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Nine Volt Audio has released Action Drums - a collection of 100 new loops designed to convey movement, power and excitement.

Action Drums One Hundred is FREE through August 31st with the purchase of any Nine Volt Audio.

Video demo

Action Drums One Hundred can also be purchased separately for $9.99.

Specifications:

• The Download contains 100 loops in the REX2 (245 MB), Stylus RMX (248 MB), Apple Loop (82 MB) and ACIDized Wav (140 MB) and Wav (119 MB) formats (all file sizes are compressed .zip format).
• The REX2, Stylus RMX, ACIDized Wav and Wav loops are organized into 10 “Beat Suites”. Each Beat Suite contains a full-mix beat, a full-mix beat without the kick, a full-mix beat without the snare, percussion/hi-hat mix and a loop for each individual instrument from the full-mix. Individual folders containing solo loops of kicks, kick 4xs, snares, hi-hats, percussion, hi-hat/percussion mixes and tonal fx have also been created for quick and unique beat creation from the ground up.
• The Action Drum Apple Loops have been tagged for quick and easy loop identification.
• Using the Action Drum One Hundred loops within Stylus RMX requires the user to drag-and-drop only one folder into RMX’s included S.A.G.E.™ Converter.
• Suggested tempos have been given to each suite, but as part of the BPM Flex Series, every loop can be used at virtually any tempo while retaining their feel and groove.

Action Drums retails for $9.99.

The following is excerpted from recent interviews with Moog Guitar inventor, Paul Vo and Moog Music president, Mike Adams:

Moog is known for its analog synthesizers. What made the company decide to venture into the guitar market?

[Paul Vo] From my perspective, I’m just very glad they did. The people at Moog have been wonderful to work with. Moog’s culture is very receptive to innovation, yet also quite down to earth and realistic - just the right environment to develop the Moog Guitar.

[Mike Adams] We have been in the guitar market for years with our Moogerfooger line of analog stomp boxes. Introducing a guitar with innovations this guitar brings to the player is really the culture here at Moog. We have a criterion for any product that Moog introduces and this guitar met every element.

In lay terms, what are the advantages of the guitar’s capacity to sustain and mute notes at the same time?

[Paul Vo] Imagine trying to play a clean single-note line on one string when all the other strings start to vibrate loudly all by themselves. You’ve got to spend more care keeping the strings quiet than playing your melody.

In Controlled Sustain Mode, the internal circuit is able to distinguish between un-played strings and played strings: how is it possible?

[Paul Vo] Several tests are applied to bias a string either towards being muted or being driven. Deliberately played strings cross an amplitude threshold that varies according to a proprietary algorithm. Please understand: The strings are not either “on” or “off”; it does not work like that. Everything is gradual. A tendency towards sounding louder is “rewarded” with more energy; a tendency towards being muted is encouraged with active muting, etc.

The muting is not absolute; we still allow sympathetic vibrations when they are strongly related to the basic pitch of the played string or strings. With ‘Controlled Sustain’, the player finds it about as easy to govern the strings in the presence of strong sustain as it is to play an ordinary guitar that doesn’t have sustain.

Sonically, what is different or unique for listeners when they hear guitarists simultaneously employ this mute and sustain?

[Paul Vo] Listeners will hear a cleaner, more musical performance, and maybe of material that wouldn‘t often be attempted on the guitar - perhaps some challenging music written for the cello or transposed from the violin, or something entirely new.

Once again, using terms that a layperson can understand, how does the guitar’s harmonic blend control work and what does it mean, in terms of sonics, for listeners?

[Paul Vo] The harmonic blend is a way of favoring some harmonics over others in a note. It changes the color, the tone or timbre of the instrument. This is a difficult question to answer in words. Listeners are going to hear some sounds they have not heard before.

[Mike Adams] In laymen terms, the harmonic blend works by using the foot pedal to shift the sustain and mute power (we call it Vo Power) between the neck and bridge pickups.

What makes the Moog Guitar different from other guitars?

[Mike Adams} Only a very few guitars have the capability of sustaining notes indefinitely and none at all have the ability to electronically mute the strings. The Moog Guitar is completely unique: It makes new sounds by acting on the strings themselves, changing the way they vibrate or stopping vibration altogether. It's not some subtle difference; it's beyond obvious, when you play it.

How is the technology adopted in The Moog Guitar different from other guitar sustain technologies?

