched and link to their launch page and you could get a cut of their promo budget.
Prizes
  • 1 – $1010 USD
  • 2 – $510 USD
  • 3 – $410 USD
  • 4 – $310 USD
  • 5 – $210 USD
Here’s how it works:
All you have to do is blog or cross-post the FL Studio 10 launch on your Facebook, blog or other web page and let us know to be in the draw. We will randomly choose 5 people to share in $2450 USD of cash prizes at the end of April 2011.
Conditions of entry:
1. To participate you must (at least) publish that ‘FL Studio 10 has been launched‘ with a link to the news item [ http://www.image-line.com/documents/news.php?entry_id=1301017795&title=fl-studio-10 ] on your Facebook page, your website or other Blog page.
2. Report back to us at Facebook OR Looptalk. Cross-post a link to your publication as a comment on the Facebook thread [ here at FacebookORLooptalk [ here at Looptalk ] and we will randomly choose 5 qualifying winners from among both locations at the end of May 2010.
3. Your cross-posting. The FL Studio 10 News announcement & link must be visible on your page (Facebook, Blog or Web page) when we cross-check for the prize.
4. Cash prizes. You must have a PayPal account in order to collect a cash prize. If you don’t have a PayPal account the prize will be given as Image-Line Virtual Cash on your Image-Line account (we can set one up for you if you are not already a customer).

Mobile Game Audio 101: A Unique Reference to Crafting Mobile Sound; CDM E-book Discount by Peter KirnMobile Game Audio 101: A Unique Reference to Crafting Mobile Sound; CDM E-book Discount by Peter Kirn

Sound and music for games is already a growing frontier for professional music careers; mobile, then, triply so. But with the expanded opportunities come unique challenges. Learning about them requires real-world experience, and short of word of mouth, that kind of knowledge is often scarce – even in the Web age.
Composer, sound designer, and audio director Ben Long has put his sonic thumbprints on games and TV networks alike, and has recently turned his attention to sharing some of the industry secrets of the mobile realm, with work in game design textbooks and GDC China. Now, he has a new book entitled “Game Audio 101: Mobile” that assembles all that experience into a single reference. Launched at South by Southwest Interactive, it could prove invaluable to people aspiring in this area.
What’s especially unique about this title is not only its focus, but its insights into real-world case studies – fairly legendary ones, at that. Long gets tips and background on the making of sound for hit titles Angry Birds (iOS, Android), music app Drumkit (iOS), and RPG hit The Harvest (Windows Phone).
Nor is this generalist advice, painted in vague, broad strokes. There are specifics of platforms (not only iOS, but Windows Phone and Android), sound design technique, technical information, and career advice. Continue reading here.

SoundToys’ Distorting Compressor Free for Two More Days, Plus Some Great Production Reading by Peter Kirn

Through Thursday, March 31 at midnight, you can grab SoundToys’ Devil-Loc plug-in for free, concluding a giveaway that began at the TapeOp party at South by Southwest. Devil-Loc is a nice-sounding emulation of the Shure M62. Chris Conover, in thanks for a Record beta I sent his way, points to the offer, a code (which I’ll share with readers), and mentions some ways he likes to use it – particularly, he says, on drum room mics:
It is inspired by the Shure M62 Level-Loc, which was designed to be a leveling amplifier for microphones to avoid spikes and fades. Users have discovered the M62 to have incredibly gritty, dirty, and unusual compression characteristics that made drums sound larger than life and quite aggressive.
Chris Conover at theProAudioFiles.com
The only bad news in all of this, aside from the expiration date, is that the plug-ins do need an iLok, if you don’t have one of those handy.
More than an opportunity to pimp SoundToys (whose work I really do enjoy as creative sound plug-ins), I think it’s a good opportunity to point to the site for which Chris is writing, theProAudioFiles.com. It’s full of reviews, tips on mixing, interviews, and resources for sound production. It could be a great place to start to get your mind on sound work.

Continue reading here.

Mar 30 2011 FL Studio “Fruity Loops” 10 Adds 64-bit Savvy, Smarter Editing, New Pitch, Time, and Harmony Add-ons by Peter Kirn



FL Studio, aka Fruity Loops, has always been like opening a toybox of sound goodies for sound nerds – up to 30 instruments and 40+ effects in the latest edition. Just about every tool offers deep control for serious sound programmers, but there’s also a sense that those tools can be fun and immediate. And oddly, while developer Image-Line does introduce some instruments and effects as add-ons, all the functionality in the core program is covered by their lifetime free updates program. This isn’t feature bloat intended to entice you to upgrade; it’s more like what happens when you let the oompa-loompas run Willy Wonka and make whatever they want.
Or just forget all of that and think “FL Studio, the music app that makes you glad you’re running Windows.” (Don’t worry: fullscreen mode means you can actually even hide the fact that Windows is there at all.)
FL Studio 10 adds countless improvements to editing, from shortcuts to editing tools to display zoom, and gets smarter about working with 64-bit plug-ins and memory, as well as introducing new tools for manipulating audio pitch, time, harmony, and rhythm.

Among many new features in this version:
  • More 64-bit: Automatic 64-bit plug-in support
  • Smarter Memory Management, Audio Settings. Even on 32-bit Windows, you can get up to 2 GB of memory for plug-ins, with up to 192 GB for 64-bit Windows, and separate memory allocation for samples. There are also tweaks to ASIO audio performance.
  • Better Mixer: Improved mixer views (with wide strips, at last), metering, and automatic delay compensation.
  • Notation-ready, Smarter Piano Roll. It’s easier to edit with the piano roll view, thanks to new zoom, shortcuts, stretch handles (finally), display sync, and a “magic lasso.” It’s not just editing that’s better, though: you can also export directly to a PDF score by choosing Export.
  • Better Playlist: The Playlist feature now has loop, pause, and skip options for more dynamic live backing tracks, plus new shortcuts for editing and previewing.
  • File autosave and backup.
  • A new Patcher that lets you save instrument and effect chains as single presets, visually. (Not SynthEdit – it’s a new way of patching together instruments and effects.)
  • Optional add-ons for Celemony Melodyne-like pitch and time manipulation (Newtone) and pitch-correction, manipulation, and harmonization (Pitcher).
Cntunue reading here

Synth Pedal Demo - DeviEver Truly Beautiful Disaster


Uploaded by

The HARSH one!

