You’re probably already familiar with Ableton Push, the instrument for playing melodies, triggering clips, sequencing beats, and more. If you’ve been paying attention, you might also know that Push can be used to play and control hardware synthesizers. Today, we’re revisiting the topic hardware setups to show you how using the powerful drum pads and sequencer modes in Push, you can also get incredible expression from your drum machines.
Recently Rob Papen released the new version of his Blue synth, Blue II. BLUE-II remains true to the ethos of the original Blue synth but now with even more sound dimensions and features to its extended name, starting with six oscillators beating at its musically creative heart. These can be connected in various ways, together with two analogue-style modelled stereo filters with 27 different filter types, an enormous range of processing and modulation options, sequencer, and an incredibly powerful arpeggiator. A new range of specially selected waveforms based on samples have been meticulously fashioned for creating new and fresh-sounding synth sounds, so don’t go expecting acoustic pianos galore here.
San Francisco’s Dave Smith is a synthesizer pioneer par excellence, responsible for some of the biggest advancements in musical technology ever, including founding the legendary gear-maker Sequential Circuits and inventing the MIDI protocol. Hot Since 82 (aka Daley Padley) is a house producer and DJ from Yorkshire, England, who, up until now, has produced his tracks entirely in-the-box. So when Padley recently stopped through San Francisco to promote his Little Black Book album, Beatport got the two gear fanatics together at Smith’s lab to compare notes on the analog-vs.-digital world.
In this video we take a closer look at the Nanonext Chrystal Ball controller. Designed to create and control sound, light and video, Crystall Ball gives all your computer-aided creative work a new dimension. More than a controller, it is an intuitive, interactive and infinitely customisable tool. In a studio or live, let your senses speak and give free rein to your stage performance!
When at the Messe you of course visit the Roland stand. Popular amongst the visitors were the demonstrations of the new AIRA Series. Roland had a little surprise as they introduced a new addition to the AIRA series with a little Sync Box. We noticed that the sync box wasn’t named yet as there was a sticker on top of the box blocking that model name. So we can only assume it was still in prototype stage. However it worked flawlessly as you can see and hear in our video below.
One of the more interesting new announcements at the Messe was the new hardware and software integration from Elektron with ‘Overbridge’. We went to our Swedish friends and asked them to tell and show us more about the Overbridge concept.
Computer Orchestra is a crowdsourcing platform that allows users to create and conduct their own orchestra. They can choose to upload their own music or download samples to integrate into their formation. With a simple interface, they assign the chosen samples to each post. They can also arrange detection zones, that allow them to order the “musicians” to play, using various gestures. Once their orchestra is configured, they can direct it with the movements of their body.
Ableton Live users know the power of Novation‘s eponymous grid controller Launchpad S, but here Novation demonstrates its power with FL Studio 11 in a new live performance. Accompanied by a tutorial on how to use FL Studio 11 and Launchpad together to play live.
For this week we have an interesting video. It is a dublab documentary project featuring four amazing, LA-based beat makers: Daedelus, J.Rocc, Nobody and Ras G – in a secret mission to create new musical magic from the dusty remains of thrift store vinyl. DVD and vinyl released through Stones Throw Records. Visit dublab.com/secondhand for more information on the film and release.
Last month at the NAMM, EHX introduced the Holy Grail Max, giving fans of reverberation more options in their quest for the perfect space for their instrument or voice. This new pedal shares the Holy Grail’s classic Spring and spatial Hall reverbs. A new Plate reverb, with a wonderfully complex, lush tone, and Reverse reverb for the sonically adventurous, were also added.
In honour of Focusrite Audio Engineering Ltd.’s 25th Anniversary (and 29 years since the creation of the Focusrite brand) the company are running a dream recording competition, giving you and three of your bandmates a once in a lifetime opportunity to record a track with Grammy award-winning Producer, Guy Massey at the world famous AIR Studios in London, UK.
What Difference Does It Make? A Film About Making Music explores the challenges that a life in music can bring. Shot at the 2013 Red Bull Music Academy in New York by award-winning director Ralf Schmerberg, and produced by his Berlin based artist collective Mindpirates.
Are you new to MIDI drum loops? Are you wondering how to create arrangements using different loop grooves and fills? Then this is the video you’ve been waiting for. The Loop Loft show you how easy it is to drag and drop MIDI drum loops into any DAW (Logic X in this case) and create your own song arrangements. THey also go into detail about selecting drum sounds and layering multiple drum kits on multiple tracks.
As you know yesterday we had our day at the Roland European headquarters. We saw a lot and heard a lot. Product specialist David Ahlund showed us all the new goodies that are coming in the AIRA series. Below is a short performance of all four instruments: TR-8, TB-3, VT-3 and System-1, in action together.