[Mike Adams] Our technology differs in several important ways. First, the energy applied to the strings is “coherent” energy. Coherent energy is energy that is applied in an intelligent way. When applied positively, the string sustain is very powerful and very responsive. When applied negatively (reverse power - which is not possible with existing technology), the string stops very quickly giving a staccato effect to guitar (similar to a banjo or koto). Additionally, the guitar has circuitry which senses which string the player is playing and sustains those strings while actively muting the strings that are not being played.

Can you tell me something about the Moog Guitar Strings? Why are they special?

[Mike Adams] The Moog guitar technology works using the physics of electro-magnetic energy. The Moog Guitar strings have a higher metallic content than most strings and is more responsive to the elector-magnetism than most other strings. In an emergency situation, most metallic guitar strings will still work they just will not be as responsive.

Is the Moog Filter used into the Moog Guitar the classic 24dB/LowPass?

[Mike Adams] The Moog ladder filter is a vintage 24dB/oct filter built with individual transistors in the classic way.

via Moog Music

Moog Music has announced the dates for Moogfest 2008 - October 13, 2008.

Description:

Bob Moog’s namesake analog synthesizers helped catapult the careers of such diverse artists as rockers Edgar Winter, Todd Rundgren, Gary Numan and Devo, funksters Parliament-Funkadelic and Zapp, disco producer Giorgio Moroder with disco diva Donna Summer, fusioneers Chick Corea with Return To Forever, Herbie Hancock with The Headhunters, Jan Hammer with the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Klaus Doldinger with Passport and Joe Zawinul with Weather Report, New Age icon Tomita and classical performer Wendy Carlos.

To honor Bob and commemorate his groundbreaking achievements, a stellar line-up of top Moog users will gather for an evening of ground-shaking music.

This year’s Moogfest will feature a new development… The Moog Guitar!

Performers Include:

• Umphrey’s McGee
• Eric McFadden Trio
• Bernie Worrell (P-Funk)
• Aron Magner (Disco Biscuits)
• Jamie Shields (The New Deal)
• Joe Russo (Benevuto/Russo) and more! …

When:
Monday, October 13, 2008

Where:
Hammerstein Grand Ballroom
311 West 34th Street
New York, NY 10001

How:
Tickets available through Ticketmaster

More:
For more information, visit www.moogfest.net

Play At Moogfest:

This is your opportunity to play at Moogfest 2008 along side the world’s leading players.

To enter your submission, visit www.sonicbids.com/Moogfest.

The MFB-KRAFTZWERG is the semi-modular version of MFB’s Synth-II. It trades memory locations and MIDI-control off for 37 patch connectors that allow breaking and modifying the internal routing.

Put single KRAFTZWERG components under analog sequencer control or let the whole unit interact with your existing modular-synthesizer-system.

Description:

MFB-KRAFTZWERG works as a stand-alone synthesizer without the need to patch any cable. The classic formation of VCO-VCF-VCA is pre-wired internally, complete with essential modulations. Therefore, you can play the KRAFTZWERG just like any other synthesizer using its MIDI-input. In addition, it may integrate into a full analog environment using control voltages – and benefit, unlike MIDI, from infinite continuous parameter resolution.

MFB-KRAFTZWERG offers a complete set for powerful and versatile synthesis: three VCOs with hard-sync, 24-dB-lowpass-filter with resonance, noise generator, ring-modulator, two envelope-generators, two LFOs and VCA. Technically and soundwise KRAFTZWERG is identical to MFB’s euro-rack-modules. However, the MFB-KRAFTZWERG comes in a compact format that is easy to take with you and faster in use. Your ideal analog partner on stage!

The price is 580 Euro (incl. VAT plus 10 Euro shipping, cash on delivery).

via Matrix

Atomo Labs has introduced the Mochika2 Sequencer Synth - now featuring Midi synchronization..

Description:

This synth features:

• one square and saw waveform VCO (voltage controled oscillator) with a huge pitch range, from subsonic to ultrasonic sound
• One square and triangle waveform LFO (low frequency oscillator), that modulates the VCO for the vibrato effect creating old school arcade Atari-like sounds.
• White noise generator that triggers the VCO and can create percussion like sounds.
• 8 step Sequencer with note on/off switch and pitch knob for each step .
• It has a 1/4 inch audio output, 1/4 inch CV Output (to control other analog gear).
• The Mochika features a MIDI input to sync the Mochika with any midi device sending midi clock signals, the mochika can sync 1,2,4 and 8 times the tempo of the master clock midi device.
• Also the instrument is ligthed with 1 ultra bright red led that indicates the LFO Rate, and 8 red leds to indicate the step that is being played. Very useful when you play it on a dark stage.
• The Analog Sequencer is packed in a cool laser cut clear acrilic case that shows all the hand made analog circuitry.
• The instrument is powered directly from 110V or 220V AC.
• Dimensions: 230mm(W), 170 mm(D), 80mm(H. incuded rubber feet and knobs)

You can find out more about Atomo Labs synth on YouTube.