Starring: DeviEver Truly Beautiful Disaster, DSI Evolver, Trogotronic 655, 4MS Noise Swash

www.deviever.com

www.fearkonstruktor.com/SPD/

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Bass One & Piky v1.1 VSTs - Audio Demo



Audio demo for new released Bass One VST and new Piky VST version v1.1

Bass One description:
Easy to use 3-oscillator bass synthesizer.

Piky description:
2-oscillator synthesizer. It's a simple instrument based on the creation of "pikes" and "plucks" with extreme ease.

Download for free: http://www.thecolorspace.net/software.html

Official Website: http://www.thecolorspace.net
Twitter: http://twitter.com/_thecolorspace
Tumblr: http://the-colorspace.tumblr.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thecolorspacepage

Chance to win free copy of Beat Thang Virtual!!!



YouTube Uploaded by BeatKangz on Mar 29, 2011

"Like Us For A Chance To Win A Copy Of Beat Thang Virtual!!! Like us on our Facebook page or text "like beatkangzelectronics" to 32665
Contest Ends 4/1/11
Winner Will Be Notified 4/2/11"

Housekeeeeping! (5 Tips For Smoother Workflows)

From Francis Preve -
Five housekeeping tips to improve your workflow and protect your projects:

- Label and color code your tracks as you work. Nothing slows down the production process more than trying to remember if the bass is on channel 6 or channel 17. I organize my channels as follows: kick, snare, hats/shakers/top loops, percussion, whooshes/fx, bass, synths/instruments, and vocals.

- Make use of your DAW's locator markers. As you make progress on your arrangement, it's incredibly handy to be able to immediately jump to the verses, choruses, breakdowns, intro, and outro sections of your track. When you're in a state of "flow", every second counts.

- Learn key commands for as many common operations as you can. If you find yourself going to your DAW's pull-down menus all the time, something's amiss.

- Every time you make a noteworthy change to your project, resave the file with a new number. For example: MySong v1, MySong v2, MySong v3, etc. This way, if your arrangement or mix veers off course you can always go back to the last solid version.

- Every time you add new audio to your track, be sure to Collect All and Save. No exceptions. It may eat up more drive space, but keeping everything in the same folder makes archiving much easier.

- Speaking of archiving, be sure to backup to an external drive at the end of each session.

Oops. That's six.

Native Instruments RAZOR Synth Review



http://soundsandgear.com checking out the new razor synth from native instruments for reaktor player

ARP Quadra Emulated for Kontakt 4 and higher.








SPFX/Synth Magic has released Sounds of the Quadra for NI Kontakt. They tell us that this is a fully-fledged instrument for Kontakt 4, based on ARP's 1978 Quadra synth and has a beautiful, intuitive user interface based on the real Quadra's front panel.

Pricing and Availability:
£19.99

More information:

In honor of Korg's incredible wündertoy, the Monotron, here's a virtual version to test drive.

Beware. It's addictive.

Tip of the hat to Synthgear for the heads up :)

Virtual Monotron

In honor of Korg's incredible wündertoy, the Monotron, here's a virtual version to test drive.

Beware. It's addictive.

Tip of the hat to Synthgear for the heads up :)

Free Samples from Studio Wormbone


Waveformless reader Trevor, who runs Studio Wormbone here in Seattle, sent along this link to his latest sample set, available through Producerloops. A small selection of free one shot samples are available, and if you like what you hear, the full set is 50% through the month of April.

Tim Exile Live Online Jam



This is online jamming! Thousands tuned in online, hundreds turned up at the venue. People sent in sounds they recorded and created live during the jam from all over the world.

Thavius Beck - Go!



The video for Thavius Beck's track Go! featuring the Launchpad from Novation.

Cell DNA and Max for Live



With Livid CellDNA and our Max For Live devices, you can turn Ableton Live into your own automatic VJ.
* Use your controller in Live to trigger video and effect
* Link audio clips to video clips
* Use MIDI clips to sequence videos
* Use audio from your tracks to play clips and control visual effects.
* Collaborate with your VJ over a network
* Control multiple computers for multiple screens.
With CellDNA you can load up tons of clips, use the dozens of effects, and even edit and extend it with Max 5. With our max for live devices, you can talk directly to it from Live for the tightest video integration imaginable.
Check it out at lividinstruments.com/​software_celldna.php
Full tutorial is at vimeo.com/​21221812

CellDNA + Max For Live Tutorial





A comprehensive look at using the Max for Live devices that link up CellDNA and Ableton Live. More info about CellDNA is at http://www.lividinstruments.com/software_celldna.php

Richard Barbieri of Japan & Porcupine Tree, Talks Roland V Synth (Synthesizer)

Galaxy Mesmer - Spectrasonics Moog Tribute Library Demo by Richard Devine



Galaxy Mesmer by RichardDevine

"Short demo of 10 sounds I created for the new Spectrasonics "Moog Tribute Library". All created with Omnisphere. No post processing or other effects used.

http://www.spectrasonics.net/products/tribute/index.php

DX5 playing Depeche Mode "Halo"

BSTV: How to Make a Beat With Truckasauras



Seattle-based lo-fi sound insurrectionists Truckasauras -- Adam Swan, Tyler Swan, Ryan Trudell, and Dan Bordon -- are known for mish-mashing a cornucopia of sights and electronic sounds during their live shows and in the studio. With the release of their electro-fueled second album, Quarters, we asked the band to send us a video tour of their studio. But what we received from these Northwest nutters completely blew our mind. If machines like TR-808, SH-101, Sequential Tom and TB-303 turn you on, and you don't mind seeing snippets of girls wrestling in oil and random explosions between scenes, well, get ready to watch some serious studio hijinks go down Truckasauras style. Wait, is Ryan making a tune with a Game Boy? Hold me, please.

