PockeMix 8, 6, and 4 Channel Stereo Passive Mixer/Splitters by darenager

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

The following is the description for the 8 channel mixer:

"A very compact 8 channel passive stereo mixer, ideal for small synths and drum machines such as Teenage Engineering Pocket Operators or OP-1, Korg Monotribe or Volca series, Roland Boutique JX-03, JU06 or JP-08, iOS synths or any line level gear equipped with 3.5mm sockets.

It has 8x 3.5mm TRS inputs and 2 sets of outputs, one of the outputs carries the stereo signal (TRS) or if the switch is set to mono the left signal (TS), the other output carries the right signal (TS), so all in all quite a flexible setup, by using input splitters it can actually be used as 2 independent 8 channel mono mixers when the switch is set to mono.

It has no level controls because you set the desired level on the volume control of the devices connected, built by hand using good quality parts this minimal and clean sounding mixer will find many uses, from tabletop jam sessions to expanding a main mixer in the studio.

Like any passive mixer you use the pre-amp in the device you are connecting to make up the gain, so a powered speaker, powered main mixer, field recorder or soundcard input, kaoss pad or similar will do this, if you want to use headphones then a headphone pre-amp will do it.

Although this is a new design my other mixers have been used by many satisfied customers all over the world, see my other items for those and other interesting and handy stuff.

Please note - this is nothing like a Belkin Rockstar headphone splitter which does not mix line level signals, despite what some people on the internet say, when you change the level on one of the connected devices using the Belkin you will notice that the level of the other devices change also, not to mention you will be connecting all the outputs of your gear together (just like splicing a bunch of cables together) not a very smart thing to do! So save that for it's intended use and use a proper mixer."

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Yamaha UD-BT01 and MD-BT01 - Turn any MIDI Controller Into a Bluetooth MIDI Controller

Yamaha Bluetooth MIDI - NAMM 2016 Published on Jan 27, 2016 Ask.Audio

What's cool about this is you can turn any device with MIDI into a Bluetooth MIDI device. You do not need to attach anything to your phone, tablet or computer. Just enable Bluetooth and pair it.

"Yamaha UD-BT01 and MD-BT01 Offer Bluetooth Wireless Connectivity for Electronic Keyboards and Drum Kits

ANAHEIM (January 21, 2016) — Yamaha today introduced the UD-BT01 and MD-BT01 Wireless MIDI Adaptors. The MD-BT01 and UD-BT01 connect synthesizers, keyboards and electronic drum kits to Mac computers and iOS devices for a variety of applications – from education and instrument editing, to full-scale music production.

Both the MD-BT01 and UD-BT01 send and receive MIDI data over Bluetooth LE. The UD-BT01 connects to instruments with USB to HOST MIDI connectivity, while the MD-BT01 is designed for instruments with traditional 5-pin DIN MIDI in and out ports.

'These products give keyboardists and drummers unprecedented freedom,' said Mark Anderson, director of marketing, Keyboard Division, Yamaha Corporation of America. 'Now, connecting instruments to a computer can be done wirelessly, making it even easier to tap into the wide variety of creative and educational software applications.'

Pricing and Availability
Yamaha UD-BT01 and MD-BT01 (MSRP: $79.99) are now shipping."

Teenage Engineering Introduces OP-Z Synthesizer, Sequencer, & Video Synth at NAMM

OPZ Screen Uploaded on Jan 21, 2016 Virtual Flannel

This one sent my way via @VirtualFlannel, via @SammyJams

wireless 16 track multitimbral synthesiser
with fully sequenceable parameter locks, video synthesis
and the introduction of step components.



NAMM 2016 Teenage Engineering OP-z sonicstate
Published on Jan 21, 2016 sonicstate

"Holding back on all the details, we got a look at this new synth and sequencer."

NAMM 2016 Teenage Engineering Pocket Operators PO-20 Arcade, PO-24 Office, and PO-28 Robot

Published on Jan 22, 2016 Kraft Music

"Great deals on Pocket Operators at Kraft Music:
http://www.kraftmusic.com/sitesearch/...

Oscar from Teenage Engineering presents the new Pocket Operators at the 2016 Winter NAMM Show."

iConnectivity Announces iConnectAUDIO2+:

Published on Jan 20, 2016 iConnectivity

Note a synth, but I'm using the original iConnectAUDIO4+ and love it. Their audio and MIDI routing can't be beat.

