Jeez Louise shows you how to combine your digital synths with analog guitar effects – so you can create face-melting prog keytar solos.

via JeezLouise666

Features:

• Two independent voices each transposing individual notes and chords
• Chromatic interval transposition down or up as much as four octaves
• Natural sounding physics simulation without delay or artifacts
• An instrument itself with an eight octave extended-piano range
• Custom programmed module for ToneCore pedals and docks

The Muzemazer Chromavoder is a custom programmed module designed for use with all Line 6 ToneCore pedals and docks. Chromavoder simulates an analog circuit or physical device that harmonically multiplies chromatic tones.

The Muzemazer Chromavoder retails for $360. Audio demos are available at the Muzemazer site.

Moog Music has announced the MIDI MuRF Pattern Editor, a free app for Mac or PC that lets you create custom MIDI-controlled filter patters for the MuRF.

Description:

Available as a free download to MIDI MuRF owners, the Pattern Editor software allows players to create, modify and save their own filter sequence patterns. Its point-and-click user interface makes pattern creation a breeze and the on-screen knobs and sliders let users optimize patterns to real-world settings without taking their hand off the mouse.

The MIDI MuRF Pattern Editor provides easy access to parameters only available through MIDI CC commands and saving and storing patterns on a computer allows for an unlimited number of available variations.

“With a possible 64 steps per band and the ability to create polyrhythmic patterns, the MIDI MuRF Pattern Editor lets users tailor their patterns for a sound that’s uniquely their own,” said Moog Applications Engineer, Amos Gaynes. “You can store up to 22 custom patterns at a time on the MIDI MuRF itself, so you can take your unique grooves with you anywhere.”

Features:

• HardTune effect with user-selectable key or instrument-sensing
• Vocoder carrier can be driven by internal voice-controlled synth or instrument input (such as guitar)
• Transducer effects, such as megaphones, distortion and radio voices
• All effects can run simultaneously
• Includes Tone feature for adaptive live engineer sound processing
• Presets that can be edited and stored
• Instrument Thru allows normal instrument amplification and vocoding

TC-Helicon’s VoiceTone Synth will retail for US $395.

Details below.

HardTune: The jagged, stair-stepped vocal sound of key-based hard tuning is everywhere in contemporary R&B, Hip Hop and Electronica. This feature has eluded the majority of performing musicians until VoiceTone Synth came along. Now musicians can produce this effect live by simply recalling a preset and hitting the ‘On’ button. Easy key input methods include auto-instrument sensing or pushbuttons with a clear display of the current key. Other features of the HardTune effect include dry voice mixing, octave shift and character modification.

Vocoder: The vocoder in VoiceTone Synth is called ‘Massive-Band’ for a reason. It effectively scales resolution from ultra-clearly-enunciated Robot voices to the sound of the classic, analog low-band-count vocoders. The benefit is that, while typical vocoders require a lot of pre-processing, like distortion and EQ to hear the effect properly, with the VoiceTone Synth vocoder effect players can input signals such as clean acoustic guitar and vocode perfectly for sounds that until now have been impossible to achieve.

Voice-controlled Synth: The vocoder also features a voice-controlled synth mode – considered by many as the Holy Grail for vocoding. Prior to VoiceTone Synth, vocoding required a voice (the exciter), and an instrument input (the carrier) to make cool vocoded sounds. Of course VoiceTone Synth supports the dual input method, but for artists who don’t have another instrument or don’t play one, VoiceTone Synth can generate a synth part directly from the vocal and vocode that. The result? Generated vocoder parts with one input: the voice.

Metasonix TM-1 SE Vacuum-Tube Waveshaper and Ring Modulator demo

via bostich1:

Point Loma (bostich) jamming.

instruments: Metasonix TM-1 SE Vacuum-Tube Waveshaper and Ring Modulator

Roland TR-606Mutator

http://www.myspace.com/bostichpointloma

http://www.myspace.com/tijuanasoundmachine

In volume 5 of Electro-Harmonix Effectology, Bill Ruppert recreates the song Autobahn by the band Kraftwerk.

