Moog Music ha released the Minitaur, which is in the Moog Taurus Bass Synthesizer family. Minitaur is a compact and powerful analog bass synthesizer.
Features:
» Compact rugged steel chassis
» One knob per function interface
» Two stable oscillators with Sawtooth and Square waveshapes
» Classic Taurus Style Moog ladder filter
» Two Minimoog-style Envelope generators for modulating VCF and VCA
» Midi-syncable LFO with Controls for Rate, VCO LFO Amount, and VCF LFO Amount
» DIN MIDI and MIDI over USB
» Analog Control inputs for pitch, filter, volume and gate
» External audio input
» Headphone output
The Moog Minitaur costs $679 and will be available sometime this Spring.
Steinberg has upgraded Cubase and released the new Cubase version 6. There are lots of new features and capabilities in the new Cubase 6. Features include VST Expression 2, phase-accurate multitrack drum editing plus a wealth of effects and instruments, Cubase 6 and Cubase Artist 6 aim to position the music sequencing and recording software as the new benchmark.
Cubase 6 and Cubase Artist 6 offer enhanced workflow features within the Project window. The newly introduced Track Edit Groups option refines the work with multitrack recordings, allowing related events on multiple tracks to be grouped and edited simultaneously, while the new Lane Track offers convenient multitake comping for selecting and consolidating audio parts to form the perfect take.
Steinberg’s Cubase 6 is available now for $599 / €599. More information on Steinberg Cubase 6.
M-Audio has been developing Venom for the past few years they recently launched an affordable virtual analog synthesizer.
The Venom 49-key synthesizer combines the character of classic analog synths with modern digital processing to deliver an aggressive, infectious new sound. Even though you can dial up nice atmospheric pad with the Venom, the synth has a more Nord-like brittle edge to its sound, which Avid describes as “angry and downright nasty.” It’s hard to determine where this will sit in today’s music, but there will be quite a few budding and mature synthesists who will have no problem plunking down around $500 (street) for this new entry.
Features:
» 49-key, full-size, synth-action keyboard
» 12-voice polyphony, each voice including:
— 3 oscillators with 41 waveforms and 53 drum sounds sampled from vintage analog synths, FM digital synths, and drum machines
— pulse-width modulation, sync, FM, and ring modulation
— resonant multimode filter with tube saturation limiting
— 12 dB/octave (2-pole) low pass
— 12 dB/octave (2-pole) band pass
— 12 dB/octave (2-pole) high pass
— 24 dB/octave (4-pole) low pass
— 24 dB/octave (4-pole) band pass
— 24 dB/octave (4-pole) high pass
— 3 LFOs with selectable sample-and-hold
— 3 AHDSR envelopes
— 16 modulation routes
» 4-part multitimbral operation with independent MIDI-syncable phrase sequencers
» 512 onboard Single patches
» 256 onboard Multi (layered) patches
» 2 global bus effects: Reverb, Delay, Chorus, Flanger, Phaser
» 1 insert effect per multitimbral part (4 total): Compression, EQ, Distortion, Bit Reduction, Decimation
» classic arpeggiator with up, down, and alternating patterns
» tap-tempo and manual BPM control from top panel
» built-in USB 2.0 audio/MIDI interface (USB 1.1 backward compatible)
— 2 x 2 24-bit, 44.1 kHz operation
— mic, instrument, and stereo line level inputs route to DAW
— synth sounds route to DAW
— DAW audio output mixes into main outputs
— stereo main audio outputs (1/4″ TS)
— stereo headphone output (1/4″ TRS)
— master volume knob; instrument and mic gain knobs
— MIDI In and MIDI Out (5-pin DIN)
» large custom LCD
» 4 rotary encoders and 1 button for performance control and editing
» dual-function octave up/down and transpose controls
» assignable pitch bend and modulation wheels
» sustain (1/4″ TS) and expression (1/4″ TRS) pedal inputs
You can even use Venom as an audio interface with Pro Tools M-Powered (Requires Pro Tools M-Powered 8 or higher) and other music software—forming a powerful production machine to take your music in dangerous new directions.
A nice compliment to the Venom is the included Vyzex Venom software editor. This is many users will really get creative with the synth and we have a feeling Avid will be upgrading Vyzex as Venoms fly off the shelves.
