Computer Music

Garageband: This basic GarageBand tutorial looks at how to reduce latency when you are recording.

via expertvillage

Want to get into electronic music, but you’re not sure where to start?

Well – you could do worse than reading the archives of Synthtopia and checking out Computer Music magazine’s Make Synth Music special.

I haven’t seen a copy of this yet, but it looks like it should be a good intro to synth music.

All the software you need is on the included disc, along with ten video tutorials .

Features:

• The history of synth music
• Synthesis fundamentals
• How to create classic riffs and cutting-edge sounds, step-by-step
• Free start-up synth kit – everything you need to create your own sounds with your PC or Mac
• Ten exclusive CM video tutorials on disc

Cakewalk has published an interesting look at Windows 7 for audio production:

Q: In what ways has Windows 7 been optimized, in terms of performance, for audio production?

A: Windows 7 on the surface is very similar to Windows Vista. It has the same audio driver support and same audio system infrastructure as Vista. However it’s some of the under hood improvements that are more significant for audio production. There are some interesting innovations and optimizations in the Windows kernel, making the OS more scalable for concurrent processing. This makes it attractive for highly multithreaded applications like SONAR. Additionally there are various new API’s/SDK’s that may be of significance to developers.

The article goes into exquisitely geeky detail, so it’s worth a read if you’re running Windows.

See, too, Peter Kirn’s equally geektacular Window 7 OS-porn at CDM.

This is why Max For Live will kill.

Got an idea for a cool new audio effect? Then Live code it!

This video captures akihikotube “building my original plugin with Max For Live (Ableton Live & Cycling ‘74).”

Ever feel like smacking your computer around?

Now you’ve got good reason. SmackTop is an open-source utility for Mac laptops (after 2005) which translates the accelerometer (Sudden Motion Sensor) data into MIDI data and audio impulses.

This lets you control your favorite DAW by tilting and smacking your laptop.

This seems like it could be a bad idea for a lot of reasons – but it offers a new, more physical way of interacting with music. Read more…