Nothing But Noise – “Brush” Live
Nothing But Noise is the new musical project from Front 242’s mastermind Daniel Bressanutti, Dirk Bergen (ex Front 242) and Erwin Jadot. Upcoming is the project’s first album “Not Bleeding Red” (expected to be released in February 2012 but now delayed to April 12, 2012). The band has now released 2 new videos.
The album will be available as a double CD box (containing 9 tracks) or as a double vinyl album (containing 8 tracks). You can order them on Amazon USA, Amazon UK or Amazon DE.
Enjoy
How to Use Native Instruments REAKTOR’s Snapper
Finally clear away the fog on Snapper, REAKTOR’s extremely useful snapshot sequencer. In this tutorial, we pair Snapper with Vectory, REAKTOR’s wicked sample-destruction unit (Glitch lovers rejoice!)…
Sitar String Model
Video focusing on non-linear sitar interaction:
As a second challenge in the seminar on how objects vibrate, taught by Miller Puckette at UCSD, we were asked to simulate the non-linear way a sitar string interacts with the sitar bridge. In a typical string, like on a guitar, the string maintains a fixed length regardless of whether it is moving upward or downward. Since a sitar bridge is a wide, flat object, with tapered edges, the string comes into contact with different amounts of the bridge depending on its direction of travel.
This is a physical model developed in Max to simulate the sitar string.
WorldScales – New synth focusing on tuning for the iPad
Kelfar Technologies has released a new software synthesizer for the iPad, WorldScales:
Have you ever wondered why we tune our instruments the way we do?
They are usually tuned to an “equal-tempered scale”, which divides the octave into equally spaced tones and semitones. This has become the most prevalent way of tuning the instruments in the west since the 18th Century. Today, musicians use this tuning system, and the scales based on it, without ever considering other ways.
For example, in the Middle Ages European musicians generally used Pythagorean tuning, and today many traditional instruments in the Middle East and Asia are tuned according to regional systems and standards.
Features:
- Ability to tune each key in the octave individually (+- 100 cents).
- 18 High quality sampled instruments: From grand piano, violin and organ to oriental oud and kanun, to voices of a choir singing Ison voices. Many samples are polyphonic and have multiple velocity layers.
- MIDI In. Connect your External MIDI keyboard and play microtonal music.
- Many presets, introducing lesser known western, byzantine and oriental scales.
- Ability to save your own scales and tunings.
- Entering directly frequency ratios, frequencies or cents.
- Shows on the piano keys where the scale starts and what keys are included in the scale.
- Changing the root key of a scale: all tuned keys are shifted correctly.
- Audio effects: reverb and compressor.
It’s available now in the App Store.
Sequoia 12 DAW for Broadcast, Mastering, Audio Post & Music Production
MAGIX, the German software developer who also created Samplitude, launched the new Sequoia 12 DAW this week.
Sequoia 12 significantly updates a strong player in the DAW sector. While Sequoia has long been known as a mastering, broadcast and audio post Digital Audio Workstation, it is also integral to the workflows of music producers, journalists, sound editors, and audio engineers of all stripes.
According to MAGIX, flexibility levels in Sequoia 12 has ramped up considerably, owing to significant updates for metering, support of all current broadcast standards and their new “docking” concept, which allows users to adjust the interface with simple drag & drop control. The Independence Sampler Workstation, with over 70 GB of content, has also been integrated into Sequoia 12 to accelerate music production.
Visitors to Musikmesse will be able to get a first look live and in person at Sequoia 12, which is shipping for 2500 Euro, or $3,297.75 at today’s exchange rates. Owners of previous versions will be able to upgrade.
Here’s how MAGIX describes the latest updates to their high-end DAW:
“Whether in the recording or broadcast studio, at live concerts, or on location for a special live report, Sequoia 12 is the perfect tool for any situation that demands professional audio production. From recording to editing and on through to mastering and authoring, Sequoia 12 offers a seamless workflow that gets the job done better and faster. This comprehensive, high-definition DAW is now available from MAGIX for €2500.00 (taxes not included) and great deals on upgrades are available for owners of previous versions.