No keyboards,samplers or midi pickups were used.

EHX Pedals featured: MicroSynth, HOG, Blackfinger, Stereo Memory Man, Big Muff, Holiest Grail.

via Effectology:

For more information on these pedals and actual settings please vist the Electro- Harmonix Forum: WWW.ehx.com

Summer NAMM Show: Moog Music introduced the MF-105M MIDI MuRF – an advance, MIDI-controlled successor to its previous MuRF Moogerfoogers.

The MF-105 MuRF is a unique effect designed by Bob Moog. MuRF is short for Multiple Resonance Filter Array. The MuRF creates sequenced filter effects.

The Moog MF-105M MIDI MuRF retails for $449.

via MoogMusicInc:

The evolution of the MuRF continues with the MF-105M MIDI MuRF. The MF-105M combines Bob Moogs classic MuRF and Bass MuRF to make one powerful Moogerfooger. Its warm, resonant, 100% analog Mid and Bass filter bands bring you everything from shimmering timbral morphing and rhythmic stuttering to deep bass grooves, and like all Moogerfoogers, its built like a tank to stand up to the toughest touring and studio use.

We didnt stop there. In addition to the full range of Control Voltage inputs, it also sports an extensive MIDI implementation. Create tempo-synced filter sequences with MIDI Clock Sync. Change patterns with MIDI Program Change messages. Control front panel knob settings with MIDI CC messages and play the filters in real-time with MIDI Note On commands.

Its equally at home on the floor, table-top or rack mount, and with all this sound and control in one package, the MF-105M MIDI MuRF connects you to a world of sonic expression, with tight integration into todays performance, production, DJ and remix environments.

Musikmesse: TC-Helicon today announced VoiceTone Synth, described as radical vocal processing in a pedal.

VoiceTone Synth brings together a collection of extreme exotic and contemporary sonic effects, including jagged HardTune effects (Auto-Tune), classic Vocoder effects, a voice-controlled synthesizer and vocal distortion and megaphone effects.

VoiceTone Synth Features:

• HardTune effect with user-selectable key or instrument-sensing
• Vocoder carrier can be driven by internal voice-controlled synth or instrument input (such as guitar)
• Transducer effects, such as megaphones, distortion and radio voices
• All effects can run simultaneously
• Includes Tone feature for adaptive live engineer sound processing
• Presets that can be edited and stored
• Instrument Thru allows normal instrument amplification and vocoding

Details below.

If you’ve used the TC-Helicon VoiceTone Synth, leave a comment with your thoughts!

HardTune

The jagged, stair-stepped vocal sound of key-based hard tuning is everywhere in contemporary R&B, Hip Hop and Electronica. This feature has eluded the majority of performing musicians until VoiceTone Synth came along. Now musicians can produce this effect live by simply recalling a preset and hitting the ‘On’ button. Easy key input methods include auto-instrument sensing or pushbuttons with a clear display of the current key. Other features of the HardTune effect include dry voice mixing, octave shift and character modification.

Vocoder

The vocoder in VoiceTone Synth is called ‘Massive-Band’ for a reason. It effectively scales resolution from ultra-clearly-enunciated Robot voices to the sound of the classic, analog low-band-count vocoders we all know and love. The benefit is that, while typical vocoders require a lot of pre-processing like distortion and EQ to hear the effect properly, with the VoiceTone Synth vocoder effect you can input signals such as clean acoustic guitar and vocode perfectly for sounds that until now have been impossible to achieve.

Voice-controlled Synth

The Vocoder also features a voice-controlled synth mode – considered by many as the Holy Grail for vocoding. Prior to VoiceTone Synth, vocoding required your voice (the exciter), and an instrument input (the carrier) to make cool vocoded sounds. Of course VoiceTone Synth supports the dual input method, but for artists who don’t have another instrument or don’t play one, VoiceTone Synth can generate a synth part directly from your vocal and vocode that. The result? Generated vocoder parts with one input: your voice.

