Alpha signals: MIDERA; Spectralis 2 ambient piece
A new piece using the Spectralis 2 and drum samples from the Korg Radias.
The legendary Z3TA+ synthesizer is back on iPad
The legendary Z3TA+ synthesizer has been used on countless records, and it’s distinctive sound has been a staple of electronic artists the world over. And now Z3TA+ iOS puts the full power of Z3TA+2 on your iPad. Packed with hundreds of presets, modulatable waveshaping, dual mode filters, and flexible effects, Z3TA+ iOS is the perfect creative synth for making music anywhere, anytime.
Feature Highlights:
- Includes over 500 presets
- User-friendly on-screen Keyboard and external MIDI control
- Waveshaping synthesis with 6 Oscillators, 6 LFOs, and more
- Modulation Matrix including 16 Sources, Curves, Controls, and Destinations
- Advanced modular effects including Distortion, Mod, Compression and more
- Performance section with Tap Tempo, assignable XY Pad, Mod Wheels, and Adaptive Pitch Bend
- Inter-App Audio, Background Audio, and Audiobus support
Z3TA+iOS will be there for you when you’re working behind your studio rig, or on the road. It embodies every characteristic of the original synthesizer and brings the all of parameters you know and love to a fluid iOS7 touch-enabled interface. Z3TA+iOS is perfect for both experienced and new users especially when connecting to other audio applications using Audiobus and Inter-App Audio. Plugin in any iPad compatible MIDI controller and take your performance to the stage.
Historic day for Depeche Mode
Caught this post on DM’s Facebook page – a sweet historic fact; 33 years 
Yesterday In #DepecheMode History: UK single release of “Dreaming Of Me” (1981). The first single from the band. Single number thirteen on the Mute label.
Soundcells – WaveDrummin version 3 has been released!
Soundcells has released WaveDrummin v3, below are all the details:
With WaveDrummin’ you can combine enchanting and haunting rhythms based on loops and samples from the KORG Wavedrum WD-X and the Impaktor App for iPad. This ReFill opens doors to percussive bliss that have never been opened before – wether you are a dance producer druling over techno or electro beats or you are a vegetarian ethno guru spiritualist … WaveDrummin will help you getting there.
Version 3 adds REX loops, Kong & ReDrum kits as also combinator patches.
WaveDrummin’ contains:
• 167 combinator patches
• 158 REX loops
• 20 NNXT patches
• 25 Kong- & 10 ReDrum kits
Price per unit is 9.90 ,- EUR.
Volca Beats Demo
This is a quick demo of the Korg Volca Beats. Enjoy!
MicroShift – new micro pitch shifter effect plug-in for wider sound
SoundToys has announced the release of MicroShift, a micro pitch shifter effect plug-in that allows for widening of your sound.
MicroShift makes it wide. Be it vocals, synths, guitars, backing vocals or whatever you choose to run through it, MicroShift uses this classic studio trick to spread out, thicken up, or give a new space to any track you hit with it. Of course, the SoundToys spin takes it beyond the original with the new FOCUS knob that lets you push and widen specific ranges without affecting the rest of the track.
Amazing for adding “shimmer” to a vocal, or “air” to a guitar. Control of the detune amount, delay, and a mix knob let you tweak the effect to fit just right in the track. MicroShift combines the classic sound of the hardware with new advanced features, and an intuitive interface. Simply huge.
MicroShift for Windows and Mac (VST/AU/RTAS/AAX) is available to purchase for $89 USD. Users of MicroShift Little can upgrade for $49 USD, and MicroShift Little is also included with a purchase of MicroShift before March 4th, 2014.
Moogfest Audiotool competition
Moogfest has announced the Moogfest Audiotool competition, offering participants a chance to play at Moogfest and get released on a compilation.
Starting today, Moogfest is inviting anyone to produce a track – using the free cloud-based audio workstation Audiotool – and submit it to the Moogfest Competition. The winner gets to play a set at Moogfest in Asheville, North Carolina, taking place from the 23rd to the 27th of April 2014. The winner will also, along with 7 runners up, have their tracks included on a limited edition release which will go out to the artists, VIPs and press who will be attending Moogfest.
Participants will have until the 25th of March to submit a track to the competition. A select panel including some of the Moogfest artists will then judge the tracks, with the the winner being announced on 1 April 2014.
Moogfest is the annual festival that celebrates the innovative spirit of founder Dr. Robert Moog, an American pioneer of electronic music and inventor of the Moog synthesizer. Emmy Parker, Brand Director at Moog Music Inc commented: “Moogfest represents the synthesis of technology, music and art. Audiotool’s innovative platform empowers emerging artists to create on their own terms. We are excited to offer Audiotool’s rich community of musicmakers an opportunity to be a part of Moogfest 2014.”
Since the 50s Moog Music has pioneered and developed devices that offer artists endless possibilities when it comes to creating sound. Audiotool, which started in 2008, brings together a range of retro and new school synthesizer emulations running in the browser, allowing collaboration and free access for anyone. The browser-based audio workstation is all about democratising the process of music creation and collaboration in the cloud. This partnership offers a unique opportunity to combine forces and to capitalize on the natural strengths and alignment of the two brands.
