SpringSound Physical Modeling Synth for iOS with Haken Continuum Integration

Published on Oct 4, 2014 Christophe Duquesne

"This is an overview of the physical Modeling SpringSound app
The demo is on an iPad 2 with IOS 8 (so it is OK for IOS 8)
It also features EchoPad, LittleMidi, a Kaossilator 1 and a Haken Continuum at the end."

iTunes: SpringSound - Christophe Duquesne
New iPad Deals on eBay

"SpringSound is a physical-modeling audio synthesizer that produces sounds by simulating interactions and vibrations of a set of activators and masses connected to springs. The model offers detailed control of an array of features including: gravity, bouncing, fluid and static friction, mechanical limits, non-linear functions, and more.

SpringSound is provided with a very large set of sound presets that you can tweak and save.

It can be used as a sound generator or as an effect using its Audio-In feature, opening a new world of physical modeled effects. It is fully Audiobus® 2 and inter-app audio compatible, and manage state saving.

SpringSound can be controlled by a standard MIDI keyboard and directly from the iOS device screen.

SpringSound app is designed for optimum use with the Haken Continuum (www.hakenaudio.com) and integrate an IOS Continuum Remote (iPad only) allowing a very comprehensive and accurate remote control of the Continuum from your iPad (access to all parameters except programming the Eagan Matrix).

SpringSound has be designed to explore sounds domains you won’t be able to access with other synthesis technics. It expands your sonic palette with a new world of physical sounds. It is a rich musical instrument, a sophisticated sound-design tool and an entertaining sonic playground.

SpringSound is the big brother of my former Ackorage-Spring app."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Gabriel's Continuum HD

Published on Sep 7, 2014 HakenAudio

"This is a a performance by Edmund Eagan playing on the Haken Audio Continuum Fingerboard. The sounds are internally generated by the Continuum's built-in synthesizer, the EaganMatrix. The EaganMatrix is the first synthesizer specifically designed for the XYZ control provided by the Continuum Fingerboard, and has been available to Continuum owners for several years. The presets in this video are available with Release 7 of the Continuum firmware (September 2014). The video is in two tracks; the first uses the Double Reed preset, the second uses the Organo Espressivo preset. Presets designed by Edmund Eagan. Music by Ennio Morricone."

LapSteel on Continuum Fingerboard

Published on Sep 7, 2014

"This is a performance by Edmund Eagan playing on the Haken Audio Continuum Fingerboard. The sound is internally generated by the Continuum's built-in synthesizer, the EaganMatrix. The EaganMatrix is the first synthesizer specifically designed for the XYZ control provided by the Continuum Fingerboard, and has been available to Continuum owners for several years. The LapSteel preset played in this video, as well as the screen display of finger activity (projected over the Continuum in this video), are available with Release 7 of the Continuum firmware (September 2014). Preset design and original music by Edmund Eagan."

The State Of 21st-Century Synthesis Panel Discussion at NAMM

Published on Jan 28, 2014 Synthtopia·4 videos

"This video captures a panel discussion on The State Of 21st-Century Synthesis, held at the 2014 NAMM Show.

The panel features:

Panelists:

Gerry Bassermann

A former product specialist, voice programmer, and instrument demonstrator for E-mu Systems, Gerry Bassermann has also been an editorial contributor to Keyboard magazine, a product demonstrator for Opcode Systems and Be Incorporated, and a creative consultant to Antares Audio Technologies, Zoom Corporation, and many others. He is currently the director of North American Markets for Propellerhead Software (www.propellerheads.se). Gerry also taught electronic music composition at the University of California at Santa Cruz for twelve years.

Edmund Eagan

Audio producer, music composer, and sound designer for film and video with over 28 years of professional experience, Edmund Eagan (www.twelfthroot.com) is an award winner for scoring the animated production "The Woman Who Raised a Bear as Her Son" and as a producer for CBC's "The Health Show." Edmund has worked on countless television and radio commercials, animation series, television programs, and live multimedia events. He's been working with Dr. Lippold Haken for the past ten years in the design, development, and evolution of the Haken Audio Continuum Fingerboard (www.hakenaudio.com) and the EaganMatrix synthesizer, both of which he astoundingly demonstrates in performances at www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nq3Q4tHvHY&feat­ure=player_embedded.

