Check this out – this video demonstrates how you can extract one instrument from a mix, using Photosounder.

Photosounder is an image-sound editing program that it opens images and sounds indiscriminately, treats and processes them as images, and synthesizes them as sounds.

Sounds, once turned into images, can be modified to achieve effects and results that couldn’t be obtained in any other way, while images of all sorts reveal the infinite kinds of otherworldly sounds they contain.

via Photosounder:

Using the new “road roller” (smart erase) tool combined with the harmonics modifier and the magnet modifier, I was able to isolate the 24 second long synth line at the end of Ohio Player’s Funky Worm in about one minute. Back in March 2009 I tried the same thing in Photoshop and it took me about ten hours!

The result isn’t completely clean but what is shown here is the bulk of the work, for a better result only a bit more cleaning would be necessary. All the work done in this video is shown in real time, only the synthesis parts were shortened.

Luca Capozzi’s Modular Piano is an acoustic piano simulation created using traditional subtractive synthesis.

Details below.

via zioaxiom:

While programming my first library I ran into the need to have an acoustic piano sound. Since I don’t have a real piano to sample, I decided to synthesize it from scratch using “traditional” subtractive synthesis technique.

This is my first good result and has been achived only by using basic oscillators, filters and so on. The only downside is the limited polyphony due to heavy CPU usage, so I sampled almost every key and mapped them into a sampler in order to make this sound more usable.

Leave your appreciation on Behance Network.

This video looks at glitch sound design using Ableton Live.

via oubliettezombie:

In this video I outline a simple, iterative process for creating lots of tiny glitch sounds using just about any audio source material.

The devices used are the Redux, Reverb, Frequency Shifter, Simple Delay, Gate, and Grain Delay. Additionally, I cover creative resampling of your glitches for later slicing and rearranging via the Random MIDI device.

Enjoy!

Puremagnetik has introduced Waveframe for Ableton Live 7 & Ableton Live 8.

Waveframe is designed to be a great tool for sound designers and programmers. The huge library of simple waveforms can be used to construct complex soundscapes and instruments.

Two and four-voice templates are included in the library as standalone Live Racks. Open the templates in a new track and drag your waveforms from the Waveframe Library into the voice chain. Then add effects and modulations to tailor your sound.

Waveframe Features:

• Over 1700 waveform samples
• Over 30 waveform rack devices
• A selection of preset pads, leads, basses & more
• Tightly integrated native Ableton effects & controls
• Easy hot-swapping between waveform devices

System Requirements:

• Requires Ableton Live 7 or 8
• 500 MB of physical RAM
• 300 Megabytes (MB) of free hard disk space

Description:

Utilizing the same “Transwave” concept, Waveframe contains a collection of pre-programmed patches, over 30 waveform devices and over 1700 “frame” samples. Waveform frames can be modulated via retriggering within a patch. This gives a natural sounding progression over time as each waveform spectrum evolves through its phases.

By employing features only available within the Ableton Live environment, Puremagnetik has reconstructed the Fizmo architecture from scratch. From over 30 unique waveform groups, a generous selection of presets have been programmed that employ many of the same features as the original Fizmo. And just like on the original, each voice group is highly individualized giving patches a complex, evolving and rich tone.

via Puremagnetik:

Waveframe is a an advanced wavetable synthesizer designed exclusively for the features of Ableton Live. Based on the Ensoniq Fizmo, Waveframe contains over 1700 wavetable samples, over 30 waveform Live Racks and a generous selection of performance patches.

4Pockets.com has introduced Aurora a new pattern-based musical sequencing app for the Pocket PC.

This is a teaser video, no pricing or release date has been announced yet.

Description:

Aurora hides a lot of its complexity from novice users, but by switching to advanced mode you get full control over the built in instruments and effects, as well as many advanced modes such as the Atomizer and XY Mode which allows you to manipulate sound in real-time.

You can create your own instrument from recordings made using the built in microphone. Just think, a full drum kit of you beatboxing into the microphone!

Aurora allows a mixture of pattern based recording and live performance. You can piece together complete compositions, or simply improvise a performance, all of which can be captured to a file, for use as a ringtones, or to share with others.

An integrated mixer, combined with the ability to add audio effects and layer automation means that you achieve a pretty sophisticated sound in a fun and user friendly way.

David Vorhaus Analogue Electronic Music 1979

In this historical video from 1979, American-born UK synth pioneer David Vorhaus talks about two of his analogue inventions – the MANIAC analogue sequencer, and the Kaleidophon.

via JeffreyPlaide:

The MANIAC (Multiphasic Analog Inter-Active Chromataphonic (sequencer)) was an analogue sequencer having variable step lengths, and the ability to split sequences into several smaller groupings giving considerable sonic potentiality. Addition and subtraction of events was possible, as well as the possibility to chromatically correct the output during performance. David could program his MANIAC sequencer to play a background rhythm or combination of musical events, to then improvise over the top with another instrument or synthesizer.

The Kaleidophon was a double-bass-like instrument using four velocity-sensitive ribbon controllers instead of strings. The instrument is played entirely using the left hand, leaving the right hand free to manipulate the sound via a number of controllers and a joystick.

