Melotron’s new album is out
Melotron are back with a new album below are all the details:
“Unlovingly slapping together impersonal ‘best of’-compilations to throw at the masses for easy consumption and fast maximization of profits is rather bland and boring…” the charismatic Melotron-front man Andy K. thought to himself and quickly gathered the rest of his lads together, serving the express goal that an anthology of his band’s work would have to have a bit more style than the cheap-shot compilations the industry keeps churning out. In order to not only create a sort of monument for past works but to also provide the listener with a stepping stone for future endeavors, the popular German Synth Pop group decided to completely re-record an exquisite selection of the best songs plus fan favorites, thus giving them a total overhaul and merging the old with the new.
Melotron teamed up with the renowned producer Dirk Riegner (Heppner, amongst others), to let a bunch of old friends shine in a bright new light, while also recording a few new tunes along the way, like the hit-single “Stuck In The Mirror” or the anthemic “Love Is Calling.” Band-hits like the club-floor-filler “Brüder”, which was revisited as a vocal duet with In-Strict-Confidence’s Dennis Ostermann, are featured in completely new and fresh versions. Therefore, “Werkschau” can not only serve as the perfect introduction for the uninitiated to the music of one of Germany’s most successful advocates of intelligent electronic popular and dance music, but will also give long-time fans an opportunity to rediscover old favorites from a new perspective. For the real diehards, “Werkschau” will also be released as a deluxe double disc, featuring a second CD full of rarities from the group’s history. These gems have also been carefully remastered to shine in a new, massive sound quality that will not only please confirmed Melotronians. Right after the completion of this album, the band is already back in the studio to work on the future… and who knows where the journey might take Melotron, this time. In the meantime, “Werkschau” will serve as an excellent appetizer.
Bitwig has announced the Community Controllers website
Bitwig has announced Community Controllers, a new section of its website dedicated to Bitwig Studio’s groundbreaking integration with virtually any hardware controller.
The Bitwig “Open Controller API,” an open-source platform makes this possible using JavaScript which allows anyone from hardware manufacturers to Bitwig Studio users to create, share, and collaborate on powerful controller scripts, for the best possible integration of controller hardware and Bitwig Studio.
Bitwig has also announced that its Bitwig Studio EDU License will be released on June 11th, 2014.
Whether you’re a student designing sounds for production or performance, an educator developing an inspiring course curriculum, or an administrator supplying the latest tools and workflow to ensure your institution remains competitive, Bitwig will offer support with a cost-effective solution for purchasing Bitwig Studio.
Bitwig Studio EDU Pricing details are as follows:
209 EUR, USD 289.99 (MSRP) 269.99 (MAP)
Additionally, the first major Bitwig Studio Update is on schedule to offer new features, continuing to eliminate the boundaries between your creativity and workflow. A release candidate is available to download.
James Blake “Retrograde” – Synth Tutorial
Watch Joe Hanley, the creator of Syntorial, as he recreates the chorus track from James Blake’s “Retrograde”. Download the presets and MIDI files used in this video by going to www.syntorial.com/tutorial_retrograde.ph
While you’re there, check out Syntorial: video game-like training software that will teach you how to program synth patches by ear. With almost 200 lessons, combining video demonstrations with interactive challenges, you’ll get hands on experience programming patches on a built-in soft synth, and learn everything you need to know to start making your own sounds with ease.
Free demo, containing 22 lessons is available at www.syntorial.com/?ims=igxcb
And for you Z3TA+ 2 users, Syntorial now comes with the Z3TA+ 2 Lesson Pack, which contains 37 videos, running over 3 hours, that go over every inch of Z3TA+ 2. Try the special Syntorial Z3TA+ 2 demo which contains 18 Syntorial lessons and four Z3TA+ 2 videos now at www.syntorial.com/lessonPacks.php#z3ta?i
Jimmy Myhrman – ‘Elektron-Only’ Live Performance
A one hour live performance with Analog Rytm, Analog Four, Analog Keys and Octatrack.
This is my first attempt at performing live with the Elektron boxes for an audience. It was at a friends party inside a very nice smiths workshop (perfect industrial setting!). Almost everything that is played is new material that I prepared for this night. I will try to record some of the top tracks into a new EP soon.
All synths sounds played by Analog Four/Keys, all drums played by Analog Rytm (except for some layered loops here and there). The Octatrack does the mixing and acts as a loop-recorder for all the cross-fades and transitions.
Too little practice equals many mistakes, but its worth the fun when some of the mistakes turn out to be happy mistakes =)
Ian Boddy Waveforms Analogue Workshop 2 Dark Ambient sample library
For full details visit: http://www.timespace.com/product/AW2-…
Dark Ambient is the second in the series of Analogue Workshop sample libraries from renowned sound designer Ian Boddy. Featuring 300 samples and over 500 Kontakt patches culled from his collection of vintage and analogue modular synths, these sounds dwell very much in the darker realms of ambience and electronic music.
The patches run the full gamut from subsonic drones, evolving pads and haunting modulations to weird, surreal atmospheres. The one-shot section contains a range of crunchy, deep, weird short percussive sounds and FX that can be used to spice up any drum kit or add impact to key moments in your musical compositions.
A new custom designed graphical interface has been scripted in Kontakt to provide even more variation & programming opportunities in the way the sounds are presented. This is rounded out by a set of impulse responses for the convolution reverb taken directly from analogue modules such as spring reverbs & bucket-brigade delays to further enhance the overall sound character.