Vyzex Features:
» arrange sounds into banks, rename patches, and save backups
» patch collider feature mashes up multiple patches to create new hybrid sounds
» 16-cell modulation matrix offers comprehensive routing configurations
Bock has just launched their new 241, a vocal tube microphone. The Bock 241 updates the performance level of their 151 bringing it closer to the 251.
The new Bock 241 features a high frequency flat or minus switch, dedicated cardioid operation, and outboard inductor based power supply to drive the vintage inspired tube circuitry.
The Bock 241 is available now for a mere $3,650. More information on the Bock 241 microphone.
Have you ever found yourself flicking through your overpriced iPhone music apps and thinking “these are all great, but what would really complete my life would be if I could take them onto a stage with me, or go busking with them”
Of course you haven’t, only an idiot would confuse virtual music toys with real performance instruments. This, however, hasn’t stopped gadget company Evenno from creating, producing and now marketing the single most pointless iPhone accessory on the planet.
The Fingerist is essentially an iPhone holder that vaguely resembles a guitar and can be strapped around your neck. It has a small speaker built into what would be the guitar’s body, but if you’re booked to play the o2 fear not, it can also be plugged into an amplifier with a quater inch jack.
So, you may be thinking “this sounds like quite a cool little toy, stop being such a stick in the mud you miserable bastard” and I agree, I thought this until I saw how much one of these things cost; £210. You might be able to find it for cheaper on ebay or Amazon, but as of yet I’ve not seen them in stock anywhere other than the Japan Gadget Shop.
So, if you do fancy spending a hell of a lot of money for this novelty toy, be my guest and please let me know how it has worked out for you on twitter @monkeyhotel
There’s not much doubt as to the biggest announcement at this year’s AES Show in San Francisco. As widely rumoured, Avid have reversed their long-standing insistence on tying their Pro Tools software to their own proprietary hardware.
Heading the many eyebrow-raising features in Pro Tools 9 is the ability to make full use of third-party interface hardware using its ASIO and Core Audio drivers. In essence, all you now need to run any version of Pro Tools 9 is an iLok licence: any further Avid hardware is just optional.
It part of the effort to simplify the Pro Tools product range, the previous LE and M-Powered versions have ceased to exist, as have some of the earlier add-on Toolkits. There is now but a single Pro Tools 9, with three options available (the URL below provides detailed comparisons of the new and earlier versions). The basic version replaces LE and M-Powered, and runs natively on Intel Macs with Snow Leopard or PCs with Windows 7 (earlier operating systems are no longer supported). This can be augmented by the new Complete Production Toolkit 2, which adds almost all the Pro Tools HD features that are not dependent on HD hardware. Pro Tools HD 9 remains at the top of the tree — but anyone with an HD 9 licence will now be able to install and run the application natively, again excluding only those features that require HD hardware. This opens up a wealth of new possibilities for HD users, most obviously the ability to record, edit and mix Pro Tools sessions on laptop computers with portable Firewire or USB interfaces.
There’s a lot more to the new release than that, however. Even the basic native version of Pro Tools 9 is now significantly more capable than previous LE and M-Powered releases. Many users have been clamouring for the inclusion of automatic compensation for processing delays caused by plug-in lookahead buffers and routing to external hardware and third-party DSP cards, and this is now standard in all versions of Pro Tools 9. And whereas LE and M-Powered offered a maximum of 18 inputs, Pro Tools 9 provides 32, whether using Avid’s own hardware or via ASIO or Core Audio. Basic track count has been doubled to a whopping 96 mono or stereo tracks, or 192 with the Complete Production Toolkit 2, and there are now 256 buses as standard.
Several other key features that were previously available in native systems only as expensive add-ons are now also standard. These include the full multitrack version of Beat Detective, file interchange using the OMF, AAF and MXF formats, MP3 export and the Timecode ruler. Meanwhile, the first fruits of Avid’s recent acquisition of Euphonix are apparent in the inclusion of support for the Eucon control protocol in all versions of Pro Tools 9.
The addition of the Complete Production Toolkit makes for what is undoubtedly the most powerful native version of Pro Tools yet, adding a number of features that have previously been available only in HD systems. The most notable of these are probably VCA groups, advanced automation and up to 192 audio tracks, but there are plenty of other additions, including support for Avid’s ICON range of controllers.
Pro Tools 9 should be available very soon — boxed versions are expected to ship by November 19th — and will cost £504.95 for the basic version and £1679.95 for the Complete Production Toolkit 2. Needless to say we’ll be reviewing it as soon as we possibly can!
