Free Bass Synthesizer For Windows, Bass Terminal

Kriminal has introduced Bass Terminal , a free VSTi for Windows. Features: 2 oscillators with square and sawtooth waveforms (osc mix, osc 2 detune). Oscillator modulation (envelope, LFO, PW). PW modulation (envelope 2, LFO, manual). Lowpass filter (12/24dB) with LFO and envelope control. Amp and filter envelopes (ADSR + velocity). LFO (saw, triangle, random), with speed, sync and delay controls. Tune (sync), porta, pitchbend, mono and retrig. See our Free Music Software category for more great free music applications and plugins.

FlexiKnobs MIDI Controllers Reimagined As Wireless Wooden Mice

FlexiKnobs are a new set of controllers designed for quick and easy multipoint interaction with Audio Software: Parameters in audio or video editing applications can mostly be controlled by a variety of hardware devices such as MIDI controllers. However, these controllers usually feature only a limited number of physical knobs arranged in a fixed layout. The hundreds of parameters offered by typical editing software across dozens of windows with distinct arrangements of on-screen controls are hard to map to such a fixed physical interface. To improve this, we have built a set of wireless mice enhanced with rotary knob controllers, trying to integrate the flexibility and transparency of mouse interaction with the benefits of physical controllers. Custom driver software enables the simultaneous use of multiple knobs with a large variety of unmodified standard software. Read more here . Are you ready to switch to wireless wooden mice

Cool Installation Lets You Explore Electronic Music History With A Wiimote

SyncLost is a multi-user installation for “immersion in the history of electronic music”. The project’s objective is to create an interface where users can view all the connections between the main styles of electronic music through visual and audible feedback: From a complex timeline, rhythms and sub-rhythms merge to create new sounds. The choice is individual and leads to a collective consequence in the spatial visualization of information. This looks like a fun way to learn about music and the connections between genres.

Toy Instruments – New Book Explores World Of Music Toys

Mark Batty Publisher has released Toy Instruments , an in-depth look at musical toys from around the world made between the 1950s and today. With an intro from the author and a foreword from world-renown experimental electronic and hip-hop musician Paul D. Miller a.k.a. DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid, the book collects the toy instruments you may remember from your past, and the wacky ones you’ll find hard to believe ever existed. Says author Eric Schneider: “Adorned with bizarre color schemes, always-happy families and boys and girls immune to gender disharmony, the toys and the packaging create a Shangri-La sheen, albeit one that is out of tune.” Toy Instruments retails for $19.95. Divided into chapters like “Kling Kong,” “Hamburgers, Lemons & Vampires” and “Headache Included,” Toy Instruments represents the crossroads of educational and wacky. From the Skateboard Organ of 1990 – a small skateboard-shaped keyboard from Hong Kong – the Transformers Electronic Voice Synthesizer from ’86, to the tiny hand-held karaoke boom-boxes like Bandai’s Candies Maiku, or even the Body Rap – a beatbox machine you strap on to your limbs – these contraptions range from weird to utterly mystifying. Citing the 16th century origins of “Chutes and Ladders” and Philip K. Dick, DJ Spooky’s foreword connects these toys to our contemporary gamer culture, concluding that, “Eric Schneider has compiled a kind of ‘object’ time machine, reaching back to the heart of what electronic music represented when it was new.” “Electronic musical toys are the expression of our deepest dreams; they activate your personal creativity,” says Schneider. “The sound is often horrible but always impressive. They offer strange learning concepts and surfaces with lots of knobs and sliders. They are pure fun, even when it is just for a minute.” via SonicState , Mark Batty

Nordvargr & Surachai’s A Wilderness of Cloades

Nordvargr & Surachai ’s A Wilderness of Cloades . via Surachai : The prolific Swedish artist Nordvargr and I have collaborated this past winter sending soundscapes back and forth until a product emerged: A wilderness of Cloades. It’ll be released Spring 2010 on Old Europa Cafe with limited edition packaging.

