Korg introduces its NanoSeries of MIDI Controllers :-)
Korg has introduced the new nanoSeries line of MIDI control surfaces, designed for mobile music-making.
The lineup includes three products: nanoKEY, nanoPAD and nanoKONTROL:
- nanoKEY is a 25-note, velocity-sensitive model. It will ship with a download code for the full version of Korg’s M1Le – a cutdown version of the synth that forms part of the Legacy Collection Digital Edition bundle.
- The nanoPAD looks set to appeal to laptop DJs – an X/Y pad is also included – though the roll and flam functions suggest that it’ll also be useful for drum programming. Toontrack’s EZDrummer Lite will be freely available to owners of this one.
- The nanoKONTROL offers nine faders, nine knobs, 18 switches and a transport section. A discount code for Ableton Live will come in the box.
All the nanoSeries controllers are bus-powered and connect over USB.
No word on pricing yet – but these look like fun and my guess is that they’ll be priced cheap enough to be bite-sized.
New fat Reason Refill from Sonic
Massive Progressive is out! Extremely big considering its relatively low price: 250+ combinators, 130+ Thor patches, 130+ Malstrom patches, 100+ ReQuencerish patches, stunning swells and stabs and much more!
Massive Progressive is for Reason 4 and higher versions.
- Over 250 combinators subdivided in 7 categories: Arpeggios, Bass,
FX Stabs & Swells, Leads, LFO Synths & Pads, Thor Sequences, Pads. - 100+ ReQuencer style patches!
- Over 130 Malström patches.
- Over 130 Thor patches.
- 150 new and unique drum samples (kicks, snares and claps).
- Over 90 Rex loops.
Some Tips and Tricks
While using the arpeggiator combinators don’t play chords all the time. Two notes at a time often give the hottest results. Don’t forget to tweak the knobs or to use the modulation wheel. A lot of sonic secrets are hidden there.
Most rexes are meant to be used as back beats/ghost beats. Most times you wanna use the high pass filter to make them sound thinner. Also try to lower the decay values of the amp envelope and please don’t forget to tune and transpose the loops!
There are more FX samples in the refill than you can find in the combinator section. Of course you can find those in the sample section of Massive Progressive. Load them into your sampler or drum machine and tweak the sample length, the sample start and tunings for crazy results. Most FX are great for percussion purposes as well.
The LFO pads are set to get that typically progressive moving downbeat sound. Many producers use the side chain compression trick with kickdrums triggering what’s happening to the pads. This may cause dull sounding results that can’t be corrected by using extra EQ or even more compression. Try our LFO pads instead and let the end-maximizer do its job in the end (use the 4ms look ahead function). Please check the 12 RNS-demos to get an idea of what we are talking about.
There are 50 Pad combinators. All of them were programmed while a loop and a ReQuencer were running and while there were already some mastering devices set to active. We did this to come to maximum mingling results. The pads might sound less impressive compared to our Mystic Dream Pads when they’re played stand alone. They will sit perfectly in every progressive trance mix though. That is why we did it this way this time!
A great sound is often the result of tuning your samples in the right way. The root note is very safe of course, but don’t emphasize the root note too much! The kick drum gets the root note most of the times. The fifth (G in C) is a great choice for hi percussion and for claps. The fourth (F in C) is also a strong one. We call this one the sub dominant. The minor 7 (Bflat in C) works great for snares! The minor and major 3 (Eflat and E in C) are interesting but tricky ones, be carefull with those and if you use them, don’t hide them but put them upfront! Perfect tuning will make your mixes sound more transparent and stronger. You’ll need less EQing and compression when you do it like this.
Japanese synthpop weekend treat
Should I laugh or cry, judge for yourself – I think I like it though
Aural Vampire (yes, it’s a play on “oral”) is a Tokyo duo that churns out the most scrumptious Electropop/Darkwave. Think 80s-influenced female-fronted synth (Ladytron, Metric) with a bite of dark/glam industrial (Rammstein).
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9loRRdMVtBk]
| Band Website | auralvampire.com |
| Band Members |  EXO-CHIKA(Vocal/Lyrics)  RAVEMAN(Sound / DJ) |
Roland announce the GW-8 workstation with intelligent backing-track functionality
Roland announced several new products at the London International Music Show. Amongst others they unveiled the new GW-8 Workstation and the revival of an oldie, the Juno in a stage version.
Let’s try it out
Roland’s GW-8 is the next generation of their GW-series workstations with intelligent backing-track functionality. Roland say that with their world-leading sound technology at its core, the GW-8 rivals any workstation on the planet with its rich, expressive sound. It features a wide variety of contemporary sounds, intelligent backing styles, and additional banks of ethnic sounds and styles from around the world.
A multi-format USB Memory Player feature allows direct playback of MP3, WAV, AIFF, and SMF files from USB key, while the Centre Cancel feature for audio files enables karaoke-style sing-along.
