Ableton Live tips: This set of videos, via Bjorn Vayner, shows “features in Live you may have overlooked or forgotten about.”

Part 1 looks at ways to resize multiple tracks in the Session View and how you can continue a stopped Session from where you left off.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Part 2 looks at how you can change the tempo and/or time signature by triggering a scene, how you can expand the Mixer View and how to capture and insert a scene.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Part 3 looks at how to make custom names for notes or ranges of notes appear in the MIDI editor.
The second trick shows a quick way to double the output of your computer keyboard.

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.

According to Yamaha, the new Tenori-On ‘Orange’ offers the same levels of creative power as the original but has been made significantly more affordable. Yamaha has replaced the magnesium casing of the original with a heavy duty and durable plastic casing.

“We know everyone loves the concept and fresh approach of Tenori-On, however, as you’d expect we have received thousands of requests for a more affordable version,” Yamaha’s Peter Peck explains. “We therefore looked at many ways of reducing the price without compromising the all-important product concept or creative operating system. By removing the battery option and the back panel LED’s and changing the chassis construction from the magnesium found on the original to a more affordable material we have achieved our goal of creating the more affordable Tenori-On ‘Orange’, bringing the full creative capability of Tenori-On to a much wider audience.”

Details at the Yamaha site.

Ableton

Description:

The new Live Intro has all the essential basic features as Ableton Live at a lower price and comes including a huge library of sounds from Hip Hop, Rock, Soul, Techno – Including 7 GB of Sampled Instruments, Drum Loops, Beats and Breaks, 200 Audio and MIDI Racks and Effects and 500 Instruments and Drum Kits from the Ableton Live Suite library.

Also included a Getting Started Manual, Integrated Step By Step Tutorials and Practical Song Templates.

Key-Features:

• Studio Quality Recording up to 32 bit / 192 kHz
• Full REWIRE Support / Slave or Master
• 64 AUDIO Tracks / Unlimited MIDI Tracks
• Instant Mapping of MIDI Hardware, Controllers etc.
• MIDI Sync to other software / Incl. Impulse and Simpler
• Supports all VST and AU Instruments, Effects and Plug ins
• MAC OSX and WINDOWS XP / VISTA compatible

Live Intro will be available shortly at a street price of €99 or $99. There is a free upgrade to Live Intro for  Live 6 LE and Live 7 LE users.

via Macmusic

This video demos 12Step – a neural sequencer developed by Ted Hayes at the Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) for New Instruments for Musical Expression (NIME).

Software used: Puredata 0.41.4-extended, Ableton Live 8, Native Instruments Akoustik Piano.

via Tedb0t:

first iteration of software model with manual (software) input, demonstrating high-weight selection, multiple concurrent sequences, weight randomization and mode changes.

Philip Glass & Steve Reich, eat yr heart out X-)

Part 2 below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

First step: You have to admit you are powerless over hypnotic minimal musical sequences….

Click here to view the embedded video.

uses four IR transmitter/receiver pairs to detect reflective objects (such as coins) passing under one of four tracks. When such an object is detected, an audio sample is triggered on the computer.

Sunday Synth Jam: This is a demo/Berlin School synth jam of the Moon Modular M569 Quad Sequential Voltage Source [Sequence Mode].

See the Moon Modular site for details on the M569.

via moonmodular

Changing sequence mode with RESET/SKIP/STOP and gates ON/OFF in row #4 (row #1-#3 are doing the basic job), finaly the SEQ. MODE switch set from 4-8 to 2-16 and 1-32. Master Midi clock – M553 – M563 – M569 drives an Oberheim Xpander (6 voices).

This video demos the Signal Arts Tetra MAPS Sequencer,which is now available in Eurorack Format.

via bigcitymusic:

The MAPS sequencer, short for MIDI Analog Performance Sequencer, is now in Eurorack modular synth format! The Tetra MAPS is an incredibly versatile sequencer, capable of producing beautifully complex multi-channel sequences or your simple everyday sequences. The MAPS has four(!) MIDI-CV converters as well as up to 32 midi channel outputs. This short demo shows multiple sequences “chasing” each other. You can set the gate time per step, which can give you some wonderful rhythmic variation as well as some nice random melodies. By pushing the corresponding encoder, you start a particular sequence. You can start and retrigger all of the sequences multiple times too. Awesome!

