Ensoniq ESQ-1 on eBay

Info at the listing...

A Tour of Boys Noize Studio

Thanks to Herve for sending me this one.  I've always really enjoyed Boys Noize's stuff, so it's cool to get a look at his studio.  Some seriously tasty gear in there!

[via FutureMusicMagazine on YouTube]

EML Electrocomp Model 101 on eBay

Info at the listing...

Red Alesis Andromeda on eBay

Info at the listing...

Free Casio XW-P1 Samples

Adam sent us this multi-sampled octave of a preset from the Casio XW-P1 synth.  Enjoy!

GO GET THEM!

Children's Choir Covers Crystal Castles

Every now and then, someone does a cover of a song that so surpasses the original in some manner, that the cover ends up being considered the definitive version.  A good example would be Johnny Cash's cover of NIN's "Hurt".  It was always a beautiful song, but there is such a poignancy and genuine-ness to Cash's version, it's hard to appreciate the original as much after you hear it.

What we have here is a children's choir doing a stunning a cappella rendition of Crystal Castles' "Untrust Us".  The results are so beautiful, I broke out in goosebumps when the lyrics came in.  As far as I am concerned, this song now belongs to the Capital Children's Choir.  Crystal Castles wrote it, but these kids made it their own.

(The original song, for your reference:)

Roland Jupiter 8 on eBay

Info at the listing...

OSC Oscar on eBay

Info at the listing...

John Cage on Silence

Avante garde composer John Cage is perhaps best known for his piece 4'33", which consists of 4 minutes and 33 seconds of silence.  In this case, the sounds of the audience's clothes rustling, or the groaning of the building settling  essentially became the piece itself.  So when John Cage has something to say about silence, it's a good idea to listen.

Arp Axxe on eBay

Info at the listing...

Formanta Polyvoks on eBay

Info at the listing...

Seaweed Factory Releases Free Casio SK-1 Sample Set

Seaweed Factory have released a free sample set consisting of rhythms and tones from the infamous Casio SK-1 sampler.

[via Bedroom Producers]

Casio SK-1 on eBay

Info at the listing...

Yamaha Tenori On on eBay

Info at the listing...

Download a Free Track from Maps

It's been a while since we've heard from Maps (aka British musician James Chapman), so I was quite happy to hear he has a new album on the way.  To promote the album, Maps has made a track called "A.M.A." available for free to download on Soundcloud.

Ignite Amps Releases Free Tube Amp Plug-in

Ignite Amps have released yet another free plug-in, the TPA-1, a modeled tube power amplifier.  Although it is intended to compliment with a guitar amp (or guitar amp plug-in), it can sound great on all manner of material.  TPA-1 is runs on both Mac (VST/AU) and Windows (VST) and is 32/64 bit compatible.

Interview with Depeche Mode Programmer Christoffer Berg

Release Magazine has an interesting interview with Christoffer Berg, the synth programmer hired by Depeche Mode to work on their latest album, "Delta Machine".

Roland MKS-70 on eBay

Info at the listing...

Roland RS-101 String Machine on eBay

Info at the listing...

A Workaround for 32-bit Plug-ins in Logic X

Thanks to Anthony for bringing this one to my attention.  As you probably know by now, one of the drawbacks of Logic X, is that it will no longer run 32-bit plug-ins.  If you're like me and have a ton of 32-bit plug-ins you rely on that don't have 64-bit versions, that's a bit of a deal breaker.  MacProAudio has posted a tutorial on how to run 32-bit plug-ins in Logic X using AULab.  It's not the most elegant solution, but at least it's an option.  In the meantime, Apple doesn't get my money until they either provide a bridge, or a third party developer comes up with a no-fuss solution.

Mutronics Mutator Filter on eBay

Info at the listing...

Roland Jupiter and Spooky Cat on eBay

Info at the listing...

Free Sample Friday: Minibrute Bass

Today we have a multi-sampled bass/synth sound from the Arturia Minibrute I recently picked up for cheap on eBay.  This is sort of a hard-edged, aggressive bass good for EBM and other similar styles. 8 multi-sampled WAV file @ 24-bit weighing in around 1.28 MB.

GO GET THEM!

Sequential Circuits Pro One on eBay

Info at the listing...

Roland JX-3P with PG-200 Programmer on eBay

Info at the listing...

HoRNet Releases Trackshaper Plug-in

HoRNet has released a new plug-in called Trackshaper for OS X and Window.  Trackshaper is described as a "mix on autopilot" tool that uses algorithms designed for different types of audio tracks (ie bass, kick drum, synthesizer, etc.) to quickly and automatically applies source-appropriate compression and EQ settings with a single, user-set "effect amount" knob to dynamically adjust how much compression and EQ is applied.  Trackshaper sells for €14.99, is 64-bit compatible, and comes in both VST and AU flavors.

Circuit Bent Kawai K1m on eBay

Info at the listing...

Yamaha CS-10 on eBay

Info at the listing...

Mac Pro Video Releases Free Videos of New Logic Features

MacProVideo.com has uploaded a number of free tutorial/overview videos on the new features in Logic Pro X.  If you can get beyond the narrator's bizarre manner of speaking, there's some useful info here.

Suddenly... Logic X

In a surprise move today, Apple announced the launch of Logic Pro X, the latest major update to their flagship music production software.  And, much to the relief of everyone, it doesn't appear to be a dumbing down of the program as users of Final Cut experienced with the initial release of Final Cut X.