David speaks about the processes of making electronic music, and the developments that such possibilities can provide for the imaginative electronic musician. This excerpt is taken from the BBC 1979 documentary entitled “The New Sound of Music” hosted by Michael Rodd.

In this tutorial, Gareth Williams demonstrates how to quickly set the Jazzmutant Lemur to do sound design using Ableton Live.

Part 2 below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

via Jazzmutant:

Jazzmutant Lemur Weird MIDI Sequencer

via lostinetwork:

This video shows some applications from Lemur Breakpoint Object working like a MIDI sequencer, nodes triggering notes and fix them to a selected scale, minor, major, penthatonic, etc.

Also there´s a cc automation page to remote synth/sampler parameters.

The Main idea was to use it for soundscapes, and some pseudo random melodies.((Still in progress))

Touch DJ: teaser video

This is the early alpha preview of Amidio’s new app Touch DJ, expected to be out in September 2009.

A streaming radio station and mood-based music discovery tool, Ghostly Discovery (App Store link) is a free app for the iPhone and iPod Touch that lets you listen to the Ghostly International and Spectral Sound catalogs (full songs, on demand) and share your favorites with friends.

via ghostlyintl

Retronyms, makers of iPhone applications Recorder and FourTrack, have released DopplerPad (App Store link), a live performance music production application for the iPhone and iPod touch inspired by the Korg Kaossillator, Yamaha Tenori-on and DJ mixers.

Synthesizers, samplers and drum pads are combined in the app to create an intuitive, portable instrument.

DopplerPad’s interface imitates the standard DJ setup of a mixer with turntables on either side, but replaces the turntables with music-producing touchpads. The app launches to the mixer, where the user can access the two touchpads, playback controls, a crossfader and a loop bank that stores up to 14 loops.

DopplerPad is $9.99 in the iTunes App Store. Details below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Building a loop on one of DopplerPad’s velocity-sensitive touchpads begins with adjusting the tempo and number of beats. Thirty-seven instruments are available to design melodies and harmonies with bass, percussion and additional sound effects, while four samplers allow users to record snippets of any audio to add to the mix. The gate/arpeggiator and scale editor polish the loop with unique rhythms that are always in tune.

Retronyms is holding a video contest coinciding with the release of DopplerPad to see who can create the best DopplerPad track. Submissions will be accepted until August 21, 2009, and the prize for the winner is an iPhone 3GS.

Details of the contest rules, screenshots and tutorials are available at http://dopplerpad.com.

via retronyms:

DopplerPad, Expressive Touch Instrument by Retronyms.Quickly create and perform musical hooks, phrases and loops with a variety of custom synth and sample-based instruments. Make samples on the fly and weave them into compositions.DopplerPad is an expressive touch instrument designed exclusively for iPhone & iPod Touch. Use rhythmic and melodic automation to create phrases by freely moving fingers around the musical touchpad.Drags and taps come to life with responsive visual feedback, making the groove visible.Learn more at http://dopplerpad.com

Jack Conte put together this very nice demo video for the Electro-Harmonix Riddle, an effects pedal that brings synth-sculpting filtering goodness to the guitar.

Riddle Features:

• 80 Hz to 5 kHz frequency response tailored for guitar
• Optional expression pedal control
• Switch selectable analog distortion designed for guitar
• Start and Stop sweep control
• Low Pass, Band Pass, High Pass filter select
• Start and Stop for filter sweep and Q control
• Separate Dry and Effect outputs
• 9.6VDC 200mA power supply included

via EHX:

The Electro-Harmonix Riddle is a powerful and precise envelope filter fine-tuned for guitar frequency response.

Sculpt your envelope to reveal a truly expressive tone, with a defined and unique signature. Riddle will deliver tight and smooth control over the complete 80 Hz to 5 kHz range, with a consistent and even sweetness

.Need some edge? Engage Riddle’s analog distortion and dial in anything from subtle bite to dominating crush.

Can’t afford a new drum machine?

Then check out the d-touch drum machine, a free DIY alternative that lets you make beats using a piece of paper, a webcam and some walnuts:

The d-touch drum machine is a drum machine with a tangible user interface: it is controlled by placing and arranging physical objects on an A4 piece of paper, which we call the interactive area. The interactive area is arranged in 11 rows, each row corresponds to a different sound, as indicated by the text labels. The horizontal position of the blocks on the interactive area determines the timing of the sound trigger within the loop.

Is this awesome, or what? Now, if we could just print out a paper bassline synth, we’d be set.

If you give d-touch a try, leave a comment and tell us how it works for you!

via audiodtouch

Glenn Marshall – The Nest That Sailed The Sky, Computer-generated Visualisation 2009

Glenn Marshall does something that few video artists do – he makes abstract videos, based on generative processes, that are full of beauty and wonder.

His work is almost a visual analogy to Brian Eno’s work with generative music.

This is his video for Peter Gabriel’s The Nest That Sailed The Sky.

Details on Marshall’s video below.

via MediaArtTube:

Glenn Marshall: I developed 6 animation sequences using this imagery, all showing different stages of birth, life, transcendence, decay etc.