We’re sending our control voltages to three Analogue Systems voices, each patched a bit differently. All are using the rs95 oscillator with fine tuner. One has an rs100 Low Pass filter, one a Comb Filter, and all three mixed are running into the amazing Reverb/Chorus module.

This video demonstrates ducino2’s BBox Drum Generator – an Arduino-based MIDI sequencer housed in a banana box:

The BBox Drum Generator is an Arduino-based Midi sequencer mounted inside a Banana Box. The BBox contains a few preset drumbeats. These drumbeats form the basis for a drum variation algorithm. The amount of introduced variations is controlled by the blue rotary knob.

The two top buttons navigate through the functions of the BBox. The two lower buttons change the value of the function.

The BBox only generates midi messages, the sound is generated by a Roland Juno-D.

More photos and info are available at the Projectify site.

via hackaday

Health Club Music’s new ultra-mega sequencer is a full-on, knob-filled modular analog music sequencer.

The 32-STEP SEQUENCER is described as “a monster from another world.”

Features:

• 1 Voltage Controlled Oscillator/Clock (VCO) scaled 1v/Octave
• Main Speed Knob
• Fine Speed Knob
• 32 Course Tune Knobs
• 32 Fine Tune Knobs
• 32 Step Length Knobs (can be switched off and used as another CV out with CV 3 OUT jack)
• 32 Switches with 3-positions (Pulse/Off/Gate)
• Blue-Violet LEDs
• 1 Quantizer
• Random Mode
• 32×1 or 16×2 Modes
• Count Up and Count Down Modes
• Stop, Reset, or Reverse at any step
• Speed input jack can be used with a CV signal or expression pedal
• Transpose input jack can be used with a CV signal or expression pedal
• Hold Switches for CV 1 and 2 outputs (Holds the CV out until there is another Step switched on)
• Portamento glide for the CV 1 and 2 outputs
• Durable Metal Construction
• Fancy Hardwood Sides

It retails for $1,600.

Here’s an image that gives you an idea of the 32-Step Sequencer’s size:

via GearJunkies

The MIDIbox.org site reports that MIDIbox Sequencer version 4 will be released “soon”.

The rather tasty demo above previews version 4 in a beta state. Details on the demo below.

MIDIbox is an open source hardware platform for making MIDI sequencers and controllers.

MIDIbox Sequencer Version 4 Demo

[0:00] The electronic harp is played by Sculpture (part of Logic Audio) – a Physical Modelling Synth which I really like!
[0:00] MBSEQV4 plays the 16-step sequence with a new “step progression” feature: on each 4 step interval, the step is triggered twice. In addition, a customized groove template is applied on the velocity to accent the notes based on the master measure. This results into a more complex sequence which varies on each beat, but still sounds nice and not too random!
[0:01] to understand the “step progression” feature watch the GP LEDs – they are stopping each 4th step
[0:11] an Echo Fx is added with 64T delay. Note value is increased by +3 and forced to scale
[0:17] an additional VST synth is added which gets use of the new “step progression” feature as well
[0:21] Echo Fx: temporary increased to 6 repeats with +3 Note Value and +150% delay on each echo – let’s scrub the harp!
[0:31] adding drums
[0:41] adding more synth lines, again with “step progression” to vary the sequence
[1:04] adding a chord sequence played by MIDIbox SID V2 (a typical arpeggio patch is used)
[1:48] probably you haven’t noticed it due to the bad video quality, but I switched to another pattern which plays the electronic harp at C-3 on each step – the groove template is still enabled (boring?)
[2:05] now something completely different: a LFO is applied on the harp sequence with sine waveform and an interval of 4 steps. Force-to-Scale is enabled
[2:07] the LFO also sends a CC to Sculpture to vary the timbre.
[2:13] adding Echo Fx (1 repeat, 64ppqn delay, +150% tick) to this “modulated sequence”
[2:19] changing LFO waveform to Triangle
[2:31] changing LFO waveform to Sawtooth
[2:36] changing Echo Fx to 6 repeats
[2:46] slowly changing LFO the period to 16 steps (enjoy the change-over effects!)
[2:52] slowly changing LFO reset to 16 steps (enjoy the change-over effects!)
[3:00] changing LFO waveform to Sine, play drums again
[3:14] changing LFO waveform to Triangle
[3:21] changing CC offset of LFO
[3:33] unmuting the other instruments
[3:56] switching back to original sequence (my favourite moment
[4:16] muting/unmuting the toms…
[4:30] slowly muting the tracks
[4:40] thanks for listening!

