BEAT THANG | Sampling Beat Machine Overview

Published on Jul 13, 2013 Beat Thang·69 videos

"Try it free at http://www.bketech.com/demo/demo-form...

A full production capable sampling beat machine
Create full songs with BEAT THANG. It includes a 16-track real-time sequencer & 24-bit sampler. You can record, compose, mix and master in sample-accurate 44.1kHz stereo with no computer required. BEAT THANG sampling beat machine also comes with an exact software replica (BTV Software) that you can use on your PC or MAC. (want pricing?)
100% all metal chassis (zero plastic casing), 3.5" full-color LCD screen and 13 chromatic premium full-velocity sensitive keypads
Zero data compression, true 24-bit signal path for ultra-low THD (.008%) & High S/N ratio (103db)
More than a sampling beat machine. It's an all-in-one sampling workstation for producers and a live performance instrument for DJs.

3,254 original samples. Big, bold, punchy sounds that are warm, beefy and inspiring.

One of the most powerful and unique advantages of BEAT THANG sampling beat machine is the ability to pick it up and quickly make music. The BEAT THANG sampling beat machine has an innovative and award-winning user-interface that is well organized and feels clean and clutter-free so you can easily and quickly navigate through various modes and functions.

You never know when or where your creative inspiration will strike and you never know how long that inspiration will last. With BEAT THANG sampling beat machine you'll be ready to capture your inspiration at the speed of thought, wherever you are. It is designed to quickly capture your raw stream of consciousness and to vibe in the moment. It is truly a real-time performance tool.

Dedicated buttons for the most common functions
Eliminated the need for a shift key
No complicated menus to navigate
Intuitive functions and shortcuts
Multiple paths to the same operation
One-touch access to everything you need

Try it free at http://www.bketech.com/demo/demo-form..."

NAMM 2023 Endlesss Beat Machine - Jam on Arcade Machine

video upload by sonicstate

Follow-up to: FL Studio Arcade Machine.

Also see Endlesss launches Endlesss Studio - Cross Device & Cross Collaboration Music Making Platform

"Endlesss Studio, the company behind the collaborative music-making platform, Endlesss, showcased the world's first beat-making arcade machine at NAMM 2023. MJ, an Endlesss user, initially proposed the idea of having an arcade machine for beat-making, and Endlesss Studio took his prototype and developed it into the fifth iteration of the beat-making arcade machine. The hardware and software have undergone significant improvements, and the machine runs on a Windows PC with plugins, including nature instruments and massive. The arcade machine has a scripting engine, enabling the creation of custom sampler and plug-in support.

The Endlesss beat-making arcade machine is perfect for real-time collaborative music production, as it runs on the Endless platform, allowing users to interact with others from all over the world. The arcade machine is only the beginning of the beat machine, as Endlesss Studio is about to announce a custom sampler, which allows users to build their own sample packs inside Endless. Furthermore, the arcade machine has a public jam feature where users can find people to collaborate with globally.

Finally, the Endlesss beat-making arcade machine provides users with the ability to log in to any device with their ID, as their creative tools are tied to their ID, rather than the device itself. This feature allows users to build their own sample packs and have access to them on any device they log in to. More information on the Endless beat-making arcade machine can be found on the Endlesss Studio website.

More info:
Endlesss Studio website: https://endlesss.fm/"

Introducing Roland AIRA Compact | T-8 Beat Machine, J-6 Chord Synthesizer, E-4 Voice Tweaker

video upload by

$199.99 each. Additional videos below. Press release and pics below them.

"AIRA Compact puts Roland’s legendary creative magic in the palm of your hand. Easily play and perform with these highly jammable instruments—anywhere, anytime. Chain them together to catalyze your creativity or connect with MIDI gear, computers, and music apps to expand your setup. Just power on and go with the flow.

About the T-8 Beat Machine

The T-8 Beat Machine is a mini rhythm factory with six tracks of pristine TR drums plus a TB-303 bass track. Embodying decades of modern musical sound, the T-8 gives you the power to create infectious tracks in seconds flat. Craft on-the-fly acid jams or trap bangers with the intuitive 16-step sequencer, shape sounds with onboard controls, and flip and dice beats with simple, yet powerful tools.

About the J-6 Chord Synthesizer

The J-6 is a portable synth toolbox with all the building blocks you'll need to bring harmonic substance to your jams. Pairing a powerfully unique chord sequencer with lavish JUNO-60 synth tones, J-6 packs a versatile feature set into a highly jammable format. Generate soul-stirring song ideas with the turn of a knob and explore 100 chord sets over a variety of genres. Experiment with styles and variations to coax dancing lines and rhythmic patterns from your chords. Add lush chorus, reverb, or delay to frost your sound.

About the E-4 Voice Tweaker

Harmonize, auto-pitch, vocode, loop, and glitch your voice all from the portable E-4 Voice Tweaker. Want hands-on control? Connect a mic or input a feed and easily explore effects using the sliders, function buttons, and scatter knob. From looping live jams to livestreaming or tightening up and expanding performances, the E-4 will transform your voice into your new favorite instrument.

Chapter Breakdown
0:00 – Series Introduction
1:50 – T-8 Beat Machine
2:22 – T-8 Patterns, Sounds, and Tracks
3:22 – T-8 Hands-On Controls and Performance Tools
4:19 – T-8 Create a Drumbeat
4:41 – T-8 Create a Bassline
5:40 – T-8 Advance Programming and Effects
6:25 – J-6 Chord Synth
6:52 – J-6 Playback and Genres (Chord Sets)
7:13 – J-6 Sound
7:52 – J-6 Style and Variation
8:22 – J-6 Chord Sequencer
9:14 – J-6 Connect to DAW
9:39 – E-4 Voice Tweaker
10:14 – E-4 Hands-On Controls
10:29 – E-4 Auto Pitch, Harmony, Vocoder
11:09 – E-4 Looper
11:26 – E-4 Scatter
11:50 – Connectivity"

Roland AIRA Compact J-6 / T-8 / E-4 - DEMO by gattobus

video upload by gattobus

"Roland's birthday party it's not over!
A few days ago they sent me these little magic boxes to try them out and in less than an hour of tweaking, I came out with this song!!!
The song title "A Big Tiny World" is because they are BIG sounding TINY boxes indeed! :D
They are:

- J-6 Chord Synthesizer
- T-8 Beat Machine
- E-4 Voice Tweaker

Their sound quality is astonishing! It's amazing to have the power of ACB technology in such a small form factor...
Everything you hear in this video was played and recorded in real time, no post processing or FX was added.
I had so much fun, I hope you like it!"

