Nanostudio for the iPhone

Nanostudio is a sampling, synthesis, sequencing (and according to their website, mastering) ap for the iPhone.

It's been described as "Reason for the iPhone", and that's enough to make me want to have a go (have to get Kore Audio to put it on the LSS iPad!). There's a fully featured synth, with CV patching, and the TGR-16 Trigger Pad.

Here's the full specs:

Compatible Devices

• OS version 3.1.2 or later (tested on iOS 4)
• iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4
• iPod Touch 2G, 3G (mic recording possible with external accessory)
• iPod Touch 1G (mic recording not available)
• iPad (1/2x zoom compatibility mode)

General

• Instruments - 4x Eden synths, TRG-16 trigger pads, 6 track sequencer, 7 input mixer with two sends
• Insert Effects - 2 per synth (waveshaper, chorus/flanger/delay)
• Send Effects - 2 (reverb, chorus/flanger/delay)
• Total polyphony - 48 stereo voices
• Buffer latency - 10ms
• Stereo 44.1kHz floating-point signal path (only the final output is reduced to 16 bit)
• Individually optimized for new and old hardware (chooses between VFP or NEON technology)
• Maximum size for a single sample - 8MB (total sample memory will depend on your device)

Extra Features

• Audio copy/paste with other compatible music apps - both Intua and Sonoma standards supported
• Direct SoundCloud sharing straight from your device
• Compatible with Line 6 MIDI Mobilizer accessory for MIDI input from external hardware
• MIDI file import/export
• Eden Synth (x4)
• Maximum polyphony - 8 voices per synth
• 2 anti-aliased oscillators per voice, each with 36 basic waveforms including noise
• Oscillators can be mixed or sync/ring modulated
• Resonant filter per voice - low pass, band pass or high pass with 12dB or 24dB slope
• Samples can be used in place of basic waveforms
• 4 LFO's, optional sync to note start/sequencer tempo
• 3 ADSR Envelope generators (amp, filter and aux)
• 2 X/Y controllers, 1 configurable control knob, pitch bend wheel and accelerometer input
• Virtual patchbay for connecting controllers, LFO's and envelopes and other synth parameters
• 2 insert effects per synth (waveshaper, chorus/flanger/delay)
• 192 Global presets (shared between all projects) and 64 Project specific presets
• TRG-16 Trigger Pads and Sampling
• Number of trigger pads - 16
• Maximum polyphony - 16 voices
• Adjust volume, pan, pitch, output bus, attack, release and loop type per sample
• Exclusive groups for use with high hats etc.
• Three output busses, each with its own filter and send effects
• Load/save individual samples or whole kits
• Upload wavs or aiffs to your device using NanoSync for Mac or Windows
• Record your own samples using the internal mic (iPhone only) or external mic (iPod Touch 2G, 3G)
• Resample NanoStudio's main mix output
• Crop and normalize samples on the device using NanoStudio's built in sample editor with 4 levels of undo/redo

Sequencer

• Realtime record with undo
• Pattern editor and song arranger
• 6 tracks (4 Eden synths and 2 tracks dedicated to the TRG-16)
• Record unique parts or turn them into patterns for repetitive loops (100 patterns supported)
• Draw note and controller events such as XY pad movements, pitch bend, velocity and accelerometer
• Editing functions include delete, merge, copy, move, note length, transpose, clean and quantize
• Controller editing and automation
• Time signatures 2/4 - 7/4
• 4 levels of undo/redo on every editing operation
• All editing operations are possible while the sequence is playing

Mastering

• Mixer with 7 stereo inputs (4 Eden synths, 3 TRG-16 output busses), 1 stereo output and 2 stereo sends
• 2 Simultaneous global effects sends per input (reverb, chorus/flanger/delay)
• Stereo VU displays for all inputs and outputs
• Offline mixdown - stereo mix, individual tracks or individual song parts

And if that's not tempting enough, have a look at this:

There's support for the Akai Synthstation on its way!

Head to the blipinteractive site for more details, or click here to go straight to iTunes.

