Jamm Pro 1.5 released for Android and iOS

video upload by Coldcut

Jamm Pro Visual Tour (With Peter Kirn of CDM)

video upload by Jamm Pro & Ninja Jamm

"Learn how to perform electronic music with Jamm Pro.
Big thanks to Peter Kirn for working with us on this video."

Ninja Tune’s creation app - a powerful sampler, multitrack remixer, looper, slicer, and Coldcutter music exploration instrument - is now on your phone.

Stop listening and start jamming. Jamm Pro, the brainchild of Coldcut - the pioneering AV/producer/DJ founders of Ninja Tune - is here with a 1.5 update and new support for iPhone, Android, and Apple Silicon Macs.

Jamm Pro is Ninja Tune’s creator’s instrument. Free yourself from grids and timelines with the distillation of 36 years of Coldcut’s work at the cutting edge of electronic music. From first tap, even beginners can begin making satisfying sounds, starting with a curated collection of music. Advanced users can go deeper, sampling in the app or importing their own sounds.

Remix Ninja Tune classics like Bonobo, Odezsa, FaltyDL, and Roots Manuva , new artists like India’s Kiss Nuka- and produce your own tracks with copyright-free SoundSets. Make Jamm Pro your full-featured remix and production tool, play live, or just jam.

New Action Sequencer records as you play - or shake it up. Now you can build up layers of live gestures, sequencing as you play in the app for more sophisticated sequences. SHAKE now triggers Superfill FX.

More customization and sharing. Add your own photos and artwork to your Jamms. Share recordings - and videos - on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and more.

More sounds, better stretching. A big, new selection of multi-genre SoundSets gives you a wider palette to remix and jam. Time stretching is improved for better audio quality.

Phone, Bluetooth, M1/M2 support. Now adds iPhone and Android devices and Apple Silicon Macs to existing iPad support, plus Bluetooth audio compatibility for wireless earphones and speakers.

Features:
The existing feature list is too extensive to list, see https://apps.apple.com/app/id1148499320
but includes Ableton Link, ability to record in and load your own samples, modular synth style patching, Coldcutter glitch and incredible dub FX , Smart Pitch bend, plus a deep selection of functions…

New in 1.5:
Growing selection of SoundSets across genres to fuel your own tracks.
Action Sequencer records and loops your actions to build live layered sequences.
SHAKE your device to trigger Superfill FX.
Improved time stretching with greater audio fidelity.
BeamScope visualizes your touches as you play.
Customize your Jamms with your own artwork / photos.
Sharing with video, for Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and more.
Bluetooth support for wireless earphones and speakers.
iPhone, Android, Apple Silicon Mac support.

Relive the '90s with the Roland JD800: Factory Presets

video upload by Andy Whitmore

"Roland JD-800 - ALL FACTORY PRESETS

The Roland JD-800 is a digital synthesizer that was manufactured between 1991 and 1996. It features many knobs and sliders for patch editing and performance control — features that some manufacturers, including Roland, had been omitting in the name of streamlining since the inception of the Yamaha DX7. The JD-800 thus became very popular with musicians who wished to take a hands-on approach to patch programming. The introduction in the manual states that Roland's intention with the JD-800 was to "return to the roots of synthesis".

Technology
The JD-800 employs Linear Arithmetic synthesis (introduced and made famous by the Roland D-50), which combines sample playback with digital synthesis. The JD-800 has 108 built-in waveforms, which can be expanded via PCM cards. The waveforms span a variety of categories such as analog synthesizers, acoustic instruments, and voices. Many of these waveforms are very short and are used primarily for the attack portion of a sound, while longer ones are used for the sustained part of a sound. The JD-800 was Roland's first instrument to have its core presets developed entirely in the United States, under a short-lived branch of its R&D-LA office in Culver City, California. The core sampled waveforms and factory presets of the JD-800 were created by Eric Persing.

A patch, or single sound, in the JD-800 consists of up to four tones. As every tone consists of an almost completely independent synthesizer voice, a patch could be considered a combination of up to four different synthesizers. In Single mode the JD-800 plays one patch at a time, but in Multi mode it is possible to play five different patches over MIDI, plus a "special" patch. The special patch has different waveforms assigned to the 61 different keys on the keyboard, so is used for drums and percussion sounds. The JD-800 has one effects section. In Single mode, seven effects can be used simultaneously, in series, so all tones in a patch go through the same effects. In Multi mode, three effects can be used at the same time, with all patches sharing the same effects, though any of the patches can be routed to bypass the effects.

