Gentry 'Jagged Edge': Behind the Scenes - Launchkey [MK3] // Novation

NovationTV

We were lucky enough to get to join multi-instrumentalist Gentry for an exclusive performance of his track 'Jagged Edge'. In this video, he deconstructs his performance, explaining how he used the Launchkey 49 [MK3] at the centre of his live set-up.

--- Watch him perform 'Jagged Edge' live using using Launchkey 49 [MK3] alongside Bass Station II: [posted here]

Launchkey [MK3] is our intuitive and fully integrated MIDI keyboard controller for making tracks in Ableton Live, designed to give you everything you need to create and play your music. Made for creators of all abilities, the Novation Launchkey gives you inspirational tools to expand your musical vocabulary. Scale and Chord modes and a powerful arpeggiator push your musical creativity and help start new ideas. Custom Modes and a full-size MIDI output transform Novation Launchkey [MK3] into a powerful centrepiece of any music-making setup. Launchkey [MK3] is made to create.

--- Discover Launchkey [MK3]:
https://novationmusic.com/en/keys/lau..."

Launchkey & Cubase 12 Integration // Novation Live

video upload by NovationTV

"In this edition of Novation Live, we'll be covering the new Launchkey Mk3 controller integration with Steinberg Cubase 12, exploring workflow, features and more!

The new Cubase 12 gives your Launchkey MIDI controller powerful integration. Now, you can stay focused on your music with screen feedback, and quick access to essential controls that make working in Cubase with Launchkey more intuitive. Steinberg’s latest update to Cubase is a significant improvement from the previous HUI script, giving you high functionality using Launchkey with Cubase 12.

All Launchkey owners will receive a 10% discount on the full version of Cubase Pro 12, Cubase Artist 12, Cubase Elements 12 and the Competitive Crossgrade from other DAWs exclusively in Steinberg's online shop until May 20, 2022. The discount code will be accessible from the customer portal.

Launchkey [MK3] is our intuitive and fully integrated MIDI keyboard controller for making tracks in Ableton Live, designed to give you everything you need to create and play your music. Made for creators of all abilities, the Launchkey gives you inspirational tools to expand your musical vocabulary. Scale and Chord modes and a powerful arpeggiator push your musical creativity and help start new ideas. Custom Modes and a full-size MIDI output transform Launchkey [MK3] into a powerful centrepiece of any music-making setup. Launchkey [MK3] is made to create.

--- Discover Launchkey [MK3]:
https://novationmusic.com/en/keys/lau..."

Daft Punk - Doin' It Right - Conte Remix Featuring the KMI QuNeo

Published on Jun 17, 2013

"-Become my Patron: http://www.patreon.com/jackconte
-Get this song on iTunes: http://tinyurl.com/DoinItConte
-Watch the Behind the Scenes Video: http://youtu.be/Nsvh7OtrhfI

Get Concert Tickets!
http://jackconte.tumblr.com/Tour

100% original sound design - no samples used.
Filmed in one take, start to finish.
Recorded and performed with Ableton Live 8
Performed on a QuNeo and Launchpad S

Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/JackConteMusic

Twitter
http://twitter.com/jackconte

Booking: frank@highroadtouring.com

Special thanks to Ableton, Keith McMillen Instruments, and Novation for their support. In the interest of full disclosure, KMI and Novation sent me some free gear recently, but they are not paying me. I'm linking to the companies and products below not because I'm contractually bound to, and not because they asked me to, but because I believe in their products and I want to. They are making the tools of our music making generation, and they are keeping them affordable and deep. Again, I'm not getting paid to say any of this. I just like their products and they deserve a serious shout out. Here's what I used in this video:

QuNeo
http://www.keithmcmillen.com/QuNeo/overview

Launchpad S
http://us.novationmusic.com/midi-cont...

Ableton Live:
https://www.ableton.com/en/live/new-i..."

QuNeos on eBay

Programming and tweaking a Roland MC-202

YouTube via sifkasifka2 aka JB.