This track is the result of a rainy saturday afternoon.

This is a preview of the Black Box music sequencer – a DIY project based on the Propeller chip.

The Propeller chip is designed to make it easy to rapidly develop embedded applications. Its eight processors (cogs) can operate simultaneously, either independently or cooperatively, sharing common resources through a central hub.

Details on the Black Box sequencer are available at the Parallax Forums.

via GlowingPhatRaver:

All sounds are coming from the black box.

This video offers a short introduction to Eloquence, a new MIDI-Step-Sequencer from Sugar Bytes.

Eloquence retails for 99€ / 129USD. Registered ERA users will receive a crossgrade offer for 69€ / 89USD.

Eloquence Features:

Sequencer Tracks

• Pitch – The pitch sequencer works in relation to the root key and transposes it by +/- 12 semitones. It can work in chromatic mode or in scaled mode which expands the tonal capabilities a lot. In addition, the pitch sequencer has a flexible recording function.
• Lock – Lock is part of the pitch sequencer. An active step deactivates the midi transposing. This is useful for keeping important notes and chords in key while transposing the sequence.
• Gate – The Gate Sequencer creates notes and determines their velocity.
• Mute – The Mute Sequencer is part of the Gate Sequencer and mutes the selected step.
• Gate Time – The Gate Time Sequencer determines how long a note is held. Notes can be held up to four times the duration of a step.
• Octave – This sequencer moves the pitch the pitch by +/- 2 octaves.
• Pitchbend – Here you can select from 12 pitch bend figures to be engaged.
• Chord – A Chord is generated using the current note in the pitch sequencer as the root note. Six Variations and four wrap-arounds for major and minor plus six special chords like diminished and augmented are available.
• Break – This sequencer lets you set a multi-trigger at 2, 3, or 4 times the normal sequencer speed, playing the current scale up or downwards or just repeating the current note. 18 breaks are available.
• Random – Each sequencer step can be replaced by a random value. Minor and major chords can be individually randomized to maintain the harmonic structure.

Action Section

• Gatetime – The Gate Time can be increased or decreased, depending on how long you press the button.
• Velo Gate – The note will only play if it is above the selected velocity threshold.
• Looper – The selected part of the sequence will be looped.
• Slowdown – The sequence slows down until it come to a dead stop.
• Retrigger – Re-trigger the sequence by re-triggerpressing the button; upon release, the sequencer continues at its normal position.
• Halftime – The sequence will play at half speed.
• Octave Up – The sequence will play one octave higher as long as you press the button.
• Mute – Mutes all data output.

Specials

• Internal synthesizer to create patterns on the fly.
• Special workaround for sending MIDI with the AU plugin.
• Instant keyboard control for Transpose, Pattern Select, Action Section.
• Pattern Sequencer.
• Sample-accurate timing.
• Individual trigger and sync options, swing function.

Eloquence is available for Windows and Mac (VST/AU) for 99 EUR / $129 USD.

JR Hexatone Pro (App Store link) for the iPhone is a “next-generation” hexogonal loop generation tool that uses artificial intelligence and advanced randomization algorithms to produce constantly changing sonic structures:

Imagine a 6-directional drum machine/rhythm sequencer where only your imagination is the limit. Every sequence can be totally chaotic, random, or strict and controlled. Hexatone is capable of producing constantly changing, insanely addictive rhythms. You only choose the best and then export them to Intua Beatmaker / desktop DAW via the built-in Wi-Fi server.

Amidio teamed up with Dream Theater’s Jordan Rudess to create the hexagonal sequencer.

Here, Rudess offers his introduction:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Features:

• Stutter, Chorus FX: Move your device and hear the mind-blowing stutter and chorus effects!
• SeamlessLoop: produce fantastic seamless ORIGINAL (your own!) loops and use them in Intua Beatmaker / desktop DAW
• Destrukto: a carefully blended combination of Noise, Bitcrushing and Destruction to spice up your samples
• InstantIDM: hold your finger in the center of the screen and watch the field fill up with random Cell commands.
• Randomize Samples for even more madness!
• Upload many samples at once to the wi-fi server by zipping them.