Roland Aira Compact : T-8 / J-6 / E-4 : Portable Drum Machine, Polyphonic Synth, & Vocal Effects

video upload by Perfect Circuit

T-8 Drum Machine & Acid Style Bass Synth : https://bit.ly/3KToRQp J-6 Polyphonic Synth : https://bit.ly/3FuHg4Z E-4 Vocal Transformer : https://bit.ly/3yowhbM

"Join our pal Dustin for the debut of the AIRA COMPACT line of synthesizers ! These three desktop style devices combine some of Roland's most recognizable and powerful sound palettes into a portable, affordable, and outrageously fun package!

Check out our in-depth Signal article for more details - https://bit.ly/3L08Msr

0:00 - Intro jam
1:07 - Overview of Aira Compact Line
2:54 - T-8 Drum Machine & Bass Synthesizer
5:50 - J-6 Four Voice Polyphonic Synthesizer
9:50 - E-4 Vocal Processor, Looper, & Effects
11:57 - Robot Acid BOPS !"

AIRA Compact- First Look at the new Range

video upload by

Roland T-8 J-6 E-4 Compacts Review: Here's what makes them special // Full Tutorial

video upload by loopop

TIMELINE
0:00 Intro
1:05 Overview
2:05 Connectivity
5:15 T-8 OVERVIEW
8:30 Drum sounds
11:55 Bass synth
14:00 Sequencing
19:20 Effects
20:15 Drive
22:05 Sidechain
24:55 Performance
26:20 T-8 Pros, cons
28:10 J-6 OVERVIEW
29:20 Synth
31:15 Effects
32:55 Keys, chords
33:50 Phrases/arp
36:10 Sequencer
39:50 Step length
40:20 Menu misc
41:40 J-6 Pros & cons
45:10 E-4 OVERVIEW
46:00 Eight things it does
50:00 Interface
50:50 MIDI control
51:20 Vocoder
52:00 Looper
53:20 Scatter
56:25 E-4 Pros & cons
58:25 T-8 Patterns
1:07:10 J-6 Patterns

How fun is the Aira Compact series?

video upload by True Cuckoo

And the press release:

Fun, Pocket-Size Instruments with Innovative Creative Features, Authentic Roland Sounds, and Class-Leading Connectivity

Los Angeles, CA, May 10, 2022 — Roland announces AIRA Compact, an all-new series of ultra-portable instruments with free-flowing features for creative exploration and authentic Roland sounds. Fun, affordable, and easy to learn, the T-8 Beat Machine, J-6 Chord Synthesizer, and E-4 Voice Tweaker bring serious musical power to everyone from hobbyists and gadget collectors to tech-savvy pros.

AIRA Compact instruments let anyone jam, perform, and develop ideas on the go with friendly controls, inspiring sounds, and loads of intuitive music tools. Users can realize complete compositions with a single unit or expand their possibilities by connecting and synchronizing with other AIRA Compact models. From one master unit, multiple AIRA Compacts can be mixed and monitored with headphones or an external speaker system. It’s also possible to interface with computer DAWS, mobile music apps, and hardware instruments via USB-C or MIDI.

Driven by Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) and other advanced technologies found in top-line Roland instruments, AIRA Compact delivers the real-deal sounds behind decades of hit music. Users can create with the genuine voices of Roland icons, including TR rhythms, TB basses, JUNO synths, VT effects, and more.

Driven by Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) and other advanced technologies found in top-line Roland instruments, AIRA Compact delivers the real-deal sounds behind decades of hit music. Users can create with the genuine voices of Roland icons, including TR rhythms, TB basses, JUNO synths, VT effects, and more.

AIRA Compact strikes the perfect balance between portability and power. Each model is small enough to slip into a pocket and features an inviting panel to jump-start the creative flow for immediate results. Onboard lithium-ion batteries provide hours of continuous use per charge, while Roland’s famous build quality will support musical adventures for years to come.

T-8 Beat Machine
The T-8 Beat Machine combines iconic Roland drum and bass sounds in a go-everywhere rhythm factory. Beatmakers can build tracks with legendary sounds from the TR-808, TR-909, and TR-606 drum machines, paired with the shapeshifting low end of the dynamic TB-303 Bass Line. The six-track drum sequencer features the famous TR-REC workflow, enhanced with deep tools like step loop, pattern shift, probability, and others to generate dynamic performances with constantly evolving grooves. The T-8 also provides an authentic TB-303 bass experience, including the tactile power to squeeze, squelch, and mangle sounds in the moment.

J-6 Chord Synthesizer
The J-6 Chord Synthesizer is an endless well of musical inspiration, pairing a powerful chord sequencer with the lavish tones of the renowned JUNO-60 synth. Creators don’t need to know chords or theory to make music—they can simply call up one of 100 chords sets and build compelling chord progressions with one-touch presses on the built-in keyboard. Styles and variations are also available to coax dancing lines and rhythmic patterns from chords. Users can quickly string progressions together via step input, tweak the sound with dedicated filter and envelope controls, and add polish with customizable delay and reverb effects.

E-4 Voice Tweaker
The E-4 Voice Tweaker combines advanced voice transformer tools and standard vocal effects with a hands-on interface that’s meant to be played. Performers can go from traditional vocal enhancements to punchy beatboxed grooves to striking alien soundscapes—all in a single tune. Pitch and formant sliders are available to instantly change the vocal gender, create robot voices, and more. Auto Pitch, automatic harmony, and vocoder processors are included, along with reverb, delay, and other effects. There’s also a built-in 24-second looper for capturing performances on the fly, plus a unique Scatter function for slicing and dicing the sound via a dedicated panel knob.

Availability & Pricing

The Roland AIRA Compact series is now available in the U.S. for $199.99 each."

Check with dealers on the right for availability.

New Elektron Mystery Box NAMM Teaser

Elektron mystery box opened

Published on Jan 17, 2014 Elektron·43 videos

"See you at NAMM!"

Update:

CLICK FOR MORE »

NAMM: Dave Smith and Roger Linn Create a Tempest

YouTube via DaveSmithInstruments | January 13, 2011

Boomchik arrives in a Tempest (click and scroll to see how it has evolved over time).

