Open Labs has introduced SoundSlate, what they call “the ultimate virtual instrument player” and hardware DAW for your keyboard workstation or MIDI controller.

SoundSlate puts Open Labs’ music operating environment, including the virtual instrument host Riff, 8000+ of sounds and effects, a robust audio i/o, and a powerful computer core running Windows XP, into a 1U-ultra compact case.

Features:

• Professional music production for the price of a laptop.
• 24-bit/ 192kHz A/D converters (same as Pro Tools HD 192 I/O interface).
• 8000+ preset sounds and effects
• Includes Cubase LE, Sonar LE, LIVE LE and more.

Open Labs SoundSlate packages start at $1,999.

SoundSlate Technical Specifications:

CPU
Intel® Core2 Duo ® (2.8GHz)

Memory
2 GB (upgradeable to 4GB)

Storage
500 Gigabyte (upgradeable to 2TB)

Drive
Slimline CD/DVD Burner

Connection
(8) USB 2.0 ports
(1) Gigabit (10/100/1000) Ethernet port
(2) DVI Video ports (1 DVI-I, 1 DVI-D)
(1) E-SATA port

Audio
Sample Rates: 44.1, 48, 96, 192kHz from internal crystal or externally supplied clock (no sample rate conversion)
Bit Depths: 24-bit I/O, 32-bit processing
E-MU E-DSP™ 32-bit DSP with 67-bit accumulator (double precision w/ 3 headroom bits)
Hardware-accelerated, 32-channel mixing, and multi-effects processing
Zero-latency direct hardware monitoring w/effects
ASIO 2.0, WDM/MME/DirectSound Drivers
EDI (E-MU Digital Interface) proprietary 64-channel audio link over CAT-5 cable
Anti-Pop speaker protection minimizes noise during power on/off
Ultra-low jitter, clock subsystem: < 1 ns in PLL mode (44.1kHz, Opt. S/PDIF Sync)

Analog Line Inputs (2)
Type: servo-balanced, DC-coupled, low-noise input circuitry
A/D converter: AK5394A
Level (software selectable):
- Professional: +4dBu nominal, 20dBu max (balanced)
- Consumer: -10dBV nominal, 6dBV max (unbalanced)
Frequency Response (20Hz – 20kHz): +/- .05dB
Dynamic Range (1kHz, A-weighted): 120dB
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-weighted): 120dB
THD+N (1kHz at -1dBFS): -110dB (.0003%)
Stereo Crosstalk (1kHz at -1dBFS): < -115dB

Analog Line Outputs (2)
Type: Balanced, low-noise, 3-pole low-pass differential filter
D/A converter: CS4398
Level (software selectable):
- Professional: +4dBu nominal, 20dBu max (balanced)
- Consumer: -10dBV nominal, 6dBV max (unbalanced)
Frequency Response (20Hz – 20kHz): + 0.0/-.35dB,
Dynamic Range (1kHz, A-weighted): 120dB
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A-weighted): 120dB
THD+N (1kHz at -1dBFS): -105dB (.0006%)
Stereo Crosstalk (1kHz at -1dBFS): < -115dB

Digital I/O
S/PDIF:
- 2 in/2 out coaxial (transformer coupled)
- 2 in/2 out optical (software switched at ADAT)
- AES/EBU or S/PDIF format (software selectable)
ADAT:
- 8 channels, 24-bit @ 44.1/48kHz
- 4 channels, 24-bit @ 96kHz (S-MUX compatible)
- 2 channels, 24-bit @ 192kHz
MIDI:
- 1 in, 1 out

Synchronization
Internal crystal sync at 44.1, 48, 96, 192kHz
External sample rate sync via
- ADAT (44.1 – 192kHz)
- S/PDIF (opt. or coax 44.1 – 96kHz)

Power Supply
250 Watt Power Supply, Whisper Quiet Cooling Fans (Internal Chassis, Processor & Power Supply)

Dimensions:
19”(W) X 12”(D) X 1U(H)

via GearJunkies

KX77FREE’s Kx-Modulad 2.0 is a free “analog” style modular synth for Windows with stereo SF2 player and an additive synthesis WaveTracer to build waveforms.

