Brett Park of Shiverware wrote to share news about Rainboard, a DIY dynamic isomorphic keyboard.
The Rainboard is a 61 button isomorphic keyboard. Each button contains a RGB led in order to light up the button. A midi value is also mapped to each button. The colours and midi values of the buttons are set from an external source (currently the Musix iOS application, but could easily be set by any serial midi device) using sysex messages. This allows the layout to be change very rapidly. All that needs to be done is to use Musix to select the desired layout on screen and push a button to send the data to the Rainboard. The Rainboard then sets all the LEDs and midi values then stores these values in EEPROM to save settings across resets so the external device is not needed after the desired layout is set.
When buttons are pressed the note values are sent to an onboard midi instrument shield in order to produce sound via a 1/8 inch audio jack. As well, the midi values are sent to Musix (with note identifier values rather than midi values). This allows Musix to know exactly which button was pressed if multiple notes of the same midi value are present on the board. Musix can then use it’s built in synthesizer to play the music or it can send the data on to other iOS apps to synthesize the audio (such as NLogSynth, Arctic Keys, or SampleWiz).
vxxy has announced the production of the DCM8, a dedicated chip tune drum machine.
We announce the production of our first electronic musical instrument the DCM8 Digital Chiptune Drum machine, born from a desire to have chip music sounds in an easy to use studio desk sequencer and live performance package after wearing out our Gameboys with manic button bashing, and also wanting a few other sound styles thrown in for good measure.
DCM8 features
64 Patterns in 8 banks of 8.
Selectable 8, 16 or 32 steps per pattern with half, normal and double speed timing scales.
Adjustable instrument volume, decay and pitch on per step basis.
Dual channel architecture with wide range of retro and unique preset sounds generated by a scripted synthesis engine.
255 digitally synthesized chip sounds, consisting of 223 presets and 32 user generated patches.
8 Levels of live undo on each pattern.
8 Songs with 128 pattern selections.
Clear, Copy and Paste 8, 16 or 32 steps between patterns.
EEPROM based storage of all patterns and user data, with SYSEX backup.
MIDI input and output.
The DCM8 is scheduled for release in early November. A special limited time pre-order price of €349 + delivery, with a choice of white, blue or red LEDs will be available soon.
vst-control has released D50v, a controller plug-in for the Roland D50, D550 & VC-1 synthesizers.
In the mid 80s the Japanese Roland Corporation created the D-50 Synthesizer, one of the most popular Synthesizers of all time. With the D50v editor software the D-50 can now be easily integrated into modern, computer-based applications.
D50v features
Attractive graphical user interface with access to all parameters of the synthesizer.
Full integration in VST compatible applications
Automation of all parameters
“Total recall” of all parameters
Comfortable preset management
All parameters controllable via MIDI control changes.
Import of sysex sound banks.
Transmission of sounds from the synthesizer via MIDI.
Copy and paste functionality (copy and paste entire individual sounds and sound elements).
D50v for Windows is available to purchase for 49.90 EUR / $69.90 USD.
AudioRealism has released version 1.2.0 of AudioRealism Drum Machine (ADM), a virtual drum machine instrument for Windows and Mac.
Booming bassdrums, saucy cymbals and crispy snares can be used to describe the sound of drum machines from the early 80′s.
ADM contains three classic vintage drum machines from that era rolled into one, combined with a 32-step internal sequencer and pattern controlled fx (PCF). Get all your patterns into ADM via the Import Rebirth function or directly from your old 909 via sysex (we will provide a free tool for dumping sysex).
Changes in ADM v1.2.0
Added MIDI Out to Options menu.
Added pattern MIDI Export to Pattern menu.
AudioRealism Drum Machine for PC and Mac (VST/AU) is available to purchase for 95 EUR (+ VAT if applicable).
Vertigo – Audio Units, VST and RTAS Additive synthesizer, able to import WAV and PNG files into two morphable layers, each with up to 256 oscillators. Includes 8 built-in effects, dual filters and FFT view.
All discoDSP products are available to purchase with 50% discount on November 26, 2010. Use coupon code black to take advantage of this offer.
HyperSynth has released version 2.0 of Miniak-editor, a software editor for advanced controlling over the Akai Miniak (analog modeling synthesizer) in your DAW.
Miniak-editor is able to retrieve presets from Miniak memory or load it from hard drive into the editor. You can send a complete program to Miniak via sysex or change any parameter of synthesizer in real time.
Changes in Miniak-editor v2.0
Added numerical and graphical readout for all envelopes.
Now mod matrix can be displayed in front panel using new panel switch.
Added intelligent randomizer.
Added graphical readout for EX-input balance.
Added readout for mod matrix level and offset.
Added readout for filter freq (range 0-10 KHz).
Added readout for portamento time and “FX1 LFO rate”.
Added X, Y, Z knobs “mapped to”.
Added option to set “category” via NRPN.
Added option to set tracking generator preset.
Now it is possible to set “FX1 LFO synced rate” via NRPN.
Now “Load sysex” does not show pop-up screen after opening file and it can be accessible via new “Sysex tools” menu, “Load and Send” acts like the old behavior of “Load sysex” button.
Added remotely saving Miniak programs in sysex format.
Added “Save (editor program)” in sysex format.
Added option to change program name and category in a sysex file.
Added “Settings” menu.
Now it is possible to configure editor in a way that it does not load panel-mode and program/bank numbers from preset.
Added default sysex file with pre-added 12 mod slots (useful for building a patch from scratch without manually adding mod slots in Miniak).
Fixed minor bug in pre-filter mix balance readout which did not display correct value at the first click.
Fixed issue in “update mode” auto function that did not force editor to update all parameters via NRPN properly at startup.
Now if you set “update mode” to manual it will block updating edit buffer at plugin startup too.
Fixed minor graphical mistake in osc sqr waveshape
Fixed issue about inverted “pitch wheel mode” after requesting patch.
Fixed issue about updating “env loop mode” after requesting patch.
Corrected “OSC fine” default value.
Now “All notes off” mutes all notes properly.
Now FX balance, FX1 feedback, vocoder analsis, vocoder bandshift are utilized with centered knob.
Now selecting program using program knob triggers/sends MIDI bank number too.
Deleted unusable “Arp module” from GUI.
Sorted/Renamed parameters names in a way that they are displayed in VST host list properly.
Updated documentation; PDF.
Minor GUI enhancements.
Miniak-editor for Windows (VST) is available to purchase for $38 USD. Registered v1.0 users can upgrade for $9.99 USD.
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