1977: Sound of the oscillator from the Logan Melody 2
The String Melody is an Italian string synthesizer from Logan Electronics, first released in 1973. At first, success was lukewarm as Logan Electronics was relatively unknown. But in 1977 a slightly updated ‘mark II’ model was released and Logan Electronics began to see some commercial success from the sales of this instrument. As a result, almost all String Melodies floating around out there today are the ‘mark II’ version, as the original is quite rare. Also of note: outside of Italy, the String Melody was distributed by Hohner International, so you will find them labeled either the Hohner or Logan String Melody.
There are three basic sounds available: ‘Violin’, ‘Viola’ and ‘Cello’. These three sounds are actually all the same sound, just in three different octaves. The keyboard is permanently split in the middle, with the lower half called Bass and the upper called Treble. There are three drawbar volume sliders for each of the three sounds in the Bass region (the red sliders), and another three sliders for the three sounds in the Treble region (the blue sliders). This allows you to mix in as much of each sound in either section of the keyboard as you want for some really customized string combinations!
In this video:
This is the sound of the oscillator from the Logan Melody 2 string synth from 1977, sampled to worn tape on 60s valve equipment, and synthesized with software samplers such as kontakt or esx24.
The idea is to emulate the sound of the mellotron or birotron, but to take it to the next level by being able to synthesize within software.
I’ve found some amazing sounding oscillators ‘locked up’ in these old keyboards that offer little if no synthesis possibilities.
Interview with electro funkers AUX 88
There’s a really good interview with AUX 88 over at Swedish Radio, and yes, it’s in English. Sadly the questions are bearly audible. The AUX 88 guys sais in the end in a surprised manor “good questions!”
The web page is in Swedish but just click on the link beside the picture. This page will probably be changes within some days so act fast.
Also checkout the demo AUX 88 made at NAMM 2008 when Reason 4 was released.
Alan Wilder auctions Depeche Mode memorabilia and more
Ex-Depeche Mode member Alan Wilder will be selling a large selection of musical / studio equipment, vinyl & memorabilia at auction. Many items are very collectable and hold special value having been used extensively in the recording sessions for classic Depeche Mode and Recoil albums, as well as live performances on the “Black Celebration”, “Music For The Masses”, “World Violation” and “Devotional” tours.
The additional memorabilia includes such items as Gold & Platinum award discs, leather clothing, rare acetates & test pressings, artwork, posters, tour merchandise and much more. The set covers Alan’s entire musical career, focusing mainly on the years between 1982 & 1995 and making this one of the most exciting career sales to hit the public domain ever. It is also the first time ever that a Depeche Mode memorabilia sale on this scale has appeared.
Live event, Q&A, …
And faithful to the tradition, the sale will also be a live event conducted through Omega at www.omegaauctions.co.uk with the official catalogue available online throughout August, prior to the event on the first weekend of September. Expect clear information about how to bid, either on-line, by telephone or at the event itself in the next few weeks. For the time being, you can get a sneak preview of everything right now at www.auction.recoil.co.uk and discover the history and condition of the items plus read Alan’s comments on each piece.
A special free pdf catalogue is being produced and a collectable printed hard copy will also be available for a small charge. No price indications will be offered before the sale begins, and therefore any general enquiries about prices won’t receive a response. However, serious offers for items marked outside of the auction (for private sale) will be listened to – the point of contact is auction@recoil.co.uk .
Documentary ‘Alan Wilder – Collected’
The Shunt team have worked closely in conjunction with Omega to bring to you a worldwide, all-inclusive fan-friendly event incorporating a film presentation (see below, “Alan Wilder – Collected”) about the fascinating history of everything in the sale, plus a Q&A session with Alan, DJs, a bar and some other surprises. The live part of the event will be held over the weekend of September 2nd & 3rd in Manchester (venue tbc). There will be a a chance to preview all the sale items on the Friday, with meet & greet opportunities and so on.
