April, 2008 archive

Sometimes it seems that there’s no end to the types of MIDI controllers that people come up with.
Want proof? Here’s are some of the strangest MIDI controllers we’ve seen:
Using Pennies As A Drum Controller
That’s just of start of it. Read on for MIDI Hamsters, MIDI Drivers’ Licenses and more!

Netlabel Musica Excentrica has released a new album of free MP3s from Astrowind, Fresh Wind in the Valley of Dreams:

Astrowind might be a slightly ridiculous band name, especially if you consider the fact these two Latvian guys play lush ambient music on Soviet synthesizers. But nevertheless, it’s a good name. An accurate name, at least. [...]

 

 Lost and Found on the Moon [7:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

NIN shows it’s got a sense of humor with the YMCA-inspired video for Discipline.
This track calls out for some remixes, doesn’t it?

The Korg M3 Music Workstation/Sampler represents the third generation of Music Workstations from Korg. It inherits elements from the company’s flagship OASYS workstation. All second-generation KARMA functions from the OASYS are included.
256 MB of ROM incorporates the “best-of” OASYS ROM into a new soundset. 512 Programs and 384 Combinations are onboard, with space for 1,664 Programs [...]

Arturia’s preview for the Origin synth is a teaser, more than anything else.
Origin is the first Arturia Hardware synthesizer. It is a modular system, featuring modules based on some of the best synthesizers of all time (Moog Modular, ARP 2600, CS-80, Minimoog and Prophet VS).
Features:

500+ presets created by talented musicians and synthesizer specialists
Up to 32 [...]

Lux is abstract HD film animated in After Effects. The soundtrack, The Beautiful Blue Sky, is a realtime electronic synthesizer improvisation for Buchla 200e and Haken Continuum.
The film, by Richard Lainhart, is a very cool exploration of abstract video & electronic music.

Mike Ayres & Dick Mills talk about the history of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.

Totally Wired is a documentary film about Andreas Schneider’s infamous Schneider’s Buero, the boutique electronic musical instrument Mecca in Berlin.
The firm explores one man’s electric evangelism, and the interface he has built to connect analogue instrument inventors with their end-users.
The film features a selection of inventors and artists, including:

Dieter Doepfer
Junior Boys
Ken MacBeth
Anthony Rother
Jessica Rylan
Daniel Miller
Wowa [...]

Inspiration Sounds has introduced Pure Live Breaks Volume 1, 270MB of drumloops recorded at tempos from 95-130 BPM and presented in Acid, Apple Loops, REX, and WAV Formats.
You can preview the library below.
A free sample pack is available for download (.zip)
Specifications:

270MB Content
ACIDized Wave Files
Apple Loops
Rex2 Loops
Loops at 95, 100, 105, [...]

 

 Pure Live Breaks: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Planet Nerd’s Dan Walmsley talks to experimental composer David Shea about the history of the Doctor Who music and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.