Square Beats – the iPhone Beatbox
Will definitely put this one up on my download list for the Ipad
Free Version: itunes.apple.com/en/app/square-beats/id547240415
Pro Version: itunes.apple.com/en/app/square-beats/id526060437
Square Beats has a unique and very simple interface, but accomplishes so much.
It starts by presenting a set of squares to you that are timed from left to right.
You simply tap on one of these squares to activate its sound. Hit some more and you have your first loop, but that’s just one set. Pinch Out and you can create the next.
You not only can attach different instruments and sounds to every set you also can put them next or on top of each other to create a complex beat.
Sounds difficult? It’s really not.
Everything like setting the tempo, changing instruments, pitch, sustain or volume is easily done with just a few fingertips. Even the key of a set can be changed like that.
Within minutes Square Beats lets you sketch out ideas or create astonishing beats by just exploring the app playfully.
You can save your songs and export them to an audio file.
You want to share them with your friends? No problem. We build in an option to let you post your beats to SoundCloud.
Square Beat comes with 96 instruments. If that’s still not enough, you can create your own instruments within the app.
And last but not least: Square Beats looks freaking cool too. Try it.
Square Beats – Main Features:
• 96 different Instruments
• including 17 Drumkits
• Instrument Creator
• Beat Switcher
• Variable Number of Blocks per Set
• Set-based Volume Contoller
• Set-based Sustain Controller
• Set-based Pitch Controller
• Set-based Key Settings
• Exportoption to SoundCloud
• Export to Audio File
Mode Machines SID (Sneak Preview)
“Hello ladies and gentlemen, here you can find our new product SID. We work real hard to present the new SID as soon as possible.
Coming real soon! ”
The latest hardware melds the classic chip sounds of the SID chip with an x0x sequencer a la the Roland TB-303. The preview also reveals more of how this unit works, including per-note modulation and sequencing features. Earlier this year, they added a Mac/Windows/Linux editor; now, they’re adding an iPad editor as well.
Features:
- Built around the original MOS SID chip, as heard in the Commodore 64, at least in the first 300 units.
- x0x control layout
- Step sequencing
- 3 expression knobs for macro controls of each patch
- Bundled editor software (see the video below, from earlier this year)
- NERD-PANEL, “a powerful interactive blueprint which enables you to address the chip one pin at a time – also a great educational tool.”
- 100+ Patches.
- 50+ Wavetables drum sounds/effects.
- Audio in, out; MIDI in, out. USB connectivity for MIDI control, too.
- Onboard display.
- German and English documentation.
More informations @:
www.modemachines.com
www.facebook.com/modemachines
www.modemachines.tumblr.com
www.twitter.com/modemachines
www.flickr.com/photos/modemachines
www.myspace.com/modemachines
JUPITER III G – analog percussion synth
Here’s the newest version of the Jupiter III synth. It has a redesigned PCB, linear pots, a larger piezo pickup, and an LED power indicator – making it more dynamic, and much ballsier. It’s being triggered by both the TCM & hand. Some clips are dry, and others are running through our LSD (light sensitive delay) pedal.
Get your space on, only @ chamberofsounds.com
Features:
• circuit: fully analog
• trigger: large internal piezo or audio input
• power: 9V battery or A/C adapter
• function: touch-sensitive percussion synth & optical theremin
• range: many, many octaves
Price: $275
Chromeo Studio Tour – analog gear guide
In May 2011 FM traveled to Montreal to spend some time in the amazing analogue laden studio of Chromeo. They gave FM a full and detailed tour of almost everything they had.
Checking out the Novation // MiniNova synthesizer – Vocoder and VocalTune™
Novation MiniNova Vocoder & VocalTune™ demonstration:
Check out these other MiniNova videos:
MiniNova performance: http://youtu.be/uvDfHhuFF5w
Artist first look: http://youtu.be/m7fJ7nUWPkU
Selecting Sounds tutorial: http://youtu.be/fdshUAWIb7Q
Two of MiniNova’s most interesting and fun features are VocalTune™ and the classic vocoder. This video takes you through what they are and how to start using them to make those iconic vocal sounds.