Here’s a look at Hexatone basics:

Click here to view the embedded video.

JR Hexatone seems to owe a bit of inspiration to the reacTogon, described as “a chain reactive performance arpeggiator”:

Click here to view the embedded video.

DJ Jazzy Jeff talks beatmaking with Ableton Live.

via AbletonInc:

DJ Jazzy Jeff is a legendary DJ and producer with countless hits and even signature scratch styles to his name. Jeff’s skills and knowledge have earned him a reputation as one of the industry’s musical godfathers. With over 20 years in the game and a back catalog covering soul, hip hop, jazz and house, he’s still making records and developing the art of the DJ. We got the chance to meet Jeff in his studio, so we took our cameras along. In this movie, Jeff shows us how he builds a beat and shares his thoughts on Live and Sampler.

Record and the future of Reason

By request, it seems we need to clarify our product road map and how Record and Reason relate.

Hopefully by now it is clear that Record is a stand-alone program. We simply call it Music Recording Software, because that’s what it is. Record is the perfect choice for anyone who wants to make music recordings, whether you’re a band, a songwriter, a guitarist, vocalist or all of that on different days of the week.

Record is also, thanks to its incredible built in mixer and effects, a great choice for mixing and finalizing any music production.

Reason also is – and remains – a stand-alone program. Reason we call a Music Production Instrument. It contains the ultimate software instrument set, combined with tons of great effects. Reason is the perfect choice for anyone who plays keyboards, in the bedroom, studio or on stage. It’s also great for all of us who love making music with drum machines, synths, samplers and effects.

Thanks to its powerful yet simple sequencer, Reason is also a great production tool. But in a slightly different way from Record, and that’s precisely the point.

For Record – think guitars, vocals, recording, music production and mixing.
For Reason – think keyboards, synths, samplers drum machines, effects – and music production.

What the two programs have in common is their purpose: To help you make more and better music, to sound fabulous and having a great time while doing it.

Some people will want to use Record only. Some people will want to use Reason only. It just depends on what kind of musician you are.

Those who are really smart will use both programs together; it’s the ultimate combination. The integration is 100%, making you far more productive than any recording application and plug-in combination available out there. Yeah, yeah, we’ve said that before, but we’re so excited about it, sorry.

The Future of Reason

But back to Reason and it’s future.

There are so many ways to use Reason. Stand-alone, as a production tool. As the best keyboard workstation you can find. As the ultimate instrument rack for your DAW. As an ideation tool. As a beat production station. The list is endless.

Even though Propellerhead have now introduced Record, we’re totally committed to Reason as a product in itself. Propellerhead will continue to develop Reason. Just like we always have. In fact we have a dedicated team working on an update of Reason right now. We always do.

And the same is true for ReWire, we will support it tomorrow just as we do today. Adding Reason to your DAW will continue to be the most powerful vitamin injection you can give it.

Which Should I Buy?

Yeah that is the question, isn’t it? What to buy? Reason? Record? Both? The good news is you don’t have to think too much about it. If you buy Reason now, you can add Record later, no problem. Even regardless of which version of Reason you have.

Or vice versa, if you buy Record, you can add Reason when you feel the time is right. We’ve made it simple and we’ve set the prices to make it a no-brainer to start anywhere and go from there.

Also, a lot of the concepts in the programs are the same, so if you start with Reason now, you will have learned a lot of techniques that you can use in Record later.

There will also be special offers for those who get Reason now and want to buy Record when it ships on 09/09/09. Exactly what those offers are depend on which market you are in, so please check with your local distributor.

So, don’t wait. You can’t lose.

Ernst Nathorst-Böös

Clear As Mud?

It seems that Propellerhead has a marketing disconnect with some musicians about their current product lineup. A lot of people have a better understanding of what Record isn’t (a DAW) than what it is.

Beyond that, though, they face the issue that what a lot of people is an update to Propellerhead Reason that adds recording features, instead of a new product to buy and learn how to use.

We’ve published extensive coverage of Propellerhead Record – but it looks like Propellerhead needs to do more to educate users about what Record is and what it can do.

Josh Clos produced this documentary short about John Keston and his Gestural Music Sequencer or GMS.

