MATRIXSYNTH

Moog Moogerfooger MF-107 FreqBox Guitar Demo

YouTube via penguinrock.
"I got tired of watching demos for the Moog FreqBox where studio cats were simply running a drum machine through it and tweaking the knobs without EXPLAINING anything, so I wanted to really describe what it can do. This is my first guitar gear demo, so any questions, comments, and constructive criticism are appreciated."

AKAI PRO FURTHER EXPANDS CONTROLLER LINE WITH MPK61

"New MPK61 Is Fourth Model Of Unique Keyboard and MPC Performance Controller

Cumberland, R.I. (Jul. 17, 2009) – Akai Professional, the name synonymous with music production, announces the MPK61, the fourth model in the company’s unique line of keyboard/MPC performance controllers. The MPK61 will make its debut at Akai Professional's booth, number 400, at the Summer NAMM Show held at the Nashville Convention Center, July 17 – 19.

The MPK61 is a keyboard performance MIDI controller that expands the popular MPK line. Each MPK controller combines a piano-style keybed with a bank of genuine Akai Professional MPC pads, assignable Q-Link controllers and some of the technologies from the icon MPC. Producers, performers and DJs will appreciate the MPK61’s mix of 61 semi-weighted keys with aftertouch, 16 MPC pads with velocity and pressure sensitivity, 72 assignable Q-Link, MPC Note Repeat, MPC Swing and an arpeggiator. The MPK61’s size is ideal for performers who need a larger range than the original 49-key MPK49 offers, but also prefer the lighter weight and associated portability of a semi-weighted keyboard. The MPK61 retains the key split features from the MPK88, enabling the performer to divide the keyboard into two zones for performing with two different programs at once.

Like its 25, 49 and fully weighted 88-key siblings – the MPK25, MPK49 and MPK88, respectively – the MPK61 empowers musicians to create and manipulate melodic, harmonic and rhythmic content and manipulate quickly with its arpeggiator, MPC Swing and MPC Note Repeat technologies. The MPK61 comes with Ableton Live Lite Akai Edition software, one of the most popular and powerful performance and production programs worldwide. Ableton Live Lite enables musicians to spontaneously compose, record, remix, improvise, and edit musical ideas in a seamless audio/MIDI environment. The MPK61 is a MIDI controller that sends MIDI values over USB for plug-and-play performance with Mac and PC. Because they are MIDI compliant, the MPK series works with virtually all MIDI recording, sequencing, and performance software for musical performers from keyboard players to producers to DJs and VJs.

“The MPK61 was designed to meet the requests of many keyboard performers,” said Adam Cohen, Director of Business Development, Akai Professional. “They loved the MPK49’s portability and ease of integration into their setup; they liked the large scale of the MPK88, and requested something in between: the MPK61.”

The MPK61 performance keyboard controller will be available from professional audio and musical instrument retailers Q3, 2009.

# # #

About Akai Professional

Since 1984, Akai Professional products have been a staple of modern music both in the studio and on stage. With intuitive design and cutting edge features, Akai Professional is one of the world’s most influential manufacturers of musical electronics. For more information, visit www.akaipro.com; images are available at http://akaipro.com/media.php."

AKAI PRO UNVEILS TWO NEW TINY CONTROLLERS

"LPK25 and LPD8 Bring Akai Pro Quality To A New Degree Of Portability

Cumberland, R.I. (Jul. 17, 2009) – Akai Professional, the name synonymous with music production, announces the LPD8 laptop pad controller and LPK25 laptop performance keyboard controller. The LPD8 and LPK25 will make their debut at Akai Professional's booth, number 400, at the Summer NAMM Show held at the Nashville Convention Center, July 17 – 19.

The LPD8 and LPK25 are USB-MIDI controllers for musicians, producers, DJs and other music creators. Each model is less than 13 inches across and weighs less than a pound to easily fit into a laptop case, backpack or messenger bag for extreme portability.

The LPD8 is based on Akai Professional’s MPC line of iconic music product stations. While the smallest model, the MPC500 is quite portable, many producers prefer to work with software on their computer and the LPD8 gives their laptop the controls they prefer over a mouse and keyboard. The LPD8 has eight blue light-up pads that are velocity sensitive for programming rhythmic or melodic parts. The pads can also send program-change information to software. The LPD8 also has eight assignable Q-Link knobs to which users can assign virtually any parameters in their software for hands-on control.

The LPK25 is a scaled-down relative to the MPK series of keyboard performance controllers. The diminutive keyboard is made up of 25 miniature, velocity-sensitive keyboard keys with synth action. The LPK25 contains an arpeggiator, which steps through chords automatically, assisting musicians with creating quick melodic ideas. Sustain, octave up and down and tap tempo controls round out the LPK25’s easy-to-learn layout.

Each controller works plug and play with Mac and PC and requires no software driver installation or wall power for operation. Both the LPD8 and LPK25 have four memory banks for programming and recalling settings appropriate to different software programs they use.

“Today’s music is in constant evolution, and that requires the tools for music creation to evolve similarly,” said Adam Cohen, Director of Business Development, Akai Professional. “The computer has entrenched itself as the new core of the music studio, and we are now seeing more live performance with computers than ever before. The LPD8 and LPK25 are the perfect extensions of the computer for making music in any setting.”