"Analog Drum Machine a First for Legendary Designers

January 13, 2011—Dave Smith Instruments today introduced Tempest, a new analog drum machine, at the 2011 NAMM Show. Tempest is a collaboration between Smith and longtime friend and fellow instrument designer Roger Linn. Though they've consulted with each other on past projects, Tempest marks the first time a product will carry both the Dave Smith Instruments and Roger Linn Design logos. 'If you're going to make a drum machine, who better to have in your corner than Roger Linn?' said Smith, referring to Linn's legacy as inventor of the digital drum machine.

Though Smith is also responsible for some fine drum machines—most notably Sequential's DrumTraks and Studio 440—Tempest is his first to utilize analog synthesis to generate the sounds. "We've designed a very flexible new synth voice for Tempest," said Smith. Linn added, "The design of Tempest reflects a rethinking of what a drum machine needs to be in the current era. It's not so much a drum machine as a new musical performance instrument for the creation, manipulation, and arrangement of beat-oriented music, with an intuitive and efficient use of human gestures."

Tempest's 16 velocity- and pressure-sensitive pads are arranged in an 8 x 2 array to facilitate both real-time and step entry of beats. Two pressure- and position-sensitive Note FX slide controllers provide a unique new method of performance and control.

"We're very excited about Tempest," said Smith. "It's an instrument with a lot of personality and it's great fun to play. It has been a long time since there has been anything new in the drum machine world."

Tempest is expected to be available by June 2011 with a projected MAP of $1,999.00.

Summary of Features

CLICK FOR MORE »

Moby's Drum Machines For Sale

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

You can find them on Reverb here.

Don't miss the video here.

Update: some pics and details captured. I made the mistake of trying to capture them all and then realized how many were listed. :) I ended up switching to the more esoteric models. Quite a few have never been featured here on MATRIXSYNTH before. What's a little bit interesting, is only two new labels were needed, one for Domino and one for Side-Kick-Er. All other brands have been featured before. See the labels at the bottom of this post. Side note: Blogger limits the number of characters to 200 for labels, so I wasn't able to capture them all for this post. You can always search for the brand names featured for more. I assume most do this anyway. The labels are more for maintenance and for finding posts that may not feature brand names in descriptions.

Pictured:

Realistic Concertmate Electronic Accompanist-Metronome

"Fully analog rhythmic companion utilizing 5 beat buttons to combine how you wish. Features metronome, speaker and line out, and tempo control.

Serial: 42-2103. Works with no issue."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Winter Namm 2009 BeatKangz Beat Thang

YouTube via BeatKangz. "New Beat Machine!"

http://www.beatkangz.com/
"Beat Kangz Electronics (BKE) is a Nashville-based musical electronics company managed and operated by a diverse group of innovative, talented and passionate professionals.

BKE was founded by The Beat Kangz, a collective of award-winning artists, producers, promoters and DJs, who understand both the technology and the needs of the urban and dance music community.

THE BEAT THANG
The Most POWERFUl, Portable,
Real Beat Machine
Ever Made!!

Pounding kicks, smacking snares, sizzling hi hats, thunderous claps… we’ve come to expect killer sounds from The Beat Kangz after the history-making sound design of the Streetboxx™. But THE BEAT THANG moves beat making into the stratosphere with real bass, live strings, striking synths, Latin and African percussion, crunchy electric guitar, and startling sound effects all available right at your finger tips with no load time!

All in all the Beat Kangz have stuffed over 3000 sounds and over 500 production ready HIT beats, patterns and loops into THE BEAT THANG. Each sound can be edited, fine tuned and manipulated with onboard waveform editing and fully functioning Digital EFX (EQ, Compression, Reverb, Delay, Filter and “FREAK”). But that’s not the end of it. THE BEAT THANG is the most advanced beat production device with the fattest (and phattest) pre-loaded sounds AND onboard SAMPLING and Re-Sampling. With USB in and out and Mic/Line input, you can add your own Samples. Create your own custom Kits with up to 8 layers per pad (each layer can have its own pitch ,pan, Volume, cutoff and res). Our Key Span Feature allows you to take one or more samples and instantly make an instrument that spans an entire 88 note keyboard. Want bass on one octave and strings on another? No problem! It's simple.

Don’t forget the 16 Track MIDI Sequencer that can Sequence internal sounds or External sound modules....... I know what you are thinking....Only 16 tracks?? Yeah, well we got that covered! No need to put your kick, snare, and hi hat on separate tracks anymore. PAD MUTE and SOLO!!!

No more confusing programs and loading of SAMPLES, KITS and BEATS to deal with. Everything on your SD cards is available in Real time with NO LOAD TIMES!!

Portable Playability

Mobile? Yes, that’s right. THE BEAT THANG is portable, baby. The rechargeable lithium ion battery gives you up to six hours of portable playing time. Bang out some beats on the plane. Tighten up your edits on the train. When you’re ready to roll to the show, the studio, or the library, THE BEAT THANG rolls with you. You can even play it on the bus when you travel to visit yo momma.
Inspirational Styling. Individual Personality.

THE BEAT THANG captivates the senses with its sleek, sexy styling, user-friendly controls and slammin’ sounds. Make it your own THANG with custom Paintz and Grillz TM. Add it to your DJ rig and create live remixes on the spot... even in the dark. Every button is back lit. Put it in your studio and add the hot, new Beat Kangz sounds to your latest creations.

It's Your THANG.

At Beat Kangz we plan to listen to your feedback and actually implement your suggestions. Our Software is fully updateable via download and we want your input It’s YOUR THANG! ..... We are not a huge greedy corporation that's trying to make a quick buck by exploiting a culture. We actually use the products we make and know what it's like to struggle to make it.

"I Challenge any and all Presidents of our competition to a beat making battle. I'm ready any time if you got the ballz to battle a KANG!!! " - AJA Emmanuel, President, Beat Kangz Electronics

* Sampling with onboard waveform editing
* Over 3000 Blazin' Brand new sounds designed by The Beat Kangz
* 16 Track MIDI sequencer
* 500 production ready Platinum beats and loops created by The Beat Kangz
* Sleek design and styling with customizable “Paintz” and “Grillz”
* Convenient, light-weight portable design with internal rechargable battery
* USB In & Out
* Pitch and Mod Wheels
* On Board FX including Reverb, Delay, Automated Filters and tons of Crazy "Freak FX" including "Chopped and Screwed"!!!!
* On Board "Mo Bang" Mastering with EQ and Limiting
* 256 MB Ram standard
* 2 High Speed SD Card Slots
* Export Beats to a Mac or PC
* Very Easy to USE!!!
* More top Secret Features and Surprises that we dont want our sleezy, thieving corporate competitors to know.... but we'll tell ya soon!"

sequences by impurfekt

Published on Jan 27, 2018 impurfekt

https://impurfekt.bandcamp.com

Playlist:

CLICK FOR MORE »

Arturia ships SPARK EDM and EDM Expansion Pack

Published on Mar 15, 2013 Arturiaweb·83 videos

"SPARK EDM brings a complete and powerful production suite to the Electronic Dance Music producer.

