Kevin Spears on Kalimba and Moog Ring Modulator
Kevin Spears explores new soundscapes playing his kalimba through a Moog MF-102 Ring Modulator.
The MF-102 Ring Modulator is a direct descendant of the original Moog modular synthesizers. It contains three complete modular functions: a ring modulator, a voltage-controlled carrier oscillator, and voltage-contolled dual-waveform LFO. It can be used to process any instrument-level to line-level signal.
A ring modulator produces sum and difference frequencies between the audio input and a carrier oscillator. The ring modulator’s LFO can be used to modulate the carrier frequency. The moogerfooger ring modulator can create effects ranging from subtle tremolo to harmonically rich distortion, gong-like sounds, sweeps, swoops, and divebombs. It can be subtle, or outlandish in it’s use – you decide!
The moogerfooger ring modulator’s control parameters are signal mix, carrier frequency, LFO rate, and LFO amount. All of the ring modulator’s parameters can be controlled by the great feeling knobs that beg to be tweaked as well as with expression pedals or external control voltages. Panel switches select LFO waveform and carrier frequency range. 1/4″ jacks are provided for audio input and output, pedal/control inputs, carrier input and carrier output. The heavy-duty yet smooth acting bypass switch allows tabletop or floor use.
Imagine that the ring modulator’s carrier oscillator is producing a 500 Hz sine wave, and your input signal is a 100 Hz sine wave. The ring modulator’s output will be a complex waveform. You will hear two pitches: 400 Hz and 600 Hz. You will not hear your original input or the carrier oscillator.
More at www.experimentalsynth.com
Native Instruments – Vintage Compressors
Three studio legends return: The VC 76, VC 2A and VC 160 recall three of the most heavily-used compressors in studio history, each with its own unmistakable sound. Find out more at: http://www.native-instruments.com/vintagecompressors
NATIVE INSTRUMENTS and Softube present VINTAGE COMPRESSORS —painstakingly accurate emulations of three of the most heavily-used compressors in studio history. The VC 76, VC 2A, and VC 160 feature a modern, clean design for intuitive usability while each maintains its own unmistakable sound. Thanks to added sidechaining and parallel compression, these VINTAGE COMPRESSORS actually improve on the originals.
The VINTAGE COMPRESSORS collection includes all three devices. Each compressor is also available separately. All effects run as native plug-ins in your host DAW.
THREE’S COMPANY
Each of the three compressors has its own unique character and specific advantages:
VC 76: Workhorse compressor with a fast attack. Great presence, punchy, clear high end. Good for drums, vocals or stereo limiting.
VC 2A: Smooth compressor with a silky, natural sound. Great on vocals, bass, pads and guitar.
VC 160: Classic compressor for added attack and a subtle drive. Especially good on kickdrum, snare, bass or guitar.
FL Studio | Advanced Fruity Envelope Controller Techniques
Get the project here – http://goo.gl/s9hFG a detailed tutorial here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oueAwfdMUo
The Fruity Envelope Controller allows you to link any target, plugin or FL Studio, to a range of envelopes that can be triggered from a MIDI keyboard or other controller. Perfect for live performance based automation or those cases where a plugin doesn’t have enough of its own internal controllers.
TabStrummer MIDI Controller demo
This is a programmable midi controller that can be connected to your music software or a midi sound shield can be added and be completly stand alone.
More informations at; www.tabstrummer.com
DIY Synthesizer & Sequencer
The knobs of a home-made synth are tweaked while it plays a sequence of notes (Syncuino DIY 16-step sequencer, see link below).
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https://sites.google.com/site/synthaquarium/
http://chemiker1981.blogspot.de/
Interview with Thomas Dolby at Moogfest 2012
Electronic music pioneer, Thomas Dolby, sat down with Party Ben of Slacker Radio before his set at Moogfest 2012. Thomas Dolby (1958) is an English musician and producer. Best known for his 1982 hit “She Blinded Me with Science”, and 1984 single “Hyperactive!” he has also worked extensively in production and as a session musician.
Music video by Thomas Dolby performing She Blinded Me With Science (2009 Digital Remaster).
For more music and interviews from the festival, visit www.slacker.com/moogfest.
Reaktor: Spektrumsynth – Wavetable synthesis
Initially based on the Reaktor Oki Computer Factory Instrument by James Walker Hall and Timothy Lamb, this semi-modular device includes stacked macros, S+H, 2 arpeggiators, 12 envelopes, 6 step-sequencers, 2 multi-breakpoint EGs, 16 syncable LFOs, 36 patchers, FM, oscillator sync, separate polyphonic panning for 7 individual audio paths, multiwave/wave-table/granular synthesis, 9 filters, 3 independent portamento processors, CC-1 recorder, patcher range modulation (unipolar and bipolar) for Macro control and many presets.
Radical Keys: New Rack Extension instrument that recreates Rhodes, Pianet and Wurlitzer
For more information: http://shop.propellerheads.se/product/radical-keys/
Introducing Radical Keys, a new Rack Extension instrument for Reason that faithfully recreates three classic electromechanical keyboards—Rhodes, Pianet and Wurlitzer. Based on the same ‘Radical’ technology as our Radical Piano instrument, Radical Keys goes beyond flawless emulation, by enabling you to sculpt your own instruments from the originals.
