Modulate This! - News, Tips and Links for Electronic Musicians and Producers

Adding Realistic Drums to Your Virtual Studio

There are many products on the market that allow you to add realistic acoustic drum kits to your virtual studio. These products offer something above and beyond simple one-shot samples of drum sounds with features such as:

• Multi-samples of expensive drum kits so that notes played at different velocities reflect the nuance of the real thing.
• Drum hits recorded with different sticks, brushes, mics and mic placements with the ability to mix between mics allowing you to tweak mic and room dynamics for each channel.

To help you get your mind around this concept and what's possible, checkout the videos below. The first two solutions are for Ableton Live and Propellerhead Reason and integrate directly into these applications. The third is for FXexpansion BFD 2 which is implemented as plug-in to be used with a host application such as Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic, Cubase, etc.

ABLETON SESSION DRUMS

Can't see Session Drums video? Watch video on YouTube.

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PROPELLERHEAD REASON DRUM KITS 2.0 REFILL

Can't see the Reason Drum Kits 2.0 video? Watch video on YouTube

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FXexpansion BFD 2

Can't see the BFD2 Drum Kits video? Watch it on YouTube.

Green Oak Crystal VST - Free Semi-Modular Synthesizer for PC and Mac

I've been doing some research to find new synths to increase my palette of sounds. Along the way I "re-discovered" Crystal which is a very cool Semi-Modular synthesizer. It reminds me a little of Zebra 2 and Absynth 4 but - it's free! Pretty amazing considering the feature set - "...semi-modular software synthesizer featuring both subtractive syn  and frequency modulation (FM) synthesis. It offers abundant modulation control with over 90 parameters which may be modulated, multi-stage envelopes with graphical editors, extensive tempo sync of envelopes/lforates/delay times, built-in effects for chorus/flanging/comb filtering/echoes, and a band splitter for effects processing by frequency band. Not only that, Crystal has wave sequencing, granular synthesis, program morphing, MIDI learn, and imports soundfonts. The musical applications for Crystal are literally boundless."

Installation is manual but straightforward. Simply follow the instructions on the download page. Don't forget to grab the additional waveforms and patches. 

As I mentioned this synth is free and the developer, Glen Olander, says creating Crystal is a "labor of love, so I don't accept payments from Crystal users." He does accept donations on behalf a senior center though so if you want to donate go to the bottom of the about page.

• Official Crystal Web Site
• Users Guide
• Join the Crystal discussion group
• Other plugins by Green Oak

Mark Mosher
www.markmoshermusic.com
www.modulatethis.com

Ableton Live 7.0.5 Free Update Available

Ableton has released Live 7.0.5, a free update for registered users. You can download the update from http://www.ableton.com/latest_versions or by using the 'Check for updates...' command from Live's help menu.

While the list of improvements and fixes is rather small (see below), users on the Ableton forum are reporting that 7.0.5 improves stability and performance (load times, drops outs). I've not used it much yet, but in a quick test agree that songs load faster.

Improvements:

• Updated manuals.
• Updated texts.
• When switching the Library to a folder on a different hard drive, a message box appears asking if the current library should copied to the new location too.

Bug fixes:

• Playing the “Clavibell.adg” preset from Puremagnetic Wavebase package could lead to a crash.
• Live could crash if the root dir of a file browser is set to a non-existing directory.
• Folders below the current selected Library folder or the current project could not be bookmarked.
• The message box with the information about the installed packages would miss a scrollbar if many packages would be installed.
• In Sampler, pan would not working properly.
  http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=88744
  Duplicate an audio track containing a clip with certain envelopes could lead crash Live.
• http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=88971
  Grouping a top level effect device that has any of its parameters macro-mapped would crash Live.

Mark Mosher
www.modulatethis.com
www.markmoshermusic.com

MusicTech Focus: Ableton Live Magazine - Great Info for Those New to Ableton Live

MusicTech Magazine has created a 132-page special edition that concentrates purely on Ableton Live and features. It contains brand new Live 7 tutorials, interviews with power users, 9 classic Live 6 workshops, full Live 7 review, free DVD with workshop resources and 20 Ableton video tutorials. This is available online and at local bookstores.