Featuring a comprehensive library of 30 kits / 480 instruments and 960 patterns , varying from big room floor filling stormers, to underground tech house gems. Spark EDM delivers the drums, stabs, one shots, and fx that will give your tracks the sound they need to produce dance floor hits."

"Arturia ships SPARK EDM and EDM Expansion Pack

GRENOBLE, FRANCE: music software and hardware company Arturia is proud to announce availability of SPARK EDM, a powerful production and performance software suite dedicated to EDM (electronic dance music) production, and EDM, another aptly-named Expansion Pack for its revolutionary SPARK Creative Drum Machine and SparkLE Creative Drum Machine hybrid hardware/software beat production centres, as of March 15...

Capable of standalone operation or seamless integration with any DAW as a VST, VST3, RTAS, or AU plug-in, SPARK EDM caters to the rhythmically remarkable requirements of EDM producers. However, as any discerning dance floor-filling EDM producer knows only too well, EDM, of course, covers a lot of musical ground. So it’s just as well that SPARK EDM comes complete with no fewer than 30 cutting-edge kits — ranging from electro to dubstep, techno to tech house, with much in-between and beyond, it’s all there for the taking!

But that’s barely scratching the creative surface of SPARK EDM. Each of its superb-sounding 480 instruments are based on Arturia’s acclaimed TAE® (True Analog Emulation) synthesis technology and high-resolution sampling, each with 12 adjustable parameters, allowing users to sculpt sounds to their danceable heart’s content — punch through the mix with a filtered kick-ass kick drum, adjust a synth hit’s attack or decay time, re-pitch a tom, and much more besides!

Besides that, SPARK EDM users can customise or simply use any of the 960-plus preprogrammed patterns as the building blocks for kick-starting their next EDM masterpiece. Moreover, thanks to the integrated 16-track mixer, levels, pans, and sends can all be automated, and the mix can be further fine-tuned with 14 high-quality effects (including bit crusher, chorus, delay, destroyer, distortion, flanger, limiter, multi-band compressor, multi-band EQ, phaser, plate reverb, reverb, space pan, and sub generator).

SPARK EDM’s powerful, yet inherently user-friendly interface makes beat- and pattern-creation a breeze — especially when using the onscreen step sequencer situated at the top of the default centre panel. Hardware drum machine enthusiasts will feel right at home here. And thanks to advanced looping modes cleverly combined with the onscreen XY pad’s real-time slicing and filtering controls, users will be producing phenomenal EDM beats with the best of them in no time at all — perfect for live performance!

Speaking of live performance, all of SPARK EDM’s onscreen knobs and pads are easily MIDI-assignable, making them compatible with a variety of keyboard- and pad-based controllers.

At the same time, those SPARK Creative Drum Machine and SparkLE Creative Drum Machine owners out there already hooked on hands-on beat-making need not feel left out in the cold since the EDM Expansion Pack adds those same 30 cutting-edge EDM kits to the already extensive libraries within Arturia’s acclaimed hybrid hardware/software beat production centres. Clearly every beat and sound can be twisted and tweaked therein, thanks to the intuitive and creative workflow that’s at the very heart of the Creative Drum Machine concept.

Quite simply, SPARK EDM and EDM Expansion Pack provide all the drums, stabs, one-shots, and FX needed to produce propulsive dance floor hits! So start afresh with SPARK EDM or expand your Creative Drum Machine hybrid hardware/ software combo... and get the party going on the dance floor.


SPARK EDM can be purchased as a software download for €99.00 EURO/$99.00 USD or boxed for €119.00 EURO/$129.00 USD from Arturia’s Online Shop: http://www.arturia.com/evolution/en/buy/online-shop.html

The EDM Expansion Pack requires SPARK Creative Drum Machine Version 1.5 (or higher), and can be purchased as a software download for €29.00 EURO/$29.00 USD from Arturia’s Online Shop: http://www.arturia.com/evolution/en/buy/online-shop.html"

Beat Thang Finally Arrives? At Best Buy?

Beat Thang from Rowdy BKE on Vimeo.

"LOS ANGELES, May 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- "We wanted everyone to be able to produce music the same way we do," says Dallas Austin of the idea behind the Beat Thang. The Grammy-winning producer-songwriter-"keyboard fanatic" and owner of Atlanta-based Rowdy Electronics is introducing this groundbreaking mobile music-making machine through a joint venture with Nashville's BKE (Beat Kangz Electronics.) The Beat Thang will go on sale exclusively at Best Buy July 17, 2011 as a limited edition with a suggested retail price of $1,500.

Dallas Austin is the man behind multiplatinum hits by the likes of Michael Jackson, Boyz II Men, TLC, Madonna, Pink and Gwen Stefani. At Austin's level, producing music the same way he does means access to a library of 3,000+ original sounds (live drums, bass, guitar, keyboards, strings, horns, Latin and African percussion); hundreds of beats, patterns and loops; 65 digital effects (EQ, compression, reverb, delay, filter, chopped, screwed, reverse record); sampling; waveform editing; and mixing and mastering functionality, among other marvels.

Fully portable but also able to integrate with a Mac or PC, the Thang has a 3.5-inch color video LCD screen. It offers endless customization possibilities, including the option to tailor your setting to wherever inspiration strikes – at home, in the club, on the corner, onstage, even in the studio. Its cutting-edge features can be enjoyed anywhere courtesy of a rechargeable battery and sturdy metal frame no heavier than a laptop.

"We're musicians and beat-makers and artists, so the development of the Beat Thang got an extra layer of creativity and love," says BKE President Aja Emmanuel, formerly a globe-trotting product specialist for Sam Ash Music and Samson Technologies and an independent hip-hop artist (perhaps best known for the 2002 album It's Time.)

Emmanuel and Austin are proud to note that the Beat Thang has already won high-profile fans like Jermaine Dupri, P. Diddy, will.i.am, Jim Jonsin and "American Idol" in-house mentor Jimmy Iovine, who went so far as to introduce the handy piece of hardware to "AI" audiences. Austin will go even farther when he takes the Beat Thang with him to space aboard Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic in 2013.

