Beware of the drum machine – on the move
As part of a project for a promotional contest to Audiofile Engineering, Frits Lyneborg from Copenhagen, Denmark created a DIY robot that runs around looking for things to drum on, then samples an plays back its beats.
The robot searches around it’s surroundings until it finds an object that is “worth playing on” (a single isolated object or a wide flat surface that it can find an angle onto). It then plays a beat on the object with it’s 2 drumsticks (and “bass drum” stick underneath) and records what it plays. If it decides that it sounds good, it’ll loop this sample and play along with it.
Another cool feature is that it can detect when you are clapping your hands or stomping your feet, and play along in time to your beat. It’ll also sample your shouting or other noises and incorporate that into the beat as well.
At the top there is another speaker, which plays the loop, along with an LED that flashes to the beat when it’s recording.
Thanks to SG
Vintage Korg Trident analog polyphonic synth Mark 1 with MIDI IN.
Dataflux
Dataflux, created by Kit Webster is a wonderful installation with synchronized sound and images. The visuals are projected on seven pillars, and the sound greatly enhances the experience of movement. Dataflux has some resemblance to Minus 60° by Karl Kliem. Again I cannot help thinking of Ryoji Ikeda’s work when watching this video, also because of the name, as it’s very similar to Ikeda’s Dataplex. For Dataflux Webster created software that renders the visuals live.
Kit Webster will be one of the artists at this year’s Liquid Architecture festival in Australia taking place in June and July.
Sun audio experimenting
Sun Boxes is a sound installation consisting of 20 speakers, independently operating. For those of you who have not seen it on the many other sites who showed this: each speaker has a built-in solar panel and contains a guitar sample.
The speakers are spread around so visitors can enter the installation to enjoy the ever changing composition from various sides. The installation, created by Craig Colorusso is completely solar powered and the music stops when the sun sets. A great way of showing we can create beautiful things only using natural resources.
Listen to it here:
Monkey business – weekend synth fun
This is scary 
The true importance of good sound
This is the video submitted by Martin Schütze, winner of the recent sound design competition created by Blastwave FX and Avid. Martin will get the full package prize, which includes a full version of Avid Media Composer, an Mbox with Pro Tools LE, Blastwave FX Sonopedia Library The Sound Effects Bible and DV Toolkit 2 for Pro Tools LE.
Judge’s Comments:
What I enjoy so much about this spot is the sharply drawn visceral power of all the sounds used. It’s a sonic tour de force. Not only do the sound effects used each make an immediate impact but they flow in a way which provides an impressive connective tissue going from one image to the next.
It is a perfect example of how sound can add an internal dimension to the images on the screen, deepening their dramatic impact. I feel like I am inside each one of those athletes feeling the heart pounding urgency and adrenaline rush of the moment. It turns watching the images into a powerful emotional experience. My heart is still racing after each viewing. The partnership between sound and image is mutual, each giving the other a stronger meaning. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Well done! – Jacob Ribicoff
You can get more info and see the rest of the videos, on Blastwave FX.
It is all about mind control
The Most Basic Form of Mind Control is Repetition
Slightly out of topic, but still intriguing
Constructing an analog synth in just 1 minute
This time-lapse video captures the construction of a Atomolab Mochika analog synthesizer.
Interview with Teenage Engineering
Last week, Ihavesynth.com got the chance to meet up with Teenage Engineering to get a closer look at the OP-1 synthesizer/sampler/controller/you-name-it. Teenage Engineering revealed their eye-catching OP-1 at Musikmesse in 2009 and the hype around the synthesizer has been massive, even though it is not yet released. We have posted about the OP-1 before and offcourse we are as curious about the OP-1 as the rest of the world seems to be.
Teenage Engineering is a great gang of 7 tech guys in a white painted garage filled with wonderful stuff like computers, synthesizers, all sorts of tech gear, an electronics shop, 3D printers, bikes, mopeds and a little dog which you can hear in the interview. The Teenage Engineering crew has experience from a lot of different areas, like the gaming industry, programming, electronic music – and it all comes together in their cozy garage.My mate Bjorn had a chat with David at Teenage Engineering, check it out in this clip.
IHS wanted me to share with you all
Sound design with Alchemy and NeKo
Below is a nice video tutorial featuring the classic virtual instrument; Camel Audio Alchemy. The video is also interesting since sound designer Jim Stout is running Alchemy via an Open Labs Neko and the video gives you a good sense of how this system works. NeKo XXL is virtually all of the major components of a professional studio fused together in seamless, coherent instrument that is the quintessential definition of style and functionality. You can compose, record, mix, master and even distribute music of the highest quality only using the NeKo XXL and the tens of thousands of included sound presets.
DATAMASKIN
