Sonic Touch Episode 4 – iPad and Music: Lemur and NanoStudio [Video]

Posted on 28. Feb, 2012 by Greg Kocis in Blog, iOS

In this episode hosts Nick Batt & Gaz Williams take a look at:

Lemur
NanoStudio
Loopy HD

Sonic Touch Episode 3 KORG iKaossilator [Video]

Posted on 28. Feb, 2012 by Greg Kocis in Blog, iOS

In this episode hosts Nick Batt & Gaz Williams take a look at KORG iKaossilator

Also in this Episode:

KORG iMS-20 – KORG INC.
Addictive microSynth – VirSyn

Sonic Touch Episode 2 iPad And Music Show [Video]

Posted on 27. Feb, 2012 by Greg Kocis in Blog, Gear, iOS

This is the Part 2 of the pilot for The iPad and Music Show, now called Sonic Touch. In this episode hosts Nick Batt & Gaz Williams take a look at some Midi Interfaces and features the iOS App ThumbJam.

After watching this episode I downloaded ThumbJam right away.

Also In this Episode.

iOS apps:

Pages
Accordion
Set List Organizer
Alchemy Synth Mobile By Camel Audio iOS

Hardware:

Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit
Line 6 Midi Mobilizer II
Korg nanoKEY2 Slim-Line USB Keyboard
Yamaha i-MX1 Hand Held Device MIDI Cable
IK Multimedia iRig Midi

Akai SynthStation 49

Sonic Touch Episode 1 iPad And Music Show Pilot [Video]

Posted on 27. Feb, 2012 by Greg Kocis in Blog, iOS

This is a pilot for The iPad and Music Show, now called Sonic Touch.

In this episode hosts Nick Batt & Gaz Williams take a look at some iPad mounting and protection options and also Geo Synthesizer by Jordan Rudess

Midi Controller With Arcade Buttons & Gyroscope [Video]

Posted on 27. Feb, 2012 by Greg Kocis in Blog, Gear

The Midi Fighter 3D by DJ Tech Tools is equipped with 16 RGB arcade buttons and full three dimensional tracking of the controller’s movement in space, this latest addition to the Midi Fighter line is the most ambitious and expressive creation to date.

Ships With: Button and MF Configuration Software
Unique Button Messages: 70
Unique CC Messages: 68

Key Features:

Fully customizable RGB arcade buttons
4 banks of controls
6 side buttons
16 high performance arcade buttons
Full 3D motion tracking of five degrees of movement (Patent Pending)

Adobe Photoshop Touch For iPad 2 First Look [Video]

Posted on 26. Feb, 2012 by Greg Kocis in Blog, iOS

Adobe Photoshop Touch For iPad 2 Transform images with core Adobe® Photoshop® features in an app designed for tablets.

Combine images, apply professional effects, share results with friends and family through sites like Facebook, and more – all from the convenience of your iPad.

• Use popular Photoshop features designed for the tablet such as layers, selection tools, adjustments, and filters to create mind-blowing images.

• Use your iPad camera to fill an area on a layer with the unique camera fill feature.

• Select part of an image to extract by scribbling with the Scribble Selection tool. With Refine Edge, use your fingertip to capture even hard-to-select image elements, like hair, with ease.

• Search and acquire images with the integrated Google Image Search.

• Share images on Facebook and view comments right within the app.

• Browse an inspirational gallery for the styles and results you’d like to achieve. Then follow step-by-step tutorials to easily learn techniques the pros use for great-looking results.

• Use AirPrint for wireless printing of Photoshop Touch projects.
• Upload projects to Adobe Creative Cloud* and open layered files from Adobe Photoshop Touch in Photoshop CS5.

• Maximum image resolution: 1600 x 1600 pixels

Note:
• Requires iPad 2 and iOS 5. Not available for iPad (first generation).

45 Free iZotope Nectar Presets

Posted on 24. Feb, 2012 by Greg Kocis in Blog, Recording

iZotope has made available two new preset packs for the Nectar vocal suite plugin. 45 persets in all.

Style Pack 1:

Includes new Style presets in every genre, as well as a new Utility category for correcting common vocal problems.

