Otamatone Jumbo!

I picked up an Otamatone in Japan earlier this year (now available at Amazon and as an iPhone ap), but I wish they had one of these - the Otamatone Jumbo!.......

"Otamatone Jumbo!" > read the full post

Awesome touch-screen for Traktor

Yeah, take all those iPads, Lemurs, and any other piece of crap they have been trying to pass for a touch-controller until now and throw them all away.

This is the future.

Or rather, maybe not, but it sure should be.
In fact what it should be is just like this, except without a touch surface but just projected in thin air and then waving your hands through the projection (I have seen demos of something like that before, but I couldn't find links to that now).

Anyway, I am digressing. Watch this video but don't keep the volume of your computer too high or you will miss the sound of your jaw dropping.





Finished? Good. Now join the club of those asking how much will it cost and where do I get one. It's a very popular club, we're there too.

Some details can be found on this website, and immediately things start sounding less exciting than we hoped. Some guy developed this technology to work as an interface between you and a dj software. It's a few dollars per year to buy (or lease?) the licence to turn any windows powered touch-screen laptop in to a stupid controller for Traktor. So you need a laptop with touch-screen and it will only act as a controller for one specific application, but not on Macs. Which is rubbish already, and it gets worse where no more details are provided of this gorgeous screen being used in the demo. This apparently is a prototype and not planned for production.

So ok, it aint' gonna happen this year, maybe not even next year. Still, watch this movie again and ask yourself what it would be like to have this interface. Think about how a regular powerpoint presentation about sales this quarter or health and safety on the workplace would still make you look like a demi-god.
Please, someobody, somewhere, make this happen. And then let's talk about an installment plan. I am starting to save money now.



"Awesome touch-screen for Traktor" > read the full post

Orange PC and Boss mouse?

So you've probably seen the Orange amplifiers OPC - a PC in an orange amplifier combo? If not, check it out here. Well, I've found the perfect accompaniment - the Roland DS-1. Looks like a distortion pedal, clicks like a mouse!

Can't find this anywhere on the Roland or Boss sites, but here it is on Music Radar..

"Orange PC and Boss mouse?" > read the full post

Build your own valve synth!

The Phantastron is based on a World War 2 radar circuit, and it's available in kit form! Looks cool, and sound pretty cool too, as you can see in this demo video (no expense spared!)......

Only around $195, and comes in 110V and 220V versions. Check out the home page here!

"Build your own valve synth!" > read the full post

IK Amplitube iRig

Big fans of the IK MultiMedia stuff here, but this is a little outside their usual range.

The iRig is similar to their Amplitube software, but runs on the iPhone, iPod Touch, and of course the iPad......

But the really cool thing is the interface - an impedance matching I/O, that allows you to plug your guitar straight into the iPhone, and a headphone out. Ideal for practicing without annoying the neighbors. Up to three virtual effects pedals at a time, cab and head select, and both guitar and bass options. Expect around a £30 price tag.

"IK Amplitube iRig" > read the full post

iPad controlling Reason and Record

While still convinced that on its own the iPad has too many limitations to ever justify its place in my living room, as a host for useful apps it's already a winner and it certainly creates some interesting competition for a lot of people.

As far as we (music making geeks) are concerned it is now the best alternative to the awesome Lemur – it certainly doesn't match it, but there are practical applications where the extra latency and inferior coolness factor are not an issue.

In these two videos...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWQO0CVsS5I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg4m-hXOPmQ&NR=1

...we see the first application of an iPad as a remote control surface for Reason and Record.

In reality the interface we see is a based on an open source format so it is not exclusive to Propellerheads software, it could have been used for Live, Logic or anything else that supports some midi mapping (you will probably find many more examples on YouTube by the time I have finished typing this). And for the same reason, it's not yet the brainless solution we'd like to have, as in 'get an iPad, connect to computer, done'.

But there is little doubt that having two iPads sitting on your desk instead of a traditional mixer/controller is now a very attractive thought.
Not caring at all about 3G, we can look at the price of a couple of iPads (why two? well why not? I like living large, and have one for faders and one for something else) and see that it's still way more affordable than a traditional dedicated controller.

At the same time I also believe that touch screen have great advantages but also great disadvantages, and I will always prefer some faders and knobs that I can grab and feel.
So I won't be convinced that iPads or Lemurs are the only thing I will ever need, but a hybrid combination of both is the way to go.

In any case, expect to see one or two iPads at London School of Sound very soon. You know, for testing purposes...


"iPad controlling Reason and Record" > read the full post

Free T-shirt!

