Novation has released version 3.4.1 of Automap, a software system for Novation’s MIDI controllers.
Automap 3 is the latest incarnation of Novation’s intelligent software system. Automap is unique to Novation’s MIDI controllers, and has now been enhanced with a wealth of eagerly anticipated features. Until now Automap had focused on plug-in control, but exciting developments bring a new level of DAW control…
Changes in Automap v3.4.1
Improved MIDI data efficiency into Live.
Updated Novation USB driver to version 1.7, Windows only.
Updated Ableton Live DAW Setup Guide.
Updated SL MkII firmware to version 1.2.05.
Updated Zero SL MkII firmware to version 1.2.04.
Touch sense, encoder and button LED feedback in Live template (requires Ableton Live 8.1.3).
So I’m sitting at home, minding my own business when I get an e-mail from someone (I can’t say exactly who) that goes on to tell me that there is an auction happening on ebay that has some of my sounds for sale. The e-mail went on to ask me if I knew anything about it.
The revised post includes some new videos and apps introduced over the weekend, so check out the full line-up. My thinking was that putting everything in one place makes it easier to find, and to get a sense of the … well, the bigger picture.
Clean and Vocoded one shot drum samples. The drums were taken from the roland MC303 groove box and vocoded using the built in vocoder on the Korg Microkorg.
ProTrekkr (formerly known as NoiseTrekker by Juan Antonio Arguelles Rius aka Arguru) is a tracker program combining a software synthesizer together with a traditional samples tracker which can be used to create electronic music (like psytrance, trance goa, hard acid, IDM, chip, techno, etc.) for small sized intros, demos or games.
Currently the tracker is supported on Windows, Linux, AmigaOS4, AROS and Mac OSX.
Sequentix has announced the Cirklon, a hardware sequencer.
Cirklon is a totally new hardware sequencer design, with software based on the P3, but greatly improved both in usability and internal operation.
Cirklon features
User-interface based around a 240×64 pixel graphic LED display, 19 rotary encoders with push-switches, 2 assignable knobs, 35 high-quality Cherry keys with integrated LEDs, and a further 35 tri-colour status LEDs.
16 tracks, with 5 independent MIDI INs and OUTs to connect a large number of controllers and synths/sound modules while keeping MIDI latency to a minimum.
USB MIDI, native CV/gate support, and a dedicated DIN sync output.
32-bit, 72MHz ARM Cortex CPU runs a proprietary sequencer engine to ensure optimum timing accuracy.
All MIDI ports are provided by hardware serial ports in the CPU core itself.
CV/gate connectivity will be available in two levels – a pair of 12-bit resolution CV and gate outputs, or an external CV breakout box with a large number of CV outs (details to be finalised).
Pattern storage is comprised of 2MB battery-backed internal RAM and 512MB internal NAND flash, with a SD/MMC card socket for data backup.
Cirklon is expected to be shipping in low volume in March, for under £1,000 GBP. Details to be announced.
ThinkGeek has released Bliptronic 5000, an LED synthesizer.
If HAL 9000 mated with R2-D2 and their electronic offspring was tutored by Kraftwerk it would probably end up something like the Bliptronic 5000 LED Synthesizer.
At once a minimalist musical plaything and a hardcore old-skool synthesizer, the Bliptronic defies categorization as it belts out 8-Bit style style tunes from its grid of glowing buttons.
You’ll notice sound similar to a retro Casiotone with an interface not unlike a simplified Yamaha TENORI-ON… if that makes any sense. Either way, once you start touching the keys of the Bliptronic you’ll be hooked by it’s simple pattern-based approach to music.
Bliptronic 5000 features
Unusual retro synthesizer is played with a grid of glowing buttons.
Create looping patterns and change them dynamically while playing.
Chain multiple units together and create more complex melodies.
One octave range. 8 notes can be played simultaneously.
8 different old-skool synth sounding instruments to choose from.
Sounds created using FM waveform synthesis.
Set the BPM (beats per minute) from 60 to 180 in 20 BPM increments.