I flipped through a copy I found at my local Borders here in the US and thought that the tutorials were very comprehensive. If you are new to live this would be money well spent.

Mark Mosher
www.markmoshermusic.com
www.modulatethis.com

Novaton Music Automap 2.0 Now Available for ReMote users

Novation Music announced Universal Automap 2.0 back in January. The first Novation product to utilize Automap 2 was the Nocturn. Automap 2.0 is now available as a free download for Novation’s ReMOTE SL series and ReMOTE SL COMPACT owners.

I own the Remote SL 25 and just installed the 2.0 update on Vista and all seems fine. Two general tips I can offer when installing updates for Novation controller is to 1) exit the Automap application running in your tray prior to installation 2) turn off or unplug other USB controllers during install.

I'm still trying to figure out the best way to use this with Live and will offer more posts on this in the future. Also, while the software is available, the documentation hasn't been posted yet but there is a manual from the beta test listed in links below.

Links:

• Learn more about Automap Universal 2.0
• Downlaod link for Remote SL: http://www.novationmusic.com/support/software/remote_sl/
• Download link for Remote SL Compact: http://www.novationmusic.com/support/software/remote_sl_compact/
• Download link for Remote SL Zero: http://www.novationmusic.com/support/software/remote_zero_sl/
• Ableton Live Forum thread discussing Automap 2
• PDF Manual (beta)
• Musician's Friend carries the entire line of Novation products

Mark Mosher
www.markmoshermusic.com
www.modulatethis.com

FL Studio Video Tutorial: Using the Keyboard Editor to Modify Pitch, Drag Notes, and add Portamento

Watch this video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLZTxaNsCEg.

This video tutorial covers how to go sequence with the Keyboard Editor and covers creating notes with different pitches, moving notes, and using portamento.

If you are new to FL Studio, you can save 10% with this link.

Mark Mosher
www.markmoshermusic.com
www.modulatethis.com

Ableton Live 7.0.3 Free Update Available

Ableton has released Live 7.0.3, a free update for registered users. You can download the update from http://www.ableton.com/latest_versions or by using the 'Check for updates...' command from Live's help menu.

What's in Ableton Live 7.0.3?

Improvements:

• Updated manuals.
• Two new Lessons: “Compression and Sidechaining” and “Session Drums.”
• Added control surface support for the Akai MPD24. The volumes of tracks 1 to 6 are mapped to the faders. The encoders are mapped to macro controls. The order of the mapping is based on the feedback of this forum poll: http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=82431
• Support for dynamic adjustment of the plug-in buffer size for Audio Units.
• On Mac OS X, Live now supports up to 256 input & output mono channels of the selected audio device.
• It is now possible to drag a complete folder with presets and/or samples from the Browser onto a Drum Rack's pads.
  Updated texts.
• Improve the performance when loading large presets.
• Support for the Record LED when using the Remote SL as a controller surface.

To see the complete list of improvements and Bug Fixes visit - http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=88519

Mark Mosher
www.modulatethis.com
www.markmoshermusic.com

FL Studio 8 Now Available - Get 10% Off

Image Line just released FL Studio 8.  While I don't use it as my primary DAW, I do use the killer step sequencer for programming loops from time to time. Image Line's policy of free updates (yes, free) has made it a "no-brainer" for me to stay current. I've just downloaded version 8 and can report that it runs fine on Vista and opens my old projects back just fine.

New user pricing depends on which edition of FL Studio you choose (see links at bottom of post). Use this Modulate This link and save 10% all Image Line Products.

So what's new in FL Studio 8?

• FL Synthmaker - create & share your own FL instruments.
• One-click-recording using Edison wave editor plugin.
• Slicex, a new drumloop slicer & re-arranging tool.
• Soundgoodizer is a 'maximizer-enhancer' plugin based on the Maximus sound-process engine.
• Fruity Limiter for maximizing & compressing final mixes or individual tracks.
• Wave Candy is an audio analysis and visualization tool with Oscilloscope, Spectrum Analyzer and Peak Meter.
• An update to Directwave
• Slip editing and resizing tool has been added to the Playlist for all clip types.
• More...

