Synth pioneers Visage are back with new material
After almost three decades Visage returns with a new album and here is the brand new video – Shameless Fashion
A Video introduction to Visage, The Blitz Club (the cauldron of 1980s style and fashion) and the new Visage album and line up. More info on www.visage.cc
Founding fathers of the New Romantics and pioneers of the 80s sound Visage, return with a new album “Hearts And Knives” May 2013. Visage began in 1978 when Steve Strange and Blitz Club partner-in-crime Rusty Egan joined forces with Midge Ure to create a futuristic, synthesizer-led group where style and fashion were matched by experimental but accessible music. The group was soon Magazine and Billy Currie. They recorded their first single Tar with Martin Rushent at his Genetic Studio in 1978 (shortly to become the birthplace of the Human League Dare album). Their breakthrough track “Fade To Grey” became a European hit and reached number 1 in 8 countries in 1980. As the public face of the band Steve Strange shot to stardom throughout Europe and beyond.
Steve Strange has been through his own share of highs and lows in the past 29 years. His emergence as a fashion and style icon of the 80s and beyond is one of the many highs. Steve had always believed that Visage had not yet reached its endpoint. Slowly the circumstances and pieces started falling into place to enable a new album to come to fruition. Firstly Steve reconnected with Steve Barnacle (a Visage band member from the 1984 Visage album “Beatboy”) and began writing songs once more. This was augmented when ex Ultravox guitarist Robin Simon joined into the equation bringing not only a large slice of shared musical DNA (that “Visage sound”) to the project but also his own distinctive style and ethereal musicianship. Lauren Duvall joined adding not only her sultry vocal ability but also a slice of the classic Visage glamour. Secondly the environment and interest in 80’s fashion, style and music continues on unabated. The phone continues to ring for shows, television, news and exhibitions.
More info on www.visage.cc
Roland SPD-30 Octapad and BT-1 Bar Trigger Overview and Demo
The original OCTAPAD was a revolutionary percussion instrument that was adopted by musicians worldwide and set the standard for future percussion pads. With the OCTAPAD SPD-30, an exciting new chapter in Octapad history begins. Combining cutting-edge drum and percussion sounds with the latest triggering technology, a Phrase Loop function, USB MIDI, and much more, the OCTAPAD SPD-30 is a rugged instrument that’s versatile for any musical application.
- Includes new percussion sounds from around the world, plus 30 types of multi-effects
- The latest pad-sensing technology developed for V-Drums® provides even and accurate pad triggering with excellent isolation between pads
- Four dual-trigger inputs, plus hi-hat controller for adding pads to create a mini kit, or for connecting triggers from acoustic drums
- Phrase Loop function inspires your creativity; record your playing in real time and overdub up to three layers
- USB connectivity for MIDI and memory storage
- Large backlit LCD and pad indicator lights for easy operation in low-light conditions
- Rugged, road-worthy design
Background video description:
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Down in the park (GARY NUMAN) remix Synth Magics ZOM ZOM polymoog emulation
Remix of Gary Numans Down in the park by Stephen Donohue using only Synth magics ZOM ZOM Polymoog emulation for Kontakt.
ZOM ZOM available at www.synthmagic.co.uk
Something new from KORG…
Korg Grooveboxes Leaked (Pic)
Looks genuine enough – I guess we will know more tomorrow, when MusikMesse kicks off in Frankfurt. Perhaps not real and just a rumor, as KORG has been focused on the new KORG MS20 Mini and KingKORG synths. The design is more a throwback to the Roland TB series which KORG has not done in the past.
Fingerlab’s DM1 – THE DRUM MACHINE – now available for MAC OSX
The Apple Design Award Winner DM1 is now available for Mac OSX !!!
DM1 is a full featured Drum machine designed for Mac OSX and iOS.
Download it now from the Mac App Store:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dm1-t…
DM1 for Mac OS Included 86 superb drum kits, a gorgeous fullscreen user interface for your desktop and laptop, an easy to use Duo FX Trackpads for real-time sonic destruction and multi-FX, DM1 for MAC OSX is fully compatible with DM1 for iPad, you can share files between them.
With Midi In & out, and separated tracks export, DM1 is ready to fit your digital audio workstation.
Specifications:
✔ Fullscreen Retina Display
✔ Smart ergonomy for fast creativity and fun
✔ 86 vintage and produced drum kits, mastered at in-house Fingerlab Sound Studios
✔ Samples Import
✔ Time signature
✔ 16 or 32 Steps per patterns
✔ Mixer page with pitch, length and level rotary controls, pan controls, and custom drum kit per channel
✔ Automation Panel for a precise and intuitive control of any Mixer parameter over time
✔ Duo FX Trackpads for real-time sonic destruction and multi-FX
✔ FX per track
✔ FX automation (FX parameters and FX per pattern)
✔ Quantized recording and pitch-bend ribbon
✔ Pitch-bend ribbon automation
✔ Mode song with intuitive editing
✔ High-quality export
✔ Separated tracks and AAC encoding export options
✔ The Randomizer tool
✔ Extra fast drum kit loading
✔ Playable pattern selection for extra creativity
✔ Import & Export your song project (From MAC or iPAD)
✔ Full Midi implementation
http://www.fingerlab.net
Follow us on twitter @Fingerlab
Toshiyuki Kishi performs on various KORG instruments
Enjoy
Virtual analog from Clavia – Nord Lead 4
After a couple of days of teasing – the new Nord Lead 4 has finally been fully revealed, and boy does it look promising 
We will of course take a closer look at it down at MusikMesse, stay tuned for more on this red beauty
Nord Lead 4 is a 4-part multi-timbral synthesizer sporting a brand new 2-oscillator virtual analog sound engine with 2x oversampling. In addition to the classic analog waveforms there’s a Wavetable mode with unique new Formant Wavetables. Frequency Modulation and Hard/Soft sync options are available for mutilating your sound further and the True Voice Unison mode can stack up to four oscillators per voice for really thick, beefy leads and pads.