Mirrorball Pack:

Mirrorball Music is a recording studio and label co-founded by multi-GRAMMY-winning engineer Tony Maserati and producer/songwriter Stefan Skarbek. Focused on developing new vocal talents, the Mirrorball team uses Nectar every day to give each artist a distinct voice. To show their appreciation, the team has shared a dozen Mirrorball-crafted Style presets in a variety of Genres.

Please note: The Pack requires Nectar Version 1.10 or higher.

Download Style Pack 1 for Windows
Download Style Pack 1 for Mac OS X

Download the Mirrorball Pack for Windows
Download the Mirrorball Pack for Mac OS X

Mastering Your Music For iTunes With Apple Audio Mastering Tools [Free]

Posted on 24. Feb, 2012 by Greg Kocis in Blog, Mac & Apple Stuff, Recording

Apple has released Apple Audio Mastering Tools To hear how music will sound after it’s encoded to make important creative choices during the mastering process.
The Mastered for iTunes droplet is a simple, standalone drag-and-drop tool that automates the creation of iTunes Plus format masters, allowing for a preview of songs using the same world-class technology used to encode the entire catalog for the iTunes Library.

AURoundTripAAC is an Audio Unit that allows you to compare audio encoded using iTunes Plus AAC against a source audio file. It also includes clip and peak detection, as well as a simple listening test environment. It can be used in any Audio Unit host application, such as Logic or AU Lab.

You can also use the command-line tool afclip to check any file for clipping. This tool works by examining an audio file and identifying areas where clipping has occurred. For more information about this tool, run afclip -h from the command line.
This tool is gets installed in: /usr/local/bin

Download For Free:

Apple Audio Mastering Tools Zip
Creating Masters for iTunes PDF

Play Your Audio Unit & VST Plugins As Standalone Instruments [Mac App]

Posted on 23. Feb, 2012 by Greg Kocis in Blog, Mac & Apple Stuff

Audio Plugin Player is a lightweight VST and AU instrument plugin host, that allows you to play these instruments using either your mouse, computer keyboard, or MIDI device (both hardware and software MIDI devices supported). It has a simple, one-screen interface, that will let you start making music with your favorite audio instrument plugins in seconds – just drop your plugin onto the application window, make your input and output choices, and you’re ready!

Control Your DAW With V-Control Pro iPad App [Videos]

Posted on 23. Feb, 2012 by Greg Kocis in Blog, iOS, Recording

V-Control Pro – Neyrinck provides a fully-featured, multi-touch control surface for Pro Tools, Logic 9, Cubase/Nuendo, and many more DAW’s. V-Control Pro uses WiFi to control transport, editing, and mixing functions. V-Control Pro provides advanced control of sends, automation, groups, auditioning, plug-ins, jog/scrub/shuttle, I/O assignment, and other controls within an easy-to-use interface. V-Control can be used simultaneous with ethernet controllers used by Pro Tools.

Features:

Large, touch-sensitive moving faders
Solo, mute, record, and pan controls
Flip mode send editing
Dual surround pan controllers
Metering
Jog / scrub / shuttle control
Automation mode controls and display
Automation and group suspend buttons
Automation and group status display
Automation write enable controls
Plug-in editing
Input monitoring switch
Big counter display
Save and Undo buttons
Pre-roll / Post-roll buttons
I/O assignment
Zoom presets
Window display controls
Keypad popover provides access to many Pro Tools features

Slate Digital RC-Tube Virtual Console Plugin Review

Posted on 23. Feb, 2012 by Greg Kocis in Blog, Recording, Tutorials

Take a listen to how this little plugin can bring in some warmth, fatness, and vibe to your mixes with a flick of a switch.

This review is from Graham Cochrane at The Recording Revolution

Everything is a Remix Part 4 [Video]

Posted on 22. Feb, 2012 by Greg Kocis in Blog, Remixes

Remixing is a folk art but the techniques involved — collecting material, combining it, transforming it — are the same ones used at any level of creation. You could even say that everything is a remix.