Among the new features is Drummer, a virtual session drummer who can accompany your arrangements in one of 15 styles.  While your virtual drummer is playing, you can construct your own custom kit from individual deeply-sampled kit pieces using Drumkit Designer.

Bassist and guitarists will appreciate the new Bass Amp Designer and the several virtual stompboxes added to Pedalboard.

For keyboard and synth enthusiasts, there's the new Vintage Keyboards instrument which features modeled B3, electric piano, and clav sounds.  If synths are more your thing, the new Retro Synth recreates the vintage synth sounds of the 80's not only with classic subtractive synthesis, but with FM and Wavetable modes as well.  A new Arpeggiator and various MIDI plug-ins allow you to work with your softsynths in new ways as well.

The new Flexpitch feature allows you to edit the pitch of audio as if it was MIDI in a piano-roll editor.  A brand new sound library and the ability to control Logic X with your iPad are some of the other interesting additions.  Logic X is available in the Apple App Store for $199.

Karl Bartos on the Importance of Melody

[via Treble Clef on YouTube]

Future Music Speaks with Karl Bartos

Future Music did a wonderful interview with Karl Bartos (ex-Kraftwerk) about his new album based around abandoned ideas he collected during the Kraftwerk days.

CHECK IT OUT!

Vengeance Releases Phalanx Sampler

It's been awhile since there's been a new contender on the plug-in sampler front.  Now Vengeance has thrown their hat into the ring with their new sampler for Mac and Windows called Phalanx.  Here's a look at the features:
Features:

- Factory content features over 3000 sounds by Manuel Schleis from Vengeance Sound
- Samples are saved in your projects
- Samples can be dragged into the sample pads; even from external sources (e.g. DAW or browser)
- Conveniently large librarian
- Arrange and save your favourites (incl. 'tag mode')
- 32 stereo sample slots in 16 channels
- Each channel routable to up to 16 individual outputs
- 128 voices (up to 16 times polyphon per pad)
- 12 types of filters (6 dB, 12 dB, 24 dB each)
- Poly portamento and legato portamento modi
- Optional: Anti-alias free sample mode and ultra-high mode for powerful computers
- Undo / Redo function
- Graphical real-time display of waveforms
- Editable envelopes (amp, filter, pitch, ModEnv)
- Envelopes syncable to BPM
- Insert FX with 17 effect types
- Drag and drop to arrange Insert FX
- Reverb by ArtsAcoustic
- four band parametric EQ for each sample pad
- Mini preset browser with numerous presets for FX and envelopes
- Compatible with other Vengeance plugins (such as Metrum, Multiband Sidechain and Philta)
- MIDI-learn function
- Complex modmatrix: Combine anything
- two independent LFOs per sample slot (32 total)
- three GUI controllers
- All controllers and MOD matrix settings can be dragged into the custom area for easy access when needed
- Rename and color-code individual sample slots for full customization
- Retrigger: Samples can be accelerated to self-oscillation (tonally playable); see Swedish House Mafia "One"
- Scratch simulator: Use pitchbend or a MIDI controller like a turntable
- Crazy loop section: Back and forth in time, freezes in time, micro loops via modwheel, crossfade looping
- Convenient arpeggiator
- Switch between "drumkit mode" and "sample mode"
- Drumkit mode features "kill notes": A closed hihat can stop a fading open hihat
- Slim and full mode: Slim mode displays all 16 pads simultaneously, full mode offers full editibility
- Single version of Phalanx included (a mini plugin with just one sample pad)
- VST2, VST3, AU, RTAS, and AAX support; 32-bit and 64-bit

Windows:
Pentium III 800Mhz
512MB RAM
Windows 2k/XP/Vista/Win7
VST 2.4 or higher compliant host

full RTAS support!

Mac:
IntelMac 1.5Ghz
512MB RAM
Mac OSX 10.6
VST 2.4 or higher or AU compliant host
full RTAS support!

required minimum screen resolution of your computer: 1282x914

Note that this product does require a dongle (BOO!) not included in the price.  Two versions are available, a Basic Version with 3000 samples for $259, and a Premium Version with the twice the sample content for $325.

Roland TB-303 on eBay

Info at the listing...

Ensoniq SQ-80 on eBay

Info at the listing...

Free Sample ...Monday?: Noisy 101

Sorry about the lack of a free sample set last week.  My host was acting up.  But, we're up and running again.  Today's free multi-sampled sound is a quirky,noisy synth sound created on the Roland SH-101 by modulating the pitch very quickly with the LFO set to noise.  Enjoy!

GO GET THEM!

SPC Plug-ins Releases Freek Stereo Frequency Shifter

SPC Plug-ins has released Freek, a stereo frequency shifter and barberpole phaser.  Here's a look at the features:

• Stereo frequency shifting with independent or phase-locked shift.
• Stereo barberpole phasing with up to 32 stages.
• Advanced, dual 96-waveform LFOs. Waveforms include 8 different random modulations, 32 sequencer patterns, an envelope follower and many others.
• Tempo syncronisation at 24 rates from 1 cycle in 64 bars to 128 cycles in 1 bar.
• Two shift ranges for precise control.
• “Intelligent” randomize feature.
• MIDI learn.
• Minimal CPU power and memory bandwidth.

Freek sells for $39 and is available for Windows (VST) and Mac (VST & AU).