Synth Tutorial – Keyboard Tracking
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“This tutorial explains the principles of Keyboard Tracking and it’s applications in a modular synthesis environment. This technique involves using the control voltage generated by the keyboard to control various synth parameters.
Filter tracking, reverse volume tracking and LFO rate tracking are covered.”
Teaser – MacBeth Mk1 VORTEX Keyboard + Desktop Prototypes
A very quick demo of the both the desktop and keyboard prototypes of the MacBeth Mk1 VORTEX Synthesizer. Both instruments are completely analogue- including the keyboard section! Excuse the playing- and more to follow!
MacBeth Studio Systems’ Ken MacBeth has released a couple of teaser shots of his prototype for the ‘all analogue’ Macbeth Mk1 VORTEX Keyboard Synthesizer, a new monophonic analog synth.
Specs and availability are to come, but MacBeth says that ‘the sound is top, featuring a pure analogue circuits keyboard” and that he hopes to be able to build it at “just under the £2KGBP mark.”
Experiment using an Opal Chameleon
“This video shows an experiment using my Opal Chameleon sending MIDI data, through Disarray, to M and, from there, to Spectrasonics Omnisphere, through Logic Pro. The tuning system is Carlos Alpha.”
Read my blog for details: http://www.seraph.it/blog_files/def789d378b3b72969210e2755e29369-118.html
Keys and velocity
The keys are weighted and velocity-sensitive. There are 8 velocity settings and 32 weight settings. A pedal (included) adds further real-time control of velocity settings. The velocity switches are activated near the bottom of the key-press, giving a high degree of control and response. The key-return mechanism is positive, while light enough for fast playing without strain to wrists, hands and fingers.
Menu systen
The controls include a menu of 16 tunings including rotations and reversals of the original note pattern (Melodic Table), plus a separate menu of 100 pantonal serial progressions and 42 user-definable tunings. The 3 zones can be altered in enough ways for the possible combinations to number over 1 billion. However, the menu system is very user-friendly; a single data knob just below the LCD scrolls through all the options for each control button.
MIDI
Opal has the most comprehensive MIDI hub available on any keyboard and is compatible with all DAWs, MIDI Keyboards, synths and sound modules, old & new. There are 4 MIDI sockets; 3 are assignable and the 4th sends all MIDI. Therefore the three keyboard splits can be sent directly to different instruments without the need for a computer or some other interface to do the MIDI channel routing.
Korg microARRANGER Official Product Introduction
“Meet the Korg microARRANGER, the easy, fast, and fun way to turn your ideas into complete songs. Perfect for guitarists and songwriters, the microARRANGER is a “no skills required” musical partner that can instantly provide any musician with a complete backing band. For more information, please visit www.korg.com/microarranger.”
This compact keyboard can quickly turn your ideas into songs, and also allows you to play your favorite songs with a full backing arrangement – instantly! The Korg microARRANGER turns the hit songs in your head into reality.
Features & Highlights:
Compact composing/performing keyboard that acts as your musical arranger
61-key Natural Touch mini keyboard; Velocity sensing
Built-in stereo speaker system
4 Stereo Effect Processors with 89 effect programs.
304 Styles; each is a complete and interactive musical environment for capturing your inspirations
Each Style includes Intros, Endings, Fills, and four Variations, all are completely editable
Styles follow your chords, voice leading, and tempo settings – you are always in control!
660 Preset Sound Programs and 128 User Programs provide excellent Korg sounds
32 Drumkits; 64 User Drumkits;
SD/SDHC card slot for data storage, importing Styles, sharing data with a computer DAW, etc.
Click here to hear audio demos of the microARRANGER
Yamaha PSR-190 Drums for Ableton
Download the live set @ http://bit.ly/freesynth35
All sounds made with my Yamaha PSR-190 keyboard from the early 90s or so. Have fun with it and enjoy!
I like to think that there is a place for just about every sound or instrument, somewhere, in some song. It doesn’t matter how cheap it is or whether it’s top of the line gold or a bargain bin reject, sometimes things fit perfectly. I’ve found this to be true with a cheap RadioShack microphone, which barely qualifies as a nice toy, but actually records some nice room sounds for drum tracks. And another time with my far-from-classic Yamaha PSR-190. I got the PSR-190 shortly after starting to play guitar and was immediately amused by its built in rhythms and preset sounds that are nothing like the instruments they are named after. Its career in dust collecting was off to an impressive start. But as I grew and ventured off into the world of recording, I began to appreciate its character. I think I began incorporating it into some of my songs as its final test, failure meaning a swift trip to the Wednesday morning trash pick up or an adolescent reenactment of the final minutes of any good Nirvana concert (read: smashed to smithereens). Now I would never want to listen to a track composed entirely of PSR-190 sounds, but a layer or two often fit surprisingly well.
