MATRIXSYNTH

Monday, August 02, 2010

YouTube via JLMoriart | August 21, 2009

"A rough performance of one of my first original pieces written specifically for the axis-49 set to a wicki/hayden layout, aka Jammer, an imitation of the (now defunct) Thummer.

*EDIT* If you're not impressed, check out some of my newer videos, I'm improving I think =P"

Halfway (Instrumental) Axis-49

JLMoriart | January 07, 2010

"Instrumental version of my original piece "Halfway" Performed on the Axis-49 remapped to play in Wicki/Hayden (thummer) mode.

Just a quick upload to show I'm still playing.

But mostly for you tiger ;-)"

mJammer "Shred" iphone keyboard app

YouTube via JLMoriart | August 02, 2010

"I'm using the "mJammer" application for the iPod Touch which converts your iPod touch's screen into the Wicki/Hayden isomorphic note layout, isomorphic meaning the same fingering in every key. The scale patterns are very intuitive and make playing and learning way easier and way way more fun =)

mJammer then sends the midi out over wifi and into a Garage Band Synth where I recorded audio while taking video in photo booth.

More about wicki/hayden note layout:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicki-Ha...

More about instruments that use it, called "Jammers":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jammer_k..."

Sunday, August 01, 2010

Free iPhone Apps by Pulse Code

Four free apps via Pulse Code

DB-303: [iTunes link]
DB-303 is a Roland TB-303 emulator. We have a TB-303 and we ran it through test after test to get the sound of the DB-303 emulator as close as we could. We even measured all of the knobs and buttons of the real TB-303 and modeled them in 3D to get the look of the classic synth. This app is more complex than most apps out there, but it is definitely easier to program than the real thing! You can find an owner's manual here.

BtBx: [iTunes link]
BtBx is a music sequencer based on the X0X style step sequencer. Each sound can be pitch shifted on each step to create melodies and rhythms. Each session has 8 drum sounds, 2 instrument sounds, and 2 synthesizer sounds. There is the ability to load kits and sessions. You can find the owner's manual here.

Android FX: [iTunes link]
Android FX is a simple sound effects generator to create, robotic vocal sound effects. Under the hood, there are 8 oscillators, a noise generator, a low pass filter, distortion effect, and a delay effect. The controls aren't typical to a synthesizer, but are a descriptions of your android. You can find an owner's manual here.

Joke Bot: [iTunes link]
Joke Bot is a text to speech synthesizer disguised as a robot who tells extremely corny jokes. The voice has been modified to be a little more robotic and it is sometimes hard to understand. If you can't understand it, touch the screen on the robot's body to see the joke while he reads it. If you want to have him say something you write, touch the keypad on his arm to bring up a keyboard.

And two paid apps:

Polywave: [iTunes link]
Polywave is a polyphonic graphic synthesizer built from the basic elements of subtractive synthesis. Polywave has one oscillator, one filter, one envelope, one LFO, and a 4 octave touch pad.

Polywave has been designed to teach the user the basic building blocks of subtractive synthesis to the budding sound designer. What will interest the more advanced users is the fact that the oscillator, envelope, and LFO waveforms can be drawn on screen with a swipe of your finger. This means that waveform that would be extremely hard to create with traditional methods are now easy.

We do include presets of standard waveforms if you need that perfect saw, square, sine, etc.

The interface is very simple and while you play notes, you can see the output waveform under your finger. The purpose is for the user to see the sounds they creating and how the controls affect the sounds, in other words, bringing the visual element into learning sound design.

Polywave takes advantage of the retina display on the iPhone4.

RVT-1: [iTunes link]
RVT-1 (Realtime Voice Transformer) is a vocal pitch shifter with modulation and reverb. It has big controls and an easy to understand layout. To use it, a microphone is required and headphones are recommended. RVT-1 has the ability to record the effect and play it back. It also automatically saves the current recording to the UIPasteboard for use in other audio applications. Since RVT-1 is a realtime effect, the output is always via the headphone output (or ear piece) because the external speaker at the bottom will cause extreme feedback with the microphone input. If you don't have headphones handy, then you can hold the device up to your ear and talk into it as if it was a regular phone call (that is, if your device is an iPhone!).

RVT-1 takes advantage of the retina display on the iPhone4.

Korg X-911 Analogue Guitar Synth

via this auction
"It tracks monophonic input, so you can use it for guitar solos, bass lines or vocals etc without any problems. If you play a chord through it you get some weird random outputs. Play the same chord again and get a totally different output! You can use it to drive other kit via the trigger and CV outs, or you can drive it from another synth with the various control inputs. There are also foot switch inputs (all on 1/4" jack) on the front so you can control it whilst playing.

In the instrument section you can stack multiple sounds and you can blend them with the synth section or just use one side or the other. There is a fat distortion built in as well as a "distortion guitar" instrument. The instruments are labelled "electric bass", "tuba", "trumpet", "distortion guitar", "violin" and "flute" and provide some unique sounds, which can be stacked and tweaked to your taste. In the synth section you can play with attack and decay for various modules and stack them as well. The VCF gives that acid stylee resonant sweep."

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