Yamaha today announced a new, budget version of it’s innovative Tenori On music synthesizer – the Tenori On Orange, TRN-O.

The TRN-O is an entry-level version of the Tenori On, offering the same basic musical functionality, but using orange LEDs, stripping away the backlighting LEDs and using a basic white plastic case.

Surprisingly for a budget item, Yamaha did not announce the pricing for the new Tenori On Orange. The TRN-O is expected to be available in December.

Yamaha also confirmed a free forthcoming firmware update for Tenori-On customers, expected to be available in January. The update will address the syncing of Tenori-On to external DAW applications and offer an improved MIDI sync implementation.

According to Yamaha, the new Tenori-On ‘Orange’ offers the same levels of creative power as the original but has been made significantly more affordable. Yamaha has replaced the magnesium casing of the original with a heavy duty and durable plastic casing.

“We know everyone loves the concept and fresh approach of Tenori-On, however, as you’d expect we have received thousands of requests for a more affordable version,” Yamaha’s Peter Peck explains. “We therefore looked at many ways of reducing the price without compromising the all-important product concept or creative operating system. By removing the battery option and the back panel LED’s and changing the chassis construction from the magnesium found on the original to a more affordable material we have achieved our goal of creating the more affordable Tenori-On ‘Orange’, bringing the full creative capability of Tenori-On to a much wider audience.”

Details at the Yamaha site.

DJ Tech Tools’ Ean Golden demonstrates a Daft Punk AeroDynamic beat juggling performance and then breaks down his tecnique.

He’s got skills, eh?

See his post at his site, where you can download his demo files, too!

via eangolden:

Here is a routine I developed using “Aerodynamic” from daft punk and the planet rock instrumental. The 2 mp3’s used in this video are available with cue points in this post: The mapping for this controller is also available here:

This video demonstrates how you can use the new Novation Launchpad like a monome.

To try this out, you’ll need a Launchpad (You can get them for $199 at Zzounds and other online retailers), a free app called nonome and a monome app.

For this demo, Mike Tron built a Windows executable that combines nonome with a monome program called mlr. Tron is offering to build an OS X version, too, if there’s interest.

Max4Live takes a look at the Novation Launchpad, a new $199 controller designed to “put Ableton Live at your fingertips.”

Pepe Mogt’s Tenori-on + Oberheim Four Voice Sequencing Exercise features some great analog sounds and amazing HD visuals.

Wacka chicka wacka chicka!

Patch details below.

via pepemogt:

this is a Sequencing Excercise using the Tenori-on and Oberheim Four Voice only, conected trough the Roland MPU-101 and couple of Analogue Systems Joysticks for Filter and LFO control.

extracted from www.vintagesynth.com :
Oberheim Four Voice
A big step forward after the initial Oberheim SEM and Two Voice synthesizers came from the bigger and better Four Voice. Four dual-oscillator SEM modules each with its own filters and envelopes are joined together along with a simple analog mixer and 49-note keyboard to give you a polyphonic/polytonal Obie-beast!

This combination gives you eight oscillators and four voices of polyphony because there are basically four discrete mono-synths all connected together. This has its pros and cons. What is cool is that this was a lot of simultaneous voices for the mid-seventies. And the ability to craft a different sound on each voice led to some diverse and complex sounds. However, it also meant you have to program each voice independently. Each voice also has its own independent audio output.

The Polyphonic Synthesizer Programmer, released in 1976 and added to the Four Voice stores 16 patches per voice (all of which can be different). The Four Voice could accommodate an additional four SEMs, making it just like the Eight Voice model which officially appeared in 1977.

Unfortunately the Four Voice was blown out of the competition by the release of the polyphonic Sequential Prophet-5, which offered true polyphony with a single set of sound shaping controls and comprehensive patch memory. The Four Voice has been used by 808 State, Depeche Mode, Styx, Latinsizer, The Shamen, Fussible, Gary Wright, Joe Zawinul and John Carpenter.

This video demos using the Akai APC40 like a monome:

Blinken Park on the APC40 sending midi through the IAC driver to Ableton Live 8. We don’t need no stinking Monome.

Natasha Adorlee Johnson (Natasha and the Rejects) performs Counting Stars, while demonstrating how the TouchOSC iPhone application can be used to control video and sound.

TouchOSC was used as wireless OSC to MIDI controller in conjunction with Ableton Live and Resolume VJ Software. Johnson altered and mixed the visuals and sound live using the TouchOSC application on the iPhone.

All aspects of the performance demonstration, including effected sound and video processing, were done live. The top right hand shot clarifies Natasha’s actions on the iPhone to control the performance.

