Feel like drawing or painting your music?

•July 8, 2009 • Leave a Comment

HighC is a graphical music creation tool. It is a synthesizer, a sequencer and a mixer. Its goal is to make music composition as simple and direct as sketching.

An entertaining and educational tool…

No music experience needed: create stunning soundscapes and crazy ringtones in a matter of minutes. Learn acoustics, music theory and audio synthesis with a gentle, graphic approach.

that meets demanding professional needs

Master advanced synthesis techniques: FM, ring mod, additive, granular, and much more. No complex dashboards of knobs, dials and connectors with unpredictable effects. No programming. Just draw to unleash your creativity!

HighC uses only the simplest GUI techniques: draw notes, envelopes and wave shapes; move and resize sounds; copy and paste to create effects; group sounds into rhythms or patterns; repeat your groupings to create an harmonic line; link your sounds to one another to create modulations… It’s simple, it’s powerful!

Changes in HighC v2.75

  • Printing functionality, enabling export to PDF file format.
  • Overview shows the cursor in all views during playback.
  • Set the default pitch of imported sound samples (to correct potential pitch detection algorithm errors).
  • Tune the sampled audio files.
  • Audio file import in the FLAC format. FLAC is a lossless audio compression format that saves about 2/3rds of the original file size.
  • Distribution reduced from 16 to 10Mb.

Serge on Moog

•July 7, 2009 • Leave a Comment

Since I am currently on vacation my posts will be shorter and more ad hoc, but be sure I will keep you posted on the coolest electro stuff on the web – just the same, have a great summer

Serge TKB talks to the Moogerfooger CP-251 and to the EML-200. Squawky as hell. Enjoy!

Rob is back with a new great plug-in

•July 6, 2009 • Leave a Comment

This is what you cn read about the new reverb effect

Rob Papen RP-Verb

Reverb is a very critical effect when mixing. A bad sounding reverb can ruin the mix of your music! Today’s powerful computers makes it possible to run far more complex algorithms then in the past. But still… it is down to the algorithms if a reverb sounds great or terrible.

As a young synth player, Rob became obsessed with rooms and reverbs. Together with Jon Ayres, Rob Papen has dived into codes and searched for new directions.. new algorithms. After long testing and tweaking, the result is an unique sounding reverb plugin, the reverb you have been waiting for for year to have available in your setup.

The first respond of pro users like Arman van Buuren were comments like “Wow” or “Amazing!”….

The “main focus” of the RP-VERB plug is its sound. So the controls are “exactly” the ones you need!
Easy to use “space types” are included, each of them have their own character. Long tail reverbs… or unheard of rooms are possible. Just like the RP synthesizers….it is purely made for audio quality, performance and making music. Mix with RP-Verb and you will discover its amazing sound.

Live Korg techno session

•July 3, 2009 • Leave a Comment

Good to see what can be done with a few pieces of old hardware in these days of millions of software plugs and infinit CPU power:

Download the highly capable Odo synth for free

•July 2, 2009 • Leave a Comment


Odo from Odosynths is well known on the DIY synth forums especially the SynthEdit forum. A heavy synthedit user he has just released all his softsynths for free. Odo was already very generous giving away a lot of synths, drum machines and processors but he has decided to release all his softsynths for free.

The one pictured above, the Double Six XXL, is an FM synth with 32 possible 6-op or DX7 style algorithms and 16 4-op algorithms. Even a cursory glance at the interface lets you know that this is a well functioned synth. 11 different waveforms for the operators, clipping/distortion/overdrive & and LoPassFilter on each operator, 19 LFO shapes, 8 and 14 stage envelopes, multimode filters, throw in a few sequencers and you get the gist…. FM on steroids.

Nice delay for download

•July 1, 2009 • Leave a Comment
Myosis Phrase-Delay

Myosis has released Phrase-Delay, a multi mode delay effect plug-in for Windows.

