"(Scotts Valley, CA, December 17, 2019) — Rossum Electro-Music has announced the release of Software Version 2.0 for their Assimil8or Phase Modulation Sampler Eurorack module.
Designed to provide a powerful, flexible sampling engine for modular synthesis, the Assimil8or Multi-Timbral Phase Modulation Sampler module is the latest incarnation of Dave Rossum’s decades-long pioneering of affordable professional sampling technology. Assimil8or 2.0 software brings a host powerful new features and major workflow enhancements. Taken together, they result in Assimil8or's evolution into an even more powerful and easy-to-use sampling module.
"Dmitrij Pavlov aka JimAudio has done it again! Pure Acid is an Amazing Groovebox for iPad and iPhone and it packs a very intuitive Sequencer that has been tailored for ease of use, instant inspiration and all-nighter jams. This is without a doubt one of the most fun Music Apps I’ve had the privilege of working with during 2019. In this video I’m diving very deep into the Bassline Sequencer, because apart from the awesome FX section, the Sequencer really is a gem in this one. Seems like 303 day swung around and came right back again.
"CVquencer controlling a Pittburgh Modular system via an Expert Sleepers ES-8 DC-coupled audio interface."
Published on Dec 11, 2019 3AlanC
"Using CVquencer to play some classic sequences."
CVquencer calibrating an analog synthesizer
Published on Dec 17, 2019 3AlanC
"CVquencer is using a MOTU UltraLite Mk4 to control a Dreadbox Erebus with CV/Gate. Two outputs from the UltraLite are connected to the CV and Gate inputs of the Erebus and the audio output from the Erebus is connected to one of the UltraLite's inputs. The Erebus is set to play a basic triangle wave from a single oscillator to give the best result during calibration. CVquencer generates a series of control voltages and measures the frequencies the Erebus produces: it uses this information to create a tuning table that allows it to output accurate control voltages."
"CVquencer is a step sequencer that can control analog synthesizers using CV/Gate via a suitable audio interface, output MIDI to external instruments, control synthesizer apps running on your iPad, or run stand-alone using its internal sample-based synthesizer.
CVquencer has four layers, each consisting of 16 steps. Each step has an eight stage gate sequencer controlling how it will repeat: individual repeats can be set to a rest, a note or tied to the next repeat. Note length, timing, velocity, modulation, playback probability and glide can all be set per step.
Each layer has its own clock divider and playback direction. Combined with the step repeats this allows CVquencer to create patterns that are far more complex than a typical step sequencer.
Notes:
• To use CV/Gate an appropriate DC-coupled audio interface and suitable cables are required.
• CVquencer does not function as an Audio Unit plugin since it requires multi-channel access to an audio interface when generating CV/Gate signals."
"The SAAYM sound card is designed for any vintage PC with a standard 8- or 16-bit ISA slot. It has three separate sound chips on board: 2 Phillips SAA1099 programmable sound generators (PSG) and one Yamaha YM2151 FM synthesizer chip with its accompanying YM3012 stereo DAC. The card mixes all three stereo outputs through a high quality TL072 OPAMP and WIMA film capacitors for the best sound possible. The output is line level and uses a single stereo 1/8” or 3.5mm stereo headphone-style jack for output. Amplified stereo speakers with volume adjustments are required.
This card is a fully functional clone of the original GameBlaster or Creative Music System (CMS) card by Creative Labs. The original card used two SAA1099 ICs to generate sound. This card has the necessary circuitry to allow the CMS driver to load, as well as pass detection by games which probe for and support the CMS.
In addition to support for GameBlaster games in DOS, this card also supports playing back VGM files which support the YM2151. There is a great program for DOS called SBVGM which now supports the SAAYM card! Thanks so much to OPLx for assistance adding support for the SAAYM to SBVGM. For more information, please read the attached documentation."
Ableton Live Control for MPC and Force
Force 3.0.4 | Ableton Live Control Integration
MPC 2.7 | Ableton Live Control Integration
AKAI PROFESSIONAL® ANNOUNCES ABLETON INTEGRATION IN LATEST FORCE & MPC UPDATES
New firmware delivers control of Ableton Live’s session view, mixer, effects and devices via Wi-Fi for Force, MPC X and MPC Live
Ft. Lauderdale FL, USA (December 17, 2019) Akai Professional, a leading manufacturer of music equipment for performers and producers, is proud to announce Force firmware 3.0.4 and MPC firmware 2.7 that include the highly-anticipated Ableton Live Control.