Lack Of Flash On The iPad Is A Win For Accessible, Standards-Based Design

There’s been a lot of discussion in the last week about Apple’s decision to not support Flash on the upcoming iPad . If you could not care less about the iPad, Apple’s decision won’t matter to you. But if you think that the iPad could be one of the most significant music technologies of 2010, Apple’s decision to dump Flash is probably going to affect you. Lack of Flash on the iPad means that some interesting Flash-based music apps – like Tone Matrix , 5 Experience Pulse & Soundation , aren’t going to work on the device. If the new thing doesn’t support Flash  this could set back the idea of browser based music software . Video embeds will be broken at many sites, and some media players, too.  Flash banner ads will be broken. And the Flash-based Websites of a lot of musicians will be missing in action. While many decry Apple’s decision, one of the most interesting commentaries I’ve seen comes from web standards guru Jeffrey Zeldman . Zeldman was one of the founders of the Web Standards Project, a group of Web designers dedicated to encouraging the use of Web standards. Zeldman says that the lack of Flash on the iPad is good for the Web. Zeldman has this to say about Apple’s decision to leave Flash off the iPad: Lack of Flash in the iPad (and before that, in the iPhone) is a win for accessible, standards-based design. Not because Flash is bad, but because the increasing popularity of devices that don’t support Flash is going to force recalcitrant web developers to build the semantic HTML layer first. As the percentage of web users on non-Flash-capable platforms grows, developers who currently create Flash experiences with no fallbacks will have to rethink their strategy and start with the basics before adding a Flash layer. They will need to ensure that content and experience are delivered with or without Flash. Developers always should have done this, but some don’t. For those who don’t, the growing percentage of users on non-Flash-capable platforms is a wake-up call to get the basics right first. HTML5, with its built-in support for video and audio, plays perfectly into this new model of computing and browsing; small wonder that Google and Apple’s browsers support these HTML5 features

Synthtopia Now Yummier Than Ever On iPhones & Other Wireless Devices

If you’re one of our growing number of iPhone visitors – we’ve updated Synthtopia to be yummier on the iPhone and iPod touch. iPhone visitors should automatically get a version of the site formatted for wireless devices & smaller screens, resulting in faster load times. So – if you’re viewing this with an iPhone, leave a comment and let me know what you think. Does this speed up the site for you? Is the wireless version easier to use? And if you’re not an iPhone/iPod touch user – anti-Apple screeds are always entertaining – but the wireless version should also work on many other mobile devices, including Android, Blackberry, Opera Mini &W ebMate. Either way, if you experience any bugginess or weirdness that you think may be related to the change, leave a comment!

Imogen Heap – Music Geek Goddess Of The Year?

Is it too early to declare Imogen Heap the Music Geek Goddess of the Year? Not only did she take home the Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for Ellipse , but she looked fantastic in her slightly mad Twitter Dress . Her sculptural necklace displayed a live Twitter feed via a wireless router, while her handbag featured a built-in monitor that displayed images from her fans. “I just thought it’d be nice for them to come with me, so I’ve got a live Twitter feed from them,” explained Heap

The Backward Music Station (Enigma : ‘XM’)

This recording is from a shortwave transmission on 6752kHz USB on 25th September 2009. Sometimes known as The Backwards Music Station and also as Whale Music , it has no discernable schedule, and often disappears for long periods. It’s not known what the purpose of these broadcasts are – but they wouldn’t sound out of place in a classical electroacoustic concert. If you know anything more about the Backward Music Station, leave a comment! via Mystery Signals of the Short Wave : These signals are heard on a variety of frequencies, and are heard all around the world.  Possibly a recognised form of communication, but not resolvable. There appears to be two sources of these signals. One being somewhere in the United States possibly the US Navy – freqs are close to naval freqs, and reports have been received that they emanate from US naval bases as Jacksonville,  Florida & Virginia Beach. Other signals heard in England at good strength, are poorly received in America, indicating a European source An early suggestion was that the signals are a NATO communication device, coming from a base in Palermo, Sicily.  More recently, utilities monitor Ary Boender reports the source of these signals as the U.S. Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily. It has also been suggested that these signals may be a form of communication called LINCOMPEX.  Standing for Linear Compression & Expansion, this system is used as a communication method both by commercial & Defence bodies. One correspondent to ENIGMA suggested it was caused by the Lincompex “pilot tone seeking lock”.

iamamiwhoami’s 9.20.19.13.5.723378

Ultrapuss’s 6 Minutes to Luv

Music video for the song “6 Minutes to Luv” by Ultrapuss .

The Sound Design Of Avatar

This video, part of a series of edutainment documentaries at Wired , looks at the sound design of Avatar . Sound editor Christopher Boyes explains how real-world sounds were manipulated in such a way as to make them unique to Avatar’s world.