"iConnectAUDIO2+ by iConnectivity puts flexible audio and MIDI connectivity for the stage, studio, and club into a portable, bus-powered package. Its versatile features and configuration make it ideal for musicians, DJs, and producers.

iConnectAUDIO2+ will be on display at Booth #6806, Hall A at the 2016 NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA, from January 21-24, 2016.

For more information visit: http://bit.ly/iCA2Plus"

"Ultra-Versatile 2-in 6-out Audio & MIDI Interface for Musicians & DJs

In the studio, on stage, or on the go, iConnectAUDIO2+ lets your music go wherever it takes you.

2 high-quality combination mic/line/instrument inputs assure that every nuance of your musical creations is captured faithfully.

3 pairs of independent stereo outputs are perfect for DJ and electronic music applications.

Configurable audio paths let you route, combine, and monitor signals the way you need.

Advanced MIDI connectivity, routing, and management solve the connection challenges between you, your MIDI gear, and computing devices.

Full compatibility with Mac, PC and iOS devices, and the ability to pass audio and MIDI from one to another unleashes new solutions for your creative process.

With its powerful features and affordable price, iConnectAUDIO2+ is unbeatable."

Update:

NAMM2016: iConnectivity iConnect 2+ Audio Interface

Published on Jan 21, 2016 sonicstate

"NAMM2016: iConnectivity iConnect 2+ Audio Interface New USB audio interface from iConnectivity"

tempest 1.3 - DSI Tempest controller for Ableton live

via Max for Live:

"Tempest is a simple utility for Dave Smith's and Roger Linn's Tempest analog drum machine with Ableton Live.

You can control the parameters that are available on the Tempest as they come with the tempest OS updates. The tempest os used is 1.4.0 for this version.

The available parameters are:

- Distortion
- Compression
- a value other than 0 reverts Beat FX params to defaults
- Beat FX All Osc Frequency
- Beat FX Feedback
- Beat FX Lowpass Filter Cutoff
- Beat FX Lowpass Filter Resonance
- Beat FX Lowpass Filter Audio Mod
- Beat FX Highpass Filter Cutoff
- Beat FX All Env Attack
- Beat FX All Env Decay

The virtual pads show both bank A and B. These pads are clickable and send midi notes, the MIDI notes used in this device are ascending from 0, it is a chromatic scale from C0 to G2 (pad A1 to pad B16), the pad display will work with this config in your tempest system parameters, and will act accordingly to your 'pad to note' config in the Tempest System parameters. As beats and mutes pad mode do not respond to note-off messages from your daw nor this device, you might need to trig the pad twice to mute or unmute a sound, or to lanch a beat, and the lights won't be coherent in these modes.
You have to set the output of the Live midi track to your Tempest midi PAD in channel.

Save your soul."

Introducing the ISLA Instruments KordBot

ChordBot - A quick teaser Published on Jan 15, 2016 ISLA Instruments

"While we are producing the full video for the KickStarter campaign launching in mid Feb 2016, we thought we'd take a couple of minutes out to have some fun with ChordBot and tease you with a couple of it's features!."

A few details and images sent in via ISLA Instruments:

"Chordbot is a midi controller device that gives the user 1000s of chords at their fingertips, to play directly into any midi capable device over midi, usb, and also bluetooth. The keys also illuminate the fingerings of chords so it teaches the user how to play chords for themselves. It's also a full featured arpeggiator with many different modes and a 32 step sequencer."

New Mode Machines OMF-1 Rack Mountable Analogue Filter

Published on Jan 10, 2016 acidjack303

"A four pole true analogue filter based on the famous transistor ladder filter developed by Moog in the 60´s.
Built in Wide range Pre-amplifier suitable for most audio sources.
Side Chain Input.
CV and Gate inputs to control the Filter Cut Off and Envelope from your Modular/Analog gear.
Self Oscillation if desired."

