AudioThing has released Glass for Native Instruments Kontakt, a new sample library based on samples from a wine ballon glass.
Hits were sampled with fingers, a piano hammer, a metal stick, and palm of the hand. Additional sounds produced with wet fingers on the border, small screws thrown inside the goblet, and processed slowed down hits for the atmospheric pads.
Here’s an audio demo of Glass: Continue reading
This video captures a performance by Conrad Tao of his work, iridescence, for piano and iPad.
The composition, from 18-year-old American pianist/composer Tao’s debut album Voyages, features the Reactable Mobile app on his Apple iPad. In the piece, Reactable is used for both synth lines and real-time processing of his piano playing, via the iPad microphone.
The work manages to bridge the electroacoustic tradition of classical electronic music and the genre-making ambient work of Brian Eno and Harold Budd. It also is a great demonstration of the possibilities of inexpensive music apps, in creative hands.
Most of all, though, Tao’s work is interesting as a performance, which is too rare in both electroacoustic and ambient music.
Here’s some background on the composition: Continue reading
The HTML 5 Drum Machine is a browser-based virtual instrument, created by Jamie Thomson, that is inspired by old-school hardware. Continue reading
Developer Matthias Schorer has updated Step Sequencer for iPad, adding the most frequently requested feature – direction control.
Step Sequencer 1.2 now lets you select between up, up-down, up single shot and up-down single shot.
Step Sequencer is inspired by old-school modular sequencers and can be used to control any background MIDI enabled App on the iPad, as well as external MIDI devices. Continue reading
Tracktion Software Corporation (TSC) has announced that Tracktion 4 is now available for 64-bit Linux systems, as a public beta.
The Linux version joins the Mac & WIndows versions of Tracktion 4, introduced at this year’s NAMM Show.
?Linux users, much like Tracktion users, have always been on the cutting edge of technology and willing to look beyond the status quo for alternative solutions,? explained Julian Storer, creator and chief developer of Tracktion software. Continue reading
Music software company Cakewalk today announced the availability of Music Creator 6 Touch on Steam, a popular gaming and entertainment software platform (Portal, Counter-Strike, etc).
Music Creator 6 Touch works on any Windows 7 or 8 PC to create original music.The software has tools, loops, instruments, and FX needed to create, edit, and mix music. Users can share their music using SoundCloud to post music on Facebook and Twitter (or the “old fashioned” way, by burning a CD).
Music Creator 6 Touch also adds touch support for Intel-inspired Ultrabooks and other Windows 8 touch-enabled devices. Using the same multi-touch gestures familiar to smartphone users, musicians can interact directly with Music Creator 6 Touch on their computer screen for a groundbreaking experience.
Previously available as a download from Cakewalk’s store, Music Creator 6 Touch is is the first major music title to appear on Steam, Valve’s game and entertainment delivery platform.
Pricing and availability: Music Creator 6 Touch is available for $49.99/£39.99/49.99Euro on the Cakewalk Store and Steam. Visit Cakewalk for more information.