KVR’s Developer Challenge for 2009 is winding down and voting is currently underway so go vote.
There are 42 entries: 40 of these are available for Windows, 6 for Mac OS X and just 1 for Linux. 39 are in the VST plug-in format, 1 is an AU plug-in and 3 are stand-alone applications. Go check out the free downloads and donate to the prize fund for the winners.
Continue for a complete list of entries
(more…)
At the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) expo, Akai showed the APC40 MIDI control surface it has developed in conjunction with Ableton, making it the first such device to be ready to run out of the box with the Ableton Live music editing software. As there is no need to load drivers, users simply plug in their notebooks via a USB port and can begin mixing or otherwise modifying their music using Ableton Live. The APC40 is being touted as the simplest, most direct hardware interface with the popular software, yet still allows advanced users to assign the board’s 40 buttons, knobs and fader controls to any virtual controls in the software.
Each control on the APC40 lights up in a different color to give users an instant indication of clip state. Likewise, the 16 knobs are lined by a ring of LED rings that perform the same functions. Akai points out the APC40 makes controlling music at live events much quicker and easier, taking the connected source, most often a notebook or desktop PC or Mac, out of the equation.
Numark has announced at NAMM that it’s displaying Stealth Control, a professional DJ controller that comes with Native Instruments Traktor LE and MixMeister Fusion Live software. With a design based around Numark’s previous control devices, it provides the same two decks and a mixer layout that allows users to jog, scrub, or scratch. Stealth Control sends MIDI information to control the software and can be used with any application that supports MIDI. A USB cable is used to connect the controller to the computer.
Traktor LE 3 is a dual-deck DJ application that provides features such as auto-sync, beat-accurate loops, and a variety of effects, while Mix Meister Fusion delivers timeline-based mixing capabilities. Stealth Control is available now and has been priced by the company at $400 with an estimated street price of $300.
I just stumbled across this new remix of the worn-out classic “Shiny Disco Balls” by Bad Boy DJs. Keep it fresh with a new mix.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
MP3: Zshare
Here’s a nice bit of kit to take along with you on your next flight when you’ve just got to finish that next remix on the go. :)
Snip snip…
Now that the laptop has become the new desktop it’s tempting to do everything on the go. But try composing or editing music while enjoying a latte at Starbucks and you’ll find yourself seriously lacking in the tactile input department. There’s a reason why musicians generally need racks of equipment at their disposal… you just cant play music so well with a keyboard and mouse. The new Korg Nano Digital Music Controllers aim to remedy this musical dilemma by providing three different portable USB versions of common musical input devices that fit perfectly with your laptop. The nanoKEY gives you a mini velocity sensitive keyboard. The nanoPAD provides you with velocity sensitive drum-pads and a Kaossilator style x-y control pad while the nanoKONTROL gives you nine faders, nine knobs and eighteen switches for your mixing pleasure.
Circuit Bent TR-707 from Diabolical Devices available on Ebay until October 16th along with some other fun goodies HERE.
Diabolical Modified TR707 from Meadows Ling on Vimeo.
Another circuit bent keyboard from DD.
Diabolical Modified SK-1 from Meadows Ling on Vimeo.
Via: Matrix Synth
Cycling 74 has announced Max/MSP 5.0, the next-generation of their popular media development tools. This version offers a completely redesigned multi-processing kernel and a streamlined development environment built on a platform-independent foundation. With a new patcher interface, searchable database of objects and examples, integrated documentation and new tutorials, the new Max user will find a smoother learning curve while experienced users will see improved productivity.
This is Max for the next twenty years, CEO David Zicarelli declared. In addition to a modern infrastructure designed to support today’s multi-core processors and tomorrow’s operating systems, Max 5 features a new UI intended to aid in the expression of complex ideas in a fluid manner. Max’s concept of interactive graphical programming has enhanced greatly with their new presentation mode, which de-couples programming logic from user interface construction, allowing clearer patches as well as richer user interfaces. The idea behind Max 5 is to create a new paradigm so the users both advance and new can take advantage of their unique working environment.
Max version 5 will be available first quarter 2008 and, if used with its digital audio and video extensions, will require updated versions of MSP and Jitter. An upgrade price for Max 5 has not been announced.
Offical Website: Cycling74.com
I know it seems like version 6 just came out with those crazy kids coding Ableton Live locked in a darkened room with a caffeine drip into their blood streams just cranking out code. Good thing for Live users.
From the Ableton Live website:
Ableton Live 7 renews the core of Live, with enhancements to the audio engine including 64-bit mix summing, new and improved devices with side-chaining capability, better MIDI timing and hardware integration. We have also included the most-requested features, such as time signature changes, video export, multiple automation lanes and much more. Version 7 marks the arrival of the new “Drum Rack” which streamlines beat production via an easy drag-and-drop interface and offers native sliced audio and REX file support, bringing endless creative possibilities to beat lovers.
Â
Enhanced Audio Engine
Live 7’s enhanced audio engine improves fidelity with precision 64-bit summing at all mix points throughout the program, POW-r dithering, optimized sample-rate conversion and other advances.