For more information about the demonstration and the group, visit: NatashaAndTheReject.com

Percussa Modulor is a free new application for the AudioCubes hardware platform that turns them into musical Legos.

Modulor lets you record loops into cubes using your favourite MIDI controller, and then combine those loops simply by putting cubes together. Color coding can be used, for example to remember which loop is where or what key the loop is in.

Besides recording and playing back loops, it’s also possible to process MIDI data, from loops or from live input, for example, using arpeggiators, chord generators, transposition, echos, … each cube can have one MIDI effect, and by forming networks of cubes you can create processing chains for MIDI data.

The application is a VST instrument host, so you can run it all by itself, and load your favourite software instruments. The resulting MIDI can be recorded to disk as a MIDI file with multiple tracks, one for each software instrument, which lets you bring your project into your favorite DAW software.

Percussa has announced hands-on AudioCube workshops, led by AudioCube creator Bert Schiettecatte at his private workshop in Brussels:

Workshop description:

Starting with some theory, you will discover the history of AudioCubes, tangible interfaces, and their applications.

The practical part of the workshop will let you master the technical aspects of using AudioCubes in sound, music and visual creation, and let you work on your own project using AudioCubes.

Workshop duration:

One day.

Cost:

250 EUR incl. VAT total per person

What you will learn:

A complete overview of the possibilities of AudioCubes and software in different scenarios for artistic creation (live performance, sound design, music production, installation work, …). A good understanding of all technical aspects.

Topics covered:

• history of audiocubes
• overview of tangible interfaces
• why were audiocubes created / fundamental ideas
• how audiocubes work
• the audiocubes hardware
• audiocubes software for live performance, sound design and music production
• how to use audiocubes to control MIDI software and hardware
• how to MIDI map audiocubes
• how to use AudioCubes with Max/MSP

If any readers decide to go to this, leave a comment and let me know. I’d be interested in following up on your experience.

Ableton Live 8: Kamoni discusses his live performance approach on Phuq Radio.

He plays some breaks, DnB, Jungle and Dubstep then goes into detail about his Ableton Live programming techniques.

See the full interview on phuqradio.com.

via kamoni:

Bedtime Stories is am improvisation on custom made Monome 40h running Press Cafe sending MIDI to Logic Pro 8.

via rishabhrajan

This demo of the rare Zion Turbo Guitar Synth Controller demonstrates how cool guitar synthesizers can be.

This clip shows the Zion Turbo synth guitar used with the Roland GI-20 to drive Native Instruments Reaktor 5.0 and Arturia V2600. A BX-13-VX is used to interface between the 24-pin and 13-pin interface.

via WayneJoness:

Super rare, American-made Zion Turbo Guitar Synth Controller, designed for the vintage 24-pin Roland Guitar synthesizer series, and build in the mid-nineteen eighties.

Marco Kuhn’s Play Box is a multi touch user interface, which, along with his Play Live software, can control Ableton Live.

Play Box Features:

• multi-touch and object interaction
• 22 ” TFT display , 1680 x 1050 pixel
• robust
• plug`n play

Play Live Features:

• GUI Elements support multitouch interaction
• you can control 32 tracks and 127 scenes, that are 4064 clips
• track controls mute, solo, record, send1, send2, pan, level

Kuhn hopes to build and sell Play Box & Play Live. No availability or pricing information has been announced.

More details at the Hi-Pi site and at CDM.

Just when you think it’s safe to buy that cool matrix sequencer MIDI controller monome thing you’ve been jonesin’ for, out pops the $399 Livid Block matrix sequencer MIDI controller monome thing.

Description:

The Livid Block is a compact programmable MIDI control surface designed for interactive audio performance. Built on the same bi-directional and adaptable platform as the Livid Ohm64, Block provides an interface for creating and interacting with sound in a small easy-to-transport body.

Sixty-four LED buttons provide visual feedback with the instrument by connecting it to Ableton Live, Max/MSP,  pen source sounds apps, or any other software that supports MIDI.

The open source blockEditor application lets you reprogram any of the controller’s sixty-four clip buttons, eight knobs, two faders, and seven function buttons. Block is hand crafted from lightweight wood and aluminum for easy portability.

Block has bi-directional talkback communication allowing the controller to talk to your software, and software to your device. MIDI messages can be sent to the Block to light up the buttons for an interactive performance. Completely programmable and mappable, Block provides a flexible control surface that be used with any software or setup. Completely USB powered means you don’t have to worry about adapters and and power strips, and it is plug and play so no drivers are required.

The Livid Block is expected to be available starting Nov 1st for $399.

More details and photos below!