Force and MPC come pre-mapped for deep tactile control of Ableton Live clip launching, mixer panel and of course, Ableton devices. Ableton Live Control functions wirelessly over a Wi-Fi network via Ableton Link. This is an unparalleled level of Ableton integration from a standalone device. Ableton Live Control mode has been carefully designed to enable users to instantly switch between standalone operation and Live Control mode without ever stopping playback from either platform.
With Ableton Control integration, Akai Professional has bridged the standalone and Ableton worlds seamlessly for an unprecedented amount of creative power. The ingenuity of Force and MPC plugin instruments Bassline and Tube Synth, pristine sound processing FX and stellar sample manipulation algorithms, paired with Ableton and the power of clip launching is here and ready for musical ambitions of the most adventurous kind.
Ableton Live Control Features:
• Matrix Tab - The Matrix tab displays an 8x8 section of Live’s Session View marked in the Live GUI by the colored session ring. Users have a complete overview of—and immediate access to—the scenes, clips, play status, recording status as well as control over playback, recording quantize functions and scene/ clip management.
• Mixer Tab – The Mixer Tab provides instant access to Live’s key mixing functions, divided into three views for control of Levels, Main mixer parameters and Sends. Using Force’s touch interface, control any slider/knob or bring up a full screen editor for precise adjustments.
• Device Control Tab – The device tab controls the device on the current track at Ableton Live’s Blue Hand position, providing control and key visual feedback on Ableton Instruments and third-party plugins.
• Control Bar – At the top of the touch user interface, users can customize the Control Bar to display preset displays for Session, Arrangement and Performance modes including BPM, Phase Nudge Down/Up, Metronome, Follow, Overdub, Automation Arm and more.
Dan Gill, Senior Product Manager for Akai Professional said, "With every update, we redefine the products and extend the scope of their capabilities. With these firmware releases for Force and MPC, our standalone platforms join with Ableton Live to provide musicians, performers and producers unparalleled creative possibilities. Following an extensive Beta testing program, and listening to our customer’s feedback, we are delighted to provide the production community with a control solution for Ableton Live, while harnessing the sheer creative power of the world’s greatest standalone production and performance solutions.”
For more information and to download the latest firmware, visit akaipro.com."
Hammond B-3X for iPad is a next-level tonewheel organ app that gives musicians an ultra-authentic Hammond organ experience on their mobile iOS tablet. Hammond B-3X for iPad offers the same incredibly detailed, true-to-life sound, flexible full-rig signal chain, and advanced tone shaping as the Mac/PC version, but optimized for use on stage.
With Hammond B-3X for iPad, you can get the same soul, passion and vibe of a real B-3 from a rig that weighs less than 1/100th of the real thing! Learn more at http://www.hammondb3x.com/ipad"
"Lower West Side Studio is proud the introduce the next generation of our Fixed Filter Bank module; The Fixed Filter Bank Pro.
Built using the same Yusynth Fixed Filter Bank electronics the Fixed Filter Bank Pro extends the capabilities of the filter by adding individual outputs for each separate frequency. This also includes outputs for lowpass and highpass frequencies.
In addition the Fixed Filter Bank Pro features attenuators for both the high gain and low gain inputs.
For more information on Lower West Side Studio’s Fixed Filter Bank Pro visit our Product Page."
Some new gear in the second half of the video includes the Herbs and Stones Liquid Foam and the Neon Egg Planetarium (demos below).
"In which I play an improvised live show with a setup that is new and barely rehearsed.
Usually when I play live, I like to work with the setup I have had for the past three years. In fact, the reason for this channel was that I needed an audience to get better at improvising on my instruments, the camera became an important tool to get good it. But after five weeks of doing art projects, theatre soundtracks and live performances I was burned out. So I decided to play myself a little bit - I choose a completely new setup. Only the Plumbutter was with me on stage before, the rest, including FX and mixer, are studio pieces. Some, such as the Boxcar I had never used in that function before, and one synth had just arrived that day. I did not even know if I could safely travel with the nuclear instrumentation modular rack, without it breaking. The excitement of trying something new helped break the block I felt and I had a good time at the show.