Encélado – Evolver, Fizmo & Singing Bowls

This is an ambient electroacoustic improvisation, featuring singing bowls (both striking and by friction) over a drone made with DSI Evolver Keyboard (beside the upper bowl) and Ensoniq Fizmo. Recorded live at The Blue_Room on january 1, 2010. via RanKirlian

Kim Fowley On Egghead Music Geeks

OT: There’s a great interview with producer Kim Fowley in this month’s edition of Mix , looking at the production of punk girl group The Runaways and the recording of Cherry Bomb . The entire interview is full of great quotes, but this one from Fowley is classic: I don’t care about the egghead aspect of your readership. Eggheads, I am a moron, and I sold 102 million records not knowing anything about equipment, but I knew the song, I knew the tone of the voice and what tone and tempo and timbre was, and I understood there had to be some tuning, and I understood somebody had to buy it, and I always left holes in the arrangement so people could smoke dope, get drunk, fall in love, have fights, have sex, go for a ride, or if they’re lonely, keep from killing themselves. You’re making records for the listener, not for yourselves, so get off of that, ‘Oh, we must have an Aphex Aural Exciter,’ or the modern equivalent of that demand.

Amazing Pin-Barrel Harp, Paid For By Your Lottery Dollars

This is off-topic and insane, but not to be missed. The Pin-Barrel Harp is now close to completion and is shown being put through some trial performances by Henry Dagg and Chris Wood, who cover The Long and Winding Road .

Andromeda mk1, mk2, mk3, mk4 Mini Analog Drum Machines

Image: ALH84001 This image, via Eric Archer , shows the Andromeda mk1, mk2, mk3, mk4 mini analog drum machines , also known as the Andromeda Space Rockers, which are now available thru AnalogueHaven and ericarcher.net. via the Synthtopia Flickr Group

TouchOSC On An iPhone Controlling Ableton Suite 8

This is a quick demo video of using TouchOSC on an iPhone to control Ableton Suite 8 . Put this on a 10″ tablet, and you’ve got a mass market Lemur controller. via Craig Anthony Perkins

The Machine Orchestra, In Photos

This collection of images comes via The Machine Orchestra . The KarmetiK Machine Orchestra pits musicians against machines to create music “melding musical tradition with modern engineering.” The Machine Orchestra will debut at this year’s SCREAM Festival, put on by the Southern California Resource for Electro-Acoustic Music, is scheduled for January 27, 2010 at 8:30 pm at REDCAT. More information is available at the KarmetiK site.

NAMM Harvestman Modular Synthesizer Demos

Another great 2010 NAMM video, via SonicState : Scott Jaeger demos the latest modules from The Harvestman , including: Hertz Donut – dual digital oscillator Piston Honda – wavetable oscillator Stilton Adapter – 4 channel fx pedal amplifier Evin 209 – 4

The Best Of NAMM 2010

The 2010 NAMM Show is over and done, so it’s time to take a look back and pick the highlights of the show. This year our Best Of NAMM list is hardware heavy. In part, it’s because many of the software vendors opted not to come to NAMM this year; but it’s also because there was just a lot of cool synth hardware at the show. Something that we expect is going to be making a lot of “best of NAMM” lists is Dave Smith Instruments Mopho Keyboard . It packs a huge tradition of analog synthesizer sound into a portable, affordable package. The Mopho Keyboard is about giving people what they’ve been asking for. Dave Smith expects the Mopho Keyboard to sell for about $800

PreSonus Studio One Update Announced

NAMM : PreSonus announced version 1.1 of its Studio One DAW software, which adds multiple features and enhancements. You can now draw automation waveforms, and automation points can be locked to selected events, so automation moves with the related events. A transform function lets you scale, stretch, and otherwise modify automation envelopes. An Undo history enables viewing and undoing all edits done since the file was opened, even if you have saved since then. A pitch-name editor is available in the drum layout,and you can save and load names from a pitch-name list. Version 1.1 is expected in Q1 of 2010 and will be a free update to registered users.

The Wiard New Controller

via katavist: The Wiard New Controller basically consists of 2 JAGs (Joystick Axis Generators) in a 19″ 2U rackmount form. X axis and Y axis can be fed control voltages from joystick or cv sources like LFOs. In the 3rd part of the clip the Doepfer A-192 CV to MIDI interface was used to send 8 outputs to the Alesis Andromeda. Other sound sources and modules used: Cwejman S1, Blacet, Cwejman, Doepfer.

