MATRIXSYNTH

AKAI PRO SYNTHSTATION v1.2.1 AVAILABLE NOW VIA iTunes

"Update Adds Hardware Support for SynthStation25 keyboard, iOS 4 multitasking, High-Resolution Graphics for iPad and iPhone 4 and more

Cumberland, R.I. (Oct. 14, 2010) – Akai Professional, the name synonymous with music production, announces the immediate availability of SynthStation v1.2.1, the latest update to the music production app for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. SynthStation v1.2.1 is now available for download on the iTunes App Store.

SynthStation transforms an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad into a portable music production studio. The app gives musicians three synthesizers, over 50 drum kits and a full mixing section with multiple effects to create loops and sequence entire songs. Musicians can record song performances to .WAV files and MIDI files of the performance, capturing all modulation, mixing and on-screen keyboard playing. Through a WIFI connection, the files can then be transferred to a computer for playback.

With the 1.2.1 update, SynthStation now provides complete support for Akai Professional’s SynthStation25 keyboard, the first ever music controller of its kind for iPhone and iPod Touch. This portable, 25-note mini-keyboard features a built-in dock for iPhone and iPod touch, and gives users two octaves of velocity-sensitive keys, pitch and modulation wheels, and physical buttons to control parameters within the SynthStation app. SynthStation25 also has a USB MIDI output that can be used to control any MIDI music software on a Mac or PC.

The SynthStation update provides compatibility with Apple’s latest mobile operating system iOS 4. Now all iPhone 4 users will be able to download and enjoy the SynthStation experience with multitasking and Retina display support. Furthermore, the SynthStation update utilizes the latest iOS to offer more stability, speed and overall performance enhancements. iPad users will appreciate the inclusion of crisp, high-res images designed specifically for the larger display as well.

“The SynthStation app transforms the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad into a professional synthesizer workstation in a streamlined, all-in-one program,” said Adam Cohen, Director of Business Development, Akai Professional. “With the latest SynthStation update musicians can take full advantage of pristine image quality on their iPhone 4 or iPad, and iPhone and iPod touch users are ready to plug into SynthStation25 and enjoy music creation using a physical keyboard as well as their touchscreens.”

The SynthStation app is available now and can be purchased from the iTunes App Store for $9.99 US.

Read more: http://blogs.myspace.com/akaiprofessional#ixzz12TnT4sRJ"

iPads on Ebay
iPads on Amazon

iPod Touch on Ebay
iPod Touch on Amazon

1st Annual Moog Circuit Bending Challenge

"Enter the First Annual Moog Circuit Bending Challenge

Moog Music was born when a young Bob Moog, who considered himself a geeky, socially awkward kid with a passion for electronics and music started tinkering with electronic circuitry. As a boy, Moog built small radios, amps and three note organs in his basement workshop with his father & the rest is history. In celebration of this creative curiosity, Moog and Moogfest 2010 are sponsoring a circuit bending challenge, to honor all those that lick and stick, modify signals and jump traces.

How to Enter:
1. Procure a battery-powered sound-making device
2. Bend it by any means necessary.
3. Document the bend process and outcome with video with audio (required). The better you document, the better we can judge. All videos must be uploaded by midnight eastern time on Monday October 18th, 2010.
4. Upload the video to YouTube and tag with “moog circuit bending competition 2010” and “Moogfest 2010”.
5. Send an email with the subject Moog Circuit Bending Challenge 2010 to info@moogmusic.com with the YouTube links to your entry.

Finals:
The top 3 contestants will be chosen as finalists on Friday, October 22, 2010 and win weekend passes to Moogfest 2010 as well as a Moog merch package. At Moogfest the 3 finalists will be given a workstation in the Moogaplex, the same toy and the same bag of tools (which includes a soldering iron, wire, switches, potentiometers of varying degrees, resistors, capacitors, heat shrink, bread boards, diodes, plus more surprises). Each finalist will have from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 30 & Sunday, October 31 to bend the toy at their workstations. Grand prize winner will be chosen by a Moog Music Engineer at 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 31.

