New KOMA Elektronik CV Controller (Launch at NAMM’13!)
The Kontrol Surface is a touch controller device. In its Light version, it’s an X/Y touch controller with CV output. The Pro version adds MIDI so it works with both analog and digital gear, and ups the ante to three-axis X/Y/Z capacitive touch, here’s what KOMA has to say about it:
New developments at the KOMA Elektronik workspace! Yes, you thought the KOMMANDER was cool, look at what’s cooking in our kitchen:
This is the first prototype of our new product: the KONTROL SURFACE! A 2-axis touch screen controller! As of now for each channel (X and Y) has:
– 1 x CV output
– 1 x inverted CV output
– Manual gate output
Each channel also has a hold function, so it will hold the current CV value as soon as the hold button is pressed. Not yet implemented but in development is a sort of ‘momentary/clocked hold function’, that means that a value is only taken and processed according to a provided external clock signal OR without a clock signal attached only when there are changes in the values, so you could lift of your finger from the pad, it will hold the value and as soon as you touch the controller on another point it will start processing again and so on and so forth…
Furthermore we are going to make the Kontrol Surface into a ‘Light’ and a ‘Pro’ version. The light version will have all the functionalities as written above and as you can see in the video. The ‘Pro’ version will have a third axis, which is a capacitive sensor underneath the touch controller measuring the amount of surface covered, i.e. the third dimension (Z). Also the ‘Pro’ version will be equipped with MIDI functionality, so it can literally control everything!
Both units will be on display and ready for a thorough test drive at NAMM 2013 and will be shipping in the end of Q1 of 2013!
More information:
http://www.koma-elektronik.com || http://www.facebook.com/KOMAelektronik
u-he intros arpeggiator for the Diva synth
u-he has released a video of an alpha version of the upcoming arpeggiator for its Diva virtual analog synthesizer.
The oscillators, filters and envelopes closely model components found in some of the great monophonic and polyphonic synthesizers of yesteryear. Modules can be mixed and matched so you can build hybrids, but what sets DIVA apart is the sheer authenticity of the analogue sound. This comes at the cost of quite a high CPU-hit, but we think it was worth it: Diva is the first native software synth that applies methods from industrial circuit simulators (e.g. PSpice) in realtime. The behaviour of zero-delay-feedback filters when pushed to the limit clearly demonstrates the advantages of this groundbreaking approach.
New music video from IAMX – The Unified Field
IAMX is out and about with his new song titled ‘The Unified Field’ – song details below:
Single release worldwide on Dec 3rd 2012
All major online shops (amazon, itunes and more)
From the upcoming album ‘The Unified Field’, to be released March 2013
http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/iamx
Director, Producer, Editor – ADAM ANTHONY
Producer, Visual Effects – EDWARD COPESTICK
Cinematographer – TONY GARDINER
The Maestro – GYTON GRANTLEY
Additional Editor – CHRIS CORNER, DANIEL BONTEMPO
Second Camera – NATE MARTIN
Make Up Artist – JODI GARDNER
Livid CNTRL:R Ableton Live Remote Script Tutorial
Here’s what Livid Instruments has to say about the video:
We’ve been so excited about the Stepp:rs that we’ve never really given a tutorial about the main part of the CNTRL:R Live script.
This video demonstrates, in a dry-but-clear manner, the CNTRL:R in Ableton Live, using the Livid remote script available at
blog.lividinstruments.com/2011/04/20/controller-apps/
This script provides control over clip triggering, master volume and pre-hear, track volume and pan, sends and returns, device controls, as well as a lot of other controls to navigate and control your session. We also demonstrate the use of the User MIDI Map slots and how to use those to map to and easily play a drum rack. There’s lots of ways to control effects in your set, and we cover them all.
Written documentation of this Ableton Live Remote Script is at
wiki.lividinstruments.com/wiki/CNTRLR_Ableton_Live_Remote_Script
Also discussed is the CNTRL:R to Drum rack MIDI Effect which is documented here:
wiki.lividinstruments.com/wiki/CNTRLR_To_Drum_Rack_Ableton_Live_Effect
Featured in the video is the Soundhack +delay VST plugin available (along with other great plugins) for free at soundhack.com
If you want to learn more about using the Max for Live step sequencers, those are covered in other videos on our youtube and vimeo channels.
Music video: Steelberry Clones – Sweet sexy virgin (Official)
After a couple of years working on other projects Steelberry Clones returns with a new single titled “Sweet Sexy Virgin”. This is the first release from their upcoming album called “Retrosonic Voices” that will be released in Q1 next year.
The new single features Adelinne as guest vocalist and the song deals with a hot topic – women trafficking. Steelberry Clones has always tried to do a blend of music that deals with subjects that concerns us, paired with retrospective quests into things that intrigues them, such as space, 1950’s, technology advancements, historical events and personal experiences. The new single combines hard beats, 8bit sounds, massive synth basses and the strong voice of Adelinne, to create something that pushes the envelope in modern electronic pop music.