"The Mode Machines OMF-1 contains:

A four pole true analogue filter. This is based on the famous transistor ladder filter developed by Dr Bob Moog in the 1960s. A front panel pot controls the filter cut-off frequency, another controls the resonance. The resonance control is configured not to cause volume drop when turned up. The filter can be made to oscillate if required.
Two filter outputs are available. One is the Fizz output. This is a type of -6dB/octave filter and it gives a unique filtering effect with a real bite. The other is the Smooth output. This is a classic -24dB/octave filter, and gives a smooth warm analogue filter sound. Each filter output goes via its own reversible attenuator. This means not only can you adjust the output level, but also the phase of the output signal. This allows complex filter shapes to be made when the two outputs are mixed together in various degrees. This includes a very nice sounding band pass filter.

A wet/dry control allows the filtered audio to be mixed with the original signal. Not only is this useful in controlling the depth of the effect, but it can also create unusual phasing and vibrato type effects.
A wide range pre-amplifier is included. You can use the OMF-1 with virtually any input from guitars to synthesisers. A peak indicator will allow you to monitor overloads, although the OMF-1 is designed to overdrive beautifully.

An inbuilt low frequency oscillator with triangle and square waveforms. The frequency can be changed from 0.05Hz (one cycle in 20 seconds) to over 50Hz. A bi-colour LED gives visual indication of the speed of the LFO. Use the LFO to create auto wah and phaser type effects. The LFO can also be selected to trigger the envelope generator.
An ingenious dynamic envelope section that can move the filter cut off point up or down. It can be put into one of three modes at a flick of a switch:

FLR: It can function as a useful envelope follower, with controllable attack and decay times. Perfect for simulating many classic dynamic follower filter boxes. Play louder and hear the filter open up.
AD: It can be a standard attack-decay envelope generator. This is a type of one shot envelope, that rises and falls at the presence of an initial trigger signal. Useful for percussive type sounds.

AR: It can be a standard attack-release envelope generator. This is triggered either by the LFO, external gate signal or by an automatic audio trigger circuit with a variable threshold level. Powerful for creating rising crescendos.

The final output volume can be controlled with a level control. The output circuitry is configured to drive long length cables with ease and without ground loops.

A side chain input is available. This is a second audio input that can control the main input, but is not heard directly. Use this to trigger the envelope generator, or drive the envelope follower. A common use of this is to make the main audio program respond to a drum machine’s output for syncopated effects. Use a deep rich string patch as your main input, and listen to the drum machine automatically pulse the output to the beat. Awesome!
CV and gate inputs are available for connection to a modular synth or midi-CV convertor. The CV input will control the filter frequency, and the gate control will trigger the envelope generator if selected.

With a second OMF-1 a stereo unit may be built. The two channels can either be run independantly or linked together for true stereo processing."

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EurekaSound MIDIMizer

"EurekaSound just released the MIDIMizer — it allows running 2 MIDI cables over a single CAT5 cable. The idea is that, rather than buying expensive MIDI cables of arbitrary length, instead you buy a MIDIMizer, and then insert any length off-the-shelf CAT5 cable in between, to make your own custom length. Also saves on cabling, as each CAT5 cable carries two MIDI cables; perfect for running MIDI IN and OUT to the same piece of gear."

Full details here.

Yamaha Soundmondo Social Sound-Sharing Site for Reface Synths

Yamaha has launched Soundmondo, a resource site for Reface synth owners to share their patches. The following is the official press release:

"Soundmondo Social Sound-Sharing Website Lets reface Users Inspire and be Inspired Any Place, Any Time

BUENA PARK, Calif. (January 8, 2016) — Yamaha has officially launched Soundmondo (www.soundmondo.com), a groundbreaking social sound-sharing website for sharing reface Mobile Mini Keyboard sounds.

Soundmondo is one of the first sites to implement WebMIDI, a new W3C (API) pioneered by Google in Chrome (versions 43 and later) earlier this year. WebMIDI connects MIDI devices to the Internet allowing musical instruments to play online synthesizers, as well as save or share sounds with Soundmondo. Because WebMIDI is part of Chrome, Soundmondo works on Mac, PC and Android devices.

The Yamaha reface Mobile Mini Keyboards are the first instruments to work with Soundmondo. Featuring four models, each with a unique tone generator and control panel, reface empowers users with an easy way to store, recall, organize and share their sounds.

