It’s been a long time since Microsoft came out with something cool enough to make people drool, but VPlay could break that dry spell.

VPlay is a multi-touch tabletop application that lets you mix and manipulate multiple video streams in real-time.

According to the Microsoft researchers behind VPlay:

Our aim is to explore how such an interactive surface can support and augment practices around VJing – a form of video performance art that is becoming increasingly popular in nightclubs and other music events. We conclude with observations from a field deployment, which highlight some initial thoughts and reflections on our design rationale.

That description doesn’t really do VPlay justice, so I’ve embedded another demo video below.

Check it out and let me know what you think of Microsoft VPlay!

Click here to view the embedded video.

We recently posted 7 Reasons To Hate Microsoft Songsmith, because we, along with many others, found the results of Microsoft’s new music creation app to be pretty spectacularly awful. Songsmith songs are so bad that they have become almost revered for their badness.

This video, via SonicState, though, shows you another side of the story.

It lets you meet some of the people behind Microsoft’s Songsmith music creation software, Dan and Sumit, and learn about the ideas behind the software. The video is fascinating, because it makes you realize that, there’s an amazing amount of science, statistics and music theory behind Songsmith.

Do you think it’s time to reconsider Songsmith? Could version 2 actually be something pretty amazing?

Linus Torvalds, the father of the Linux operating system, is now a Microsoft fan – thanks to Microsoft Songsmith:

This may be a shock to everybody, but I have to admit that I’m not generally a huge fan of most Microsoft software (”No, really, Linus? Tell us more!”).

But I may have to admit that I was wrong.

No, I’m not talking about Windows 7. I’m talking about Songsmith, which is clearly a true work of genius. Yes, yes, the commercials are painfully cheesy, but when used right the end result is undeniably art.

The thing that convinced me was hearing Billy Idol’s “White Wedding” as re-interpreted through Songsmith. Nobody will ever convince me that that isn’t just impossibly brilliant. Sheer genius on just an incredible scale. I’m getting carpal tunnel syndrome from just clicking “Replay” over and over again.

Torvalds may be writing with tongue planted firmly in cheek – but it’s amazing to see how Songsmith has taken on a life of its own, in a way its creators never intended!

I know that you all are enjoying the great music people are making with Microsoft Songsmith, so I though you’d enjoy the Microsoft Songsmith lite jazz version of Van Halen’s Running With Devil.

Microsoft’s Songsmith is an app that is designed to let you makes songs by singing into your Windows computer:

Songsmith generates musical accompaniment to match a singer’s voice. Just choose a musical style, sing into your PC’s microphone, and Songsmith will create backing music for you. Then share your songs with your friends and family, post your songs online, or create your own music videos.

For people that do know how to write music, Microsoft says:

Songsmith is for you too. Songwriters can use Songsmith as an “intelligent scratchpad” to work with new melodies, quickly turning your scratch recordings of new ideas into richer, deeper explorations. Musicians can also play instruments right into Songsmith, instead of singing.

This might be an interesting product, but their promotional video tries your patience, and the app’s graphic design is pretty horrible. That may be enough to keep people away. 

Let me know what you think!

• Zune Owners Everywhere Cursing That They Cheaped Out
  Posted on Wednesday, December 31st, 2008 in iPods & Portable Media Players – Comments: (4)
  Zune owners everywhere are cursing the day that they cheaped out and bought a Microsoft portable media player, because Zunes around the world today are dying.
• Deadmau5 at Bleu
  Posted on Saturday, January 3rd, 2009 in Music Videos – Comments: (4)
  

  Click here to view the embedded video.