New York-based filmmaker, Kirby Ferguson created a interesting four part web series called “Everything Is A Remix”.
To support this series please visit his site

For parts 1,2,& 3 Go Here

MIDI Control From Tapping Your Desktop

Posted on 22. Feb, 2012 by Greg Kocis in Blog, Recording

The Pulse Controller is a hardware / software solution that liberates computer-based musicians and performers from conventional input devices by allowing a surface – i.e. desk, laptop, objects and more – to become a playable MIDI controller. An included piezo microphone coupled with a simple yet powerful software interface converts acoustic impulses into MIDI Note messages for playing your software instruments in an intuitive, responsive and connected manner.

The idea behind Pulse Controller was born out of the belief that as computer-based musicians and performers we should not feel relegated to a grid of small 1×1″ pads or a keyboard to create our rhythms and provide pulse to our music. Controllers once intended to give us the immediacy of playing an instrument often end up feeling more disconnected and distracting. With the Pulse Surface Controller System, controlling percussive instruments has a more visceral, immediate quality, and via a powerful MIDI generator that generates notes in predefined musical scales the user can easily extend into the melodic domain to tap into an inspiring world of happy accidents. Power to the fingers!

System Features:

Piezo microphone and powerful software interface
Attaches to any surface via integrated suction cup (velcro strips also provided)
Connects to external audio device or built-in audio inputs (1/4″ and 1/8″)
Velocity-sensitive and highly responsive
Low-latency performance
Compatible with all software that accepts MIDI Note messages (Cubase, Ableton Live, Pro Tools, VST/AU plug-ins, etc)
Generate fixed note or random notes in a selected scale, with control of octave, octave width, root pitch and 21 Scales
Fixed note length and note choke modes
Store and recall presets
Keyboard shortcuts for quick access to presets and important controls
Mac OS 10.5, 10.6, 10.7 compatible (Windows / Ableton Live users, please contact us about M4L version)

More Info

50 Free Multi-Tracks to Improve Your Mixing Skills

Posted on 22. Feb, 2012 by Greg Kocis in Blog, Recording, Remixes, Tutorials

Improve your mixing skills with these 50 free multi track sessions. Just download and import to your DAW. Styles include Acoustic, Jazz, Country , Orchestral , Electronica, Dance, Experimental, Pop, Singer-Songwriter,Alt Rock , Blues , Country Rock, Indie, Funk, Reggae, Rock, Punk, Metal, Hip-Hop & R&B.

These are from the folks at Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio

John Lennon & Yoko Ono Double Fantasy (Stripped Down) Album Full Stream [Audio]

Posted on 20. Feb, 2012 by Greg Kocis in Blog, Musicians, Recording

John Lennon’s final album, 1980’s Double Fantasy, is a stirring mixture of songs about love and family as well as plenty of odes to unabashed rock ‘n’ roll. This new version, Double Fantasy Stripped Down, features the original album as well as Lennon’s original mix, which pares down the instrumentation and gives more focus to Lennon’s amazing vocals.

Using Sounds of Athletes To Make A Song For The 2012 Olympics [Video]

Posted on 20. Feb, 2012 by Greg Kocis in Blog, Musicians, Recording

In the 27th episode of This Week in Music. Ian Rogers host’s the MIDEM conference Visionary Monday talk with Wendy Clark from The Coca-Cola Company as well as GRAMMY award-winning artist and producer Mark Ronson. The trio discuss Coca-Cola’s new music initiative and their partnering with Mark Ronson to create the sound of the 2012 Olympics.

The cool part starts at 4:28, showing samples of the video they made.

Rhythm Studio iOS app $.99 For a Limited Time 303 808 and more !

Posted on 20. Feb, 2012 by Greg Kocis in Blog, iOS

Rhythm Studio is a premier universal electronic music making app, boasting richly detailed graphics and incredible sound, with impeccable recreations of classic synths and drum machines along with other amazing studio hardware.

What makes Rhythm Studio stand out?

Rhythm Studio balances advanced music making features by using an easy to understand interface resembling real instruments. This means that one button does one thing just like it would with real hardware. Knobs turn, switches slide, and buttons press. You won’t get lost in abstract interfaces, menus, or design.

Imagine having a studio of rare vintage synths and drum machines in the palm of your hand. Beautifully rendered synthesizers make seeing the app as enjoyable as hearing it. Rhythm Studio is the next best thing to having the real hardware.

Rhythm Studio allows you to make music the way you want to by giving you three different ways to create your song.