More info:

• Download the demo
• 10% all Image Line Products
• Which version is right for you?
• More info

Mark Mosher
www.modulatethis.com
www.markmoshermusic.com

Celemony's Direct Note Access Pitch Correction for Melodyne 2 Lets You Edit Notes Within Chords

View video on YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE-wrYK8JSY.

Celemony's Melodyne is an established tool for pitch shifting, time stretching, correcting the intonation and timing of singing, audio quantization, producing harmonies, and remixing and restructuring the melody, tempo or timing of existing recordings.

The video above shows a technology preview of their new Direct Note Access (DNA) which will allow you to access and edit individual notes in polyphonic audio material!!! The demo is pretty mind blowing.

Applications for this sort of technology are:

• Edit individual notes within polyphonic material
• Reshaping harmonies and rhythms
• Tune a guitar after recording
• Correct harmony vocals that are out of tune, or fix their timing
• Turn major chords to minor (and vice versa)
• Switch tone scales
• Mute single notes
• Remix volume levels after a performance has been recorded

This feature set will be available with Melodyne 2 which is due out in the Fall of 2008. According to their webiste, "The full version will cost US$399 (349 Euro); the update from Version 1 will cost US$129 (129 Euro). Customers purchasing Melodyne plugin after the 12th March 2008 will receive the update free of charge.

More info: http://www.celemony.com

Mark Mosher
www.modulatethis.com
www.markmoshermusic.com

Modulate This! Interview with Ramin Sakurai of the Supreme Beings of Leisure

The Supreme Beings of Leisure are an electronic/trip-hop band based out of LA, California. According to their entry on Wikipedia “The release of the first Supreme Beings of Leisure album sold over 250,000 units with very little promotional touring. Instead, SBL opted to use the internet to market and promote the album, being the first band to ever do a "Virtual Internet Tour", and among the very first to use Flash animation for their videos. The "Supreme Beings of Leisure" peaked at 47 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart according to allmusic.com, and is in the top 100 of the Trip-Hop Dance & DJ music category according to Amazon.com sales ranking.”

The band is currently a DUO made up of original members Geri Soriano-Lightwood (Singer/Songwriter), Ramin Sakurai (Multi-Instrumentalist, Programmer).  In addition to working with SBL, Ramin produces, remixes, and composes music for artists, television and movies.  After a  5 year extended break SBL released its third major studio album, 11i, on February 12, 2008 with Rykodisc Records.

I recently had an opportunity to ask Ramin a series of questions about the making of 11i, and on the affect of technology on his process for making music.

Enjoy the interview and visit www.myspace.com/supremebeingsofleisure for more info on the band.

Mark Mosher
www.modulatethis.com
www.markmoshermusic.com

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Mark Mosher: What was the primary music production software you used in the creation of 11i?
Ramin Sakurai:  That would've been Protools versions 6-7. Some of the songs started off in other programs like Live or Reason but they always ends up in Protools.

Mark Mosher: Can you give us brief overview of your studio rig?
Ramin Sakurai: The main studio rig consists of a Protools HD3 with two 192 i/o's and a G5 dual 2.5ghz. I run a 3.1ghz PC for GIgastudio. I use quite a bit of outboard gear as well. I believe a record can be recorded and mixed entirely in the box but you need a little help with some analog gear. I use Avalon, multiple API, NEVE-type preamps along with various compressors.

Mark Mosher:  How has the advancement of music production software and ability to produce from a laptop changed your workflow for this album?

Nine Inch Nails (NIN): GHOSTS I-IV Now Available

Nine Inch Nails has released Ghosts I - IV, a collection of  36 track instrumental Tracks. The collection contains "almost two hours of new music composed and recorded over a ten week period last fall".

NIN is using an interesting pricing model:

• A free download of Ghosts I (the first 9 tracks)
• $5 download of Ghosts I - IV (all 36 tracks)
• $10 2xCD set
• $75 Deluxe Edition Package are available.

