Heavy metal band names flow chart!

There's a whole bunch of cool flow charts here, but this is my favourite...

"Heavy metal band names flow chart!" > read the full post

Slayer! In Christmas lights!

I know it's not time for Christmas stuff yet, but to celebrate my 500th post, here's Slayer, but, like, Christmassy....

"Slayer! In Christmas lights!" > read the full post

Otamatone Jumbo!

I picked up an Otamatone in Japan earlier this year (now available at Amazon and as an iPhone ap), but I wish they had one of these - the Otamatone Jumbo!.......

"Otamatone Jumbo!" > read the full post

Look after your ears

Tinnitus and the dangers of clubbing too hard.



"Look after your ears" > read the full post

Something big on the way for iTunes....

Rumours are it'll be music streaming - something on the lines of Spotify. Come back tomorrow to find out!

"Something big on the way for iTunes...." > read the full post

Happy 40th to Rush...

Here's Tom Sawyer with the kids from South Park...

"Happy 40th to Rush..." > read the full post

Jon Bon Jovi Likes Cup Noodles.....

We saw Jay Kay was a fan before, but here's Bon Jovi selling Japanese pot noodles....

Once more, the evil effects of illegally downloading music show themselves.

Apparently translates as:

"the son is third grade of junior high school.

He was studying for his exams.

But Cup Noodle for midnight snack

His Mum has forgotten it.

The son......

Sulked."

Mmmmmmm. Not poodle......

(Thanks to Yohei for spotting that one)

"Jon Bon Jovi Likes Cup Noodles....." > read the full post

Korg iMS-20: Transform your iPad into a complete analog synth studio

Korg has just released another virtual instrument for the iPad - the Korg iMS-20, a software recreation of the classic Korg MS-20 analog synthesizer.......

According to Korg, the Korg iMS-20 "transforms your iPad into a complete analog synth studio."

Product Highlights:

- A complete recreation of the legendary Korg MS-20 analog synth

- Built-in 16-step analog sequencer to control the sound

- Music production studio with the MS-20 mono synth, a six-part drum machine, and a mixer

- Kaoss Pad function allows intuitive performance and control

- Publish and share your iMS-20 songs online with the SoundCloud audio platform

More details on specifications here, and buy it here.



"Korg iMS-20: Transform your iPad into a complete analog synth studio" > read the full post

"Down On Me" - Keenan Cahill featuring 50 Cent from Chelsea Lately

I'm not sure if you have seen this YouTube sensation already... Keenan Cahill, over 1.22 million views.







""Down On Me" - Keenan Cahill featuring 50 Cent from Chelsea Lately" > read the full post

Remember Remember...

The 5th of November, gun power, treason and fireworks enjoyed from the roof of the LSS South Campus in Clapham....



....you can enjoy both the massive Clapham Common shebang and a couple of others over by Canary Wharf, while drinking cans and swirling sparklers. Narrowly avoided spending the night up there when the roof door was blown shut but help arrived just as it started to get nippy..











maningrey





"Remember Remember..." > read the full post

Yes, it's Free Plugin time again

Found quite a stack of them this time....

Melda Productions do a variety of plugins, from drum plugins to time correlation, and at tempting prices.

Give a few of their free ones a go (I'm torrenting their MDrummer Small as I write this (yes, legally)), see what you think (look for the bottom of the page for the free stuff).

"Yes, it's Free Plugin time again" > read the full post

Do low frequencies make you see ghosts?

Heard about this years ago - (how certain frequencies can cause your eyeballs to resonate, making you think you see movement in your peripheral vision). But is this true, or as real as the South Park brown noise?

Read this to find out?

"Do low frequencies make you see ghosts?" > read the full post

Katsura Strobe Tuner

Thanks to Dirty Singh for this one.....

Katsura Strobe Tuner is a shareware ap, that's a very affordable way to get a strobe tuner on your Mac. If you've not used a strobe tuner before, it's a much easier way to tune that the traditional needle-pointer.

