23 archive page

Brian Eno on Steve Reich:

I was interested in the experimental ideas of Cornelius Cardew, John Cage and Gavin Bryars, but also in pop music. Pop was all about the results and the feedback. The experimental side was interested in process more than the actual result – the results just happened and there was often very little control over them, and very little feedback.

Take Steve Reich. He was an important composer for me with his early tape pieces and his way of having musicians play a piece each at different speeds so that they slipped out of synch.

But then when he comes to record a piece of his like, say, Drumming, he uses orchestral drums stiffly played and badly recorded. He’s learnt nothing from the history of recorded music. Why not look at what the pop world is doing with recording, which is making incredible sounds with great musicians who really feel what they play.

It’s because in Reich’s world there was no real feedback. What was interesting to them in that world was merely the diagram of the piece, the music merely existed as an indicator of a type of process.

via The Guardian

Youtube has introduced a new search and discovery tool for music videos, YouTube Disco. Read more…

At the 2010 NAMM Show, John PIllans from Mungo Enterprises introduced one of the most audacious new synths  of the show, the Mungo State Zero modular synthesizer.

It’s pure digital hardware, but uses a hands-on patch-cord interface. It offers 8-voice polyphony, full patch recall and knobs for everything. When you recall a patch, the knobs turn relative to the saved state, and the saved patch cord state is used until you make changes.

Because it’s a purely digital synth, you can’t patch analog gear into the front panel, but this is supported via rear connections.

Here are a couple of audio demos:

 

 Mungo State Zero Bass [0:29m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Mungo State Zero Pad [0:44m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The State Zero is fairly massive, but is also immediate and tactile. It works with or without an external video display, which offers an oscilloscope view, current knob values and more.

The price, $12,000, is going to limit the audience for the State Zero synthesizer. It’s an impressive synthesizer, though, and it will be interesting to see if this technology trickles down into other products.

Check out the video, demos and specs and let us know what you think!

Video and specifications below. Read more…

Synth pioneer Don Buchla at NAMM, where he was displaying the Buchla 200e at the Noisebug booth.

NAMM Show, Day 3 highlights: We started off the day with a breakfast meeting with Michelle Moog-Koussa, right, Executive Director of The Bob Moog Foundation; and composer/musician Dave Gross.

Moog-Koussa gave us an update on the Foundation.

They’ve made some significant progress over the last year, but they’ve got a long way to go and will need a lot of help to reach their goals for preserving Bob Moog’s legacy.

We’ll have more on The Foundation in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, though:

• Take a look at the plans for the Moogseum;
• Check out their cool Mooged-out t-shirts, calendar and other goodies; and
• Consider donating time, talent or even stories about your experiences with Moog or Moog synths.

So why is Dave Gross, right, so happy?

Maybe it’s because he’s helping out The Bob Moog Foundation.

It’s a good cause – we’re going to try to help out however we can.

Read more…

Akai shows off its new MPD26 USB Midi Pad & Transport Controller at the 2010 NAMM Show in Anaheim California.

via PSSL01

NAMM: Vir2 Instruments has introduced Electri6ity, described as “the ultimate virtual electric guitar instrument.” Read more…

DJ Tech Tools takes a look at the new Allen & Heath Xone DX, at the 2010 NAMM Show.

via eangolden

This video is an overview of Arturia’s booth at the 2010 NAMM Show, via Sonic State.

At the 2010 NAMM Show, Roland announced the V-Combo VR-700 keyboard.

Featuring the best of Roland’s Virtual Tonewheel organ, full key multi-sampled piano, and pro synthesizer sounds, the V-Combo is designed for players who need an all-in-one keyboard for a variety of musical settings. Read more…