MiniNova is a compact, super-cool performance synth with the same sound engine as its big brother: the UltraNova. It comes with 256 incredible onboard sounds which you can tweak with 5 knobs, or totally warp with 8 ‘animate’ buttons. MiniNova also has an onboard VocalTune™ effect as well as a classic vocoder so you can recreate iconic vocal sounds from Hip Hop, Urban and electronic music.
Novation MiniNova key features:
• Hugely powerful micro synthesizer with UltraNova’s sound engine
• Brand new VocalTune™ and classic vocoder effects
• Live synth: tweak and warp your sounds in realtime
• 256 awesome onboard sounds – instantly searchable
• Layer up to 5 effects per voice
• Comes with editing software and a software patch librarian
• Run guitars and other instruments through the vocoder, VocalTune™ and effects
• 37 key controller keyboard with MIDI I/O
For more videos subscribe to our YouTube channel here:
http://www.youtube.com/novationtv
Sugar Bytes – UNIQUE
Details on the Unique synth as stated by Sugar Bytes themselves:
Unique Synthesizer
The name says it all
The Unique synthesizer specializes in state-of-the-art vowel sounds and mighty, mighty analog keyboard sounds. With Unique, it takes just a rightclick on a control and complex parameter rides with internal and external controllers become a joyride. And that’s what they should be, after all.
The soul of Unique: Oscillators
The source of the Unique’s truly unique sounds are its direct and powerful sounding oscillators. The Triple Saw and the Triple FM algorithms cover such a wide range of sounds, we spent extra hours to make all this available by using just a few controls. The noise oscillator with built-in filter can be used in a tonal mode, the right choice for the vowel filter.
The passion of Unique: Filters and their modulators
The actual intention behind this project also became its outstanding feature: the Vowel Filter mode. The oscillator sound can be transformed to vowel formants in many different ways. The juicy filters can also be used in classic mode, so Unique is fitted for standard situations as well. Each of the five filters (with internal analog signal processing) again has five individual modulators for creating oustanding Vowel and Filter movements. The modulators can be triggered in many different ways: for example with the lowest note played, the first note played or even with the sequencer clock or the arpeggiator. Yet another stunning Unique feature: The internal LFO´s have fade algorithms for rate and intensity.
The sex of Unique: Controllers and Effects
The internal controllers section contains a recordable XY field and is very easy to manage with just a rightclick on any control. Feedbacks go from ‚the Controllers section rocks!’ to ‚the Controllers section just blows me away!’ The effects section contains two chained multi effects, each of them with six effect algorithms. So once you’ve built your sound, there’s tons of sound polish.
Gotye – Somebody That I Used to Know – Old School Computer Remix
Background description:
HP Scanjet 3C as the vocals. It lags a bit due to the fast paced vocals. In order for the stepper motor to play a note it has to be moving and with that large carriage it takes a few milli seconds before it can play a note. It doesn’t sound like a lot of time but stretch that over a 4 minute song and voila…out of sync. Programming does help to compensate but it is not perfect.
Amiga 600 Bass on left audio output and Guitar on right audio output
Each audio channel was feed into an oscilloscope
2 Harddrives as the drums and cymbal
Xylophone as the Xylophone (duh)
Both the Harddrive and Xylophone are controlled by one PIC16F84A mircocontroller
Cat Synth – actually using a real cat as a synthesizer
Here’s what Aaron Apter has to say about this nice experiment:
“My cat Vincent is actually a synthesizer. A fluffy, orange synthesizer. I’m using Impaktor, which captures Vince’s acoustic impulses and uses them to excite various sound modules. With the aid of my iPad, Vinny and I kick out some jams. For more info on my other iOS music ventures, visit www.aaronapter.com”
The NovaDrone – Open source synth
The NovaDrone is an open source, experimental sound and light synthesizer available for sale as a kit or assembled unit. For more, build instructions, videos, pictures etc go to
http://casperelectronics.com/novadrone/
Deadmau5 – The Veldt – Get That Sound
Learn how to recreate the classic tones of Deadmau5’s The Veldt
For more information:
Pre-order this magazine from http://bit.ly/T4mr6w or purchase digitally from http://bit.ly/vTsHr2 On Sale 27/9/12
DATAMASKIN