This is a demo video for the Pigtronix Mothership Analog Synthesizer pedal – a pedal that lets guitarist get in on some of the synth action. 

Description:

Pigtronix Mothership is an analog synthesizer featuring VCO, Sub-Octave and an “Intelligent Ring Modulator”. Fast note recognition an analog sound make this unique synthesizer ideal for use with guitar, bass, horns, vocals or any other musical instrument. No special pickup or interface is required.

At the heart of the Mothership is a newly designed note detection circuit that achieves high-speed and accurate pitch to voltage translation. The Mothership is a true analog mono-synth with a limitless array of tuning options between its voices. This pedal is capable of tones that have never before been available in such a compact and easy to use format as well as some new sounds that reach into bizarre and uncharted musical territory. 

VCO – The main voice of the Pigtronix Mothership is a VCO (voltage controlled oscillator) that outputs either triangle or square waves. The VCO can be tuned anywhere from two octaves above the input signal to two octaves below the input signal and functions over the entire range of both 5 string bass and 6 string electric guitar. An adjustable portamento (glide) effect can be added to produce subtle slides from note to note or outrageous multi-octave glissando maneuvers.

An expression pedal jack for Whammy control provides tunable pitch bending up to one octave using a standard TRS 20K Expression pedal. 

Sub-Octave –The Sub Octave is always locked to the input signal, providing a warm and solid fundamental for whatever harmony you create with the other voices. A dedicated SUB Out jacks allows low frequencies from the Sub Octave and Ring Modulator to be sent to a separate bass amp for maximum booty.

Intelligent Ring Modulator – In designing the Mothership, Pigtronix created a pitch tracking ring modulator. Tune this ring modulator to the sound you desire and it will follow every note you play, retaining the exact harmonic intervals between its output and the signal it is tracking. A “ring mod source,” switch lets the ring modulator follow either the input signal or the VCO signal, providing an immense array of analog textures and interactive harmony. The glide and whammy functions also apply to the intelligent ring modulator, letting the musician morph one harmony into another and then back again.

If you’ve used the Pigtronix Mothership Analog Synthesizer pedal, leave a comment and let us know what you think!

via gearwire

2009 Winter NAMM Show: DigiTech announced its new TimeBender delay pedal. The TimeBender delay features ten delay types including Digital, Analog, along with Fixed Head and Moving Head Tape delays along with a 20 second looper.

The TimeBender lets you create custom repeat rhythms or patterns on the fly by simply strumming the guitar. Up to 6 taps can be set to quickly create delays. DigiTech has also included intelligent harmonies that can be added to the delays. Choose from over 100 different voicing’s including octaves, 5ths, and 3rds.

The TimeBender also adds full-time tone control, modulation, multiplier, tap tempo and repeat ping-pong patterns on all delay types in an easy to use stompbox user interface. Four memory settings also let you save favorite sounds.

This is a demo for the Behringer VM-1 Vintage Time Machine. The VM1 is an effects pedal that offers chorus, vibrato and delay effects, with up to 550 ms of analog echo. 

Features:

• Get up to 550 ms of organic echo, chorus and vibrato
• Dedicated Delay, Chorus/Vibrato, Feedback, Mix and Level controls
• Blue status LED for effect on/off and battery check
• True hard-wire bypass for ultimate signal integrity
• Runs on 9 V battery or the BEHRINGER PSU-SB DC power supply (not included)

2009 NAMM Show: Electro Harmonix has released the Voice Box – a multi-functional vocal synth processor.

Check out the cool demo video above and let me know what you think!

Description:

The harmony processor creates 2- to 4-part harmonies directly from your vocals, in the same key as your accompanying instrument. Studio-quality reverb lets you independently add depth to your dry and harmony vocals.

The focused 256-band articulate vocoder, designed by the same EMS genius who made vocoding famous, features adjustable harmonic enhancement and controllable formant shift.

