The Ciat-Lonbarde Tocante – Karper The Ciat-Lonbarde Tocante Karper is a unique instrument, created by Peter Blasser, that uses 24 pic chips in parallel to synthesize Karplus-Strong string emulations, in the Tocante scale. Here’s a video demo, via Richard Brewster: See the Ciat-Lonbarde site for more unique … Continue reading → http://bit.ly/1YZLuJJ
Short Video Demonstrates The Synth Power Of The Korg Volca Keys The Korg Volca Keys synthesizer isn’t the most powerful synth, by far. But the video, below, shows why the Volca Keys synth has found so many fans – it’s got it where it counts: The following video demos creating a sequence … Continue reading → http://bit.ly/1O4giyu
The Best New MIDI Instruments & Controllers Of 2015 Best of 2015: This year has seen the introduction of a huge number and a huge variety of MIDI controllers & instruments. We asked readers to choose the best new MIDI instruments and controllers of 2015, and you chose the Seaboard … Continue reading → http://bit.ly/1NYUYfQ
Lifeforms Modular Synthesizers Promise Buttery Warm Goodness 2016 NAMM Show: Pittsburgh Modular shared this sneak preview of the new Lifeforms Modular systems – a series of Eurorack-compatible synth modules. Features: Analog Circuitry – A fully analog audio signal path, anchored by two multi-wave oscillators and ‘the buttery warmth … Continue reading → http://bit.ly/1OBpnOA
AudioRealism Bass Line 3 A Virtual Roland TB-303 AudioRealism has released AudioRealism Bass Line 3 (ABL3) – the next generation of their virtual Roland TB-303 plug-in. Here’s what’s new: ‘Massively improved’ 303 emulation engine Host hard sync Resizable GUI Classic edit view Pattern edit view Real time randomizer Wave analyzer … Continue reading → http://bit.ly/1YXJw7g
The 10 Best New Synthesizers Of 2015 As part of our look back at the Best of 2015, we asked readers to vote on the best new synthesizers of 2015. With thousands of votes cast, Synthtopia readers made a clear choice, selecting the Dave Smith Instruments Sequential Prophet 6 as … Continue reading → http://bit.ly/1OD6ssU
12 iPads, In Different Rooms, Synced Wirelessly Via Ableton Link This video, via the DigiEnsemble Berlin, captures a test of syncing 12 iPads, spread across several rooms, using Ableton Link. Apps used include: Patterning ElasticDrums MoDrums KORG iKaossilator Fugue Machine They note that “The new Ableton LINK works very stabile and on … Continue reading → http://bit.ly/1R58se1
Auld Lang Syne On Theremin Synthpop thereminist Clara Venice rings in the new year right, with this performance of Auld Lang Syne on the Moog Theremini. She adds, “Let’s make 2016 the year of the weirdo!” http://bit.ly/1JPdumN
2016 NAMM Show Sneak Preview: The Lifeforms Modular Experimenting with Lifeforms. #eurorack #synth A video posted by Pittsburgh Modular (@pghmodular) on Jan 1, 2016 at 11:53am PST 2016 NAMM Show: Pittsburgh Modular today shared several short videos on Instragram, offering a sneak preview of the Lifeforms Modular synthesizer … Continue reading → http://bit.ly/1JPbxqz
The Best New Desktop Software Synths Of 2015 Best of 2015: We asked and you voted, choosing Spectrasonics Omnisphere – by a wide margin – as the Best New Desktop Software Synth Of 2015. Omnisphere was already an extremely powerful synth. But with Omnisphere 2, Spectrasonics amps up everything, bringing … Continue reading → http://bit.ly/1JOnHjE
The Best New Mobile Music Apps Of 2015 Best of 2015: We asked and you voted on the Best New Mobile Music Apps of 2015. Synthtopia readers picked Olympia Noise Co’s Patterning Drum Machine as the best new mobile music app of 2015. Patterning could be the poster child using … Continue reading → http://bit.ly/1OAXY5s
The 10 Best Desktop DAWs Of 2015 Best of 2015: We asked and Synthtopia readers voted – and you chose Ableton Live as the Best Desktop DAW of 2015. Ableton Live is followed by Logic Pro, in second place. New DAW on the block Bitwig Studio took … Continue reading → http://bit.ly/1YVzR0W
A Hungover DJ’s Guide To Recovering From Intense Gigs For many DJs around the world, January 1st is a day of serious recovery. Even if you’re not regularly playing gigs or even if you don’t regularly drink while DJing, major celebrations like New Year’s Eve are likely to be some of the more taxing events that you’ll play. We’ve got a few tips from our readers and around the web for hungover DJs looking to start feeling better (and maybe even play another gig, as it’s now the weekend!) Hungover DJ’s Tip #1: Don’t Drink! Comment from discussion How do you guys recover from long hours of DJing (and probably drinking) on a night like NYE?. This one might be a bit too obvious (and unlikely for a lot of DJs who are celebrating), but treating DJing like a “real job” and staying completely sober the entire time is a solid solution if you want to avoid feeling like a mess the next day. Hungover DJ’s Tip #2: Drink Tons Of Water, Eat Food As Ean outlined in this classic article from 2014 “To Drink Or Not To Drink While DJing”, water is one of your best friends when drinking. Most hangovers actually are partly caused by dehydration! He writes: “Pair each alcoholic drink with 1-2 glasses of water. By replacing your fluids through the night, you not only avoid the hangover but will keep significantly more mental focus.” Hungover DJ’s Tip #3: Relax As Much As Possible Comment from discussion How do you guys recover from long hours of DJing (and probably drinking) on a night like NYE?. Try to reflect on a job well done after a long night of DJing, and treat yourself to whatever you want or need. Greasy food isn’t just a guilty pleasure when hungover, it provides necessary fats that help you in your inebriated or recovering state. Hungover DJ’s Tip #4: Power Through @DJTechTools with more DJ’ing, naturally. Hair of the dog. — Noah Raford (@nraford) December 31, 2015 This goes along with the last point, but we absolutely agree that doing things that you enjoy and are part of your regular routine are likely to be good cures to any hangover. Get back behind the decks, or make some music! Your Suggestions Here! We tried to reach out to a few major DJs to get their recovery suggestions in this fun Friday article, but most folks are too busy this time of year touring and spending time with friends and family. So we’re turning it over to the DJTT readers: how do you recover from a long night of DJing? The post A Hungover DJ’s Guide To Recovering From Intense Gigs appeared first on DJ TechTools. http://bit.ly/1YV12ZJ
Free Warbling, Dysfunctional Delay Effect For iOS, Nebulizer Developer Matthew Caldwell has released Nebulizer – a creative echo effect for iOS – as a free download. Here’s what he has to say about it: It would be nice if that echo box worked properly, instead of stretching and … Continue reading → http://bit.ly/1Rc0nT8