Here on Earth, Austin is co-hosting pre-release parties with Best Buy in Nashville, Atlanta, New York and Miami to demonstrate the Beat Thang for industry VIP's. States Austin: "We'll be showing everyone how you can sing into it, play keyboards into it, put beats into it – anything," he says. "We'll also have a few for pre-order because once we hit the release date, it's anyone's guess how many will be available to the industry. We only produced 1,000 units and the buzz is running pretty hot."

Of course when Austin and Emmanuel started out in the music business, there was nothing like the Beat Thang. "It's like we made a list of everything we'd ever wanted as producers...and then went to work to put it all in one powerful machine that we could take with us whenever we wanted," states Emmanuel.

Notes Austin: "I remember being 11 or 12 and going to the music store every day to play the instruments. I couldn't afford any of them. And now Aja and I are going worldwide with the music machine of the future!"

To view the Beat Thang please visit http://beatthang.com/

©2011 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved."

"Features:

One octave pad layout with 8 banks so you can bang out beats or play the keys.
16 tracks so you can create patterns that can be performed and remixed on the fly.
16 layers of velocity sensitivity for emotive performance.
High Quality Sampler & waveform editing. Onboard sampler & resampler.
Edit sample start and end times. Process samples using features like normalize, reverse and resample.
Easy to use Realtime Sequencer. Create patterns in real time using quantize, swing, individual bar lengths, tap tempo then string them together in SONG mode.
Mixer with built in FX Change track, pad and pan levels.
Add 24bit reverb, delay, flange, phaser, pitch shift, old record and many more.
Add BANG with onboard mastering.
Export your songs as .wav files or save them to your Beat Kangz Playa Thang equipped iPhone or iPod Touch.
Rechargeable internal battery.
Pitch and Mod wheel.
2 high speed SD card slots.
256 MB Ram Stock.
Connects seamless with Beat Thang Software.
Rugged all metal chassis"

See the BeatKangz label below for it's history.

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."

Arturia SPARK Updated to Version 1.6.1

"Arturia’s SPARK software engine gathers steam to Version 1.6.1

GRENOBLE, FRANCE: music software and hardware company Arturia is proud to release Version 1.6.1 of SPARK, the latest software update to its SPARK Creative Drum Machine and SparkLE Creative Drum Machine hybrid hardware/software beat production centres, on March 25...

Quite simply, SPARK Creative Drum Machine revolutionised hands-on beat-making by cleverly combining TAE® (True Analog Emulation) synthesis, sample playback (with multiple layering modes and post- processing), and physical modelling technologies with the intuitive workflow of a hardware drum machine upon its June 2011 launch; NAMM 2013 subsequently saw Arturia taking this concept to the masses by introducing SparkLE Creative Drum Machine, an all-new, ultra-portable package sharing the same SPARK software engine.

Now, thanks to Version 1.6.1 of that already super-smart SPARK software engine, Arturia has improved the functionality of both SPARK Creative Drum Machine and SparkLE Creative Drum Machine as follows.

Firstly, SparkLE Creative Drum Machine owners benefit from an added accent button in the GUI and an added latch mode for the instrument FX Pad, which, when activated, assigns the P1 and P2 knobs to the instrument parameters (Volume/Pan, Cutoff Resonance, Aux1/Aux2), while pressing any of the three XY Instrument buttons turns off latch mode (returning the P1 and P2 knobs to their previous assignations).

Joint benefits also abound for SPARK Creative Drum Machine and SparkLE Creative Drum Machine users, including improving the MIDI Clock output, together with several bug fixes.

So, thanks to those Version 1.6.1 improvements, the time has truly come to ignite rhythmic creativity with SPARK Creative Drum Machine and SparkLE Creative Drum Machine. Super-size beat-making with the original or add a little sparkle? The choice is out there!

The SPARK Version 1.6.1 update can be downloaded directly for free from here"

Arturia Spark on eBay
Arturia Spart on ZZounds
Update: pics added.

THE ZRO HOUR: Interview with THE BEAT KANGZ and Preview of THE BEAT THANG Sampling Drum Machine

THE ZRO HOUR: Interview with THE BEAT KANGZ and Preview of THE BEAT THANG Sampling Drum Machine from EDAYE on Vimeo.

"When beatboxer Chesney Snow told me about a drum machine he was working on (Chesney provided human beat box sounds for the drum machine) with Tennessee production crew THE BEAT KANGZ, I combed the net for more info as I picked their brain. I had posted a couple of articles on THE BEAT THANG- synthesizer, sampler, sequencer- and connected with their publicist for the interview above. It was suggested that we do it through Skype, which was a great idea. It was my first time using Skype and though I had a bit of technical difficulties during set up, I was able to record our great conversation about THE BEAT THANG, the desktop version THE BEAT THANG VIRTUAL and the iphone app THE PLAYA THANG!"

Update: finally had the time to watch this a bit more. It's a great interview.
You might remember the Zoom Streat Box they mention from this previous post back in 2006.
It's a trip to see these guys got from there to here. I can't help but see them as underdogs in a corporate synth world. Just before 12:00 the interviewer mentions the ability to trigger vids with the pads. Made me think of this vid with the monome doing just that.
Update: iPhone app at around 21 minutes in.
You can find videos of the virtual version here. Apparently you get the software free with the hardware or if you buy the software for $149 , you get that as a credit on the hardware. http://www.beatkangz.com/

UVI Releases Urban Suite with Tweakable Synths, 808 Style Drum Machine

Urban Suite | Official Trailer UVI© Published on Oct 30, 2013 UVIofficial·43 videos

❐ Buy Urban Suite : http://www.uvi.net/urban-suite.html
❐ UVI Official Website : http://www.uvi.net

"UVI, producers of one of the best selling urban sample libraries ever, are back with the most complete suite of instruments and sounds for beat-driven street music production on the planet. Urban Suite delivers 5 new instruments and a massive sample library tailored for contemporary music producers, perfect for hip hop, R&B, trap, glitch, beat, experimental and more. Both a comprehensive retrospective of the classics and a collection of new and innovative tools, Urban Suite embodies the creative spirit and boundary-pushing heritage of beat music production.

In an effort to give you the absolute best sound quality possible, every sample used in Urban Suite (both in-instrument samples and all of the construction kits) were professionally mastered by Chris Gehringer at Sterling Sound in NYC. A modern legend of urban music, Chris has worked with Rihanna, JayZ, 50 Cent, Wu-Tang Clan, Snoop Dog, Nas, Naughty by Nature and Robin Thicke to name a few. His amazing ears and genre expertise have helped to make every aspect of Urban Suite sound simply fantastic out of the box.