And after you've done that, head here for a stack of free Nanostudio samples from LoopMasters!

"Nanostudio for the iPhone" > read the full post

TuxGuitar

TuxGuitar is a multitrack tablature editor and player. I've got some guitar teaching coming up soon, and this has been a very useful find......

It comes in Windows, Linux and Mac versions, and even FreeBSD - and if that's not enough, there's even a version that runs in your web browser. As the name suggests, it's open source and free. Head here to find out more and download!

"TuxGuitar" > read the full post

Korg M01 Music Workstation sequencer for the DS

Though it's not the first music sequencer for a hand-held gaming console (I remember spending hours playing with Pocket Music for the Game Boy Advance - with real Eminem samples!), but the Korg M01 Music Workstation looks like something special....

Check out the vid to see it in action.
The specs include:

300 original M1 PCM Sounds

8x multi timbral

8 track 16 step sequencer

1 sequence max 64 pattern,

max polyphonic sound 12

master reverb, delay effect

track overview, sound browser, sequence edit, mixer and keyboard.

Simple and functional display

notes/chords,/drum input mode by touch control

data exchange by wireless transmit

drag & drop transpose

sustained notes

No UK release date, (it's an amazon.jp exclusive at the moment), but we can hope!

"Korg M01 Music Workstation sequencer for the DS" > read the full post

Max Fuel, the First

Puremagnetik has released Max Fuel, the First, a bundle of ten highly refined Max For Live devices, created to work in Live for production & performance, bringing the deeper potential of Max For Live to the end-user without the need to learn Max. The devices fall into three categories: Software Instruments, Audio Effects, and Control Devices. Presets, devices racks, and clip examples are all included in the package.

Retails for $38 (£24).

To learn more, and watch the introductory video, go here.




"Max Fuel, the First" > read the full post

Preview of Ohm Studio - The Internet DAW

Here is a preview of Ohm Studio - a standalone DAW/sequencer that will allows music collaborations all over the world via the Internet. This video shows the Ohm Studio prototype and some of its real time features in action.



If you're interested in taking part, you can apply for the beta-test here.





"Preview of Ohm Studio - The Internet DAW" > read the full post

Parc and Slide

Beautiful composition here......



Monome gs128 and 64 conrolled by Parc and slide (Max/MSP by tehn) who control a bunch of instances of automat.

Parc is a probabilistic arpeggiator. It's not easy to follow, but what's mostly happening here is arp speed changes, adding possible notes, and changing the segment of the sequence to be played. How's that for inspiration!

docs.monome.org/doku.php?id=app:parc



"Parc and Slide" > read the full post

Rebirth on the iPhone!

Propellerhead Software have released their classic software clones of the Roland TR-808, TB-303 and 909 drum machines!

We've not seen Rebirth since 2005, (check out Hobnox Audiotool if you want to play with something similar), but I can see many a long tube journey is going to fly past while I make classic Techno and Acid House! Head to the iTunes store, or check out the Propellerhead website.

"Rebirth on the iPhone!" > read the full post

Turn your iPhone into a Tenori-On style matrix synthesizer

Whether you are an experienced musician or don't have a musical bone in your body, you can make good(?) music on your iPhone or iPod touch, with Aurora - a pattern based, Tenori-On style musical sequencing software.

No details on pricing or release date have been announced yet. Stay tuned for updates, and check out the (very rough) demo video........




"Turn your iPhone into a Tenori-On style matrix synthesizer" > read the full post

Free MIDI Step Sequencer for Pure Data

High-Pass Filter has a free MIDI step sequencer for Pure Data available for download. Read on....

The sequencer is locked to playing 16th notes, but the tempo and number of steps can be varied, and the pattern can be transposed. It also comes with a random pattern creation system, ideal for creating that "dead batteries in a 303" style sequence.

The top right window displays the pitches for the steps, selectable between -12 and +12 semitones. The centre-right window displays the velocity - where 0 means no note is played. The bottom window shows the currently playing step.

An audio demo is available at the site, as is the patch download link. Go here.


