New video featuring the Arturia MiniBrute
Video description:
Neat new analog synthesizer I just unwrapped for the second time. First one didn’t work, this one does, but I think it may still have some issues/quarks/features. However, perhaps that is all part of the analog experience they didn’t want to leave you without on it.
Authorized DEVO Synthesizer and Robot Maker App – DEVOBOTS
This is the first ever DEVO App utilizing one of the most influential bands of the last 40 years. The App includes never-before-heard music and sounds remastered from the DEVO archives that you can use to create new music plus thousands of artistic assets that you can utilize to create your very own DEVOBOT Robot, digital or Vinyl. This is the DEVO App that fans have been waiting for.
The synthesizer uses original Devo sounds as its main feature. The sounds and music loops used in the app have been remastered from archived DEVO music and sounds that was originally created by DEVO and has been stored in the vaults since the 1980s, AND never heard before. We wanted to bring you a unique selection of sound only found in Devobots, so we spent a lot of time sorting through banks of music to create this. And it won’t stop there. Every month or two we will have a new bank of DevoBot sounds available for download at no costs.
Utilizing the buttons available in the Devobot interface, when pressed, the keys will play a loop either once or infinite. You use these in combination to create and record your own music. Other features include a sampler where you can sample your own loop and add it to the existing mix and also Pitch Shift, reverse and volume controls where you can manipulate the sound in real time..
With the synthesizer you can mix up to 12 separate audio parts together while using real time effects to create unique music tracks. You can use the mix as a recording, or play the device in a live session. Using the trackpad you can manipulate the sound by using your fingers to move each sound cross hair around the pad. Each sound can be manipulated in real time, either one by one or up to 5 sounds at a time – or 10 if you have small enough hands. The synthesizer is a powerful tool and can be used as part of any musicians arsenal.
Checking out the new arcadish Pianocade – teaser
Demonstrating some of the features of the Pianocade, a chiptunes-style synthesizer and MIDI controller. More information (and preorder information!) at www.pianocade.com
The Pianocade Synthesizer
The Pianocade is a synthesizer designed to sound, look, and feel like vintage arcade games.
The Pianocade’s built-in synthesizer is based on the sound hardware of the Nintendo NES and Game Boy (specifically, one of the square wave channels: it’s a monophonic square-wave synthesis engine with a 4-bit digital-to-analogue converter). Because it’s monophonic, it does what many early games did in lieu of chords: it cycles through the notes of the chord rapidly (arpeggiation).
Pianocade MIDI Support
The Pianocade has traditional 5-pin MIDI ports (in, out, and through) as well as USB MIDI. You can use the Pianocade to control any device with MIDI in, or control the Pianocade via an external controller or sequencer. The Piancade’s arpeggiator automatically syncs with incoming MIDI clock signals, too. You can also reprogram the MIDI messages of the joystick, coin buttons, and player buttons for a totally custom MIDI controller.
- MIDI In, Out, and Through, plus experimental USB MIDI in and out
- Integrate MIDI velocity and aftertouch into sound banks for amazing effects
- Synchronize the arpeggiator to external MIDI clock signals, with adjustable tempo
- Add “extra” controls via pitch and CC messages
- Reprogram the MIDI message sent by each control
Clavia launches free Nord Beat iPad app
Clavia gets into the app game with a nice looking iPad step sequencer known as Nord Beat. It’s free and, thanks to its CoreMIDI support, can be used to control not only Nord modules and synths – it’s been designed with the Nord Drum particularly in mind – but also any other MIDI instrument. Nord Beat offers four tracks, a 16-step sequencer and up to eight patterns. You can either loop one of these or chain them together (repeating patterns if necessary) to create a song. You can choose from three velocity levels and adjust the amount of shuffle, while a Pad mode gives you the option of playing your drum sounds.
You can download Nord Beat for iPad now from the App Store.
Clavia Nord Beat official info
Nord Beat is a 4-track CoreMIDI Step Sequencer for iPad. Nord Beat is a perfect companion for your Nord Drum and is available for free at the App Store!
Sequencer
Nord Beat lets you create drum beats in classic 16 step grid with up to 8 patterns and offers great control over velocity. Patterns can be played back in two ways: In Sequence Mode, up to 8 patterns can be cued and will play in a chained fashion. Each pattern can be set to repeat up to 8 times to create a song progression. When Sequence Mode is turned off, a single pattern will loop until you cue another. Any pattern can be edited while playing and the Copy/Paste function lets you create variations over a pattern very quickly. There are 3 velocity levels represented by colors, and are easily changed by swiping up or down on the desired notes. The actual velocity values can be altered with the velocity faders for changing accents and dynamics in real-time. The Shuffle amount can also be changed on the fly and each of the 4 tracks can be muted individually. The Pattern length can be shortened (1-16) while playing for creating breakdowns or alternative time signatures.
