Results for MP3

Some interesting things I found recently:

# cl516: ProLoop iPhone App by Trapcode

Calvin Cardioid on ProLoop for iPhone:

I've been searching a long time for something like this. It's not on OSX, and it's not an audiounit plugin. It's called ProLoop and I got it for $5 on the iTunes store. It's a very hands-on loop player capable of handling 6 loops at a time. My usual audio clips didn't feel like it was fully explaining what's going on, so be sure to check out the video above for a slightly more in-depth look.

# TheBlackBox: Release v2.0 – Propeller HSS FX/Sequencer with Digital Audio SPDIF output

The Propeller BlackBox Audio Sequencer is a device for audio waveform creation and a 32 step sequencer.

BlackBox Audio Sequencer features

• Live fx mode to allow direct output of the current waveform set by 12 different potentiometers.
• The sequencer allows the fx to be loaded into any one of 32 steps in the sequencer.
• SPDIF audio output or analog output via a switch (not both at the same time).
• analog output to a monitor(at the same time as spdif/analog output above (headphones or studio speakers) to allow auditioning before outputting live.
• 3 encoders that allow – BPM, main volume, and BPM jumps(1/3, 1/2, 1/4, 3/4, 2/3) and a switch for jump direction. (main volume and bpm jump programming not complete yet).
• BlackBox to BlackBox CLOCK sync, input rca, output rca.(serial @ 150Kbps, works over 1 foot rca cable) (this is so many of these devices can be connected to one main BEAT CLOCK MASTER.).
• 32 LEDS are used as sequencer step indication, ALONG with using the 32 LEDS as buttons to load waveform.
• 2 leds that start/stop the sequencer and live fx waveform.
• fully open source that uses the HSS code to generate the audio.

# Exclusive Free Soundtrack: Osmos, Featuring Gas, Julien Neto, Loscil, High Skies

Peter Kirn at Create Digital Music writes:

The independent game Osmos won our hearts in 2009, with transcendent, meditative gameplay built on simulated particle physics, starting as a floating wonderland and ending with some deliciously punishing difficulty. But it’s the soundtrack that sealed the deal: ambient-tinged work by artists like Gas 0095, Julien Neto, Loscil, and High Skies helped us imagine an unseen, microscopic (or perhaps macroscopic) world. Their sonic craft is a great example of what digital music can be. Now, I’m pleased to offer a lot of that music for your listening pleasure, for free. It’s one of the rare game soundtracks you’d want to hear even after having heard it on repeat while solving some of the title’s trickier puzzles. A huge thanks to the artists, whose generosity made this compilation possible – check out their work if you haven’t already.

Adion has released version 0.98 of djDecks, a computer mixing program for both beginning and professional DJ’s.

This release brings initial support for the Reloop Digital Jockey 2 controller, improved support for the DJ-Tech i-Mix controller, and some improvements to the VCI-100 and Denon controllers. It also brings improvements to the smart playlist feature and faster search-while-typing. As usual there’s also a number of bugs that have been fixed.

Changes in djDecks v0.98

• Added: Storing m4a/mp4 tags.
• Added: New smart playlist feature: group by range and createddays, modifieddays fields.
• Added: Denon controller option to select match button action.
• Added: Negative fade time selection to add a gap between songs during automix.
• Added: Reading of AIFF tags.
• Added: Option to record mixes in FLAC and AIFF format.
• Added: Option to automatically load first cue point when opening a song.
• Added: echo_source_end and echo_stereo_pingpong parameters for echo (to be used in your own skin or midi mapping for example).
• Added: Initial support for Reloop Digital Jockey 2 controller.
• Improved: DJ-Tech i-Mix controller mapping.
• Improved: No more click when activating or deactivating tempo control.
• Improved: Jog wheel touch response of vci-100 controller.
• Improved: Year tag field can now be read from both TDRC and TYER frames.
• Improved: Audio CD playback should work better now.
• Improved: Search while typing works faster.
• Fixed: Opening files from explorer using open with.
• Fixed: Problem with using certain 24-bit ASIO inputs.
• Fixed: Possible playlist search crash.
• Fixed: Problem browsing network shares.
• Fixed: Various issues with pitch bend for sampler.
• Fixed: HC4500 display updated when returning from CD mode.
• Fixed: Bug preventing 2 denon hs-5500’s to be used simultaneously.
• Fixed: Turning on mic with BCD-2000 caused VST effect on deck 3 to be disabled.
• Fixed: Small artefacts when resizing a skin.
• Fixed: Deleting/Renaming cases using Case button.
• Fixed: Preview player not working with DirectSound output.

djDecks is available to purchase for Windows PC, priced at 112 EUR. A demo version with all features of the full version is available for download from the djDecks website (stops working after 30 minutes of use).

