Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Tony Romera & Jordan Viviant - Alive (Bit Funk Remix)



Bit Funk is a Brooklyn indie dance producer and DJ.  He has some amazing remixes - an especially wonderful Treasure Fingers remix.  We caught this great track released a few days ago that features a deep house/classic house vibe. Check out his website for more!!





Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Goldroom's New Remix - Atlas Genius - Back Seat (Goldroom Remix)



We've been waiting for a new tune from Goldroom for short while now.  Producer Josh Legg tends to create dreamy, brilliant and clean remixes that sound like L.A. moved to a space beach. As usual, the arrangement is wonderful and forces the mind to wander! You can join Goldroom's mailing list here and follow him on twitter @goldroomtunes and download this track for free!





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Togu Audio Line releases updated Chorus Plugin TAL-Chorus-LX for free


If you're looking for a fancy but simple chorus plugin, or you already have the original TAL Chorus plugin and are dying for an update, you're in luck.  Togu Audio Line, the fantastic-- and mostly free-- plugin makers have released a 64 bit updated version of the chorus function included in their only premium synth, the TAL-U-NO-LX, a Juno 106 style plugin.  This chorus is modeled after the Juno series' chorus, and it's called the TAL-CHORUS-LX.  You can download it for free here, both PC and Mac compatible.  This plugin sounds great, and can be applied to a wide variety of sounds.  Perhaps my favorite is a Wurlitzer keyboard through this plugin, as it adds a nice big moving warmth to the sound.  It's been used by some big name artists as well-- I know Fred Falke is a fan.

If you like it, why not donate using their PayPal, or purchase their full Juno 106 recreation?

Monday, October 29, 2012

The Hair Kid - "Spring Fling"



I got a nice email last week from blog fan The Hair Kid, who's a synthesist himself, making a mix of instrumental tracks and rap tracks. Above is his instrumental "Spring Fling", which shows alot of promise for the future. Excellent beats, great warm synths, and a pretty awesome arrangement. THK says his gear includes "Moog Model D, Juno 106, DX7, Access Virus, Syntecno TeeBee and Akai S612."

Below is his album, so if you're any fan of rap in addition to electronic music, check it out.  Track 6 "Love Me Tender" has some great cut up production in the second half.
 

Hand in Hand - MAM




We're really excited to see this group of musicians grow in the next few months! MAM is a collaboration between two producers, Miguel Campbell and Matt Hughes. This track for Nice to Be Records is something soulful, crisp and well produced.  Although this track is not free from soundcloud, please play it out! (The whole EP is wonderful)

You can buy it here!





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Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) - Get That Sound


Have you ever wanted to sound like the Eurythmics? Future Music has a short little tutorial on copying the sound of "Sweet Dreams".  These are always nice little videos because they can give you ideas on how to use plugins, even if you aren't copying the sounds.  Check it out.

Moog Announces 500 Series Delay


Were you a fan of Moog's 500 series low pass filter?  Moog has just announced the next 500 series module, a delay effect, which will ship this December for $999.  I imagine this will be a hit with the higher-end producers, because it sounds pretty cool.  Delay, as many of you know, is a staple in electronic music, and Moog has fantastic experience with it, as with many other effects, through the Moogerfooger line.  Read the full details below.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Ableton announces Live 9 and the Push Controller



Wow.  Ableton has just stepped up and killed it with their announcement of Live 9 and their new controller Push.  Live 9 has a variety of great improvements over Live 8, many of which were demanded by the users themselves, like automation curves and automation to clips.  They've added the fantastic Glue Compressor as a standard to Live 9, and made visual editing in the EQ and compressor much easier as well.  The library, which was before clunky and slow, has been completely overhauled to make finding patches and plugins much quicker.  My favorite addition in Live 9 might be the conversion capabilities of audio to MIDI.  This means you can either sing a set of notes, and turn it into MIDI for a plugin, play some guitar notes and do the same, or beatbox a beat and turn that into a drum pattern on the computer.  This works with sampled audio, or you could easily drop in a track you enjoy.  Absolutely awesome.  MIDI transform has been upgraded, giving you the ability to get some great changes very quickly over a MIDI section.  Some great Max for Live devices have been added as well. All fantastic features-- nothing here is going to be skipped over and ignored.  I haven't heard any word on 64 bit support, but I'm hoping it's there.  64 bit is supported!