Visitors to the MAGIX stand (Hall 5.1, C79) can get a first look at Sequoia 12 at the Frankfurt Musikmesse from March 21 to March 24.
Cutting edge technology combined with seamless workflows: The new features in Sequoia 12
Time is of the essence when audio engineers are working on a broadcast or putting the finishing touches on a production in the mastering studio. Everything has to fit together perfectly and every step in the workflow is crucial to meeting tight deadlines. But there is also no room to cut corners and it is vitally important that the latest technology and standards are applied to ensure a professional production. The developers of Sequoia 12 kept all of this in mind while designing the new features and making the comprehensive improvements that make this version of Sequoia even more flexible and efficient than its predecessors.
Loudness Metering according to the EBU recommendation R 128 is an important part of the latest version which supports the transition from peak-based measurements to loudness-based measurements for radio and television. The meter’s display has also been redesigned and offers various visualization layouts and presets for common broadcast standards.
Visitors to Musikmesse can get the first look at Sequoia 12.
The new docking concept allows the user to adjust the interface with simple drag & drop control. Whether for broadcasting, mastering or audio post-production, the layout can easily be rearranged for any type of workflow.
An important aspect of any efficient workflow is speed, and that is where the new macro functionality comes into play. Commonly recurring processes can be saved and activated quickly using shortcuts.
Another helpful feature is track-level spectral editing which can quickly deal with the noise interference that occurs during live recording or multitrack recording. And even more special features have been added for complex spectral editing projects such as audio restoration.
Another great time-saver is the new auto ducking feature which is particularly useful for radio and speech broadcasting where background music can be faded in and out automatically according to audio cues.
In modern broadcasting it is important to be able to edit in realtime. With Sequoia 12, recordings can be exported during the broadcast and can be saved in a database where everyone involved can access them and remain informed about the current status of the project.
The new VCA groups make daily studio routines more efficient. Productions are now even easier to mix and finalize directly in the DAW thanks to the grouping of tracks through virtual VCAs (Voltage Controlled Amplifiers).
Getting the most from the hard drive is also crucial for maximum efficiency and is now possible with full 64-bit support.
The integration of the Independence Sampler Workstation into Sequoia 12 is a welcome addition for anyone working on music productions. Over 70 GB of content and hundreds of instruments make this sampler the ultimate production package for the creation of professional musical compositions.”
Introducing the MFB Dominion-X Synthesizer
MFB has updated their site with details on the Dominion-X synthesizer.
The MFB Dominion-X combines analogue synthesis, programmability and modular patching.
Features:
- Programmable Analogue Synthesizer
- 3 VCOs with wave shaping and ring modulationDual-Sync and Dual-FM features
- 6-fold multimode-filter including 3 low pass configurations with 12/18/24 dB
- patch-section for external CV/Gate-control
- Velocity routing matrix with 11 destinations
- 3 LFOs with 2 LFOS offering one-shot-modes and reset
The MFB Dominion-X is priced at 780, Euro.
Audio demos and details below.
The MFB Dominion X offers three oscillators for maximum flexibility. Each waveform can be varied in symmetry. Besides altering the pulse width of a rectangle, you may also continuously turn a saw tooth into a triangle and a triangle into a sine.
All oscillators also offer ring modulation. In addition, VCO 2 and VCO 3 can be synced to VCO1.
Finally, VCO3 can modulate the frequency of VCO 1 and VCO 2. The analogue oscillator circuit is processor-controlled for stable tuning.
To complete the available sound sources, noise or an external audio input can be added to the VCOs in DOMINION X’s mixer section.
The filter offers six operation modes. Available are three low pass variations with 12, 18 and 24 dB/oct. slopes. Also available are high pass-, band pass and a notch filter with slopes of 12 dB/oct. respectively 6 dB/oct. Variable filter modulations are possible via an invertible envelope, keyboard tracking, LFO, VCO, different MIDI controllers as well as by the use o the CV-input.