Features:

• Stereo routing.
• 3 Polyphonic EGs with for each segment: curves, velocity and Kbd controls.
• 1 Monophonic EG with for each segment: curves, velocity and Kbd controls.
• Multiple trigger sources and sync for the EGs and the LFOs.
• 2 oscillators with 2 waveforms and 2 outputs with Phase modulation and Sync.
• 2 independent Sub Oscillators.
• 1 Stereo SF2 player.
• 2 Monophonic LFOs with 2 Rates and ASR EG.
• 2 Mulitmode VCFs.
• Mixer with 6 sources: Noise, Vco1 1-2, Vco 2 1-2, Ring, Vco1 Width, Vco2 Width and 3 outputs: VCF1, VCF2, VCA.
• Each mixer voice can be modulated by different sources.
• Noise Generator with an EQ.
• Sample & Hold.
• Ring Modulator.
• 6 host sync clocks.
• 2 Midi inputs.
• 1 Distortion.
• 2 Delays with sync, multimode filter and modulation oscillator with sync.
• 1 Scope with 100 ms of buffer size.
• Full Midi learn.
• Full NRPN implementation.
• 128 KX presets

via svartling

Since we’re approaching the holiday season, I figured I’d get in the “giving” frame of mind by rounding up every single loop I’ve ever posted on this site and zip them up into one file for an easy and free download. So here you go, everything from country to zeibekiko, 60 to 300 BPM, WAV to AIFF to REX2, it’s all inside this one zip file.

These are professionally recorded loops and licensed with a Creative Commons License.

Free Music Software: Cakewalk has dropped the price on its SFZ+ Professional SoundFont Player for Windows from $60 to $0.

Description:

rgc:audio’s revolutionary SoundFont player sample-playback engine, packed in a professional VST/DXi instrument.

Outstanding sound quality, stereo built-in effects, adjustable CPU/quality settings to adjust it to your hardware, fully multitimbral operation, multiple stereo outputs, several loading modes including direct-from-disk streaming and a beautiful interface make sfz+ the perfect choice for SoundFont users and professional composers.

Note: The download is currently missing in action. See comments below.

Illuminated Sounds has been doing twisted things with children’s toys, and they’ve got a free sample library to prove it – James’ Circuit Bent Library:

Here is a Collection of samples from a few of my own circuit bent toys. I’ve made a quick couple of videos that will show you the method of how I captured these samples. I edited them in Protools at 16bit 441khz as mono WAV files. Feel free to comment or request any more. Enjoy.

See the Illuminated Sounds site for more video demos and the free download.

Want proof that the world is going to end in 2012?

If that video isn’t enough, consider this: Auto-Tune has been named one of America’s Hottest Brands by AdAge.

Here are their reasons why:

Auto-Tune was, for a long time, a product that barely spoke its own name. Popular singers wanted fans to think they were getting the real deal, making Auto-Tune practically a secret. So Antares Audio Technology, the company behind it, just established and held brand position among the few people who cared — music-production professionals and hobbyists — with regular advertising in trade publications and online ads.”We were not the only pitch-correction software out there,” said Marco Alpert, VP-marketing at Antares. “We worked for 10 years to establish the Auto-Tune brand as synonymous with pitch correction. There had been a concerted effort to establish a brand position. So when the whole idea of this effect came out into the popular music world, immediately we’re who people come to.”

The result is record revenue for Antares this year, according to Mr. Alpert, and a lot of profit, too. “We’re having our best year in history,” he said.

So you can see and hear more of T-Pain and Auto-Tune until 2012.

Way Out Ware’s Jim Heintz demos iSample 2 (App Store link), and makes some pretty freaky sounds along the way.