A Guy Called Gerald
Coldcut
Gary Barlow
Jean-Michel Jarre
Rick Wakeman
Tony Banks

64 Factory Patches

Timecodes

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One of a Kind EMS VCS4 Prototype to Make Post-Lockdown Debut This Year

You might remember the EMS VCS4 from this post back in March of 2020. It was scheduled to make an appearance last year but the event was postponed due to the pandemic. I beleive it is now slated to debute on June 25th this year. You can find details on the upcoming event here. Note it states the debut is on Friday, May 25, but today is Saturday, May 28, so that date is clearly wrong. June 25 lands on a Friday, so I'm guessing that is the date.

"The VCS4 prototype (a live performance model which combines two VCS3s with a ‘base station’ featuring keyboard, external audio input mixer, and signal processing inside a wooden cabinet) was built in 1969 - 1970, but was never brought into mass production. A second, but very different, VCS4 prototype is owned by Matt Black of Coldcut."

You can see Matt Black's VCS4 in this post from 2014.

There might have been a third VCS4 design, a follow-up design to the VCS3 you can find posted back in 2006.

This one was spotted and sent in via Soviet Space Child.

Jamm Pro - Production and Live Performance App for iPad

Published on Feb 13, 2020 Ninja Tune

"Ninja Tune & Coldcut Release Music-Making App: Jamm Pro

The follow up to their widely acclaimed app Ninja Jamm, which racked up over 600,000 downloads

Jamm Pro includes users most requested feature: the ability to upload your own samples, as well as unrivalled performance, modulation and patching capabilities

Jamm Pro can be downloaded from the App Store here
official Jamm Pro forum here

13th February 2020, London: Leading independent record label Ninja Tune and electronic music pioneers Coldcut have unveiled their sequel to Ninja Jamm — Jamm Pro, a production and live performance app for iPad.

Designed by Coldcut’s Matt Black with the aim of creating their complete electronic music instrument and used by Coldcut live, the latest incarnation allows for full artistic control by enabling users to use their own sounds. These can be samples from downloaded Sound Sets, or recordings made via iPad microphone, other apps, and external sources such as guitar and keyboard. As users experiment and develop ideas, they can save them as their own patches, which can be used to quickly build up stages of a song, structure a live performance, or used as a sketchpad.

Many times more powerful than its predecessor, the app features extensive modulation and patching capabilities, similar to a modular synth. Equipped with four main channels, each with nine sequencers — six modulation sequencers, a slice sequencer, a pitch/reverse/drill sequencer and a gate sequencer — and up to 64 patches, Jamm Pro allows for a possible 2304 sequencers per Sound Set in the app.

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Ninja Tune & Erica Synths Unveil The Zen Delay

Published on Sep 18, 2019 Ninja Tune

"New effects unit is Ninja Tune’s first hardware product & first-ever FX unit produced by an electronic label
Uniquely fuses digital & analogue with its powerful stereo dub delay, 24 dB synth-filter and valve saturation and overdrive all in perfect BPM sync in a one-of-a-kind hardware box
Fit for both on stage and in the studio, offering state-of-the-art quality, powerful & easy-to-use effects for all

18 September 2019, London: Ninja Tune and Riga-based modular synth manufacturer Erica Synths have teamed up to create a custom dub delay effects unit, the Zen Delay.

Inspired by a trip to Berlin’s trailblazing music hardware trade show Superbooth, Coldcut’s Matt Black and longtime friend Dr Walker (Liquid Sky artist collective / Air Liquide) envisaged the exciting possibilities of a custom hardware effects unit. The result is the creation of the Zen Delay — the first-ever hardware effects unit produced in collaboration with an electronic music label.

Bringing together the best of the digital and analogue worlds, the Zen Delay is a BPM-synched stereo delay line, combining extreme feedback ranges for dub and experimental lo-fi effects with a multi-mode 24 dB synth filter and valve overdrive.

Created and manufactured by Erica Synths, the unit is housed in a metal case with Erica Synths’ signature bakelite knobs and a valve circuit for extra analogue warmth. While sonically versatile, it is incredibly easy to use — each function has a physical knob that you can play around with without diving into manuals or scrolling through menus on a tiny screen.