Drew Neumann

Composer/synthesist Drew Neumann (www.drewneumann.com) created the captivating music, sound effects, and voices for Peter Chung's Aeon Flux, launched on MTV's critically acclaimed Liquid Television animation series in 1991. Drew also composed music for all 84 episodes of Nickelodeon's The Wild Thornberrys and the Paramount Pictures feature The Wild Thornberrys Movie, 52 episodes of Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, along with episodes of The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy and Evil Con Carne on the Cartoon Network. In addition, he created sound effects for Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Rollercoaster Rabbit, and Off His Rockers, and composed music for Disney Television Animation, E! Entertainment Television's Talk Soup, and major advertising agencies worldwide. He has consulted and designed sounds for synthesizer manufacturers/distributors Tom Oberheim of Marion Systems, Studio Electronics, Dave Smith Instruments, Moog Music, GSF Agency, and many more. Drew is currently working on shorts for Renegade Animation and for Frederator's Cartoon Hangover series Bravest Warriors.

Eric Persing

Eric Persing was the chief sound designer for Roland from 1984 to 2005, programming sounds for popular hardware synthesizers including the innovative D-50. An accomplished studio musician and composer, Eric is the founder and creative director of Spectrasonics (www.spectrasonics.net), a leading softsynth company that produces Trilian, Stylus RMX, and the flagship synth Omnisphere.

Dave Smith

Synthesizer pioneer Dave Smith founded Sequential Circuits during the mid '70s and in 1977 designed the world's first fully programmable polyphonic synthesizer, the Prophet-5. He was the spearhead behind the development of MIDI in 1983, for which he received a Technical Grammy Award in 2013. Dave served as a consultant for Yamaha and Korg and was the president of Seer Systems, developer of the first professional software synthesizer, Reality. In 2002 he founded Dave Smith Instruments (www.davesmithinstruments.com), manufacturer of analog and hybrid synthesizers built in San Francisco.

Moderator: Mark Vail

Music journalist, historian, teacher, and performer Mark Vail discovered synthesizers in 1973 and bought his first in 1976. After earning an MFA in electronic music at Mills College in 1983, he served on the editorial staff at Keyboard magazine from 1988 to 2001 and has taught Propellerhead Reason classes since 2003. Mark is the author of Vintage Synthesizers, The Hammond Organ: Beauty in the B, and his latest book The Synthesizer: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding, Programming, Playing, and Recording the Ultimate Electronic Music Instrument (Oxford University Press USA, 2014, http://global.oup.com/academic/produc...)."

NAMM 2014 Continuum FingerBoard upated

Published on Jan 25, 2014 Audio-Depot·3 videos

"HakenAudio has released an updated version of the Continuum Fingerboard, a voice expander, and a digital control voltage converter for analog synthesizers."

ERIC CLAPTON'S "STEPPIN' OUT" ON HAKEN CONTINUUM! Rob Schwimmer plays

Published on Jan 5, 2014 Robert Schwimmer·53 videos

"PLAY IT LOUD! PUT IT ON FULL SCREEN! If you like it SHARE it!

This is a replica of Eric Clapton's slashing, aggressive and thrilling guitar classic recorded March 1966 from John Mayall's "The Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton" here played on the amazing HAKEN CONTINUUM FINGERBOARD! The nature of bending notes on the Continuum make it a perfect fit for blues phrasing---This is as much fun to do as it looks! A most sexy instrument... So many different and amazing things you can do with it! Here I used Edmund Eagan's Larynx Horn sound to start with which gives it the "vocal formant envelope" which I like a lot... Incredible responsiveness... although maybe not your typical blues sound... I did the backing track (bass, saxes, drums) on Kontakt and Battery and some processing for the Continuum with Guitar Rig from Native Instruments. The original LP was after Clapton was with The Yardbirds and before Cream--One of my favorite blues guitar albums of all time. I learned to play this track on guitar when I was in junior high school so it's been a part of me for a long time...

Rob Schwimmer

Learn more about the Haken Continuum Fingerboard at hakenaudio.com"

Haken Introduces the Continuum EaganMatrix Expander (CEE)

VlnVlaCelBass Published on Mar 19, 2013 HakenAudio·28 videos

Video example of the EaganMatrix in action. Official press release further below.

"This video is a demonstration of the VlnVlaCelBass sound on the Continuum Fingerboard, performed by Edmund Eagan. This EaganMatrix string sound has been programmed to take advantage of the Continuum's fast and accurate pressure sensing. Playing this sound with low velocity finger movement will create a smooth gentle start to each note. After the note starts volume and timbre changes can be applied by changing the pressure on the surface.

When played with a harder finger velocity, the sound gets more aggressive in it's attack. This is due to the inclusion of timbre data that represents a real string attack.

The name of the sound includes the four names of the orchestral string family, violin, viola, cello, and double bass, reflecting the combined pitch range of these instruments. The sound is equally convincing and expressive at all pitches, even at the extremes.
Pressing the first foot pedal activates a mono mode which makes it easier to play fast monophonic intervals, such as whole tone or minor third trills.

