M-Audio Venom Review and Interview with Product Manager Taiho Yamada

A quick note: This review is long. You can jump to sections that interest you vs. reading it straight through if you prefer. This review focuses primarily on the synth engine for one single patch on the Venom. The Venom supports Multi mode with up to four multitimbral parts. Not only can you layer sound programs but you can set global parameters for the set. Be sure to see the Multi mode section of "Tips and Tricks via Taiho Yamada" at the end of this post. Taiho is the Lead Project Manager of the Venom and served as my contact during the review. I want to thank Taiho for his help and enthusiastic generosity. He is a true synthesist and the Venom is his baby.

Synth connections: Taiho previously worked at Alesis on the Andromeda A6. The DSP developer of the Venom worked on Radikal Technologies' Spectralis and the Accelerator. People that contributed to the presets via sound design include Richard Devine, Francis Preve, Mark Ovenden (Avid's AIR Instruments, ProTools VIs), Joerg Huettner (Waldorf, Access, Alesis), and of course Taiho Yamada.

*Don't miss the "Q&A with Taiho" section towards the end of the review. Also keep an eye out for "Taiho's Tips and Tricks" throughout the review in grey. You can find the consolidated list below the Q&A section.

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Moog Minimoog D Synthesizer

via this auction

Chimera BC16

via this auction

BangStrokeBlow - 1 2 4 (2011)

YouTube Uploaded by BangStrokeBlow on Feb 25, 2011

"BangStrokeBlow are feeling peckish ... Join them for dinner - eat the music, drink the beats and salivate over the mayhem of deliciousness THAT IS 1 2 4! YUMMY.

Get a free download of this and EXpensive EXpansive here;

http://soundcloud.com/bangstrokeblow"

Eigenharp meets the Guildhall School of Music and Drama

YouTube Uploaded by eigenlabs on May 11, 2010

"Mike Roberts discusses the Eigenharp"

Artist Feature - Dino Soldo

Uploaded by eigenlabs on Oct 20, 2010

"Dino Soldo has an outstanding musical background. He's performed with some of the worlds greatest musicians including Lionel Richie, Elton John and Beyonce.

As a solo and touring artist, this multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter is currently on tour with Leonard Cohen. Hear what he has to say about using the Alpha live on stage!"

EML Sequencer Renovation

via George C Mattson's Photos

"Two sub-cabinets built. Three to go.
The actual visual cosmetic cabinetry will actually mount to the sides of the sub-structure. They will be removable so, I'll have the capability to have different "skins" if I decide to do that much work."

http://mattsonminimodular.com/

MeeBlip Hacker Kits On Sale For $59

via MeeBlip

Reco-Synth ::: THE COPPOLA :::

Reco-Synth ::: THE COPPOLA ::: from arthur joly on Vimeo.

"Transform images into analog eletronic sounds."

prototype dual pseudo-ring mod/trem fuzz diy

YouTube Uploaded by lacolumnadurruti on Mar 23, 2011

"a quick demo of the prototype of a new pedal we're designing. two fuzzy pseudo-ring mods/temolo circuits summed into one output channel. there is also duty cycle control on each channel to produce some synth-like textures. a few bugs to work out still, but it's fun and noisy...and, yes, i know i'm not good at guitar."

Ziggybox - Ashtray Synthesizer

Ziggybox from Christian Losert on Vimeo.

"Ziggybox,
by Christian Losert and Paul Schengber

At first glance, Ziggybox looks like an everyday item for smokers, which one could easily find in a living room. However, it is a synthesizer that generates and modulates sounds by placing cigarettes in the notch of an ashtray or by opening a box of cigarettes.
Through simple handling and without any prior knowledge of sound synthesis, Ziggybox enables the user to produce complex levels of synthesized music.
The aim of this project is to enable access and control of a complex, digital environment, which is not usually transparent and under-standable for the common visitor. Our intention is to show that it is possible to conceptualize the creative utilisation of computer software in a casual way, by an interface, which initially seems to be unsophisticated in its manipulation. With this, the user is able to easily approach and control the system functionality of Ziggybox.
As the use of everyday objects are familiar to all, the interface serves as an open and easily approachable invitation for use. With this type of interface, where digital and physical boarders are blurred, it helps to open up a new relationship between technology and humans.
The project utilised C++ and Open Frameworks as the basic platform. The characteristics of the sounds are changed by frequency and amplitude modulation, while the light-sensors control the sound synthesis. Our intention is also to give
the colour arrangement a special importance and the objects on the box are arranged in order to reinforce the possibility of interaction with common objects.

Supervised by Kyrill Fischer and Thorsten Greiner

Special thanks to our co-student Hendrik Putzek."