Modulate This! - Electronic & Experimental Music Tech, Technique, & People

Use Your KORG USB Compatible Synths as Controllers on Vista

The latest version of Korg's midi driver for windows, version 1.1.1, is compatible with Windows Vista. This means you can use Korg hardware with USB capability as controller to drive your DAW or virtual instruments. On a side note, I've been running Vista for over a year on my music production laptop and have almost no issues with Ableton Live and my many virtual instruments.

Off the top of my head, here is a list of Korg gear with USB capability:

• Korg Nano Series Controllers 
• Korg M50 
• Korg Kontrol49 
• Korg M3 
• Korg R3 
• Korg TR 
• Korg padKONTROL 
• Korg X50

I tested the driver using my Korg TR and it works great. Here is a snapshot of the TR inputs and outputs mapped into Ableton Live.

You can download the driver for all devices using this link - http://korg.com/SupportResults.aspx?productid=415#ContentTabsContainer.

If you are looking to purchase any of this gear online checkout Musicians Friend, ZZounds, Guitar Center.

Mark Mosher
www.modulatethis.com

Ronald Jenkees - Inspiration and Jams from Outer Space

I found this great video by Ronald Jenkees on YouTube called "A fun beat from outer space (an experimental improv jam)" an thought I'd post it in case you've not run across his music yet.

Ronald Jenkees is an independent Hip Hop artist from Kentucky. He composes and produces using only a Triton LE (Which is one generation back from the Korg TR), Yamaha Motif XS8, and  FL Studio 8. He's built up a great fan base by releasing videos like the one above on his YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/ronaldjenkees. He's got one album for sale and another one on the way and also created music for ESPN's Bill Simmons "B.S. Report" podcast.

What I like about Ronald - besides his great music and "chops" - is that he's willing to share his techniques and take you behind-the-scenes with his YouTube videos. I also like the fact that that he promotes the idea that music should be fun and he often has encouraging words for those starting out.

Here is an excerpt from his YouTube channel which I think says it all.

Thanks to all of my friends and subscribers. I'm very thankful for your viewership!! Before you ask, I'm a perfectly normal and healthy guy, just a little geeky and different - but that's a good thing, not a bad thing. My hope is that you are entertained and at the same time, inspired to make music. Anyone can have fun with music.

Get more Ronald Jenkees here:

• His official web site, blog and store - http://www.ronaldjenkees.com/
• YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/user/ronaldjenkees
• MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/ronaldjenkeesmusic

Mark Mosher
www.modulatethis.com

Where Is the Arpeggiator in Rob Papen's Predator?

I'm really into synthesizers with one page interfaces these days. I've been working a lot with Rob Papen's Predator which has a fantastic UI. Almost all control "sections" are displayed on one page. I say almost as they couldn't quite cram all the control elements in.

To accommodate more controls without cluttering up the interface, there are toggle buttons on the interface. Use the graphic above as a guide to access additional sections, see the back of the synth, and access the help file.

ARPEGGIATOR SECTION

ADVANCED SECTION

More on Predator in future posts...

Mark Mosher
www.modulatethis.com

Video Overview of The Sonar V-STUDIO 700

Cakewalk has announced Sonar V-Studio 700. Here is a blurb from the press release.

"SONAR V-Studio 700 matches SONAR 8 Producer with the VS-700C V-Studio Console multifunction control surface and VS-700R V-Studio I/O audio interface, which includes an onboard Roland Fantom VS Hardware synthesizer. The VS-700C V-Studio Console provides fast and comprehensive hands-on access to all of the power of SONAR 8 Producer, including for the first time extensive editing operations. It also provides dedicated digital control of the VS-700R V-Studio I/O and with the press of a button the VS-700C can switch functionality to control any V-Link compatible video and image hardware including the Edirol DV-7 line of direct linear video editing systems."

Below is a video I found which offers an Overview Video of SONAR V-Studio 700 for Modern Music Production.

Lean more by visiting this Cakewalks dedicate micros site for the product - http://www.sonarvstudio.com.