BEATSHAPER
The Ultimate Urban Drum Machine

Deep sound design capabilities and a comprehensive sample library allow you to craft your own drum kits to perfection with kicks, snares, claps and hi-hats. Build your kits from scratch or use one of the 150 included. BeatShaper is a must-have for the discerning beatsmith.

PRIME8
A Beat Machine Legend, Reborn

Likely the most iconic and sought after drum machine in the world, the big daddy of the X0X series is also one of the most overdone when it comes to sample libraries. Prime8 breathes new life into a well-known classic with a thick and primal force that can carry even the heaviest tracks. Includes 50+ preset kits.

URBAN X
Unique Tweakable Sample Synth

A sample-synth for the street, Urban X takes 3 of our fully-featured synth voices including discrete amp, multimode filter, pitch, stereo and multi-effect units and loads them with a massive set of sounds ideal for urban music. Urban X is a flexible and totally-customizable instrument designed to bring new sounds and creativity to your workflow. Includes 1,000+ sounds and 100+ presets.

SCRATCH MACHINE
Fully-loaded Expressive Scratch Instrument

There's no way to accurately reproduce the experience of scratching without a turntable but we've come pretty close with Scratch Machine. Grab a keyboard or pad controller, load up one of the classic sounds like 'Fresh' or even a Speak'n'Spell and let loose! All sounds were recorded directly from decks masterfully controlled by our resident turntablist and scratch artist DJ Quartz—over 10,000 samples in all—single-shots, round robins and loops, giving you a huge variety of articulations and expressive options. Interactive pitch control, playback speed, 6 built-in effects, a 3-band EQ and a lp/hp filter combine to make a fun and powerful vinyl-inspired instrument with a classic vibe and authentic sound. Includes 10,000+ samples and 100+ presets.

BEATCONTROL
Multitrack Looping Powerhouse

Whether you're looking for that first bolt of inspiration or just trying to find a tight groove, BeatControl's here to help. A multitrack looper with a huge sound library of genre-correct material including drums, bass, and phrases lets you mix, tweak and play realtime in our standalone player or your favorite DAW. Create grooves, builds, layers or even full songs in minutes. Includes 150+ presets.

URBAN SUITE SAMPLE LIBRARY
2 Decades of Mastered Urban Cuts

From old school to new school and beyond the Urban Suite sample library covers nearly 2 decades or tastefully chopped urban sounds. One shots, loops, construction kits, meticulously edited, mastered by Chris Gehringer, and organized for speed. A huge resource of amazing sounds, sure to provide years of use for any urban music producer. Includes 2000+ samples & loops and 150+ construction kits."

Molten Drum Machine for iPad with MIDI Support

YouTube via onereddogmedia | November 07, 2010 | 0 likes, 0 dislikes

"The drum machine reinvented.

Molten Drum Machine is a powerful and intuitive tool for creating percussive sounds and rhythm sequences. What makes it unique is its approach to grid based pattern sequencing that divides time to instantly add tuplets and fills to your drum programming. Unleash the potential of your beats on the iPad.

More info at: www.onereddog.com.au"

"Move to the sound of an original beat

A revolutionary new drum machine app for beats that are way too hot to handle available 24 November 2010

Molten Drum Machine is a powerful and intuitive tool for creating percussive sounds and rhythm sequences. What makes it unique is its approach to grid based pattern sequencing that divides time to instantly add tuplets and fills to your drum programming. Unleash the potential of your beats on the iPad.

Molten is designed to be a flexible pattern based rhythm step-sequencer. Unlike traditional step-sequencers that have a fixed step size of typically 16 or 32 steps, Molten has a dividable step size. This flexibility allows for the easy creation of tuplet-based rhythms.

Unlike many traditional step-sequencers that have a fixed or box based time signature (usually 4/4), Molten features a flexible time signature. The power of Molten lies in its grid layout - vertically you can see as many as eight instrument parts running simultaneously. Horizontally you can have anywhere from one beat on a single page to 16 beats over four pages. With Molten it is possible to divide any beat into as many as nine pieces, and this is where things become interesting.

Built on a versatile synthesizer Molten allows you to play and process your own sound samples. The kits can be mangled, filtered and crushed using the multi-touch interface. Load and store your patterns and share them with your friends. Export to a standard MIDI file and import into a professional digital audio workstation. With the forthcoming iOS4.2, Molten will support USB MIDI devices with the iPad Camera Connection Kit. Connect directly to hardware with the MIDI out and to a Mac over Wi-Fi with MIDI networking.

Key features at a glance
· Easily and quickly create rhythms with complex time signatures
· Intuitively divide a note into tuplets
· Each pattern has eight instrument tracks
· Each instrument track has its own effects processor which can be tweaked in real-time
· Global master effects processor including delay, reverb, EQ and compressor
· Sample based synthesis with user loadable samples
· Share your pattern compositions as audio or MIDI files or transfer patterns between Molten users

Molten Drum Machine, is available via the App store for a red hot introductory price of USD $9.99 for a limited time only. It’s time to step out from the crowd and move to the sound of your own original beat.

Like what you hear and want to know more?



View Molten in action via YouTube http:///www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGIIt_t6KMY [embedded above]
Download the Molten user manual at http://www.onereddog.com.au/support

About the Creators of Molten
One Red Dog Media is an innovative, Melbourne based game, application and software developer. One Red Dog Media is led by Peter Johnson a software engineer and part-time musician who grew up in the UK games industry and like a lot of Brits, followed the sunshine to Australia to establish an independent media company in Melbourne."

Molten Drum Machine on iTunes
iPads on eBay
iPads on Amazon

iZotope and BT Release BreakTweaker™

Future Beat Machine - Introducing BreakTweaker™ by BT and iZotope

Published on Jan 23, 2014 iZotope, Inc.·156 videos

"Make beats you've never heard before. Built on a futuristic MicroEdit Engine, BreakTweaker turns everything you know about rhythm on its head, with the most powerful drum synthesis available.

Designed by BT and developed by iZotope, BreakTweaker is not just a drum machine: it's a drum sculpting and beat sequencing machine that blurs the line between rhythm and melody. Give your beats an evolving depth that gets better the longer they play. Use rhythmic slicing to drive everything from pitched melodic lines to sweeping rhythmic concoctions. Top it all off with the best drum sample library in existence, curated by BT, iZotope, and top producers today. Explore a new era of rhythmic possibilities with this forward-thinking and forward-sounding instrument."