1. single cells growing on ends of stems, with dark underwater shading , I also added concentric ripples which emanated from the growing vines.
2. empty nests with trails of red berries being left behind where ever the stems grow from, against subdued morning sky shading.
3. the boy in the nest appears, against sunset shaded background.
4. boy in nest against brighter blue sky shading.
5. star child luminous effect on dark background.
6. single cells again, without stems, dark watery shading.

I rendered out each sequence for the entirety of the songs duration. The shapes of the vines and positions of the sprites are exact for each sequence, this allowed me to dissolve each sequence at any point from one into another and maintain a natural looking transition. In post production, through simple dissolves, I could experiment with and craft together a visual narrative that changed with musical cues in the song.

This is a demo of Audioxygen’s Gemini VSTi, a huge fat soft synth for Windows .

Description:

This Synthesizer combines a huge fat, analogue sound with unique step sequencers and radical distortion. It excels in Raging Techno baselines, Psy/Goa FX, Hardstyle screams, Shimmering pads, Massive Trance leads and much more.

Key features:

• Huge, fat analogue sound with unique detuning algorithm.
• Radical Resonance and Distortion behavior down to the lowest sub frequencies.
• Unique dual step sequencers which can modulate each other for stunning sequences.
• Super-easy to operate. Every knob turn really changes the sound, like Macro controls.

Yeah – they describe it as huge, fat and analogue twice, which is doubly redundant. Why? Because huge and fat go hand in hand with analogue, right? Especially when you use the UK spelling for analogue, which equals huge and fat.

They’ve got a free demo at the site, though, so check it out and let us know how huge, fat, radical and raging this virtual analogue bad boy can get.

Direct Download Gemini VSTi
E 19,-  / $25,-  / £17,-

via audioxygen

How to make sound in SuperCollider, in 60 seconds.

If 60 seconds doesn’t do it for you, check out the SuperCollider site.

via mcldx

Brian Green is creating generative music in Ableton Live using sounds shared on Twitter as source material, and is looking for other musical techies to connect with on Twitter:

What i did in the video is i took the amazing software by soundplusdesign and i made a sound, i then went to the soundplusdesign twitter and another person i follow Ojects and i used a sound from each of them, i then used my generative set up with ableton and put each of the three sounds into a chain and started to mix them up together.

I have to be honest i was recently thinking of deleting my twitter i realized how its really not that usefull to me but i thought before i get rid of it lets try this tweet a sound thing out and im glad i have it now.

THE PLAN: so this is what i want to do im going to keep making videos of this little project, but what i want you all to do even if you don’t make electronic music, even if you dont make any kind of music download this program and mess around with it post some tweets of what you make.

Basically i want to follow a bunch of people who do use this and keep messing around with sounds we all create and make little videos and tracks such as the one below. Follow me and post a link to your twitter in the comments section of this page if you are doing this i will also post a little list of people who are tweeting sound as well as i come across them.

Details on Tweet A Sound here.

This is a demo of the Folktek BCM Edition Micro Garden.

via bigcitymusic:

The Micro Garden is cool little box, equally at home as art or a musical instrument. The BCM edition has super short delay times, tap-tempo, and reverse delay. The front panel is also interesting with the etched circles.

Breath (made with EMU Orbit)

via beckhusen:

The sound is made with EMU Orbit 9090 V2, only the beat comes from the MC-909.The video of the chamaeleon is filmed in Hagenbeck’s Tierpark Tropenhaus, Hamburg.

Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich+Fussible @ Aguascalientes

Watch closely – they’re using a lot of interesting gear and making music that the crowd obviously loves.

via pepemogt:

live at Aguascalientes 04:11:2009
Song: Rosarito
Camera: Beto Gtz.
http://www.myspace.com/tijuanasoundma…

TIJUANA SOUND MACHINE

After a decade of having created the sound that defines the border, The Nortec collective evolves. From this metamorphosis, appears the current production that is Tijuana Sound Machine which include Bostich+Fussible. When Nortec fused electronica with the popular sounds of northern Mexico, it created that unique sound that has become emblematic not only of the border, but of an entire generation. In Tijuana Sound Machine, Nortec, via the experimentation with new technology and the consolidation of a rhythm, again, reestablishes the well know sounds of Bostich+Fussible. Tijuana Sound Machine, more than a new album, creates a new city, fully created by this pure sounds.
Text by Heriberto Yépez

TIJUANA SOUND MACHINE

Después de una década de haber creado el sonido que definió a la frontera, el colectivo Nortec muta. De esta metamorfosis aparece hoy la producción Tijuana Sound Machine, de Bostich y Fussible. Si Nortec fusionó la electrónica con la música popular del norte mexicano, para conseguir un sonido único, que ya se convirtió en emblema musical no sólo de la frontera y de una generación entera. En Tijuana Sound Machine, Nortec da una vuelta más mediante la experimentación con nuevas tecnologías, la consolidación de un ritmo y la densidad emocional característica de Fussible y Bostich. Tijuana Sound Machine más que un nuevo album es una nueva urbe. Una ciudad hecha de puros sonidos.