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Roland MC-202

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

via this auction

"This machine is best for those who want to get 303-like patterns (it has accent just like the 303) and basslines with an SH-101 sound. If you can handle programming the notes into its sequencer you can have a lot of fun. It is used by Autechre, Future Sound Of London, Coldcut, The Human League, Underworld, Aphex Twin, LFO, Jedi Knights, Plastikman, Astral Projection, Sabres Of Paradise, Freddy Fresh, Jimmy Edgar, ProtoType 909 and Taylor 808 and countless folks like us.It sounds very much like the TB-303 and SH-101 bass synths. Sometimes considered the "poor man's 303". It has a very evolved form of TB-303 like programming (more like the MC-4) and SH-101 like controls of the VCO, VCF, VCA, LFO, Envelope and Mixer sections. The LCD display is a great feature too.

Programming the MC-202 can be done with the built-in monophonic sequencer and you can control it with CV/Gate converter.

The sequencer is actually a 2-channel CV/gate sequencer, with both channels being capable of driving a separate external synth. It's a very useful unit, also, for its DINsync capabilities; it can receive on one port, and send over two, and also can 'split' DINsync to branch a sync signal out to multiple devices."

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Uber Rare EMS VCS4 Samples

via Ninja Tune Official on Facebook, via I Dream of Wires

"Throwback! This is an extremely rare EMS VCS4 analogue synth from 1969 belonging to Matt Black of Coldcut, it was the first one he ever used. The model never went into production and there were just two prototypes...

Download a bundle of sounds Matt Black created with it: http://bit.ly/KLkeK1"

It looks like it's in a custom case.  You can see the original here. Some info via this post:

"Additonally, the VCS3 was also sold in a plastic breif-case and called the Synthi A. The major Synthi 100 system was based on three VCS3's strung together. Some ultra-rare commercially unavailable synths EMS made include the VCS4 in 1969 which was basically 2 VCS3's plus a keyboard. And the Synthi Keyboard 1 of 1970 was just a VCS3 with a mini 29-note keyboard. Many of these EMS synth's have been used by Brian Eno, Tangerine Dream, Pink Floyd, Stereolab, Yes, Aphex Twin, Autechre, Jean-Michel Jarre, Astral Projection, Klaus Schulze, Depeche Mode, Vince Clarke, Add N to (X), The Who, Todd Rundgren, Recoil, Freddy Fresh, and many more."

A search on VCS4 will bring up more posts.

NinjaJamm "Mr. Scruff" Test

Published on Apr 11, 2013

wonderful application!! Ninja is GREAT!!
http://www.ninjajamm.com/


"Ninja Jamm is a free mixing and jamming app that lets anyone instantly remix music from the Ninja Tune label using touch control, state of the art effects and killer music from Ninja artists.

It's a revolutionary fusion of music and software for the iPhone brought to you by Coldcut, the musical innovators at Ninja Tune and the design wizards at seeper.

Combining aspects of DJing, remixing and producing, the app lets anyone experience the excitement of playing with electronic music. Ninja artists such as Bonobo, Amon Tobin, Mr Scruff and Coldcut, provide the tunes for you to jamm with.

As each tune plays, you can switch seamlessly between the original licks and bonus clips, created by highly trained remix Ninjas, whilst glitching and effecting each channel and firing oneshot samples over the top.

Unlike many other music apps, the Jamm experience is very hands-on and immediate- your human feel is their key to enjoying freestyle mix possibilities. You can touch, tilt, shake and use multiple fingers and thumbs to Jamm and record, create a killer version of a favourite Ninja Tune and instantly share it with the world through Soundcloud, Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr.

The app comes bundled with a free Tunepack, Beats and Pieces3 from Coldcut, the cut'n'paste classic from the DJ duo who helped define both the modern remix with Paid in Full and mashup with Journeys By DJ.

You can expand your collection with more Tunepacks from Ninja artists, available for in-app purchase. Ninja Tune will regularly release new packs, including some from guest artists who haven’t released on the label before. We also plan to release new material exclusively through Ninja Jamm Tunepacks, a new interactive format for the touch-controlled age...

Instant remixing functions in push-button form let any music lover dive right in, yet Ninja Jamm is deep enough to engage DJs, musicians and producers. Download it for free, let your creative instincts run wild, enter the mix and Jamm On!"

iTunes:
Ninja Jamm - Ninja Tune
iOS Devices on eBay - Daily Tech Deals

Bleep's Guide to Electronic Music

This one in via Scott, via Bleep: "Bleep's guide to Electronic Music is a 55 track compilation charting the historical emergence of electronic music by looking at landmark tracks from the 1930s up to present day.

Our aim with this selection of music is to show the length and breadth of the medium, providing a snapshot of the genres forms and styles, and the development of the artform. Whilst there are omissions and compromises that we have had to make, we hope that we achieve our aims and we do some justice to the variety of music that we love.