And the press Release:

"Make beats you’ve never heard before with the beat machine of the future

The NAMM Show, Anaheim, CA (January 23, 2014) - iZotope, Inc., a leading audio technology company, and GRAMMY®-nominated composer and technologist, BT, have combined creative forces to bring you a drum sculpting and beat sequencing environment that blurs the line between rhythm and melody.

“We are a company that loves to make innovative products, taking the best of the past and forging into the future. We were able to collaborate with BT's forward-thinking vision on BreakTweaker, and we're proud to offer something incredibly unique and brand-new to the world of drum machines,” says iZotope Product Manager, Jack Cote.

Powered by three distinct modules, the Sequencer, the Generator, and a futuristic MicroEdit Engine, BreakTweaker is a creative rhythmic instrument that can be used with any DAW and MIDI controller. Perfect for anyone looking to create truly original and dynamic beats, it’s a new platform for rhythmic composition.
Key Features
Manipulate audio at a molecular level: control pitch, rhythm, and texture at the finest resolution available
Escape traditional drum grids: create complex polyrhythmic beats with unique isorhythm and playback speed settings
Get over 2 GB of professional, royalty-free content: explore presets, drum samples, and wavetables designed by today's top musicians and DJs, including BT
Craft your own drum sounds: blend drum samples with robust synthesis features to generate compelling hybrid sounds
Take control of your beats: Easily trigger and sequence complex patterns and samples using any MIDI controller

Designed by BT
Following their joint release of the live re-mixing plug-in, Stutter Edit, BT and iZotope are now back again with BreakTweaker. Featuring BT's patented micro edit technology based on pioneering rhythmic sound design research, BreakTweaker aims to change the way we think about rhythm and pitch.

“I’ve always been intrigued by the way humans perceive rhythm, particularly the threshold point of where the ear perceives rhythm as pitch,” describes BT, “The idea of exploring and exploiting this threshold inspired BreakTweaker, a tool where I could finally realize rhythmic possibilities that I once imagined but had never before been able to hear.”

For more information, visit the BreakTweaker website: www.izotope.com/breaktweaker and watch the BreakTweaker overview video: youtu.be/ErVxMz5tVek

iZotope will also be showcasing BreakTweaker at the 2014 NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA. Visit iZotope's NAMM Booth #6920 (Hall A) for live demos.

Pricing and Availability
BreakTweaker is now available for $199 USD through February 19, 2014 (reg. $249 MSRP).
BreakTweaker Expanded is now available for $249 USD through February 19, 2014 (reg. $299 MSRP) and includes three add-on Expansions: Vintage Machines, Cinematic Textures, and Kicks & Snares by Beatport Sounds.

BreakTweaker Expanded is also available as part of iZotope’s Creative Bundle for $599 USD, which also includes Stutter Edit, Iris (plus seven Iris Sound Libraries), and Trash 2 (plus two Trash Expansions).

Learn more about BreakTweaker Expansions and the Creative Bundle.

BreakTweaker Specifications
Supported operating systems:
Windows: XP SP3 or later, x64, 7, 8
Mac: OS X 10.6.8 or later (Intel-based Macs only)
Plug-in formats: AAX (Pro Tools 11), RTAS/AudioSuite (Pro Tools 7.4-10), VST and VST 3, Audio Unit
Host compatibility: BreakTweaker works as a plug-in in popular hosts like Pro Tools, Cubase, GarageBand, Logic, Ableton Live, Reaper, StudioOne, Audition, SONAR X2 & X3, ACID, Vegas, Sound Forge, and many more.

About iZotope, Inc.
iZotope makes innovative products that inspire and enable people to be creative. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, iZotope has spent over a decade developing award-winning products and audio technologies for professionals and hobbyists alike. Used by millions of people in over 50 countries, iZotope products are a core component of GRAMMY-winning music studios, Oscar and Emmy-winning film and TV post production studios, and prominent radio studios, as well as basement and bedroom studios across the globe. Through a robust licensing program, iZotope also powers products made by industry partners such as Adobe, Avid, Microsoft, and Sony. iZotope was recently honored with an Emmy® Award for Outstanding Achievement in Engineering Development for its flagship audio repair suite, RX®.
For more information on iZotope products, please visit www.izotope.com.

About BT
GRAMMY-nominated composer and technologist BT is one of the most cutting-edge artists and producers for a dizzying array of musical styles. Whether composing intricate scores for blockbuster films such as Fast and Furious, and the Oscar-winning Monster; writing and producing for Sting, David Bowie, Peter Gabriel and Madonna to creating cutting edge proprietary software tools from scratch to make it happen - BT is at the heart of it all.

Juxtaposing memorable songwriting with sonic innovation and hand-designed technologies, BT crafts classically influenced electronic overtures, ringing with living textures that are an industry source book of new and highly copied signature techniques and ideas.

For more information on BT, please visit www.btmusic.com."

MJ’s “Beat It” - Hidden Machine Gun Sound

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

"In this Video I’ll show you how I made the 'Machine Gun Sound' in MJ’s 'Beat It'. It’s kind of a hidden sound, but it serves an important purpose in the orchestration of the song to create tension and energy just before Eddie Van Halen’s iconic guitar solo. This is one of many examples of the nuances that can be found in the arrangements of the songs on the album.

We’ll also shine the spotlight on Thriller engineer Bruce Swedien’s ability to know when and how to use a sound like this and when to get it out of the picture to create space for other sounds. This concepts can be applied to any style of music you are creating.

I made the original sound using an ARP 2600 & Dr. Click but you can re-create this sound on your VST with less effort.

00:00 Music Example of The Hidden 'Machine Gun Sound' on 'Beat It'
00:08 Intro
00:15 History of the "Machine Gun Sound"
00:46 Working with Michael Jackson on "Beat It"
02:14 Syncing the 16th note "Machine Gun Sound" to the drum beat
03:51 How to set the waveforms (VCO's)
05:02 How to set the Sample & Hold Generator (S&H)
05:19 How to set the Voltage Controlled Filter (VCF)
05:58 how to set the Voltage Controlled Amplifier (VCA)
07:35
07:49 How Bruce Swedien created Arrangements & Orchestrations when Mixing Thriller
09:57 understanding the concept of the "Machine Gun Sound" to re-create it on VST's
11:25 Full Music Example"

https://www.anthonymarinellimusic.com

See the Garfield Electronics label beloww for additional posts featuring the Doctor Click.