Namba Gear has announced the Shaka Laptop Messenger Bag - designed to provide an optimum carrying solution for up to a 15″ laptop computer along with personal items.

The bag features lockable zippers for the laptop compartment, a thick shoulder pad which softens and redistributes bag weight, and a carry handle.

The Shaka Laptop Messenger is available in Mayan brown, charcoal grey and olive green.

$59.95 MSRP

The Electro-Music forum has the scoop on a new synth DIY sequencer project, the Roland 100m.

It has step repeat switches:- [1-8] and gate mode switches:-
[off/single/repeat/long] for each stage, plus random & pingpong mode.

It is based around a PIC, so is software update-able.

RYK explains:

I was inspired by watching a Youtube clip of the excellent
YMO in the studio circa 1979, where they demonstrated
the Moog sequencer on their track Rydeen.
Which used the step repeat function.

I went to China last year, and found some pretty obscure
8way switches, so I thought this would be a good use for them.

8 pitch steps can, if used carefully, make
pretty good 4 bar bass lines, by changing the length between
notes, and repeating some notes.

I was too lazy to use a decoder, so the PIC outputs BCD, which
is quite a waste of IO pins, but it keeps the board size small [no decoder chips]
It does have a random step mode, if that’s what you mean.

I keep wanting to add more features, but end up with having
to use “soft-selection” for modes, rather than nice big switches, which
is a shame . . .

More info:

• Synth porn pictures on flickr.
• Demo video on YouTube

This documentary tells the story of Paul Mawhinney and Record-Rama, the largest collection of vinyl LPs in the world.

Mawhinney was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. Over the years he has amassed what has become the world’s largest record collection. Due to health issues and a struggling record industry Paul is being forced to sell his collection.

A really interesting look at the historical value of vinyl, and the obsession of collectors.

via Crate Kings

Cell Phone Disco is an experimental installation made out of sensor equipped LEDs.

Here’s the artists’ description:

Cell Phone Disco is a playful experimental installation made out of ?ashing cells. By multiplication of a mobile phone gadget, only slightly altered consumer product, we created a space to experience the invisible body of the mobile phone.

Flashing cells basically consist of one or more LEDs, battery and a sensor that detects electromagnetic (EM) radiation transmitted by an active mobile phone. When the sensor detects EM waves it sets off the LEDs to ?ash for a couple of seconds. In general the ?ashing cells are enclosed in a plastic casing on a strap and sold as a fashion accessory for a mobile phone.

The Cell Phone Disco installation has two parts:

MOBILE AURA

Flashing cells with sensors of higher sensitivity are used to detect electromagnetic radiation of active mobile phone in a range of approximately a meter.  This way a sort of aura appears around the phone, revealing a part of it’s invisible body. While the user moves around talking on his phone, this aura follows the conversation as a light shadow through the space.

MOBILE DRAWING

Much less sensitive cells are used to create a canvas for an inkless marker. The LEDs get activated only by an extreme proximity of the electromagnetic source. Moving the phone close to the cells therefore leaves a trace of light, an temporary electromagnetic drawing.

Created by Ursula Lavrencic and Auke Touwslager

2008 marks the 5th anniversary of the Decibel Festival, an annual event held in Seattle that has now become one of North America’s preeminent electronic music events.

For this year’s event, Decibel has planned its most ambitious festival to date; featuring more than 100 acts from 12 different countries, organized within 24 showcases at 11 different venues over four days.

The lineup is not only massive but also the most diverse yet, increasing the international stature and range of artists, representing everything from underground dance to experimental audio / visual performance. Adding to the traditional club events, this year’s program will feature a two day dB Conference, Optical Multimedia showcases, a BBQ, an outdoor park event, an ambient dinner theater and an overall theme of sustainability in the arts.

The four-day Decibel International Festival of Electronic Music Performance, Visual Art and New Media will take place September 25th - 28th.

Here’s a list of the performers announced so far. Read more…