Cosmic Armchair – Asian electro pop
Singapore based female fronted electro dance act Cosmic Armchair. Already very well established in Asia through numerous liveperformances, radio and TV shows and various international collaborations, the music by the duo of Cosmic Jane (singer / songwriter) and Cosmic Ben (producer / arranger) now will finally be available to the rest of the world. Don’t expect J-Pop or related asian bubblegum music, but a blend of synth-pop / electro dance / EDM / New Wave with catchy female vocals.
Via Alfa Matrix
Dave Smith Instruments – in history class
Dave Smith, designer of the Prophet-5 analog synthesizer will discuss the interesting history of synths, moving from analog to digital to software and now back to analog.
CCRMA, Stanford. June 4, 2014.
Due to an issue whilst live streaming about two minutes are missing
from this video. However, the camera recorded everything and I’ll upload that soon.
More information:
https://ccrma.stanford.edu/events/dav…
DIVA U-HE Classic Electronica – new soundset for the DIVA synth
Trance Techno Soundbanks has announced the release of DIVA U-HE Classic Electronica, a soundset for the DIVA synthesizer instrument from u-he.
This is special soundbank created only for Classic Electronic Dance Music styles like: Electro, Deep House, Classic Trance, Classic Techno. Soundbank is inspired by:Westbam traxxes ala Beatbox Rocker, Hard Times, – Members of Mayday-10 in 01 or Save the Robots,- classic trance traxxes from Frankfurt city scene and some Berlin MFS influences. Plus lot of oldschool classic house and classic techno.
There are only quality sounds for good price!!! Pack have full construction kits (Midi),automation screens for every DAW and flp files for Fl Studio. Kick Hi Hat and Clap generally are just for addition-They are not in the pack.
DIVA U-HE Classic Electronica features
- 100 hi-quality presets for DIVA.
- Includes 1 acid, 15 arp, 16 bass, 8 fx, 7 gate, 23 lead, 13 pad, 14 percussion, 3 pluck.
- 13 demo kits in MIDI and 13 FLP files (FL Studio) format and 13 Automation screens JPG’s for every demo.
The soundset is available for purchase for 12 EUR.
Trance Techno Soundbanks has also launched two promotions.
- Customers who purchase DIVA U-HE Classic Electronica get a 50% discount coupon for any other product in the TTS shop.
- Buy a bundled “ALL PACK” and get a free single soundbank as a bonus (ALL PACKS excluded).
These offers are valid through June, 2014.
Mikrophonie
Music Thing Modular has announced a new module – Mikrophonie.
Mikrophonie is a very simple contact mic module. There is a small piezo disk mounted behind the 4hp panel, or you can plug in an external mic (they’re easy to make).
The panel is PCB with no soldermask. The raw PCB fibreglass has a rough texture – rubbing it with a finger or a plectrum creates quite a wide range of sounds. The back of the panel is plated and grounded for shielding.
The mic will also pick up all the physical sounds in your modular – patching, cables rustling, switches, fingers on knobs – without picking up airborne sounds i.e. the sound your modular is making. At very high sound levels will pick up vibrations from the speaker output and start to feedback.
VOX Continental V – vintage keyboard recreation from Arturia
Arturia has announced the release of VOX Continental V, a vintage keyboard recreation, bringing back the classic sound of the famous VOX Continental 300.
As a high-end software recreation of the Sixties-vintage VOX Continental 300 transistor-based combo organ, VOX Continental-V is the latest addition to Arturia’s acclaimed Analog Classics lineup where it sits alongside an authentic recreation of another archetypal Sixties staple, Wurlitzer-V (based on the classic ‘Wurly’ electric piano). Introduced in 1962, the VOX Continental — or ‘Connie’ as affectionately it became known — was originally designed to address the needs of touring musicians, but became musically much-loved in its own right. As such, it prominently featured on many hit records of the time, including The Animals’ classic ‘House Of The Rising Sun’ in 1964 and, a little later, ‘Light My Fire’ by The Doors. Onstage, The Beatles performed a memorably frenzied version of ‘Help!’ B-side ‘I’m Down’ during their August 1965 performance at New York’s Shea Stadium with John Lennon playing a VOX Continental using his elbows at times!
Despite being phased out of production in the early-Seventies, the VOX Continental has stood the test of time, too, playing a pivotal part in generating many of the distinctive keyboard sounds supporting later musical genres, including almost everything ever recorded by British Ska revivalists Madness, as well as New Wavers like Elvis Costello and The Attractions and American counterparts Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. However, VOX organs have become increasingly difficult to acquire due to the high prices that they can command, compounded by the limited supply of working units. Today, VOX Continental-V gives contemporary, computer-based musicians instant access to those same hit-making sounds of yesteryear, and much more besides — and all without breaking the bank!
VOX Continental V features
- Physical Modeling of the VOX Continental 300.
- Added models of the ultra rare Jennings J70.
- Extended mode allows for more controls and more sound possibilities.
- Includes classic stompbox-type modeled effects.
- Modeled Guitar Tube Amp and Rotary Speaker outputs for vintage live sound.
- Extensive MIDI mapping of pedals, effects and sound engine parameters.
- Modeled amplifiers: Fender Deluxe Reverb Blackface, Fender Twin Reverb Blackface, Fender Bassman, Marshall Plexi, Leslie Speaker.
- Modeled microphones: Shure SM57, Sennheiser MD 421, Neumann U 87.
- Convolution reverb with custom classic spring reverbs.
The Vox Continental V is available for Windows and Mac (VST/AU/AAX/Standalone) for $99 USD/99 EUR (download) / $129 USD/119 EUR (boxed).
DATAMASKIN