New Pittsburgh Modular Lifeforms Percussion Sequencer Eurorack Module

Pittsburgh Modular Crew - Behind The Scenes With Ask.Audio

Published on Sep 13, 2016 Ask.Audio

"Some Of The Pittsburgh Modular Crew drop by the Ask.Audio Academy for a Live Masterclass featuring their Lifeforms Series of analog synths. See the full MasterClass here: https://ask.audio/academy?nleloc=lect..."

And a couple of pics via @Perfect_Circuit

"Stop by our showroom tomorrow at 7pm to say "Hello"to Richard Nicol from Pittsburgh Modular and win a Phase Shifter"

and @pghmodular:

"New #eurorack module tomorrow with a performance and demos @perfectcircuitaudio tomorrow too"

https://www.perfectcircuitaudio.com/

Update: details via Pittsburgh:

"The Pittsburgh Modular Lifeforms Percussion Sequencer is a seriously featured, 4 channel eurorack beat programmer with a classic drum machine style interface. The familiar interface allows for quick mastery of all the features leaving the focus on the music. Seamlessly move around the module tweaking patterns and effects without ever stopping the beat. Easily create new patterns using the live performance or step recording modes, then add one of the powerful pattern effects to each channel to take the sequence to a new level. Eurorack drum programming has come to life.

Lifeforms Percussion Sequencer Features include:

32 Step, 4 Channel Sequencer
32 Sequence Non-Volatile Memory
6 Adjustable Pattern Effects (Shift, Glitch, Density, Morph, Swing, Add/Drop)
4 Percussion Tuned Analog Envelopes
4 High Quality Analog VCAs
Seamlessly Switch Between Play and Record Modes
Live Performance and Step Recording Modes
Internal Tap Tempo or External Clock Source
Variable Sequence Length
Channel Mute

Four Channel Programmable Drum Controller
Suggested Retail Price $349

The Pittsburgh Modular Lifeforms Percussion Sequencer is a seriously featured, 4 channel eurorack beat programmer with a classic drum machine style interface. The familiar interface allows for quick mastery of all the features leaving the focus on the music. Seamlessly move around the module tweaking patterns and effects without ever stopping the beat. Easily create new patterns using the live performance or step recording modes, then add one of the powerful pattern effects to each channel to take the sequence to a new level. Designed to integrate into any size eurorack system, simply patch 4 audio signals through the integrated high quality VCAs to create a set of unique percussion voices. Eurorack drum programming has come to life.

Anything is a Drum
Traditionally, patching up a modular drum kit was constrained by the amount of envelope and VCA modules in a system, restricting the number and complexity of percussion voices in most systems. Another option was to use dedicated drum modules that offer a limited sonic palate and few modulation options. The Lifeforms Percussion Sequencer breaks through these barriers by including a percussion tuned analog envelope and VCA on each channel. Patching anything from a basic sine wave to heavily modulated and processed noise sources through the Lifeforms Percussion Sequencer will quickly create a distinctive drum kit that takes full sonic advantage of the unique synthesis options available in any system.

CLICK FOR MORE »

SPARK goes to Hollywood with Arturia’s Hollywood Essentials

"SPARK goes to Hollywood with Arturia’s Hollywood Essentials

GRENOBLE, FRANCE: music software and hardware company Arturia is proud to announce availability of Hollywood Essentials, the latest Expansion Pack for its highly-creative SPARK Creative Drum Machine and SparkLE hybrid hardware/software beat production centres, as of May 7...

Hollywood Essentials adds an amazing array of film-scoring sounds to the SPARK software engine shared by Arturia’s SPARK Creative Drum Machine — which revolutionised hands-on beat-making by cleverly combining TAE® (True Analog Emulation) synthesis, sample playback (with multiple layering modes and post-processing), and physical modelling technologies with the intuitive workflow of a hardware drum machine upon its June 2011 launch — and its smaller sibling, the super-slimline SparkLE, recently released to critical acclaim.

Hollywood hotshot sound designers Larry Hopkins (The Following, Vampire Diaries, Revenge), Alan Howarth (Poltergeist, Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Back To The Future II), and Mark Mangini (Die Hard, Star Trek, The Fifth Element) have pooled their considerable creative resources to create Hollywood Essentials. As such, it features an attractive library of 30 ear- catching kits with 480 instruments and 960 patterns ranging from field recordings made in the likes of auto body shops and dentists to ethereal sci-fi soundscapes and action sequence percussion ensembles fit for any adventurous blockbusting Hollywood motion picture!

Whether Hollywood Essentials users choose to score a film with those stimulating sounds or creatively apply them to other musical genres as they see fit, all integrate perfectly with everything those revolutionary SPARK software-sharing SPARK Creative Drum Machine and SparkLE hybrid hardware/software beat production centres have to offer. Performance- enhancing tools like the XY Pad, Looper, and Slicer; 14 high-quality effects; and a speedy step Sequencer come together to make track creation and automation a breeze. Each and every beat and sound can be twisted and tweaked, thanks to the intuitive and creative workflow that lies at the very heart of the SPARK Creative Drum Machine concept.

So why not expand your SPARK Creative Drum Machine or SparkLE’s sonic horizons with Hollywood Essentials and set your sights on conquering the big screen? Maybe the Hans Zimmers of the world should watch their backs... there may soon be some new faces to contend with in Tinsel Town!

Hollywood Essentials requires SPARK Creative Drum Machine Version 1.5 (or higher), and can be purchased and downloaded directly from the Arturia online store (http://www.arturia.com/evolution/en/buy/online-shop.html) for €29.00 EUR/$29.00 USD.

Listen to audio examples of Hollywood Essentials here: http://www.arturia.com/evolution/en/products/spark-hollywood/details.html"

Pictured in order: Larry Hopkins, Alan Howarth, Mark Mangini.

Sounds of BreakTweaker™ | Future Beat Machine

Published on Feb 13, 2014 iZotope, Inc.·150 videos

"Hear more sounds from the BreakTweaker Future Beat Machine!

Make beats you've never heard before. Built on a futuristic MicroEdit Engine, BreakTweaker turns everything you know about rhythm on its head, with the most powerful drum synthesis available.

Designed by BT and developed by iZotope, BreakTweaker is not just a drum machine: it's a drum sculpting and beat sequencing machine that blurs the line between rhythm and melody. Give your beats an evolving depth that gets better the longer they play. Use rhythmic slicing to drive everything from pitched melodic lines to sweeping rhythmic concoctions. Top it all off with the best drum sample library in existence, curated by BT, iZotope, and top producers today. Explore a new era of rhythmic possibilities with this forward-thinking and forward-sounding instrument."