The overall tonal character of the instrument can be changed by moving the Size barrel. Lower values of Size will create a larger sounding instrument, higher values a smaller one.

The VlnVlaCelBass uses the GrainSilo in the EaganMatrix, with a timbre element called Vla Sustained. The original source for this timbre element came from the first 100 milliseconds of a single note preformed by Rudolf Haken on a Pellegrina 5 string viola. This 100 milliseconds contains essential attack and sustain spectra. Through the power of the EaganMatrix formula structures, control of the timbre elements reference point, fundamental, spectral rolloff, spectral shift, and amplitude is mapped to the playing surface. The three dimensional performance of each finger can translate into exquisite control of this finite piece of data."

Press release:

"Haken Audio’s Continuum EaganMatrix Expander (CEE) provides increased polyphony for EaganMatrix sounds. The EaganMatrix Expander triples the computation power of the Continuum Fingerboard, thereby tripling the polyphony of EaganMatrix sounds. This increased polyphony is most useful for EaganMatrix sounds that require polyphony greater than the number of fingers simultaneously touching the surface, such as percussive sounds with releases that continue to sound after the finger is lifted from the playing surface.

In addition to this increased polyphony, the EaganMatrix Expander also provides balanced analog audio outputs and localized i2c connections to the other Continuum Fingerboard accessory, the Continuum Voltage Converter. The EaganMatrix Expander can be used as a desktop device, or mounted in a standard 19 inch rack using the optional rack ears."

New Firmware version 6.00

New System Presets

Firmware 6.00 includes 23 new EaganMatrix System Presets handcrafted by Edmund Eagan. A video demonstrating some of these new sounds will be online at Haken Audio soon. In addition, the Pluck Tine specialty sound is now available again.

New Mode for EaganMatrix Oscillator: Expose Phase

Expose Phase will output the oscillator’s internal phase value. This is equivalent to a non-bandlimited sawtooth. The oscillator’s phase value is a sum of 7 detuned phase generators. The resulting sound is similar to the layered sound of mutiple detuned saw tooth oscillators.

New Type of Shape Generator: Phase from Amplitude

The existing Single Cycle and Continuous Cycle SGs are Low Frequency Oscillators (LFOs), with Frequency and Trigger input columns in the matrix. In contrast, the new Phase from Amplitude SGs are Low Frequency Waveshapers (LFWs), with a Phase input column in the matrix.

Phase from Amplitude SGs can be used to implement an amplitude follower. Connect the audio-rate signal to be followed to the SG’s P column. Then select this SG in a formula, select a Ramp SG shape, and adjust the formula's persistence and interpolation controls for smooth following.

Extended BiqMode and BiqBank: 48 Resonances

The existing BiqMode and BiqBank modules have 8 resonances. With the new Extended option, these now have 48 resonances; the Extended BiqMode Amplitude Graphs allow you to specify 48 mode amplitudes, and the BiqBank computes 48 biquad bandpass filters.

New Module Names: Spectral Manipulator and SineSpray

The GrainSilo has been renamed Spectral Manipulator, and the MultiGrain module has been renamed SineSpray. Several matrix columns in these modules have also been renamed, to better reflect their functions.

New Capabilities for the Ancillary Formula Mechanism

The Ancillary Formula Mechanism now has a Domain option, so it can affect just one formula component. Also, incoming Midi Clock can be referenced in the Ancillary Formula Mechanism; this can be used to synchronize envelopes, delay times, or adjust timbral parameters according to the performer’s tempo.

Y-Dependent Instant Round Pedals

Two new switch pedals will turn on Instant Round (Round Rate 127) for fingers at low or high Y position:

cc18 on ch 16: instant round for finger y < .5 cc19 on ch 16: instant round for finger y > .5

This pedal functionality is available for the Continuum’s pedal jacks, when InstRnd is selected in the Editor. This functionality was requested by Mark Smart.

ESI MidiMate II

The Editor will automatically detect the ESI MidiMate II, and automatically connect without any configuration required. The MidiMate II is an attractive USB-Midi interface, but it will only work with Continuums running firmware version 6.00 and later.

Additional Editor Improvements

The Overload Protect indicator can be enabled or disabled for overload protection.


The Editor’s System Preset popup now lists the Internal Sound Number for each preset.

The Z Encoding allows you to select Channel Pressure.

In the future, when you update your version 6.00 firmware to a later firmware number, your Continuum will automatically power cycle after Update File 1. This is the last firmware update that requires manual power cycle.

Available now!