"This is to show that programming a MC-202 is pretty simple, even though it's ancient technology. It shows the whole process, right after plugging it in. I first program a sequence by playing it in real-time, no need to follow a precise tempo as it auto-quantizes itself. I run through the steps again to input portamento, in this sequence i do it on every step, so i can control the amount on any step with the portamento knob (you can also program it into specific steps, same as with accents). I check the sequence to see if i like it, i then choose the "cycle" function to have the sequence loop at its end point. I start Ableton Live to sync it and start tweaking. The beginning uses only the triangle wave, sounding close to a TB-303 bassline, the square wave is then added into the mix, followed by the sub-oscillator, making it very fat sounding, at that point it sounds like a typical SH-101 bassline. The MC-202 is being synced by Ableton Live's midi clock message going to a Novation Drumstation. The Drumstation transforms the midi clock into a DIN-sync signal, it also plays a 909 beat. This was a relatively simple sequence, it can get more complex, with the second channel controlling a second synth via cv, and sequences playing up to 2600 notes. Thanks for looking at my video!"

Launchkey [MK3] - v1.1 Firmware Update // Novation

video by NovationTV

"In the first update to Launchkey [MK3], the v1.1 update brings Strum Mode, a new feature giving you the ability to play chords using the mod wheel, aimed at igniting that creative spark and adding an extra dimension to your melodies. In this video, Enrique takes you through the v1.1 update, demonstrating how to get started with the latest features.

Launchkey is our intuitive and fully integrated MIDI keyboard controller for making tracks in Ableton Live, designed to give you everything you need to create and play your music.

--- Discover more & download Launchkey [MK3] v1.1:
http://bit.ly/Launchkey-v1-1​

--- Discover Launchkey [MK3]:
https://bit.ly/LaunchkeyMK3​"

Launchkey Mini [MK3] - v1.1 Firmware Update // Novation
video by NovationTV

"In the first update to Launchkey Mini [MK3], the v1.1 update brings Strum Mode, a new feature giving you the ability to play chords using the modulation touch strip, aimed at igniting that creative spark and adding an extra dimension to your melodies. Other new features, as requested by the community, include a double-tap shift function for arp, transpose and the fixed-chord buttons, on/off pad velocity, adjustable pad brightness, and the ability to now set MIDI clock output to on or off. In this video, Enrique takes you through the Launchkey Mini [MK3] v1.1 update.

--- Discover more & download Launchkey [MK3] v1.1:
http://bit.ly/Launchkey-v1-1​
Launchkey Mini is our most compact and portable 25-mini-key MIDI keyboard controller, giving you everything you need to start creating in Ableton Live.
--- Discover Launchkey [MK3]:
https://bit.ly/LaunchkeyMini-MK3​"

Novation Peak - Day Two

Published on Apr 29, 2018 Tim Shoebridge

Also added to Day One here.

"Here (finally!) is my Day Two video for the fabulous Novation Peak 8-Voice Polyphonic Synthesizer. This has been a few weeks in the making, but I had in mind from the start an evolving longer-length soundtrack and that required a lot more time to put together the video.

The soundtrack itself goes on a kind of journey, it evolves through different phases but ultimately ends up where it started. This is very much how I see humanity evolving and that was the inspiration for the images that I chose for the video.

There is no synth-related information in this video, it is all about the sound and images, I will put together a "breakdown" video to go through my sound and composition choices next time.

BTW You can listen to the soundtrack on soundcloud here:



Thanks very much for watching."

A Compact Creation! But Now What? // The "Dead End" of The Groovebox Workflow - Compact Creation

video upload by Ricky Tinez

"I'm curious to know your favorite way of finishing a track that you start on a "groovebox". Do you just leave it there, try to song mode it or pattern chain it into a masterpiece, or stem it out one by one. Which, of course, takes longer but gets the job done. Today I mess around and start a track idea using the OG Novation Circuit and the Arturia Minifreak but quickly come to the roadblock that I usually come across when using Groove boxes and other forms of dawless music making."

Empress FX Zoia Tutorials by Ron Cavagnaro

Published on Apr 23, 2019 Ron Cavagnaro

Playlist:

1. Quickstart - FX Basics // Empress Effects Zoia Tutorial

This video is intended to show the most basic functioning to start off. It is intended for the absolute beginner. There will be more videos that will progress to more deeper functions so please stay tuned!