The LPD8 and LPK25 will be available from musical instrument and professional audio retailers Q3 2009.

# # #

About Akai Professional

Since 1984, Akai Professional products have been a staple of modern music both in the studio and on stage. With intuitive design and cutting edge features, Akai Professional is one of the world’s most influential manufacturers of musical electronics. For more information, visit http://www.akaipro.com/; images are available at http://akaipro.com/media.php."

The Difference Between the Crumar DS1 and DS2

via Retro Synth Ads

click the image

"The DS-II has a control section for total polyphonic capability"

The Strider DCS II, Contemporary Keyboard 1979

via Retro Synth Ads

click on the image to read.

Retro Synth Ads

Get ready to get lost for a while. RetroSynthAds just wrote in to let me know they started a blog that will showcase scan synthesizer ads. They plan to post an ad every Monday and Thursday. There are a number of ads already posted including quite a few I haven't seen before. I'm subbed.

http://retrosynthads.blogspot.com/

Pictured:
Clear Sequential Circuits Pro-One similar in appearance to the clear Gleeman Pentaphonic
Roland Modular systems and more
The Octave Plateau CatStick
The Roland Jupiter-8 Features
The Sequential Circuits Trak line of synths

Be sure to click on the images - these are nice and large.

CLICK FOR MORE »

New Music Technology Company Drops The Beat Thang

"Beat Kangz Electronics launches portable music production system

Nashville, TN - (July 13, 2009) - In the spirit of hip-hop, Beat Kangz Electronics has developed a new music production system and a virtual software package for music lovers and beat makers.

The Nashville-based independently owned company has created The Beat Thang mobile music production unit and The Beat Thang Virtual software application with a unique set of features designed to fit the needs of the urban music community.

Packed with over 3000 brand new sounds, these products integrate fully functioning Digital FX, a 16-track MIDI sequencer, sampling and waveform editing. Designed with the musician’s ear in mind, the products are loaded with live bass, strings, synthesizers, Latin and African percussion, electric guitar as well as popular chopped and screwed effects.

The Beat ThangFlexible and user-friendly, The Beat Thang touts a sleek, light-weight portable design and a rechargeable lithium ion battery with up to six hours of playing time allowing users to effortlessly move from the studio to the stage. The Beat Thang Virtual software application can be loaded onto a PC or Intel-based Mac.

Crowned as the founders of Beat Kangz Electronics, Luke “Boom BAP” Jackson, Reavis “Rev” Mitchell and Aja “A-J-A” Emmanuel inevitably met as they crossed paths on the music scene. From recording with independent and major artists of every genre to producing promos and jingles for international brands and large networks, the owners of Beat Kangz Electronics wanted to create a line of products that the music community could relate to.

“We asked ourselves what were the things we wished a beat machine could do. As independent artists and producers, we know what it’s like to create on a grassroots level. We wanted to actually make the products we used,” said Emmanuel.

Jackson believes the products can serve producers in all genres of music. "Although our products are mainly influenced by hip-hop, the three of us come from very eclectic musical backgrounds. As musicians, we recognize that hip-hop encompasses many different genres, therefore our products will serve many users,” he said.

During a preview of The Beat Thang at the Winter 2009 National Association of Music Merchants Show (NAMM), the team noticed the demand seemed to be much higher than they had anticipated.

“We’ve gotten such great feedback at NAMM shows. We already knew that the market was being underserved, but our interaction with all the users just confirmed how much of a void there was to be filled,” said Mitchell.

The Beat Thang mobile music production unit and The Beat Thang Virtual software application will be featured at the Summer NAMM convention July 17-19 in Nashville.

The Beat KangzCollectively, the triple threat admits to being techies by nature. Their first design concept, the critically acclaimed Zoom SB-246 Streetboxx released in 2006, has been a trusted favorite of underground and major label artists, producers, and deejays worldwide.

Equally impressed with the Streetboxx was legendary production guru and former Live Nation Recordings head Bob Ezrin. After a meeting with the owners, Ezrin found the revolutionary idea of a mobile music production unit and virtual software application, created by an African American company, and owned by talented musicians to be a movement he could support.

“As musicians, they know what they need to make their music. What they have done with this new product is far more profound than what any technologist can do. And when musicians design an instrument to be responsive to their own artistic and technical needs, you can expect it to be practical as well as innovative,” said Ezrin, co-founder of Nashville-based artist development company Bigger Picture Group and producer of both Jay-Z's 2004 film documentary "Fade To Black” and Pink Floyd’s legendary album The Wall.

“Putting so much horsepower into the hands of young music makers is bound to produce groundbreaking results,” declared Ezrin, who is now a partner in the company.

Additionally, the company enlisted Commissioner Gordon, a music engineer who has mixed for artists like Kanye West, The Roots, 50-Cent and KRS-ONE, to mix the final sounds for the The Playa Thang, a playback application for the iPhone and iPod Touch platforms featuring 20 production ready Beat Kangz beats.

Finishing touches are now in progress for The Playa Thang. Plans to make the application available for download from the Apple iStore are underway.

By July 17, The Beat Thang Virtual software system ($149.00) will be available for purchase on the company’s website and The Beat Thang mobile music production unit ($999.00) will be available for pre-order to ship in October.

For more information, visit www.beatkangz.com.

To view product demonstrations, visit www.youtube.com/beatkangz."