Here’s the details
Features
- Contemporary music workstation with high-quality 128-voice sound engine derived from Roland’s renowned sound-module lineup
- Wide variety of contemporary sounds and intelligent backing styles, plus additional banks of ethnic sounds and styles from around the world
- USB Memory Player feature allows direct playback of MP3, WAV, AIFF, and SMF files from USB key; Centre Cancel feature for audio files enables karaoke-style sing-along
- Newly designed graphical display, plus Style Select button, Analogue Modify knob, and D-BEAM
- Style Converter and Playlist Editor software included
- Onboard 16-track sequencer for saving your interactive performances
Flagship Sound Engine with Easy User Interface
With Roland’s world-leading sound technology at its core, the GW-8 rivals any workstation on the planet with its rich, expressive sound. The GW-8 comes loaded with hundreds of the freshest and most essential sounds culled from Roland’s top sound modules. In addition to its authentic sound set, the GW-8 is equipped with many user-friendly control devices, such as the expressive D-BEAM and the Analogue Modify knob, which instantly adjusts sounds to suit your taste. The GW-8 is perfect for live entertainers who play multiple roles in their performances.
Intelligent Backing Styles
The GW-8 is packed with a huge collection of styles, representing a broad range of music genres, from contemporary rock, pop, dance, jazz and beyond. In addition to the excellent library of contemporary sounds and styles, the GW-8 is equipped with ethnic instrument sounds and authentic regional musical styles.* Each backing style has four intros, four main patterns, and four ending progressions for you to craft your own arrangements live
Want to try out some old drum machines??
Than check this page out, it is really nice. It is not new but if you haven´t seen it before 
They have recreated some of the Drum Machines from the Audio Playground Museum. The virtual machines run with Shockwave/Flash so if don’t have the flash plugin for your web browser you will not be able to see and run the drum machines.
The machines are as close to the real thing as they could get them (so far). Some are large files and can take a few minuets to download others are smaller and only take a few seconds to download.
Here is one sample of what you can find:
The Eletro-Harmonix Rhythm 12 Virtual Drum Machine Ver. 1.0
Weird stuff – e-scape
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsLGlZJp6QM]
Haven’t got a clue what it is all about, but it sounds cool, LOL
Psychic Modulation Cerebrum 4.0
Cerebrum contains eight drums, two samplers, a bassline synth and some algorithmic functions to tie them all together. These functions include abilities from standard sequencing to velocity randomization.
Fast features:
- Eight drum synth modules
- Two sampler modules
- Bass synth module
- 16 step sequencer for each module
- 32 step bass sequencer
- Store and switch three sequence patterns with each module
- Velocity grid for each drum / sampler sequencer
- Note grid for bass sequencer
- Random sequence probability
- Random velocity probability
- Each sequencer has independent control of speed, length, etc.
- Host sync
- Bass sequencer alters note range via MIDI keyboard
- On-board drum mixer
- Mute / solo switches for each module
- Multiple audio outputs (channels one through six)
Fan of electro – don't miss out on the Annual Sampler from EFS
I personally think it is a good way of keeping track of the underground electro scene and what’s cooking in the basements of new young bands, and some senior ones as well of course
Every year Electric Fantastic Sound releases a sampler with artists on the label, this year is no different. What IS different that we also offer a special limited edition with a bonus music cassette!
Click here to get to it: http://www.klicktrack.com/efs/releases/various-artists/electric-fantastic-sound-no-4-cassette
To get the standard edition, click here: http://www.klicktrack.com/efs/releases/various-artists/electric-fantastic-sound-no-4-2008
Worth waiting for???
…the Moog Guitar, hehe
Why add the Moog Guitar to your arsenal?
Because there is nothing else like it. It sustains like no other sustainer. The mute mode has never been heard on any guitar. Controlled sustain allows you to play single lines or polyphonic lines without muting technique. Use the foot pedal to pull harmonics from the guitar or control the frequency of the Moog ladder filter.
The much-anticipated and much-talked-about Moog Guitar will debut at Summer NAMM in Nashville.
According to Moog Music President Mike Adams, the Moog Guitar opens the guitarist to a whole new musical vocabulary: “It’s not a guitar synthesizer; not a MIDI guitar; not an effects processor,” Adams said. “The guitarist is intimately connected to The Moog Guitar because it works its magic on the strings themselves.”
The Moog Guitar offers three unique modes…Sustain, Mute and Controlled Sustain. In the Sustain mode, it provides infinite, powerful sustain on every string and at every fret position; Mute removes energy from the strings, resulting in a variety of staccato effects; Controlled Sustain allows the musician to play sustained, single-note or even polyphonic lines with strong sustain and effortless clarity. In this mode, the Moog Guitar sustains the notes being played while actively muting the notes not being played.
The first public demonstration of The Moog Guitar will be at the Moog Guitar Showcase, featuring Kenny Vaughn and Fareed Haque with Garaj Mahal. The Moog Guitar Showcase will take place at Nashville’s renowned 3rd and Lindsley on Friday, June 20 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $10.
The Moog Guitar will be demonstrated to media at NAMM at a press conference at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 21 in Moog Music’s NAMM Booth 2030.
The first ever Moog Guitar will be the limited edition Paul Vo Collector Edition Guitar ($6495). The AAAAA maple top guitar with a mahogany body and ebony finger board will be a much sought-after axe even without the addition of the patented Moog electronics. Each guitar will be individually signed by Moog associate and guitar inventor Paul Vo and will carry a sealed Certificate of Authenticity identifying it as the first ever Moog Guitar.
Golden boy w Miss kittin
Have a great weekend everyone, tomorrow is a Swedish national holiday so I will most likely be too tired to blogg, see u soon
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k38OlELADuY]
Cheers
DATAMASKIN