Disclaimer: All product names used are trademarks of their respective owners, and in no way constitutes an association or affiliation with Propellerhead Software. All trademarks are solely used to identify the products whose sound was sampled and studied during the development of Radical Keys.
Yamaha & Steinberg DAW System “NUAGE”
The Nuage integrated audio production system offers top-class hardware and software working in perfect harmony, for unprecedented mixing, editing, or dialog replacement efficiency in audio post production applications. Yamaha control and interface hardware seamlessly integrates with Steinberg Nuendo DAW software in a purpose-built system that offers all-new productivity and flexibility as well as premium audio quality.
Release notes from Yamaha and Steinberg:
Yamaha and Steinberg have joined forces to create an advanced production system – NUAGE – that empowers professionals in the television, advertising, film, and media industries with unprecedented capabilities and efficiency. Yamaha hardware integrates seamlessly with Steinberg software in a cohesive platform that ushers in a new era of post-production productivity.
The numerous hardware and software components that make up a practical post-production system must function as a well-integrated whole in order to achieve professional workflow efficiency and output quality. The Nuage integrated audio production system offers top-class hardware and software working in perfect harmony, for unprecedented mixing, editing, or dialog replacement efficiency in audio post production applications. Yamaha control and interface hardware seamlessly integrates with Steinberg Nuendo DAW software in a purpose-built system that offers all-new productivity and flexibility as well as premium audio quality. For maximum system versatility the dedicated Yamaha control surface and audio interface hardware is modular, and all units communicate with each other and the central computer via a reliable Dante network, so it’s easy to create custom configurations to match any application. Nuendo 6, the latest and most powerful iteration of Steinberg’s acclaimed digital audio workstation software, is at the core of the system with unbeatable DAW features and performance.
Hardware components available for Nuage systems include the Nuage Fader channel-strip control surface that works with standard LCD monitors to provide smooth visual continuity right into the Nuendo mixing window, the Nuage Master controller unit with everything needed for Nuendo editing in a remarkably efficient arrangement, Nuage Workspace units that aid in creating a unified system layout, three Nuage I/O units that deliver exceptional sonic quality in up to 128 simultaneous channels, and a Dante Accelerator card that gives the computer running the Nuendo DAW extra low latency multi-channel audio data transfer capability. The Nuendo 6 DAW software at the heart of the system is a milestone release that comes with an enviable selection of features not found in any other post-production software.
Kazunori Kobayashi, general manager of the Yamaha Corporation Pro Audio Division, comments: “Nuage is a professional production system that incorporates the most advanced technology and interface design know-how from Yamaha and Steinberg. Yamaha has been manufacturing digital mixers for 25 years, and it is 12 years since Steinberg introduced the first version of the Nuendo DAW. It is a great pleasure to be able to announce such a groundbreaking collaboration at this time, and we are confident that current Nuendo users as well as users who will experience a Nuendo based system for the first time will be more than satisfied with the extraordinary performance and efficiency that Nuage offers.”
“Combining Yamaha’s long-term experience in creating audio hardware with Steinberg’s expertise in software development leads to a system that sets new milestones in terms of operational speed, integration, configurability and design. The Nuage system solution is the quintessence of merging dedicated post-production software and hardware seamlessly together to one complete studio environment. With the Nuage console and Nuendo 6 representing the most sophisticated platform for audio post-production available today, we are delighted to offer existing and new customers a unique approach to achieving higher levels of productivity and quality,” comments Andreas Stelling, Steinberg’s managing director.
NUAGE Products Page:http://www.yamahaproaudio.com/global/en/products/daw_systems/nuage
Gestrument – the revolutionary gesture based instrument
Gestrument – the revolutionary gesture instrument! Swipe your finger to play – it has never been easier to make music!
LAUNCH OFFER! Gestrument is offered at this discounted price until January 10:th 2013
See videos and read more about Gestrument on www.gestrument.com
Developed by Jesper Nordin (www.jespernordin.com) and Jonatan Liljedahl (www.kymatica.com)
• Play and compose music with the swipe of your finger
• An intuitive tool for composers in all genres
• Generate music within defined scales and rhythms
• The ultimate tool for making truly new music in any genre
• Improvise freely within a fully controlled musical framework
• Use the internal GM sound bank or your favorite MIDI synthesizer
• Use Gestrument to control other iOS apps or external MIDI programs through a MIDI interface or Network MIDI
• Create and save your own presets and share with your friends or download new presets from www.gestrument.com
Improvise or compose within the scales and rhythms you choose. Use parameters like pulse density, scale morphing, rhythm randomness or pitch fluctuation to find new paths for your musical expression and creativity. Use the tutorials or define your own settings to fit the musical style you want to play and compose in. Play on up to eight instruments at once – all with different individual settings.
Gestrument works equally well for rhythmic music or sweeping soundscapes, for solo melodies or chord blocks, for long lines or short staccatos. It can help you make music in whichever genre you can imagine.
Gestrument works directly with its built in sounds and is therefore perfect for the amateur or beginner who wants to make music in an intuitive way. But it is first and foremost built for professional musicians and composers who can work with the settings to build advanced theoretical frameworks that they can later improvise or compose within.
DATAMASKIN