Chris Malinchak - "So Good to Me'






Earlier this week, the NYC based Label, FRENCH EXPRESS released a free track from artist Chris Malinchak. "So Good to Me" is a soulful house track that warms the listener and features some airy vocals. Definitely worth a free download for its addicting nature! Also, check out FRENCH EXPRESS for more FREE DOWNLOADS of artists like Moonboots and Perseus. (Oh everything is free to download! - Take it on the go!)




Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Joypopp - Addictions


I just got a cool new record from up-and-comers Joypopp today.  Their debut album Addictions has just hit iTunes (US, GB),  and I've been enjoying what I've heard so far-- reminds me a bit of early Madonna, but modernized as if it were mated with Passion Pit at times.  Plenty of synth here, with staccato italo bass at times and dreamy patterns at others.  Definitely a solid debut record and a band to watch.  Check out the sampler below!

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Small bits of Ableton Live 9 Information Leak out, Including Screenshots UPDATE: Video Added!



Via Ableton Live Forum

Perhaps too early to call for some, but it appears that some internal Ableton Live 9 screenshots have leaked out, showing off what appears to

be an upgraded compressor, spectrum for EQ, and a new browser. The small amount of information I can see so far says:

"contains the glue by cytomic. unclear whether this will be free.
updated eq 8 with new filters - less noise & artifacts, 48db hp/lp, q interaction, analyser (detachable), range control.
updated comp. new waveform display - a la fabfilter, expand mode, auto release.
updated gate new waveform display - a la fabfilter, control to stop chatter.
interface looks pretty much the same, but has a new browser design that looked pretty good."


This is pretty exciting for those of us who have been waiting for 64 bit support (which absolutely has to be included, otherwise Ableton is shooting themselves in the foot).

Here's hoping this release comes sooner than later!

How To Properly EQ - EQ Basics and Theory via MutrixOfficial


Here's a nice little video via Reddit via YouTube user MutrixOfficial on mixing.  Super simple concepts here that will be incredible helpful to anyone new to mixing, or not quite understanding the basic ideas.

"The basics of EQing that can give your track clarity
Download the stems for Come Alive: http://on.fb.me/R3ve7o

Check out this article: http://bit.ly/1SaAbW

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MutrixOfficial
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/mutrix
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mutrixofficial"

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Moog updates Minitaur to Revolution 2


In a bit of a suprise move, Moog has updated their newest synth the Minitaur to revolution 2, which includes some impressive features.  Perhaps my favorite is the addition of savable patches, which was an early complaint against the Minitaur.  Now, by holding down the glide button, users can click the 1 or 2 "waveform" buttons to go from patch to patch, up to 100 in total.  These are of course loaded by the fantastic free plugin that Moog is giving out to anyone who registers their Minitaur online.  This move definitely adds to the value of the Minitaur tremendously, as the lack of patches may have discouraged some performers of taking it on stage.

In addition to this, Moog has also added some exceptional functionality in routing the control voltages to other parameters, and you're even able to pull midi through to a computer through these control voltages.  As the video demonstrates, the LFO of a CV controller routed through the Minitaur and make an Ableton Live filter move.  This is pretty awesome to just add on suddenly-- Moog definitely knows how to treat their customers.

This is actually very similar to the functionality added to the Monotribe, so I hope we see more companies looking to launch synths and improve on them later-- it only seals the deal for those of us who aren't early adaptors, and for those who have already purchased, it's a nice little bonus.

Full pres release below.

"Moog Music announced the release of Revolution 2 for its Minitaur Analog Bass Synthesizer, which was recently nominated for a 2013 TEC Award in the 'Musical Instrument (Hardware)' category. REV 2, which is a free update for Minitaur owners, unlocks a host of new performance features and implements a number of user requested updates to Minitaur and the free Minitaur Editor/Librarian.