Rode are giving away free t-shirts....

Just head to this site and sign up for their newsletter.

"Free T-shirt!" > read the full post

WaveLab 7 for Windows... and Mac!

Finally! WaveLab 7 runs under Windows as well as Snow Leopard bringing all advantages of its professional editing and mastering tools to the Mac user. No more running dual systems on precious Macs!

WaveLab 7 is expected to ship in the second half of 2010. Stay tuned for updates.

"WaveLab 7 for Windows... and Mac!" > read the full post

Korg Monotron Demo at Musikmesse 2010

Following on from Ciaran's post, here is the demo video....





"Korg Monotron Demo at Musikmesse 2010" > read the full post

Hand-held, battery powered analog synth

Check out the new Korg Monotron! It's got the same filters found in the MS-10 and MS-20, and accepts external input, as well as having a funky ribbon keyboard. No UK price yet, but it'll retail at $85 US, so expect around £90 once it gets here.

"Hand-held, battery powered analog synth" > read the full post

Future UK plug design?

A student from the Royal College of Art has won this year's Royal College of Art's graduate show with a new design for the electrical plug.
Not that exciting, you might think, and slightly off-topic for this forum.

Maybe. But then we all use iPhones, laptops, and other objects of beauty, and our studios are filled with power strips that are often bigger than the objects they are used for.

Now have a look at these picture, and join me in praying that someone puts this stuff in to production as soon as possible.

Below there are a few more pictures and a link to an article with more details.























Follow this link for the full article
http://www.iconeye.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=1:latest-news&id=3864:rca-student-radically-improves-the-uk-plug



"Future UK plug design?" > read the full post

Pinambience - an interactive sequencer

Pinambience was created with openFrameworks and Ableton Live last year. It's an interactive, generative sequencer and effects machine. It's cool. Check out the demo....

Pinambience 1st Demo from Ian McKinlay on Vimeo.

"Pinambience - an interactive sequencer" > read the full post

Draw Audio = Drawdio!

Turn anything into a synth with Drawdio!......

You can buy a build-it=yourself kit for a very reasonable $25, or check out their home page here for full DIY instructions.

"Draw Audio = Drawdio!" > read the full post

Spider Capo, Spider Capo, does whatever........

I've used two banjo capos on my guitar to get similar results to this, but the spider capo looks much easier. You might need a couple of these for full chords, but at around $40 each it's not impossibly out of budget. Check out the Spidercapo website, or read on for a vid of it in action.....

"Spider Capo, Spider Capo, does whatever........" > read the full post

Pioneer DJM-2000

Pioneer has announced a new DJ mixer, the DJM-2000.

The DJM-2000 is Pioneer's most powerful performance mixer and is designed to be the perfect match for CDJ-2000 digital decks. It features a 5.8-inch LCD multi-touch panel display, a first on a DJ mixer.

Other features include Beat Effects, Instrument FX, serious connectivity, a live sampler, USB audio interface, 3-band EQ, digital audio in and 3 different mixing modes.

All that comes at a price, though. The DJM-2000 is expected to be available in June 2010 with a suggested retail price of $2,999 (or just under £2,000).

Read on to find out more...

FEATURES:

