The DIY 8-bit synthesizer project – is ready for launch
Hack Me Electronics has announced that that the Rockit synthesizer – a DIY 8-bit synthesizer project – is ready for launch:
The PCBs have arrived. I built Rockit #1 and it worked the first time I powered it up. It just doesn’t get any better than that!
I’m getting ready with shipping materials (not sure why none of that occurred to me before now!). Look out for a notice from Kickstarter because I’ll need to get people’s address.
I don’t want everyone to get too excited to fast because I’ve got a lot of work to do to get it to you. I’m going to mix in all three versions into my schedule, shipping some bare bones, some kits, and some assembled units as I go.
The software for version 1.0 is pretty much a wrap. There will be future versions with upgrades and updates, but like my friend says, “At some point in a design, somebody’s gotta shoot the engineer.” Well, that time has come. Time to put on my manufacturing hat and let these beasts out in the world. Cheers again and thanks for all the support.
The Rockit synth is a DIY synth designed to be “a source of gnarly full-blown synth sounds and, for hackers and electronics enthusiasts, Rockit will be an engaging electronics project and a platform for synth exploration.”
Pricing for the Rockit 8-bit Synth ranges from $25 for a barebones kit to $200 for an assembled synth.
Details are available at the projects’ Kickstarter site.
Specs:
- Fully Open Source Hardware and Well-Commented C Software Design
- Digital Analog Hybrid Circuitry
- 2 Digital Oscillators with 16 waveshapes, updateable to more
- 2 Low Frequency Modulation Oscillators with 10 destinations
- Innovative Digitally-Controlled Analog Filter with Low-Pass, Band-Pass, and High-Pass with Envelope Control and External Audio Input
- Analog Voltage-Controlled Amplifier with Envelope Control
- Drone/Loop Mode for Playing by Itself
- 19 Knobs to Twiddle and 8 Switches
- Full MIDI Input and Output
- Sound Patch Save and Recall
Serato DJ Intro
http://youtu.be/G2N2vO_gM3g
Serato DJ Intro is the latest software from Serato Audio Research, designed for people who love music.
http://www.serato.com/dj-intro
Music: “Young Blood” – The Naked and Famous [Universal]
Technical Specifications
Two tracks can be mixed simultaneously using traditional DJ controls – scratch, nudge, pitch bend, EQ.
Serato Sync locks tracks together for seamless grooves.
Serato Crates make audio file management easy and advanced iTunes integration gives you instant access of personal library and playlist information.
Cue points allow you to quickly access specific parts of songs.
Loops repeat selected sections and can create new intros, outros and extended mixes.
DJ-FX will enhance any DJ set, allowing you to color songs and create unique sounding transitions.
The Sample Player can play up to four short samples, audio loops, sound effects or full length tracks in addition to the two tracks you’re mixing.
Plug-and-Play connectivity makes it simple and fast to setup your supported Serato DJ Intro controller, computer and software and start DJing.
Miss FD – Love Magick – Teaser
Teaser for Miss FD’s Love Magick music video. Miss FD is to release a new single, called “Love Magick”, to enter the Halloween season. Expect macabre melodies with a sprinkle of creepy kitsch. The track is available now and features cover artwork by comic book author and artist Chandra Free (The God Machine).
And Miss FD also plans to release the “Love Magick” music video next week. It was shot in Ft. Lauderdale, FL by director Adam Alvarez
Bio:
Based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Miss FD is rapidly ascending in the world of dark electronic music. Her skills as a songwriter, producer and performer are unified by a distinctive vision, brought to life by creative, textured synth work, imaginative song structures and malevolent beats – all graced with seductive yet dangerous vocals.
After establishing a foothold in club circles and on the web under her previous project known as Frightdoll, FD has recently forged a new path into deeper, darker electro-pop territory. The first full-length album to emerge from this new project was Monsters in the Industry – a raw, elegant, and dangerous offering that has garnered some of FD’s strongest reviews to date. The track “Enter the Void” also led to the launch of Miss FD’s first official music video.
