The OctaTrack out on December 20th
Elektron has announced that its new 8-track sampling workstation, the Octatrack, will be available Dec 20th:
After several years of development we are happy to announce the imminent arrival of the Octatrack dps-1. We are confident our efforts have resulted in a unique machine with a huge potential and we really look forward to see how users all over the world will use and abuse it.
Unless any unexpected events occur the Octatrack will be officially released Monday the 20th of December. Starting Monday the 13th of December it will be possible to place pre-orders.
The Octatrack DPS-1 is a 8 track dynamic performance sampler. Maximum sample bit depth/sample rate: 16 bit/44.1 kHz. The Octatrack is ideal for radical audio processing and performance oriented sampling. Every track features real-time pitch scaling & time stretch and the next generation Elektron step sequencer has been designed with maximum usability and efficiency in mind.
The Octatrack will ship with a power supply unit, a USB cable, a printed user’s manual and a 4 GB Compact Flash card. The card is filled with 2 GBs worth of 100% royalty free loops and samples from Loopmasters making the Octatrack ready for action straight out of the box.
According to Elektron, the Octatrack will be especially suited for five categories of musicians:
- Live performers tired of using laptops on stage
- Producers who want to get really creative with samples in the studio
- DJs looking for a way to be very creative with loops/captured sounds when spinning records
- Musicians needing backing tracks during their performances (each of the eight tracks can stream gigabyte-large samples)
- Guitarists and multi-instrumentalists looking for the best looper option around
The Octatrack list price will be €1240/$1490.
For more information, see our previous Elektron OctaTrack coverage, the Elektron-Users forum and the Elektron site.
MIDI via Microsoft Kinect
Cool hacks for Microsoft’s Kinect 3D camera system for Xbox to perform MIDI control. Result: depth-sensing, gestural musical manipulations
MIDI contoller using the Kinect.
Coded in C#.net using this: http://codelaboratories.com/nui
Very hacky ugly, yucky, alpha prototype, source code available here:
http://benxtan.com/temp/pmidickinect.zip
Next project is making a version of pmidic that uses Kinect. Then, you can control Ableton Live or any other MIDI software or hardware with you limbs. Isn’t that amazing!!!
If you are interested, you should also check out:
http://pmidic.sourceforge.net/
http://benxtan.com
THE NEW MOON 568 IN ACTION
A video called the “THE TOWN OF SOUND”, this is a demo of the new 4 row 32 step sequencer
Filatron performance on the iPad
Jamming on an iPad using various apps like Shiny Drums, MorphWiz, Filtatron etc.
Shared with us via rishabhrajan
Filatron in place of a modular synthesizer’s filter module
The Filatron in action with a modular synth
The one and only Moot Booxlé (now with less hair) demonstrates how you can use Filtatron, the amazing new iPhone app from Moog, in place of a modular synthesizer’s filter module.
This is made possible by another product – the iRig from IK Multimedia, which finally gives iPhone users a clean, uncomplicated way to input and output signals.
Other upcoming videos include:
– Using Moog Filtatron/IK iRig with guitar through an amp
– Using IK Amplitube + iRig with Rhodes electric piano.
The intro and ending music is “Space Theme” by Moot Booxlé.”
X2010 – C64 Demo – Cubase64 by Mahoney (Live footage)
C64 doing time stretching, sort of vocoder stuff, delay, etc. at the same time. of course LoFi, but it works with 8Bit, 1MHz..
Klaus Schulze – Big in Japan: Live in Tokyo 2010
It’s a small teaser from DVD “Big in Japan: Live in Tokyo 2010”. European release will be out on 26th of November.
After having recorded one studioalbum, 2 Live-DVDs and albums with Lisa Gerrard, Klaus Schulze decided to go back ‘pure Schulze’ again. He and his crew flew to Tokyo to play his very first solo concert since 2003. The concerts in Tokyo in March 2010 were played on Klaus’ legendary equipment re-built by the Japanese crew exactly the same way as you can see it at his European concerts.
The concert itself was also the first time that Schulze rebuilt and remodeled his classic “Crystal Lake” (originally 1977 on “Mirage”), renamed here as “The Crystal Returns”. Yo can also see/hear Schulze play electric guitar on the track “Sequencers are beautiful”.
Jarre Technologies releases AeroSystem
Jean Michel Jarre has launched the first product from his new company Jarre Technologies: AeroSystem. AeroSystem is an iPhone/iPod compatible multi directional sound tower, delivering stereo sound from a single multi-axial point.
Jarre Technologies was founded five years ago and the plan is to create high-end, affordable and aesthetic home-entertainment products.
– As a musician, I have always strived for my albums and live performance to render a sound as close as possible to perfection. This brought me to think of what the ideal sound-system of the future should be: A product that can accept all digital formats, from MP3 to hard-disk files, as well as a vinyl turn-table or a CD player, with an aesthetic ambition while privileging optimum audio quality – with bass and a dynamic acoustic that correspond to our listening habits today – all at a most affordable price, Jarre says.
Source: RMM
Korg Releases Free File Conversion Software
Korg has announced the release of its AudioGate software for free for all content creators and listeners alike (as long as they have an active Twitter account). This file conversion, editing and authoring software had previously only been available bundled with Korg’s MR series of DSD recorders. Here’s all the details directly from Korg…
AudioGate enables the real-time playback of DSD/SACD files on any computer system, with any audio hardware. Powerful dithering algorithms are provided, along with editing tools such as divide, merge, normalize, fade-in/fade-out and DC cut. Users can convert from 5.6 MHz or 2.8 MHz 1-bit audio files to any other format, including 16- or 24-bit PCM (up to 192 kHz sample rates), Apple Lossless or AAC, FLAC, Broadcast WAV (up to 32-bit floating supported) and even MP3 formats. It can be used to burn audio CDs, and the newer DSD Disc format (2.8 MHz sample rate), which can be played back on a growing number of devices, such as Sony Playstation®s and Vaio computers.
By releasing this software for free, Korg is providing a solution for all audio content owners and creators to deliver their art in the highest resolution possible. By giving everyone the tools they need to enjoy high resolution audio and to repurpose it for any device or situation, the market can offer their customers content that is closest to the aural experience the artist had when performing and recording it. In today’s world of terabyte hard drives and ultra-fast digital pipelines, there is no longer any need to utilize compressed formats with compromised fidelity. In fact, the world has gotten used to working with high-resolution video on an everyday basis, and Korg’s intent is that likewise, audio delivery and enjoyment has no reason to remain compromised.
Pricing and Availability:
Korg’s AudioGate software is included with all MR Series recorders. It is also now available for free to everyone at the website listed below. Non-MR recorder owners can activate the software by entering an active Twitter account. Please visit for complete details and download instructions.
More information:
Geist tutorials are beginning to appear
Check them all out here at Stereoklang:
In this first tutorial we take a look around Geist, FXpansion’s new sampling drum machine virtual instrument.
In this tutorial we take a look at Geist’s integrated browser.
In this tutorial we take a look at Geist’s slicer. The fastest slicer in the west!
In this tutorial we take a look at programming patterns in Geist as well as editing pads and layers to create kits.
DATAMASKIN