Not too minutes ago in the town my friends and I were hounded in the street by people fund raising for the latest tsunami survivors of whoever asking for money, this is never fun. If you twin that with the fact that people like you and me always want something for free, people giving out flyers and postcards are still proving to be a great way to promote upcoming gigs and performances at local bars, festivals, nightclubs, theatres or even shopping malls, things even the mighty interwebs will never be able to do. Having a quick blast around the internet for something that was reasonable in price and convenient for both huge super groups, just-starting-out bans or any buisness at all for that matter. I bumped into nextdayflyers.com.
Next Day Flyers will print promotional/club flyers and marketing postcards in a wide variety of sizes from 1/8 of a page to full page (A4).
Tickets for performances can also be custom printed with the date and time of the concert, this I thought would give any local bands that extra push on other local acts to look that bit more professional. Paper options include a thick durable card stock which can have a glossy or matte finish, that seems to be the most serviceable as a gig poster as well as a 100 lb glossy paper. Your own designs can be customized by a nice easy-to-use user friendly graphic design tool on-site and uploaded directly to the Next Day Flyers site, alternatively there is an option to create your layouts using an array of defult templates in the ‘Online Design Center’. All these little easy to use helpful bits have made nextdayflyers.com RouteNote’s weapon of choice.
The turnaround on printed materials is quick and items can be ready as early as the same day. The website is user friendly, offering helpful tools such as online chat and instructional videos, naturally a customer service representative can also be reached by phone.
Guitar Nation Live 2010 is the UK’s biggest Guitar show and has everything any guitarist or musician could wish for. Top Heavy Metal stars, a fantastic exhibition of the best guitar gear from all the leading Brands and names. Plus exclusive concerts, master-classes for all things music and seminars. The event will boast to be a dedicated guitar exhibition of over 120 stands with the biggest names in the business showing the very latest and coolest gear. There’s a range of activities and events including live bands, free guitar lessons and select places will have competitions and groovy prizes. And doors open at 10 in the morning each day.
Saturday 13th November 2010 10.00am to 6.00pm
Sunday 14th November 2010 10.00am to 5.00pm
Discounted tickets are available to purchase in advance (click here) and are on sale now from www.guitarnationlive.co.uk or the Guitar Nation Live team on 0844 3380338. Please note all tickets are subject to a £2.00 booking fee. With extra ticketing options which include:
Guitar Institute presents Steve Vai (Both Days) £55.00
Live & Learn (Both Days) £20.00
Steve Vai Masterclass (Sunday Only) £155.00
Olympia Conference Centre, Hammersmith Road, London
Do you have an iPhone or iPad? Do you have between 10 minutes and an hour to kill? If the answer to both of these questions was yes, then might I suggest that you download the free app Baby Scratch?
This free application is a perfect way to pass the time on a bus or train journey and despite it’s rather toy-like appearance, actually affords the user a degree of creative freedom.
The app comes as standard with a couple of standard backbeats and a “vinyl” full of generic hip-hop samples for you to play with whilst the backbeat runs.
If you have an iPhone you will be able to record your own samples on the “vinyl”, allowing you to manipulate whatever sounds you want. I have so far had the most fun with recording the built in backbeat into the sample section, allowing for very realistic beat juggling.
Here is a video of someone who has mastered the interface far better than I;
And if you’re really stuck for things to do on a rainy day/have no real friends you could hook it up to a mixer like this guy;
There are a lot of people out there who still think vinyl is a million times better than digital music in terms of sound quality. Martin Skelly believes that digital music is lacking in the tactile satisfaction department. To remedy this egregious problem, Skelly designed the Playlist Player, a delightfully backwards sort of music player.
The Playlist Player looks like a record player but works like an MP3 player. After creating playlists on your computer, you load the lists into the player via a memory stick. Each of the color-coded “records” represents a different playlist. Setting a “record” onto the player activates the playlist associated with that color.
The Venom 49-key synthesizer combines the character of classic analog synths with modern digital processing to deliver an aggressive, infectious new sound. Even though you can dial up nice atmospheric pad with the Venom, the synth has a more Nord-like brittle edge to its sound, which Avid describes as “angry and downright nasty.” It’s hard to determine where this will sit in today’s music, but there will be quite a few budding and mature synthesists who will have no problem plunking down around $500 (street) for this new entry.
