March, 2004 archive

Electronics for Music is a haven for synth-diy enthusiasts. EFM sells low-cost printed circuit boards for analog synthesizer projects. They currently have a fairly limited line-up that includes the WildCat modular midi synthesizer PC board, and the TomCat midi synthesizer PC board.
EFM Synthesizers is located in Houston, Texas USA. EFM has been on the web [...]

One of the earliest DIY sites, Analog Music Zone, specializes in guitar effects and electronics. It has instructions for building all types of guitar effects, including clones of popular stompboxes.
This labor of love is put together by Jack Orman, a hardcore DIY enthusiast who’s also written extensively for magazines on building custom stompboxes.
The site is [...]

Cloned Analog Gear has schematics and articles for people interested in building DIY versions of classic analog equipment. The site has information on building synthesizers, synth modules, sequencer, vocoders and effects.
CAG is for hardcore DIY enthusiasts. The articles come from some classic sources, including Practical Electronics, Radio Electronics, and Electronics Today International.

The ASM-1 home page is a great site for anyone interested in DIY analog synthesis. It is the unofficial homepage for the ASM-1 synth, an analog modular synthesizer built around a custom-designed and manufactured PCB.
The site is put together by Magnus Danielson, who has invested a lot of time into detailing his synth-building. The ASM-1 [...]

The new Digidesign ICON is an integrated console environment for Pro Tools.
Digidesign provided these details:
Digidesign is pleased to announce ICON, an integrated console environment featuring the all-new D-Control™ tactile worksurface, Pro Tools®|HD Accel as its core DSP engine, and modular HD audio interfaces for analog and digital I/O. The first truly integrated console solution of [...]

Doepfer announced today that they will be introducing over 15 new products at the Frankfurt Musikmesse, one of the most important European music technology shows. The products include a new ribbon controller, a keyboard controller for software organ emulators, and many new modules for the A-100 modular analog synthesizer.
Doepfer has released this preliminary information about [...]

This live release from Cluster captures performances from around the United States, including New York, Portland, Chicago and Phoenix. The pieces are each named after the location where they were performed. The music is a collection of mellow, drone-based ambient work.
Cluster isn’t well known, but their music is important and has been influential over the [...]

Digidesign announced the AVoption|V10 Avid video interface for Pro Tools|HD on Windows XP. AVoption|V10 combines Avid’s latest-generation DNA video hardware with custom software, providing fast, efficient interchange with the complete family of Avid editors, and total control of the video sweetening workflow, from capture to layback.
Utilizing only a standard FireWire connection, the AVoption|V10 hardware supports [...]

Codemasters and MTV have announced the development of MTV Music Generator 3: This Is The Remix, the latest generation in the popular music creation and remixing game series. The game gives console owners the ability to mix and remix musical tracks, and will be released for the first time ever on the XBox platform.
The game [...]

This sprawling book traces the development of ambient music over the past 100 years, from composers like Mahler and Satie, to current musicians like Moby and Aphex Twin. It covers a huge amount of territory, and serves as an easy introduction to many of the significant composers and musicians of the twentieth century.
The Ambient Century: [...]

Musicians using samplers are faced with an unique set of legal problems. Using samples of copyrighted works has become a minefield, often just best avoided. Now new licenses from Creative Commons promise to make it easier for samplists to find samples they can use without fear of getting sued.
Sampling and lawsuits have gone hand and [...]

Cyndustries makes some of the most interesting analog synthesizer components available. They are in Modcan format, but are electricly compatible with most other modular equipment.
Cyndustries has many unique modules that are certifiably drool-worthy:

Dual Sawtooth Animator
4 Channel Analog Switch
Milton Voltage-Controlled Sequencer
Synthacon Filter
StereOSpace
Super Psycho LFO
Octal Inverting Attenuator
Quad Bandpass
Gated Comparator

In addition to many original designs, Cyndustries provides Modcan [...]

Bob Moog makes a special guest appearance March 16th at 7:00 PM on Tech TVs ultimate Tech-fest: The Screen Savers. Moog will be talking with host Leo LaPorte about the theremin. The show is live, so there are bound to be some surprises!
The show will also be broadcast on March 17th. Times and more details [...]

Modular analog synthesizers may seem like dinosaurs in this age of virtual instruments and computer-based music. In reality, modular synthesis has experienced a renaissance in the last few years. The Internet has made possible communities of interest to build around modular synthesizer manufacturers, and connected manufacturers with willing buyers. As a result, a new golden [...]

This CD is a treat for anyone with open ears. Slack Key Guitar is a collection of some of the best guitar music of Hawaii. It features solo guitar pieces played by seven well-known slack key guitarist. It is a beautiful introduction to the music.
Hawaiian slack key guitar is one of the great styles of [...]