Intro 0:00
Audio Input 0:55
Audio Output 1:53
Making Connections 2:20
Disconnecting Modules 2:53
Adding FX 3:24
Connecting FX 3:55
Changing Module Parameters 4:28
Erasing Module 4:59
Adding Different FX 5:11
Chaining FX Modules 5:57
Saving/Renaming Presets 7:02
A Few Factory Presets Demo 7:57

2. Quickstart Pt 2 - LFO Basics // Empress FX Zoia Tutorial

This tutorial is how to apply LFO's to the effects modules on the Empress FX Zoia. If this video seems confusing please watch the previous video to learn the more basic settings.

Intro 0:00
Creating Your Own Tremolo w/ Overdrive 0:44
Copying A Module 1:05
Editing A Module 1:27
Adding VCA 1:38
Connecting modules 2:01
Assigning LFO to VCA 2:36
Changing LFO Waveform 3:37
Clearing Modules 4:03
Adding Lowpass Filter 4:14
Adding another LFO 5:44
Deleting Filter Modules 6:37
Adding Aliaser Module 6:46
Connecting LFO to Aliaser 7:22
Adding Bitcrush Module 7:49
Adding Pitchshifter Module 8:28
Adding a few more LFOs 11:13
Short Novation Circuit Demo with Zoia FX 12:13

CLICK FOR MORE »

New Circuit Rhythm Coming Summer 2021

via Novation

"Sample. Make beats. Perform.

Stay one beat ahead.
Make samples completely your own, build beats into any vibe, and perform with ease with Circuit Rhythm, launching Summer 2021.

Designed for an intuitive workflow, Circuit Rhythm comes as a blessing for beatmakers. Capture creative ideas quickly and build meticulous beats effortlessly. With Grid FX, Circuit Rhythm is the perfect performance tool – invigorate your live set with beat repeat, embrace imperfection with vinyl simulation, and more.

Record samples directly into the machine, sculpt them to suit your style, and resample. Playback samples however you choose, whether you're chopping straight from vinyl, making basslines and melodies, or punching in drums. Create beats without complications with Circuit Rhythm."

How does it differ from the Circuit Tracks? If you look at the 2nd row of pads you will see a Sample pad followed by pads numbered 1 - 8. You can assume 8 sample slots. Note the lack of Synth parts. Also note the Sample inputs on the back. This appears to be a full-on sample based Circuit with live sampling. On the original Ciruit and Circuit Tracks you can import samples, but you can't record samples via the unit itself. There's also a MicroSD slot on the back for storing your samples. Knobs on top control Master Volume, Tune, Sample start, Length, Slope, Distortion, HP Filter, LP Filter, Resonance, and Master Filter. Click the pic below to read the pad controls. This looks to be a super sleek, intuitive, fun, hands-on sampling rhythm machine, as we have come to expect from Novation.

#Synthuary2020 / #Jamuary2020 - 01

Published on Jan 1, 2020 True Cuckoo

"The idea with Jamuary is to get going with what you have, and to help get comfortable sharing and performing little jams, and to get to know each other and appreciate what everyone is doing in the electronic music independent scene. Post a little music snippet every day of jamuary, or for as many of the days that you have the energy to. Browse the hashtag and get inspired. Get to know musicians you had never heard about, and perhaps even make some friends along the way."

CLICK FOR MORE »

"Dark Signals" by Mark Mosher (Live Rehearsal Video)

"Dark Signals" by Mark Mosher (Live Rehearsal Video) from Mark Mosher on Vimeo.

"'Dark Signals' is a song from my album I Hear Your Signals. This video is in HD and I captured the audio full fidelity right from my sound card in real-time and made note edits. It's one of my favorite songs off the album and is becoming a crowd favorite at live shows. A dark original electronica song with driving big beats, bit-crushed high-hats, a dash of ambient texture, and tasty distorted synth leads. Checkout the rippin' synth solo at the 1:42 mark performed live from a Tenori-On matrix controller sending notes to a virtual synth running in Ableton Live. The Moog Etherwave Theremin signal is being converted from analog back to digital and is driving virtual synths as well.