Pad Mode
Nord Beat also features a Pad Mode that lets you play the Nord Drum (or other MIDI gear) with your fingers and even gives you great control over the velocity! The center zones transmit full velocity and gradually gets lower towards the edges. The pads can be used simultaneously with the sequencer.
Easy Setup
Although designed with the Nord Drum in mind, Nord Beat can be used with any MIDI instrument. Just choose the desired MIDI-channel and Note Numbers in the Nord Beat Settings menu and you’re ready to go!
A CoreMIDI compatible MIDI interface is required.
“Hundled Hirch” TC-11 iPad Improv by Jeff McLeod
Created using a custom-made patch on Bit Shape’s TC-11 multi-touch synth for the iPad. A teardown/rebuild of the original patch “Bundled Birch.”
More info here: http://www.bitshapesoftware.com/instruments/tc-11/
And here: http://www.jeffmcleod.net
Patch controllers:
Creation Time Since Previous Touch: Multi Oscillator Level & AHDSR-0 Scale
Touch Y Position: Panning
Distance To Center: SEQ-0 Add
Creation Time Since Previous Group: Mix LPF Frequency Cutoff
Group Count: LPF Frequency Cutoff
Touch Began: AHDSR-1 Start & SEQ-0 Step
Touch Ended: AHDSR-0 End & AHDSR-1 End
AHDSR-0: Amplitude
AHDSR-1: Waveshaper Mix
SEQ-0: Multi Oscillator Frequency & Mlit Oscillator Transpose
SEQ-0 Trigger: AHDSR-0 Start
New VSTs and Plug-ins for music creation mix
Vintage Space Chorus VST Demo by Softrave:
Vintage Space Chorus is intended to create unusual stereo chorus space effects good for rock, electronica, disco and experimental styles of music
Price is 11 Eu \ 15 usd
you can purchase plugin here
http://www.tikov.com/softrave/vschorus.htm
New Reason rack extensions – DR-1, AP-12 and VE-3:
Synapse Audio has announced the release of its DR-1, AP-12 and VE-3 Rack Extensions Propellerhead’s Reason.
Synapse Audio Software introduces three high quality Rack Extension effect plugins for Propellerhead’s Reason: DR-1 Deep Reverb, AP-12 Analog Phaser, and VE-3 Vintage Equalizer.
New Synapse Audio Rack Extensions
- DR-1—Inspired by a high-end 1980s outboard reverb, the Synapse Deep Reverb DR-1 delivers a deep, lush sound not found in modern software reverbs. Rather than trying to imitate real spaces, the DR-1 gives an uncolored and pleasant reverb sound that is especially well suited for synthetic material and lead sounds.
- AP-12—The Synapse AP-12 emulates vintage analog phasers, which are composed of a series of phase shifting stages with a feedback path wrapped around them. The phase shifting stages (switchable between 6 and 12 stages) are modulated by a LFO, which can be synchronized to the current song tempo.
- VE-3—he Synapse Vintage EQ-3 is a precise model of a 3-band analog tone stack, as found in late 50s guitar amplifiers. The unique sound of these devices is due to the coupled, passive circuits employed, where changing any parameter affects the entire network in a complex way. This is different from a digital parametric EQ, which operates on just one isolated region of interest.
The DR-1 and AP-12 are available to purchase at 32 EUR each, VE-3 is 25 EUR.
Twin Bass free bass synth plugin:
The Interruptor has released version 1.1 of the Twin Bass bass synthesizer instrument for Windows.
VSTi Bass Synthesizer with a double filter architecture allowing to create rich mid-range bass textures together with a solid sub bass foundation. Also vocal-like timbres can be easily created. Features an extensive modulation matrix and individual outs for the filters.
Twin Bass features
- 2 Oscillators: Sine, Saw, Ramp, Triangle, Pulse, Noise.
- 2 Filters operating in parallel (connection in series is also possible).
- Filter 1: 2 x Low pass, 2 x High pass, Bandpass.
- Filter 2: stereo filter with separate cut-off for left and right side (2 x Low pass, 2 x High pass, Bandpass).
- Feedback loop for the entire filter section.
- Distortion effect with two modes
- hard: metallic distortion sound.
- soft: tube-like warm distortion.
- Modulation
- 3 x LFO, synchronized to host application.
- 3 x ADSR Envelope.
- Matrix: 5 modulation slots connect 12 modulation sources to 26 modulation destinations. Pitch bend, amplifier envelope and filter envelope are pre-wired.
- Process external signals: In Oscillator 2 an external signal can be selected as the waveform.
- MIDI learn: Right-click any control to assign a midi control and automate the parameter from your DAW.
- Monophonic modes with glide.
- Polyphonic modes with max. 8 simultaneous notes.
- Individual Outs are available for the two Filters.
- Structure display shows the signal flow of the synth as it results from your settings of the filter and FX routings.