More information: djDecks

I was wondering what kind of online services you are using for getting your music heard.

Currently I host some of my music right here and at SoundCloud, but I have not actually promoted the SoundCloud page in any way.

So, what are you using? Let us know here.

And if you would like to share with us why you use some specific services, please do so in the comments below.

Music for Our Future is a special compilation inspired by the SyFy original series, Caprica.

Peter Kirn writes:

Working with music production today is a bit like science fiction. It’s fitting that visions of technology’s promise, menace, and humanity would inspire electronic music.

Create Digital Music, XLR8R, and Pitchfork got to join together with TV network SyFy to curate a free, 13-track compilation of “Music for Our Future.” Inspired by the world of SyFy’s new TV series Caprica, which is set just before the recently-concluded Battlestar Galactica, this is science fiction as the familiar. It’s the near future, not simply fantasy.

The full compilation is available to download for free, exclusively at: http://www.xlr8r.com/musicforourfuture

The compilation includes tracks by Lusine, Willits & Sakamoto, The Field, Richard Devine, and more. Also features some exclusive material by White Rainbows, Nice Nice, and CDM’s Peter Kirn, who also talks to some of the artists to find out what inspired them and which techniques were used for these tracks.

More information: Music for Our Future / Create Digital Music

Some interesting things I found recently:

# Arduino Piano Squealer Synth

Marc Nostromo developed the Arduino Piano Squealer Synth for the Arduino Pocket Piano, an arduino shield produced by Critters and Guitari.

The engine implements a small monosynth with a few waveforms, a HP/BP/LP continuous resonant filter, decay and a few little own tricks that generate a LOT of aliases, making a great dirty digital synth. Since the Pocket Piano has only 3 potentiometers available for control (the 4th one being hardwired to the volume), I use a “page” system to implement series of 3 parameters to fiddle with. To switch “page”, use the rightmost note of the A.P (NOT the one under the led, the one left to to it). To help you know which page you are at, you can use the led: it will flash a number of time equivalent to the current page you are at.

The source code of the Arduino Piano Squealer synth is available under GPL License V3.

… read more

Some interesting things I found recently:

# Robot playing Rockband on the iPhone

Joe Bowers combines light sensors, servos and Arduino to build a robot that plays Rock Band on his iPhone.

He writes:

Rock Band has been released on the iPhone, and even though its a lot of fun, I would rather have something play it for me. Preferably a robot!

# Mark Mosher: REBOOT

Mark Mosher of the excellent Modulate This! blog has released REBOOT, a new album featuring some great electronic music.

Mark Mosher is an electronic music artist from Louisville Colorado just outside of Boulder. He is a BMI recording artist and composes and produces electronic music and sound completely in the digital realm using state-of-the-art virtual synthesizers and instruments within Ableton Live.

Two years in the making, REBOOT is an album containing 7 richly layered electronica songs that blend contemporary synthesizer sounds with classical music motifs. The end result is dark electronica for those who love synth "ear candy" with a “dirty” industrial edge.

While the songs on REBOOT stand alone as singles, the collection is an album in the true sense of the word. They share a common palette and when played in sequence conjure an epic and dynamic story for the listener.

Prior to the release of the album, the first three tracks were released as singles. "Midnight" and "Stealth" went to #1 and "They Walk Among Us" went to #2 on the Soundclick.com electronica charts.

REBOOT is available to download at Bandcamp. The album is currently being offered using the “pay what you will” model. Although the suggested pricing is $6 for the 7 song album + digital booklet and $1 for singles, users can name their own price including specifying 0$ for free downloads. There are future plans to make the album available on iTunes and Amazon’s MP3 store.

# Filter control via light blob tracking in Processing (YouTube)

Filter control via light blob tracking in Processing This video shows how I can set and control a filter's parameters via MIDI mapping, creating a control surface via a webcam and a torch. I realized a little Processing sketch that tracks the light blob I shot in front of webcam, normalizes X and Y coordinates to MIDI acceptable values, and then sends them to a filter effect in Ableton Live. I also realized the little control panel that allows to correctly make the MIDI mapping and set some blob detection's params. My toolkit: Processing MIDI

Are old digital drum machines better than your Ableton Live?

# Getting Outside “The Box” – Hybrid Recording And Mixing

Jon @ Audio Geek Zine writes:

Plugins are great, they’re very close to the real hardware counterparts, sometimes better. I don’t want to debate that. This article is all about options for getting electrons flowing through gear to get better mixes.

There are very few (if any) professional mixing engineers that work 100% ITB (in the box), at some point you’ll need to get outside.