You can buy the album name your prices ($0 for Free) over at markmosher.bandcamp.com.

Mark Mosher
MarkMosherMusic.com"

"Alone" by Mark Mosher played on AudioCubes (Rehearsal) from Mark Mosher on Vimeo.

"In this video I'm playing my original instrumental electronic music song "Alone" from my album REBOOT markmosher.bandcamp.com/​album/​... .

I'm about half way through arranging and programming the synthesizers and controllers so I can add this song to my live set. I'm making great progress so I thought I'd share a rehearsal video.

It's such an organic piece, I decided to play the entire song from Percussa AudioCubes using only spatial hand movement. Ableton Live is playing back the pulsing drone, but almost all other elements are being played live via the AudioCubes. The AudioCubes are in "sensor" mode so placing my hand in front of a cube face plays a note on a virtual synthesizer hosted out of Live - almost like a Laser harp.

I only use the Novation Launchpad to change which tracks are armed thereby allowing me to switch which synths I'm playing on-the-fly throughout the song.

At the 2:00 minute mark I start playing chords by using multiple faces simultaneously.

Mark Mosher
MarkMosherMusic.com"

Yamaha Tenori-Ons on Ebay

GEOSynths Synth Show Jams - Ep140 - With Dean from Electronisounds

video upload by GEOSynths

"Synthesizer Podcast - April 2022 Jams - With Dean from Electronisounds - Episode 140 @ 6pm UK (1pm EST) Sunday 24th April.

Dean from Electronisounds is a dedicated synth nerd, sound designer, YouTuber and multi-instrumentalist. The drums were his first instrument and that love of rhythm is clear in his music. He comes from an old school background of learning to produce before the days of the internet - which gave him a love for hardware gear. (Producing 100% in the box on computers was not an option in the early 1990’s, you needed to have actual hardware gear if you wanted to make electronic music.)

Using hardware led to a love of SAMPLING, which led him to start Electronisounds in 1994, where he began distributing his own sounds, loops and samples. Electronisounds was one of the first independent sample companies. Dean continues this passion for hardware gear today, making sound banks for modern day samplers, groove boxes and synthesizers.

He’s made over 250 sample packs, sound banks and preset banks, and has done sound design for several other companies such as: Eventide, Novation, Native Instruments, Vengeance, Modbap Modular and many more.

He started the Electronisounds YouTube channel in 2017 and has been sharing tutorials and music made with everything from iPads, to Modular Synths and Eurorack to Grooveboxes like the Digitakt and Akai Force. What’s next for Dean? More new sound banks and sample packs coming soon, of course!

https://www.electronisounds.com/"

Blocs for iOS | Launchpad Soundpack Sharing (feat. ODESZA - Say My Name)

Blocs for iOS | Launchpad Soundpack Sharing (feat. ODESZA - Say My Name) from Blocs on Vimeo.

"Introducing Launchpad Soundpack Sharing, a new feature that allows you to play with your Launchpad for iOS Soundpacks in Blocs Wave. The latest update shows your purchased Launchpad content in Blocs Wave automatically. Now you can explore your library further and play with your favourite sounds in new and exciting ways.

Get the ODESZA track in Launchpad for iOS now here:

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/novation-launchpad/id584362474?mt=8"

"What's New in Version 5.0

You can now use your Launchpad soundpacks in Blocs Wave, our other music-making app for iPad and iPhone. Blocs Wave lets you play with your purchased Launchpad soundpacks in new and unique ways: build entirely new tunes with discover; tweak, slice and edit; and even record your own sounds.

To celebrate this release we’re offering a discount of nearly 50% off Blocs Wave.

Highlight Features
• Soundpack Sharing - Use your purchased Launchpad soundpacks in Blocs Wave
• New iPad store helps you find soundpacks you might like
• Free update for Blocs Wave and Launchpad users

Other new updates
• Fine control of pad volume by dragging upwards, away from the slider
• Various minor bugfixes and improvements

Other recent features - Launchpad for iPhone Editing and Importing
• Create your own remixes and new tunes on Launchpad for iPhone
• Start new projects, mix and match loops
• Audio Import now available for iPhone as an In-App Purchase

We really appreciate your feedback. If you have comments, questions or feature requests, let us know at support@blocs.cc or blocs.cc/survey. If you like Launchpad for iOS and have a minute to spare, please review the app in the app store."