You can find the full audio here: www.patreon.com/hainbach"
It's a stereo reverb and chorus, running into a delay (with stereo modulation) which then runs into a compressor (with external sidechain).
Create beautiful tapey wobbly reverb tails from any instrument, then sidechain it live to a drummer (or anything else) without needing a computer or click track."
Rocinante´s Gate is not a classical low-pass gate (LPG) using vactrols, but goes way beyond that providing an adjustable envelope to control the "gate" through an analog filter. Sending a gate or trigger signal into the GATE INPUT will create these envelope shaped sounds you know from other LPGs.
The LOWPASS knob adjusts the range of frequencies being affected by the gate. If you turn it fully counter clockwise the whole frequency spectrum will be gated. Turning it clockwise will slowly add low frequencies to the gated singal until the whole spectrum is not affected anymore.
ENV AMT sets the amount of how much the internal envelope affects the low-pass gate. RISE sets the time how long it will take the sound to go from silent to the loudest level. Just like the time it takes the LED insight of a vactrol to start lighting to its full potential. DECAY controls how long it takes to go from an intial peak to the "gate-phase" level. The length of this phase is varied by the LENGTH potentiometer. Finally FALL changes the time your sound will need to return to silence after the "gate-phase". Just like the time it takes the LED insight of a vactrol to shut down.
RESONANCE sets the amount of filtered audio being fed back into the filter input. It can´t go into self-oscillation, but is able to create very crunchy and juicy overtones when turning clockwise.
The internal Trigger Generator is being controlled with TRIG RATE and the RE-TRIG/LOOP SWITCH. Adjust the rate of the trigger and apply the singal to either a re-trigger circuitry that repeats the "gate-phase" as long as a gate signal is being applied or to a loop functionality that will create cycles of gates without an external gate or trigger. The ENV/INV SWITCH enables you to alternatively route an inverted envelope to the low-pass filter. This way you may create "ducking" or "side-chained" sounds.
An internal triangle LFO can be routed via the LVL ATT attenuator to vary the amount of envelope that is being passed to the gate. The LFO will be deactivated if you turn the LVL ATT attenuator fully counter-clockwise or if you use an external signal to control the envelope amount by patching a CV signal into LVL CV.
In addition to the Audio IN and OUT jacks you may take the signals of the internal envelope and LFO from the ENV OUT and LFO OUT to controll external devices. In combination with the loop function Rocinante´s Gate is not only a Low-Pass-Gate, but also an LFO and ADSR Generator.
Sounds like a drunken surreal version of "Take me out to the Ballgame". Posting this mainly for the UNITRA RYTM16, and it's from maker Alexey Taber. This is the first post to feature the UNITRA RYTM16. Not sure if it's related to the Eltra Unitra.
"The Peeps Music Box is a battery powered digital handmade synthesizer.
It’s a micro version of the «Buchla Music Easel», one of the best synthesizer ever made, designed by Don Buchla in 1972.
Some features were deleted but others were added. It is not a modular synthesizer like the original Buchla, but all the switch buttons act like pre-patched possibilities that I felt like the most interesting patchs to use with the original Music Easel.
The Peeps Music Box have all these functions :
(* features added)
Created a new Antumbra label for these moving forward. There has only been three previous posts featuring Antumbra.
"Brand new Antumbra CARA built by an electronics engineer with over ten years of experience.
Really beautiful, compact redesign of Mutable Instruments Marbles--takes up only 10 HP. Adds very aesthetically pleasing jacklights.
From the makers of the very popular Atom module.
The panel on this module is manufactured by Magpie Modular, makers of some of the highest quality panels in Eurorack. It is white aluminum with a beautiful textured finish.
Published on Dec 12, 2019 synthprocess Club of the Knobs Synthesizer
"AION MODULAR systems can now be assembled to the legendary 3 P Synthesizer System! See more at aion-modular.com. Happy 2020 to all analog synth-friends!"
Published on Dec 12, 2019
An immensely powerful synth 20 years in the making, combining wavetable, virtual analog, granular and sampling in one inspiring instrument. This is Pigments, and it’s going to change the way you make music forever.