Might give this a go myself - there's a 90 day free trial, but my tuner needs are currently met by PolyTune on my iPhone (they gave it away for free for a very limited time - as a few lucky blog followers found out). You wouldn't think a polyphonic tuner would work, but it does - and the individual string tuning is the best I've used without a strobe.

"Katsura Strobe Tuner" > read the full post

Nebula Free Bundle - now in AU format

Time to see what all the hype has been about.....

There's been an amazing buzz about Nebula for a while now, but as a Pro Tools and Logic user, there wasn't really much chance to play with it. Acustica have finally released the Nebula free bundle - a fully functional, limited feature version of Nebula.

What is it? Well, from their site blurb:

"Nebula emulates the character and personality of analog hardware with exacting accuracy. Whether it is high end outboard equalizers, classic compressors, the latest reverbs, or vintage time-variant effects like phasers and flangers, Nebula has them all. With a large library of free included presets, you'll be adding the warmth of analog to your digital mixes in no time at all.

Nebula is a VST multieffect plug-in that is able to emulate and replicate several types of expensive audio equipment, eliminating the need for costly and bulky hardware. Nebula uses libraries which are created using a sophisticated “sampling approach” making it possible to “record” aspects of the sound of audio devices and play them back. Our sampling process results in highly realistic, complex emulations of many types of audio processing devices that can then be used to process any audio signal digitally, all within a VST plug-in that is compatible with all major DAWs and editing software"

Nebula Free gives you:

• Nebula3 Free (CoreII Engine): the free VST and AU multi-effect plug-in
• N.A.T.3 free: the free FX Sampler

• The free library: small, fully-functional preset library.

If you like what you see, the full version of Nebula is only €119, and can be expanded with 3rd party libraries. In the mean time, get the free version here.

"Nebula Free Bundle - now in AU format" > read the full post

All Glory to the Hypnotoad

This guy has figured out how to get that hypnotoad sound - and written a pretty cool article about how he did it. Well worth a read for the synth heads and Futurama fans among you.....

And for the rest of you, here's a classic episode of Everybody Loves Hypnotoad......

"All Glory to the Hypnotoad" > read the full post

Pro Tools 9

We said it was coming, and here it is!....

It's got everything we hoped for:

• Use any Core Audio or ASIO interface
• Up to 96 or 192 simultaneous tracks
• Up to 128 instrument tracks
• Up to 512 MIDI tracks
• 256 internal busses
• Up to 160 Aux tracks
• Automatic Delay Compensation
• Multitrack Beat Detective
• Digibase Pro
• Built-in OMF/AAF/MXF file interchange support
• The new Complete Production Toolkit gives you the rest of the previously HD only features, including 7.1 surround mixing, and VCA faders

OK, the downside is:

• You need an iLok (fair enough, as you no longer need AVID hardware)
• It's expensive (£505 from new, £210 for upgrade, and it's a staggering £1679.95 for the Complete Production Toolkit)
• That's it

As LSS is a Pro Tools Sponsored Training Centre, we'll be trying this out asap, so I'll be back with a review pretty soon (it ships on November the 19th).

In the mean time, head to AVID for more details.

"Pro Tools 9" > read the full post

Canterbury Tales: In Praise of English Eccentrics

Been listening to some classic British psyche. Mellotrons, beards, real ale and Leslie speakers abound in the world of the fragile English cult acid head..




As the winter nights close in I find myself needing music that reminds me of the last days of summer, black birds chirping, ice creams melting, straw boaters and used condoms in the canal...here are some classics.


Roy Harper - When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease



Steady Ladies! While no looker, the tramp like Harper had a knack for bleak cynical folk, enlivened by some lovely brass. Also a mate of Jimmy Page who as well guesting on his albums dedicated the track "Hats Off To (Roy) Harper", on Zep's third album, to him.




Kevin Ayers - Hymn




Kev had everything to become a big star, blond good looks, a deep croon and Elton John's management but indolence and alcoholism did for him. His albums always sandwiched beautiful introspection, like this track, amid bloated prog rock toomfoolery and lyrics about bananas..