Super Saw Synth For Windows


Adam Szabo has released JP6K, a new virtual synthesizer instrument for Windows that’s dedicated to emulating the famous Super Saw sound, first found in the Roland JP-8000 synthesizer in 1997:

The original Super Saw from Roland was aliasing, thus creating a bright and “airy” sound. To prevent the sound from sounding harsh below the fundamental harmonic, a high pass filter was possibly used to remove the unwanted frequencies. The JP6K uses the same design to achieve that special oscillator waveform giving it a unique tone.

Another important aspect of the classic Super Saw, was its special detune curve. It was non-linear, which gave the user greater control over the detune amount. Even when the detune control was half way, the spread of the detune was small, which made it possible to make very smooth sounding pads. The curve then gradually increased, and at higher values, the detune rapidly spread out to maximum. This unique curve is accurately modelled in JP6K, making it nearly identical to the detune in the hardware.

The JP6K also emulates other features from the JP-8000 like the filters, key tracking and the EQ, to give it an even more authentic way to shape the Super Saw sound. The synth has been optimised to use minimal amount of CPU, so it is possible to use multiple instances.

Features:

  • 32 voice polyphony.
  • Two Super Saw oscillators, an upper and lower.
  • 1 noise oscillator.
  • Three filter modes: low pass, band pass and high pass with -12 & -24 dB/Oct.
  • Three independent LFOs controlling the filter, amp and pitch.
  • Built in delay and EQ.

Does it make the classic super saw trance sounds? Check out the audio demo below:

JP6K Demo by adamszabo

JP6K for Windows is available now for $25 EUR. A demo version is available.

Brian Eno – 1971-1977: The Man Who Fell To Earth



Brian Eno is the subject of a new documentary DVD, Brian Eno – 1971-1977: The Man Who Fell To Earth:
Musician, composer, producer, music theorist, singer and visual artist; probably best known for his early work with Roxy Music, his production duties for U2 & Coldplay, and as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.
This documentary film – the first ever about Eno – explores his life, career and music between the years 1971 & 1977, the period that some view as his golden age. Featuring numerous exclusive interviews, contributions from a range of musicians, writers, collaborators and friends – plus performance and studio film and an abundance of the most exceptional music ever created.
I haven’t seen this yet and, at least from my perspective, it ends just as Eno was entering his most interesting phase. But it does look interesting……
If you’ve seen Brian Eno – 1971-1977: The Man Who Fell To Earth, let us know what you think of it!

Monday, March 28, 2011

Native Instruments Maschine 1.6 Adds Plug-In Hosting & More



Native Instruments today released Maschine 1.6, a free update for its groove production workstation.
The new version significantly expands the scope and functionality of the system, with the addition of plug-in hosting for instruments and effects. Maschine 1.6 also includes a free download of the new Komplete Elements bundle and adds other new features for studio production and live performance.
In the video demo above, Underworld’s Darren Price demonstrates a new track for their live set.
Maschine 1.6 is a free update. Details  below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YdYcXvnk38
Above, former MPC devotee Ski Beatz discusses working with Machine 1.6.
Maschine 1.6 Features:

  • With added support for VST and AU plug-ins, Maschine 1.6 widens its creative possibilities, turning the system into a full-featured instrument host.
  • Both the whole range of KOMPLETE INSTRUMENTS as well as all third-party instruments and effects can now be used directly in Maschine, complementing its integrated sampler and FX features.
  • Due to an “Auto-Mapping” function, plug-in parameters are conveniently pre-assigned to the high-resolution knobs on the MASCHINE controller, allowing for intuitive sound tweaking directly from the hardware.
  • The 1.6 update also includes a free download of the new KOMPLETE ELEMENTS instruments and effects collection. Based on the powerful engines of KONTAKT, REAKTOR and GUITAR RIG, it contains over 1,000 sounds selected from the KOMPLETE 7 bundle, including Abbey Road vintage drums, Vienna Symphonic Library orchestral sounds, an assortment of sampled band instruments, various REAKTOR-based synthesizers, a versatile assortment of amp emulations and effect pedals from GUITAR RIG and more.
  • Further enhancements in Maschine 1.6 include an increased number of effect slots, a new “Pad Link” feature, individual swing per sound, clip and sample renaming, expanded Drag & Drop functionality, support for up to 32 audio I/O channels, full Mac OS X 64bit support, and a wide range of detail optimizations.
The 1.6 update and the KOMPLETE ELEMENTS bundle are available as free download for all owners of Maschine.




Spectrasonics Omnisphere Bob Moog Tribute Library First Impressions



Spectrasonics Omnisphere Bob Moog Tribute Library has generated buzz for a lot of reasons: Spectrasonics is a well-respected brand; few people are as respected as Moog in the world of electronic music; the list of contributors to the library is stellar; and it’s part of a contest, with the OMG-1 Synthesizer – arguably the coolest synth introduced at NAMM – as the prize.
Some people were disappointed by the Bob Moog Tribute Library’s $100 price tag, though, so we collected some of the library’s user’s first impressions here so you could get a better idea of what it contains.
The above video, via ozashikiTECHNO, explores the contributions of Ryuichi Sakamoto & Jean Michel Jarre.Below, contributor Daniel James discusses his contribution and demos the library:





Finally, contributor John “Skippy” Lehmkull shares his thoughts on the Library:





The Bob Moog Tribute Library is a labor of love for Spectrasonics CEO Eric Persing and everybody involved. Contributors to the library include Hans Zimmer, Vince Clarke (Erasure/Depeche Mode), Jean Michel Jarre, The Crystal Method, Bernie Worrell (P-Funk/Talking Heads), Larry Fast (Peter Gabriel/Synergy), Ryuichi Sakamoto (YMO), Keith Shocklee (Bomb Squad/Public Enemy), Jan Hammer (Jeff Beck/Mahavishnu Orchestra), Danny Elfman, Richard Devine (Schematic/Warp), Patrick Moraz (Yes/Moody Blues) , Diego Stocco and a bunch of other synthesists.

We think that this will be a no-brainer purchase for a lot of OmniSphere users. If you’ve purchased the library, let us know what you think of it.

How To Use An Oscilloscope



http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/03/make-presents-the-oscilloscope.html

Oscilloscopes are surprisingly easy to use once you've located a few basic controls. They can provide newcomers with a whole new way to view the world of electronics & electricty - plus they look impressively cool/awesome while in use!