Features:

• Harmonically matches any electric instrument you plug into it
• Professional quality pitch shifting algorithm produces realistic harmonies
• The Low & High Harmony independently produces two harmony notes: 3rd and 5th
• 9 accessible programmable presets
• Natural Glissando
• Gender Bender knob allows for male/female formant modification
• Built-In Mic Pre with Phantom Power & Gain Switch
• Balanced XLR Line Output: Interface directly with any mixing board or A/D converter
• US96DC-200BI power supply included

Godlyke has released the Maxon AD999 Pro Analog Delay. 

The AD999 Pro uses four custom-made Maxon MC4107D bucket brigade IC’s with 900 milliseconds of available delay time. Delay repeats are then filtered using Maxon’s proprietary RMS level sensor and companding noise reduction circuitry to provide the most pristine, low-noise analog delay tone available.

The street price for the AD999 Pro is $399.99.

Description:

With a wider dynamic range than most other delays and a max input level of +12 dB, the AD999 Pro can be used with any input signal and also in amplifier effects loops. The AD999 Pro’s improved low range response yields a bold sound not normally associated with analog delay, creating a delay tone that is simultaneously clear and firm yet retains the characteristic warmth of analog.

The AD999 Pro features a new “Multi-Head” mode that feeds midstream delay signals back into the delay circuit to emulate the sound of multi-head tape delay operation. These feedback loops can be selected in a variety of combinations to create complex multi-tap delay repeats and rhythmic delay effects such as triplet- and sixteenth-note rhythms. The Multi-Head mode creates a striking tape echo simulation, or it can be used to create ambient effects such as large room and concert hall reverberation.

The AD999 Pro features Maxon’s standard DC to DC voltage converter/regulator circuitry that assures consistent performance regardless of AC power fluctuation. The AD999 Pro also ships with the new Maxon AC2009 power supply. The AC2009 provides very consistent high current that is regulated and filtered to provide stable, noise-free power. The AC2009 is auto-sensing, so it can be used anywhere in the world by simply changing out the detachable plug cord on the output side of the PSU.

Topping off the AD999 Pro are Stereo outputs that allow panning of the delay signal to two amps or mixer channels and mechanical true bypass switching on both outputs via a custom 4PDT low-noise switch.

For more information, visit their web site at www.godlyke.com.

The OpenStomp Coyote-1 audio effects processor, an open source effects platform in guitar stompbox format, is now available from Howler Audio.

The OpenStomp Coyote-1 is an open source audio effects processor intended for guitar players. With the Coyote-1, you can develop custom audio effects in software (like distortion, echo, chorus etc.), mix multiple effects to build “patches”, and exchange those effects and patches with the OpenStomp community.

A companion Windows application (OpenStomp Workbench) lets you combine effects into patches graphically and move patches and effects between the Coyote-1 device and their PC’s disk.

The Coyote-1 O/S is open source so you can tweak it to behave any way you like, and the hardware is fully documented so that developers can take control of the whole pedal, dedicating all available system resources toward the implementation of unique custom solutions.

While OpenStomp development is targeting the lowest common denominator – Windows guitar players – it’s an open platform, which means we may see a Mac OpenStomp Workbench. I’d like to see this in a modular form factor for synthesists, too.

The Coyote-1 retails for $349. Details at the HowlerAudio site.

I’ve had my eye on the Boss RE 20 Space Echo, which is based on the classic Roland RE201 tape echo, for a while.

The RE 20 Space Echo basically reproduces many of the effects that are possible using an analog tape delay, but does it in a reliable, affordable digital package.

This video shows a Moog Voyager running through the Space Echo and some of the effects that are possible.

If anybody has experience modulating the tap input with a CV trigger, let me know in the comments!

Behringer has released several stompbox collections, targeting different types of instruments and music. Each package includes 3 stompboxes, a pedal interconnect and patch cables.

