September, 2008 archive

DJ Jungleboy demos DaScratch (SCS.3d), Stanton’s MIDI software controller, using two DaScratch units with Scratch LIVE.

JazzMutant has announced the upcoming release of a new firmware for their Lemur multitouch-screen controller.
The version 2 firmware update offers a host of new object features. Workflow improvements, scripting additions and other features allow the controller to be used with some of the most popular software applications around, with Ableton Live users, in particular, benefiting [...]

I’ve written several times before (tripping the universe, 3d acoustic rendering, interactive 3d holograms) about virtual music worlds – generative 3D ambient worlds, where your exploration and interaction changes the music you hear. 
Visual Space Music is an example of that futuristic music experience I’ve been talking about.
It’s “a musical instrument, a unique space-based arrangement tool, [...]

Microscopics’ Mat Jarvis shares a collection of extreme close up vintage gear porn of the Roland AP-2 Phase II, a superb phaser from the 70’s that is used on a lot of classic recordings. 
Unfortunately, it came with some vintage kinks:
I decided to treat myself for my birthday (Friday 26th) and bought a vintage phaser from [...]

It may not be as bad as using your cell phone at the theater, but texting on the dance floor is right up there. 
Turntable lab makes the case for banning phones from the dance floor:
How many times have you gone a party and seen all these wallflowers chillin’ and texting. You can be spinning the [...]

This is a direct comparison between a vintage analog Moog Minimoog (1976) and a Creamware Minimax ASB, trying to use the same settings on both instruments and playing them together or one at a time.
The video was recorded “live” with two cameras and a Panasonic AVE5 video mixer (I’m switching channels manually between takes) and [...]

A video demo of a strange electro-mechanical circuit-bent Casio SK-1.

This is a demo of Eric Barbour’s Metasonix S-1000 all-tube Wretch Machine in action.
There are different clips, some using the Wretch as a drum processor, some as a synth. There’s a short little bit with the pulser section too.
It’s not very nice sounding, but aren’t most synths trying to sound nice? Different is good.
via bigcitymusic

Yonac Software has introduce an iPhone synthesizer, miniSynth. 
miniSynth is a vintage-modeling keyboard synth for the iPhone platform, featuring dual oscillators, adjustable retro-style sound filter, attack/decay, glide and a tape-delay influenced delay unit. 
Features:

Two variable-range, “old school” oscillators
Four individual waveforms per oscillator (triangular, sawtooth, sine and square)
Six stops per oscillator, giving approximately a 5-7000 Hz range, including [...]

Therminator 1.0 may not be controlled like a real theremin, but the sound is similar and musically useful.
As the developers say, “it makes a passable alternative to the real deal, especially in places where noise is a big issue. And it’s good for annoying friends as well!”