Three Vintage Analogue String Synthesizers
Analogue synths can’t synthesize every sound, but the attempts made to replicate the sound of orchestral strings were so successful that so-called string machines became much-loved instruments in their own right.
Control Voltage Crossfader with Volt CB-1 Rack Extension
Fun with control voltage routings in Propellerhead Reason!
Elecktroid drum machine – Fusion of drum synth and and drum sampler
Audio Spillage has released Elecktroid, a new drum machine for Mac that’s described as ‘a fusion of drum synth and and drum sampler with a custom designed rhythm sequencer.’ Elecktroid blends synthesis and sample playback in a single integrated package.
Here’s what they have to say about Elecktroid:
Pulsing away deep inside Elecktroid you’ll find 4 of our exclusive drum synthesis models: BassDrum, WoodDrum, HiHat and Snare. The drum synths are 100% algorithmic and utilise high quality DSP code for a deep, powerful and punchy sound. The synthesis algorithms can be used as the basis of an entire rhythm track on their own or layered with samples to add weight, depth and character to your existing sound sets and rhythms.
The backbone of Elecktroid is a high quality low CPU sample playback engine. Load up your favourite samples via the simple drag and drop interface. Refresh and re-animate your existing collection with the pitch envelope, modulation, distortion, filter and graphic loop editing capabilities. Elecktroid can velocity cross-fade between 2 samples per pad and accepts WAV, AIFF and CAF format files.
The new rhythm oriented step sequencer brings Elecktroid to life right inside your DAW. Forget about stale lifeless rhythms. Elecktroid features custom track lengths and step trigger probability controls opening the door to a world of non-repetitive poly-rhythmic beats. Inject groove and humanoid feel to suit. Elecktroid’s sequencer is a resolution-independent design so patterns play at the correct tempo regardless of step length (16th, 32nd etc). Elecktroid also features graphic velocity and parameter control graph editing.
Elecktroid is available now for $55. A demo version is available.
GYM e.g.g. (Electro Groove Generator) iPhone App – fitness pacer and music generator
A new and fresh way to workout, train and get fit to music. Fresh and energizing, high quality generated sounds, electro beats and sequences that constantly evolve. Stimulating, sometimes hypnotic – the music is there with you in the background while you train and it’s different every time. Designed to keep you alert and at pace to the beat that suits you. You choose the speed and the music is generated for you as you go.
Have you ever been to the gym and find yourself running or cycling to the background beat? If you find a good beat that you can synchronize with, you often find you can push yourself harder. It is a bit like dancing. How many times have you listened to your favourite music but the beat is too slow or too fast or your playlist has a few tracks that do not work well while exercising? Well now you can set your own speed to train to. This will help you go that bit further by locking on to the pace of the beat that you choose.
AVAILABLE NOW
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gym-e.g.g.-electro-groove/id566147561?ls=1&am…
Progressive electro beats and grooves are constantly evolving. Influences range from House, 80’s electro to Dub-Step. Its not all just random! There are rules that have been created and the beats and melodies are all created from these rules. As with the nature of this app, there may be the odd time when the music is not to your liking so there is a “dislike” button which will completely re-generate the current song. Every ‘song’ gradually mixes into a new one when it is finished. Remember this is background music to train to so although you wont get a musical masterpiece, you will usually get electrifying electro goodness to keep pace to. Includes built-in audio effects.
To use: Press “go” then tap the “TAP” button to your pace. Use the + and – buttons to refine the speed. If the music becomes uninspiring or a bit crazy then tap the unhappy face or you can wait a few minutes as it will eventually change.
Pressing “stop” twice will reset the stopwatch. You can change the exercise graphics from running to cycling or rowing.
Warning: Do not set the BPM too high at first. Give yourself 5-10 minutes at a moderately easy speed to make sure you can keep up. This app is designed to help push you further by locking on to the beat of the music so make sure it is not set too high. If you feel out of breath or faint, stop immediately.
Blip Festival Tokyo 2012 – SNES ROM Invite
SNES ROM invite for Blip Tokyo 2012. Tested on real hardware.
http://tokyo.blipfestival.org
Try the ROM in your favorite emulator : It looks/sounds much better in there I promise!
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/21912138/BlipFestivalTokyo2012.sfc
“Spent more time than I’d like to admit getting this thing going! Lots of video tricks – the SNES hardware is pretty sweet (HDMA) but mode7 is tough! I have a pretty good development setup now.”