Syd Barrett - Dark Glode



The poster boy for acid casualties in fact Syd probably just got bored of dealing with Rodger Waters as this dismissive song attests. Horse and swaying wildly in tempo (The White Stripes are super stars with the same template) it's still better than 90% of Pink Floyd's output after he was booted out.




Matching Mole - O Caroline



A complete one off, the rest of their work is complete toss but this lovely ballad features Robert Wyatt's school boy vocals and is rather sweet.




Caravan - In the land Of Grey And Pink



Whimsical prog folk from group of art school bozos about whom I know nothing other than this track tickles me.








maningrey




"Canterbury Tales: In Praise of English Eccentrics" > read the full post

Nanostudio for the iPhone

Nanostudio is a sampling, synthesis, sequencing (and according to their website, mastering) ap for the iPhone.

It's been described as "Reason for the iPhone", and that's enough to make me want to have a go (have to get Kore Audio to put it on the LSS iPad!). There's a fully featured synth, with CV patching, and the TGR-16 Trigger Pad.

Here's the full specs:

Compatible Devices

• OS version 3.1.2 or later (tested on iOS 4)
• iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4
• iPod Touch 2G, 3G (mic recording possible with external accessory)
• iPod Touch 1G (mic recording not available)
• iPad (1/2x zoom compatibility mode)

General

• Instruments - 4x Eden synths, TRG-16 trigger pads, 6 track sequencer, 7 input mixer with two sends
• Insert Effects - 2 per synth (waveshaper, chorus/flanger/delay)
• Send Effects - 2 (reverb, chorus/flanger/delay)
• Total polyphony - 48 stereo voices
• Buffer latency - 10ms
• Stereo 44.1kHz floating-point signal path (only the final output is reduced to 16 bit)
• Individually optimized for new and old hardware (chooses between VFP or NEON technology)
• Maximum size for a single sample - 8MB (total sample memory will depend on your device)

Extra Features

• Audio copy/paste with other compatible music apps - both Intua and Sonoma standards supported
• Direct SoundCloud sharing straight from your device
• Compatible with Line 6 MIDI Mobilizer accessory for MIDI input from external hardware
• MIDI file import/export
• Eden Synth (x4)
• Maximum polyphony - 8 voices per synth
• 2 anti-aliased oscillators per voice, each with 36 basic waveforms including noise
• Oscillators can be mixed or sync/ring modulated
• Resonant filter per voice - low pass, band pass or high pass with 12dB or 24dB slope
• Samples can be used in place of basic waveforms
• 4 LFO's, optional sync to note start/sequencer tempo
• 3 ADSR Envelope generators (amp, filter and aux)
• 2 X/Y controllers, 1 configurable control knob, pitch bend wheel and accelerometer input
• Virtual patchbay for connecting controllers, LFO's and envelopes and other synth parameters
• 2 insert effects per synth (waveshaper, chorus/flanger/delay)
• 192 Global presets (shared between all projects) and 64 Project specific presets
• TRG-16 Trigger Pads and Sampling
• Number of trigger pads - 16
• Maximum polyphony - 16 voices
• Adjust volume, pan, pitch, output bus, attack, release and loop type per sample
• Exclusive groups for use with high hats etc.
• Three output busses, each with its own filter and send effects
• Load/save individual samples or whole kits
• Upload wavs or aiffs to your device using NanoSync for Mac or Windows
• Record your own samples using the internal mic (iPhone only) or external mic (iPod Touch 2G, 3G)
• Resample NanoStudio's main mix output
• Crop and normalize samples on the device using NanoStudio's built in sample editor with 4 levels of undo/redo

Sequencer

• Realtime record with undo
• Pattern editor and song arranger
• 6 tracks (4 Eden synths and 2 tracks dedicated to the TRG-16)
• Record unique parts or turn them into patterns for repetitive loops (100 patterns supported)
• Draw note and controller events such as XY pad movements, pitch bend, velocity and accelerometer
• Editing functions include delete, merge, copy, move, note length, transpose, clean and quantize
• Controller editing and automation
• Time signatures 2/4 - 7/4
• 4 levels of undo/redo on every editing operation
• All editing operations are possible while the sequence is playing

Mastering

• Mixer with 7 stereo inputs (4 Eden synths, 3 TRG-16 output busses), 1 stereo output and 2 stereo sends
• 2 Simultaneous global effects sends per input (reverb, chorus/flanger/delay)
• Stereo VU displays for all inputs and outputs
• Offline mixdown - stereo mix, individual tracks or individual song parts

And if that's not tempting enough, have a look at this:

There's support for the Akai Synthstation on its way!