Micronaut – Experiment Five



       Here’s a hybrid analog + digital live in the studio synth jam from musician/developer/writer Chris Randall.
Here’s what he has to say about Micronoaut – Experiment Five:
Sequenced from Live, and I’m using a Korg nanoControl to turn tracks on and off and such.
I play the DSI TETR4 from my iPad running Audanika’s SoundPrism app, which is a very cool MIDI controller app done in a cycle-of-fifths layout. The little bass sound that comes in here and there is The World’s Most Expensive CS-5, while a René sequencer drives a SynthTech Cloud Generator for the arpeggiated sine part from the modular.
MeeBlip is running in to a Roland RE-201 for the sound you hear very early on, the snare-ish hit that has a spring ‘verb and echo. The other sound right in the beginning is an MS-20 running in to my circuit-bent BOSS RRV-10.
The other prevalent effects are Eos for the ‘verb, and the Eventide TimeFactor on its ModDelay algorithm, in line from the TETR4. This is what creates the big hollow drone sound. I just jack the feedback up full and when it is humming along I hit the repeat button.
Audio is available at bandcamp.

The Dark Side of the Moon – The 8-bit Album (Free Download)

Pterodactyl Squad – a video game music netlabel – has released The Dark Side of the Moon – The 8-bit Album.

38 years ago today Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon was released in the UK, and Pterodactyl Squad are marking the date with their 30th release, The Dark Side of the Moon – The 8-bit Album.

After the success of Weezer – The 8-bit Album in 2009, the Squad assembled an “all-star cast of chiptune talent” to create a VGM-inspired tribute to 1973′s, The Dark Side of the Moon. All 9 tracks have been filtered through an 8-bit lens, and while each artist brings a different sound and creative angle to each track, the album flows seamlessly together, just like the original.

Pterodactyl Squad says:

Although attempted numerous times before, Pterodactyl Squad have finally done the original album justice with the definitive 8-bit interpretation of Pink Floyd’s progressive rock classic.

Produced as an 8-bit mirror of the original, the music on this release was created using sounds from various old games consoles including the Sega Mega Drive and Nintendo Game Boy.

Featuring tracks from Bit_Rat, EvilWezil, khades, Rabato, sergeeo, Videogame Orchestra, Jason Vincion, echosignal and Brad Smith and Temp Sound Solutions, the album is free to download.

OMD Perform Half-hour Long In-Store Concert in Hollywood

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Mod For Moog Etherwave Theremin Adds Extended Bass Response



This recording of Rachmaninoff's Vocalise Op. 34 has absolutely no musical value. I'm not a musician, I'm a theremingénieur.... So this is a demonstration of my most recent development - a small module which is soldered onto the Etherwave's circuit board and which extends the pitch range of this theremin by somewhat more than 1.5 octaves towards lower frequencies. The player will feel a much more stable and linear pitch field, even very far away from the pitch antenna. At the same time, the bass range of this instrument does not longer sound like a dying motorbike...

As the theremin goes very low, small computer speakers will perhaps not allow you to hear the extended bass in acceptable quality. Try using headphones or an external sound system...

You may ask further questions via the contact form of my website http://theremin.tfrenkel.com

Thursday, March 24, 2011

DIY Dubstep



Just playing around with NI Massive & Evolution UC-33

Native Instruments Razor Tutorial




Our friends at macProVideo.com have produced this helpful tutorial video. It provides a comprehensive overview of RAZOR's enormous feature-set.

Find out more about RAZOR:
www.native-instruments.com/razor

Moogerfooger Goodness!!

Moogerfooger - MIDI MuRF, Ring Modulator, Low Pass Filter by Moog w/ MPC | ProAudioStar.com




Moog MIDI MuRF Moogerfooger
Moog Ring Modulator Moogerfooger
Moog Low Pass Filter Moggerfooger
Hooked up to an MPC-1000

Moogerfoogers can be used as pedals to get analog sounds for use by DJs.


PLAYING WITH MOOG STUFF




LITTLE PHATTY, MOOGERFOOGER LOWPASS FILTER, RING MODULATOR, MIDI MURF, ABLETON LIVE 8, ''NEVER LET ME DOWN AGAIN'' BASS SEQUENCE.

Moog MF-105M MIDI MuRF - a closer look

 





A closer look at the MIDI MuRF

- 8 Analog Filters
- MuRF and Bass MuRF Filter Bands
- MIDI Clock Sync
- Tap Tempo
- MIDI CC Control
- Pattern Editor

M-Audio Venom Demo by Craig Anderton



This is the main audio demo from the Harmony Central Pro Review at http://tinyurl.com/6aleqlq. All sounds are from a single Venom, with no overdubs. Please refer to the Pro Review for complete, interactive coverage of this electronica-oriented performance instrument.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