GREETS TO 68KREW! – AGA – TMB – NO CARRIER – CTRIX – MONODEER – 2 PLAYER PRODUCTIONS – SOUNDBYTES CREW – HEXAWE – BLEO – HERRPROF – HEOSPHOROS – LIKELUKE – PT!H! – 8STATIC – KRIS KEYSER – EMI – MATTHECHT – DUSTMOP – ROCHESTER CHIP – ABRASIVE – FUNKYSAUCE – SECNARF – DAURAGON – LUMAR – DOOLS – KRUGS – ANIMAL-STYLE – CHEAPSHOT
Elektron teases new product
Swedish hardware developer Elektron – most recently known for its Octatrack performance sampler – is teasing a new product on a specially created website.
There’s nothing in the way of spec: just a cryptic photo and the words ‘Tradition & Future’. You can guess as well as we can what this means, but it’s logical to assume that the new hardware will take inspiration from the past while also delivering some next-gen features.
More news as we get it: the website suggests that the new instrument(?) will be released in 2012, so you shouldn’t have to wait too long.
Experimental: Forest and Trees – sound installation
“Forest and Trees” is an installation of moving images and sounds employing 12 digital photo frames.
The animation and its sound effects playing through the internal speakers of each frame gradually
come together to form music.
This work will be exhibited at Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo.
“Search for New Synesthesia”
mot-art-museum.jp/eng/schedule.html
This video is list version for vimeo.
Sometimes Is Not Enough (original instrumental on Eigenharp Alpha)
This is an original composition, played live on the Eigenharp Alpha and looped for some parts.
This song can be downloaded from SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/gbevin/sometimes-is-not-enough
“It uses a single sound on my Moog Slim Phatty for all the sections of the song. This one of the challenges that I’ve been setting for myself. I want to create only a few very expressive and versatile sounds that I perfectly learn to play on the Eigenharp in all their nuances, as opposed an arsenal of thousands of sounds that are totally unconnected from myself.
Here I’m driving the Slim Phatty over Control Voltage, giving me an incredibly detailed connection to the expression of the sound. This is possible thanks to the Expert Sleepers ES-3 module which converts the data from the Eigenharp over digital ADAT audio to Direct Current.
Pressure on the keys is tied to volume, left-right movement to filter cutoff and up-down movement to pitch. I’m additionally controlling distortion through the breath pipe of the Alpha and delay feedback through its strip controller, both are AudioUnit effects from Rob Papen. The looping is done through Mobius and is controlled through a Rig Kontrol USB MIDI footpedal.”
Funkbox for iPad – new version
The quite nice iPad drum machine, Funbox has after a long time got a well needed update. Funkbox contains all your favorite vintage drum machine sounds in one funky quirky little app! FunkBox has been used by Gorillaz on their album “The Fall”, Joan Osborne (“What If God Was One Of Us”) and Glenn Tilbrook (Squeeze) live in concert, Africa Hi-Tech (Warp Records), and by many other musicians both live and in the studio. It was also featured in Computer Music Magazine’s “Amazing Music Apps” special issue and Electronic Musician magazine’s “Attack of the Killer Apps” best music tools for the iPad.
“We designed the FunkBox drum machine to look, feel, and sound like a classic beatbox from the 70s and 80s. It uses audio samples recorded by us directly from our own personal collection of vintage drum machines. It also features advanced MIDI and audio features that allow you to use it in a music studio alongside your “real” gear. Or just keep it in your pocket to sketch out some dope beats in your spare time.”
Here’s what’s new:
- iOS 6 compatible
- Retina graphics support for iPad and iPhone 5
- Five new classic vintage drum machines: DX, Drumulator, TOM, KR55, and RX11
- New pattern presets, including a bonus bank inspired by classic drum machine presets
- Support for 3/4 time signature
- New box and pattern storage menus
- New improved custom drum box and sample management menu
- Improved Audio/MIDI settings menu
- Easily share your custom patterns and boxes through email
- Edit pattern names
- Closed hat chokes open hat
- MIDI bass line sequencer
- MIDI CC control of volume, pan, mute
- MIDI start/stop control
- OMAC fast switch support, to quickly switch between apps
- PDF manual included with app for offline reading
- Misc improvements and bug fixes
Really good to see Funk Box get update after what seems like a long time. If you don’t know the app then do take a look as it’ll make a worthy addition to your collection of drum and percussion apps.
DJ/Producer Dom Kane gives us a studio tour
DJ, Producer, engineer and Sample creator Dom Kane takes us on a tour of his studio.
DATAMASKIN