The filter section boasts Low Pass (12/24dB), High Pass, and Band Pass filters and also stunning new simulations of two transistor and diode ladder filters capturing the squeaky, dirty character of the originals. A dedicated filter overdrive can distort your sound before it passes through the effect section.
The new Variation buttons let you override almost any parameter of the synthesizer, instantaneously. Ever wanted to change LFO speed, Modulation routings and reverb amount – all at once, in the middle of a sound? With the Nord Lead 4 you can! With 7 assignable variations per program Nord Lead 4 gives you creative freedom to warp and improvise your sound live, both rhythmically and sonically and thanks to the Master Clock Synchronization, it can be done in perfect sync to other layers or an external MIDI Clock.
All 4 slots have dedicated effect sections with delay, reverb, tube amp simulated overdrive, a Talk effect modeled after a vocal tract and a sample rate reducing Crush effect.
The Nord Lead 4 is also available as a Tabletop/Rack version, the Nord Lead 4R.
Key features
- 4-part multi-timbral with 4 separate outs.
- 2-Oscillator Virtual Analog Subtractive synthesis, with Frequency Modulation, Hard and Soft Sync and True Voice Unison.
- Morph and Variation performance controls.
- Wavetable synthesis, including unique Formant Wavetables.
- 12/24 dB Low-pass, High-pass, Band-pass filter section plus transistor and diode ladder filter simulations.
- 2 LFO/Arpeggiator sections and Mod Env section with flexible routing possibilities.
- LFO, Arpeggiator and Delay can be synchronized to the Master Clock (or external MIDI-Clock).
- Crush, Talk and Distortion, Reverb, Delay effects (available per slot)
- 2x oversampled sound engine.
- 49-key velocity sensitive keyboard (C-C) (Not Nord Lead 4R).
- USB MIDI.
Suggested Street Price:
Nord Lead 4: 1,849 euro, shipping May 2013. Nord Lead 4R: 1,649 euro, shipping August 2013
More info: www.nordlead4.com
Novation introduces Bass Station II
So, Novation follows the main trend of the past two year – the revival of analog synths, just like the MiniBrute, MS20 mini, Sub Phatty etc
Bass Station II is an analogue mono-synth based on the classic original Bass Station but re-worked for the 21st century. It has two filters, two oscillators plus a third sub-oscillator, patch save and a fully analogue effects section. Add a step sequencer, arpeggiator, full sized keys and a powerful modulation section and you have the makings of a synth that is built for bass, but capable of so much more.
Bass Station II marks Novation’s 21st birthday – find out more about Novation’s early synths and how the technology evolved over 20 years
Analogue synth: brand new version of the classic Bass Station
Bass Station II has a pure analogue audio signal path, reviving the spirit of the original Bass Station with an all-new design optimised for bass.
Two distinct analogue filters
A brand new “Acid” filter joins the “Classic” original Bass Station filter -(“Classic” switches between low, hi and band pass with 12 and 24dB slopes).
Load and save patches
Bass Station II ships with 64 factory patches and a further 64 user slots. Patch dump enables you to archive and swap sounds.
Pattern-based Step Sequencer and Arpeggiator
Bass Station II has an arpeggiator with a programmable step sequencer that enables you to store and call up patterns and quickly sketch-out ideas.
Dedicated Tweakable Controls
Analogue synth layout includes dedicated controls for all major parameters enabling instant hands-on control of the sound engine.
Two Oscillators plus an additional Sub Oscillator
Bass Station II has two sync-able, tune-able oscillators with four selectable waveforms, plus a third sub-oscillator for generating enormous bass sounds.
Analogue effects section
Bass Station II includes fully analogue distortion and filter-modulation effects and a separate filter overdrive to add an aggressive, crunchy sound-quality.
Analogue effects section Flexible modulation featuring 2 Envelopes and 2 LFOs
LFO waveforms include triangle, sawtooth, square and sample & hold. Two ADSR envelopes are available for filter, pitch and pulse width modulation.
MIDI I/O and USB connectivity
Bass Station II can be connected to your music software as well as your MIDI compatible hardware.
Players ‘synth-action’ keyboard with aftertouch
The keyboard mechanism is a two-octave (25 note) velocity sensitive synth-action keyboard with full-size keys and assignable aftertouch
New analog drum machine by MFB: Tanzbär
* Analog Drumcomputer with tight Step-Sequencer and 16 Instrument
* Controllable via Midi and CV/Gate
* Per Instrument indipendant Step lenght
* Programmable Accent and Pitch Bend
* 144 Patterns with A/B and Fills
* 3CV/2Gate channels
* Roll and Flam Recording
* Individual and global Swing Quantize
* Potis können per Step aufgezeichnet werden
* 12 separate and one stereo output
* Midi and Clock Synchronization, Midi Dump
* Microshift via Midi (planned update)
* Wood cheeks and Metall case
* Indicative price: 840,- Euro
Brand new video from OMD – Please Remain Seated
Please Remain Seated is the opening track from the new album English Electric, out now
iTunes: http://smarturl.it/EE-iTunes
CD: http://smarturl.it/EE-CD
CD Deluxe: http://smarturl.it/EE-CDX
LP: http://smarturl.it/EE-LP
Collectors’ Tin Boxset: http://smarturl.it/EE-Box
iTunes:
http://smarturl.it/iTunesEE
Animation by Henning M. Lederer
DATAMASKIN
