MATRIXSYNTH

Retronyms Introduces Wej Wireless Bluetooth USB Hub

Published on Oct 7, 2014 Retronyms

Note the demos shows the iPad being controlled by external gear through the Wej. I'm curious if it works in the other direction so you can use controller and sequencer apps on the iPad to control hardware synths connected to the Wej. This would require the Wej to recognize and support USB MIDI adapters. For some hardware it would also require MIDI sysex support. I've reached out to Retronyms and will post back if I hear back. If anyone knows, feel free to comment.

Update: I heard back from Retronyms. The Wej will support MIDI out from the iPad and will support USB MIDI cables, so you can use sequencers and editors running on the iPad to control your hardware over bluetooth wireless.

"Yes, Wej will support MIDI out. Sysex should be supported. Also Wej is intended for controllers so MIDI timecode, clock, etc may not be something it's good at (bluetooth bandwidth may not be up to the task). Some of this is TBD."

Video description: "Wej combines a non-skid silicone base for creative work with a wireless hub for connecting USB controllers over bluetooth.

Wej needs you! Help support Wej by pre-ordering yours and get 20% off. Get Wej for just $99.00 through November 7th. http://preorder.retronyms.com

*Music courtesy of our friends at http://www.loopmasters.com"

And the press release:

"The company that brought you some of the most popular iOS music apps, including Tabletop, ReBirth, iMPC, iMPC Pro, iMini and iProphet has an exciting announcement. Retronyms is making their first venture into music hardware.

Wej is a non-skid performance platform that lets you connect your USB MIDI controllers to your iOS music apps wirelessly over the new Apple Bluetooth LE MIDI protocol. Wej features 24 ultra bright RGB LEDs so that you can add ambiance to your studio or blast an ultra-portable light show.

Retronyms is hoping you’ll help them gather enough pre-orders to support building Wej. To get you started, they're offering Wej at $99, which includes a 20% preorder discount!

Not only is Wej a great addition to your music studio, it is hackable. The core of Wej is an Arduino application processor, and they'll release the Arduino sketch for download under an open-source license. You can create anything from a MIDI controller based on your favorite joystick to a bedside charging stand with built in visual alarm clock. We’re excited to see what you come up with. Take a look at retronyms.com/hacks.html for more information on the extensibility of Wej."

Casper Electronics OMSynth workshop - Oct 18th at SVT

"Church of the Friendly Ghost is proud to present an in-depth, solder free, all experiences levels workshop by Pete Edwards, a.k.a. Casper Electronics

Build your own electronic sound gadgets with the OMSynth (Open Modular Synthesizer) MiniLab. Part electronics learning lab, part musical instrument, the MiniLab gives you everything you need to build, hack and play with a wide range of experimental sound circuits.

The workshop costs $75 and lasts about 5 hours. All materials are included. Workshop space is very limited. Please email drbleep@bleeplabs.com to reserve a seat.

$5 admission for the live performances at 9:30pm.

Oct. 18 @ Salvage Vanguard Theater (2803 Manor Rd, Austin)
1-6pm : Workshop
9:30pm : Performances by Chad Mossholder, Peter Edwards, and more.

Facebook event"

mpc + octatrack + op-1 live looping session

mpc + octatrack + op-1 live looping session from j tomes on Vimeo.

"one track from my new set. plenty of mistakes in there - it's a new set and a new process but i'm very happy to share it with you all as a work in progress."

VERMONA Piano-Strings "1980"

"(c) 2014 vintage keyboard demo track by RetroSound

all sounds: VERMONA Piano-Strings analog string ensemble made in GDR (1980)
recording: multi-track
fx: delay and reverb"

80s Sci Fi Film End Credits Jam & Synth Jams by Mitch Wiseman

Published on Oct 3, 2014 Mitch Wiseman

A few tracks by Mitch Wiseman starting with 80s Sci Fi Film End Credits Jam

"Four layers of synth, using the moog little phatty, and DSI prophet 08. Effects were an MXR carbon copy delay, and valhalla reverb."