Head to the blipinteractive site for more details, or click here to go straight to iTunes.

And after you've done that, head here for a stack of free Nanostudio samples from LoopMasters!

"Nanostudio for the iPhone" > read the full post

Native Instruments - The Mouth

Really cool, or the end of all civilisation?....

New from Tim Exile, the Mouth is the sequel to the Finger. A cross between a harmoniser, a vocoder and a synth, it tracks the pitch of the incoming signal, and uses it to create very cool effects.

Check out the details here, but not before watching this video!

"Native Instruments - The Mouth" > read the full post

Sehr Kosmisch!

Gratified by finally finding a copy of Julian Cope's epic meditation Krautrocksampler
that was not in German, I was inspired to download...ermmm I mean purchase a fist full of music most Kosmisch....



Here are a few of my favourite tracks from my recent investigation and some familiar classics I have cherished for a while.

Faust - The Sad Skinhead




From Wumme but sounding like The Specials! A whole new sub genre like Egyptian Reggae, it's Kraut Ska..




Ash Ra Tempel - Light And Darkness: Darkness - Flowers Must Die



Worth it for the title alone...phazed and flanged to the max, it's hard to imagine their guitarist, Manuel Göttsching, later made the sedate proto trance classic E2-E4.







Popol Vuh - Aguirre I



Something a little more solemn from the mysterious Popol Vuh, named after a manuscript containing the mythology of the Quiché Maya people of highland Guatemala...Hey far out! This is from the brilliant soundtrack to Werner Hezog's deranged exploration of Conquistador greed, Aguirre: The Wrath of God.






Can - Mother Sky



Perennial family favourites Can kick out the jams with this dense rocker. Great timpani!




Cluster - Sowiesoso



Friends of Brian Eno, but don't let that put you off. A beautiful ambient classic, good for a day of Pims and boating..




Harmonia - Deluxe



My all time classic Krautrock track, a collaboration between Cluster and Neu, this positively shimmers like the gorgeous sun on the album cover.




Neu - Hero



The afore mentioned Neu invent punk two years before the fact. All their songs sounded the same but all their songs were good.




La Düsseldorf - Silver Cloud




As you may have noticed all these bands seem to share members and these guys are no exception being Neu's drummer's side project. Neu's guitarist was also in Kraftwerk briefly ...confused? Well just enjoy the monster synths and glam guitars of this strange Euro hit. Also a big inspiration for David Bowie who declared them "the sound of the future".





Tangerine Dream - Zeit



Before they started churning out Hollywood soundtracks the Tang's were space rock in excelsis. This brooding collaboration with Popol Vuh's Florian Fricke (see what I mean about incestuous relationships?) could soundtrack either 2001 or Dark Star. From the heady days when there were no instruction manuals..




The Cosmic Jokers - Galactic Joke



This "band" came about when Rolf-Ulrich Kaiser had the bright idea of rounding up a load of German rockers, sticking them in a studio and feeding them loads of acid. All well and good but he then took the sessions away with him, edited it all into three albums worth of aimless riffing and released under a made up name of his invention. The first guitarist Manuel Göttsching (from Ash Ra Temple) knew about it was when he heard some intriguing music playing in a record shop, inquired who it was only to be shown the album cover with his face staring out of it.




Amon Duul II - Archangel Thunderbird



Sounds like a deranged mix of Queens of the Stone Age with Geddy Lee on vox..Big foot stomping music when out of your mind on beer and speed.