• Mixer Layout - the DJM-2000 inherits a larger foot print than its predecessors to accommodate a sectioned layout of features as well as cosmetically match the latest Pioneer CDJ series of digital media players. On the top centre section of the mixer resides its EFX capabilities to give DJs a bounty of digital effects. Located on each side of the middle section is its audio mixing controls for connection of up to 4 digital or USB sources. Across the middle section, Pioneer added new Instant Instrument FX functions which allow DJs to further alter and create more sound effects. And, at the bottom centre of the mixer is a large LCD touch display that provides DJs a window for remixing beats and adding effects with the ease of a simple touch of the screen.
• Industry First Multi-Touch Panel - A first in the industry for audio mixers, the DJM-2000 incorporates a full-colour 5.8-inch LCD multi-touch panel for adding audio effects. Users can simultaneously manipulate the displayed controls on the panel by touching different areas of the screen. Three different performance modes are available, including: frequency mix, sidechain remix, and MIDI mode.
• Evolved Beat Effects - A section of the mixer resides an Evolved Beat Effects adopted from earlier versions of the DJM series of mixers to generate a multitude of sound effects. Numerous for additional performance capabilities. Further manipulation of the sound effects can be made using the Effect Frequency knobs that changes the low, mid and high frequency bands of the music. Turns of the knobs enhances the effects to each frequency band, i.e. an echo added specifically to the vocals of the music or a doubling of the hi-hat rhythm, providing incredible performance options.
• Instant Instrument FX - the INST FX provides 6 additional audio effects that include: Noise, HPF, LPF, Jet, Zip, and Crush. Each of the effects can be induced into the channel with a turn of the Filter knob. Additionally, the Parameter knob allows the effects to be fine tuned.
• Pro DJ Link - When used specifically with Pioneer's CDJ-2000 (or even CDJ-900) turntables via Pro DJ Link, the DJM-2000 becomes an even more powerful musical tool. The mixer incorporates 4 Ethernet ports in the back of the unit allowing up to 4 of the most recent CDJ turntables to be connected (via LAN cables) while sharing only one music-filled SD card or USB storage device. In addition, up to 2 laptop computers pre-installed with Pioneer's music management software rekordbox can be interfaced with the DJM-2000 via LAN cables, in cases that 2 DJs are transitioning for their individual performances.
• Live Sampler - A cool feature of the mixer is its Live Sampler capability which allows the sound from a microphone or from the MASTER output to be recorded directly into the mixer. The "sampled" sound can instantly be transferred via LAN cable to a CDJ-2000/900 for scratching.
• Link Monitor - When linked with the CDJ-2000 player, the mixer informs the DJ of its connected status. The JOG rings of the turntable changes in colour based on the current on-air status or channel number connection, providing quick visual indications to the DJ.
• USB interface - the DJM-2000 features a USB audio interface that allows direct computer connection without the need for an external sound card. Up to 4 audio sources can be assigned to each channel providing even more flexibility. For additional convenience, the MASTER output can be connected directly to a computer for recording of performances.
• Sound Quality - Continuing the prestigious reputation of Pioneer mixers, the DJM-2000 provides excellent sound quality. By utilising balanced hybrid op-amp and a perfectly balanced output circuit in the analog processing stage, Pioneer managed to significantly decrease induced noise resulting in a dynamic range of 107dB with 0.004% THD for an extremely clean and powerful sound.

Additional features include:

• Switching 3-band EQ/isolator
• Digital In
• Fader Start Play
• Talk Over
• Peak Level Meter
• Cross fader Assign function
• Fader Curve Adjust function

"Pioneer DJM-2000" > read the full post

Clavilux 2000 - Interactive Instrument for Generative Music Visualisation

The Clavilux 2000 is an interactive instrument which is able to generate a live visualisation of any music played on a digital piano. The setting of the installation consists of three parts: a digital piano with 88 keys and midi output, a computer running a vvvv patch and a vertical projection above the keyboard.

Read on to find out more, and watch the video...

For every note played on the keyboard, a new visual element appears in the form of a stripe, which follows in its dimensions, position and speed the way the particular key was struck. Colours give the viewer/listener an impression of the harmonic relations: each key has its own colour scheme and "wrong" notes stand out in contrasting colours.

All stripes stay and overlap each other in an additive way, so at the end a kind of pattern remains - a summary of the music - which will be always unique since the notes of the composition as well as the interpretation of the piano player and influencing the outcome. Also, the piano player can switch between the standard 2D view and an additional 3D view of the visualisation while playing.

Click here for more info.


"Clavilux 2000 - Interactive Instrument for Generative Music Visualisation" > read the full post

FlexiKnob

Despite the poor name choice, these look like a very cool way to control - well, anything....They're wireless pots, that can be assigned to any on-screen parameter. Click for the vid of these in action....


"FlexiKnob" > read the full post

Apple - no, sorry, Gibson Dusk Tiger

Gibson's website is looking very Apple at the moment - all white with tigers on it. But what's caught my attention is the new Dusk Tiger guitar....

It's got the new Chameleon tone circuitry - (all analog, digitally controlled EQ), robot tuners (jump to amy tuning preset in seconds), editing software and low Z o/p, as well as looking rather pretty.

Check out the Dusk Tiger homepage, or jump straight to the videos to see it in action... but be quick, there's only 1000 being made!

"Apple - no, sorry, Gibson Dusk Tiger" > read the full post

Cable Drop

While unsuccessfully hunting for Christmas presents, I spotted these...

As with the best ideas, it's really obvious once you've seen it. (I found them at firebox, but they're also at amazon). Only around a tenner for a pack of six.

"Cable Drop" > read the full post

iPhone notepad

So, it's a notepad that costs a stupid amount of money, but looks like an iPhone....

Pointless? Maybe not - if you're developing iPhone apps it might be useful, but how difficult is it to draw a square on paper?

"iPhone notepad" > read the full post