'Soundmondo is social sound-sharing for synthesizers,' said Nate Tschetter, marketing manager, Music Production, Yamaha Corporation of America. 'Back in the day, synthesizers had patch sheets where sound re-creation was a manual process of duplicating settings from a printed diagram. Soundmondo instantly sends the sound to your instrument and visually shows you how to re-create it. It’s like having your own personal synth programmer on call 24/7.'

Saving sounds on Soundmondo is easy. Once the user connects their instrument and sets up an account, they simply hit CREATE and give their sound a name, a description and tags. They can also add a YouTube video and SoundCloud audio to really show off their sound.

According to Tschetter, the real fun comes in checking out sounds created by other Soundmondo users. BROWSE shows all available sounds (currently over 1,200), and the user can refine their search using tags. Once the user finds a sound they might like, they simply click on it and hit SYNC. This will send the sound to their connected reface AND show them how to move the controls to recreate the sound.

For reface DX users, there’s an added bonus: a full editor showing all parameters with full navigation and editing using a computer keyboard.

Yamaha reface Mobile Mini Keyboards, introduced this past summer, feature built-in speakers and battery power along with interactive controls, incredible keyboard feel and great sound for a truly pro instrument that lets musicians create their sound any place, any time.

For more information, please visit http://4wrd.it/soundmondo"

Free Online Roland Boutique JP-08 Editor & Patch librarian

And online, web based, editor and librarian for the Roland JP-08. I'd save your patches locally just to be safe long term, but the ability to save them online could be interesting. They plan on a public patch library so you can share your patches with others and check out other people's patches.

Details via breadandbuttersounds:

"The editor uses the Web MIDI API. Please read the instructions below before you use it.

Features:
Bi directional communication with your Roland Boutique JP-08 using Sysex (Important! please see below for setting it up)
Precision editing of all parameters. Use the sliders of your JP-08, the sliders on the web page or enter the exact value for a parameter manually (you will notice that the sliders on the JP08 in itself are quite inexact so an editor like this is necessary for serious patch making)
When you change patch or press Manual on your JP-08 the patch is automatically uploaded to the editor
See parameters and learn from your favorite factory presets
Easy access of important features like the Delay, Portamento and Bend Range
You can save your patches if you log in using a Google Account
A public patch browser utility is planned once we have gathered a number of patches that users are willing to share

Instructions/how to make it work:
Web MIDI is not widely supported yet. The editor will probably only work in Chrome and on a computer (no mobile units).
You must allow sysex access for the web page
The editor will NOT work with the USB connection to the JP-08. (Because no sysex is transmitted over USB with the current JP08-firmware) You must use a separate MIDI interface (5 pole DIN) for both input and output.
You must set up your JP-08 in chain mode if you want it to transmit patches and slider movements. ([Manual] + [9] and then [2] - please see the JP-08 manual)
Consider the current version of the editor as a beta version (only tested on Chrome in Windows 8.1 and Mac OS X 10.9.5 so far). Please e-mail info@breadandbuttersounds.com for bug reports and suggestions
Breadandbuttersounds is not responsible for lost presets, other effects or damage on your JP-08 or other equipment by using the editor.

Run the editor here!"

Prototype MIDI-CV box for Novation Circuit

Published on Jan 2, 2016 Jason Hotchkiss

"A quick demo of sequencing analog gear using Novation Circuit and a compact MIDI-CV box I am working on. The gear used is a CB55 drum voice board (DR55 clone from circuitbenders.co.uk), Moog Minitaur, Pittsburgh Modular System 10.

The PCB shown here is a prototype, but I hope to have them on sale soon. It has a 3.5mm MIDI input jack so a simple stereo 3.5mm cable can connect it to Circuit's MIDI output. I've been working on bus powering it, but an external supply is used for this clip.

Support two mono channels with Note CV, Gate, Velocity CV (one for each Circuit synth track), and four drum gates (one for each Circuit drum track). Also an additional drum accent gate (when any
drum triggered at max MIDI velocity) which can double as a clock out.

Built around PIC16F1825 microcontroller with MCP4728 Quad 12-bit I2C DAC with on-board charge pump used to get full CV range.

I hope to have these on sale soon on my Tindie store https://www.tindie.com/stores/hotchk155/ ... watch this space

Cheers for watching!"