MFB Urzwerg Pro Advanced Step Sequencer

MFB Urzwerg Pro is a step sequencer designed for both MIDI and control voltage operation.
The Urzwerg Pro is an extended version of the company’s Urzwerg step sequencer. The new version offers output of MIDI-notes and -controllers as well as 32 individual step LEDs to keep track of the sequences’ status.
The Urzwerg Pro offers 32 steps that can either be used for two sequences with up to 16 steps each or with four sequences with up to 8 steps each. You may control up to four synthesizers or CV-controllable parameters in an analogue modular system simultaneously. Using the MIDI-output allows to address four separate synthesizers or multitimbral parts in a single synthesizer. In addition, you may play your MIDI-synth with two, three or voices polyphony. When playing it duo-phonically, the two remaining tracks can be used to control velocity and mod-wheel-data (MIDI-CC 01). Using it with three polyphonic voices, still allows for velocity control.
Specifications:
  • 32 step-controls – 32 skip-switches – 32 LEDs
  • two run-modes offering 2 x 16 or 4 x 8 steps
  • 4 x CV/Gate-outputs
  • polyphonic and monophonic MIDI-output
  • four available note quantize modes
The MFG Urzwerg Pro is available for MSRP: 480,- Euro.
The MFB Urzwerb Pro Step Sequencer
In 4 x 8 mode, URZWERG PRO can control up to four individual NANOZWERG synths using CV/Gate. As another example, you can also control and individually modulate pitch, pulse width, filter-cutoff and LFO-speed in MFB’s KRAFTZWERG. Finally, using URZWERG PRO in combination with a modular synthesizer-system will allow for even more versatile options. URZWERG PRO’s Gate- and CV-inputs are fully compatible to all common eurorack-format modular systems.
The use of MIDI allows similar applications as using CV/Gate connections but will add further functionality.Sounds can be played polyphonically with up to four voices. Using URZWERG PRO duo-phonically or as dual-monophonic, you can use the remaining two MIDI-controllers to output velocity and mod-wheel-data in parallel with the first two tracks. In a CV/Gate-based synthesizer, all parameters with CV-input can be addressed directly. On the contrary, MIDI-control through URZWERG PRO always also depends on the routing-options of the connected instrument.
URZWERG PRO was designed for intuitive operation. All functions feature designated controls for editing while the sequencer is running. For best overview, URZWERG PRO now features LEDs per step. These LEDs do not only visualize the sequence current position but also the skip-buttons’ status. While setting the MIDI-channel and the operating modes, these LEDs also function as a display.
When using URZWERG PRO on stage, you can set, edit and remove steps live. In addition, you can also modify the sequences’ directions and their individual lengths. As a new feature, URZWERG PRO features a random-function to playback a row’s steps at random. Another novelty is the auto-glide-function. Here, as in the TB-303, glide will only become active with tied notes.
URZWERG PRO allows setting of independent gate-lengths, ranges and glides for rows 1/2 and 3/4. Range defines the CV-range for the step-knobs between 1-10V. For pitch control, the range up to 5V can be quantized. Here, we have added four different scalings to chose from: semitones, whole tones, pentatonic, hexatonic.
All four rows feature skip-buttons per step to activate/deactivate gate-triggers for these positions. Alternatively, the skip-buttons can also deactivate the CV-step-control. To add more liveliness, URZWERG also offers two optimized shuffle-modes.
URZWERG PRO provides four Gate- and CV-outputs to control compatible analogue synthesizers and modular systems. Start-I/O and Clock-I/O allow URZWERG PRO to be synchronized to and sync other analogue sequencers. The additional CV-Clock-input allows for dynamic tempo-control, e.g. using an external LFO or a CV-controller. To sync URZWERG PRO via MIDI, the unit can send and receive start/stop-commands as well as MIDI-clock. In addition, it is possible to transpose sequences and address individual steps using a MIDI-keyboard or DAW.
MFB’s URZWERG PRO has the following dimensions: 310 x 165 x 38/72 mm. An external power supply is included.
Within the EU, the URZWERG PRO is available for EU 480 Euro including shipping. (Prepayment by bank transfer). Non-EU-Residents countries can order the URZWERG PRO for 440 Euro (Price does not include VAT) – Prepayment by PayPal.
See the MFB site for details.

MeeBlip Hacker Kits On Sale For $59


Yup, you read that right. Our DIY “solder it yourself” board kits are on sale for $59 until March 31st (the discount is applied automatically in the shopping cart).
It’s our way of saying thanks for making MeeBlip a massive success. Each kit ships with v1.05 firmware and dual power options — install USB or 9VDC power components (or both). A USB cable is included, or pick up one of our snazzy 650mA 9VDC regulated wall warts.
The Full Board Kit includes the circuit board, components, programmed microcontroller and knobs. A bare USB-powered breakout circuit board from the cased version is included to make it easier to mount rear panel connectors in a case.
Does not include a case or panel overlays — that part is up to you. Be sure to share photos of your creations in the forum!
MeeBlip kits and accessories are available on our Get One page.

Win a M-Audio Venom!!



M-Audio is giving away an M-Audio Venom synth here.

AMERICAN EXPRESS LAUNCHES SECOND YEAR OF “UNSTAGED” MUSIC SERIES WITH ICONIC PAIRING: DURAN DURAN AND FILMMAKER DAVID LYNCH


AMERICAN EXPRESS LAUNCHES SECOND YEAR OF “UNSTAGED” MUSIC SERIES

WITH ICONIC PAIRING: DURAN DURAN AND FILMMAKER DAVID LYNCH

First Installment of Unstaged 2011 Features Duran Duran Performance Coinciding with
the Release of the Band’s 13th Studio Album and their First Official Tour Since 2008

March 23rd Live-Stream Performance Is Available as a Live VEVO event here.

Noise Hero Kit Now Available



Noise Hero kits are now available to buy from http://www.symetricolour.etsy.com in USD and http://www.folksy.com/shops/ChrisDodsworthDesign in the GBP. There is also a pre built version for sale.

The Noise Hero is a lofi noise maker with a lot of routing options built onto a piece of strip board using a 4093 quad nand chip. This video shows some of the example sounds that are located on the CD rom that comes with the noise hero.

New Music!! The Chemical Brothers Are Back!!

The Devil Is In The Beats by The Chemical Brothers by Hannamovie

escape wavefold by Hannamovie


car chase (arp worship) by Hannamovie



Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Meeblip Experimentation - I want one!!


Uploaded by  
Got my meeblip yesterday from reflex, more info can be found here: http://meeblip.noisepages.com/

Meeblip the hackable digital synth


Uploaded by  
Meeblip digital synth being controlled by a Yamaha QY 10



Uploaded by  
Meeblip digital synth being controlled by a Yamaha QY 10


Euclidean Rhythms in Ableton MIDI Clips for Polyrhythmic Good Times; Microtonal Operator

by Peter Kirn @ http://createdigitalmusic.com


Download the MIDI clip collection and Ableton Live Session File from here along with an explanation of Euclidean rhythms: http://www.ageofthewheel.com/2011/03/euclidean-rhythm-midi-file-resource-in.html

ScaledKit by wheelmaker



Tony has another terrific tool for Ableton Live that generates the AMS files used by Operator to tune oscillators to alternative pitches, as we covered previously:
Free Utility Makes Endless Oscillators for Ableton Live Simpler, Sampler
Direct link: AMS File Utility for Ableton Live