- Pop-up hints: While the mouse hovers over a control a hint appears explaining the function of the control.
The Twin Bass is available to download as a freeware VST plug-in for Windows.
New version of Microzwerg on the radar – Microzwerg MkII
The Berlin synthesizer maker MFB is updating their smallest semi-modular synth Microzwerg putting it into a new box with wooden cheeks. There are no details if there are any other changes yet. To be released in September. Dark Energy II is getting a multi-mode filter like Microzwerg and Microzwerg II is getting wooden cheeks! It appears to be a winning concept on the entry level modular. It appears to be a hot analog autumn.
* semi-modular analogue synthesizer
* dual oscillator, dual multimode-filter
* separate inputs/outputs for both filters
* 18 patch connections in signal chain
* two LFOs with „One Shot“-function
* CV/Gate and MIDI control
* MSRP: 430, – Euro
Doepfer A-106-5 Filter demo
Short Doepfer A-106-5 Demo by NetPierre
Starts with a sequenced bassline, generated by my Doepfer MAQ16/3 and Doepfer VCO A-110 (saw wave)
Bandpass Mode first, LP/HP later
A-118 Random voltages added to VC2 input somewhere in the middle.
Drums provided by an Elektron Machinedrum
More info on the A-100 and related stuff at http://PatchPierre.blogspot.com
Pet Shop Boy’s “It’s a Sin” played by Series III Fairlight CMI
http://youtu.be/AGQC7_ikZ-s
Series III Fairlight CMI playing back Pet Shop Boys “It’s a Sin.” Song sequence and instruments were recovered from an old CMI streamer tape.
Description:
The Australian Fairlight Computer Music Instrument (CMI) is a vintage but state-of-the-art Synthesizer/Sampler workstation. An incredible sampler with 28 megabytes or more of memory! One or two full 73 note velocity sensitive keyboards! Complete synthesis and editing of digitally sampled sounds. Three different on-board SMPTE Sequencers and storage to various disk mediums. The processor itself is housed in a 24″ module. It was also the first digital sampler to hit the market back in 1979 and has endured throughout the eighties and nineties.
From 1979 to 1985 several versions of the Fairlight were produced, with the Series III being the last of them. Each new series added updates to the Fairlight as technology developed through the early eighties. The Fairlight 1 and 2 had only 16 kByte of Memory per voice, and only eight voices but expanded to several megabytes and double the polyphony by the Fairlight III. The IIx was the first Fairlight to offer MIDI. The Series III added aftertouch capability to the keyboard. They all had pitch/mod wheels, an 82-key alphanumeric keyboard, 15 function keys, a Graphics Tablet for drawing sounds and a Video Monitor for seeing what you’re doing while editing.
The sampler is the heart of the Fairlight. It’s a 16-bit resolution digital sampler with variable sample-rates up to 100kHz! Original Fairlight models used two standard 8 bit 6800 processors, updated to the more powerful 16 bit 68000 chips in later versions (the IIx had updated 6809 processors, which is what designated it a IIx over a II, and raised the sampling resolution to 32kHz, from the I & II’s 24kHz). In the Fairlight III, sample memory (RAM) comes in 28MB chunks per 16 voices of polyphony – wow! That’s plenty of room for creating stereo or mono samples. Edit them using various hi-tech functions and at a ‘microscopic’ level using the large Monitor screen. Samples can be looped, mixed and re-sampled with processing for sweetening. As for synthesis, create your own waveforms by sampling and applying Fast Fourier Transform and Waveform editing functions. Storing samples and synthesized waveforms can be done to Hard Disk or 8″ floppy disks.
As for sequencing, there are three sophisticated methods. There’s CAPS (Composer, Arranger, Performer Sequencer), an 80-track polyphonic sequencer. The complicated MCL (Music Composition Language) is like a text-based step time sequencer. And finally the Rhythm Sequencer which functions like a classic drum-machine style sequencer. All sequencer’s are SMPTE syncable.
The Fairlight is a horribly expensive Music Production Center and is rivalled only by the NED Synclavier. Although current samplers, sequencers and synths can blow away the Fairlight at a fraction of the cost – the Fairlight is an historical, prized piece of Vintage Digital Synthesizer and Sampler technology. It still holds up today, over twenty years later and is still a high quality and professional instrument. The facilities provided by it benefit hardcore synth programmers, wealthy musicians, sound designers, film composers and wealthy Vintage Synth collectors.
Bob Moog’s Legacy featuring Moby, Wayne Coyne and more
Bob Moog’s legacy lives on in the rock stars and panelists at Moogfest 2011. Find out why Bob’s extraordinary legacy deserves to be carried forward.
Featuring: Moby, Wayne Coyne, Diego Stocco, Eric Persing, Bryan Bell, Dick Hyman, Terry Riley, David Borden, Joel Cummins, Alan Vega and Torley.
DATAMASKIN