“Alan Wilder – Collected” is a 2011 documentary film directed by Martin Vladar about the musician and producer Alan Wilder. The 40 minute documentary came about in connection with a proposed auction scheduled in 2011. Vladar worked personally with Alan Wilder and his estate in the UK: at Wilder’s Sussex residence, he discovered the house was filled with memorabilia spanning 35 years of a career spent in music, most notably during the 80s and 90s covering the musician’s stint with one of the most famous & successful bands of all time, Depeche Mode.
Featured in the doc will be the vast personal collection of Wilder and also a scene where Wilder is reunited with his lost sounds when trying out his old Sampler after 25 years. You’ll also discover which unreleased records he has the only copies of, along with access to the very first acetate pressings of Depeche Mode’s “Violator” and the “101” album recorded at The Rosebowl, Pasadena in 1988. More info at www.auction.recoil.co.uk .
Via SL
Newcomer: Wolf Gang – The King And All Of His Men
Wolf Gang belongs a bit more on the indie side of things but it is a great video from a promising band
Close look at the Turnado multi-effect tool by Sugar Bytes
Turnado is a revolutionary multi-effect tool, crafted especially for massive real-time audio manipulation. It combines unique and dynamic effects with the most intuitive and immediate control you can imagine. Just turn it on and crank it up.
In the studio, simply dial in your effect from a super-sweet selection of 24 pro-quality algorithms, then mash up your audio content with minimum fuss, quickly adding dynamic variation to your arrangements. Take it to the stage and unleash Turnado’s true power. With instant access to eight effects and immediate control over key parameters, Turnado is guaranteed to cause devastation on the dance floor, shredding beats and crunking breaks to insane proportions.
The idea is simple:
Turn a knob and the effect is on.
Turn the knob further to adjust effect parameters and apply modulations.
Turn the knob down and the effect is off.
With its instantaneous, one-knob, multi-parameter modulation features, Turnado will lay waste to the audio landscape. Giving you the power to crunch, chop, twist, mash and elevate your music to new levels, Turnado will have you creating wicked new sounds that will blow any crowd away.
Unlocking the power of your MIDI controller each effect requires only one knob to control it. Underneath this simplicity lies a matrix of effect parameters and modulation engines, all controlled by the main knob. This control matrix provides serious depth to the plugin and gives you the ability to create original and truly unique effect programs.
If the power of one-knob action still doesn’t rock your boat, the awesome “Dictator” mode will sink your battleship. It allows you to animate all the main knobs and run that animation with just one fader. That’s one fader, controlling up to 8 different effects, with potentially hundreds of parameter changes!
Turnado’s primary focus is on beat manipulation, so you will find lots of loopers, slicers and grain tools in the rack. Alongside these beat-mashing effects are an arsenal of distortions and filters as well as first-class delays and reverbs. With extensive modulation possibilities each effect can produce millions of unbelievable variations that can be morphed and twisted into something new every time you tweak those knobs.
Turnado will inspire you again and again, delivering completely new variations of your original sounds and grooves every time, so what are you waiting for…turn it on.
Turnado comes for Mac/PC as Standalone application and VST/AU plugin.
In this video:
First look at the new Turnado multi-effect tool by Sugar Bytes. Just checking out the interface, and listening through a few presets on one drum loop.
IMPORTANT NOTE: For true vintage / retro synth fans only
Only analog synthesizer were used in recording the tune. The tune was also recorded by analog gear only and mixed with an analog mixer. The tune is from Kebu’s upcoming debut album, which is planned to be released in 2012.
Equipment used: Korg Mono/Poly, Korg Poly-61, Moog Source, Logan String Melody, Arp Axxe, Touched by Sound DRM1, Roland TR-808, Electro Harmonix Polychorus, Seymour Duncan Twin Tube Classic, Lexicon MPX500, Allen&Heath GS1, Yamaha MT4x. Cubase & Live only used as MIDI sequencers with the tape sync handled by a Roland TR-626.
