Matrix

ToneBoard is a $.99 iphone app, inspired by the Yamaha Tenori On, that features a 10 x 16 tone matrix.

The horizontal line is the time axis while the vertical line is the tone axis. 16 different tones are distributed along the tone axis. Press each square to activate the tone and press again to deactivate it.

Note that version 1 of ToneBoard has a bug that causes it to crash on some iPhones. An update has been submitted to the app store.

If you’ve used ToneBoard, leave a comment with your thoughts.

via felixxing

Roland V-Synth Jupiter Roots

Description:

via Gtechture: “This is a video I made to demonstrate the rich and more classic sounds the v-synth can produce. The programs are original. All sounds coming from a Roland V-Synth 2.0 VA-Engine.”

Matriosity is a free Mac application designed to help with serial matrix creation – in case you want to get your Schoenberg on, atonal style. 

It lets you enter in a prime row, either as numbers (1-11, and either 0 or 12 for C) or letters (C, C#, etc.). It then generates a serial matrix, displaying the data as per the users’ preference as numbers or letters, and displaying the prime form of the matrix’s dyads, trichords, tetrachords, and hexachords. Matrices created by Matriosity can be saved for later and printed. Version 1.2 supports matrices of different sizes and repeated pitches.

Matriosity also provides audio previews (though it takes a bit of serial geekery).

Thor Polyphonic Synthesizer And The Matrix

Description:

With the step sequencer you cannot play chords with the Thor Polyphonic Synthesizer in Reason 4.

With this technique explained in this video, you can

via hydlide24

If you thought the two Matrix sequels were overhyped, you’re not alone. On the other hand, if you missed the animated feature The Animatrix, you missed some of the most exciting visuals and storytelling of the series.

The soundtrack is also exceptional. The Animatrix soundtrack features some great electronica that evokes the dark mood of the Matrix series. The Peace Orchestra starts it off with a moody cut that sounds superficially like a chill-out cut, but carries a darker message. Free*Land contributes “Big Wednesday”, another downtempo, moody cut. Layo & Bushwacka’s “Blind Tiger”, a cut that mixes lo-fi jazz samples with hip-hop grooves.

The Supreme Beings of Leisure kick it up a notch with “Under the Gun”. It starts with 60’s spy-flick guitar. Sexy processed vocals and vibes complete the retro feel and make this a standout cut.

Photek contributes a heavy “Ren 2″. It features processed guitars, mixed up beats, and filtered synths. It’s heavy and glitchy. Another heavy cut is Overseer’s “Supermoves”. This captures the Matrix feel perfectly, like Rage Against the Machine and Propellerheads did on the original Matrix album.

The last two cuts combine Don Davis’ soundtrack work with techno remixing. Junkie XL and Tech Itch do the remix work. Neither of these are actually in the Animatrix, and there’s good reason. Junkie XL’s “Red Pill//Blue Pill” is a good cut, but it suffers from the fact that we’ve heard too many Matrix samples mixed together with electronica already. Tech Itch’s “The Real”, has good hard beats and works better than the Junkie XL cut, but again, we’ve heard it before. Neither of these cuts take much away from the album as a whole, but they don’t add much either.

All in all, the Animatrix CD is a good collection of some darker electronica, with a range of down-tempo and fast numbers that sound good even if you haven’t seen the movie.