JamStudio launches new, improved online music creation engine
January 31, 2008
JamStudio has announced the re-launch of its popular online music creation engine. The new look, version 2.0 site features a music arranger/mixer, providing a virtual band for music creation and songwriting, with new music libraries allowing a wide range of song styles to be created.
JamStudio.com allows musicians and songwriters to hear songs played by a full band and try out styles, tempos, and chord progressions. Songwriters are able to compose backing tracks or demos for producers to hear how the artist envisions the end product. In addition, the site allows students to practice music theory, chord progressions and music production.
Yamaha Clavinova used for research into use of music for stress relief
January 31, 2008
The Daily American reports that researchers at the Windber Research Institute are calling for volunteers to take part in a study to test the effects of music participation on stress reduction.
Prerequisites for taking part in the trial are:
- Must have a history of ischemic heart disease
- Must have had no musical training at any point in the past, even if years ago
- Must not be a keen puzzle solver
Darrell Ellsworth, PhD, senior director of the integrative cardiac and metabolic health program at WRI, is studying heart disease and breast cancer at the molecular level to improve patient treatment and care.
Fancy a vintage Quintron Drum Buddy analog synth drum machine?
January 30, 2008
Stumbled across from a series of links, I’ll be honest that I’m not sure what I’d do with this, but it looks amazing. It’s a truly unique object, and it’s up for auction on eBay  current bid is US$5,000 so you need to be fairly serious.
What does it do? Well, let the seller explain (because I sure can’t):
“Up for auction is a brand new Quintronics DRUM BUDDY, a one of a kind light activated analog synthesizer / rhythm machine hand crafted by New Orleans musician and inventor Quintron. The basic principal of operation is that there are cadmium sulfide light sensors hidden inside the colored tubes around the rotating black can and as the light holes pass them by, the various oscillator sounds are charged, filtered, bleeped and blooped in a variety of different ways.
Each of the 4 oscillators is represented by a different color and each has been designed to complete a total rhythm kit, much the same way that the different elements of an acoustic trap set go together. The Blue pipe is the “kick drumâ€?, the red is the “snare drumâ€?, and the green is the “organ oscillatorâ€?. This green oscillator is raw VCO melodic organ tone controlled by “generalâ€? and “fineâ€? tuning knobs for playing songs in a whole new way – no chromatic scales on this instrument. The yellow is the “spaceâ€? or “scratchâ€? oscillator which is plain un-effected, eerie sine wave tone which increases and decreases directly depending on the amount of light that is shed upon it.
iVideosongs launches high-def video site for teaching aspiring musicians
January 30, 2008
iVideosongs is an on-demand, high-definition video service designed to teach aspiring musicians of all skill levels how to play their favourite songs on an instrument.
iVideosongs instruction is provided by the original artists who wrote and performed the songs and also by expert instructors.
“Aspiring musicians want to play complete songs accurately, and that’s exactly what we give them,” said Tim Huffman, CEO of iVideosongs. “We’ve recruited established artists, legendary sidemen and some of the best instructors on the planet to teach rock, pop, blues and country songs. With iVideosongs, aspiring musicians learn the songs at their pace, when and where they want.”