Grand Prize:
Grand Prize winner receives a Moog Pedal Board which includes one of each Moogerfooger (MF-101 Low Pass Filter, MF-102 Ring Mod, MF-103 Phaser, MF-104Z Analog Delay, MF-105M Midi MuRF, MF-107 ) and a Multi-Pedal (MP-201). [and a Slim Phatty]

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE CHANCES OF WINNING.

All winners must be 18 years of age or older, unless otherwise stated and/or posted.

1. Entering Contest and Choosing and Contacting Winners:

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Elektron Octatrack is Coming...

via Elektron via Mr. Array

"The Octatrack offers a variety of machines, each designed to fill a specific function. The machines can be assigned to the eight available tracks in any combination. Here some of them and their functionality are presented.

Flex machines offer the most extensive sound manipulation possibilities. A sample used within a Flex machine is loaded to the RAM memory of the Octatrack. From there it can be twisted, stretched, warbled and reassembled in multiple ways. Flex machines are unbeatable sound processors.

Static machines are the perfect tool for handling extremely large samples. Samples assigned to Static machines are streamed from the Compact Flash card, thus their size can be in the order of gigabytes. Of course you can time stretch and pitch scale them as needed.

Thru machines do not sample or play back sounds. Instead they let the Octatrack affect incoming audio with the dual FX blocks. Two powerful FX chains each consisting of up to four linked tracks, totalling eight effects per chain, can be formed.

The Octatrack will feature special machines for recording audio from the four external inputs. These machines can be used as strange effect devices, intricate loopers or as simple audio recorders. They will allow for quick assembling of audio structures. "

Flex machine 1 by Elektron

Tiptop Tabletop and Standard Rack Z-Ears

Z-Ears Tabletop
Z-Ears Standard Rack

Early Musonics Sonic V

pics in via Bob Wittmann. These are for sale. If interested, contact Rob at: wittmanns@comcast.net.

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Early Musonics Minimoog

Two pics in via Bob Wittmann. These are for sale. If interested, contact Rob at: wittmanns@comcast.net.

Note the last two Musonics Minis listed on Ebay had BINs of $8,299.00 (posted here), and $8,800.00 (posted here). If anyone has any ideas what these are realistically worth feel free to comment. Note these numbers are just for reference and curiousity, not to set expectations for this sale. Contact Rob for more info if interested.

Update: via Peter Forrest of the A-Z of Analogue Synth books and VEMIA: "Musonics Minimoog depending on condition $6000 - $8000"

Steampunk Modular: Coppersynth, October 2010

flickr By parasitk
(click for more)

Click the image for the full size shot.

"I’m still wiring up the panels, but it’s almost completed. I need to order the fancy dials for the 10-turn pots on the Living VCOs, but they’re really expensive, so that may not happen soon. I’m also missing a couple small components that I’m ordering tonight. Overall though, I’m really happy with the way it’s turning out."

NeoKitsch presents: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari - trailer

YouTube via NeoKitschMusic | October 15, 2010

"NeoKitsch invites you to a screening, with a new soundtrack to the Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari, with live improvisation at the NeoKitsch studio, featuring odd instruments such as the Continuum Fingerboard and the Etherwave Theremin, as well as performances by David Way on Violin and Viola. You can watch the complete film of The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari on the NeoKitsch site for free, with original music and sound. www.neokitsch.com
Direct link to film: http://tinyurl.com/39cmk75"

Update:

NeoKitsch presents: Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Manxman' - trailer 1

NeoKitschMusic | October 15, 2010

"NeoKitsch invites you to a screening, with a new soundtrack to The Manxman, with live improvisation at the NeoKitsch studio, featuring odd instruments such as the Continuum Fingerboard and the Etherwave Theremin, as well as performances by David Way on Violin and Viola. You can watch the complete film of Alfred Hitchcock's The Manxman on the NeoKitsch site for free, with original music and sound. www.neokitsch.com"

NeoKitsch presents: Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Manxman' - trailer 2