All files appear to be DRM free!

According to the FAQ page for the Ghosts I-IV, the songs are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike License. There is a teaser on this page about an "exciting partnership experience".

Go to nin.com for more information.

Mark Mosher
www.modulatethis.com
www.markmoshermusic.com

Link for 10% off Image Line's New Toxic Biohazard VST Synth

Image Line, the makers of Fl Studio have released Toxic Biohazard, the 4th generation of their Toxic line of software synths. The synth runs on Windows XP/Vista as a VST or on Mac OSX 10.4 (Tiger) or OSX 10.5 (Leopard) as a VST or AU.

For new users, this synth will set you back $99 (use this link to save 10%). Existing users can upgrade for free.

What's new?

• Improved sound quality
• "Physical Envelopes" that allow you to model how sounds in real world decay & resonate etc...
• Integrated effects such as tube-like distortion, to warm stereo delay, reverb, flanger, and phaser.
• A hybrid synth engine combining FM and subtractive synthesis
• A complete rebuilt FM engine adding warmth
• Alias-free oscillators with low CPU consumptom
• An integrated simple sequencer (64 steps, which can be divided into two independent, 32 step modules to allow double-polyphonic patterns. Using our own "Smart Sequencer" technology, when a chord is played, the module defines that chord, and tunes the pattern accordingly.)

Visit http://www.image-line.com/documents/toxicbio.html to learn more, download a free demo, and listen to samples songs created with Toxic Biohazard.

Videos on Moldover's Approach to Controllerism (and the Freebird Button)

When I use Ableton Live with my Novation ReMOTE 25 SL MIDI Controller, I feel like I'm using an instrument, not some software application. As with any instrument, the more time you put in, the more you transcend the instrument allowing you to focus on making music.

Moldover has taken this to the extreme by moding the Novation Remote SL controller and coming up with innovative processes for using Ableton Live. He's taken to calling himself a "controllerist" and calls what he does "controllerism".

Check out the videos below - pretty mind blowing! While very few of us will take it this far, there are definitely some ideas here that can apply to anyone's work flow.

Moldover was also kind enough to offer up his software presets here http://moldover.com/controllerism/index.php?action=downloads.

View Part 1 of video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2McDeSKiOU

View Part 2 of video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dznjQIarboY

Related Links:

• http://www.moldover.com/
• http://controllerism.com/
• Software Presets: http://moldover.com/controllerism/index.php?action=downloads

Mark Mosher
www.modulatethis.com
www.markmosehrmusic.com

Ableton Live 7.0.2 Free Update Available

Ableton has released Live 7.0.2, a free update for registered users. You can download the update from http://www.ableton.com/latest_versions or by using the 'Check for updates...' command from Live's help menu.

What's in Live 7.0.2? A large number of updates and an even larger number of fixes for Live 7 , Sampler, Operator, Analog, Tension, and Electric.

I was really looking forward to this release because my song Midnight which was created in Live 6 wasn't playing back correctly in Live 7. In Live 7, the MIDI velocity was not interpreted in the exact same way. I'm happy to report that 7.0.2 fixed the problem.

Below is a list of highlights and a link to the full change log.

Kanye West plays 'Stronger' at the Grammys with Surprise Appearance by Daft Punk Playing JazzMutant Lemurs

(Daft Punk's official post-Grammy press photo from http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2008/02/daft_punk_serio.html)

I just finished watching the 50th Annual Grammy awards. One of the highlights for me was Kanye West's performance of 'Stronger' with special guest appearance by Daft Punk. According to First for Music News, "This was the French duo's first-ever television appearance in their 14-year history."

What were those fantastic touch-screen controllers they were using? Well they were JazzMutant Lemur's and they were being used to trigger samples and synths. If you want to learn more about how Daft Punk uses Ableton Live to maniluplate samples and produce music checkout this interview with Thomas Bangalter.

Learn more about the Lemur at  http://www.jazzmutant.com/, but be prepared for sticker shock as the Lemur goes for about $3,300 US.

Mark Mosher
www.modulatethis.com
www.markmoshermusic.com