Version 6.00 firmware is available for free in the resources section of the Haken Audio site. Before using the new firmware we recommend you check out the newly-revised user guides for the Continuum, EaganMatrix, EaganMatrix Expander, and CVC."

VlnVlaCelBass Sound on Haken Continuum

Published on Mar 19, 2013 HakenAudio·28 videos

You might remember the sound from the audio demos in this post on the Haken 5.50 Firmware update.

"This video is a demonstration of the VlnVlaCelBass sound on the Continuum Fingerboard, performed by Edmund Eagan. This EaganMatrix string sound has been programmed to take advantage of the Continuum's fast and accurate pressure sensing. Playing this sound with low velocity finger movement will create a smooth gentle start to each note. After the note starts volume and timbre changes can be applied by changing the pressure on the surface.

When played with a harder finger velocity, the sound gets more aggressive in it's attack. This is due to the inclusion of timbre data that represents a real string attack.

The name of the sound includes the four names of the orchestral string family, violin, viola, cello, and double bass, reflecting the combined pitch range of these instruments. The sound is equally convincing and expressive at all pitches, even at the extremes.
Pressing the first foot pedal activates a mono mode which makes it easier to play fast monophonic intervals, such as whole tone or minor third trills.

The overall tonal character of the instrument can be changed by moving the Size barrel. Lower values of Size will create a larger sounding instrument, higher values a smaller one.

The VlnVlaCelBass uses the GrainSilo in the EaganMatrix, with a timbre element called Vla Sustained. The original source for this timbre element came from the first 100 milliseconds of a single note preformed by Rudolf Haken on a Pellegrina 5 string viola. This 100 milliseconds contains essential attack and sustain spectra. Through the power of the EaganMatrix formula structures, control of the timbre elements reference point, fundamental, spectral rolloff, spectral shift, and amplitude is mapped to the playing surface. The three dimensional performance of each finger can translate into exquisite control of this finite piece of data."

Jeff Beck vs Rachmaninoff on the Haken Continuum Fingerboard played by Rob Schwimmer

YouTube Uploaded by 5SunkenHeights5 on Nov 10, 2011

Rachmaninoff a la Jeff Beck---This is just one sort of thing that can be done on the incredible Haken Continuum! A tip of the iceberg! I'm a novice on it but it's amazing! So intuitive and organic! Anyway... I've always loved the great guitarists of the 60's--Hendrix, Beck, Clapton, Feiten, etc. As a keyboard player I envied their expressive options--vibrato, note bending, sustain, etc. That's one of the reasons I became a theremin player... (Fact check: I was an electric guitarist throughout junior high and high school doing my best to Hendrix, Clapton, Beck so I do understand playing in that style... Not good enough though: I decided I would give myself 2 weeks of intense practicing and if I wasn't as good as Hendrix or John McLaughlin after 2 weeks, I would quit. Two weeks came--I quit.) I had no real interest in doing this sort of thing on the Continuum but one day I plugged it into my Glenn Wyllie's Shin-Ei Superfuzz (http://www.mindspring.com/~wylo/)
and... ta dah! Big fun! I play this piece on piano (Rachmaninoff's Etude tableau in Ebm op39 #5) and thought I'd see how it went... As I said I'm definitely still a novice and it's far from perfect... but I like it!

(For Continuum players this was done without Rounding)

PS--For more hot Continuum action please be sure to check out their website at hakenaudio.com/ and also be sure to take a look at Edmund Eagan's Continuum work-- He works with Lippold Haken in developing and designing sounds for it and has an inside and out understanding of the instruments sounds and playing modes..."

Haken Continuum Fingerboard - Handel's "Alla Hornpipe"

YouTube Uploaded by marksmartus2 on Oct 20, 2011

"Alla Hornpipe" from Handel's Water Music, Suite #2 in D major.
In this multitrack recording, I'm using the Haken Continuum Fingerboard
(http://www.hakenaudio.com) to control a custom synthesizer built with
Native Instruments' Reaktor software (running on a Muse Receptor 2
for fast response). I used Cubase for the multitrack recording.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Tesla Coil Music - "Risky Business: A Tribute to Nikola Tesla"

YouTube Uploaded by marksmartus2 on Sep 27, 2011

"'Risky Business: A Tribute to Nikola Tesla' for electroacoustic music, Tesla coils, and live Continuum performance. Performed as the last piece of the University of Illinois New Music Ensemble (http://www.glennweb.net/somsite/ensembles.php#newmusic) Concert at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts (http://www.krannertcenter.com/) on September 26, 2009. Continuum and tesla coil parts composed by Mark Smart (http://www.marksmart.net/). Electroacoustic music parts composed by Scott Wyatt (http://ems.music.uiuc.edu/people/wyatt/), director of the University of Illinois Experimental Music Studios (http://ems.music.uiuc.edu/). Tesla coils built by Steve Ward, Jeff Larson, and Terry "Dr. Zeus" Blake (http://www.mastersoflightning.com/). Tesla coil synthesizer control system designed by Steve Ward and Mark Smart. Mark Smart performs on the Continuum Fingerboard designed by Lippold Haken (http://www.hakenaudio.com/Continuum/). The piece was the recipient of a University of Illinois College of Fine and Applied Arts 2008 Creative Research Award."