Features:

• Portability – A compact and lightweight design lets you slip this controller into your backpack. Plug it into your computer’s USB, and you are powered to play.
• Design – Block is completely plug and play and USB powered. This means you don’t need drivers to use it and it works with a single USB cable.
• TalkBack – Reprogrammable buttons with LED talkback provides visual feedback by sending MIDI commands back to the controller.
• Software – A growing collection of open source sound applications and utilities provide a wide range of uses and endless customization.
• Home Grown – Handcrafted by artists in Austin, Texas.

Specs:

• 10.25″ x 10.25″ x 1.5″ (WLH) / weight 3 lbs. (26 cm x 26 cm x 3.8 cm, 1.36 kg)
• USB Powered
• Bi-Directional MIDI communication (talkback)
• Class-compliant: no drivers needed for Mac, Windows, or Linux.
• 64 Programmable backlight buttons for talk-back and interactive performance
• Programmable MIDI mapping allows you to change the MIDI settings on the hardware
• Anodized Aluminum Faceplate
• Open Source software tools to create your own LED talkback interaction
• Editor included for MIDI editing, and LED talkback programming
• Made in the USA
• Compatible with any software that supports MIDI learn
• ROHS compliant
• USB cable included

Vestax, in collaboration with Hiroshi Watanabe, have introduced the Vestax TR-1 DJ controller.

Description:

The TR-1 is a collaboration of Vestax and DJ HIROSHI WATANABE, one of the pioneers who established laptop based DJing in Japan.This radical MIDI controller has been designed from a professional’s point of view, making it compact and extremely useful when you’re in the mix.

Features:

• New soft push switches for tireless mixing.
• Smooth 60mm slide input faders or high-precision mixing.
• Selectable deck control (Max 4channels. A&C controlled by PGM1, B&D controlled by PGM2).
• New SHIFT switch feature to customize deck control functions.
• Adjustable LED light volume.
• Can control up to more than 160 parameters of compatible software.
• A compact, durable and easy-to-operate body design that ensures excellent reliability on tour .
• Traditional Vestax white gold face plate and knobs.
• Bundled software: Native Instruments Traktor LE.

This is a very nicely done, lo fi video for Jon Hopkins’ Insides.

Production details below.

via DominoRecords:

Director/Editor/Post Production: Bison
Producer: James Bretton
Production Company: Blinkink
Additional Camera: Chris Nunn

How the video was made:

We approached Jon with the idea for arm-mounted cameras a few weeks before the show, and luckily he was up for it, so we broke out the power tools and set about making some mounts: After dissecting a couple of tripods and orthapaedic elbow supports, we had a solid platform for the miniature cameras.

We covered the gig with 5 cameras in total: 2 roving cameras, 1 static, and the 2 ‘lipstick’ arm cameras that were wired into tape recorders at the back of the stage. The trickiest part was getting the cameras on and off Jon’s arms whilst he continued to play as his set is more or less continuous..

The ‘post production’ on this video was unorthodox: All analogue and all in-camera.

We were really keen on making a gritty, abstract performance video. So we set to work with magnets, screwdrivers, VHS tapes and a host of other techniques: We made an initial edit and played this back through a £3 TV we picked up at the local market, and ‘manipulating’ it with a screwdriver allowed us to flutter and flicker the image on screen. We’d also bought an industrial strength magnet and used that to distort and twist the picture on itself. We made several runs through the track in this way before playing everything out to VHS (with obligatory stomping and scrunching).

This effectively gave us a new set of footage to make a tailored, grunged-up edit of the original piece.

Ableton Live: This tip, via Bjorn Vayner, demonstrates how to transpose clips in Live using a MIDI keyboard.

Ableton Live 8: This is a sneak preview of a new monome app, 7Up Live:

Little teaser of new Melodizer features in SevenUpLive that are currently in development. All I can say is it is very addictive and amazing. You can rip through chords and scales and turn them inside out in a fluid way. The kind of thing you might have spent years learning to do in music theory are at your finger tips. Just the thing to inspire creativity.

7up Live is a Java application that combines 8 different monome applications into one interface.  With it, your monome communicates with Ableton Live 7 via MIDI and allows MLR-like functionality along with other goodies like sliders, sequencing melodies, creating patterns of beats, saving/loading/queueing your songs, and more.

This video captures Edison performing live at Love Tech, using:

• monome lunchbox
• the lovebox
• WTPA sampler
• nintendo ds (running proteinds)

via Matthew Davidson

This video captures excerpts from the world’s first live performance of a Beethoven symphony by a digital orchestra (The Fauxharmonic Orchestra).

This performance was part of an ongoing concert series presenting all nine Beethoven symphonies through 2011.

You can get details and more performance examples at The Fauxharmonic Orchestra site.

Do you think you could recognize The Fauxharmonic Orchestra on a recording?

via Fauxharmonic