The new release “Sweet sexy virgin” will be accompanied by yet one other single that will be released before Christmas. The new album “Retrosonic Voices” is due in Q1-2013 next year and will combine the best of modern electronic pop music with old-school sounds from the past 30 years of electronic music.
Track details:
Artist: S T E E L B E R R Y C L O N E S – featuring Adelinne
Title: Sweet sexy virgin
Album: Retrosonic Voices (Q1-2013) – will be released on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon and Limited edition hard copy
Label: Stereoklang Produktion
LFA iPad Orchestra plays Meeting in the Aisle
The Laptop Orchestra of Lake Forest Academy plays Radiohead’s “Meeting in the Isle” as they open their Fall 2012 concert. 8 musicians play and project iPads on sound panels behind them while using a combination of apps including Animoog, iMS-20, iElectribe, Reactable, and Garageband. The Laptop Orchestra is held as a class within the Fine and Performing Arts department alongside Orchestra and Choir. 2012 marks its 3rd year as a class and 6th year as a part of Lake Forest Academy student life.
Audiobus: Recording SoundPrism PRO, Sunrizer and Funkbox in MultiTrack DAW
Sebastian uses MultiTrack DAW to record SoundPrism PRO, Sunrizer and Funkbox, with some Virtual MIDI magic. What are you going to do with Audiobus?
http://audiob.us
SoundPrism PRO: https://itunes.apple.com/app/soundprism-pro/id425733007?mt=8
Sunrizer: https://itunes.apple.com/app/sunrizer-synth/id443663267?mt=8
Funkbox: https://itunes.apple.com/app/funkbox-drum-machine/id350437349?mt=8
MultiTrack DAW: https://itunes.apple.com/app/multitrack-daw/id329322101?mt=8
Stylo-101 – Stylophone+SH-101 arrives
Details below:
I-phone 5 friendly! What do you get if you cross a Stylophone with the famous Roland SH-101? Well We have circuit-bent a virtual Stylophone and added Roland SH-101 modifications. You can create wacky and eerie sounds to meaty bass lines. As well as the Stylophone sound, you now have an extra oscillator driving a sawtooth wave with filter and resonance from the SH-101. You can adjust the mixer for each oscillator and the LFO can control oscillators and amp. We have increased the LFO speed and depth of the pitch modulation. We have also added an SH-101 style sequencer for creating bass lines or arpeggios. It is still monophonic but the notes will continue to decay if you release your finger before playing another key. You can also play over the top of the sequence while its playing.
- 2 oscillator monophonic synth
- oscillator 1: saw, tri, square
- oscillator 2: SH-101 Saw with SH-101 filter, SH-101 resonance (4 preset levels) and detune
- LFO-pitch
- LFO-AMP
- Master Transpose
- Mixer for osc1 and osc2
- Arp/sequencer with tempo
- Release controls notes played and sequencer
- Attack controls notes only
- 2 oscillator monophonic synth
- oscillator 1: saw, tri, square
- oscillator 2: SH-101 Saw with SH-101 filter, SH-101 resonance (4 preset levels) and detune
- LFO-pitch
- LFO-AMP
- Master Transpose
- Mixer for osc1 and osc2
- Arp/sequencer with tempo
- Release controls notes played and sequencer
- Attack controls notes only
The app is priced at $2.99
App Heaven with Jordan Rudess
Wizdom Music’s Samplewiz, Morphwiz and Geo Synthesizer with some other favorites!! Samplr, Gestrument, TC-11, Animoog, iTabla pro, Ellipsynth, Borderlands and Garage band!
All you can eat apps 
ORBITAL – Electronic Music Innovators @ Decibel Festival
All the details below:
More info: http://bit.ly/QPH9Xe
At this year’s Decibel Festival in Seattle, we had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Phil Hartnoll of Orbital, one of the most influential dance music groups of the last twenty-five years. The Grammy Award-winning duo consists of Phil and his brother Paul, both originally from Sevenoaks, England, and they began releasing critically and commercially successful dance singles and albums in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
In this video interview, Phil Hartnoll talks about their early beginnings and individual musical influences (including Kraftwerk, English rock bands like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, classic Motown soul records from the US, film scores, and Jamaican ska, reggae and dub), their connection with musical contemporaries The Prodigy and Underworld (who were playing similar acid house and rave club gigs back in the day), the origin of the torch glasses, constantly refining their live setup, using the TR-909 vintage analog drum machine and the Ableton Live controller Griid, the importance of improvisation and playfulness in electronic music performances and sets, and most of all, staying true to oneself and not getting caught up in hype.
We talked to Orbital in the Moog Sound Lab about the sounds they crafted for the new special edition white Moog Slim Phatty Analog Synthesizer.
To hear the sounds they crafted visit Moog’s website: http://moogmusic.com/sight-and-sound/sound_gallery
DATAMASKIN