New Firmware version for Haken Audio Continuum

via Haken Audio: "We are proud to announce that Version 4.20 firmware is now available for download for Continuum Fingerboards with built-in sounds.

Version 4.20 adds two new internal sounds, Four Point FM and Rosin Oscillator, and a new audio processor, Tuned Reverb. The firmware also includes optimizations to sensor scanning, improving performance with Midi and Internal Sounds.
The Continuum Editor has a new look, and supports archiving and retrieving Continuum configuration data to and from disk files.

A series of demonstration movies are accessible through the Continuum Editor's Internal Sound Demo. These movies show playing technique using internal sounds of the Continuum Fingerboard. Configuration parameters on your continuum will be set to match the movie, allowing you to play the same sound that is used in the demonstration performance.

Version 4.20 integrates with the high-quality Kenton Mini Controller. The Kenton Mini Controller may be used in conjunction with the Editor, or in a computerless standalone mode in conjunction with the Kenton USB Midi Host.

For more information, see the press release available from the Haken Audio splash page [PDF].

Two demo movies feature new internal sounds:
http://www.hakenaudio.com/Continuum/html/intsounds/is4PointFM.html
http://www.hakenaudio.com/Continuum/html/intsounds/isRosin.html
The new firmware, new Editor, and new User Guide are available on the Download page:
http://www.hakenaudio.com/Continuum/html/resources/Downloads.html
Please note the new release is several hundred megabytes, and will take some time to download.

All these developments are the latest results of our ongoing dedication and commitment to the Continuum Fingerboard. There will be more exciting things in the near future, as we always have more ideas than time!"

Continuum Controls Moog Synthesizer - All Blues [& Jazz] Miles Davis

YouTube via marksmartus2 | January 22, 2011 |

"Mark Smart uses the Haken Continuum Fingerboard and a modular Moog synthesizer to play Miles Davis' tune.

Continuum Fingerboard: http://www.hakenaudio.com/Continuum/i...
Mark Smart: http://www.marksmart.net
Pogo Studio: http://www.pogostudio.net/
Pogo Studio's Moog: http://www.marksmart.net/gearhack/pog..."

Continuum Fingerboard - In a Sentimental Mood

YouTube via marksmartus2 | January 18, 2011 |

"Duke Ellington's beautiful tune played on the Haken Continuum Fingerboard driving Native Instruments' Reaktor software. I did the background track using an Ibanez AR-250 guitar with a Copeland hexaphonic pickup and a pedalboard I built for solo jazz performances.

Continuum Fingerboard: http://www.hakenaudio.com/Continuum/i...
My home page: http://www.marksmart.net/"

The pogomoog

Continuum Fingerboard - Funk Loops

YouTube via marksmartus2 | January 22, 2011 |

"Mark Smart plays funk on the Continuum Fingerboard.

Continuum Fingerboard: http://www.hakenaudio.com/Continuum/i...
My home page: http://www.marksmart.net"

Haken Continuum Version 4.08 OS Update

via STROMKULT

"Version 4.08 firmware is now available for
download for Continuum Fingerboards with
built-in sounds. 4.08 addresses several minor
issues related to our recent 4.07 release:

• A bug fix for playing internal sounds at polyphony 32.
• Corrections to the User Guides.
• A graphical fix in the Continuum Editor.

As well, there is a new naming convention for
firmware data files, making it easier to perform the firmware update.

The 4.08 firmware, Editor, and User Guides are available on the Download
page: http://www.hakenaudio.com/Continuum/html/resources/Downloads.html

We have also posted additional examples using internal sounds:
http://www.hakenaudio.com/Continuum/html/intsounds/isIntro.html

Thank you very much Dr.Haken!"

