Results for Zoom

Dan303 (Dan Weatherall) has released PACK ONE, a collection of free 303 samples.

Dan writes:

PACK ONE is the first of what I hope to be a series of free sample packs. I started out recording these loops for use in my own music but I think other people may enjoy using them too.

PACK ONE features

• 71 loops, sampled at 32KHz using a Zoom MRS2b 4-track.
• 32 Drum Loops — “Clean” Drum loops from a Roland MC-303 (Techno 2 kit) and “Dirty” loops, run through the decimator effect on a Korg R3 to give them a Lo-Fi gritty sound.
• 39 Bass Loops — The bass loops came from a FB-383 (TB-303 clone) sequenced by a Roland MC-303 and also sampled running though the decimator for a harsh, buzzy, “dirty” sound.

PACK ONE is available as a free download.

More information: Dan303 / PACK ONE

Beat Kangz has announced the release of the Beat Thang Virtual, a virtual production system for Windows and Mac.

Renowned for the history-making sound design of Zoom’s SB-246 Streetboxx™, the Beat Kangz have established an independent music technology start up that is proud to continue the time-honored tradition of American innovation and entrepreneurship. Flexible, functional, and user-friendly, THE BEAT THANG integrates pre-loaded sounds, sampling, and waveform editing in a portable, stylish and yes, even customizable, beat machine. The Kangz have stuffed hundreds of sounds and production-ready beats, patterns and loops into THE BEAT THANG VIRTUAL.

THE BEAT THANG VIRTUAL truly moves beat making deep into the stratosphere with real bass, live strings, striking synths, Latin and African percussion, crunchy electric guitar, and startling sound effects.

Beat Thang Virtual features

• One octave pad layout with 8 banks so you can bang out beats or play the keys.
• 16 tracks so you can create patterns that can be performed and remixed on the fly.
• 16 layers of velocity sensitivity for emotive performance.
• High Quality Sampler & waveform editing. Sample your own sounds using your computer’s built in mic or line input.
• Edit sample start and end times. Process samples using features like normalize, reverse and resample.
• Easy to use Realtime Sequencer. Create patterns in real time using quantize, swing, individual bar lengths, tap tempo then string them together in SONG mode.
• Mixer with built in FX Change track, pad and pan levels.
• Add 24bit reverb, delay, flange, phaser, pitch shift, old record and many more.
• Add BANG with onboard mastering.
• Export your songs as .wav files or save them to your Beat Kangz Playa Thang equipped iPhone or iPod Touch.
• Connects seamless with Beat Thang Hardware.

Beat Thang Virtual is available for the introductory price of $149 USD.

Grab your copy of the Beat Thang Virtual today and receive a $149-OFF coupon emailed to you good towards the purchase of a Beat Thang hardware beat machine (which will ship beginning October ‘09)

More information: Beat Kangz

Samson has announced the Zoom R16, a portable 16-track recorder, audio interface and controller.

Zoom once again revolutionizes digital recording with the first digital recorder with 16-track playback and 8-track simultaneous recording utilizing Secure Digital (SD) memory. The R16 is three production tools in one device: a multi-track recorder, an audio interface and a control surface, providing all the tools necessary to create studio-quality recordings. Additionally, the R16 runs on only 6 AA batteries for the ultimate in multi-track portability.

With the R16, recording artists, songwriters, sound engineers and film sound professionals alike can record up to 32 GBs on an SD card. The SD recording, while incredibly convenient for file transferring, also makes the R16 significantly lighter. SD recording also avoids the pitfalls of a potential crashing hard drive and allows for up to 100 track hours of recording using all 16 tracks.

Zoom R16 features

• Digital recorder with 16-track playback and 8-track simultaneous recording utilizing Secure Digital (SD) memory.
• 16/24-bit/44.1kHz linear PCM recording in WAV format.
• Built-in stereo condenser microphones.
• Includes 1GB SD card and supports cards up to 32GB SDHC.
• Allows simultaneous recording on up to 8 tracks.
• Battery operation for remote recording.
• USB power for audio interface and control surface operation.
• 8 mic inputs / 2 outputs (8 x 2).
• 8 combination XLR-1/4-inch inputs.
• High-definition 24-bit/96kHz recording capability using digital audio software.
• Built-in effects can be used as outboard effects as well.
• Hi-Z input for direct connection of guitar or bass.
• Includes preamp with phantom power on two channels.
• Mackie control emulation via USB for popular DAW software including Cubase, Logic, Digital Performer and more.
• Over 100 built-in studio effects coming from advanced DSP.
• Amazing guitar amp and effects models.
• Professional quality mastering effects including multi-band compressor, normalizer and more.
• Operates as USB storage device for quick data transfer.
• Connect two R16s via USB for synchronized operation and 16 tracks of simultaneous recording.
• Undo/Redo functions.
• Comes with Steinberg Cubase LE 4.
• Supports Windows XP/Vista, Mac operating systems.