Of the Gestural Music Sequencer, Keston says, “I’m considering releasing a beta version of the application in a few months. Soon afterward I plan to release the code as Open Source so that the application can be developed further by artists interested in creating music through gestural input.”

Anyone interested?

See the GMS tag at AudioCookBook for more details.

Remember the Gakken SX-150 synthesizer, the cheapy $54.95 synth kit?

While a lot of people dismiss the Gakken SX-150 as a music toy, it’s really a platform for experimentation, because it’s cheap enough to hack on without too many worries.

With the addition of a MIDI input and a 1/4′ input audio output, the Gakken SX-150 becomes a great-sounding synth module, something you can sequence with Ableton Live or any other MIDI sequencer.

This video, via kbroom, shows what the Gakken SX-150 synth can do.

Detail on the hack are available at MrBooks’s site.

Instructables has a new DIY project for creating a step sequencer for music:

One of the keys to making good music is mindless repetition. That is what the simple sequencer is great at. It does the same thing over and over again in an eight note sequence. You can adjust the frequency of the note, the duration of the note and the pause between notes. If you get really good, you can anticipate the next note and change things up on the fly. This little box is sure to provide endless hours of fun.

The project is probably not for the first timer. Details of what you need in order to make this are available here.

Mrac Labs has launched Symbolic Composer 6.0.5 Mac and Symbolic Composer 6.0.1 Windows – now with support for making music from the signals from NASA satellites.

Symbolic Composer 6 is one of the largest high-level music language available, and it is context-free, which means it suits any style. It is based on a written language based on standards, and it also includes a complete collection of mathematical libraries, together with integrated LISP programming environment to make hacks.

Recent additions include musical Space-Weather Monitoring, H1N1 sequence handling and eval-definition & process-evaluation.

“Now SCOM includes NASA Satellites in the composer’s toolbox. The interface functions enables you to read realtime data from NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center. Values are returned as vectors, that can easily be converted to melodic lines, and other compositional parameters”, explains composer Janusz Podrazik.

ACE Satellite Solar Wind Electron Proton Alpha Monitor interface reads solar wind proton density and speed. ACE Satellite Magnetometer interface reads x, y and z component strengths of earth’s magnetic field.

What does it mean for a composer not familiar in Astronomy?

“Solar Wind and Earth’s Magnetic Field protect our planet from Cosmic Radiation. Sun modulates everything on Earth, no matter if it is a Revolution, or a War triggered by Sunspot Activity, or increase/decrease of activity causing Ice-Age, or Climate Warming or Evolution Jumps, not to mention Potential Catastrophic Plasma-Eruptions as warned by NASA, historically documented in the cave-art in ten thousands of years ago”, developer Peter Stone comments.

“Set your controls to the sun. If you look for novelty ideas for music, specially if the target is in 2012-boom/doom new-age scenarios.”

Other realtime sources of interest are 3-5 minute captures of Moscow Neutron Monitor, Sweden Kiruna Magnetosphere, global economy stocks, or H1N1 genetic sequences.

Details on this release of Symbolic Composer below.

SCOM The Music Language

• Music Language, that allows composing music of any style and complexity.
• Historical & Contemporary Music functions supply the classic compositional tools.
• Complete Chord, Scale and Microtonal libraries, and you are free to discover your own ones, too.
• Mathematical Generators & Processors provide advanced fractals, chaos and number-theory functions.
• Symbolic Generators & Processors allow recursion, l-systems, fibonacci, and other special solutions.
• Programmable Neurons supply added intelligence to instrumentation.
• Programmable Phrase Library allows sequential drum and chording pattern generation.
• Standard MIDI file output. This makes SCOM a perfect partner no matter of the software and hardware you are working with.
• Build-in HyperHelp & Search helps using the system.
• Over 1000 Algorithms included, each freely combinable to each other for exponential creative freedom.
  System Requirements

Mac OS 8-9, OSX, PPC and Intel Mac, 1024-4096 MB RAM
Windows 1024-4096 MB RAM

Authorization

SCOM runs first on Demo Mode, which cancels most functions. Full interface and documentation can be browsed. Authorization restores full functionality.

via Thomas Dolby

This is a demo of the TF50 Modular Synthesizer, a DIY project based on designs of Thomas Henry and MFOS.

via MRBLITZER