Rudolf Haken "Quinquagenarium" - Continuum Fingerboard, Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra

YouTube via DidelphisVirginiana — March 09, 2010 — "Quinquagenarium for orchestra and Haken Continuum Fingerboard, composed by Rudolf Haken for the 50th anniversary of the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, Feb 19th 2010, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, University of Illinois. Conductor Steven Larsen. Haken Continuum sound setup and performance by Mark Smart. Continuum invented by Lippold Haken. Harpist Shirley Blankenship. Audio Engineer Jon Schoenoff. Director of Cinematography Kristen Johns. Video editing and design by Rudolf Haken. Videographers: Dave Cohen, Kevin Coulton, Lippold Haken, Megan Johns. Thanks to Armgard Haken for the name "Quinquagenarium". Program notes and sheet music at http://www.rudolfhaken.com
Haken Continuum site: http://www.hakenaudio.com
Mark Smart site: http://www.marksmart.net
Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra site: http://www.cusymphony.org
Kristen Johns video site: http://www.youtube.com/champaignunder...
Krannert Center site: http://www.krannertcenter.com/
The Champaign-Urbana Symphony is in residence at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, University of Illinois."

Lou Reed Uses The Haken Continuum

This one sent in via John:
"Was reading the music reviews in the New York Times and found this:

Music Review | Lou Reed
All Those Sounds From the Stage: Processed, and Not Always Pretty

'Although for half of the show, before picking up a guitar, he played a Continuum Fingerboard, a touch-sensitive instrument that depends on outside sound sources; it wasn’t clear whether Mr. Reed’s were guitar-related or not.'"

image: Chad Batka for The New York Times click for the full review. http://www.hakenaudio.com

NAMM: Pacarana—Supercomputer for Sound

The Symbolic Sound Pacarana is here.
"Most powerful sound design workstation on the planet
That’s what Electronic Musician magazine calls the Kyma sound design environment. Future Music calls it the Holy Grail of sound design. Kyma's strength arises from its unique set of algorithms, the ease with which you can create endless combinations of those algorithms, and the unprecedented degree of real-time responsive control over the sound parameters.

You’ve already heard the sounds of Kyma in films like WALL•E, The Dark Knight, Master and Commander, Finding Nemo. And you've heard the interactive musical sounds of Kyma both on albums and in live sets by legendary musicians and producers like John Paul Jones, A.R. Rahman, Rich Costey, BT, and many others.

In 1990, Symbolic Sound revolutionized the sound design and music software industry with the introduction of Kyma, a graphical modular software sound design environment accelerated by the software-reconfigurable Capybara multi-processor sound computation engine. Symbolic Sound is committed to bringing the most advanced and flexible sound design technology to sound designers, musicians, educators, researchers, and creative professionals through its innovative hardware and software offerings.

What comes next?

A supercomputer designed for sound"

The flagship model Pacarana is 150% the power of a fully-loaded Capybara-320 for less than half the price. The entry-level Paca costs less than a Basic Capybara-320, but the new entry-level model is 5 times more powerful.

Falling in love with Kyma
What is it that people love about Kyma? For some people it’s having an unbounded environment for creating sounds that have never been heard before. Others cite outstanding technical support and the super-stability and reliability of the Kyma software during live performances. Still others rave about the continuous stream of free software updates full of new features and synthesis/processing algorithms. And everyone loves the legendary Kyma sound.

What’s the secret behind the ‘Kyma sound’? The secret is in the software. When you have a supercomputer dedicated entirely to capturing, processing, and synthesizing sound, you have the luxury of being able to do things right. We don’t cut corners, and you can hear the difference."


"On the back of the Pacarana—all the high-speed connectivity you want and need for digital audio production: two FireWire 800 ports, 2 USB ports, 100-base T Ethernet jack, and more…

A DC power plug connects the Pacarana to an external power supply that auto-senses voltage and frequency of the AC power source no matter where in the world you travel.

The Pacarana communicates with the Kyma X software running under Mac OS or Windows via FireWire 800 (IEEE1394B) or an 800-to-400 adapter cable.

Audio and MIDI input and output is handled via an external FireWire or USB converter or, for current Kyma owners, through a Capybara-320 with Flame FireWire I/O. Connect additional USB MIDI controllers like keyboards or fader boxes via the second USB port."

The above is just an excerpt. You can find more on the Symbolic Sound Pacarana website.