"Free MIDI Step Sequencer for Pure Data" > read the full post

Java Digital Audio Workstation - javaDAW

MIDIWorks has just released version 1.2 of javaDAW - a Java Sequencer for playing and manipulating MIDI files.

javaDAW is completely built in Java and uses the VST plugin and ASIO solutions of Martin Roth. The source code is not available yet but apparently it will be in the future "when everything is stable." Read on.....

In javaDAW you can create MIDI clips and add MIDI notes to each clip with a (double) click of your mouse. Insert a MIDI track, assign a VST plugin to a track (F3) and hit the play button (space bar) after inserting a MIDI file of course. You can also create and import audio clips. Apparently, several bugs have been solved since the last version, and more features added.

For more detail on javaDAW's features, and to download it, click here.



"Java Digital Audio Workstation - javaDAW" > read the full post

Hand-Cranked Sequencer made from a baked bean can!

Check the video...




Get the schematics and build yours!


"Hand-Cranked Sequencer made from a baked bean can!" > 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

LEGO Sequencer

Yoshi Akai - an artist, musician and instrument designer from Tokyo, Japan - has been producing DIY musical instruments with very unique input systems as works of art, and using them in performances.

The work pictured above takes the idea of LEGO synths one step further - Yoshi has created a complete 8-step, 3 channel LEGO sequencer that actually works. The idea is that you take LEGO pieces, and place them on the sequencer grid corresponding to where you want the sound to be in the loop.

Read on, to see it in action...





Check out more of Yoshi's work here.



"LEGO Sequencer" > read the full post

Free SMPTE reader app - no hardware required

Brilliant!

Until now if you wanted to synchronize a tape machine with Logic, ProTools, Cubase, Performer, etc. you needed a hardware unit that could accept audio time code (SMPTE or AES/EBU) and generate Midi Time Code.

Typically these were Motu interfaces, Emagic Unitors (now discontinued), or the super expensive Digidesign Synchdio (which does also a lot of other things).

Now all you need is this little software for mac. And it is FREE.

You can download it from...

http://nobusiness-soft.com/smptereader.html

Simply feed SMPTE Audio Signal into an Audio Input of your Mac, and SMPTE Reader will create MIDI Timecode (MTC) of it. It can send it to any MIDI Destination Port of your computer.
No Hardware required.


"Free SMPTE reader app - no hardware required" > read the full post

Pro Tools on the Mackie Onyx

So, the unimaginable has happened. You can now use a non-Digidesign or M-Audio interface with Pro Tools (M-Powered).

Rumors have been floating around about this for a little while now, but the official announcement has now arrived from Mackie - their new Onyx desks work with Logic, SONAR, Cubase, Ableton Live, and last of all, Pro Tools.

This is not just HUI control, or ADAT connection to an existing interface. So, what's the downside?

Well, it won't work yet - the small print says that the driver will be released with details how to use it with Pro Tools M-Powered 8 in the coming weeks. (So it might not be that straightforward to set up?). Also, if you read carefully, it says it is qualified by Mackie to use with Pro Tools M-Powered 8. So Digidesign have not agreed to this. What's to stop the next update crippling the Onyx?

On the bright side, it looks like a pretty nice piece of equipment (though I've not forgiven Mackie for the atrocity that was the dXb), and if it does work as advertised, it's pretty tempting. My advice? Hold off for now, see what Digidesign do first.

"Pro Tools on the Mackie Onyx" > read the full post

Logic Pro 9: what you need to know

It's been only two weeks since Logic 9 has hit the Apple Store, but it's already time for a quick recap of the situation.

This post is about the best new features, the fake new features, the mysterious disappearance of the manual, the mysterious reappearance of the manual, where to buy it cheaper and how to buy it for even less, what happens with the Logic Certification, G5 compatibility and much more. So keep reading...


Ok, you are probably trying to answer one main question: is it worth upgrading? All in all... YES.

The main real new feature is flextime, which is what Ableton introduced first about eight years ago, immediately followed by Cubase, and more recently by Digital Performeer and Pro Tools with its 'elastic audio'. About time! But it works very well and in many ways it is easier and quicker to use than any of the others, so it's great to have it.