Here’s what’s new in iSample 2:

• sample trimming with pinch to zoom, two finger scrolling and scrubbing
• sample length quantization
• loop positioning/viewing screen
• mixer
• delay effect
• a reverb effect,
• step sequence pattern editor with 12 separate pattern buffers
• a song mode that allows you to build songs out of patterns
• WIFI sharing
• tempo control with tap to set tempo

iSample 2 retails for $9.99.

via wayoutware:

http://budurl.com/isamplevid

This is a straight take without video edits of an iSample 2.0 demo session by Jim Heintz. It was done using the built in sample bank called Chillbeat 86 that ships with iSample 2.0. This demo shows only a small fraction of the features new to iSample 2.0.

iSample 2.0 is available at the Apple App Store by clicking the following link: http://budurl.com/isamplevid

This is a demo video for a video theremin, created with Max For Live in Ableton Live 8. 

via akihikotube:

Max For Live (ableton & cycling’74) Video Theremin Tutorial Patch

[BLOK] is a new modular synthesizer for Windows, originally designed as a platform for teaching audio synthesis to students.

Features:

• Classic synthesizer modules such as Oscillators, Filters, Envelopes and Effects
• Easy to use interface. Blok was originally created as an educational program to teach audiodesign principles. This means that each module is simple to understand.
• Connect everything. There are no limits on connecting blocks together.. if a block generates a signal, connect it up!
• Versatile DSP engine. Additive, Subtractive and FM synthesis are all possible. Let Blok be your synthesis swiss army-knife.
• Full undo/redo. Dont like what you have done? Go back to a time when you did!
• Low in cpu. Blok was made to run well even on low-end computers. On today’s machines, it tears up the track! This will let you make more complicated setups and get more bang for your synthesis buck.

[BLOK] is currently a free download, but the developer notes “only the buzz version is officially supported at this point! the standalone and VST versions are under heavy construction, use at your own risk.”

Propellerhead has released a new funk-flavored ReFill, Soul School, that features the soul sounds of the 60’s and 70’s.

To introduce Soul School, Propellerhead put together several very nicely done videos that introduce the library and the people behind it.

The Reason Soul School ReFill is available for download through Propellerhead’s web shop for EUR €79 / USD $99.

The Soul School ReFill sample library features twelve unique soul and funk instrumentals with all their musical elements – bass, drums, guitars and horns – in Propellerhead’s tempo-independent REX format, as well as a collection of the 60’s and 70’s-sounding instruments multisampled for use with Reason’s NN-XT sampler and Combinator device.

Composed exclusively for this ReFill and recorded using vintage technology, all material was played live by funk-savvy session musicians – simultaneously, without overdubs.

Every drum fill, bass line, guitar riff and horn lick featured in Reason Soul School is in Propellerhead’s REX format, sampled in different keys for full flexibility and tempo independence.

Complementing the loops and licks are the multisampled versions of the included instruments, as well as the Reason Soul Keys ReFill, containing patches for the Reason Factory Sound Bank and Propellerhead’s free Electromechanical ReFill as well as Abbey Road Keyboards and Reason Pianos based on the Soul School sound.

Using Reason Soul School

Click here to view the embedded video.

Using Soul School with Propellerhead Record

Click here to view the embedded video.

Soul Searching – Using The Patch Browser

Click here to view the embedded video.

We do our best to avoid “cute kitty with music gear” photos at Synthtopia. You can only get so excited about another shot of somebody’s cat peaking out of their Buchla modular synth or sleeping on their Korg OASYS.

Jaded as we may be, though, this is the cutest kitty DJ in the world.

Ohhhh, kitteh so cute!

We’ll try to redeem this post by linking to the source of this photo, the blog of Ryan Gruss – a drummer who says that “the world has been overrun by shitty producers with their 808 samples and re-mixed Ableton Live schlock.”

Gruss is drummer on a mission to put more groove in your mix, and he’s doing it by blogging a free professionally recorded drum loop every day. He includes MP3 previews, but also multitracked Logic sessions and mixed down WAV, AIFF and REX2 files.

They’re Creative Commons licensed, so you can slap it up, flip it and rub it down as long as you give Gruss credit.