Phrase-delay is an all in one delay plugin, a Swiss Army Knife, easy to use . It doesn’t sound like any other delay plug-in. It can turn a one shot note into a fascinating loop. From traditional delay to generative music, Phrase-delay do the job with ease!

Phrase-Delay features

  • 16 delay channels with independant level, panning, modulation and resonant filter.
  • One pre-looper delay for phrasing, up to 10.920 seconds. .
  • Two independant feedbacks knob.
  • Damping.
  • One 4 pole Low pass pre-filter with LFO modulation.
  • Manual or Host tempo sync.
  • Bouncing-ball mode.
  • 16 resonant filters ( 2 pole or 4 pole) for each delay bank with adjustable cutoff freq according to note names for quick edit.
  • LFO modulation amount for each delay.
  • Tone filter.
  • Presets covering all functions and many configurations.
  • Manual is also included.

Phrase-Delay is available as a VST effect plug-in for Windows PC for 49 EUR. A demo version is available for download here.

Really good expansion pack for Gladiator

•June 30, 2009 • Leave a Comment

The Electronic expansion

Electronic_expansion_gold

The ‘Electronic expansion’ is a big preset and feature expansion pack for Gladiator 2. Designed by the professional sound designers Markus Feil, Bryan ‘Xenos’ Lee and Bastiaan van Noord, ‘Electronic’ is a collection of more then 300 sounds and new add-on features.

Impressive arpeggiator sequences, resonant basses, groovy drumlines, vocaloid sounds, cutting leads, chiptune sounds, techno stabs, rhythmic trancegates, deep housechords, atmospheric pads and ambient textures are among the many types of electronic sounds featured inside this expansion. A must have if you’re looking for new sounds or if you want to expand Gladiator with more features.

Expansion highlights:

  • 300+ inspiring, unique presets aimed at miscellaneous genres of electronic music. The additional sounds can be accessed directly from the interface.
  • Stereo Trancegate: Featuring no less then 22 patterns for rhythmic gate effects
  • Reverb Ultra: Reverb Ultra uses a new high-quality reverb algorithm, its soft and diffuse sound make it especially
    suitable for larger rooms and sculpting the proper ambience.
  • Three new early reflection effects: Early reflection, reverse reflection and gated reflection
  • Aliaser: A LoFi retro-effect that works by mirroring the signal’s spectrum at the cutoff frequency
  • Stereo Enhance: A stereo width effect, equipped with a High-Shelf filter to expand the stereo field while keeping the
    lower frequencies intact.
  • Three additional skins as free bonus content: Black, gold and red skin

Sounds

Arpeggiator

AR Alterna BN
AR AnaloxARP BN
AR Chilled MF
AR Curvedloops BN
AR Disharmonic MF
AR Doublekey MF
AR Druckwelle MF
AR FilthySchranz XS
AR Glasstrip MF
AR Hurrican MF
AR LoungeRhythmics
AR NotAVirus XS
AR OneKeyJam XS
AR Overdrives BN
AR Phasorgate MF
AR Pzzsine BN
AR RoughDrag BN
AR Runaway MF
AR Sitomaioa MF
AR Smalltalk BN
AR Splitplug MF
AR Splitsquare MF
AR Supersaw MF
AR TheSewers XS
AR TickledPink XS
AR Trancemaster MF
AR Trazeptor MF
AR Turnbackx BN
AR UniLoops BN
AR WakeUpCall BN
AR Ybox180 BN
AR EnigmaMF

Atmos

AT Atlantis XS
AT FoulMist XS
AT HRGeiger XS
AT NotOfEarth XS
AT NuclearWinter XS
AT Shamen XS
AT TheSwarm XS
AT Wastelands XS