Audiotool inventor André Michelle said: “this partnership is huge for us and our users will be super excited about the chance of winning a set at Moogfest, for one just because of the incredible line-up. It’s also a unique opportunity for Audiotool users to have their music critiqued by some of the Moogfest artists.”
The contest submission phase ends March 25th, 2014. The winners will be announced April 1st, 2014.
The grand prize is playing live set at Moogfest (flight, hotel and artist pass included), and 1st – 8th place winners will get their tracks on the Moogfest 2014 compilation.
Go here to record your song >>
Sliver – soundscape and texture tool
Apparently it is coming soon to the iPad, so stay tuned for this promising app
Hammond XK-3c demo 1 and 2
Hammond XK-3c demo 1 using its internal rotary emulation, reverb, and tube overdrive
Hammond XK-3c demo 2
(drums: XLN Audio Addictive Drums)
Product description:
The HAMMOND Xk-3c is recognized throughout the world for its sound, style and unmistakable dedication to the traditions created and maintained by HAMMOND for over 75 years. When a Hammond B-3 is not available, for whatever reason; serious musicians everywhere know only the Hammond Xk-3c can fit the bill. Many imitators have been brought forth, but one touch of their keys demonstrates you can’t clone soul, and you can’t clone feel. You don’t have to “break in” an Xk-3c, and you don’t have to “get used to it”. It feels right and sounds right, because it is right. Only a genuine HAMMOND can deliver this promise.
The Xk-3c is, for all practical purposes, the top manual of a Hammond B- 3, with two sets of Harmonic Drawbars™, Chorus-Vibrato, and Touch-Response Percussion™. The reverse-key presets function exactly as they do on a B-3, and the traditional waterfall keyboard fits like a glove. The Digital Leslie™ spins the sound just as you remember, and the entire package weighs only 35 pounds. If you desire, you can take the Xk-3c from its box and go straight to a gig-it’s that familiar-if you’ve ever played a B-3 you know how to play the Xk- 3c. Go ahead and mash the drawbars-they look, feel and respond just the way they are supposed to. Yes, there are a few more buttons on the panel than you’d find on a B-3, and you can ignore them if you want to.
But who would want to?
Like all modern Hammonds, the Xk-3c has deep editing capabilities, allowing voicing (volume/timbre/leakage/motor noise) for each of the 96 Digital Tonewheels, faithfully delivering any Hammond Organ’s individual personality, with the ability to save these profiles for instant recall. 12 Factory Digital Tonewheel profiles ranging from “showroom clean” to “road worn” are available for instant personalization. Every Facet of the Hammond’s sound like Chorus/Vibrato, Percussion, Key Click and Overdrive are widely adjustable with all settings saved with every preset. The customization doesn’t end there.
Entire industries have sprung up offering “hot rod mods” for vintage B- 3′s. Boutique engineers that do (expensive) surgery getting the old gals to do things that Laurens Hammond never intended. All of those Mods are included in the Parameter Menus of the Xk-3c as standard equipment. You can finally design and “build” the Hammond Organ of your dreams and store your creation in memory, and not only once, but as many times as you have room on the CF Compact Flash cards that save your setups.
The Xk-3c also may be expanded. You can add a lower manual to further your B-3 experience. The double manual Hammond you’ve always wanted is now within reach, with a 5 minute build/strike time and the ability to move the rig by one person, in a wide variety of vehicles. Or you can get a console cabinet in a variety of styles and finishes that allows you to have a 4- poster, two manual and 25 note pedalboard B-3 style organ in your music room during the week, and the versatility to slide the Xk-3c out in mere minutes to go and play a club gig on the weekend.
As far back as the Xk-3c reaches to insure the Vintage feel, soul and sound of the Hammond, we have not ignored the needs and desires of the Modern Keyboard player. The Xk-3c is also a powerful MIDI controller, with the ability to address 6 External Zones on two manuals and pedals, with dedicated and assignable switches and rotaries on the front panel. These zones may be used to augment the Hammond Voices with outboard MIDI gear, play those external voices solo, or use the MIDI controls to adjust lights, recording gear or anything that may be controlled by MIDI. A PitchBend Wheel and Mod Wheel live on the far side of the presets. A complete instrument, indeed.
In many ways, the Xk-3c has surpassed the legend
Bob Casale, founding member of DEVO, has left the planet
Bob Casale died on February 17th, from conditions that lead to heart failure according to Gerald Casale in a post on Facebook. Born July 14th, 1952 Bob was an original member of Devo. Says Gerald:“Bob Casale was there in the trenches with me from the beginning. He was my level-headed brother, a solid performer and talented audio engineer, always giving more than he got. He was excited about the possibility of Mark Mothersbaugh allowing Devo to play shows again.”
Robert Edward Casale Jr. aka Bob was the younger brother to Devo co-creator Gerald Casale. He played guitar, keyboards and bass guitar in the band, and was occasionally background singer in Devo. Trained as a medical radiation technologist, he left the job to join Devo. He was also part of Mutato Muzika, a music production company established in 1989 by Devo co-founder Mark Mothersbaugh.
Rest in peace Bob.
DATAMASKIN
