OpenLabs announces Timbaland Special Edition NeKo production station
February 1, 2008
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.
Programming a bass drum on synth
February 1, 2008
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)
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 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.
“A keyboard is not just for Christmas” buyer’s guide
December 3, 2007
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 introduces MM6 Music Synthesizer
October 17, 2007
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.
Synesthesia announces Mandala 2.0 drum and synthesiser
October 15, 2007
Synesthesia has announced a new version of its popular Mandala drum synthesiser, offering true acoustic drum emulation plus a whole host of synthetic possibilities, and now able to connect easily to a Mac or PC for direct software control and integration into a range of music software.
Unlike most, if not all, other digital drum pads, the Mandala 2.0 doesn’t just register one central zone to determine how hard the user has hit the pad, but instead can detect the exact location and strength of every point on the drum’s surface, thanks to 128 concentric rings spread from the centre of the drum to its edge.
It comes with a massive four gigabytes of sound samples, including 3,000 professionally created, proprietary samples of the Black Beauty Snare Drum. It’s a synthesizer with drumsticks, with a drum pad so sensitive it responds even to a fingertip touch.
“The Mandala is anything you want it to be - it can be the best drum you’ve ever had, or any other instrument you can imagine,” said Vince De Franco, Synesthesia founder and CEO, and inventor of the Mandala. “Use it as a compositional tool, or to create any sonic reality your heart desires - it’s the smartest thing you’ll ever hit with a stick. It literally will be a different product for everyone who buys it, as simple or as complex as you want. Its lightning-fast trigger and ultra sensitivity help drummers play faster, more evenly and more expressively. Those who’ve used it tell us it helps them reach new levels of their talent, discover nuances in their playing and reignite their passion for drumming and for music.”
Accompanying software allows players to set up new sounds, and expand their drum kits and sample libraries. The software automatically accommodates up to five separate drum pads. It’s also designed to inspire and facilitate composition - along with the included instruments, players can add their own samples to the library, and use the effects to mold and create their own sounds.
The Mandala works seamlessly with most major music software, like Native Instruments Battery and Reaktor, FXpansion BFD, Ableton Live, Propellerhead Reason and Apple GarageBand.
It offers full functionality as a programmable real-time MIDI controller able to manipulate external MIDI-compatible gear like synths, samplers, tone modules, etc., using MIDI notes, velocity controller and position controller.
One Mandala drum pad can accommodate from one to seven different zones of sound - each of which can be configured as a separate instrument, with an array of specialized settings. Players can have a snare, a bass and a cymbal (or a harp, marimba or organ, or any other instrument) - all in the same drum head, all at the same time. One Mandala can act as one drum, as an entire drum kit, or as an eclectic combo.
The Mandala 2.0 retails for $349, and will be available November 1 online at mandaladrum.com and musiciansfriend.com. Each Mandala is hand-crafted and thoroughly tested before it is shipped, so expect two-week delivery.
Yamaha PSR-S900: Full specifications and more pictures
October 14, 2007
One of Yamaha’s new arranger keyboards, the PSR-S900 is a step up from the PSR-S700, featuring:
- 61 touch responsive keys
- 128 notes of polyphony
- 320×240 resolution LCD capable of lyrics and score display
- AWM sample sounds
- 392 voices, 19 drum kits, 480 XG voices
- 15 MegaVoices
- 22 Sweet! Voices
- 26 Cool! Voices
- 20 Live! Voices
- 10 Organ Flutes
- Sound creator/voice set
- Vocal harmonisation
- 2 layer voices
- Large number of preset and user-definable effects including reverb, chorus, 4x DSP
- 205 preset 8-part auto-accompaniment + user category with mixer controls
- 305 accompaniment presets + user styles + style creator
- 16 track recording
- Performance assistance technology
First introduced in Tyros, MegaVoice brings a new level of realism to the PSR-S700 keyboard. The MegaVoices feature various playing techniques and performance sounds — such as finger slides and fret noise on guitar Voices — designed specifically to enhance playback of the built-in Styles. Simply hold down a chord while you play, and enjoy some of the most astonishingly realist, expressive accompaniment you’ve ever heard.
Super Articulation introduces a completely fine level of sonic realism and musical expressiveness, with remarkably authentic voices featuring the unique performance characteristics of each instrument.
More images of the PSR-S900 (click thumbnail for main image)
Yamaha PSR-S700: Full specifications and more pictures
September 22, 2007
One of Yamaha’s new arranger keyboards, the PSR-S700 is the more entry-level model, but still comes with a range of impressive features:
- 61 touch responsive keys
- 96 notes of polyphony
- 5.7-inch QVGA LCD capable of lyrics and score display
- AWM sample sounds
- 813 preset voices made up from 317 voices, 16 drum kits, 480 XG voices
- 10 MegaVoices
- 11 Sweet! Voices
- 18 Cool! Voices
- 14 Live! Voices
- 9 Organ Flutes
- 2 layer voices
- Large number of preset and user-definable effects including reverb, chorus, 4x DSP
- 205 preset 8-part auto-accompaniment + user category with mixer controls
- 16 track recording
- 30,000 note capacity
- Performance assistance technology