The Zoom R16 is available for pre-order for $399 USD.

Visit Samson for more information.

Ableton has released version 7.0.16 of Live, the complete music solution for Mac OS and Windows.

Improvements in Live 7.0.16

• Several improvements for the APC40.
• Support for Live Lite 7 Zoom Edition.

Download a demo of Ableton Live here.

Visit Ableton for more information.

Some interesting things I found recently:

# Arduinocaster shreds in MIDI

Mike Cook takes the keytar to the next level.

Arduinocaster is a an Arduino based MIDI instrument modelled on a guitar sometimes called a keytar. It uses switches and LEDs to control six "strings" which are held down in guitar like chords. Triggering the strings is through an opto reflective switch for a continuous repeating strum and four touch sensitive switches for a one off sequence. There are three banks of four picking / strumming / arpeggio styles and a three octave capo. Voice change information can also be sent.

# Dinosaurs and Robots: The Clubhouse Strummer

Mark Frauenfelder writes:

My goal was to make an electric string instrument that uses drone tuning. I don't know anything about music theory, but drone tuning is a way to tune an instrument that makes it sound good no matter what you do with your fret fingers. Sitars, some dulcimers, and bagpipes use drone tuning. The clubhouse strummer uses GDG tuning (the Gs are one octave apart). I copied the fret layout from a strumstick, but I could have used this handy mountain dulcimer fret calculator to figure out the fret spacing.

# Synth1 random preset generator
Christophe Roussy created a utility to generate random presets for Synth 1.

Synth1 is my favorite free software synthesizer to this date. There are a lot of preset banks available on the web. I had a look at the preset format and thought it would be easy to generate random presets if I could figure out how the values are stored. I decided to write a small Java application that can generate random presets.

# little-scale: Drum Machine Compilation

Kezziebeat writes:

"Due to a song I created just a couple of days ago, I became inspired to start this compo. I want to make a compilation of songs using only kick drums and noise. Yes, only drums. No leads, no melodies, no arps (even slutty ones). I want to see what people can create when they only have a beat to work with.

Some interesting things I found recently:

# First look at the Zoom H4N digital audio recorder

Brad Linder takes a look at the Zoom H4N, a digital pocket recorder.

I got a chance to stop by the Samson booth at CES yesterday and check out the new Zoom H4N digital audio recorder. This flash recorder is an upgraded version of the Zoom H4, but Zoom and Samson don't plan to phase out the older model. Rather, they'll now offer flash recorders in three price ranges, $199 for the Zoom H2, $249 to $299 for the Zoom H4, and $349 for the zoom H4N, which is a bit closer to being a pro audio device. The new recorder should begin shipping in February.

# Stanwood craftsman puts human touch on factory-made pianos – Darrell Fandrich is a micromaker of pianos, importing instruments from China and parts from Europe and the U.S. and rebuilding them as Fandrich & Sons pianos. A craftsman in an assembly-line world, Fandrich hopes that human touch can turn back the clock on pianos built by conveyor belt.

# Interview With Smule’s Dr. Ge Wang (Maker of iPhone Ocarina)

Mark Mosher interviews Dr. Ge Wang, CTO and Co-founder of Smule.com.

Smule are the makers of extremely popular and innovative iPhone applications such as Sonic Lighter and Ocarina. Dr. Wang is also an assistant professor at Stanford University, at the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA). He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Princeton University and a BS in Computer Science from Duke University. Ge is the creator and chief architect of the ChucK audio programming language, and the founding director of the Stanford Laptop Orchestra (SLOrk).

I asked a wide variety of questions in this interview – so – whether you are a musician, a developer, an iPhone user, or an entrepreneur, I hope you find this interview interesting and enlightening.

The interview is available in YouTube and mp3 formats.

# Music Thing: The end of Music Thing, for now. – I’m sure you’ve heard the news… Thanks Music Thing for all the great posts over the years.