Update: the official press release came in at 4:33 PM:
"New Supercomputer for Sound:
Pacarana for Kyma Sound Design Environment

Champaign IL, January 12, 2009:
Musicians and sound designers for film, games and live electronic music now have a new supercomputer designed specifically for interactive sound exploration and live performance. The Pacarana and Paca are two new multiprocessor computers optimized for capturing, processing and synthesizing sound for the award-winning Kyma Sound Design Environment. Designed by Symbolic Sound Corporation to serve as a smaller, more affordable and more powerful replacement for the Capybara*320 sound computation engine, the new entry-level system is 5 times more powerful and costs $500 less than the older entry-level configuration. The power of the higher-end model exceeds that of a fully-loaded Capybara*320 but costs far less than half as much.

http://ssc-media.com/Pictures/Pacarana/Front%20(full%20res).JPG

http://ssc-media.com/Pictures/Pacarana/Nick%20Paca%20trimmed.jpg

Kyma, the Paca(rana), and backwards compatibility
Favored by sound designers for its unique set of algorithms, the ease with which one can create endless combinations of sound processing and synthesis algorithms, its reliability during live performances, and the responsiveness of real-time control over sound parameters, the Kyma sound design environment benefits from the new Paca(rana) platforms in the form of more polyphony, denser textures, faster loading times, more memory for live sampling and playback, enhanced portability, refinements in sound quality and the potential for future developments.

According to composer/performer and early adopter Phil Curtis of SoNu (http://www.sonusound.com):
I'm loving the new Pacarana. [M]ost of my old sounds just barely register on the meter, even sounds that just barely worked on the Capybara....I can already see that this is going to be a big leap in what I can do and paves the way for years of further development.

Sound designers who have been using Kyma X on the Capybara*320 can open and continue working on their current projects using the new hardware. Switching back and forth between the Capybara and the new hardware is completely transparent, and Symbolic Sound will continue to support Kyma X on the Capybara-320. Kyma users also have the option of keeping their Capybara*320 computer running alongside a new Pacarana, augmenting, rather than replacing, their current hardware.

Smaller, lighter, easily portable
With more sound designers going freelance, more musicians going on tour, and the airlines charging for each checked bag, Symbolic Sound decided to make the Pacarana and Paca small and light enough to fit into a backpack, laptop case or in a small rolling rack. The Pacarana footprint is the same as that of a MacBook Pro 15" (the Paca is about 3 inches shorter) and is 1 rack unit in height: ideal for live performances, working on the road, transporting from home studio to sound stage or from work to home.

Connectivity
On the back of the Paca(rana) are 2 USB ports, 2 FireWire 800 ports, and a DC power plug that connects to an external power supply brick (about the same size as the Mac Mini's power brick).
http://www.ssc-media.com/Pictures/Pacarana/Back%20(full%20res).JPG

The Paca and Pacarana communicate with the Kyma X software running under Mac OS or Windows via FireWire 800 (IEEE 1394B) or FireWire 400 (IEEE 1394A) using an 800-to-400 adapter cable.

Audio and MIDI input and output is handled by an external FireWire or USB converter or, for current Kyma owners, through a Capybara-320 with Flame FireWire I/O.

Additional USB MIDI controllers like keyboards or fader boxes can be connected via the second USB port.

More Audio and MIDI Input/Output options
Symbolic Sound decided to decouple the sound conversion from the sound computation functions in order to give customers more options for customizing their studio and mobile setups. Customers can now select from among a full range of high-quality third-party 1394TA AMDTP-standard FireWire and class-compliant USB audio converter devices available in nearly every size and price range. The growing list of qualified third-party converters includes the TC Electronic Konnekt series, the MOTU UltraLite-mk3, the Apogee Duet, and, on the USB side, the M-Audio Fast Track Pro and Logitech and Sennheiser USB headsets.

The Kyma Sound
Early reports from alpha and beta testers confirm that the sound quality of the Pacarana matches and, in some cases, surpasses that of its predecessor.

"People tell me that Kyma has an excellent word-of-mouth reputation for audio quality, and they usually attribute the quality to the Capybara*320 converters," says company president Carla Scaletti. "While it's true that the Capybara converters are excellent, the real secret to high-quality audio is in the algorithms. When you have a computer entirely dedicated to computing sound, you don't have to cut corners; we don't have to share our sound computer with a CPU-hungry operating system or a graphics subsystem; all Paca and Pacarana cycles are dedicated to computing high quality sound."

Live Control
You can use any USB or FireWire MIDI device or software for controlling sound parameters on the Paca(rana). Symbolic Sound has been working closely with Haken Audio (http://www.hakenaudio.com) to create seamless plug-and-play operation with the new MIDI-based Continuum fingerboard. Additional controllers with a high degree of Kyma integration include the Wacom tablet, the MotorMix, and the controllers supported by Camille Troillard's OSCulator (http://www.osculator.net) software, including the Nintendo Wiimote, the Jazz Mutant Lemur, the Logitech Space Navigator, and others.

