MATRIXSYNTH

ESQ-1 Digital / Analog Synthesizer (Episode 2 Preview)

YouTube via williamenroh.

"This is a preview for Inside Synthesis Episode 2. It will demonstrate LFO programming on synthesizers that lack real-time phrase/drumbeat triggering, such as the ESQ-1.

While the ESQ-1 has a built-in sequencer, there's no way to dynamically control the sequences. To make matters more challenging, the ESQ-1 lacks a modulation sequencer of the MS-2000 (as seen in Episode 1).

But that doesn't mean you can't do real-time drumbeats and arpeggiations.

Episode 2 will be finished soon. I had a small setback."

OT: Apple Sucks

RANT:
Just felt the need to say that. I was planning on getting an IPod Classic 160G to hold all my music and my home videos. My home vids are in MPEG-2 format. I went to the Apple store today and asked what I needed to convert the vids to play on the IPod. I was told Quicktime Pro would do it. I buy it and nope. I then read I need the MPEG-2 utility here. Another $20 bucks.

The MPEG-2 site reads (pay close attention here kiddies):

"Transcoding video content

Your MPEG-2 video content can be imported into QuickTime and exported to other formats such as MPEG-4, the new international standard for Internet media, QuickTime Movie or DV Stream, to name a few. The QuickTime MPEG-2 Playback Component allows the transcode of MPEG-2 video from both multiplexed and elementary video streams(1). By converting your MPEG-2 video content into other formats, it can be used in new forums, such as on the web, on CD-ROM or on DV tape."

I convert the home video and... no audio. So I go to the online support and find this!:

"It is not possible to export the audio portion of a muxed MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 audio/video stream using QuickTime. For editing purposes, the entire MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 stream is treated as a single sample. You may create edit lists to display parts of the stream in the usual way, but if you flatten the movie data, the entire stream is saved, not just the parts displayed in the movie."

I'm sorry, but WTF is that?! Apparently there are no refunds either, so I'm out $54.43 for software I don't even need. Apple sucks. And for the record, every single report of problems with the site have been on the Mac.
RANT Over

So if you are considering doing the same, consider yourself warned. This software seems to work, and was recommended by the guys at Gizmodo, but it will cost me another $29.95 to automate the process.

BTW, if I'm reading the above wrong and it should actually work but I need to do something I'm missing let me know.

BTW, I'm pissed at MS to. Why the hell they released the Zune in only 30G capacity is beyond me.

AH Cali 2007 Images

Two sets are in:

One
Two

AKA AH Bay Area 2007

Update: another set via synchro1
and more from retrosynth.

Sound Transform Systems Serge

Title link takes you to shots via this auction.

New Timbral Oscillator
Wave Multiplier
Wilson Analog Delay
Precision Voltage Controlled Oscillator
Mixer
Divide N Comparator
Variable Resonance Voltage Controlled Filter
Universal Audio Processor

Alicia Keys and the Jupiter-8 - VMA Awards

My wife is watching the VMA awards (I'll never admit to it : ). Anyway Alicia Keys just played and get this, she had a Roland Jupiter-8 out on the catwalk. She performed and walked over to it and played a few notes. If anyone has a screen shot of this or sees it on YouTube, post back and I'll update the post up. Not much happens with it, but it was nice seeing something vintage there. There were some nice close-ups of it.

Update: image and link to the video via the comments.

Iapetus - instrumental synth prog rock

YouTube via hamsterdunce.
"More music on umop.com!
Putting the mental in instrumental, once again... Another odd ditty... this one grooves in an alternating 15/8 and 4/4... more epileptic dancing fun for everyone! Backing tracks & rock organ part are all Garage Band... such a great program. Meanwhile, the Nord Lead, Access Virus kb, and trusty old Korg 01/W are along for the ride, with Cthulhu riding shotgun."

Drunk

YouTube via reichmarshall.
"I don't drink very often. Here's why." Lightweight. :)

MD liveset practice part 1

YouTuve via daswesen.

keybdwizrd - Morphine Demo

YouTube via keybdwizrd.
"Demo of the Morphine additive synthesizer (software), using M-Audio Oxygen 8 v2 MIDI controller. Minor detail: The Morphine GUI is NOT as large as it appears here - I used the zoom feature in OSX to make it bigger on the screen for purposes of making this video."