Piano and Synth Blog

Introduction

Here’s the first piece of synth-based music I’ve recorded in a long time. It’s just over ten minutes long. Audio begins at around 6 seconds in. Hope you enjoy.

Choose a version that works best with your system:

Highest quality with smallest file size (around 5MB), encoded in M4A format:

Africa

Slightly lower quality with larger file size (around 12MB), encoded in MP3 format:

Notes

I used my Novation KS4 synth to live record two tracks into Garageband. No further editing was performed except minor volume adjustments.

Initial sounds used were the “Africa” performance and the Sync Leader program.

The “blip” at 3:20 was from some interesting over-effects I put on at that moment. I thought about editing it out, but it was (a) too complicated to find a decent filter, (b) I wanted to keep things as they were played, and (c) it’s actually growing on me in some strange way.

There’s a slight crackle at around 6:50, possibly from a patch glitch, or just noise on the cables.

The track is definitely raw, and as it was recorded in audio “as is” the scope for editing was limited. However, that’s how I wanted it.

So, don’t look for a polished performance. This is me reattaching myself to using the Novation KS4 as a proper synth for the first time in quite a while. These compositions are mainly about experimenting with sound and capabilities (both mine and the synth’s).

Any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below.

Roland has brought out a white version of its E-09 interactive arranger keyboard, unsurprisingly titled the E-09W.

The E-09 features 61 velocity sensitive keys, 64 notes of polyphony, 32MB of wave memory comprised of 870 tones and 70 drum sets, 47 different effects, 130 styles, 100 user programs, sixteen track recorder, pitch bend and modulation wheels.

(Continued)

I haven’t heard much about Novation recently, but here’s a video from Sonic State’s Rob Jones, who does a 6+ minute practical review of the Nocturn Control, a nifty little device making it easy to control plug-in parameters and other effects.

(Continued)

Moog introduces the Minimoog Voyager OS, featuring the analog sound engine of the Voyager, but without the digital controls.

Moog says that it’s the perfect solution for players looking for a roadworthy replacement for their Minimoog Model D, as a full-featured centrepiece for a modular synth rig, or for those craving direct, hands-on connection to their creativity.

(Continued)

Manikin Electronics demonstrated their Memotron digital Mellotron keyboard at the recent Winter NAMM show.

Here’s Sonic State’s video showing off the system, and getting some info on who’s using it and how much the sample sets cost.

(Via Sonic State)

Open Labs has introduced a companion to the popular Timbaland Special Edition MiKo, namely the new Timbaland Special Edition NeKo, an all-in-one production studio powered by Windows XP, and capable of running virtually any Windows XP compatible software including a variety of DAW software, virtual instruments (VSTi), virtual effects (VST) and other music applications.

Dressed in the same Arctic White Chassis color scheme, the Timbaland Special Edition NeKo is the perfect solution for the studio to road experience.

Equipped with Intel Core 2 Quad processors, and featuring a pre-installed copy of Reaper from Cockos, a DAW with unlimited tracks, which records audio and MIDI and integrates all of the user’s Karsyn presets in an easy to use drag and drop format.

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Alas, I don’t have the expertise to train you in creating some interesting bass drum sounds on a synth, but Ki Gray has written a useful piece in the American Chronicle giving some suggestions for doing just that.

He intros:

One of the most overlooked and powerful tools for creating percussion sounds in this modern age of soft samplers, emulators, and other sophisticated tools is the humble subtractive analog synthesizer. Learning how to generate exciting drum sounds also takes a lot of the mystery out of creating other percussive sounds, such as basses and plucked-string type sounds, as well as providing an exciting way to personalize your music.

First, let’s make a basic kick drum type sound. Most any analog or virtual/soft analog synth with one or more of the following will suffice: An oscillator,preferably with a sine wave generator, a resonant filter, a white noise generator, and an envelope (that preferably can be routed to the filter as well as the amplifier). With these simple parameters a wide range of percussion can be achieved.

Well worth a read, with plenty of experimentation on your favourite synth.

(Via American Chronicle)

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 drum”, the red is the “snare drum”, and the green is the “organ oscillator”. This green oscillator is raw VCO melodic organ tone controlled by “general” and “fine” tuning knobs for playing songs in a whole new way - no chromatic scales on this instrument. The yellow is the “space” or “scratch” 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.

(Continued)

I just wanted to let you know that a couple of years ago I wrote a five-part series called “A keyboard is not just for Christmas”, a buyer’s guide to pianos and keyboards.

Many of the principles still hold true, so I’d encourage you to take a look if you’re out shopping for a keyboard in the next couple of weeks:

• A keyboard is not just for Christmas: A Buyers Guide (Intro)
• A keyboard is not just for Christmas: Part One: Type
• A keyboard is not just for Christmas: Part Two: Budget
• A keyboard is not just for Christmas: Part Three: Features
• A keyboard is not just for Christmas: Part Four: Extras
• A keyboard is not just for Christmas: Part Five: Manufacturers

Yamaha has introduced its MM6 Music Synthesizer, a younger cousin of the MOTIF series of instruments. It features high quality sounds, real-time control of sound, dynamic music creation tools including Authentic Pattern and Arpeggiator generators, performance memory, and versatile song recording.It’s a 61-note (5 octave), 32 note polyphony synth featuring Yamaha’s AWM2 sounds, 418 voices and 22 drum kits, 8 performance banks, a wide variety of effects, and 5 master equalizers.

The current specifications page doesn’t give much away about how versatile the MM6 is when controlling sounds, which, after all, is what you generally want a synth for. However, the “sales pitch” talks about tweaking sounds, by changing filter cutoff, resonance, EG attack and release, in real time, as well as a large number of built-in “jamming” rhythms, and 213 arpeggiators.

It sounds as if is an entry-level keyboard, and those serious about sound synthesis could be left disappointed. I may be wrong, but the rhythm sections sound more like glorified accompaniment sections found on many home keyboards. That’s not to knock the MM6 for what it is, but an observation.

Also, for those who like their additional touches on keyboards, the MM6 seems to have just initial touch sensitivity, but no aftertouch.