BusyBox Synthesizer – like a modular Minimoog Model D
Grove Audio has posted information on their BusyBox synthesizer.
This 6MU module contains a complete synthesizer voice and an internal MIDI to CV converter. Internal routing is roughly based on the Moog Minimoog Model D.
An analog routing system controlled by a processor offers alternative routing schemes to extend the usefulness of the unit as a standalone synthesizer. A couple of extra features not found on the Minimoog have been added such as ring modulator, linear FM modulation of the VCOs, and voltage controlled amplifiers on each VCO and external audio sources.
The MIDI to CV converter can produce up to four CV/gate pairs and internal control voltages based on channel control messages from an external sequencer or keyboard controller can extend or replace internal modulation sources for the VCOs, the audio mixer or the filter.
The filter core is a 4 pole low pass filter which feeds a signal matrix and analog switch that allows one of sixteen possible filter modes to be selected. Two envelope generators can be used to modulate parameters of the filter and apply a contour to the main audio output VCA.
The depth of modulation can be controlled by the modulation wheel of a connected MIDI keyboard controller.
Pricing and availability are to be announced.
Oberheim Matrix 1000 demo
It’s time for a second short demo from the Oberheim Matrix 1000. Maybe a good alternative for a cheap and good sounding polyphonic rack synth.
As always a multitrack recording with some FX.
The analog Matrix 1000 is essentially 1,000 Matrix 6 patches in a single-space compact rackmount MIDI module. It has the same synth architecture as the Matrix 6. Each of its 6 voices have two DCO’s (digitally controlled analog oscillator), a low pass filter, 2 VCA’s, 3 envelope gens, 2 LFO’s, and 2 ramp gens. The sounds are plentiful and good enough, however sounds can only be edited via MIDI, so you’ll need an external MIDI editor (such as MOTU’s Unisyn) or Access’ Matrix Programmer to edit parameters. You can also load sounds from the Matrix 6 via SysEx or software.
The Matrix 1000 provides an excellent source of pads, textures and ambient sounds. It has 195 “keyboard” sounds, 118 “strings”, 130 “woodwinds & perc”, 239 “synthesizer”, 119 “bass”, 74 “lead” and 125 “effects”. For the price, there is no better way to find genuine analog Oberheim Matrix sounds in a compact and very in-expensive rack module that is loaded with more sounds than you’ll ever need! The older versions of the Matrix 1000 have a black front-panel. The newer models in the ’90’s have a cream colored face-plate.
Dave Gahan: The Light The Dead See – Soulsavers Interview
In the video interview above, Dave Gahan suggests that his time collaborating with Rich Martin in Soulsavers might not be over. Responding to Martin saying “I’m sad to stop. We’re getting to know each other creatively,” the Depeche Mode vocalist says “I think it’s the start of something, with all this stuff. Hopefully we’re going to get to continue the process. I don’t think it has to stop. I’m getting busy now with my band, but I still work on things. I really lived this record, which was a really nice experience.”
Richard Devine – The Analog Voodoo Effect
Richard Devine is an Atlanta-based electronic musician and sound designer. He is recognized for producing a layered and heavily processed sound, combining influences from hip-hop, to old and modern electronic music. Richard Devine has released records through such esteemed labels as Schematic and Warp Records, and is the creative force behind his own sound design company, Devine Sound. Though he has contributed sound design to a number of hardware and software manufacturers, he recently released his first official sample library through Sony Creative Software. Devine has also scored commercials for the likes of Nike and Touchstone Pictures.
Since the late-90s, Richard Devine’s sound has been synonymous with taking cutting-edge computer-based DSP (digital signal processing) to its limits. In recent years, however, Devine has also become a convert to the unlimited sonic capabilities and hands-on “analog voodoo effect” of the Eurorack modular format. I Dream of Wires spoke to Devine at NAMM 2012, which he attends annually. Judging by the studio footage on his Vimeo channel, and his wild enthusiasm on the subject, Devine is a bonafide Eurorack obsessive!
All music and sound in this video is by Richard Devine. Additional studio footage supplied by Richard Devine.