Guitar

GT ArabianNights XS
GT FantasyLute XS.
GT SynthMandolin XS

Bass

BA 2ndLine XS
BA 80sHybrid XS
BA AcidJazz XS
BA Apydia MF
BA Bassgear BN
BA BloodDrop XS
BA Bwaaah XS
BA BzzGuitar BN
BA C64Saw XS
BA ChorusBass BN
BA ClickBass BN
BA Cyanide XS
BA D Mode 1 XS
BA D Mode 2 XS
BA D33pBass BN
BA DarkSun XS
BA DigiAna XS
BA Diztorted BN
BA DnAlight BN
BA DnBPulsewidth XS
BA FallBass BN
BA Flatout BN
BA Fm Bass BN
BA FormantSaws XS
BA FrogAcid BN
BA Gimmoo BN
BA HappyGirl XS
BA HardKikz BN
BA HardTekno 1 XS
BA HardTekno 2 XS
BA HateBounces XS
BA HCMBass3 XS
BA Hitman XS
BA IceHits XS
BA imPulse BN
BA ItsHere BN
BA JungleBells XS
BA KungFu XS
BA Massive BN
BA NanoBass BN
BA NotAVirus MF
BA Notebass BN
BA NuFlange XS
BA OilSpill XS
BA PhasMD BN
BA PunchySub XS
BA PyroBass BN
BA Rave FM XS
BA RezzzBazz BN
BA RohnBass BN
Ba RoughMooglie BN
BA Schmatzbass
BA Shakeee BN
BA SIDClassic XS
BA Stomper XS
BA Switchblade BN
BA TechnoSub XS
BA ToughGuy XS
BA Wammy BN
BA Wavetable XS
BA Whysman BN
BA WobblyEnds BN

Drumlines and Drums

DR Alienbeats
DR CrushedRhytm BN
DR Cymbal01 BN
DR EvilBD XS
DR EvilSN XS
DR fmRhythm BN
DR JungleTrack XS
DR SchizoBeat160 XS
DR Schranz160 1 XS
DR Schranz160 2 XS
DR Schranz160 3 XS
DR Simplllooop BN
DR Tekknoloop2
DR TekknoloopX XS
DR TRcowbell BN

Nature

NA Accordeon BN
NA Boxed Dreams BN
NA Rosebowl BN
NA Stacked Bell BN

Organs

OR 90s DanceChord
OR Blue Morning BN
OR ElectrOrgan XS
OR HouseTrax XS
OR Main Ingredient BN
OR MrOrgie BN
OR RotaryPWM XS
OR Spinal Chords BN

Piano and keys

PI ClaviHCM XS
PI Heavenly XS
PI NeoClassical XS
PI OutInSpace MF
PI PiBell BN
PI Synclavs BN

Electronic piano

EP BrightBell BN
EP Darkhalf BN
EP eTronic BN
EP Jazzedup BN
EP Leo BN
EP MoFeelin BN

Effects

FX 33To45 BN
FX BarberPole XS
FX ChaosBeat XS
FX ChiptuneJam XS
FX CyberDreams XS
FX DemonicCat XS
FX DoomMachine XS
FX DubHits2 XS
FX Eccentric XS
FX eva BN
FX Evilator MF
FX GhostWind XS
FX Hallucite BN
FX High ‘N’ Dry BN
FX PlayChords XS
FX PoliceSirens XS
FX Rainy Days BN

Lead

LD Ablaze XS
LD Analog2PWM MF
LD AnalogPWM MF
LD AngryRadical XS
LD Apydia MF
LD BigBooty XS
LD Bigscience BN
LD Cobalt XS
LD CoolNES XS
LD DigiSaws BN
LD EdgySID XS
LD Fellow MF
LD Frostbite XS
LD HCMShred XS
LD Heatwave XS
LD Heavydetune MF
LD HeavyDuty XS
LD iDentified BN
LD ILuvAnalog XS
LD Lucky13 XS
LD Mentasmic XS
LD Orange XS
LD OutOfSync XS
LD PunchyTrance XS
LD ResDive BN
LD Stackman MF
LD Supersaw MF
LD Supersquare MF
LD Teal XS
LD ToughTalk XS
LD TrancePWM XS
LD Vampyre XS
LD Vanilla Shake BN
LD VintageBeauty XS
LD Wavecode BN
LD WhiteHot XS
LD XenoSchranz XS
LD Terminator MF