Happy New Year! The Year in Synths 2013

Happy New Year Everyone!

What a busy year it has been in the world of synths.

This is going to be one doozy of a post, so bear with me. This post is a review of the year in synths for 2013. We begin with Tributes to Those We Lost This Year, followed by New Manufacturers & Makers, Older Manufacturers Added to the Site, New Gear Announcements, Top 10 Posts by Traffic,  My Standout Posts for the Year, and finally This Years' Synth Events. I did my best to keep things as short and concise as possible.

Let's begin with the hardest part of the post.

Tributes to Those We Lost This Year

RIP Bernard Parmegiani - Electronic & Acoustic Composer
Lou Reed RIP
RIP Dick Raaymakers aka Kid Baltan
RIP George Duke - DreamWeaver
RIP Ralph Dyck, Sept 28, 1941 – May 20, 2013
RIP Ray Manzarek

All missed and never to be forgotten. Take a moment to remember them.

------

New Manufacturers & Makers

Starting last January, I decided to keep a running list of every new manufacturer and maker introduced to the site during the year.  This is something I haven't done before and I thought it would be interesting to see how many there were in the year.   It's easy to focus on the big synth announcements throughout the year, but what about all the new makers and brands? I shouln't have to go considerably into the significance of new designers on the scene, so I'll just say two things regarding them.  One, the number of new makers is a direct reflection on the interest in our scene, and two, these are the creators of new gear which directly translate into new designs not previously available to us.  Think about that for a moment.  These are makers and designs that did not exist before.  They are part of our synth history.  So what is the total count of new synth designers for the year? A whopping 113. Think about that a bit. One hundred and thirteen new synth designers and brands this year alone.

Here they are (note a handful date back to 2012, but 2013 marked their momentum and availability):

CLICK FOR MORE »

"Alone" by Mark Mosher played on AudioCubes (Rehearsal)

YouTube via newechoproductions | September 23, 2010

"In this video I'm playing my original instrumental electronic music song "Alone" from my album REBOOT http://markmosher.bandcamp.com/album/... .

I'm about half way through arranging and programming the synthesizers and controllers so I can add this song to my live set. I'm making great progress so I thought I'd share a rehearsal video.

It's such an organic piece, I decided to play the entire song from Percussa AudioCubes using only spatial hand movement. Ableton Live is playing back the pulsing drone, but almost all other elements are being played live via the AudioCubes. The AudioCubes are in "sensor" mode so placing my hand in front of a cube face plays a note on a virtual synthesizer hosted out of Live - almost like a Laser harp.

I only use the Novation Launchpad to change which tracks are armed thereby allowing me to switch which synths I'm playing on-the-fly throughout the song.

At the 2:00 minute mark I start playing chords by using multiple faces simultaneously.

Mark Mosher
www.MarkMosherMusic.com"

In the Studio with S-X // Novation

video upload by NovationTV

"We caught up with producer of the moment S-X in London's Signature Studios, ahead of the drop of his debut album 'Thing Change' (out now on RBC Records).

We joined him in the studio, as he creates a beat from scratch using FL Studio with FLkey, showing us how he makes his statement sounds. S-X has a producer’s ear, a pop-star’s voice, and a natural flair for originality in his song writing, see how FLkey helps him to turn the inspirational spark in his mind into a beat in FL Studio in minutes.

Watch S-X in action as he walks us through how to make a beat with the FLkey 37 and FL Studio, taking us through his creative process from start to finish, to make a beat in minutes.

FLkey is the ultimate MIDI keyboard for making music in FL Studio and brings the most important on-screen controls of FL Studio right to your fingertips. With controls for FL Studio’s Step Sequencer, Channel Rack and Mixer, and creative Scale and Chord modes, FLkey lets you play freely so you can make more of your music.

--- Discover FLkey:
https://novationmusic.com/en/keys/flkey"