  
  Saturday mau5 porn: A promo video for Deadmau5 when they showed up to Bleu in Detroit.Deadmau5 eye candy courtesy of Natalie – one of Detroit’s top Go Go Dancers. She showed up in style with her very own mau5 head.
• M-Audio Tweaks Torq DJ Software
  Posted on Monday, December 29th, 2008 in DJ – Comments: (2)
  M-Audio has released Torq 1.5 DJ software for Mac OS X and Windows.
• Depeche Mode Do Joan Rivers, But It Looks Like They Were Faking It|Posted on Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 in Electronic Musicians – Comments: (2)
  

  Click here to view the embedded video.

  
  Here’s a vintage Depeche Mode performance on the Joan Rivers Show from 1986. We’ve been giving Dali grief for a couple of weeks over her faked performances – is this Depeche Mode performance just as bogus?
• The Strangest Music Video Of 2008
  Posted on Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 in Music Videos – Comments: (2)

  Click here to view the embedded video.

  
  I’ve been easy on Synthtopia readers lately, carefully avoiding posting videos that could scorch your eyeballs, give you nightmares and even warp your unborn progeny. This video, Thriller in the Nude, merits your attention, though, as it may be the strangest music video of 2008. 

If you enjoy the content on this site, please make sure to subscribe to the RSS feed.

Zune

Locking up and turning into bricks!

Call it the Zunepocolypse. Call it Y2K 9 years late. 

Chances are, though, if you’ve got a Zune 30, it’s a doorstop. 

Here’s Microsoft’s official word:

We were made aware of a widespread issue facing owners of Zune 30 devices this morning.  We have a technical team working hard to isolate the issue right now and will update everyone as much as possible.  Thanks for your patience while we get to the bottom of this.

Got a Zune? Feel free to vent about it in the comments!

All about Brian Eno, rap style.

Remember the Zune?

Microsoft’s portable media player?

Anyone?

Today Microsoft announced a limited-edition version of the Zune that looks kind of cool. The Joy Division Zune, designed by Peter Saville, is being released to coincide with the DVD release of the documentary Joy Division. The film will come pre-loaded on a custom black Zune 80 player that is etched with an adaptation of Saville’s iconic artwork from Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures album.

Five hundred limited- edition players will be available for purchase June 17 for $399.99 through http://www.zune.net and http://www.zuneoriginals.net.

Their timing is good, because it seems like a lot of musicians are bailing on Windows and moving to Macs. Cakewalk has put together a lot of useful information that should help people that want to stick with Windows make the most of Vista.

The site provides links to hardware and software products that natively support Windows Vista, and information on how to choose the right version of Vista. The site also has news stories that concern Vista and it’s applications for music creation and audio production.

At the Wall Street Journal’s D: All Things Digital conference, Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer unveiled Microsoft Surface, the first in a new category of surface computing products from Microsoft. Surface turns a tabletop into a dynamic surface that provides interaction with all forms of digital content through gestures, touch and physical objects.

While no musical applications were mentioned in the announcement, Microsoft Surface appears to be a mainstream implementation of technologies pioneered by the Lemur and the Reactable. The potential for music applications could be endless.

Surface is a 30-inch display in a table-like form factor that small groups can use at the same time. The intuitive user interface works without a traditional mouse or keyboard, allowing people to interact with content and information on their own or collaboratively with their friends and families, just like in the real world.

“With Surface, we are creating more intuitive ways for people to interact with technology,” Ballmer said. “We see this as a multibillion dollar category, and we envision a time when surface computing technologies will be pervasive, from tabletops and counters to the hallway mirror. Surface is the first step in realizing that vision.”

Microsoft highlights four key features in their announcment:

• Direct interaction. Users can actually “grab” digital information with their hands, interacting with content by touch and gesture, without the use of a mouse or keyboard.
• Multi-touch. Surface computing recognizes many points of contact simultaneously, not just from one finger like a typical touch-screen, but up to dozens of items at once.
• Multi-user. The horizontal form factor makes it easy for several people to gather around surface computers together, providing a collaborative, face-to-face computing experience.
• Object recognition. Users can place physical objects on the surface to trigger different types of digital responses, including the transfer of digital content.