Cassiel’s straker on monome and audiocubes:

The monome is being driven by the straker sequencing network, which is built using shado. The sound manipulation comes courtesy of shard, an algorithmic sample slicing plugin that we’ve used on stage a few times, most recently for a Future of Sound gig at (re)Actor3 in Liverpool.

UVI Sound Source has introduced Electric Toy Museum, described as “the most insane sound library in the market.”

97 vintage musical toys were carefully sampled under optimal conditions, 24 bits/96khz quality, most of them recorded with the best microphones and preamps.

ELECTRIC TOY MUSEUM is now available for $249, and includes the full version of UVI Workstation.

Description:

With more than 1000 presets and 14 000 samples, it’s like having all these toys right under your fingertips. Every aspect of each machine has been captured : multi-sampled instruments with release samples for every note, rhythms converted into sliced loops, GM drumkits created, FX and speech voices carefully organized …

These jewels’ character come from their acoustic assembling and the “cheap” speakers they use. To capture the essence of them, we did sample them in a superb sounding studio room. We took the time to find the right microphone for the right machine, then recorded every note and every sound possible (including release samples, key clicks, etc…), we also did record drumloops or instrument loops (note that with the UVI Workstation or MachFive2, the loops will sync directly to the desired tempo).

After editing this huge amount of sounds, this epic work was finalised by trying to find the best way to organize the collection, and here is the result, dealt out in 10 categories: Children, Developed, Drums & FX, Mini Sampler, Musical Toys, Organ Basic, Silly, Small, Speech & Style-o-phone.”

“Download and take a look at the content PDF, watch and listen the video in our websites and you will have a better idea why this library is another milestone collection from Ultimate Sound Bank”, said Alain Etchart, Founder and Director of Marketing at Univers Sons / Ultimate Sound Bank.

Noise Trio (App Store Link) is a free iPhone synthesizer from the maker of Noise.io Pro.

It has three instruments with scale like KAOSSILATOR. First played is Rock Guitar with blues scale, then Arabic flute and Japanese Bells.

It’s based on the Noise.io sound engine, but with limited features.

This GearWire demo video looks at the vocoder features of the Alesis Micron. 

The Alesis Micron is an 8-voice, 3-octave analog modeling synthesizer. The micron’s compact design delivers the power of large synthesizers like the Alesis Ion (the Micron is compatible with Ion programs).

DJmag takes the Tonium Pacemaker through it’s paces to see if it can be used as a professional DJ product.

The video features the DJmag Tech Awards with Tom Middleton, Billy Nasty, Bill Brewster and Eitan Zilkha from Westend DJ store as they award the Pacemnaker the most Innovative Product in 2008, and a workout of the Pacemaker at the Back To Basics party in Leeds, where the residents played exclusively on wireless Pacemakers in room 2. 

Also includes interviews with Tristan Da Cuna, Ed Karney, James Theaker and Dave Beer.

The portability of the Pacemaker is impressive - but it doesn’t equal the visuality of turntables - it’s as sexy as somebody twiddling with their cell phone.

This video captures a performance of Blowjob, a experimental exploration of controlled feedback. 

If you’re in London, you may want to check out the Dec 12 IMT performance, which will feature Wojciech Kosma’s recent compositions, Headfuck and Blowjob, a composition by Berlin based artist Oliver Laric, and an appearance by Polish new-media artist Jan Simon.

Is this music? Art? Exploitation?

Let me know what you think in the comments. 

And if you can’t decide, there are more performances of this particular piece that may help you make up your mind. Read more…

This is a demo of the Analogue Systems rs35 External Processor eurorack synthesizer module, being used to control a modular synthesizer with an electric guitar.

The rs35 is a frequency (or pitch) to voltage converter. It can turn virtually any sound source into a one volt per octave voltage allowing you to control an analog synthesizer. 

The patch runs a Strat into the Barber Electronics TonePress compressor pedal for added sustain. The guitar signal is then run into the low pass filter section of the A.S. rs110 Multimode filter to roll off some of the highs. 

From there, the guitar is patched into the rs35 ‘Frequency In’. The rs35’s voltage out goes to the rs95 voltage controlled oscillator. From there, various modules alter the oscillator sound, including the rs100 Low Pass filter, the rs120 Comb Filter, and the rs290 voltage controlled digital delay/sampler.

I’ve got no idea what’s going on here, but I think I might want to try it:

SEX WITH NO HANDS features two amplified accordions and a vintage 80s keytar. Every member of the six-piece band sings and doubles on horns. Playing a wide range of genres, SEX WITH NO HANDS performances can last all night. Audiences love the group’s stage antics, outlandish costumes, and choreographed laser light show.

Image: CultrVultr