1. Use the step sequencer like the real hardware.
2. Use the Control Pad to play the synths live.
3. Instantly create a random pattern.

FEATURES:
Dynamic workspace full of awesome audio gear
Full multi-touch support for moving lots of controls
Up to any 4 instruments per song
Audio Paste export!
WIST support
Background audio supported on multi-tasking iOS devices
Share song via bluetooth
Improved navigation for fast workflow
Robust pattern and song sequencer
3 easy methods to making your songs
Recreation of classic drum machines
Recreation of classic synthesizers
5 synths, 2 drum machines, & 15 effects!
More free with every update!

INSTRUMENTS:
TB-3 – The classic 303 acid synth reborn
DR-8 – Uncanny reproduction of the monster 808
DR-9 – The 909 drum machine
Gemini – A two oscillator monster synth with 24db filter
Phoenix – A synthesizer dedicated to the famous supersaw
Hornet – A ribbon style synth with character
ST-1 – A sample based synth with a VL-1 look
Mixer – Four channel mixer with send and insert effects
Control Pad – jam live with this ‘kaos’ style controller

SEND FX:
Delay
Flanger
Chorus
Phaser
D-Verb
S-Verb

INSERT FX:
Distortion
Foldback Distortion
Lo-Fi
Low Pass Filter
High Pass Filter
Gate
Amp Distortion
Equalizer
Auto Filter

Interview with CD Baby President Brian Felsen [Audio]

Posted on 17. Feb, 2012 by Greg Kocis in Blog, Music Business

Brian Thompson & Michael Brandvold Interview CD Baby President Brian Felsen

Multitrack Drums Vol 1 – Reason ReFill by The Loop Loft

Posted on 14. Feb, 2012 by Greg Kocis in Blog

Multitrack Drums Vol 1 – Reason ReFill by The Loop Loft The Loop Loft has put the control and flexibility of multitrack drums at your fingertips. This first ReFill, customized for Reason 6, includes two complete drum sessions; ‘Thick & Meaty’, and ‘Ringo Goes Indie’, along with corresponding Kong and Dr Octo Rex patches, providing the ability to easily program new grooves and fills on top of the existing multitracks.

Weighing in at a whopping 1.7 GB, this Multitrack Drum ReFill goes way beyond traditional drum loops, giving you the ability the mix each individual element of the kit by providing every instrument on a separate audio track. And with Reason’s superb time stretching capabilities, you can adjust the tempo of the complete multitrack session to fit any song.

ReFill Specs:
- File size: 1.7 GB
- 2 Complete Song Sessions
- 12 Individual Tracks of Drums & Percussion
- 52 REX2 Loops
- 5 Dr Octo Rex Patches
- 2 Kong Patches
- High Quality 24-bit Audio

More Info Here

Meteor MultiTrack Recorder for iPad

Posted on 10. Feb, 2012 by Greg Kocis in Blog, iOS, Recording

Meteor Multitrack Recorder is a digital multi-track recorder designed specifically for the iPad. The program features up to 12 tracks of high quality Stereo, Mono and MIDI audio, a built in mixer and multi-effects processor. Meteor is ideally suited for creating musical compositions, and also a great tool for journalists and business people who need to splice and piece together voice notes, narration or dictation. Compositions once mixed can be exported to standard file formats for use on your desktop PC or MAC.

Meteor includes a fully featured sound editor allowing recordings and Stereo Sounds from other Apps to be trimmed or spliced together. You can apply various effects to your recordings either directly, as part of the recording process or in real time during playback. Editor features include cut, copy, paste, fade in/out. clear, reverse, gain, normalize, remove DC offset, time stretch and pitch shift. Effects include digital delay, chorus / flanger, reverb, graphic equalizer, noise gate, tremelo, tone boost, compressor (with side chaining) and distortion.

The Mixer and effect levels can be fully automated using definable controller tracks. An integrated metronome with count-in helps you record your masterpiece, and If 12 tracks isn’t enough there is a full stereo mixdown facility.

The MIDI Editor available through In-App purchase allows full editing of MIDI Note and Controllers as well as Scrubbing, Step Recordings and In-Place Editing of MIDI Parts.