Mark Mosher
www.modulatethis.com

What's New and How To Upgrade To Rob Papen Predator 1.5.1, Blue 1.8.1 and RG 1.0.1

FIND PRESETS FASTER

Rob Papen has released updates to Blue, Predator and RG. All three virtual synthesizers have the following new preset browsing features:

• "Quick Browse" is a new function that allows you to quickly browse through preset.
• "Recently Browsed" allows you to easily rind the presets you tried out previously.
• "Favorites" allows you to quickly collect you favorite presets.

MORE INFO AND UPGRADE LINKS

Predator 1.5.1 Update (web site | buy from Musicians Friend)

• Optimization of CPU usage, around 20-30% less CPU , even more for some presets.
• Reduced loading time
• Bug fixes
• To upgrade from your current Predator 1.1 version http://www.robpapen.com/upgrade-to-1.5.html
• To upgrade from Predator 1.5.0 http://www.robpapen.com/Predator-1.5-download.html
• Learn More | Buy From Musicians Friend

Blue 1.8.1 Update

To upgrade use download link here http://www.robpapen.com/upgrade-to-1.8.html

Additional RG 1.0.1 Updates 

• Sequencer Preset Menu: Sequences can now be selected by click in a sequencer preset menu.
• Currently loaded Sequence is displayed
• Keyboard sequence / chord / notes pressed is displayed
• Bug fixes
• To upgrade to RG 1.0.1 http://www.robpapen.com/RG-download.html

Mark Mosher
www.modulatethis.com

Pro Tools 8 Announcement

Pro Tools 8 has been announced. According to the digidesign web site Pro Tools 8 features include:

"a gorgeous new interface, dozens of new plug-ins and virtual instruments, exciting new scoring and MIDI features, expanded editing and mixing capabilities, enhanced performance, and more."

Also,

"Pro Tools LE 8 and Pro Tools M-Powered 8 have been expanded to support up to 48 simultaneous audio tracks."

Click the image above to see a larger view of interface changes.

For more details on what is new in this release, check out the Pro Tools 8 release.

Mark Mosher
www.modulatethis.com

Kraftwerk Heading to Australia and Singapore

Hey all you electronica fans in Australia and Singapore. Kraftwerk, the godfathers of electronic music are heading your way. I've saw this show in Denver a few months back and it was fantastic. Checkout the Kraftwerk MySpace page (very cool design by the way) for more info and video from the recent Coachella 2008 show. Here are is a photo album from Coachella.

Nov 22 2008 8:30P SIDNEY MYER MUSIC BOWL MELBOURNE

Nov 23 2008 8:30P THE ESPLANADE PERTH

Nov 26 2008 8:00P TOWN HALL THE EDGE Auckland

Nov 29 2008 8:30P BRISBANE TURF CLUB BRISBANE

Nov 30 2008 8:30P HORDERN PAVILION, ROYAL HALL SYDNEY

Dec 3 2008 8:00P THE ESPLANADE THEATRE SINGAPORE

Mark Mosher
www.modulatethis.com

Image Line Announces Updates for Morphine, PoiZone, and Toxic Biohazard Virtual Synthesizers

 

Image Line just announced a series of minor updates to their core line of virtual synthesizers.

Morphine 1.4.2 released

- fixed crashes/freezes when closing plugin in OSX
- fixed threading in Windows version
- fixed compatibility with the Toxic Biohazard installer in OSX
- better tablet pc / stylus support
- fixed polyphony issues in FL version
- several small changes

PoiZone 2.2.5 released

- fixed threading issues
- made it more stable
- better tablet pc / stylus support
- fixed polyphony issues in FL version
- fixed crash when changing presets on PPC macs
- several small changes and fixes

Toxic Biohazard 1.0.2 released

- fixed crashes when closing plugins in OSX
- threading-related fixes
- fixes on PPC macs
- fixed some crashes related to downloader in OSX
- several small changes and fixes

LINKS:

• Image Line Page for Virtual Instruments
• If you are new to Image Line and want to save an additional 10% on their products, use my promo code link.
• Excellent video tutorials on these synths here

Mark Mosher
www.modulatethis.com