The guys at Studio Electronics have posted another demo video of the Boomstar SEM synth. It shows the Boomstar SEM Production Unit Demo in Quadraphoria. Music and programming by Drew Neumann. Live tweaking by Drew Neumann and Marc St. Regis.
At the MusikMesse, instead of all the marketing and PR words, we asked Arturia to just show us the new SparkLE drummachine/sampler, Spark‘s little brother. Michael Hosker from Arturia creates a beat on the fly.
One of the real suprises at the NAMM earlier this year was the announcement by Korg to resurrect the MS-20 mono synth. The original has a special place in many hearts of true synth heads since 1978. Especially the thick, robust sound, its powerful, iconic analog filter, and its versatile patching options make it a synth that’s treasured by many. With the new MS-20 Mini Korg is giving new users the opportunity to enjoy the analog sound in our digital world today!
On the Jomox stand/booth, at this years MusikMesse, we saw something unknown to us. Jomox was introducing modular system modules. A new territory for them (and us). Jürgen Michaelis from Jomox gave us a little demonstration of the ModBase 09 Bass Drum Module and the Mod.Brane 11 Percussion Module.
Below is our short demonstration we got from the guys at Novation. We met up with them at the Messe to let us see and hear what the new Bass Station II was all about. Like we said it is a short demonstration but it pretty much lets you hear the analog strength this synth has.
When thinking of the ‘Digital DJ‘ you quickly think of the DJ with a two or fourdeck controller witrh your typical Traktor or Serato software, probably. You would almost forget about products like the Novation Dicer. A small little device that integrates the ‘analogue’ with the ‘digital’. Even in this ‘digital dj era’ where innovations follow eachother by month almost, devices like the Dicer are still valid and used by many DJ’s. DJ Miaer shows that to us with a cool video showing off his DJ skills and using the Novation Dicers.
The video below is a great live remix of Skrillex and Daft Punk by Conte. We have posted these kind of videos earlier but Jack takes it a step further by adding some great visual FX. By placing the Launchpad ontop of the TV screen he shows some skilled timing and programming. Well, just watch. Only thing we can say that’s awesome!
Thanks to FutureMusicMagazine we can show a cool video on modular synths again. This time Benge shows how to create a sequence on a modular synthesizer.
One of those more ‘quirky’ and interesting products we saw today was the Beamz Player. It’s a laser controlled controller which can be used by DJ’s to control virtually any DJ program and/or lighting control applications via MIDI and keystroke mapping. Configure and control up to 54 triggers – map controls to be triggered by breaking laser beams or using the buttons and rocker switches on the Beamz laser controller.
With the TRAKTOR DJ app, Native Instruments brought the leading pro DJ software to iOS with an intuitive app for instant, high-impact DJ sets. Now you can create mixes in seconds — put your hands directly on beautiful waveforms and manipulate them using gestures you already know. In the video below DJ Shiftee let’s us see how he uses the app with a hands-on performance.
The collaborators is a new series from The Creators Project, which is a partnership between Intel and VICE, with direction from Ed Lachman. In this first episode they take a look at the collaborators behind Random Access Memories, the new album from Daft Punk. In this video they speak with legendary Italian producer Giorgio Moroder.
Did we see an interesting Kickstarter project on the Don Buchla documentary earlier today, now there’s another interesting project and a first as far as we know, a crowd funding project for a DJ Mix album. UK based International DJ & Producer Dave Seaman is looking for funding to make the very first crowd funded DJ Mix compilation album.
Don Buchla is a legendary instrument maker whose inventions were part of the greatest musical transformation of the 20th century. His pioneering work laid the basis for what electronic music was to become by creating a unique analog synthesizer which completely changed the way people think about, compose, and perform music. The list of musicians and composers who have used the Buchla range from avant-garde composer Morton Subotnick to Nine Inch Nails, with plenty more along the way. Don hasn’t stopped inventing since the arrival of the Buchla, and his other instruments combine an idiosyncratic sound with a sense of wonder and theatrical magic.
The MiniBrute’s roots stretch all the way back to the 1970’s, but it’s most definitely a child of the 21st century. It proudly stands among the MS-20s, Odysseys, Pro-Ones and Minimoogs while bringing its own personality and powerful sonic imprint.