Special Secret Groove Sauce: Gruss’s RSS feed has MP3 enclosures – which means it’s a podcast and you can subscribe to it with iTunes and get the free loops delivered to your ears automatically.

In iTunes, navigate to Advanced – Subscribe to Podcast and paste in his feed URL: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/ryangrusscom

DJTechTools has just announced a new MIDI controller inspired by classic video game systems, MidiFighter.

MidiFighter is an ready-to-assemble MIDI controller that features 16 game-style buttons and 16 programmable LEDs. It can be customized and expanded, too.

MidiFighter MIDI Controller Details:

• Release Date: November 30th
• Price: TBA
• Plug and Play compatible device compliant midi controller
• USB powered
• Must be assembled (no expertise required)
• 16 programable buttons
• 16 programable LEDS
• Expandable to 20 programmable buttons and 4 analogue controls
• Limited Edition 200 piece run in this configuration (black PCB with white LEDS)

This thing looks like it’s going to be pretty insanely fun.

MidiFighter is a DIY kit – but it’s not hardcore DIY – it’s funcore DIY:

The Midifighter kit comes in a flat box that can be personally assembled in 5 minutes. Entry level moders can select the arcade button colors they want when ordering and assemble the kit into a custom configuration that fits their personal style or mapping. The arcade buttons snap into place thanks to our hand made clips that require zero soldering. Just screw together the frame using a simple allen wrench, snap in the arcade buttons and your custom controller is assembled and finished.

The finished controller is plug and play with super high quality low latency drivers and will work with all midi compatible software.

Because it’s a kit, you can customize it. Use color-coded buttons. Use the extra analog and digital input ports toadd mod wheels, joysticks, sliders and knobs. And if you want to get hardcore, the kit is totally open source so you can hack the firmware.

Pricing is TBA, but we should know soon, because they plan to release this November 30th.

Anybody interested? Leave a comment!

Hollow Sun has announced plans for a new virtual instrument based on the rare and amazing Hammond Novachord – a polyphonic analog synthesizer released in 1939!

The Novachord is sort of the B3 of synthesizers – a huge, unwieldy beast that sounds like nothing else.

Unlike the B3, though, the Hammond Novachord has largely been forgotten. They were expensive, few were made, and few have survived because of their complexity.

The Novachord features divide-down oscillators and individual envelopes and LFO for each note. Yeah – this thing could do 72-voice polyphony in 1939!

Here’s an example of what this 70 year-old monster synth can sound like:

Imagine if this technology had taken off!

The Hammond Novachord Sample Library

Hollow Sun is working with Novachord owner Dan Wilson of Hideaway Studios in Bath, England, to capture the sound of this beast in all its epic glory.

Here’s what they have to say about this project:

Work has begun on this and tentative sampling sessions are beginning to reveal what lies ahead of us – textures that would not be out of place on a modern synth 70 years on in 2009 but with a strangely ‘earthy’ and ‘organic’ quality quite unlike I’ve heard before, full of flawed nuances and subtelty. The Novachord doesn’t generate sounds … it breathes them in gasps and grunts and squeals and whispers!

It’s early days. As time allows, I shall be bringing news of progress on a (hopefully) regular basis … so bookmark this Blog to watch us through our laboratory’s musty window. Dan and I aren’t quite ponsing about in white coats here (I favour a good tweed and a robust brogue!) but it feels a bit like it as Dan probes and regulates the 70 year old valves and massive capacitors with voltmeters and oscilloscopes and I work the resulting samples into an accurate representation of this incredible instrument.

No release date or pricing has been set.

This video, by Justonic, visually compares interval and chords in just intonation vs standard equal temperament.

Justonic has created a system that lets musicians play in just intonation chromatically by playing the root note on a MIDI tuning channel. Their software sends MIDI tuning messages to adapt your keyboard’s tuning to be optimal for the root note.

via NoiseForAirports

iPhone Music Software: Check out this visual demo of PatternMusic (App Store link) a gorgeous new matrix synthesizer for the iPhone.

PatternMusic retails for $4.99. Detailed specs below.