Built in speaker with headphone jack and line-out jack.
Front panel is constructed from brushed aluminum.
Includes, manual and 2 link cables for connecting additional Bliptronic units.
Requires 4 x AA batteries (not included).
The Bliptronic 5000 is available to purchase for $49.99 USD.
There are those who will throw away their old record covers but there are those that will use them to create some mind blowing artistic stuff.
One of them is definitely Christian Marclay, a New York visual artist, DJ and composer who used record covers of Michael Jackson , Doors, Donna Summer, David Bowie and many others for this piece of art. The relationship of sound, vision, music, art and performance is the focus of his work.
It's hard to believe another weekend is upon us, but it is, so here are some more free samples to get your weekend off to a good start. This time, it's a set of 21 24-bit synthetic percussion sounds I made on my Sequential Pro One
Say you’re an up-and-coming crew with a turntable and some mics. You’ve got a gig this Friday at the middle school gym (the janitor has been bribed appropriately) and the boys on the corner have been passing out your flyers to all the lovely ladies. Everything’s set, except you heard that Kool Herc is coming to battle. Herc and his mighty sound system schooled you last go-round, so you know you need something fresh to rock the bodies proper. Your DIY solution? The 55-gallon drum sound system.
The Control Centre has posted a sample pack features 38 piano samples in 44k 16 bit mono format.
This samplepack contains 3 pianos I recorded to tape in 1998. A Baby Grand, a Fender Rhodes and an old upright a friend of mine had in her back kitchen. I recorded the pianos using a Tascam 244 Cassette Portastudio and a Shure SM58 microphone. The Fender Rhodes was recorded to tape directly from it's line output. The recordings were then sampled using a Yamaha A3000 sampler.
I recently exported the samples from the A3000 sampler to my laptop computer via floppy disk, and then imported them into Ableton Live's Sampler. To save each piano into your Live Library, load the project, then save each sampler as a preset inside Sampler's preset browser. Live will copy the samples to your library automatically.
If you don't have Live 8 and Sampler, you can still use the samples to recreate these pianos in your choice of software.
The "Octapult" is a kinetic sculpture designed and built on commission by Bradley N. Litwin of Philadelphia, PA. With 8 synchronized catapults, 160 plastic balls per minute are launched, caught, and recirculated. Made mostly of wood, the work is ~36 inches in diameter. On permanent display in the lobby of Lower Merion Elementary School, Merion Station, PA. Also a performing jazz musician, more of Litwin's work may be seen and heard at www.bradlitwin.com.
XEROWorld is the next phase in the evolution of online arts & entertainment — a totally new and unique web destination that seamlessly integrates social networking, interactive events, magazine style-news, and online malls.
Kyle Evans modified a didgeridoo to experiment in the combination of the organic sound qualities of a didgeridoo with the advanced signal processing capabilities of modern computer programming and sound synthesis. He writes:
This custom built didgeridoo features externally mounted modules that allow the performer to process and manipulate the sound of the instrument in real time. All control data is transmitted wirelessly via blue tooth and is controlling several audio processes created in a custom-built software environment.
Tom Shear reviews AdrenaLinn Sync, a new software plug-in from Roger Linn Design that provides the same unique beat-synced filter modulation and sequencing effects of our AdrenaLinn III guitar pedal.
Cyrille Arndt’s DIY, standalone Arduino-based, MIDI control surface work-in-progress.
Current features:
Heartbeat
On-the-fly generated labels from csv files.
Limiters (with capability of inversing the range).
Every function of the faders and pads is customisable from the desktop software.
Different states for the pads (currently on/off or moment).
In the desktop software: Selecting the MIDI port (for example for routing over another software).
MIDI channel.
6 presets (more possible).
RGB pads can be controlled from software like Live to be switched on/off or blinking.
Presets also concern the pads.
Auto-switch to generated labels if the software is running.
New! The buttons above the faders can have different functions : Notes (triggering clip for example), quick change of the function of the fader, preset switching.
New! Presets also concern the limiters.
