Documentary on Reactable
A four minute documentary displaying the concept behind the invention of the reactable: an electronic instrument based on a touch-screen table-top interface
The Reactable is a revolutionary new electronic musical instrument designed to create and perform the music of today and tomorrow. It combines state of the art technologies with a simple and intuitive design, which enables musicians to experiment with sound, change its structure, control its parameters and be creative in a direct and refreshing way, unlike anything you have ever known before.
The Reactable uses a so called tangible interface, where the musician controls the system by manipulating tangible objects. The instrument is based on a translucent and luminous round table, and by putting these pucks on the Reactable surface, by turning them and connecting them to each other, performers can combine different elements like synthesizers, effects, sample loops or control elements in order to create a unique and flexible composition.
The Rhizome groove machine is ready to rock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZINhGDjh-s
“The Rhizome: the groove machine with and for VST has just been released.
The dream to combine the power of a PC and the ergonomic of a real musical instrument is becoming reality.
Feeltune announces the release of the Rhizome; one of the highlights of the MusikMesse when it was first presented last March. Many sites and magazines rated it best of the 2010 trade show! The Rhizome is the future of groove machines.
What are the differences with the competition? The Rhizome is a hybrid in which you install virtual instruments and effects in a VST/VSTi format (For Pc). No more limitations in terms of sounds and effects; with the Rhizome you choose the style of sound and instruments you want to play. Once downloaded you can mix your plug-in with the mixing desk; create your sequences, patterns and tracks with the multi modes and multi tracks sequencer which is the brain working behind the scene.
What are the differences with the other hybrids already on the market? The Rhizome is not just a keyboard with a Pc or a Pc Rack; it is a real musical instrument which has been designed for the pleasure to play and compose music and is equipped with software running an innovative interface with numerous displays and controllers.
The Rhizome is a real-time instrument: programming, recording, sampling, adding instruments and effects, tuning; all you do is live! There is no interruption when you play on stage or record in a studio. The objective: to free up your inspiration and creativity.
The development of the Rhizome took several years of R&D; 50 engineers and the validation of around 10 user groups. Today the Rhizome is an aggregate of the best technology and know-how.
For the Audio it is RME that does the job; it has been chosen because of its stability and sound quality which is recognized by everybody.
For the display; forget the small monochrome displays; the Rhizome offers 4 large displays (24 bit colors)
For the controllers; the Rhizome has 102 controllers in which you find 16 dynamic pads and 32 endless knobs
You get the Windows XPE which is a version of Windows XP Pro that has been redesigned and compiled especially for Feeltune. It offers a better stability and a total compatibility with VSTs.
For the effects and instruments; some of them have been developed by Ohm Force, well know key player of the market.
A Design and solid ergonomic; a size and weight that allows bringing the Rhizome with you as hand luggage when you travel by plane.
For its embedded system; you get power and reliability: Intel processor and mother board, server AC, silent fans.
Software, proprietary electronic card and box: build, assemblage and control in France.
Connections: The several in/out allow you to connect and use screens, mousse, midi controllers; hard disk and/or additional audio card.
Communication: The Rhizome is the first instrument to totally implement CopperLan; a new protocol that above the Midi transcription really revolutionize the communication between audio-video machines.
Technical Specifications
Rhizome SE :
– Intel Core 2 Duo 2,93 GHz x 2
– RAM / HD : 2 Go / 250 Go
– Plugs : 1 FireWire, 6 USB, 1 DVI, 1 HDMI, network Gigabit 100/100
– Audio : 1 headset, 2 balanced analog inputs and 2 balanced analog outputs, 1 ADAT, 1 SPDIF/AES, 1 E/S MIDI
– Feeltune software :
o Multitrack sequencer
o Virtual mixing desk
o VST/VSTi Host
o Drum Sampler
o Program Sampler
o Effects: Vocoder, Reverb, EQ, Distorsion, Filter, Flanger, Chorus, Delay, Compressor, Limiter, Bit Crusher, Pitch shifter, Stereolizer, Auto Pan, Enveloper, Multiband distortion, Deeser
o Synths : AcidLiner, SimpleSynth, Napper, TR 8s8, TR 9s9, TR6s6, TR 7s7, TR 7s27, L1nn Drum, DrumLator
– Ohm Force Sympthom synth
– CopperPlug LE (over lan control)
Dimensions : 52,4 x 42,7 x 14,1 cm (20.63 x 16.81 x 5.55 in)
Poids : 12,5 kg (27,55 lb)
Rhizome XE :
The same than SE with :
– Intel Core 2 Duo 2,93 Ghz x 2
– RAM / HD : 2 Go / 250 Go
– 6 balanced analog inputs
– Gforce Oddity
– Gforce Minimonstra
– Tight VNC
– CopperPlug MAX (over lan control)
Rhizome UXE :
The same than XE with :
– Intel Core 2 Quad 2,5 Ghz x 4
– RAM / HD : 4 Go / 500 Go
– Gforce Oddity
– Gforce Minimonstra
– Tight VNC
– CopperPlug MAX (over lan control)
– Other software sequencers or VST host compatible
More informations, medias and customer forum at www.feeltune.com“
Choc – freeware synthesizer instrument for Windows
Spacedad has released Choc, a freeware synthesizer instrument for Windows.
an experimental synth with internal pitch-tracking oscillators.
a free present just in time for xmas.enjoy!