If you’ve used PatternMusic, leave a comment and let me know what you think of it!

PatternMusic Features:

• The Stage
  • Intuitively mix and arrange your songs by moving instrument icons.
  • Effortlessly add, duplicate and delete instruments.
• Multi-Touch™ Pattern Editor
  • Easily create unique looping note patterns.
  • Editor zoom – because not everyone has the same size fingers.
  • Up to 64 notes per pattern via the scrolling timeline.
  • Scroll through a 4 octave range for each instrument.
  • Solo mode – focus on a single part of your composition.
  • Dynamics for individual notes.
• Voices
  • 50 instrument voices to choose from.
  • Change voices at any time.
  • A full drum kit and percussion set.
• Built-in Help and Tutorials
  • A complete Help system is accessible throughout the app.
  • Access built-in and on-line Video Tutorials without leaving the app.
• Instrument and Song Settings
  • Tempo (including “tap tempo” for interactive tempo matching).
  • Time Signature
  • Scales – work within a mode and avoid “wrong” notes (more than 40 scales available).
  • Note length configurable from 1/16 note triplets to dotted whole notes.
  • Looping control – infinite or counted.
  • Configurable instrument start point.
  • Swing – create shuffle effects.
  • Transpose – up or down up to two octaves (an 8 octave total range).
• Song Management
  • Auto-save – PatternMusic automatically saves your songs when you quit or when you are interrupted by a phone call, and it automatically restores your last session when you return.
  • Manage your songs including song duplicate, rename and delete.
• Play along with your iPod Music
  • iPod Music Library access and control without leaving the app.
• Small app download
  • You’ll be creating music in no time.

Ableton’s Robert Henke (Monolake) discusses Max For Live and his history with Max.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Henke is one of the original architects of Ableton Live and now acts as part of the specification team, determining the direction for the future of Live.

via cycling74com

U-He has announced ACE (Any Cable Everywhere) – a new modular software synthesizer.

Description:

The selection of modules and clear layout make ACE the ideal instrument for newcomers delving into the fascinating world of modular synthesis. The number of ways to connect modules together is practically infinite, and you will soon discover how much more fun it is to make your own sounds in ACE than in a non-modular synthesizer.

Here’s what we know so far about U-He Ace:

• ETA: early December 2009
• pricing: 69EUR (includes 19% VAT, ca. 85 USD net when bought from overseas)
• formats: VST on Windows, VST/AU/RTAS on MacOS X
• system requirements Mac: Apple Macintosh Computer running MacOS X 10.4+ on a G4 processor or newer, Intel Core 2 Duo or better recommended
• system requirements Win: VST2 compatible host software on a PC with SSE2 supporting processor, Intel Core 2 Duo or better recommended
• number of presets and such: tba

Free Windows Music Software: Asymptotic Valley has released Inorganic1, a free virtual synthesizer for Windows based on subtractive synthesis.

Features:

• 2 Oscillators, each with subtractive option
• 2 Oscillator Phase Offset Modulations
• Adjustable Oscilloscope with input selection
• State Variable Filter with ADSR Envelope
• Amplitude Envelope ADSR
• Delay Effect
• Reverb Effect
• VST/Standalone

If you give Inrganic1 a try, leave a comment and let me know what you think of it!

via rekkerd

Steven Ness is working on a version of Terry Riley’s minimalist classic In C, using Max For Live and Ableton Live 8.

In C consists of 53 musical phrases, lasting from half a beat to 32 beats that should be played in order, but can be repeated any number of times.

In this video demo, Ness explains how he’s using Max For Live to recreate the logic of In C using the capabilities of Max For Live.

Best quote: “Oh my god! Max For Live Is Going To Blow Your Mind!”

rishabhrajan demonstrates his MacGyver multitouch surface, with some general applications and then with a Flash version of Brian Eno’s Bloom ambient app.

Below, a “paper piano”, created with Community Core Vision, Pure Data and Logic Pro.

Do you think 2010 will be the year somebody packages this concept and turns it into a general music app?