This compilation developed out of a project to create a Facebook timeline charting the development of electronic music from the late 19th Century until now."

For reference check out 120 Years of Electronic Music

The collection begins with Olivier Messiaen's Oraison from 1937 performed on Ondes Martenot & Theremin (you can find the original full track previously posted here and a beautiful cover on Buchla 200e and Haken Continuum from the late Richard Lainhart here):

"Originally composed by Olivier Messiaen, this beautiful and contemplative piece of music is a monumental moment in electronic music. Argued to be the first piece of purely electronic music written expressly for live performance on the Ondes Martenot, an instrument closely related to the Theremin."

The collection ends with James Blake's CMYK"

"At just 21 years old, London producer, James Blake releases on newly relaunched R&S Records.

At its core 'CMYK' is forged from a myriad of 90's R&B samples (Aaliyah, Kelis) their voices mangled, barely recognisable and thrown into a red-eyed fire of DSP and hours spent in the waveforms."

The full track listing:

CLICK FOR MORE »

Amon Tobin on Ninja Jamm

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
YouTube Published on Jun 14, 2012 by ninja000

"Ninja Tune/Coldcut founder Matt Black catches Amon Tobin during his UK ISAM: Live tour for a coffee at Euston Station, to talk about Ninja Jamm - the forthcoming next-generation beatnological application for iOS.

More info and exclusive videos featuring Ninja Tune artists to come - subscribe to the Ninja Tune channel or visit http://www.ninjajamm.com

App launches Summer 2012

Filmed: Alex Minney
Edited: Freak UK"

iPads on eBay

Synths of the Radiophonic Workshop

via Andy:
"Thought you might like these pictures of some of the old Radiophonic Workshop synths. I'm working on a show for the BBC Electric proms with Coldcut - they have created a live remix of classic Radiophonic workshop material and we'll be using the old gear along with their stuff.

There's a VCS3, Synthi A, Vocoder, ARP Odessey and the legendary 'Crystal Palace'.We are doing the show next week and it can be heard on Annie Nightingales Radio 1 show and the 6Mix on BBC 6Music, and I think it's being filmed for online as well."

The Shape Of Things That Hum

Uploaded on Feb 1, 2011 The Soundtrack of Zapresic

"Mini Moog 00:12
Vocoder 09:45
DX7 20:19
Fairlight 30:27
Simmons 40:12
TB-303 50:27

TB-808 1.01.01
Akai Sampler 1.11.20

The Shape of Things That Hum
is a synthesizer documentary series that first aired by Channel 4 in the UK during 2001.

The series focused on electronic instruments that helped shaped modern music, with every episode focusing on a specific instrument. The episodes were broadcast between 01.30am and 01.41am, and featured musicians talking about classic vintage synthesizers, including the DX7 that defined the sound of the 1980s.


Production company Allied Forces
Producer Jacques Peretti
First broadcast 2001
Original channel Channel 4 (UK)
Genre documentary
No. of episodes 8
Length 11 minutes (episode)

Episodes:

Mini Moog (15-01-2001) - Cult electronic instruments that helped to shape modern music.

Vocoder (22-01-2001) - Developed as a scrambling device in World War II, includes interviews with Orbital and Rick Wakeman.

DX7 (29-01-2001) - Synthesizer that defined the sound of the 1980s. Interviews with Vince Clarke and Nick Rhodes.

Fairlight (05-02-2001) - Computer based snthesizer offering sampling, digital recording, sequencing and editing. Includes Nick Rhodes.

Simmons (12-02-2001) - Includes producer Arthur Baker talking about making "Planet Rock".

Roland TB-303 (19-02-2001) - House innovators Coldcut and Orbital discuss the Roland 303 synthesizer.

Roland TB-808 (26-02-2001) - Includes producer Arthur Baker, plus Ray Keith talks about the importance of the bass.

Akai Sampler (05-03-2001) - Instrument that helped fuel the rave scene and the white label explosion"

Old post before Google video was laid to rest:

The Shape Of Things That Hum - Minimoog


The Shape Of Things That Hum - Roland TR-808


The Shape Of Things That Hum - Roland TB-303


The Shape Of Things That Hum - Simmons Drums


The Shape Of Things That Hum - Vocoder


The Shape Of Things That Hum - Fairlight


The Shape Of Things That Hum - Yamaha DX7


The Shape Of Things That Hum - AKAI Sampler


I actually put the AKAI Sampler vid up here.

Coldcut - Atomic moog video (2000)

YouTube via vonoben.