New Sample Engine
Explore hundreds of samples, import your own, load them into one of 6 different slots with 6 playback modes. Loop, edit, and bring them to life with Pigments’ modulation abilities.
New Synth Mode
Add another level to your sound design by transforming samples into granular synth patches at the touch of a button, adjust density, envelope, size, and exciting randomization parameters.
New Sequencer
The in-built sequencer now lets you apply randomness in a non-destructive way, letting you always return back to where you started, perfect for live performance and improvisation.
New Filter and Delay
We’ve added the iconic sound of the Buchla Easel low pass gate and a space-age tape echo to Pigments’ sonic arsenal, for some seriously nice warping, contorting analog flavor.
Refined Features
What would an update be without little improvements here and there? New interface, MPE capability, new undo/redo functionality and enhanced modulation bar await you.
New Presets
To show off the new features, our team of heroic sound designers have created hundreds of breathtaking new sounds for you to explore and use in your tracks.
NEW Arturia Pigments 2.0 Presets Demo
Published on Dec 12, 2019 once upon a synth
"This is a no-talking demo of Arturia Pigments 2.0 VST synth. I browse through a bunch of the new presets and improvise."
"TĂȘte is the long awaited and highly anticipated expander for the Tetrapad. TĂȘte takes control of Tetrapad’s mode selection and operating functions, allowing Tetrapad to do what it does best — act as a control surface, which it does both for controlling external modules and for interfacing with the advanced processing power within TĂȘte.
TĂȘte + Tetrapad operates in one of three different modes—
Voltages
Up to 16 voltage storage locations (grid) with 8 voltages stored at each location. You have the choice to record and playback your recall of these locations in a looper style (just play freely and spend arbitrary amount of time at any location) or as a clocked sequence (SH-101 style). Additionally you can traverse the matrix using the X and Y CV inputs to get Cartesian style sequencing. There is also variable slew that allows you to morph/glide between the values.
Notes
You can create sequences or loops in chord, scales or keyboard mode. The isomorphic keyboard grid can be set to 4, 12, or 16 notes. There are real-time performance looping, transposition and inversion capabilities via the CV inputs and dedicated loop button. In sequencer mode each step can be a tie, rest, or gate with size 25/50/75%. Basically we have created a way to very quickly and intuitively make chord sequences that are very musical and easy to manipulate. It is difficult to summarize in words but we will be sure to create some videos to demonstrate how easy and fun this is to play with. It definitely represents something unique in the landscape of Eurorack sequencers.
Combo
In this mode you can loop record your performance on any combination of the following functions: fader, bipolar fader, crossfader, euclidean sequencer, toggle switches or LFO. Kind of like Elektron style parameter locking but all of the motions is recorded continuously instead of just in slices. Instantly turn a simple patch into a highly animated and complex beast. The chosen function determines the type of signal (CV, note, trigger, gate, etc.) sent from each of Tetrapad’s eight independent outputs, while its multitude of multi-colored LEDs keep you informed of exactly what’s happening within each mode."
"There are two equal sections in this module labeled A and B.
This module is a peculiar type of mixer that instead of just summing two input signals (X & Y) it also allows the possibility to subtract the two signals.
It works both for audio and CV signals and hence the possibility to get the diference of two CVs or cancel the phase of two audio signals. The resulting signal, of sum or subtraction, is then routed through a switchable (on/off) full rectification circuit labeled: Absolute. After this the gain of the mixed signal goes through another attenuverter labeled: Amplitude to control the resulting signal gain which, being an attenuverter, also allows the possibility to invert the incoming signal. After the Amplitude comes an AC/DC coupling switch followed by an bipolar Offset knob.
Besides the normal output there’s also an inverted output for each of the A & B sections.
The outputs of section A & B are also summed and sent to the Average Output.
Using a single input, just the X or Y input, the module can also be used as a simple dual Attenuverter & Offset CV processor with full rectification and AC coupling options.
Features:
2 independent sections each with:
2 inputs with gain attenuverters
Amplitude attenuverter and bipolar Offset
Absolute/Bipolar and AC/DC switches
Output and inverted output
2 leds monitor the Output polarities and gain.
