This morning when I opened my email I was surprised and got excited when I saw a picture of an impOscar2 running on an iPad. It was sent to me by Mario Jurisch (Synth-Project), the same guy who builts amazing hardware controllers for software instruments, like the impOscar2 and the OP-X. After some discussion I found out it wasn’t an app sadly. That would have been fantastic I think. But still … what is it then?
Earlier this week we have posted our first part of our iPad article series. One of the apps that will be discussed in one of the coming parts will be MorphWiz. MorphWiz is both an expressive musical instrument and an exciting visual experience. The Creators of MorphWiz, Kevin Chartier and Jordan Rudess along with chief technical guru Richard Lainhart jam at Richard’s studio in a rare in person meeting of all the morphing minds. Because we like this video so much we thought we had to share it with you.
In this video Herbie Hancock talks about the Arturia Origin desktop synthesizer module. The Origin is a hardware DSP system that houses several synthesizers in one machine. Some of these synths come from the past, such as the Minimoog, some are totally new and innovative. Loaded with modules extracted from the best synthesizers of all time, Origin lets you combine these modules and take advantage of the additional possibilities put onboard. The result: a new type of sound accessible through an extremely intuitive interface.
For those of you who still don’t know what Soundcloud is, SoundCloud is a online audio platform that lets music professionals receive, send & distribute their music. Primarily SoundCloud provides a efficient and simple way for music professionals to exchange music they are working on in private settings allowing for easy collaboration and communication prior to a public release. With SoundCloud the music professionals can easily send & receive large amounts of tracks without cluttering their email inbox, having to make use of generic file sending services or manage their own server.
These are the releases we have encountered this week on the Loops and Samples front. Just like the quality of the audio software we use these days the quality of the content we use (loops and samples) equally matches the high standards of this software. Below is this weeks selection.
Native Instruments is pleased to announce that the BATTERY 3.1 update is now available for free download. The update contains several new features and workflow improvements, and some fixes. You can download the update via the NI Service Center or the Online Update Manager.
Softube visits the songwriting/production team The Matrix. The Matrix have written and produced songs for an extensive roster of today’s top artists including The Mooney Suzuki, Ricky Martin, Christina Aguilera, David Bowie, Shakira, Britney Spears, Busted and many others. More recently, they co-wrote and produced Korn’s chart topping multi-platinum album “See You on the Other Side” and “Untitled”. The Matrix has sold over 26 million records through the artists they have worked with and have recieved numerous awards and nominations for their achievements.
After several successful events in the USA and Portugal earlier this year, the Ableton & Novation Live Beats series is to tour Europe this September, with 14 events across eight countries. The Live Beats events are designed so that attendees of all skill levels can discover more about using Ableton Live and Novation hardware. Demonstrator Thavius Beck will mainly focus on the hands-on music-making potential of Live & Launchpad, but will also be showing off other Novation hardware and demonstrating how Automap can be used to take your Ableton Live sessions to the next level.
As we are in the middle of the review/test of our iPad and the almost endless list of music app’s, we got news of the release of the Google Chrome OS Tablet later this year. Google is planning to release their tablet on November 26th. Better known as Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year in the U.S. It is pretty obvious that this Chrome OS Tablet will be the main competitor to Apple’s iPad. But will it be an iPad killer? The general expectation is that the Google tablet will have Flash, something that is missed by many on the iPad. And also what will this mean for the development of (music) app’s for the Chrome OS Tablet? A feature that specifically WE (Gearjunkies) are interested in.
Yes, one week from now Reason 5 and Record 1.5 will be released. On August 25, noon CET the latest version of Reason and Record will be availble for sale and/or update! The beta testing is over, the manufacturing is completed and shipments of stylish software boxes are en route all over the world as this newsletter is being sent out. So mark your calendars and set your timers!
Rhythm Core Alpha is a music creation system designed for creating and performing live music in-front of an audience. It contains DRUM GRID for creating drum parts, a NOTE GRID for creating instrument parts, a unique 2D SOLO MODE where the user can play music live with the stylus, and a PATTERN SCREEN for arranging pattern and key/scale changes.
112dB announces that Big Blue Limiter, their tube-modelling character limiter, has been updated to version 1.1. This maintenance release applies to both the retail and the demo version. Big Blue Limiter is a character limiter. It is neither transparent nor intended to be. In fact it adds a little mojo to everything you run through it, if desired even when no limiting is taking place.
Sean Beavan is a musician, record producer, and audio engineer best known for his work with Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails, God Lives Underwater, and Slayer. His production style is typically heavy, with heavily saturated guitars, but his work is diverse and wide ranging as exemplified by bands like No Doubt to System of a Down, to indie bands like Thrice, and 8mm. In this video below Sean tells us more why he uses several Rob Papen synths and also how he uses them in his productions.
Exactly one year after GrooveMaker for iPhone was made available on the iTunes App store, IK Multimedia is proud to announce the release of 7 more GrooveMaker style packs for the iPad. Debuted in April 2010, GrooveMaker for iPad now comprises a total of 12 style-based versions including Free, Hip Hop, House, Progressive-Tech House, D’n’B, Club, Techno, Trance, Electro, Rock, Reggae and Reggaeton covering all genres of dance music. This also means that all the packs for the iPhone are now optimized for the iPad.
Denon DJ, a leading manufacturer of reliable, premium-grade DJ equipment, announces a major enhancement to its popular DN-S3700 Digital Media Turntable with the introduction of the new MIDI Hybrid mode via a free firmware update scheduled for late September 2010.