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Some interesting things I found recently:

# Electric Independence: Vince Clarke and the Temple of Synth

The new episode of Electric Independence documents a visit to Vince Clarke's incredible home studio that features more analog gear than, well, probably anyone we've ever encountered. The founding member of Depeche Mode, Yazoo, and Erasure is enjoying the country life in Maine but still cranks out the jams, or as he likes to put it "making something from nothing."

# Micro Tutorial 20 – ReWire with Logic (YouTube)

How to set up a session with Logic as the ReWire host for Reason & Record.

We'll look at how to set up ReWire inputs in Logic and how to patch separate audio outputs in Record.

# Propellerhead CEO discusses iPad music software

From MusicRadar:

Propellerhead Software's Reason is an app that many (not least MusicRadar) are touting as a perfect fit for Apple's iPad, and it seems that a port to the new tablet may not be beyond the realms of possibility.

Our sister magazine Computer Music was recently in touch with Propellerhead Software's CEO Ernst Nathorst-Böös, and when asked about the potential of the iPad in a music-making context, he said: "From a technical standpoint, the iPad has very similar capabilities to the iPhone.

"We have yet to see if the difference in form factor between the two is a big enough differentiator to turn the iPad into something different. I suspect it is."

While Nathorst-Böös was unwilling to be drawn on whether Propellerhead will develop iPad apps, he did say: "the iPad is at least as powerful a computer as the ones we started making software for back in the 90s. And that's pretty exciting!"

Some interesting things I found recently:

# Phillips SAA-1099 Sample Pack (Copyright-free and License-free)

A new pack of samples by Sebastian Tomczak:

I have made a copyright-free and license-free sample pack of the Phillips SAA-1099 sound generator chip. It is a very straightforward sample pack, consisting of 96 pitched samples and 16 noise samples, across a range of frequencies. These samples have been recorded from hardware. The audio output stage of the sound chip has not been filtered.

Sebastian has also announced a music contest:

It's time to get your chipmusic on! This is your chance to win a SEGA Master System MIDI Interface. Be the coolest musician in your town with this brand new tool that lets you control the sound chip in your SEGA Master System with MIDI data.

More information: SEGA Music Competition: Win A SEGA Master System MIDI Interface!

# Jim Reekes, The Man Behind Mac Sound

From Create Digital Music:

The legend of the early sounds of the Mac remains, apparently, an alluring one. Here, Jim Reekes talks to a Dutch documentary crew (though in English) about his thought process in designing sounds for the Mac, including the famous Mac startup sound.

# New Block Construction

Livid Instruments improves its Block:

Improving on a design and sharing the results with our users is always at the top of our list at Livid. The Block controller has been a great success and we have just made some minor design changes to make it even better. Originally milled from a solid block of wood, the square body with thin bottom has had its challenges, mostly warping and cupping. We have experienced a bit higher reject rate for bodies at the shop before they were built then we would like. Thus, the up and coming stash of rejected bodies in the Livid Graveyard that were never meant to be!

# Waveformless: 5 Ways of Emulating Vintage Samplers

Tom Shear on how to emulate vintage samplers:

When sampling technology finally became accessible to mere mortals and not just uber-rich Fairlight and Synclavier enthusiasts, the race was on to increase fidelity and leave behind the limitations of those first 8-bit samplers. Bit depth and sampling rates increased and memory capacity expanded until the average sampled sound was indistinguishable from the same sound recorded on a CD.

But sure enough, after many years of enjoying the pristine sound quality of the new sampling technology, musicians began to explore and exploit the limitations of the old school samplers. Suddenly the grain of low bit-rate samples and the metallic grit of aliasing is very much in style. So how can you emulate the sonic artifacts of some of the long forgotten vintage samplers? I'm glad you asked…

# Intello – Better Demo of first version (YouTube)

This is the plugin I am currently working on. It's called "Intello". Basically it's a glitch producing plugin and in this first short demo I'm showing you one of the 5 planned glitching modes. The plugin will be controllable by an iPhone application from a listening audience. So the listeners can interact with a performer.

More information: www.zettt.de

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.

Some interesting things I found recently:

# Neurosonics Live (Vimeo)

Chris Cairns of Neurosonics Audiomedical Labs Inc. posted another Neurosonics video, the Holographic Drumkit and Turntables test.

