I wouldn´t mind having the OTO Biscuit
Listen in for yourself – Impressed 
BISCUIT is a stereo sound effect processor. Thanks to a subtle blend of 8-bit digital and analog processing, BISCUIT is able to create a wide range of sounds. It goes from 8-bit character and lo-fi digital artefacts to numeric distortions.
BISCUIT is very useful to add depth and texture to any kind of electronic sounds. It works best with synthesizers (digital or analog), bassline, drum machines, loops, samplers or computers, but you can use it with any other sources.
BISCUIT is basically an enhanced bit depth and sample-rate reducer, known as “bitcrusher”, followed by an analog filter and a simple mixing section (dry/wet). It also offers other features like removing or inverting each of the 8 bits, changing the sample rate from 250Hz to 30kHz, or adding one of the four effects (waveshaper, delay, pitch shifter and step filter).
Biscuit is MIDI compatible.
You can save the whole BISCUIT settings (pots and switches) in 16 presets.
A SysEx dump function let you save and recall as many presets you want on your computer.
Features
• Stereo inputs and outputs
• Input gain from -∞ to 15 dB with diode clipping
• Real 8-bit Analog to Digital and Digital to Analog converters
• True analog multimode filter with resonance control
• Variable sample clock from 250 Hz to 30 kHz
• Unique capability of muting and inverting each of the 8 bits
• FX section: Waveshaper, Delay, Pitch Shifter and Step Filter
• Separate control of dry and 8-bit signals
• 16 presets
• MIDI compatible
• True relay Bypass
• Rugged metallic Neutrik© jacks
• Built like a tank: Thick metal case and strong build
• Dimensions: 190mm x 60mm x 117mm / 7.48″ x 2.36″ x 4.60″ (W x D x H)
• Weight: 580g / 1.27 lbs
REVIEW: Beatstation – anything you want it to be
I have had the opportunity to test Toontrack’s new software the Beatstation (will be launched in June), for some time now and I must say that I am excited about this product. Beatstation is equally an inspirational tool, to find the beat and rythms you want, to a full fledge drum machine and bass line player. Supporting a range of different formats it is very easy to import whatever you have into the Beatstation and play around with it.
When you first open it up it reminds me very much of some of the iPad instruments that has been launched recently, but once you have gotten used to it there is a lot more to explore. Running it via MIDI you can really play around with the pre-loaded drum beats or tweak them as you plase, adding your own flavors to the sound.
Speaking of the sound, the drum beats are of excellent condition, especially the snare drums which really kicks it. The easiest way to get started is to load any type of sample or loop, I used some old REX loops that I had in a recent project and added a selection of drum patterns – and this is when the fun starts because you have som many ways of altering the beat and perfect the groove.
The flexibilityto be able to load just about anything and the fact that it works equally well both as a stand alone inspirational sound system and as easy to use VST. I tried it using Reaper as the host and I had no problems hooking it up with Reapers built in Virtual keyboard and start improvising with different sound sets. Another good thing when using Beatstation is that you have the option of configuring the layout of the drums and synths in order to be in sync with what you are accustomed to, the illustartion below shows a bit of an overview on this.
Would i want something more? Well, most of the effects are hidden i drop down menus, see illustration below and for more live situations it might have been better to have a few more controls visible in order to tweak the sound on the fly.
Beatstation seems to fill a gap in today’s plethora of software music instruments, since it focuses on experimentation and your creativity in finding new grooves and rythms.
About Beatstation
Beatstation is a Windows and Mac, stand-alone and/or VST, AU and RTAS compatible virtual instrument. Beatstation plays Percussion Pads, Lead Instruments and Melodic Bass.
It uses a flexible and skinnable open playing surface, records samples, supports external samples (MP3 and WAV), MIDI Grooves and REX Files. The Beatstation expansion format, the BTX, contains high end sampled drum, percussion, bass and lead instruments with MIDI and REX files. Beatstation harnesses the power of percussion samples and melodic instruments in one virtual instrument and has been developed from the feature requests of the current Toontrack users in need of a completely open interface to create their own personlized sound-set as well as for a new generation of music creators.
Beatstation will roll out to stores in June of 2010. Up until store release Toontrack will build an array of videos and tutorials showing the products potential at the product site http://www.beatstation.com.
Moog puts up the fight against the Vuvuzela
For those not familiar with the Vuvuzela, it’s a plastic horn that has become the signature sound of this year’s World Cup in South Africa.
