Stereoklang talks to legendary EBM act Nitzer Ebb on music, gear and today´s synth scene
Nitzer Ebb needs no further introduction, but fact remains that Bon Harris and Douglas McCarthy with albums like, “That Total Age” and “Belief”, in the late 1980s set the scene for EBM going forward, with their devotion to pounding bass rhythms. Having toured with Depeche Mode few doubt their impact on electronic music and after a break in the 1990s the band finally reunited and went on tour again in 2006. Last year the critically acclaimed album Industrial Complex came out and as of right now they are on a long European tour together with Die Krupps. As a special treat for fans both bands play jointly on stage and an exclusive mini album called Rhythm of the Machines can be obtained on site. Stereoklang met up with the band backstage and had a long chat about gear, the synth/EBM scene of today, the shift of label and how they still maintain a enthusiastic crowd everywhere they go.
How has your new material been received and how did the collaboration with Die Krupps come about?
Well it is not technically all that much new material, but it has been laid out to fit our tour and the collaboration we have with Die Krupps. But we are of course pleased with the response we have received so far and our fans seems to like it. The idea of collaboration with die Krupps happened in November last year when we met each other in San Antonio, Texas. However we do have a long joint history together, so when Ralph contacted us in the studio with the idea of doing something jointly we were all for it.
You are celebrating 30 years as a band next year, how do you work to continue excite existing and new fans?
The most important thing is honesty and be 100% true to what you do. We work hard to produce shows that match the expectations of our fans, but we are also very demanding on ourselves to deliver quality over quantity. You need to show on stage that – You mean it!
Binary Bleeps Sampler
Binary Bleeps Sampler is an audio capture and performance instrument with motion-controlled pitch, filter, delay, and bit crusher effects.Record from the microphone or paste audio from other apps. Play your samples from velocity sensitive pads. Control effects through the motion of your device. Save samples and record performances.
Sampler’s pads are velocity sensitive and trigger samples with very low latency for expressiveness and great playability.
Recording is input sensitive to ensure firm sample start points without further editing. Sensitivity is adjustable to your input source.
The complete effects section is motion controllable. Effect parameters can be assigned to your device’s tilt axes. Sampler comes with a real-time pitch shifter, a resonant lowpass filter, a feedback delay and a lo-fi bit crusher, all of which can be active simultaneously.
Performances can be copied into other apps or transferred to your computer via iTunes file sharing. AudioCopy and AudioPaste are supported.
Sampler comes with quality presets, so you can start making sound instantly.
Get Binary Bleeps Sampler now on iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/us/a…
Redtron_400 VST plug-in featuring the Taijiguy’s Mellotron samples
Redtron_SE is a Special Edition of the Redtron_400. This VST plug-in uses the Taijiguy’s Mellotron samples (taken from a 1973 Mellotron M400S – Serial #500). The samples have been cleaned (not too much) by removing an annoying 60Hz hum and some unwanted “clicks” and “pops” here and there.
Features :
– Nine sound types : MKII Flute, MKII 3 Violins, M400 Cello, MKII Brass, M400 Combined Choir, M400 String Section, M400 Woodwinds, M300A Violins, M300B Violin
– No loops : as the original Mellotron, each sound is eight seconds long with, in many cases, “the bad endings”.
– Exclusive “Mellotronic Click” switch. On real Mellotrons, “Click” can be heard at the beginning of a note, when the tape comes in contact with the replay head. These “clicks” are here randomly generated, so you don’t hear twice the same and they can appear on any key ; A rotary knob allows you to control the effect intensity (of course, you can also completely disable it ). Note : this function is inactive when the attack parameter is set to any value different from zero.
– Layer (two sounds A & B) and split possibilities (octave shift).
– Independent parameters for sound A & B :
– Volume, Tone, Pan, Tune, Reverb, Delay, Attack & Release, Octave & Note parameters.
– Delay effect (Amount, Time, Feedback & Pan parameters).
– Reverb effect (Mix, Width, Size & Damp parameters).
– Global Volume control.
– Global Tone control.
– Global Pitch control.
– Freeware.