2011 brought the debut of Love Never Dies – the darkest turn in FD’s musical path, and a haunting lyrical exploration of pain and despair. Like its predecessor, the album received a wave of positive reviews, declaring it “wonderfully beguiling” and “sheer musical artistry.”
Building on a strong fanbase both live and online, FD’s influence continues to grow as she shares the stage with legendary acts like KMFDM, Seabound, and Assemblage 23. Her increasing impact on the world of electro-industrial/EBM has also led to collaborations with other leading artists, including Empusa, Anguisette, and she recently lent her vocal talents to Fires on the Shore, an EP produced by END: The DJ to benefit victims of the BP oil spill.
With a haunting yet playfully enchanting undercurrent throughout her work, FD’s infectious, dark melodies create an atmosphere of mischief and mayhem that leaves darkwave and industrial fans craving the output of her next musical incarnation.
Propellerhead’s James Bernard’s Favorite New Patches
The expanded factory sound bank in Reason 6 is a new source of inspiration. Propellerhead product specialist James Bernard put together a sampling of new music he’s been making with the new patches in the Reason 6 sound bank.
This file is also downloadable in Reason’s demo song format. If you’re trying out Reason and want to see these patches and sequencer clips up close, just go here: http://www.propellerheads.se/stuff/sounds.zip
Marc Doty On The Minimoog Voyager XL
Marc Doty on the Voyager XL from Moog Music on Vimeo.
Designed in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Minimoog, the Minimoog Voyager XL is a sonic powerhouse that pays homage to important milestones in the Moog synthesizer legacy. It starts with the heart of a Minimoog Model D. Fat oscillators and warm Moog filters give it that unmistakable Moog sound and the rugged construction and intuitive user interface design immediately tells you that you’re playing a high-quality musical instrument.
From the current Voyager lineage, the XL inherits a 100% analog signal path with stable oscillators, patch storage, touch surface, pot mapping and extensive MIDI control functionality. To all this, add a ribbon controller and 61 note keyboard and you have a monster analog monosynth built on a 40 year legacy of sonic exploration. The MINIMOOG VOYAGER XL Synthesizer is a monophonic analog performance and production synthesizer. Based on the Minimoog Voyager sound engine, it incorporates virtually all of the sound resources and functions of the original Minimoog Model D and Voyager, with the addition of a number of exciting features from Moog’s modular synthesizer legacy.
Solvent’s new video – “Curtains”
“Curtains” by Solvent. Toronto based Jason Amm (aka Solvent) has been making underground electro pop for over a decade now – since electro’s second wave. He loves analogue synthesizers – which date back to the early days of the genre, and he loves singing through a vocoder. What’s not to love? His greatest hits CD Demonstration Tape (1997-2007) is essential listening, and his song “My Radio” should be heard by anyone who likes any kind of pop music.
Video directed by Jonathan Morris. Please be sure to check out his excellent video work via his YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/roadkillcopulator
Footage shot by Solvent.
“Curtains” is taken from the 12-inch-vinyl/digital release “RDJCS5-ep” (09/2011, Suction Records – suction022).
Available to purchase through BandCamp:
http://solvent.bandcamp.com
In-depth technical info:
http://modyfier.wordpress.com/2011/07/25/solvent-process-part-271/
In April 2006, a Yamaha CS5 monosynth, having been owned by Richard D James (Aphex Twin), with the actual liner notes for his landmark “Selected Ambient Works Volume II” etched into the bottom, was sold at VEMIA auction for approximately $1200 – a bargain in retrospect. The winning bidder was, in fact, a friend of Solvent’s, and the synth resides not in a display case, but in Solvent’s studio, on generous long-term loan.
“RDJCS5”, a new 4-track 12-inch / digital EP by Solvent, is the result. Each and every sound on this record came from RDJ’s old CS5, painstakingly programmed and multi-tracked by Solvent over the course of several months. The limited capabilities and sound palette of this humble little synth provided quite a challenge, but ultimately the results are not merely an exercise in technical synthnerdery; “RDJCS5″ speaks more of Solvent’s musical kinship to thee Analord.