Prefuse 73 to Release Female Vocalist-Packed Record; Get Shara Worden Track Free

Sonically rich, thickly layered with texture, crackles, and low end, the upcoming full-length by Prefuse 73 nonetheless promises a focus on songwriting and vocals. That could make it a highlight of the year – whereas dense production can often render singers almost decorative, early samples of the new work suggest the singers step up.
Prefuse 73, aka Guillermo Scott Herren, certainly has the resume. Here, he’s joined by a string of female vocalists (presumably represented by the mandala of naked ladies on the cover and the title), “The Only She Chapters.” The likes of Zola Jesus, Nico Turner, Adron, Faidherbe, Niki Randa, and Broadcast’s late Trish Keenan are onboard.
Warp Records has a release for late next month, but it’s worth mentioning now is you can grab a stunning, moodily soulful track by My Brightest Diamond’s Shara Worden. It sounds imaginative and different, packed with indie cred, yes, but also something adventurous. And there’s still the kind of bass and electronic production you’d expect of a friend of The Gaslamp Killer.


Prefuse 73 'The Only She Chapters' Album Sampler by Warp Records



http://www.prefuse73.com/

Polyphonic Slim Phatty Chain



The Moog engineers set up a 5 voice Phatty in the Moog Sound Lab. Watch them and Eric Svalgard, Director of the School of Rock, work the 10 oscillators, 5 LFOs and 5 Voltage Controlled Low Pass Filters all under the control of one Little Phatty keyboard.

Ad Rock Meets the Slim Phatty



Ad Rock of the Beastie Boys gets his first look at the Slim Phatty in the studio

Coming soon - RAZOR by Errorsmith & Native Instruments



Coming soon - RAZOR by Errorsmith & Native Instruments

The Prodigy - World's On Fire - cinema trailer




In selected cinemas for one night only - For info, tickets and to view an exclusive preview of Take Me To The Hospital from the film go to http://theprodigy.com

Recorded before 65,000 fans, World's On Fire is the debut live film documenting The Prodigy's biggest concert to date. The incendiary performance -- including Firestarter, Breathe, Invaders Must Die, Out of Space and Omen -- will be screened for one night only featuring audio engineered by the band themselves in 5.1 surround sound. Directed by award winning director Paul Dugdale, the full length feature was devised with close direction from the band throughout, and features a short film of previously unseen footage taken on tour in Brazil. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to witness their untouchable live performance in a unique cinematic surround.

Details at The Prodigy site. No sign of US showings.

Includes performances of these tracks:

  • Breathe
  • Omen
  • Warrior’s Dance
  • Firestarter
  • Run With The Wolves
  • Weather Experience
  • Voodoo People
  • Invaders Must Die
  • Smack My Bitch Up
  • Take Me To The Hospital
  • Everybody In The Place
  • Their Law
  • Out Of Space

Thor Synthesizer’s Multi-Osc, Noise Osc, and Filters



James Bernard is coming close to the end of his 52 week series on Propellerhead Reason. This week, he takes another look at Thor Polysonic Synthesizer, focusing on Thor’s Multi-Osc, Noise Osc, and Filters.

If you've made it this far into Synth School without dropping out or changing your major to something less technical, then congratulations. You're nearly ready for graduation day. Today we'll be picking up where we left off with Thor's oscillator types, namely the multi-oscillator and the noise oscillator. There's a lot to these simple looking modules! From there we'll move over and take a look at the filter sections in Thor and I'll introduce you to the semi-modular routing buttons which help move signals through Thor.

Watch the other videos here.

691 Free Drum Samples, 10 Free Drum Kits From Yamaha Rm1x691 Free Drum Samples, 10 Free Drum Kits From Yamaha Rm1x

4D Records has released Part 2 of the Yamaha Rm1x Retro Drumkits Collection, which means: 10 more classic drumkits which include 691 high quality 16bit WAV one-shot samples.
The styles of the drumkits included are now: HouseKit, TechnoKit, SynthKit, AcidKit, JazzKit and more.
The size is 52 MB compressed and 120 MB decompressed.
Features:
  • Release: 691 Yamaha Rm1x Retro Drumkit Sounds – Part 2
  • Content: 10 Drumkits / 691 Samples
  • Format: 16bit WAV / CD quality
  • Size: 52 MB compressed / 120 MB decompressed
  • Download: rm1x_part2_10dks_691wavs.zip
Last time 4D released a collection like this, Synthtopia readers pretty much took out 4D’s server, downloading the huge free sample library. They’ve fixed that issue and moved the file hosting to the Internet Archive, so check this out and let us know what you think!

Monday, March 21, 2011

Max & Ableton Live: Charlie Sheen glitch jacks & granulates to a dozen LFO modulators



A test of my "dozen LFO" max patch, complete with MIDI learn (although that part is not really demoed in this)

Note I'm still only using simpler and Max, no Max for Live or Sampler. I am using the grain delay too.

Subscribe on Youtube

Kick butt deal over at audiomidi.com


audio midi has a no brainer for miroslav philharmonik orchestra classic edition
for 15 bucks, it's usually 129 and good if you need a nice collection of brass, strings,
winds, etc... check that out