Altogether, there are 5 available packages:

• The Behringer MTPK985 Metal Trio Package includes the Super Metal SM400 distortion pedal, Multi-FX FX600 multi-effects (with 24-bit audio resolution and flanger, chorus, phaser, …) and the 24-bit Digital Delay DD400 pedal (with up to 1.3s delay time).
• The Behringer TPK987 Blues Rock Trio includes the TM300 Tube Amp modeler, the UV300 Ultra Vibrato (with 60s and 70s vibrato sounds) and the DD400 delay pedals.
• The Behringer TPK988 Bass Trio Package comes with the BOD400 tube emulation overdrive pedal, the BLE100 Bass Limiter Enhanced and the BCH100 Bass Chorus, that includes the stereo chorus.
• The Behringer TPK989 Keyboard Trio comes with the UT100 Ultra Tremolo (with 60’s amps tremolo sound), the UC200 Ultra Chorus (thick and stereo) and the Multi-FX FX600.
• The Behringer TPK984 Jazz Trio comes with the CL9 Compressor/Limiter, the CO600 Chorus Orchestra (with chorus sound) and the DR600 Digital Reverb (24-bit high-resolution reverb)

MSRP $149.99 each

For the first time, anyone with an interest in DSP software development can write, develop, test, and manufacture digital effects hardware without needing any hardware expertise or developing or tooling any electronics or enclosures. This is made possible by the combination of Line 6’s ToneCore modular effects platform and Freescale Semiconductor’s software development tools.

Thanks to its unique modular design, every ToneCore pedal can be transformed into any other effect by inserting a new ToneCore Module into the ToneCore Dock. The ToneCore DSP Developer Kit (TCDDK) provides everything a developer needs to create their own Modules that contain any effect that they create, and can then be used in any existing ToneCore pedal. No hardware development or expertise is required, since the ToneCore platform already provides all the hardware needed.

Included with the TCDDK is a new ToneCore Programmer Dock. This Dock contains all of the functionality of Line 6’s existing ToneCore Stereo Dock, but adds a mini-USB connector that is used for programming and testing development using a PC. The TCDDK also includes a new ToneCore Programmable Module that can be programmed via a PC through the Programmer Dock to produce any effect that the developer creates for download. Since the Programmable Module is Flash memory based, it can be used over and over again while experimenting with different algorithms. Once the desired algorithm is complete, the ToneCore Programmer Dock can be used to program additional ToneCore Programmable Modules (available separately) that can be resold directly by the developer.

The ToneCore Developer platform makes use of two powerful Freescale Semiconductor devices. The Programmer Module contains a product from the Freescale JM family of USB microcontrollers, a versatile single chip solution that handles all of the DSP firmware storage and downloading, user interface (including A/D channels for the pots), Flash memory, and a USB port for downloading and debugging of software.

The ToneCore Programmer Dock (and every Dock and ToneCore pedal Line 6 has ever produced) contains a Freescale Symphony audio DSP56364 signal processor, a 100 MIPS, 24-bit device ideally suited for high performance, low power consumption products like ToneCore. This Symphony DSP provides more processing power than the solution in Line 6’s original POD, making it powerful enough for a wide range of audio applications.

Thanks to Freescale’s new Symphony Studio Development Tool, everything required to develop software with the TCDDK is available online. By using the extensible development platform Eclipse, Symphony Studio provides DSP users a fresh way to develop, debug and simulate through an Integrated Development Environment (IDE). The software can be downloaded for free at www.freescale.com/symphonystudio.

In addition, the source code for a fully functional stereo 2-band state-variable filter is provided that demonstrates the complete functionality of the user interface and the audio processing. With this code, the developer can immediately start modifying the example to create their desired effect.

“The ToneCore DSP Developer Kit begins a new era in audio effects creation,” says Marcus Ryle, senior vice president of research and development at Line 6. “Now anyone with a PC and the aptitude can aspire to develop the new effect that becomes a ‘must have’ sound for musicians.”

The ToneCore DSP Developer Kit will be available directly from Line 6 in the Spring of 2008, and will sell for $199 (USD). Additional ToneCore Programmable Modules will also be available for direct purchase.