Moebius & Plank - Tollkühn




Proto techno or wot?? Moebius from Cluster and Conny Plank, legendary producer of Kraftwerk, Can and Neu, join together for summit meeting of years-before-their-time electronic pioneers.





maningrey



"Sehr Kosmisch!" > read the full post

TuxGuitar

TuxGuitar is a multitrack tablature editor and player. I've got some guitar teaching coming up soon, and this has been a very useful find......

It comes in Windows, Linux and Mac versions, and even FreeBSD - and if that's not enough, there's even a version that runs in your web browser. As the name suggests, it's open source and free. Head here to find out more and download!

"TuxGuitar" > read the full post

Top 100 DJs in the World, 2010

DJ Mag's November issue is out, and the results are in.........

Armin Van Buuren beat out David Guetta, Tiësto, Deadmau5 and Above & Beyond for the top position in this year's list of the Top 100 Djs in the world, as compiled by DJ Mag.

For Van Buuren, it’s his fourth year at the top.

“It’s pretty obvious when you’ve been voted top for three years that at some point you have to come down,” says Van Buuren. “But, obviously, it’s a people’s vote, and I’m not going to lie and say I wouldn’t like to win it again.”

Check out the full list below. No woman on the list yet!

Vent your thoughts on this year’s list with comments!!!

The Top 100 DJs In The World – 2010 List

1. Armin Van Buuren
2. David Guetta
3. Tiësto
4. Deadmau5
5. Above & Beyond
6. Paul Van Dyk
7. Gareth Emery
8. Markus Schulz
9. Ferry Corsten
10. Axwell
11. ATB
12. Sander Van Doorn
13. Infected Mushroom
14. Steve Angello
15. Dash Berlin
16. Sebastian Ingrosso
17. Laidback Luke
18. Judge Jules
19. Afrojack
20. Aly & Fila
21. Fedde Le Grand
22. Carl Cox
23. Swedish House Mafia
24. Cosmic Gate
25. Bobina
26. Benny Benassi
27. Sasha
28. Simon Patterson
29. John Digweed
30. Eric Prydz
31. Richie Hawtin
32. Andy Moor
33. John O’Callaghan
34. Roger Shah
35. Kaskade
36. Headhunterz
37. Chuckle
38. Bob Sinclair
39. Avicle
40. Kyau & Albert
41. DJ Feel
42. Moonbeam
43. Joachim Garraud
44. Daft Punk
45. Lange
46. Sean Tyas
47. Eddie Halliwell
48. Erick Morillo
49. james Zabiela
50. Umek
51. Paul Oakenfold
52. Matt Darey
53. Mark Knight
54. Richard Durand
55. Martin Solveig
56. tyDi
57. Hernan Catteneo
58. Sven Väth
59. Astrix
60. Super8 & Tab
61. Andy C
62. Myon & Shane 54
63. Marcel Woods
64. Roger Sanchez
65. Wally Lopez
66. Mat Zo
67. Marco V
68. Leon Bolier
69. Ronski Speed
70. Wolfgang Gartner
71. W&W
72. Boys Noize
73. D-Block & S-TE-FAN
74. Dubfire
75. Dirty South
76. John B
77. Daniel kandi
78. Arty
79. BT
80. Boy George
81. Pete The Zouk
82. Fatboy Slim
83. Skazi
84. Paul Kalkbrenner
85. Pete Tong
86. Bloody Beetroots
87. Arnej
88. Joris Voorn
89. Dada Life
90. Noisecontrollers
91. Showtek
92. Laurent Wolf
93. Claudia Cazacu
94. Calvin Harris
95. Luciano
96. Marcus Schossow
97. Sied Van Riel
98. The Thrillseekers
99. Justice
100. DJ Vibe

"Top 100 DJs in the World, 2010" > read the full post

Loudness Maximizer

Here's the Ardez Loudness Maximizer - for when you want it just one louder...

It says there's no pumping and breathing, and gives you:

• Maximize parameter (how loud?)
• 2 speed types (normal and fast)
• Attack and release characterization
• Output parameter (never exceed 0 dB)
• Sample rates up to 192 kHz
• 64 bit internal processing

It comes in both Windows and Mac VST formats, as well as AU.

Head here to download. Enjoy!

"Loudness Maximizer" > read the full post