# OTO machines – Biscuit

Hardware unit with real 8-bit A/D and D/A converters, true analog multimode filter with resonance control, an FX section with Waveshaper, Delay, Pitch Shifter and Step Filter, and more…

OTO Biscuit

Add depth, texture and organic behavior to synths, basslines, drum machines and virtual sounds from computers with BISCUIT !

By using 8-bit converters, digital processing and analog resonant filters, Biscuit opens up a wide range of sounds from harsh distortion, digital and aliasing artifacts to warm and fat 8-bit sounds.

Producers, deejays, musicians and sound lovers can use BISCUIT to extend their sound creation possi- bilities.
BISCUIT will find its place in studios, on stages or even in clubs.

via CDM, where you can also find an interview with creator Denis Cazajeux.

# Image Line Drumaxx Tutorial – Routing Pad Output to Separate Audio Tracks in Ableton Live

Mark Mosher posted a tutorial on how to route pad output of Image-Line's Drumaxx percussion synth to separate audio tracks in Ableton Live.

Image Line has just released a new Percussion Modeling Instrument called Drumaxx made by Maxx Claster. Drumaxx includes 130 drumkits, 900 drum patches, 200 drum patterns. If you use Sawer, Sakura, Morphine, Poizone, or Toxic Biohazard instruments, then you are familiar with Maxx’s work.

Image Line is offering Drumaxx as a “name your price” download for limited until March 31st,2010 with a minimum price of $13 USD with $1 going to support Haiti earthquake victims. With a deal like this I thought it was a “no brainer” so I picked it up.

One of the coolest features is that each of the 16 physically modeled drums can be routed to individual tracks within your host so you can add additional effects. Below I’ll show you how to set this up on Ableton Live.

Some interesting things I found recently:

# JAZARI (YouTube)

One human, three machines, rhythm.

# Beatseqr

Beatseqr is an arduino mega based computer interface by Steve Cooley.

It is aimed at electronic musicians and visualists. By itself, it connects to a desktop app that runs on mac or windows and can send out OSC messages to arbitrary network ports. However, combine beatseqr with a tightly integrated sequencer like Dajis Systems' Steppa (included in the price) and you have a powerful interface to create a MIDI loop which you can use to control sounds from pretty much any music software that accepts incoming midi data.

We've tested it out with Logic, Live, Reason, Quartz Composer, Max/MSP, PureData, and Processing. It works great!

# Bliptronome v2 w/ ADCs complete! – Bliptronic to Monome Conversion (YouTube)

The final working version of the Bliptronic 5000 hacked into a low cost Monome clone, with Bliptronome V2 firmware.

More info at Stray Technologies

# Pressure Controller "Hubert"

Hubert is small but powerful device to use with your modular synthesizer.

On each hand side there is one force sensing resistor turning applied pressure into a steady CV output. Each channel has three outputs: CV Out, Inverted CV Out and Gate out. Each side is capable of holding the current voltage on CV Out, whereas the inverted CV appears on Inverted CV Out. If a CV is held in the CV Out you still can use the inverted out, even switching from positive to negative voltage as often as you want without disturbing the held CV output. In addition each of the two channels fires a gate signal every time pressure is applied to the pressure pad. The CV can go from 0V to +/- 8V and can be controlled in sensitivity.

# TAPETRONIC demo video 2009 (YouTube)

# Reaktor Modular Sequencing, Pt. 2

John Fisher writes:

Well, looks like my weekend project has been working on my modular sequencing application for Reaktor.

I’ve detailed what this is all about in my previous blog. I’ve updated the sequencer and added some detailed comments on all the GUI elements to help people get up to speed with using it.

Some interesting things I found recently:

# Meet Marv (Marv), a MIDI Actuated Robotic Vibraphone.

Marv can play music of high complexity, far more complex than a human player could ever achieve, as Marv is capable of striking any and all keys simultaneously, as well as damping each key individually. Marv can play much faster than a human vibraphonist, repeating single notes as quickly as 25ms apart. Marv can play with sensitivity and feeling limited only by MIDI programming effort. Marv is a platform for further research on musical automation and real-time musical interaction.

# Record grooves under an electron microscope

Via SynthGear:

Chris Supranowitz is a researcher at The Insitute of Optics at the University of Rochester. Along with a number of other spectacular studies (such as quantum optics, trapping of atoms, dark states and entanglement), Chris has decided to look at the relatively boring grooves of a vinyl record using the institute’s electron microscope. Well, not boring for me.

A single record groove, magnified 1000 times

Awesome images! Lots more on Chris’ website (note to those who are entomophobic; includes ladybug and fly images).