Playlist follows with:
DSI Prophet 08 Arpeggiator Jam
Moog Little Phatty + MXR carbon Copy Doodle
Synth brass Jam (Moog, Prophet)
Chilled Nord Moog Dsi Jam
Moog Prophet Tempest Dance Music Jam
Afternoon Prophet Doodle
Brian Eno - An Ending (ascent) Prophet 08 Cover
Moog Prophet Nord Volca Jam (Feb '14)

This one in via David Wilson-Okamura on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

severence // integration (reprise)

Published on Oct 5, 2014 severence

"// unmixed, unmastered, work in progress.

// patch notes

sound sources: make noise dpo, make noise mmg & steady state fate quantum rainbow 2.

wmd sequential switch matrix modulating make noise dpo while being modulated by modcan quad lfo.

noise percussion via steady state fate quantum rainbow 2 run through intellijel planar.

self-patched make noise maths and steady state fate ultra-random analog gently nudging make noise rené along and modulating the addac802 vca quintet mixing console."

severence // niebla patch

Published on Aug 19, 2014

"Simple patch using the Make Noise DPO & Steady State Fate Quantum Rainbow 2 as sound sources.

Unmixed, unmastered, work in progress..."

ELKA ER33 Rack Synth Manual

via Asbjørn Galaasen on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

You'll find the download here (mirrored here).

Do Androids Dance To Electro Beat

via Steven R Sellick on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge: "New mix. All synths Roland SH-5, some mellotron, drums are CR-8000."

Birabuto Kingdom - Super Mario Land Cover on Modular Synth & Volca Beats #TTNM

Published on Oct 7, 2014 The Tuesday Night Machines

"Eurorack Modular Synthesizer & Volca Beats cover of "Birabuto Kingdom Theme" by Hiro Tanaka (Super Mario Land GameBoy chiptune soundtrack).

I arranged the score as two MIDI tracks in Ableton Live, based on the ragtime version of Keeper1st and the according MIDI file, created by PlayMidi.

- Keeper1st's video with Tom Brier's amazing ragtime sight-reading:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPa4i-...

- PlayMidi's video with Keeper1st's arrangement as a MIDI file:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Of_gm...

Also, check out Motive Makes A Man's awesome cover, which inspired me to do this song too (although I will never be as skilled as him):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HJDbM...

EURORACK PATCH INFO:

- Bass and Lead MIDI tracks, plus MIDI clock, from Ableton Live to the Vermona qMI MIDI-CV module
- Bass melody sounds by the Malekko Anti-Oscillator, through the Erica Synth Polivoks VCF. Mixed with a sub-osc from the Dopefer A-160 clock divider, through the Voice of Saturn Filter
- Lead melody sounds by the Klangbau Wavetable VCDO, through the Intellijel uVCF and partly through the Synthrotek EKO delay
- Noise percussion by the Ataraxic Translatron VCO, sequenced by the 4ms SCM
- Wooden/water drop percussion by the Klangbau 3D VCF filter-ping module
- Other drums by the Korg Volca beats, synced to the modular/Ableton
- Modular-internal trigger sequencing by the Rebel Tech Stoicheia, Intellijel uStep and 4ms Shuffling Clock Multiplier

GEAR INFO:

Audio gear used:
- Eurorack Modular Synthesizer (with Malekko Wiard Anti-Oscillator, Intellijel Dixie, Intellijel Quadra, Make Noise Function, Klangbau Köln Wavetable VCO, Erica Polivoks VCF, Vermona qMI MIDI-CV,etc. My rack on ModularGrid: http://www.modulargrid.net/e/racks/vi...)
- Korg Volca Beats (drum machine)
- Zoom R16 (recording & mastering)
- Ableton Live (MIDI sequencing the modular synth)

Video gear used:
- Panasonic WJ-AVE3 FX generator (circuit bent)
- Panasonic WJ-AVE7 video mixer
- Hama VS-2EIII video enhancer (circuit bent)
- GoPro HD Hero (playing back a video of a Super Mario Land play)

Filmed with a Canon EOS 550D (Rebel t2i). Audio and video performances recorded separately in one take."