FR009 / Future Feelings / Odyssey Remixes



Nice little selection of funky remixes here.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Alchemy 1.5 Review: New Update for a Huge Synth


Alchemy is one serious piece of music software.  Although it's more than 3 years old at this point, the recent release of version Alchemy 1.5 has brought some new additions to the table for Camel Audio's flagship instrument.  Just last year, it was rated as one of the public's favorite plug-ins on MusicRadar.  So what is Alchemy, and does it still stand up to the hype now?

Ride The Universe (Feat. Jane Elizabeth Hanley) - "A Little Better"




Here's the newest track from Ride the Universe, released on the Electronic Rumors label.  Clive knows how to pick 'em, and this one is no exception.  The track features Jane Elizabeth Hanley, who wowed everyone with her "Lisztomania" cover a couple years back, and again impresses here.  "A Little Better" has a great grooving bassline and catchy vocals.  We can also look for some great remixes ahead,  including one from Frankmusik.

Watch out for this one on November 5th on Juno, and the 19th for the rest of your outlets.

Press release below:

"The long awaited début single from Dreamwave supergroup http://soundcloud.com/ridetheuniverse is finally here!

After a string of acclaimed Nu-Disco reMixes http://soundcloud.com/ridetheuniverse are now ready to drop their première original single. A Little Better is a summery, funk fuelled, synth Disco juggernaut that features the sweet vocals of Jane Elizabeth Hanley from http://soundcloud.com/kidsatmidnight (Vulture Music) and is the first step on a wonderful galactic beach-party journey.

With reMixes from legendary Electro & Pop producer http://soundcloud.com/frankmusik, rising stars of the Nu-Disco scene http://soundcloud.com/patlok andhttp://soundcloud.com/dublinaunts, analog Disco guru http://soundcloud.com/auxmasterfader and Disco-House master http://soundcloud.com/melee, A Little Better is going to be rocking dancefloors in the coming months. Get involved."


DopeDOD & MiniBrute


"Peter Songolo, producer for the critically acclaimed Dutch Hip Hop band "Dope DOD", shares his love for the MiniBrute analog synthesizer as it perfectly fits his needs for raw, aggressive urban & Dubstep basslines."

Monday, October 15, 2012

Chrome Brulée


So I'm still in the process of decoding what Chrome Brulée is, but I already love the name and style.  The video above shows what appears to be several artists (each coming from their own tape) in a quick demonstration of what this new collective is about-- synths, retro sounds, and an almost spooky masked man-- reminding me a bit of the 80s horror movies with great synth soundtracks.  But the main thing here is that these guys absolutely get it-- they show off awesome vintage gear, and judging by the audio above, make great sounding tracks.  I'm already wanting more.  Here's hoping we can some tracks sooner than later...

"In a world where music has become irrelevant, in a time where quantity comes over quality...a new force rises from within...armed with magic machines of ancient times...driven by pure passion and devotion.....fueled by the craft and skills of their forefathers....they will fight to make music free again...they will rage until the spirits of old will have their revenge....they go by the name....Chrome Brulee
https://www.facebook.com/ChromeBrulee"

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Casette Club - "Body Lights (Nude Disco Remix)"



Sweet little remix here.  Relaxes me, and has some great sounds.

80s Saturday


Here are a couple tracks sent to me over the past few days, courtesy of Only You and Orange Trickster.  80s synths and sounds happening here.  Thanks for the submissions!

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Excellent set of Ableton Live Tutorials via Future Music


Looking for new ways to get creative with Ableton Live?  Future Music has you covered.  They've uploaded some recent tutorials from their magazine as a free playlist on YouTube, so you can get a visual explanation of some great ideas, from DJing and sampling to MIDI tricks.  Check out the playlist above.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

DSI Mopho x4 Demo with Peter Dyer


Cool new video showing off dual DSI Mopho x4s and the Tempest.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Full Arturia Spark 1.5 Press Release


Yesterday, I posted a video from Arturia about the new update to Spark.  Version 1.5, available now, offers some great new features, including new kits, new ways to control via MIDI, and new implementation of drum sounds, like setting different velocities to different sounds, as opposed to just volume.