IK Multimedia Miroslav Philharmonik Classik Edition "No-Brainer" Deal

Win The Moog + iPad OMG-1 Synthesizer




Spectrasonic’s Eric Persing has announced the OMG-1 Contest, an opportunity to win Persing’s custom-built Moog + iPad monster synth, while helping to preserve the memory of Bob Moog.
The contest is a benefit for The Bob Moog Foundation – an organization that seeks to preserve the legacy of Moog and his work. 100% of the proceeds from this contest will go to supporting the projects of the Bob Moog Foundation, including their MoogLab student outreach program, the creation of the future ‘Moogseum’ and their efforts to preserve and share Dr. Moog’s extensive archives.
Here are the contest details:
The Grand Prize
In addition to numerous special prize winners, one person will win Eric Persing’s custom OMG-1 – a one of a kind synth which integrates the worlds of analog synthesis, computers, software synthesis and the latest multi-touch surfaces into one instrument.
The OMG-1 combines a Moog Little Phatty, Omnisphere, Mac Mini, dual iPads, dual iPods, and Omni TR – into a hand-crafted curly maple cabinet. The OMG-1 will be presented to the contest winner at the 2011 Moogfest in October; Spectrasonics will fly the grand prize winner to the event.
Get Creative
To enter the contest, first purchase and download the new Bob Moog Tribute Library for Omnisphere, then write some great music utilizing the sounds. When you are finished with your track, upload your submission. You can enter multiple times, but the submission deadline is July 15th, 2011. The winners will be announced on the Spectrasonics website on September 15th, 2011. See the contest site for details.
The Bob Moog TRIBUTE Library
Produced by Eric Persing, the new Bob Moog Tribute library consists of over 700 sounds for Omnisphere – created by 40 of the world’s top artists and sound designers. The new soundsources were developed using rare Buchla Modulars, the EMS Synthi AKS, Hans Zimmer’s massive Modular Moog and the OMG-1 itself.
Contributing Artists and Sound Designers include:
  • Hans Zimmer
  • Vince Clarke
  • Jean Michel Jarre
  • The Crystal Method
  • Danny Elfman
  • Jordan Rudess
  • Bernie Worrell
  • Richard Devine
  • Jan Hammer
  • Money Mark
  • Patrick Moraz
  • Diego Stocco
  • Ryuichi Sakamoto
  • Roger Joseph Manning Jr.
  • Eddie Jobson
  • Morgan Page
  • Fredwreck
  • Steve Porcaro
  • The Moog Cookbook
  • Tara Busch
  • Keith Shocklee
  • Michael Boddicker
  • Larry Fast/Synergy
  • Eric Persing
  • Jack Hotop
  • Howard Scarr
  • Erik Norlander
  • Dave Spiers
  • Scott Frankfurt
  • Ignacio Longo
  • Tolga Gurpinar
  • Adam Hawk
  • Ryeland Allison
  • John Lehmkuhl
  • Amin Bhatia
  • Brian Kehew
  • Chris Martirano
  • Steve Tavaglione
  • Huston Singletary
  • Hans Joerg Scheffler
  • Jack Mazzotti
  • Artemiy Pavlov
  • Bob Rice
  • Jeff Bova
  • Andrew Schlesinger
Contest Rules
  • Create and submit your own original music using the Bob Moog Tribute Library for Omnisphere
  • All Registered Omnisphere customers who purchase the Bob Moog Tribute Library are eligible to enter
  • Spectrasonics Employees, Affiliates and Tribute Library Contributing Artists are not eligible to enter
  • CRITERIA: Creativity, Originality, Production, Composition, Arrangement, Sound Design skills will be evaluated
  • STYLE: Any genre of music is welcome – vocal or instrumental
  • LENGTH: No longer than 10 minutes per track
  • FORMAT: mp3 (320k preferred)
  • DEADLINE: Submission entries must be received by midnight PST on July 15, 2011
  • JUDGING: Winners chosen by Tribute Library Contributing Artists and Spectrasonics Team
Legal:
  1. Don’t submit anything you don’t completely own all the rights to
  2. You keep all the copyrights/intellectual property rights to your submission
  3. Keep it clean – we reserve the right to disqualify any entrant based on offensive material
  4. You grant Spectrasonics and the Bob Moog Foundation the right to use your track for promotional purposes

Interlude for Moog Guitar, Moogerfoogers & Multi-Pedal



The Moog Guitar, Moogerfooger an Multi-Pedal (M3) setup from our recent video was so much fun to play with, we just had to stretch out a bit more with it... and throw in some self-indulgent video editing.


A demonstration of "Electric Voice", a voice processing system comprising an Alesis Micron Vocoder and a TC-Helicon Voiceworks vocal processor. Additional expressive capabilities are provided by a Moog Etherwave Plus Theremin CV Controller and a Moog MF-101 Low Pass Filter.

experimentalsynth.com is the creation of Chris Stack, former Marketing Manager for Moog Music and all around jack-o-the-wires

Moog Little Phatty - Arpeggiator, MIDI and CV Applications



A Moog Little Phatty with the CV Output Mod is a great tool for bringing your analog and digital gear together. Sync its arpeggiator to MIDI Clock and the CV Outputs become valuable production tools.

Applications shown include the Moog Slim Phatty, Voyager, Moog Guitar and Moogerfooger techniques.

Learn more at www.experimentalsynth.com

Martin Peters’ ‘Agony’ – A Berlin School Style Synth Jam

Ableton Live MIDI Effects Tutorial




This Ableton Live MIDI Effects tutorial, by Laura Escudé, captures the Electronic Creatives Ableton Live Master Class on March 21, 2010.
Escudé is an electronic musician and certified Ableton Live trainer


Sunday, March 20, 2011

Hollow Sun Releases Oscillosine



Waveformless reader Rod alerted me to the release of Oscillosine by sample purveyors Hollow Sun for a mere $8! Here's what they have to say about this unusual instrument:

"Oscillosine uses Kontakt's advanced modular synthesis facilities to create a compact sonic laboratory machine capable of producing authentic sci-fi and vintage electronica blips and bleeps and klings and klangs and drones and squeals as well as smooth pads, solid sub-basses, mellow leadlines, etc., suitable for more modern musical genres.
The user interface is modelled on an old Tektronics oscilloscope and might look a bit inscrutable and arcane at first but is actually quite simple. On the other hand, its rather non-standard layout encourages experimentation and serendipity to create sounds that are maybe unimaginable. It's certainly great fun to play with. "

"The Swarm" Free Noise Drone Synth



t gets loud at moments, so watch your speaker volume : A demo of the new free standalone synth "The Swarm". Rather unique compared to most other free synths available (Mac too!). I really enjoy the deep tone. Inspired by Leon Dewan's "The Swarmatron". A good alternative for people who don't have several thousand dollars readily available. Obviously, this is no substitute for the real analog version but it does give the user a taste of the massive power of 8 Saws layered and detuned a bit from a central tone. Leon makes some of the most unique analog pieces around. Kontrolled by a Korg "NanoKontrol"
Check out : http://www.dewanatron.com

Friday, March 18, 2011

Free Sample Library Features Groans, Motors, Wolf Cries, Dumpsters & Other Twisted FX

Twisted Tools have released a free collection of sounds by sound designer Jean-Edouard Miclot, Jedsound Twisted FX.
Sounds included in the free sample library include: Rubber Balloon, Elastic, Groan Tube, Slide Whistle, Putty Noise, Whoopee Cushion, Sound Pipe, Dog toy, scientific toy, Springs, Slinky, Laser, Magnets, Bell, Wind chime, Plane, Train, Jackhammer, Wrench, Digital Camera, Vacuum Cleaner, Underwater Metal Dings, Underwater Singing Glass Rings, Underwater Sprays, Statics, Electromagnetic Fields, Motors, Servos, Electric Shaver, Faulty Light Bulb, Wolf, Moose, Crows, Dogs, Cricket, Bumblebee, Flies, Door, Chair, Rock, Dumpster, Ice cracks, Whooshes, Dings, Squeals, Squeaks.
It’s a free download at the Twisted Tools site.