For more info on Richard Devine
richard-devine.com
devinesound.net
soundcloud.com/richarddevine
vimeo.com/channels/richarddevine
I DREAM OF WIRES is a forthcoming documentary film about the history and resurgence of modular synthesizers. The film is currently in production. This is the 6th in a series of extended interviews, which will be produced and released in various formats throughout the production, and following the release, of the film. I DREAM OF WIRES extended interview segments are sponsored by MATRIXSYNTH (m.matrixsynth.com).
Understanding the Traktor Remix Deck™
This video is a great introduction to the incredible potential of the new Remix Decks. Get an instant overview of storing and triggering loops and one-shots via the F1, and how to create and use Remix Sets.
Check out Ohm Studio – the collaborative music production software
Ohm Force has announced the availability of Ohm Studio, the collaborative music production software for Windows and Mac.
After years of development, Ohm Studio is finally open to anyone for free. Thanks to its cloud-based architecture, the first truly collaborative online digital audio workstation lets Windows and Mac users work together—remotely and in real time.
Ohm Studio covers most of the major features available in modern DAWs, such as audio/MIDI recording and editing, as well as VST plugin support. Moreover, it comes with brand new effect plugins especially designed for Ohm Studio:
- Compressor
- Equalizer
- Filter
- Flanger
- Limiter
- Vocoder
And the famous Ohm Force collection:
- Ohmicide:Melohman (multi-band distortion)
- OhmBoyz (multi-tap delay)
- Quad Frohmage (filter bank)
- Predatohm (multi-band distortion)
- Mobilohm (phaser)
- Hematohm (frequency shifter)
- Frohmage (filter)
- Ohmygod! (comb filter)
- Minimonsta:Melohman (synth, by GForce)
- Oddity (synth, by GForce)
After creating your account on www.ohmstudio.com, access the online server via the Ohm Studio application. You can request to join projects created by other people or start a new one on your own. Once in a project, you can invite other Ohm Studio users or friends with no account to create one and join the project. The interactive interface instantaneously displays every action performed by all members of the project, while the built-in chat eases communication. When the track is done, you can export it to disk or to the project page on the web for showcase.
Beyond the software, Ohm Studio is also a worldwide community of musicians versed in music production. It is the perfect place to create music with bandmates or producers, meet like-minded or different people, find the skills you need and enhance your tracks. In a word, improve your music experience. Ohm Studio offers a modern, efficient, and creative way to make music alone and together.
Still in beta version and constantly updated, Ohm Studio is now ready for massive testing. Don’t miss this unique, time-limited opportunity to try free of charge.
Brief introduction to the Audulus user interface
Audulus is a minimalist modular audio processing application. Design sound from first principles. With Audulus, you can build synthesizers, design new sounds, or process audio. All with low latency real-time processing suitable for live performance. Audulus’s user interface is clean, simple, and easy to learn, allowing you to focus on sound.
Features include:
* audio unit hosting – use your favorite plugins
* fluid interface – smooth animated interaction
* midi control – use your midi control surface or keyboard
* presets – quickly change between settings
* unlimited history – everything you do is stored
* polyphony – process multiple voices
* encapsulation – group nodes into sub-patches
* diverse nodes – from ADSR to ZeroCross
* audio unit version – run Audulus as an Audio Unit inside other apps (free download)
Punk synth – feature of the legendary ARP Odyssey synthesizer
A GForceSoftwareTV feature on the legendary ARP Odyssey synthesizer.
While the Minimoog proved to be a runaway success as the first compact studio synthesizer, ARP responded with a compact and user-friendly studio synthesizer of their own with the Odyssey in 1972. An almost equally legendary machine itself, the Odyssey was ARP’s highest selling synth back then, and still is to this day in the second-hand market.
The Odyssey essentially gives you a simplified hard-wired ARP 2600 in a much smaller and affordable package. The Odyssey is a 2-oscillator analog synth (with duo-phonic capability) and it sounds really nice; the Minimoog has three oscillators and is capable of thicker sounds. The Odyssey comes well equipped with all the tweakable features and analog goodness you’d expect: a resonant low pass filter, ADSR envelopes, sine or square wave LFO, and a sample-and-hold function.
The Odyssey also added a few new features such as a high pass filter that could be used in series with the low pass, oscillator-sync capability, and pulse-width modulation. It is a very professional and expressive machine that can create nice analog basses, interesting leads, great effects and sweeping sounds straight out of a Tangerine Dream album!
There were many versions of the Odyssey over the years, each a little different. They can be broken down into 8 models spanning 3 Mark “Mk” version.