Backpacking
The Paca(rana) fits perfectly into the hard-shell laptop sleeves made by Tom Bihn (http://www.tombihn.com) and Symbolic Sound is making the Tom Bihn Brain Cell sleeve and Brain Bag backpack available with the purchase of a Paca or Pacarana for hands-free transport of your laptop, Pacarana and other mobile audio gear.

Price and availability
Symbolic Sound is now shipping both the Paca and the Pacarana. The entry-level Paca is available for US $2970 and the professional studio model Pacarana is available for US $4402. To place an order, please visit http://www.symbolicsound.com or send email to info-kyma@symbolicsound.com

Summary
A lower entry-level price, a smaller footprint, and a whole lot of extra horsepower make Kyma X + Paca(rana) a supercomputer for sound designers and musicians!

Background
Symbolic Sound first revolutionized the sound design and music software industry in 1990 with the introduction of Kyma, a graphical modular software sound design environment accelerated by the software-reconfigurable Capybara multi-processor sound computation engine. The Paca(rana) is the fifth in a series of increasingly powerful sound computation engines designed and produced by Symbolic Sound to work in conjunction with the Kyma sound design environment (now in its sixth major release, not counting the hundreds of free updates between each major release). Symbolic Sound is committed to bringing the most advanced and flexible sound design technology to sound designers, musicians, educators, researchers, game developers, and other creative professionals through its innovative hardware and software offerings.

Symbolic Sound, the Symbolic Sound logo, Kyma, Pacarana, Paca, and Capybara and their logos are trademarks of Symbolic Sound Corporation. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners."

Haken Audio Continuum - Impressions

Paul Sop posted his impressions of the Haken Audio Continuum on the Analog Heaven mailing list. I asked him if it would be ok if I put up a post here for those not on AH. He said go right ahead. Very cool. Title link takes you to some more shots. His thoughts are below. Note that Paul currently has the only white Continuum. Thanks Paul!



"Here are some observations I have on the instrument:

1) Like Hakken says, it takes a long time to learn. I now have nice Sitar music comming out of it. I'd say if you were a keyboard player, it would be harder to learn than if you were a violin, or steel guitar player. It's more like a violin than a keyboard in my opinion.

2) It is >10 finger polyphonic. I think it might be up to 16 finger polyphonic. You can sit on one side of it, and a friend can sit on the other side, and you can both play at the same time. -- WILD

3) There is considerable difference between the Firewire output's capability and MIDI's capability. This is a bit involved, so I'll do this in subsections to this point:
3a) With MIDI, (and I may be a bit wrong about some of this, for I'm still figuring MIDI out on it), you might have, say 10 notes active at the same time. You can set up MIDI on the fingerboard to send out on a single channel, so all 10 notes would be on one channel. If you do that, it is easy to patch to soft synths, BUT any pitch-bend information sent by wiggling a finger back and forth affects ALL the notes.
3b) You can also set up MIDI so that each note is sent on its own channel. This is, of course, better, but I've had a lot of trouble getting softsynths to listen to all channels properly. If you put the softsynth in OMNI mode, it seems the pitchbend problem occurs again. I may have something wrong here, and will figure it out some day I'm sure
3c) If you use the Kyma, these restrictions are gone, as the instrument tracks each finger position (x and y axis) and pressure (z axis) perfectly, and with great finesse.

4) Lippold just released new firmware with a nice legato feature. It's like a fretless device, so if you put your finger down slightly to the left, your sound is slightly lower. That being said, you can also activate pitch rounding, so your initial touch is pitch perfect.

5) I've had great success playing analog gear with the Continuum. Just realize that there is some complexity due to the fact that each finger can have its own pitch-bend, and depending on your MIDI destination's capabilities, you can either have full awesomeness, or tell the fingerboard to make some MIDI compromises. This is all of course, just living with MIDI's issues.

6) Holy the thing rocks when used creatively. I now pretty much use only the fingerboard and a Marimba Lumina, and my music sounds A LOT more fun than it did before. It's hard to describe what you can do with the fingerboard in words. Here are some goofy things I've done with it:

- Map different samples to different pressures, with granulation based on the y axis. This sounds lame, until you realize it's not a keyboard, and you can do things like keep your finger in a single position, and strum up and down with great precision to a beat. So your finger becomes like an LFO. Then you can map the y-axis to a granulator, etc...

- Amazing for plucked guitars: listen to Ed Eagan's stuff on the http://www.hakenaudio.com/Continuum/ website. He shared a lot of his sounds, and it only took about 2 weeks for me to get about 1/2 as good as he is with all those Sitar style sounds.

- It's an awesome ambient sound generator. If you're doing soundtrack style music, you can sort of connect your soul to the fingerboard, and watch your movie, and really capture a lot of emotional gestures that are very workable."