New CompressorThe new compressor device integrates the compression models of Compressor I and II, and offers a new model based on a feedback design commonly found in the most praised vintage compressors. The new sidechaining feature allows other audio signals to trigger the compressor.
EQ EightEQ Eight sports an improved user interface and a new 64-bit mode for increased accuracy and fidelity.
Improved MIDI TimingThe MIDI engine has been reworked and we were able to significantly reduce timing error (jitter) of recorded MIDI.
Live 7 Brings the Most Requested Features
Time Signature ChangesLive 7 allows the use of multiple time signatures within a single Live Set in the Arrangement View timeline and Session View Scenes.
Video ExportVideo that has been edited or warped in Live can be exported to a new file.
Easier AutomationMultiple automation lanes per track can be displayed and edited at the same time.
Tempo NudgeA new “tempo nudge” function makes it easier to synchronize to live musicians or DJs.
REX SupportREX files can be dragged, dropped and played just like WAV or AIFF files.
Many Other Important ImprovementsLive, Operator and Sampler have received many important improvements and additions based on users’ requests.
Introducing the New Drum Rack
The new “Drum Rack” streamlines beat production via an easy drag-and-drop interface and brings endless creative possibilities. Easy InterfaceA familiar drum pad interface allows dragging and dropping of samples, instruments and effects. Each pad has its own device chain and can be shown as a mixer channel in the Session View. Each Drum Rack also has its own sends, returns and sub-mixes.Slice and DiceThe slicing feature fills a Drum Rack with the individual hits from REX or audio loops. The original sequence is represented as a MIDI clip, making it easy to replace, reshuffle or re-record the events and process them individually.
Ableton Live 7 Beta
Live 7 is currently in beta testing. To learn more please visit the beta page. Â
Â
By now many have forgotten that Adobe Audition was once the great free tool, CoolEdit. I fondly remember the days of CoolEdit and their ability to morph effects from one setting to another (something Soundforge is barely able to do now). It has been interesting to watch Adobe beef up the program and constantly improve it. I look forward to trying out some of these interesting new features.
From the Adobe Website:
Recording, mixing, editing, and mastering — Adobe® Audition® 3 software is the all-in-one toolset for professional audio production.
Use Adobe Audition 3 to:
Whatever you do with audio, Adobe Audition 3 software helps you sound your best.
Enjoy support for a wider range of virtual instruments. Simply add a MIDI host track to your mix, choose an instrument, and then record new audio in the Sequencer.
Save time and increase accuracy by editing grouped clips together. Auto-crossfade clips in multitrack view to quickly mix files together. Click-and-drag fade handles on multitrack clips and in the Edit View for faster editing.
Make a free-form selection in frequency space with the Effects Paintbrush and apply effects in varying degrees to that selection. Smooth over a selected region to automatically repair clicks, pops, and other noises using the Spot Healing Brush.
Need a quick and easy way to tweak the start and end of a loop or other audio file? The new Top/Tail Views allow you to zoom into the beginning and end of a file so you can quickly add precise fades while keeping the whole file in view.
Adobe Audition 3 includes new effects such as Convolution Reverb, Analog Delay, Mastering tool, Guitar Suite, and Tube-modeled Compressor.
Get superior performance and take advantage of the new multicore processors. The optimized mix engine allows for more tracks and effects on the same machine, offering more variety and faster processing.
After making the rounds on YouTube and various blogs the reacTable synth was spotted by Bjork and later incorporated into her live show which brought a large amount of attention to this unique hands-on synthesizer. The developers are now looking into a short production run of the innovative machine. We look forward to seeing this in some upcoming shows!
From reacTable:Â
The reactable is a collaborative electronic music instrument with a tabletop tangible multi-touch interface. Several simultaneous performers share complete control over the instrument by moving and rotating physical objects on a luminous round table surface. By moving and relating these objects, representing components of a classic modular synthesizer, users can create complex and dynamic sonic topologies, with generators, filters and modulators, in a kind of tangible modular synthesizer or graspable flow-controlled programming language.
The instrument was developed by a team of digital luthiers under the direction of Dr. Sergi Jordà . The “Interactive Sonic Systems” team is working in the Music Technology Group within the Audiovisual Institute at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona Spain. Its main activities concentrate on the design of new musical interfaces, such as tangible music instruments and musical applications for mobile devices.
The reactable intends to be:
The reactable hardware is based on a translucent, round multi-touch surface. A camera situated beneath the table, continuously analyzes the surface, tracking the player’s finger tips and the nature, position and orientation of physical objects that are distributed on its surface. These objects represent the components of a classic modular synthesizer, the players interact by moving these objects, changing their distance, orientation and the relation to each other. These actions directly control the topological structure and parameters of the sound synthesizer. A projector, also from underneath the table, draws dynamic animations on its surface, providing a visual feedback of the state, the activity and the main characteristics of the sounds produced by the audio synthesizer.
visit reacTable Home
Powered by WordPress. Theme: TheBuckmaker. Kreditzinsen, Streaming Audio