3rd party developers talk on the new Reason Rack Extensions Reason Essentials
For more information on Rack Extensions, visit: http://www.propellerheads.se
Meet some of the developers bringing Rack Extension devices to Reason’s rack! Rack Extensions allow 3rd party developers to bring their expertise, sounds, and inspiring workflow into Reason by merging some of the best elements of typical plugin expandability with the best elements of Reason’s ongoing commitment to stability, efficiency, and musicality.
In this video you’ll get a look at some of the first Rack Extensions to arrive in Reason’s rack, hear direct from the developers themselves and, most importantly, see just how massive this expansion will be for your music.
More details on the upcoming Talk Talk tribute album
In September 2012, the Fierce Panda label will be releasing “Spirit Of Talk Talk”, a double album which features 30 contemporary acts from around the globe re-inventing, re-interpreting Talk Talk’s greatest moments precisely 30 years since “Talk Talk” made its mark on the mainstream. More details have now bleached out and it seems that the tribute release will be a real who-is-who album with lots of cult ‘Talk Talk’ names involved.
Conceived and co-ordinated by Toby Benjamin and massaged into shape by musical director Alan Wilder, this twin CD features artwork by original Talk Talk artwork designer James Marsh (using the cover he created in 1983 for a prospective album “Chameleon Hour” which was never released) and sees profits going to The Rare Bird Club charity. Note that the album has been mastered by Denis Blackham who was also responsible for mastering many of Talk Talk’s albums.
The album accompanies the “Spirit Of Talk Talk” book, to be published in September as well by the Essential imprint. Pre-ordering will begin in the next few days from Fierce Panda’s on-line store at www.fiercepanda.co.uk .
The album features 30 artists, including: Alan Wilder (Recoil), White Lies, King Creosote, Jason Lytle (Grandaddy), Zero 7, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Richard Reed Parry (Arcade Fire), Joan As Police Woman, Sean Carey (Bon Iver), Lights, Goldheart Assembly, Thomas White (Electric Soft Parade), Fyfe Dangerfield (Guillemots), Thomas Feiner, The Black Ships, Turin Brakes, as well as Ian Curnow, David Rhodes, Gaynor Sadler and Martin Ditcham, all of whom worked with Talk Talk.
Track listing :CD 1
- WEALTH – Lone Wolf
- THE COLOUR OF SPRING – Zero 7
- I BELIEVE IN YOU – S.Carey
- DUM DUM GIRL – Recoil ( feat. Shara Worden )
- LIFE’S WHAT YOU MAKE IT – Duncan Sheik
- THE RAINBOW – Thomas Feiner, Fyfe Dangerfield, Robbie Wilson
- AFTER THE FLOOD – Halloween, Alaska
- IT’S GETTING LATE IN THE EVENING – Peter Broderick, Nils Frahm, Davide Rossi
- GIVE IT UP – King Creosote
- LIVING IN ANOTHER WORLD – Lights ( feat. Darkstars )
- THE RAINBOW – Zelienople
- MYRRHMAN – Joan As Police Woman
- RUNEII – The Last Dinosaur
- ? – Jack Northover
CD 2
- IT’S MY LIFE – The TenFiveSixty
- INHERITANCE – Recoil ( feat. Linton Kwesi Johnson & Paul Marshall )
- ASCENSION DAY – Turin Brakes
- TODAY – White Belt Yellow Tag
- I DON’T BELIEVE IN YOU – Ian Curnow ( feat. Human )
- CHAMELEON DAY – Goldheart Assembly
- APRIL 5TH – Matthias Vogt Trio
- NEW GRASS – Do Make Say Think
- TOMORROW STARTED – Jason Lytle
- GIVE IT UP – White Lies
- TIME IT’S TIME – Lia Ices
- THE PARTY’S OVER – The Lovetones
- CANDY – Thomas White
- RENéE – The Black Ships ( feat. Amelia Tucker )
- TAPHEAD – The Acorn
- I BELIEVE IN YOU – Richard Reed Parry
Additional bonus tracks available to download at digital stores :
- ASCENSION DAY – Minerva Lions
- IT’S MY LIFE – Mike Gill ( feat. Robert Owens )
- EDEN – Kurran & The Wolfnotes
Via SL
DATAMASKIN