NAMM Update – The You Rock Guitar

At the 2010 NAMM Show , Inspired Instruments introduced the You Rock Guitar , a new guitar and guitar gaming controller: The You Rock Guitar is designed to work seamlessly with Guitar Hero and Rock Band on Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360 gaming platforms; It also can be plugged into a standard guitar amplifier or headphones and played like a conventional guitar using any of 100 pre-set guitar and synth sounds. The You Rock Guitar lists for $179.99.

Dieter Doepfer Intros The Doepfer DIY Synth Kit

Dieter Doepfer introduces the Doepfer DIY Synth Kit at the 2010 NAMM Show . The kit is made of a pc board that includes all that is necessary to build a standard analog synthesizer. (Case, wiring & controls not included). See our previous Doepfer DIY Synth Kit post for details. via SonicState

Eowave Intros The Persephone Mark II Ribbon Controlled Synthesizer

At the 2010 NAMM Show , Eowave introduced its new analogue duophonic ribbon synthesizer, the Eowave Persephone Mark II . The Persephone is a unique ribbon-controlled synth that also can be used as a modular synthesizer controller. Specifications: Synthesis section 2 analogue oscillators with tune, fine tune, space 12dB resonant low-pass filter with adjustable resonance and frequency LFO with adjustable LFO speed Ribbon features duophonic pressure and position sensitive 50cm ribbon variable ribbon scale from 1,2,5 & 10 octaves (or adjustable) 12 bits resolution (4096 values) half-tone mode Controllers 16 routing presets (8 fixed, 8 assignable) position 1&2 on the ribbon pressure on the ribbon modulation key 2 pedals (optional) I/O CV out 1/2/3/4 MIDI in/out 2 pedal in audio out USB external power supply Major upgrades duophonic ribbon 2 oscillators resonant filter USB CV outputs 16 routing presets online upgrade possibility black leather like suitcase – ribbon length: 50cm Description: Eowave is rethinking instruments from the past with smart sensor technology. The result is a new innovative instrument with real analogue oscillators, a duophonic ribbon, 100% compatible with the computer environment with a USB I/O, MIDI I/O and 4 CV out. “We’re exploring ideas from the past and rethinking them with new technology to create new interfaces for musical expression”, says Marc Sirguy, designer of the Persephone markII. Eowave creates the first duophonic ribbon Sensor technology now enables to recreate controls like ribbons with a new accuracy and a new duophonic process. The ribbon enables to play glissando like on a Theremin, les Ondes Martenots or a Trautonium. The addition of one oscillator takes all its dimension with the new duophonic ribbon which extends the instrument sonorities spectral to play simple chords, but also enables numberless modulations, e.g. FM of one oscillator on the second one. A 100% analogue audio signal path The Persephone markII has two analogue oscillators with a waveform from triangle to saw, going from 1 Hz to more than 20 000 Hz. An analogue resonant 12dB low-pass filter inspired from the filters from the 70s-80s enables to shape the sound. With its entire analogue audio signal path, the Persephone markII can generate notes with a continuous variable range up to ten octaves to create deep and resonant cello tones on the lowest notes to ultrasonic frequencies on the highest pitches. An optical modulation key will transmit the slightest vibration for expressive modulations. 8 factory routings, 8 users routings: a modular architecture 16 routing presets enable to select different routing architectures between the sound parameters and the 7 controls available (ribbon pressure, ribbon position1 & 2, key, pedals 1 & 2, LFO) for 8 destinations (lo pitch, hi pitch, filter, VCA lo, VCA hi, filter mod1, filter mod2 and VCA).

Free Guitar Amp Simulator For Mac, Windows

Free Music Software : Overloud Siego is designed to let guitar players “rock out” with the guitar amp effect simulator engine of Overloud’s flagship product TH1 , for free. Features: Very easy to play: just connect your guitar to the computer, select a preset and play Seven knobs on top of the interface allow to adjust the tone of your slego Input and Output level knobs have peak indicators Accurate Tuner to simplify guitar tuning even while playing 32 presets coming from TH1 with rich effect setups Presets have crossfading transitions, which do not cause unpleasant clicks or drop outs Slego is a free standalone application for Mac OS X 10.4 or higher and Windows XP or higher.