You can buy this single from Ubetoo for 0.99 euro:
http://www.ubetoo.com/store/artist/title/a2122
Into the experimental world of apples and pads
“I’ve been sneaking around Apple’s garden for a long time, dating back to the Apple II motherboard hacked into my code-munching poly-synth of the early ’80’s. I’ve modded iMacs, towers, endless accessories, and I’ve drastically bent mac-centric code with wonderful result. This movie loosens another brick in Apple’s wall, and opens the iPad’s usability tremendously.
I know I’m not the only individual appreciating the experimental music apps available on the iPad. I’m anxious to support the developers’ fine work. But for musicians, the iPad’s interface can be frustrating. Do you really want to use dongles, mini-jacks and flimsy wire to get in and out of the thing?
This audio breakout solves these problems, is easy to do, and is inexpensive.
No bending here, just a quick, theory-true hack based upon iPad docking charts I found online. Not a superdock. No competition for the Alesis breakout. But if you want a slick, basic and functional DIY audio desk, on the cheap, check this hack out!
The breakout board is available at kineteka.com
Be sure to see the photos and REVISIONS, and pick-up the printable schematic at my iPad Audio Desk flickr gallery:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonbear3325/sets/72157626688587705/
This audio desk is really fun to use. Hacking the apple is always a good thing. I hope you’ll enjoy the movie! (Let it download for full-screen 1080).
-Reed Ghazala
Electronic deserts
Pepe sent us the link to this nice electronic desert video:
Textures and sounds from the desert
Sonidos y texturas del desierto.
“no estoy vivo ni muerto: despierto estoy, despierto en un ojo desierto” -octavio paz
Electronic music and video By Pepe Mogt
Nikon D90, Reaktor and Waves
CAUSTIC Electronic Music Rack for Android devices
CAUSTIC Music Rack lets you create powerful electronic music on the go. Demo video showing an example of what can be done with CAUSTIC Electronic Music Rack for Android devices. This is a quick overview of how to the different machines to put together a song loop. Hoping to create more in-depth videos explaining some of the more complicated machines like the SubSynth and Sequencer in the near future. The app is available for most Android devices, and there’s a full demo version with no time restrictions. To unlock full-version features (song save/load/export), use the in-app purchase option.
This app is packed with 8 machines including:
* 1x Virtual analog subsynth
* 2x PCM synths (23 demo samples included)
* 2x 303-like BassLine synths
* 1x Sampling drum machine (9 demo kits included)
* 1x Mixer desk with Delay/Reverb and 6 insert effects
* 1x Song sequencer
All files are stored on the SDCard, and users can supply their own WAV files for use in the PCMSynths (drum machine setup coming soon)
Minimum recommended device specs are:
– 800 MHz ARMv7 processor
– 800 x 480 resolution screen
– Headphones or external speakers
This is a demo version of CAUSTIC Music Rack, with the ability to unlock to full version. There is no time limit in demo mode but save/load/export are disabled. The app will automatically save your current song between sessions.
Full version unlock is available as an in-app purchase. For those who can’t use in-app billing, other options will be available shortly, more info on the developer’s website.
Permissions:
– SDCard: All samples and songs are stored on your sdcard.
– Wake Lock: A few people have requested an option to keep the app awake, this is now available through the menu options.
– Billing: To contact Android market servers for full-version unlock.
Constructing a drum synthesizer
“I recently finished the second of my analog drum synth projects. The upper box is a Thomas Henry MPS (Mega Percussive Synth) along with Richarious Liquid Hi Hat, 2 Ian Fritz AD/AR and two simple VCA’s, Foniks VC Pattern Sequencer and VC Clock a couple LFO’s and a simple Mixer. The lower box is four Bass++ voices (Mr. Henry) and a bunch of CMOS for sequencing and dividing up clocks.
Many strange beats possible here – and a long time between repeats if I really get the VCPS and Logic working together! This is a very simple demo to give an idea of what it does. Much better sounds and more interesting beats are available!”
DATAMASKIN
