control surfaces

Yamaha today announced a new, budget version of it’s innovative Tenori On music synthesizer – the Tenori On Orange, TRN-O.

The TRN-O is an entry-level version of the Tenori On, offering the same basic musical functionality, but using orange LEDs, stripping away the backlighting LEDs and using a basic white plastic case.

Surprisingly for a budget item, Yamaha did not announce the pricing for the new Tenori On Orange. The TRN-O is expected to be available in December.

Yamaha also confirmed a free forthcoming firmware update for Tenori-On customers, expected to be available in January. The update will address the syncing of Tenori-On to external DAW applications and offer an improved MIDI sync implementation. Read more…

Novation has announced Novation Automap for iPhone and iPod touch, a new application that turns your device into a multi-touch MIDI controller.

Description:

The power behind Novation’s SL MkII, SL Compact and Nocturn MIDI controllers is now available for your iPhone / iPod touch, providing an instant and intelligent, wireless, palm-sized MIDI controller. Now you can use iPhone / iPod touch to control all of your music making software.

Whenever you want to control music software and the mouse is out of reach, Automap for iPhone / iPod touch delivers. And the possibilities are endless, give your artist remote control of reverb levels; a hand-held cross-fader for laptop DJ’ing; controlling multi-effects whilst tracking guitar; switching drum kits whilst you’re sat at your V-drums.

The Automap for iPhone / iPod touch app will be available to buy from the Apple app store in July. Combined with Novation’s free Automap 3 Standard software, or Automap 3 PRO, it provides two horizontal faders and eight buttons per page, displayed on a single iPhone / iPod touch screen. However, the number of pages and thus the number of controls is unlimited.

Automap lets you see at a glance how every control on your iPhone / iPod touch is assigned, both on the iPhone / iPod touch itself, and across your computer screen. Combining all this visual feedback with intelligent software browsing also helps you get to the right software fast! Control maps are automatically placed into categories depending on type (instrument, effects, mixer and so on) for quick and easy browsing and selection.

Although Automap automatically and intelligently maps to all major music making software, you will inevitably have your own unique way of working. Consequently, editing maps and re-assigning controls in Automap is extremely quick and easy. Simply click a parameter in learn mode, then touch a control on your iPhone / iPod touch to assign it. Double-clicking ‘learn’ allows you to ‘Click-Touch-Assign’ in quick succession.

Using your iPhone / iPod touch with Automap 3 PRO (available to buy from www.focusrite-estore.com) delivers some extremely powerful additional features.

Firstly, it harnesses the shortcut power of your QWERTY keyboard. It then allows you to assign almost any computer keyboard shortcut, and combinations thereof, to any of the controls on your iPhone / iPod touch. Editing maps is also improved, allowing you to simply drag parameters in the Automap Heads-up GUI from one control to another. Finally, with PRO you can use your iPhone / iPod touch alongside any other Automap compatible hardware controller and it’s all perfectly integrated for seamless control.

Details below. Read more…

2009 NAMM Show: Jazzmutant has announced the V2 software upgrade for their Lemur controller, along with price drops for both of the company’s multi-touch control surfaces. 

Jazzmutant’s Lemur and Dexter both offer multitouch-sensitive surfaces for music, with the Dexter aimed at DAW users and the Lemur a more open-ended system.

V2 comes packed with new objects and features that allow users to really interact with sound and manipulate it in real time. Workflow improvements, scripting additions and other features allow the controller to be used better, faster and more in tune with some of the most popular software applications around with Ableton Live users, in particular, benefiting from some of the new features.

Price Cuts

A V2-powered Lemur will be reduced to €/$1769,00 (£1,660) for a limited 60 day period, starting from NAMM. Jazzmutant will offer the Dexter as a DAW only controller at the heavily (and permanently) reduced price of €/$1519,00 (£1,430). Crossgrading from Dexter to Lemur will no longer be possible, the crossgrade from Lemur to Dexter remains an option. Read more…

Vestax has launched the VCI-300 portable DJ performance system.

The VCI-300 provides control over more than 90 parameters and functions inside ITCH. Two high resolution platters provide adjustable resistance for vinyl feel.

The VCI-300 also includes a built-in audio interface with a Mic input, stereo input, and 2 stereo outputs (Master L/R and Monitor L/R). With customizable fader curve control, the VCI-300’s faders have smooth, fast, and responsive feel – perfect for scratching, long mixes, or any other style.

Note: Vestax has issued a recall on some VCI-300 serial numbers.

Henry Faber is “an information strategist and lover from way back”. He likes to listen to Frank Sinatra, Portishead and a little Massive Attack.

But this story isn’t about him. It’s about his wife, who officially kicks ass. 

He’s got photographic proof (above).

Check out Faber’s story:

“2 weeks before my actual birthday, a package arrived at the door.

My lovely Jennie thought it best that at 32, I should be expressing myself in every way possible.

She made my photographic dreams come true with my 40D. Now she’s offered me the chance of realizing my musical dreams with the awe-inspiring Tenori-On.

I’m only taking a moment to snap the box as I have a lot to do. I plan on cracking this baby open tonight.”

You can get the full story at Faber’s flickr site. 

Let me know if you’ve got a synth spouse story that tops Faber’s!