Choc for Windows PC (VST) is available as a free download.
iPad instruments – what it takes to get up to par
Developer Rob Fielding (Mugician) offers his thoughts on what it takes for an iPad app to become an instrument on a par with traditional ones
This is my take on what iPad instruments need to do to be playable. If you see some of my users doing non-constructive criticisms of other instruments (specifically yours! 
), please don’t take it too seriously. I don’t do that myself, and it bothers me. Some of Mugician’s evolution was guided by Jordan Rudess’ Morphwiz, Roger Linn’s Linnstrument, and the many things I learned working with Leon Gruenbaum’s Samchillian (my Xstrument instrument is a derivative of it)
Live at Electronic Circus Festival 2010
DEEP IMAGINATION – Live at Electronic Circus Festival 2010 – AWARENESS Clouds-Elements-Sense
Three live tracks from the album AWARENESS in one video. Another video from DEEP IMAGINATION’s acclaimed concert at the Electronic Circus Festival 2010 in Bielefeld/Germany. The tracks are “Awarenss Part 2 – Clouds”, “Awareness Part 7 – Elements”, Awareness Part 8 – Sense”, all as special live versions.
Fun stuff: Electronic cat device
This device allows you to approximate the sound that the Sky Wizards’ Cats are capable of producing within your mind when you stare into their eyes.
The sound is like 1000 insect sized cats meowing in unison.
Or sort of like an atari mixed with an auto wah.
There is a sensitivity knob to set the highest frequencies that the meow may reach.
You can get a lot of different sounds through a combination of this knob and your picking dynamics, palm muting, etc. Sounds come out loud even if you pick quiet, so by varying picking, you vary the synth sound.
Also sounds rad with a drum machine through it.
And a volume knob, which you will want to keep on 10 at all times of course.
And a true bypass switch which you will never have to use of course because you will want to leave it on all the time.
And a little light on front that responds to how loud you play.
Electroacoustic Freakout
Livid Machines are at it again with another cool demo
I’ve been working on some new tools for our controllers, and in the process of prototyping some effect chains, I dug out this old Max patch of mine. Based on the resonators~ object from CNMAT (cnmat.berkeley.edu), it creates sounds based on “exciting” a model of a resonant body. Of course, because it is on a computer, it is super screwy. Because it is based on a physical model, I can claim a lofty “electroacoustic” lineage.
I quickly got distracted from my initial task to see if I could create some interesting sound processors from it, and hooked it up to my block. The grid of rubber buttons quickly revealed themselves as an ideal companion for an electro-acoustic freakout in which I could simultaneously feel like Sun-Ra and Stockhausen. But, really, I’m just getting sidetracked. I got to get back to work, and I hope you like the sounds…
Electro body movements
Electronic instrument played by body movements
Author: Kiyouya Miho, Utiyama Toshiaki, Takashi Hiroshi Kamaya, Suzuki Kenzi
Buddha Machine for free
“Buddha Machine app FREE for next 3 days to celebrate the release of our new Chan Fang hardware loop device! For more info about the new machine, please see fm3buddhamachine.com
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“Beautifully useless” (New York Times)
“Mesmerizing” (Pop Matters)
“Addictive, hypnotic” (Santa Fe Reporter)
“Defiantly rough” (Wall Street Journal)
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The FM3 Buddha Machine is a palm-sized plastic box that plays ambient music loops composed by Beijing-based duo FM3.
This iPhone/iPod application is a “virtual Buddha Machine” which replicates the no-nonsense simplicity of the original with improved sound quality.
Since its introduction in 2005, the Buddha Machine has won global praise for its novel approach to music enjoyment and has been used in hundreds of recording and performance projects from a wide range of artists.
Featuring hypnotic, ethereal music designed to create a calming presence in today’s fast paced world, the machine’s colorful charm provides an experience that is hard to define.
Essentially, It’s a box with a life; a tool for living, and to many, a friend.
Founded in 1999 by Christiaan Virant and Zhang Jian, FM3 are considered pioneers of electronic music in China. Virant teamed up with Jason Forrest and Agile Partners for development of the iPhone/iPod Buddha Machine application.
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Buddha Machine Features:
– All 18 Buddha Machine 1.0 and Buddha 2.0 loops in High-quality Audio
– All 12 original colors
– Touch Sensitive (give it a shake!)
– Simple interface. Beautiful Sounds. No added Sugar!
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Please note: Since the implementation of multi-tasking in iOS4, apps no longer “quit” when you press the home button. They simply go into the background. To stop audio playback from the Buddha Machine app, you must press the home button twice. Then find and hold down the app in the list of background apps. touch the small “-” which appears above the app to shut it down. Dont worry! this will not delete the app from your device. it simply stops the audio.”
Turn simple sounds into amazing new textures
Sinevibes has announced the release of Turbo, a variable waveshape transformer that can turn simple sounds into amazing new textures.
Turbo features 6 unique waveshape transformation algorithms, all of the algorithms are very reactive to the input signal and let you get any sound from crystal clear to brutal dirty, with all of the vibrations and pulsations emphasized. The waveshape can be easily adjusted via the XY pad, which also makes realtime tweaks a bliss.
Plus, there is a gorgeous graphical preview of how each harmonic partial will be shaped. What could previously only be achieved using complex synthesis techniques, can now be done by simply mixing a few waveforms and feeding them into Turbo. All in all, it can take you into a new dimension of sound in an instant.
Turbo features
- Six high-definition waveshape transformation algorithms.
- Intuitive user interface with graphical feedback.
- 64-bit universal compatibility.
Turbo is available to purchase for Mac OS 10.5 or later (AU) for $29 USD.
More information: Sinevibes
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