Another important new feature is that now Logic is really optimized for multi-core processing: this means that finally it makes sense to have an eight-core MacPro, and even a basic dual-core iMac will be able to spread the load of synths and effects on all its processing power, instead of a lame one core for audio tracks and one for plugins as it's been the case until now.

And if you had been finding Guitar Amp Pro a bit limited, there are lots of groovy guitar amplifiers and effects, which now sound really good. To my eye the 'Logic' logo makes them look a bit naff and, well, some of them come straight from Garage Band but hey, whatever.

Now for the fake new features: drum replacer and sample slicer are little more than scripts automating what was always possible with the functions that logic already had, so while we welcome the improvement (in fact we love it) it's hardly a revolutionary change; and then loads more of Apple Loops – not new Apple Loops, but in fact the same Jam Packs that have been for sale from the Apple Store for ages, and that now come free just to mock the losers that bought them at the time.

Lots more features of course, and it would be too long to list them here. The best way to see all of them in action is to check 14 of Apple's own videos, conveniently collected on this page. These are short, to the point, informative and strangely missing the unbearable American enthusiasm that normally comes with training videos (have you ever watched anything from MacPro videos?).

Now for pricing: Logic Studio 2 (which includes Logic Pro 9) retails now for £399.00 from the Apple Store. It's easy to forget the incredible amount of professional tools that you get for this money (just about ten years it was normal to spend £240 for the privilege of adding EXS24 to your copy of Logic. That's right, your copy of Logic Platinum which you had bought for near a thousand pounds!) – Nevertheless, with the exchange rate it's more money than it was for Logic Studio.

Thankfully Digital Village has already slashed the price to £332, which means that you save enough money to buy a midi keyboard and have enough change for coffee and cakes. The upgrade price from version 8 is £159 from Apple, and £134 from Digital Village, so you can guess where did I buy my upgrade.

Finally, if you happen to know anyone currently attending University, the educational discount for them brings the price down to an astonishing £119.00 – that's for the full version, not the upgrade. Some will say that with the educational version you can't upgrade, but I would point out that the upgrade costs more than buying a new copy!! So you'd expect that this price will be available to students attending a Logic Certified Training course right? No it's not. Educational pricing on Logic is available to those who study to be a vet or a historian, not to those who study how to create music with Logic. Go figure.

My advice? Go outside a University, approach the first person who looks like he/she might have a student card, and buy them a beer in exchange for a little favour.

Speaking of things that make absolutely no sense, the new Logic Studio comes with no manuals. Good for the planet, and good riddance, not having 1500 pages of useless weight in the box. It's all in PDF these days, isn't it? Well no, it isn't. Logic Studio comes with a single little Getting Started booklet and the PDF documetation is exactly the same booklet and nothing more.
"So where, what, how..." I hear you ask. Easy. It's all online. You have to go to http://documentation.apple.com/en/logicpro/ to read the manual online, one – fucking – page – at – a – time. If it sounds like a bad idea you have to try to actually read a few pages: it is an incredibly, incredibly, bad idea. It is the most stupid thing I have ever seen.

I suppose it will not matter after all: if you know Logic inside out you never need the manual, but why not include a PDF?

Finally, we have reports of Logic installing fine on G5 (despite being officially Intel-only) and installing fine on OSX 10.5.6 (despite theoretically needing 10.5.7) and we are looking forward giving it a go ourselves. Stay tuned.

"Logic Pro 9: what you need to know" > read the full post

Renoise

Been playing with Renoise this week - very cool. It's a sequencer system for Mac, PC and Linux, with a different approach......

They refer to it as a Mod Tracker - a step sequencer with a Hexaphonic input. Don't let that put you off, it's pretty easy to pick up. Although you can use it as stand-alone sequencer, it can also act as Rewire slave.

The demo is almost fully featured - you can't export .wav, and rewiring periodically gives you a faint hissing noise, but it's more than enough to see if you like it - the full version only costs €49 (around £40).

Download the demo and find out more here.

"Renoise" > read the full post