Ammonite, the latest Astralis Synth which builds on Bion
Homegrown Sounds has released a beta version of Ammonite, a virtual synthesizer instrument for Windows.
I’m pleased to announce the release of Ammonite, the latest Astralis Synth which builds on Bion but with a lot more power and functionality. Firstly, the TerraNova effects engine has been included which gives the synth a unique, diverse and powerful effects section.
Ammonite features (in comparion with Bion and Orgone)
- Modulation Matrix – Now has 7 destinations.
- Terranova FX Engine – Has up to 5 effects at once, 3 General purpose Modulators which can be many effects such as Flanger, Phasers, Pitch Shift, Filters, Mod Delays, Chorus, FM etc… Also includes SoundScaper, Stero Delay, Compressor, Drive with 4 modes, Graphic EQ, HIgh/Low Excfiters, Low Cut, Hi Cut and drag and drop Routing.
- A second LFO – Has two dedicated Destinations, used outside of the Modulation Matrix.
- Vibrato – With adjustable time and level, with a selectable source controller.
- Modulation Destination Quantizers – Allow each Modulation Matrix destination to quantize the signal to a defined amount, for glissando type effects.
- Global Pitch Shifter – Uses delay Pitch Shifting, can be set to Pre or Post FX.
- Two Envelopes dedicated to the Filters – With Level Control.
- 24 Note Polyphony – Max Polyphony is expanded to 24 notes (48 counting both synths). Custom Polyphony can be set to a lower amount using the Polyphony setting.
- Analog Mode – Four modes, each more extreme which apply distortion and random tuning to the sound, creating a warmer more analog sound.
- Low/Hi Frequency Exciters – Applies harmonic distortion to add Bass content or higher definition.
- Gate Sequencer 2 retriggers Modulators – Resets the Modulator LFOs for some interesting effects.
- Voice Reducer – Allows the total volume to be decreased with each note press to help balance the sound.
- 2 x XY Controllers – Can be assigned to a number of parameters, useful for recording automation.
- Built with SE 1.1 – Faster Graphics speed, Dual Core bug fixed,
- Keyboard Velocity Scales – 4 Different input characteristics to change the feel of the external keyboard controller.
- Bigger Envelope boxes – Makes grabbing much easier, especially with the release section.
- Better use of Display Area – The panel size is now larger resulting in a more logical layout and less pages.
- Master ON/OFFs for all sections – This is always visible at the right hand size for quickly enabling/disabling the main components.
- Flexibility – The oscillator and Modulators are designed so that it will be easy to add new modes in the future.
Ammonite will be free for Bion and Astralis Pack users. A beta version is currently available to download for registered users.
More information: Homegrown Sounds
More on the Ohm Studio
Make music online with your friends in real-time with the Ohm Studio.
Subscribe to the beta-test at http://www.ohmstudio.com ! Soundtrack by Versus, check their music at http://www.versusmusic.org
The team behind the sound of “HALO: REACH
SoundWorks Collection has published an amzing game audio profile, featuring the team behind the sound of “HALO: REACH”.
In this exclusive SoundWorks Collection game sound video profile we feature the talented sound team behind “HALO: REACH”, the blockbuster prequel to the best-selling Xbox franchise of all time.
Bungie Studios Audio Director and Composer Marty O’Donnell and Sound Designers C Paul Johnson and Jay Weinland discuss the creative and technical challenges for creating the ultimate gaming experience.
If You Want It released (OMD)
OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) has released the first single from their forthcoming album “History of Modern” (which you can now pre-order here on iTunes), their first since the 1996 album “Universal”. You can now download the “If You Want It” single bundle from iTunes which includes the exclusive b-side “Alone” and “If You Want It (Album version)” and “If You Want It (Villa Nah remix)”.
The full remix bundle is available here including 6 mixes. A very limited amount of yellow 7″ vinyls with the exclusive B-side “Idea 1”.
Ohm Studio is a real time collaborative music workstation
Ohm Studio is a real time collaborative music workstation.
Ohm Studio is a standalone real-time collaborative music making application (DAW/sequencer), in addition to a web based collaboration platform and a music driven online community.
Ohm Studio is still in beta testing, but you can sign up to participate in the beta at the Ohm Studio site.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKRvbws1SaM&feature=player_embedded
When developing the Ohm Studio we dared to break some old sequencer standards: for example, a track is not anymore a synonym of audio bus, it’s actually a timeline ready for all your ideas. Why is this the case? Because Ohm Studio’s GUI has been built from the ground up, keeping in mind both the creative workflow and the online collaborative ethos.
Expanded range of videos dealing with Melodyne
Celemony has made available on the Internet a revised and expanded range of videos dealing with Melodyne. Here’s their press release with all the details…
From the Celemony website Melodyne users can now learn everything worth knowing about Melodyne editor and Melodyne essential in ease and comfort. There are also new films in Celemony’s ‘Artists’ series, in which prominent users discuss their work with Melodyne.
“We know no one likes reading manuals,” says Uwe G. Hoenig, Melodyne’s Product Manager, who is responsible for documentation, “which is why we’ve simply filmed the entire content of the manuals. We are very satisfied with the results, as the films make it far easier to understand functions and the contexts in which they are used.” The total running time of the numerous English-language Video Tours comes to over three hours. They are clearly arranged in terms of content with sensible links between them. They make it possible for anyone to familiarize themselves swiftly and in a targeted manner with Melodyne and its functions.
From the new films in Celemony’s ‘Artists’ series, visitors can find out first-hand how Melodyne is used in day-to-day professional music production and why it is so highly valued. You can hear from high-caliber songwriters and producers including Mischke (Michael Jackson, JLo), Ali Staton (Madonna), Steve Williams (Sting, Seal) amongst others. If further proof was needed that in the sacred halls of contemporary music production Melodyne has made itself indispensable, these personalities’ statements provide it.
Additional Melodyne videos are available from third-party suppliers: DAW and effects professional Eli Krantzberg is offering a comprehensive collection of English-language tutorials (http://www.groove3.com/str/melodyne-explained.html) and at MacProVideo you can find a video course by Melodyne specialist David Andris (http://www.macprovideo.com/tutorial/melodyne101). A charge is made in each case for this material but you can watch a certain number of films free of charge.
More information:
Frippertronics style demo of SynthPad
This is a Frippertronics style demo of SynthPad – a new iPhone instrument inspired by the interface of the Korg Kaossilator family of devices.
Instead relying on piano keys to register notes, SynthPad uses a dedicated touch surface to control the sounds. Additionally the Y-Axis on the touch surface can be used to control different parameters, like filter cutoff and LFO values, making it an “expressive little toy.”
Its sound engine is a fully programmable monophonic virtual analog synthesizer. Among its parameters one can find:
- 2 oscillators with different wave shapes
- Fine tuning of the second oscillator
- Volume Envelope
- LFO modulation
- A Low-Pass filter
- Filter Envelope
- Arpeggio
Additionally, the scale and the key on the touchpad surface can also be configured, for live improvisation.
SynthPad is available now in the App Store for $1.99.
History lesson – the vintage Phillips labs
Kid Baltan (Dick Raaijmakers) and Tom Dissevelt at Philips “Nat. Lab” 1959, explaining how electronic tape music is made. Broadcast by VARA television on January 17, 1959
Activities of a distant Russian transmitter
Tchaikovsky in the style of UVB-76
From vinyl, backwards, processed through the Machinedrum. Inspired by the recent activities of a distant Russian transmitter.
Bit Shifter and Luke Chaos at the BLIP FESTIVAL TOKYO 2010
DATAMASKIN
