Thereminesque and yet distinct in its own right, the airpiano is an exciting looking instrument which allows both discrete and continuous control of MIDI/OSC events and controllers. Interfacing with dedicated software which can then be used to control and record to any other audio or sequencing software, the airpiano allows […]
Monthly Archives: April 2011
19 posts
Looking for the latest Yamaha digital pianos and music keyboards? Try our Keyboard Finder database. If you’re enamoured by the range and quality of Yamaha keyboards, you’re not alone. Laden with features and available at attractive prices, Yamaha instruments are a great buy whether you’re new to keyboard playing or […]
Camel Audio has announced the latest update to its Alchemy Player software. This is touted as a major upgrade and features: New formats – 64-bit and RTAS 64-bit support for Mac and Windows – access unlimited memory RTAS Support for Pro Tools on Mac and Windows SFZ Sample Playback Support […]
Bit late off the mark on this one. In January, Alesis announced its latest controller keyboard. The QX49 USB/MIDI keyboard offers four octaves (49 keys) of controller goodness. It’s got most everything you could want from this kind of controller keyboard: velocity sensitive keys, drum pads, rotary knobs, long-throw faders, […]
Sound Magic has made a big splash in announcing its new Imperial Grand software and VSTi versions for Windows. Based on a rich, dark Bosendorfer grand piano, it uses a patented NEO Hybrid Modelling Engine and Artificial Intelligence Assistance Tool in an attempt to go beyond what many digital pianos […]
When it’s not creating million dollar piano art, Bösendorfer may be readying limited edition grand pianos to mark important musical anniversaries. Already creating 27 Mozart Edition pianos, marking 250 years since the birth of the great composer, Bösendorfer is now ready to create unique pianos celebrating Franz Liszt’s 200th birthday […]
Much as I like my digital piano, it’s really only a substitute for the real thing. I love acoustic grand pianos, and it’s only a lack of space and money — yes, only — that’s stopping me from having one. Naturally I love the sound and feel, and also the […]
You may not have realised it, but the Atari 520ST was pretty influential in the late ’80s and ’90s Manchester music scene. The first commercial computer to incorporate dedicated MIDI ports, it made it easy to connect up to synths and other MIDI-compatible devices. A working 520ST has now gone […]
You love your piano or synth, right? But what else can you do to show your appreciation apart from playing it (naturally), taking it on gigs and talking to everyone about the latest pieces of music you’re playing or sounds you’ve created? Wear a themed T-shirt of course! We present […]
Feeling patriotic? Have an event where it would be good to play the United States’ National Anthem music? Here are some simple free piano/keyboard arrangements for The Star-Spangled Banner. Introduction The Star-Spangled Banner is written here in B-flat major. This is the key I’ve most often heard it played in. […]
Synth history meets synth future as Roland unveils its showcase Jupiter-80. It features proven hardware and a massive sound and integrates the Roland’s latest SuperNATURAL audio processing technology. Main Features Powerful integrated SuperNATURAL synthesis engines designed for legendary vintage synth sounds to realistic organic acoustic sounds and more Single Tone […]
Korg has introduced the monotribe Analog Ribbon Station, “bringing responsive realtime control to analog groove-making.” Highlights include: The powerful sound of true analog synthesis 3-part analog drums, using discrete analog circuitry Popular Electribe-style sequencing. Active Step and Flux features for realtime dynamic loop manipulation Advanced multi-function ribbon keyboard; Chromatic, Continuous, […]
This article was first published in 2011 and as such a lot of the resources are either no longer available or have not been updated. We will endeavour to provide some newer resources in due course. If you have any suggestions, please do get in touch. Circuit bending. It sounds […]
At this year’s Winter NAMM Korg showed off its WAVEDRUM Oriental, a cracking limited edition drum pad eaturing a wide range of Arabic percussion sounds. Now it has revealed the WAVEDRUM Mini, featuring the classic WAVEDRUM technology but in a smaller, more portable form. Not only does it has a […]
I was delving through some old keyboard manuals posted online and came across the Yamaha MP-1 manual from the early ’80s. This is not to be confused with the Yamaha MP1 upright piano. There’s a big difference! Remember electronics manuals from that decade? They weren’t the slick affairs you get […]
Most guitarists I’ve worked with now carry around their own tuner, so there’s less need to assist them in tuning their guitars. Occasionally, though, their battery dies, or they just want a quick aural indication of whether their instrument is in tune before playing. Here’s how to assist a guitarist […]
If you love the Nord style get excited, because the company have used Musikmesse 2011 to unveil their latest offering: the Electro 3 HP. It features a 73-key hammer action weighted keybed and is designed to pack in a whole gamut of authentic vintage sounds, accessible via a live-performance-friendly interface, […]
Yamaha has updated its line of C Series acoustic grand pianos with the introduction of the C3XA and C6XA, enhancing the design of the soundboard, the ribs, and the braces. The two instruments have the following features: Soundboard and ribs In order to give shape to the rich reverberation of […]
By the time we arrived at Musikmesse 2011, many of Yamaha’s wares had already been shown off at the NAMM show. Yet the company still managed to show off its new “Mobile Motif” duo of synthesizers; the MOX6 and MOX8. Introduced over a decade ago, the Motif brand of synths […]