This week’s Free Ableton Live Rack is a drum rack made up of the Yamaha PSR-190′s awesomely late 80s-ish kit. There’s some really indispensable kick and snare sounds, and the toms… the toms are such a charming $80 attempt at Phil Collins that you have to love them. There were fourteen sounds in total, but to make things fit nicely on your MPC style pads, I modified a Kick and Snare sound, stretching them using Ableton’s Impulse instrument. I’ve included some FX to allow for some further sculpting. The video will take you through the particulars.
Nice demonstration of a Multi-Touch Piano Keyboard
This video demonstrates a set of capacitive touch sensing piano key tops which mount on top of any existing piano or MIDI keyboard. The key tops sense up to three touches each by position and contact area, letting the performer continuously and polyphonically shape every note in multiple dimensions. The system connects to a computer by USB and uses OSC for flexible communication with a wide variety of synthesis software.
discover the evo – touch and pressure sensitive keyboard
Discover the evo. Worlds first keyboard with touch sensitive keys.
With the help of capacitive touch sensors the evo is able to read your fingers movement on top of a keys surface. Next to pitch and velocity there is now a third layer of polyphonic data input.
Think of polyphonic control of pitch and expression. Think of having a pitch or mod wheel integrated into every single key. Think of never ever leaving a key just to turn or push some knobs or buttons.
So, it’s a combination of classic keyboard key and modern touch technology. The best of both worlds combined in a single keyboard. But best of all! The characteristical function of a key remains unchanged. The evo still features traditional pressure-sensitive keys. But in addition there are now all the advantages from a touch-sensitive input device in every single key.
So. At first this might sound like the evo is an all new instrument. But it’s nothing more than a traditional master-keyboard… With capacitive touch inside every key.
Additional info:
http://www.endeavour.de/discover_the_evo/evo.html
Synth spotting: Yes – Geoff Downes Live Rig
A quick video of Geoff Downes live rig for the 2011 YES tour – recorded at Bristol Colston Hall. Sorry but its only a very quick video – problems with my phone…. Maybe next time….
Geoffrey “Geoff” Downes (born 25 August 1952) is an English rock keyboard player, songwriter, best known as the keyboardist for the bands The Buggles, Yes and Asia, of which he is the only consistent member. When he was a keyboardist for The Buggles, he played multiple keyboards to achieve a New Wave technopop sound. He was once entered for the Guinness Book Of Records for performing with the most keyboards (28) on stage in one performance.
SPD-SX sampling pad demo featuring Craig Blundell
http://youtu.be/1ZXwi_wOOPk
Craig Blundell demonstrates the new features of the SPD-SX Sampling Pad. The SPD-SX puts powerful sample creation and playback under your sticks with innovative audio-capturing features, expressive playability, three multi-effects engines, and much more.
The perfect addition to any acoustic or electronic drum kit, percussion setup, DJ booth, or keyboard rig, the SPD-SX is equally at home on the live stage, in the recording studio, pre-production suite, or dance club. The SPD-SX takes many of the proven concepts from its predecessor and raises them to a new level. Whether you’re firing off one-shot samples, looped phrases, or complete audio playback tracks, the SPD-SX is loaded with the latest technology and tools to get the job done with speed, precision, and convenience. Enjoy the most advanced triggering and sampling technology in a sleek, easy-to-use percussion instrument.
Rainboard – Honeycombs and Snowflakes Performance
This video is an original composition and performance (Steven Maupin) using the Rainboard. The Rainboard is a DIY dynamic isomorphic keyboard. It can interface the Musix iOS app in order to change layouts and adjust settings. As well, it can be played on its own after a layout is set. More details can be found at http://rainboard.shiverware.com
Details:
An isomorphic keyboard is a musical device where a grid of notes is displayed to the user and the interval change between notes in constant for any given direction. The end result is the ability to move a musical passage between keys without learning a new fingering or spatial relation (transpositional invariance). What this means is that once you have learned a pattern, say a chord or a scale, that pattern is the same for all keys.
Songwriters benefit by discovering new melodies and musical relationships. Novices find it easy to learn to play. Songwriters benefit by discovering new melodies and musical relationships. Novices find it easy to learn to play. Experienced musicians are rewarded with an intuitive interface.
Quick check to see what the buttons are going to look light when lit by LEDs
DATAMASKIN