The 12” vinyl edition is limited to 300 copies, in brown chipboard sleeve with sticker, and also contains an additional noise/drone piece at the end of side B. Entitled “Sandpaper”, this cut will be individually hand-etched by Solvent, for a 1-of-a-kind cut/click/loop experience.
Gameboy Glitches and Synth: Free Ableton Live Rack
The Nintendo Gameboy has been kept alive thanks to producers around the world who appreciate its 8 bit gritty goodness. This week, http://bedroomproducersblog.com allowed me to use their Gameboy samples in creating some free instruments for you guys. These samples were made with the LSDJ software and from there I added effects and fun settings for you to play around with in Ableton Live. Enjoy and if you like it be sure to check out Bedroom Producers Blog!
Download the Gameboy racks @ http://bit.ly/freesynth27
8 bit squelches and bleeps lovers come see this weeks installment of my Free Weekly Ableton Live Racks series!!
**Thanks to BedroomProducersBlog who assembled these fine samples using an old black Nintendo Gameboy running the LSDJ software, and who were kind enough to allow me to share with you my creations using those samples. [Visit BPB, it’s a great resource for information, releases, samples, etc.]**
This week, since I’m feeling generous after some cyber-love from Ableton and Create Digital Music, you get two free Ableton Instrument racks. The first is a drum rack loaded with all of these fine Gameboy glitchy noises, drops, risers, arps, and UFO sounds. Secondly is a playable synth based on one of those wonderfully gritty samples. Both are racked up in an exciting little effect rack that helps you finesse or destroy these sounds to suit your own personal productions!
Ashbury Heights singer Yasmin and her new band Javelynn
The former Ashbury Heights singer Yasmin “Yaz” Uhlin has together with Johan Andersson and the former livekeyboardisten Elle (who is now a regular member of the band) formed Javelynn.
Javelynn are signed to the German Out Of Line label, where they later this fall will be releasing their debut album “Chimaera At Heart”. Over ten tracks the trio delivers a cocktail of girl power, pop, disco, new wave, punk and electro clash – all rooted in the electronic realm. Yasmin “Yaz” Uhlin participated in the Ashbury Heights first two releases – the debut album “Three Cheers For The Newlydeads from 2007 and EP’n” Morningstar in a Black Car “which was released the following year.
Besides the first single release “Beat You” Javelynn has also participated with the song “Wannabe” (which is taken from the forthcoming album), the seventh volume of the record label Out Of Line’s collection series “Awake the Machines,” which was released earlier this year.
“Chimaera At Heart” is released October 28 via Out Of Line.
Tracklist
- Wannabe
- Die Young
- Morphine
- Infinity
- La Fin Absolue Du Monde
- Oh Dear
- This Song Is Not About You
- Skip A Heartbeat
- Beat You
- Crisis
New distort unit from Rob Papen
Rob Papen has announced RP-Distort, a new effect plug-in for Windows and Mac.
RP-Distort is not just a distortion unit, but much more. The distortion unit inside RP-Distort can be combined with an analog modelled filter, compressor and widener unit.
These units can be re-order, but also can be turned on or off. So in case you only want a great analog modelled filter… RP-Distort can offer this. Or only the unique widener unit which is great for widening a boring mono track.
On top of that, the controls can be modulated using midi sources or by one of the 4 build in LFO’s that can sync to your host tempo..
The distortion unit offers 22 distortion types included ring modulator and lo-fi. Inside this section you can also find the EQ and noise-gate.
RP-Distort is in fact a wicked FX unit that will distort or alter your tracks in an inspirational way.
The sounds of Star Wars
This is one of a series of podcasts exploring the ways sound and sound effects can be used to help bring stories to life.
Meet Ben Burtt, Sound Designer for films like Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark and WALL-E. Learn how he comes up with sounds that complement the amazing things seen on the silver screen – from laser blasts to whirring, buzzing lightsabers. Find out the story behind some of his signature effects and how he first got interested in sound design.
DATAMASKIN
