Rheyne - Live Jam #45 (5/24/12)

"Facebook: http://facebook.com/rheynemusic
Twitter: http://twitter.com/rheynemusic

Live looping improv jam with a DSI MoPho, Akai MPD26 and APC20, two iPads, an iTouch, and a DJ TechTools MIDI Fighter 3D. One iPad is running Audanika's SoundPrism Pro, triggering NI's Massive through an iConnectMIDI. Lemur is running on the other iOS devices, wirelessly controlling mixer functions and effects in Ableton Live. All audio is passed through a PreSonus 1818VSL connected to a Macbook Pro.

All loops are recorded live. Download or stream the audio at SoundCloud: http://snd.sc/JgCRhM"

Awesome live performance by Rheyne.  This is the guy to watch if you're ever feeling under-creative.  Always delivers these incredible little jams via YouTube.  Also, his sounds are GREAT.

Jules Schimmer - Alloapm Di Di Di Da Da Da Remix

So Jules Schimmer got this one just right.  Start with some warm strings and pads, and then slowly build in some drums and vocals, and you've got a classic.  Also dig it once that classic 80s percussive beat drops.  Dig this free download.

Artist & ARTURIA #17 - Jean-Benoît Dunckel (AIR) meets the Arturia MiniB...

"We had the great pleasure to meet Jean-Benoit Dunckel, one half on the talented french electronic duo AIR and early fan of MiniBrute, for a live improvisation and a video interview !"
via Arturia on YouTube

Arturia SPARK Vintage Drum Machines Review

Arturia, the softsynth giant who has recently captured the hearts of producers everywhere with the MiniBrute, has also pushed into the territory of drum machines recently with the Spark drum plugin and hardware combination.  They've just come out with a different Spark called Vintage Drum Machines, and I felt it was my duty to check this out for all of you, seeing as how drum machines, especially those of the 80s, are so essential to many producers out there.  If you checked out the press release, you'll know they've got all the classics included-- the Roland 707, 808, 909, the LinnDrum, and lots of other kits.  Now the package of the software comes in at about $99 USD as a download, and $129 as a boxed product.  It's certainly more expensive than samples (which can be found of varying prices and qualities on the net), but is it worth it?  Let's find out.

II. - Banco

Here's a cool one from France.  The group is Ii, or "Un Deux" (I'm not really sure what the English translation is here), who sent me some of their tracks.  Old school Daft Punk style tracks.  And that's always a good thing.  In particular, if you're familiar with the Thomas Banghalter tracks, this is clearly influenced by them.  Check out the rest of their SoundCloud for more.

In Case You Missed It: Yesterday's Moog Doodle

If you somehow missed it, yesterday, to celebrate Bob Moog's birthday, Google added a new Google Doodle of a playable Moog Minimoog.  You can still check it out and play it here, with an explanation of how it works.  While many of us may have tinkered for a few minutes and moved on, some other more dedicated fans put the doodle to the test.  Moog headquarters showed off some great demos, as well as some other musicians across YouTube.  Be on the look out for more as they're uploaded, but here's just a few videos from the past day.

Bob Moog's Birthday is Today - #CelebrateBob

If you've somehow missed the boat, today is Bob Moog's birthday, the father of synthesizers.  Dr. Moog's company invented the original Moog Modulars, which led to the creation of the Minimoog, the synthesizer that started the music revolution.  Without Bob's contributions, music wouldn't be what it is today-- in fact, Moog has become synonymous with synths to so many people.  Thanks, Bob, for being the inventor who changed sounds and music for all of us.

In honor of Dr. Moog, I recommend loading up a classic Moog-y track to your iTunes, or turning on any synth you have and playing around, even if it's a super busy day, just for five minutes.

#CelebrateBob