Rane, Serato Intro Rane Sixty Eight Club Mixer

NAMM : Rane and Serato introduced the Rane Sixty Eight , described as “the ultimate club mixer”. The Rane Sixty Eight is the first Scratch Live compatible DJ mixer that allows two computers to be connected simultaneously. Above, Anna from Serato offers an overview of the Rane Sixty Eight. Description: Using two USB ports, the Rane Sixty Eight mixer lets two DJs play Scratch Live at the same time, allowing for seamless handover from one DJ to another. You can also control up to four decks with a single laptop. Features: Two independent USB 2.0 high speed ports, each supporting twenty two, 32-bit floating point audio channels at 48kHz. Support for the connection of two computers simultaneously. Direct control of over 30 Scratch Live Library, Cue and Loop functions. Support for 2, 3 or 4 Virtual Decks in Scratch Live. Flexible USB recording options. 3-band, full cut EQ New High-pass / Low pass Filter Unique FlexFX bus with 6 internal effects plus USB and analog insert support for computer-based effects. Input Channels: Four stereo Phono/CD inputs of Line / Phono or S/PDIF. Four stereo Auxiliary inputs. Four stereo USB playback options. Two independent microphone inputs – one with phantom power and one with line-level input

The Kazooka Electric Kazoo

Kazooka is an unusual electroacoustic instrument describe as “the original electric kazoo”: Our electric kazoos can be used in place of electric guitar or microphone with your existing equipment. They can be connected directly to guitar amps, effects pedals, microphone preamps and many computer sound cards. When you buy a Kazooka you are buying a professional musical instrument, not a cheap novelty. Our electric kazoos are hand crafted from high quality components by musicians for musicians. Our kazoos, membranes, pickups, cables and connectors have been selected for the best sound quality and durability with no compromises. Special attention has been paid to the voicing of our electric kazoos to assure that they cut through the mix with rich, focused tone while never sounding shrill or harsh. Thanks to our unique hand-crafted membranes, our kazoos sound better than any off-the-shelf kazoo, electric or not. You can preview the sound of the Kazooka Electric Kazoo below: The Kazooka Electric Kazoo retails for $27.95. Features: Removable dynamic transducer pickup for easy membrane changes. Use it as an electric kazoo pickup OR leave the kazoo detached and use the transducer for vocal effects, for instance singing or yelling through your guitar amp. Microphone Stand mount for hands free playing. Second generation kazooka pro replacement membranes. Pickup end glows in the dark. Anti-slip rubber grip on kazoo body. Triple strain relief at every connection point. Pickup decoupled from kazoo body by rubber to reduce handling noise and chance of feedback.

Synth Pioneers Bring Moog Innovations to Life On January 23

Dr Herb Deutsch On January 23rd at 7 p.m., the Museum of Making Music will present an evening of music and conversation in a special multi-media performance combining live music, discussion, and video presentation by two renown American electronic music pioneers, composers, and synthesists Dr. Herb Deutsch (Hofstra University) and Dr. John Eaton (University of Chicago). The program starts with music and conversation by Dr. Deutsch, whose serendipitous encounter and collaboration with Dr. Moog in 1964 launched the development of the Moog synthesizer and impacted the future of electronic and rock music in the U.S. Then, the evening will continue with a video-presentation and demonstration by Dr. John Eaton, MacArthur Fellow and recognized composer and performer of electronic and microtonal music. Dr. Eaton will demonstrate the Eaton-Moog Multi-Touch Sensitive (MTS) keyboard on which each key is equipped with sensors that detect the three-dimensional position of the performer’s finger. One of the most involved projects completed by Dr. Moog over a 10-year period, The only working MTS keyboard in the world will be heard live as Dr. Eaton explains and plays it during the evening. Discover the birth of these ground-breaking synthesizers with Drs. Deutsch and Eaton. Tickets are $10, $7 for Museum members and students. If any readers can make this show, leave a comment with any videos, photos, blog posts, etc!

The Mixmag Podcast

The Mixmag podcast features new tracks and interviews with DJs and producers. Recent episodes have featured Tiesto, The Prodigy and Depeche Mode. You can preview the Mixmag podcast below, or subscribe to it by adding this podcast feed to iTunes or other podcast client: http://mixmags.podbean.com/feed/