Here's the full press release, via Arturia:
"Arturia updates SPARK Creative Drum Machine to v1.5

GRENOBLE, FRANCE: music software and hardware company Arturia is shipping Version 1.5 of SPARK Creative Drum Machine, the latest update to its highly-creative hybrid hardware/software beat production centre, as of October 2...
Upon its June 2011 release, SPARK Creative Drum Machine revolutionised hands-on beat-making by cleverly combining analogue synthesis, physical modelling, and samples with the intuitive workflow of a hardware drum machine, as well as offering in-depth control over the sounds of the 30 classic analogue and digital drum machines it so successfully captured; now, with the introduction of Version 1.5, Arturia has taken the art of creative rhythm programming and performance to a whole new level with a dazzling array of new performance-orientated features and a truly heavyweight library totalling 118 kits/1,800 instruments!
New to Version 1.5 is the Tune feature, allowing users to easily compose melodies on the MIDI controller’s hardware drum pads and sequencer step buttons; the sample engine now enables Choke groups, so users can creatively specify samples that will cut each other off when triggered — perfect for emulating a hi-hat ‘choke’, for example (whereby triggering an open-hat sample first, followed immediately by a closed-hat sample will authentically cut off the open-hat prematurely), and also offers creative modes for layering samples (circular, random, stack, threshold); finally, the flexible FX Pad now includes the famed Oberheim SEM V filter featured in Arturia’s acclaimed Oberheim SEM V soft synth namesake, bringing unique warmth and depth to those still-sought-after synth sweeps.
Last, but by no means least, Version 1.5 sees SPARK Creative Drum Machine’s library considerably expanded to include no less than 28 new kits exploring the current span of electronic and urban music stylings — from euphoric EDM synths to almighty analogue dubstep kits, as well as the latest in alternative hip-hop, Arturia has teamed up with the world’s most in-demand sound designers to bring professional perfection to any production.
Thanks to Version 1.5, there has never been a better time than now to ignite your rhythmic creativity with SPARK Creative Drum Machine... beat the future!

SPARK Creative Drum Machine can be purchased from the Arturia online store (http://www.arturia.com/evolution/en/buy/online-shop.html) or any dealer for €499.00 EURO/$599.00 USD

Hear the new Version 1.5 kits for SPARK Creative Drum Machine in action here: http://soundcloud.com/arturia-official/spark-1-5-new-kits-mini-mix"

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Rheyne - 10/1/12 - Live Jam #55 (with the MF3D Launcher)


Rheyne never quits with these great demonstrations of live looping.

Arturia Spark 1.5 New Features


Arturia's incredibly fun Spark plugin has been updated recently.  Check out some of the new abilities above.

"Mike Hosker, Director of Sound Design at Arturia, takes us on a video tour showing the new features of SPARK 1.5.  
See tips & tricks on how to boost your creativity and performance with the new Sample layering, Tune mode, and Choke groups features."

Looking for a new professional audio desk? UNTERLASS has you covered


Looking for a way to sharpen up that new studio, and have some extra room for your effects and rack synths?  Look no further than the new company UNTERLASS out of Austria, a brand new furniture-maker.  These are the Cadillacs of audio desks, coming in at a price of 1,780 euro.  However, I gotta say, they've got a great style to them.  No word on US distribution at this point, but one could certainly dream up a studio with a great desk...

Press release below.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Mopho x4 Song


"A little composition I made with my new DSI Mopho x4. Loving this instrument. All sounds are from mopho except for the drums."

Electribe House 1


"-Programmation des patterns sur L'EMX-1, mélodie créée avec mon Microkorg en fonction clavier Midi.-Programming patterns on the EMX-1, melody created with my Microkorg Midi keyboard based.

Korg Electribe EMX-1 SD
http://spationix.wifeo.com/"