The two ADSR-type envelops are internally routed to the VCF- and VCA-sections. In addition, envelope 1 can also modulate the VCO section. LFOs 1 and 2 offer six waveform shapes including sample & hold. They may be switched to one-shot-modes to emulation simple envelopes. A third sine-LFO works in combination with a keyboard’s modulation wheel and can dynamically address the VCO, VCF and VCA sections.
Modulations are assigned by the use of selector switches, located at the destinations. This allows easily setting and re-routing internal modulation paths – ideally for your live-performance.
To integrate external modulators, control- and audio sources, DOMINION X offers nine inputs. Therefore, oscillators, filter, VCA, CV/Gate and mixer can be easily combined with other analogue synthesizers such as MFB’s MEGAZWERG, analogue sequencers such as MFB’s URZWERG PRO or modular synthesizer systems.
An additional selector switch allows assignment of velocity for up to eleven modulation destinations.
The MFB Dominion X offers 128 programmable patches. To support sound programming without an attached keyboard, different demo sequences are available. To use The MFB Dominion X as a filter box for external audio sources, the VCA can be opened permanently. Finally, there is an insert available to integrate an effect or distortion unit into the signal path.
The MFB Dominion X has the following dimensions: 330 x 170 x 60 mm. An external power supply is included.
Thicket 3.11 – quick preview
This video shows what’s new in Thicket 3.11: iPhone support, Grass, Remember and Cut Whispers modes…
Thicket is an audiovisual playground that allows anyone to create beautiful sounds and pictures from simple finger touches. For users of all ages, this generative art and sound app immerses you in song-like audiovisual pieces called modes. When “playing” a mode, you both react to and create the music and graphics that you experience. Each mode is its own art generator, interactive toy, musical instrument, even performance tool depending on how you use it. And with new modes to be developed and released every few months, Thicket functions an expandable platform in the exciting new genre of handheld interactive art.
Features:
– Control visuals and sound simultaneously with touch and gesture
– comes loaded with one free mode, Sinemorph!
– watch demos of each mode performed by the creators of the app
– gestural control system: switch modes with a simple swipe of your finger
– child lock: removes menu and interface for uninterrupted fun.
– screen capture: seamlessly capture snapshots of your favorite moments and share them with friends.
– custom video out options on supported devices via apple HDMI connector, VGA connector, or wirelessly via Airplay
-Universal app: works on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch
Thicket functions an expandable platform in the exciting new genre of handheld interactive art.
http://apps.intervalstudios.com/thicket/
Playing my home-made nearly finished virtual-analog Synthesizer
https://sites.google.com/site/synthaquarium/
Home-made virtual-analog Synthesizer with 3 VCOs, 1 ADSR-Envelope (for VCF and VCA), Waveforms: Sawtooth, Triangle and Pulse (variable pulse width)
The Punisher – modular synth jam
Numerology 3 Pro and analog step sequencers in the modular. A real-time studio recording in Cubase 6. Synths used were the modular synths, Waldorf MWXT, MicroQ, TX816, Nord Lead 2X, Prophet 8, DX7II and Korg ES-1. Using a Novation Launchpad to control the Numerology tracks. Step sequencers are dotcom Q960, Q119 and STG Soundlabs Time Suite. The opening and closing sound is a new SSL1130 DDVCO through a CGS01 harmonic sequencer and back into the DDVCO exponential and linear modulation inputs. Video editing in Final Cut Pro X.
Free Synth Collection For Kontakt & EXS24
Audio Zombie has released a collection of free synth patches for both Kontakt and EXS24:
AZ SimpleSynths is a collection of synth instruments for both Kontakt and Exs24 software samplers. This collection offers a number of typical synth instruments for electronic music
production.
I used Es2 synth for sound design here and modulation for each sound has been
made with Es2. So i made no use of samplers filters or fx all you get here are synth
instruments sampled from Es2 synth which i programmed. Of course you can make
use of samplers filters or fx’s if you want to or when it’s needed.
You can preview the patches above. They are available as a free download from the AZ blog.
DATAMASKIN