New! The bottom buttons can change the preset or the bank (useful in Ableton Live).
New! USB port for adding USB connectivity: allows to program it easily and use USB instead of MIDI in cases where it’s necessary.
Synchronization is, by definition, a tough thing to do. But musical engineering is replete with challenges; it’s no longer acceptable to simply say “live with it” and walk away. It seems we need both better shared knowledge about what sync is how to make it work, and better engineering solutions on the software and protocols side to support the way users want to work. And yes, we need a new sync standard that goes beyond what’s presently available in MIDI alone
Tunited is a groundbreaking new independent music website which will assist new and independent artists and labels gain increased exposure, challenging the flagging music business’ growing reluctance to invest in this exciting area.
The top 100 artists will upload their music catalogue onto the website prior to launch; it will then be made available to the press and music industry for showcasing before the site goes live.
To become a profile artist, please click on the button below to enter your details and upload your track before midnight on 11.12.09. Your music will be judged by Tunited's panel of experts including Midge Ure OBE.
Josh made a LED sign which displays voicemails from his Google Voice account.
I made the LED sign following instructions from this tutorial on Nerdkits.com. The hardware is some LED’s, a nerdkit, a piece of cardboard and a bit of wire that I got from some Cat 5 cable laying around. I cut out the cardboard and printed a grid to help me lay out the LED’s. I think mine were 1 cm apart. The soldering took forever and it was the first real time I did any soldering so it looks kinda crappy. Oh well. It works. The sign itself is powered by a 9 volt battery and receives data from my laptop through the serial port via a USB adapter. All that stuff was included in the Nerdkit when I bought it. The microcontroller is running code from the tutorial I mentioned earlier. One of these days I’m going to make an enclosure for this thing.
Compiled by notorious OPL buff , Oxygenstar, this release serves up a healthy dose of frequency modulation synthesis which varies nicely in both style and technique.
Livid Instruments is now shipping the OHM64, an adaptable, programmable, and interactive MIDI control surface designed to give you hands-on control over your performance.
High-quality sliders, knobs and buttons provide the interface for creative expression, whether you’re mixing samples and synths or DJ’ing a cutting-edge set. Constructed with an aluminum faceplate and a gorgeous body of hand-finished wood, the quality is felt down to your fingertips. All of our controllers are proudly hand crafted and assembled for artists by artists in our Austin, Texas shop.
Ohm64 has bi-directional talkback communication allowing the controller to talk to your software, and software to your device. MIDI messages can be sent to the Ohm64 to light up the buttons for an interactive performance. Completely programable and mappable, the Ohm64 provides a flexible control surface that be used with any software or setup. Completely USB powered means you don’t have to worry about adapters and and power strips, and it is plug and play so no drivers are required.
OHM64 features
TalkBack — All of the buttons have programmable LEDs, so you can create your own interfaces simply by sending MIDI commands back to the Ohm.
USB Powered and Plug and Play — The Ohm64 is completely plug and play and USB powered. This means you don’t need drivers to use it and it works with a single USB cable.
High Quality Faders and Knobs — The smoothness of the faders and knobs of the Ohm64 give it a true instrument feel. High quality dual rail sliders and all knobs give you precise hands on control.
MIDI In and Out — MIDI in and MIDI out jacks let you control analog MIDI devices or connect other controllers to your Ohm64. You can also send MIDI from your computer to the Ohm64.
Crossfader — The DJ style crossfader is designed to withstand heavy use and it comes with a custom wood knob designed for performance.
Ohm64 Editor — All of the assignments on the Ohm can be changed, remapped, and saved to the Ohm using Livid’s open source Ohm64 Editor software.
Custom Design — Livid Instruments controllers are built by hand (with the help of a few robots) and multiple finishes as well as an unfinished model are offered.
Software — The Ohm64 comes with a full copy of the Cell DNA VJ software. Also available is a growing library of open source tools to transform you controller into a custom performance instrument.
The OHM64 is now available from the Livid Shop for $599 USD.
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