BK-5 Backing Keyboard Overview
http://www.rolandconnect.com/product.php?p=bk-5
One keyboard, one keyboardist…. With the debut of the BK-5, Roland proudly sets another milestone in the history of auto-accompaniment instruments. The BK-5 features high-quality, fresh sounds combined with an easy user interface and advanced features. It’s the perfect partner for the “one-man band” as well as music hobbyists and amateurs.
- Self-contained, do-everything keyboard with auto-accompaniment engine and built-in sound system
- Wide selection of sounds, Music Assistants, and Rhythms that cover a wide landscape of musical genres (including East-Europe, Latin-America, Asia, and more)
- Friendly graphical user interface
- Onboard effects, including reverb, chorus, EQ, multi-band compressor, and dozens of multi-effects
- Music rhythm compatibility with Roland BK-7m/E-series/ G-series/VA-series instruments
- Compatible with backing formats (SMF, MP3, WAV, and Rhythm) directly from USB memory; instant audio recording onto USB memory
- Automatic chord detection for SMF files
- Video output to share SMF/MP3 Lyrics with friends or the audience on an external screen
Moog Minitaur becomes Webitaur – check it out
Perhaps not the real thing but still quite fun to play around with for a short while I guess:
“Once again the NAMM videos have inspired me to have a go at a web version of an analog synth. This time round it’s the awesome looking Moog Minitaur. As usual it is unlikely to sound anywhere near as good as the real thing but will give you some idea of the types of sounds it is capable of. The filter in this one sounds a bit better than my previous synths as a result of trying out some delay-less feedback techniques.
Any midi controllers in the system should be connected automatically. ”
Fun stuff: Family playing Depeche Mode :-)
Dicken Schrader: 80’s keyboard, xylophone, kazoo, tambourine, Coke bottle and voice.
Milah Schrader: Recorder, rattle, windchime and voice.
Korben Schrader: Toy keyboard, maraca, cheese grater and voice.
Music and lyrics by Martin L. Gore (Depeche Mode)
And here’s another one:
Enjoy
iVoxel Version 2 – the singing vocoder
iVoxel – The Singing Vocoder now totally revised with tons of new features. Pitch tracking with automatic pitch correction to selectable scale, polyphonic sequencer, virtual MIDI and background audio, …
“iVoxel is not only an amazingly sounding vocoder – the unique concept of iVoxel turns this vocoder into a singing machine. iVoxel is a combination of a voice optimized synthesizer and a vocoder. The vocoder part is based on the Matrix vocoder from VirSyn used by many famous artists – one of them the well known german group Kraftwerk. The channel filters used by iVoxel are based on the Sennheiser Vocoder VSM201 resulting in a rich and fat analogue sound characteristic. The pitch follower and automatic tuning let you sing correct to a selectable scale.”
New in version 2
- Realtime pitch following.
- Automatic tuning correction to selectable scale.
- Polyphonic sequencer.
- Voxel editing.
- Hi-end Reverb.
- Support for virtual MIDI input connections and Background Audio.
- Support for Korg’s Wireless Sync-Start Technology (WIST).
- Publish recordings online with the SoundCloud audio platform.
- Many more things and bugfixes.
Pricing and Availability:
iVoxel costs $5.99
More information:
Free Justin Bieber Super Fun Ableton Pack
A new Live rack from AfroDJMac, enjoy:
I made some Ableton Live Racks using a Justin Bieber Keyboard Guitar toy. This is a download of four different device racks, a synth, drums, Justin Bieber Vocal snippets, and a Slice to Midi preset. The accompanying music was made using only the keyboard guitar as a sound source. Baby Baby Baby.
download @: http://bit.ly/freesynth44
Checking out the Serge iPAD Control
Serge modular controlled from an iPAD running TouchOSC.
Wholetone scale with 4 x sliders controlling FM pitch / FM amount / filter cutoff / envelope scaling.
www.ianboddy.com
About Serge:
The Serge synthesizers are the creation of French electronic/synth designer Serge Tcherepnin. They are analog modular systems that began production in 1974, and continue to be produced to this day. The Serge concept was that a powerful, musical and great sounding analog modular system could, unlike the Buchlas, Moogs and ARPs of the time, be smaller, more compact and most importantly: cost less, making them far more accessible to musicians looking to jump into the bold new world of electronic music and sound design.
Although Serge was French, the modular systems that bore his name were orignally designed and produced in Los Angeles, CA. Initially designed in 1974 (in Serge’s home), mass production of the systems began in 1975 and continued until 1986. There was a rough period between 1986 to 1993 where modules were still produced to special order (slowly), but full production resumed again in 1993 after Serge’s circuit designs were sold to Rex Probe (an early collaborator) who went on to found Sound Transform Systems, who continue to produce many of the original Serge modules, plus a few new one’s of their own design.
Influences of the Buchla can be seen in Serge systems, such as touch sensitive keyboards & sequencers, random voltage generators, function generators, and matrix mixers. Yet the Serge has many unique designs of its own such as the Wave Multiplier module and the use of banana plugs in lieu of traditional patch cords. Its filters are unqiue sounding but it may be the Wave Multiplier module that truly sets a Serge apart as it is a totally unique synthesizer section that sits between the Oscillator and Filter sections and allowed for external audio or control voltage signals to be used to modulate the timbre of the oscillator’s tones.
Originally, Serge systems were custom built to order. Like any modular system a buyer would pick and choose individual modules they want and assemble them into a cabinet. However, to reduce the price tag and make them more accessible to musicians not interested in building a modular synth from scratch, Sound Transform Systems sells Serge systems in pre-configured systems: Shop Panels and the M-Class.
Teenage Engineering Interview, OP-1 and new OS
Here’s a nice new video with the guys from Teenage Engineering:
http://ohdratdigital.com We caught up with David from Teenage Engineering at NAMM2012 to learn about the Teenage Engineering design philosophy, take a look at the new operating system, and learn about how the guys approach creating a synthesiser instrument. We have the OP-1 in the studio right now for testing with the new OS, video coming soon!
Designing & testing a new video generator with Max & Max for Live
This is a sneak preview of Julien Bayle’s Video Generator for Max & Max For Live:
I’m currently designing a video generator core structure able to react to my music.
The architecture will include a basic structure (again simplicity) and will be provided with music, probably.
You can go further by reading these posts:
– http://julienbayle.net/2012/01/23/designing-minimal-elements
– http://julienbayle.net/2012/01/25/my-video-generator-global-architecture/
Experimental: Mechanical Musical Birds
Here’s an interesting electronic instrument that apparently has been under construction for a decade, enjoy
“Gaeoudjiparl – Mechanical Birds Performance HD. Hand carved over the last 10 years. Gaeoudjiparl has created his own unique mechanical birds with which he performs live.”
Buchla Electronic Musical Instruments Skylab Synthesizer and Press Conference
Synthesizer pioneer Don Buchla is back, under the aegis of a new company – Buchla Electronic Musical Instruments. This video shows the press conference introducing the new company, as well as provides information about Buchla’s latest products, the Skylab synthesizer.
DATAMASKIN