Via Wikipedia: “Vuvuzelas have also been blamed for drowning the sound and atmosphere of football games.[8][9] Commentators have described the sound as “annoying” and “satanic”[10] and compared it with “a stampede of noisy elephants”,[11] “a deafening swarm of locusts”,[12] “a goat on the way to slaughter”,[13] and “a giant hive full of very angry bees”.[14]
The sound level of the instrument has been measured at 127 decibels[15][4] contributing to football matches with dangerously high sound pressure levels for unprotected ears.[16] A new model, however, announced on 14 June 2010, has a modified mouthpiece which is claimed to reduce the volume by 20 dB.[15]”
Alternate tuning using a Q172 Quantizer
This video captures a microtonal synth jam, via davidryle:
Alternate tuning using a Q172 Quantizer Aid module from Synthesizers.com.
The melody line played is through Lil’ Miss Scale Oven (LMSO) from Red Barn Goat Farm into an Access Virus TI synthesizer.
The three variations on the tuning are loaded into the Quantizer Aid module using midi from an instance of LMSO.
200kg worth of voice effects…
g200kg launches RoVee, a free Voice Changer / formant tweaking effect for Windows.
“RoVee is a VoiceChanger / formant tweaking plugin that works as a VST effect. That can convert voices to like male, female, toys or robotic. RoVee is a cut-down version of full featured pitch-correction plugin ‘KeroVee’.” g200kg
Inside the Mopho
Nick at Sonic State opens Dave Smith’s latest beast, the DSI Mopho Keyboard.
SS is going to do their usual run-down on the Mopho Keyboard, so if you’ve got specific questions you’d like to see them address, make sure you leave a comment at the SonicState site.
How Vesper made Lady Gaga’s Telephone call
The final outcome:
And here’s how he did it in Ableton Live, who actually was chosen as the number 1 DAW at ST
There are several pieces of Youtube videos connected to this one so the rest you will have to see on his Youtube channel
Combined drum machine and bass synth
Cerebrum is a pattern based drum machine with an onboard bassline synth. There are 8 drums total, each with it’s own sequencer with various randomization and velocity features. Designed with live operation in mind, Cerebrum can be used for making complex beats on the fly, with features like the Pattern Playlist and Random Probability, that ensure your rhythms stay interesting. Your beats can then be sent into the Multi-Band FX processor, split into three bands, distorted, crushed and destroyed and then squashed with the overall compressor for getting that classic ‘pumping’ effect with ease.
Cerebrum:c4 features
- 8 drum modules.
- Bass arp-synth module.
- Versatile sequencers for each drum module including bass synth.
- Pattern Playlist feature for switching between 4 patterns, manually or automatically.
- Random Probability options for each sequencer.
- Aux module for external audio processing.
- Multi-Band FX section with compressor.
- Host sync or manual tempo.
- Midi triggering of each sequencer on individual keys.
- Toggle behavior options for midi triggering.
- Mute/solo switches.
- Multiple audio outputs.
Price: USD 49.00
Visit: Psychic Modulation
How big a Reason fan (nerd) can you be…
I love Reason, but this far, don’t think so…
Synth Bass Analogy
Prime Loops have released Synth Bass Analogy, a collection of 80 analogue bass sounds formatted for Kontakt, Halion, NN-XT and EXS24. Here’s what they have to say about it…
For adding pure organic soul and sonic temperament to electronic music, there’s nothing better than analogue synths. Producers dream of owning classic kit like the Roland Juno 106, Roland MKS-30, Korg Mono/Poly, Polyvox and Novation’s Super Bass Station, and engineers spend years tweaking the settings to create perfect, powerful vibrations.
Dmitry Vasilyev is one of those sonic freaks who has dedicated his musical life to discovering new sounds by pushing real hardware to the limit. As the producer of best selling Prime Loops sample packs such as “Synth Addict”, “Ambient Illusions” amongst others, he’s making his vast knowledge and huge range of equipment available to a wider audience, giving fellow producers the tools they need to get that authentic analogue vibe without a huge, expensive rack.
“Synth Bass Analogy” is Prime Loops’ latest collection of professional sample patches, delivering over 80 deep and versatile analogue bass sounds, all ready-formatted for Kontakt, Halion, NN-XT and EXS24, fine-tuned for use in deep and groovy electronica, house, ambient, garage, disco and minimal techno.
Each of these patches contains several note references to maintain integrity as you play across a wide pitch range, and Dmitry has set it all up to drift and detune just like the real thing. Everything has been captured with high-quality recording equipment and the cleanest signal path possible, to give you serious samples suitable for professional projects. And, as with all our products, this pack is triple quality-checked for drag-n-drop reliability, so there’s no interruption to your workflow.
Music lovers always appreciate the complex combination of sines, squares and saws flowing through real hardware, and analogue synths really shine when you give them a bassline, triggering deep, warm sounds that fill the room and add colour to your productions. So, whenever the mood strikes, just throw these lovingly prepared patches into your sampler, and hear your midi patterns come alive with the classic sounds of “Synth Bass Analogy”.
Pricing and Availability:
£12.95 GBP
More information:
DATAMASKIN