Trancegates

TG 1000SawsPD MF
TG Active XS
TG AdamVanBaker
TG Ambrosia
TG Fairlane MF
TG Hackovertone MF
TG Holymoly MF
TG Logo MF
TG Magicman MF
TG Mellotonaut
TG Minority MF
TG Newsynthesis MF
TG Organic MF
TG Paradance MF
TG Silker MF
TG Superahh MF
TG Synopia MF
TG Trancemaster MF
TG TranceTalks XS
TG Unstable XS
TG VeryBusy XS
TG Vokaloid MF
TG Wanderer MF
TG Xenophopia
TG Xenos

Pads

PA aChordMess BN
PA Aftermath XS
PA Analogstack MF
PA Attackmode BN
PA BlueElephant XS
PA Clock cycles BN
PA Corrosive XS
PA Cytosis XS
PA CZynthStrings XS
PA DarkPlanets BN
PA DeepsideChord BN
PA Delusions XS
PA Desolate XS
PA DigiSwell XS
PA DX7Pad XS
PA Entrophy XS
PA Fluorine XS
PA Gattedsync MF
PA Ghosts BN
PA GrungyAna XS
PA Hallucinations XS
PA Hydra BN
PA Industrial XS
PA JXVox XS
PA Keypad BN
PA Liquid Paths BN
PA Lowdown BN
PA Manon BN
PA MeltingClocks XS
PA NewDay XS
PA Nikki C BN
PA Offset BN
PA PartII BN
PA Perfections BN
PA Ripples XS
PA ShadeDays BN
PA shadowWarriors
PA SinFM BN
PA Stardock XS
PA Sunny Shadows
PA SunRays XS
PA Turonian BN
PA Woodoow BN
PA Xploid BN
PD DeadZone XS
PD Downtempo95 XS

Synth sounds

SY 5thHits XS
SY Affected BN
SY Analog Brass XS
SY BellLike XS
SY ColoursStab BN
SY DigiLoFi MF
SY DirtyMinor XS
SY DnBKordMaj9 XS
SY eekHohrn BN
SY FrogBells XS
SY HipHopBrass XS
SY Kasper BN
SY MajChordHit XS
SY Memento BN
SY MinChordHit XS
SY Morphology BN
SY OrganHits1 XS
SY popstaB BN
SY RaveKord XS
SY Resonator MF
SY SIDArpStab3 XS
SY SIDKeys1 XS
SY SIDKeys3 XS
SY Sun Rayes BN
SY Synced MF
SY TechStab BN
SY TranceKeys XS
SY Travels BN
SY Virii mOOg BN
SY WetChord XS

Other

VO Whispered XS
SP Trance Split XS
ST Soulina XS
PE PolarBells XS

Apple’s corporate tune

•June 28, 2009 • Leave a Comment

A complete re-recording of the Apple corporate song (sans cheesy 80s lyrics). The keyboard featured is a Clavia Nord Lead 3. The original track appears heavily based on ‘What a Feeling’ from the musical Flashdance, with similar instrumentation, melody and singing style – Apple obviously wanted to reference or parody this.

So it is official…

•June 27, 2009 • Leave a Comment

… Michael Jackson is dead

Well it is of course tragic – Billy Jean was actually one of the first singles I ever bought on my own with my own allowance when I was about 13 years old and it is probably still one of the best pop songs that has been made

I take my hat off – your music will live on for a long time

michael-jackson

Super Mario goes theremine

•June 25, 2009 • Leave a Comment

Nice movie showing Super Mario controlled via thermine

The sound from the theremin is split into its frequency and amplitude components in real time, which are then mapped to values in a linear scale representing the X and Y axis. Pitch becomes horizontal control, and Volume becomes vertical control.
The X and Y scales are then cut up into different zones. In this case, Left; Right and dead zones for the horizontal, and a single trigger and dead zone for the vertical.

The trigger zones are then mapped onto a virtual joystick hooked into an emulator.