Redtron_SE is probably the most faithful and authentic Mellotron’s emulation of all Redtron Plug-ins. Many thanks to Taijiguy and his Mellotron samples. Link : http://leisureland.us/audio/…
You can download REDTRON_SE v1.0 free legally from the official Artfake_Labs product site at http://sites.google.com/site…
Mason featuring Roisin Murphy – ‘Boadicea’
Production Company: Rogue Films / Scalpel Films
Director: Ron Scalpello
D.O.P.: Richard Mott
Roison Murphy’s voice alone has enough dreamy command to carry any track along with overwhelming “oomph”, but this production by Mason also gets filtered through the bumpy house lens of Oliver $. The end product feels so absolutely organic that you can forget it’s a remix; a vocal house tune that’s reserved; but one that culminates in a moment of well deserved dancefloor nirvana. Apparently recorded while Roison was “heavily pregnant”, maybe her unborn child had something to do with it.
Can you watch music?
Continuing on from the previous post – kind of 
February 16-June 6, 2011
For more information please visit MoMA.org
“Looking at Music 3.0, the third in a series of exhibitions exploring the influence of music on contemporary art practices, focuses on New York in the 1980s and 1990s. In this dynamic period, imaginative forms of street art spread across the five boroughs, articulating the counter-culture tenor of the times. As the city transitioned from bankruptcy to solvency, graffiti, media, and performance artists took advantage of low rents and collaborated on ad hoc works shown in alternative spaces and underground clubs.” – moma.org
MUSIC PAINTING – Glocal Sound – Matteo Negrin
Highly recommended video – it is a joy to watch
Really captures the creativity, here are some background details:
– visit Matteo Negrin’s site at: http://www.myspace.com/matteonegrin
– buy Matteo Negrin’s CD at : http://www.jazzos.com/
VIDEO – MUSIC PAINTING
created by Lab
http://vimeo.com/user5512945
info.labtorino@gmail.com
Alice Ninni
Alberto Filippini
Luca Cattaneo
© and property of Matteo Negrin and Lab
Virtual Piano Library Comparison – what to buy
This is the first in a series of demos of Grand Piano/Upright Piano/Elec Piano/Organ Libraries. I have assembled here a collection of Yamaha pianos, all demoed with the same MIDI file, “Grand Illusion” by Jordan Rudess. This song always impressed me with its incredible dynamic range, and I thought it a great clip to display the power of a Grand Piano. I selected this clip because of how it demonstrates the full range of dynamics across nearly the entire keyboard.
Sampletekk The Big One (Convolution IR added)
Sampletekk Seven Seas Grand (Convolution IR added)
Reason Pianos Yamaha C7 Close Mics (Convolution IR added)
Reason Pianos Yamaha C7 Jazz Mics
Native Instruments Alicia’s Keys (Dry w/ Convolution IR added)
Post Musical Instruments Yamaha C7 (Convolution IR added)
the Organ Dronor
This project has been a long time coming, but the first prototype is finally done. Still some minor changes to be made, mainly around the filter and a CV input for the filter. Im currently developing a kit, contact me if you’re interested.
-2 triangle oscillators with fine tune knob for those tearing slow drones.
-2 triangle LFO’s with interchangable capacitors to set the range.
-LFO amount for both sides
-LED reflector rate indicators
-custom filter with resonance control
-on/off and volumesorry for the bad video quality, my camera is old and doesn’t like low lighting conditions. The audio was recorded raw into ableton live directly from the output without any filtering or effects.
Pimp my Synth
http://youtu.be/RXhIPpRD9cs
Synthesizer modifications (keyboard replacement / aftertouch / card reader as a HD replacement) in the synthesizer studio of Martin Höwner. Music played by Martin and Dietmar Höwner Steinhauer on Prophet V, Oberheim OB-X, PPG 2.3 and Memorymoog.
KORG WAVEDRUM Mini [Sensor Clip]
That was a compact WAVEDRUM! Battery-powered, built-in speaker, built-in clip allows sensor new concept, the more vibrant Introducing WAVEDRUM Mini.
DATAMASKIN