Free Download – 923 Yamaha Rm1x Retro Drumkit Samples

Ambient netlabel 4D Records has released a free Yamaha Rm1x Sequencer Retro Sample package, filled with 923 drumkit samples, from 14 different drumkits and music styles.
Features:
  • Release: 923 Yamaha Rm1x Retro Drumkit Sounds
  • Content: 14 Drumkits / 923 Samples
  • Format: 16bit WAV / CD quality
  • Size: 89 MB compressed / 215 MB decompressed
  • Download here.

Free Physical Modeling Synthesizer – Spicy Guitar


Spicy Guitar – a free physical modeling synth for Mac & Windows – is now available as a free download.
Features:
  • 9 guitars, 2 types of strings
  • physical based sound design
  • astonishing expressivity
  • easy-to-use strumming engine
  • many types of chords, 2 positions
  • 5 guitarist playing techniques
  • only 10 MB
You can preview Spicy Guitar below.






It’s available now as a free VST/AU at the Spicy Guitar site.

Three Reasons You Should Remix Other People’s Music For Free

Oliver Chesler, aka The Horrorist, is a busy guy.

But between holding down a job, jetting to Berlin to perform at techno shows and maintaining an active website, he’s spending his time doing free remixes – trading them for remixes of his own tracks.

Why?



Chesler offers three reasons:

* You don’t have to shell out a bunch of cash to get a remix of your tracks;
* It forces you to work on material that’s not your own, which can be a creative challenge; and
* The remixes that you do for other artists get promoted by those artists, multiplying your exposure and getting your name into the world.

One more reason to consider doing some free remixes is collaboration. Electronic music gear makes it easy to work in a vacuum – or an echo chamber. Collaboration on remixes may introduced some new ideas into your music.

EMS Synthi AKS Mk 1 Improvisations




Free Sample Friday: Motherplucker Synth Bass at Waveformless


From Waveformless: This evening I hit the halfway point on the next sound bank I'll be releasing through Waveformless Soundware, so I guess I can announce that it will be for Synapse Audio's excellent Dune synth. Not sure when it will be finished, but hopefully some time next month. In the meantime, today's free sample selection is one of the sounds from the upcoming bank, an extremely punchy plucked squarewave bass called MotherPlucker. It's perfect for house, minimal, and other styles that require a clean, solid foundation. 6 notes sampled as 24-bit mono WAV files.

Get them here.

Reducing the Bit Resolution of your Sampler - Is it Possible? Analysis with the Ensoniq EPS

FSR MoogerFooger Love



Thursday, March 17, 2011

Ulrich Schnauss Interview


The latest episode of Electric Independence features an interview and studio tour with Ulrich Schnauss:
When post-shoegaze magician – the peerless electronic wunderkind – Ulrich Schnauss invited us to his apartment in London, he specified it would have to be at night due to his predilection for ‘nocturnal’ activities.
We thought that seemed mostly normal for a musician until he came to the door (clad in leather jeans) and dragged us up to his pitch-black attic.
Thankfully all of our Warhol-period Udo Kier fantasy/nightmares were unwarranted the moment we walked into his studio: an impressive collection of synthesizers and effects units used to layer hundreds of manipulated sounds and craft some of the most breathtaking, bombastic records released in recent years.
Ulrich was kind enough to show us some of his favorite instruments and demo the tasty tones from his forthcoming album.
See the Motherboard.tv site for more interviews in this series.

Free Sample Library Features 528 Electronic Drum Sounds

Multiples has introduced E|Drums 3.0, a free sample library of 528 electronic drum sounds.
The library is split into three groups:
  • Synthesized – samples covering Kick, Snares and Hats using MDrummer, KickMaker and Reaktor to synthesise the sounds.
  • Alesis Performance Pad - The Performance Pad was routed through a Line 6 POD and ModPro pedal. They were then processed with Frohmage, Roughrider and Guitar Rig.
  • Loops - The above samples were run through the Reaktor ensembles Massive and GoBox.
Technical Details:
  • Sounds
    • Alesis Samples – 405 @ 16bit 44khz
    • Synthesised Samples – 123 @ 16bit 44khz
    • Total – 528 individual hits
    • Alesis Loops – 67 @ 24bit 96khz recorded at 128bpm
    • Synthesised Loops – 50 @24bit 96khz recorded at 120bpm
    • Drum Computer – 93 @24bit 96khz recorded at 120bpm
    • Total – 210 individual Loops
  • Patches
    • Battery Patches – 3.1+ @45.3mb
    • exs24 Patches – Logic 9+ @20kb
    • Kontakt Patches – 4.2+ @51.8mb
    • Reaktor SampleMaps – 5.5+ @ 44.2mb
    • .wav Samples – 44.5mb download
    • Loops – 241mb download
E|Drums 3.0 is available now as a free download here. The servers are getting hammered so downloads are pretty slow right now.

Limor Fried, Goddess Of The Open Source Bassline Synthesizer, On The Cover Of Wired


Limor Fried, creator of the x0xb0x open source synthesizer, made the upcoming cover of Wired magazine.
Fried is the founder and engineer behind Adafruit Industries, which makes electronics kits that teach soldering, tinkering, and technology exploration. She’s also been an influential leader in the burgeoning “make” movement.

For a look at her projects, check out the videos below