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

Image Line Drumaxx Tutorial - Routing Pad Output to Separate Audio Tracks in Ableton Live

Drumaxx Released Name Your Price
Image Line has just released a new Percussion Modeling Instrument called Drumaxx made by Maxx Claster. Drumaxx includes 130 drumkits, 900 drum patches, 200 drum patterns. If you use Sawer, Sakura, Morphine, Poizone, or Toxic Biohazard instruments, then you are familiar with Maxx’s work.

Image Line is offering Drumaxx as a “name your price” download for limited until March 31st,2010 with a minimum price of $13 USD with $1 going to support Haiti earthquake victims. With a deal like this I thought it was a “no brainer” so I picked it up.

One of the coolest features is that each of the 16 physically modeled drums can be routed to individual tracks within your host so you can add additional effects. Below I’ll show you how to set this up on Ableton Live.

Routing Pad Output to Audio Tracks in Ableton Live
To illustrate how this works, I’ll show you how to route a snare to a second Audio Track.

1) Insert Drumaxx into a MIDI track in Live
2) Insert a second audio track in Ableton Live called “Snare”. We’ll route the Snare pad to this track.

3) Click the name of the instrument you want to route – in this case “Snare L”.

4) This pops up a menu that allows you to select bus routing. I selected “Bus 1”. Note you can also place multiple pads on to “Groups”.

5) In the audio track called “Snare”, you can now change the input routing so signal comes from Drumaxx on Bus1. Then select Monitor to “In” and you’ll hear just the snare coming from Drumaxx. Now that you’ve isolated this pad on the Snare audio track, you can add native Ableton Live FX and VST FX to this track.

Links

• Download a Demo, Listen, Buy Drumaxx

Mark Mosher
Electronic Music Artist, Composer, Sound Designer
Louisville/Denver/Boulder

http://www.modulatethis.com
http://www.markmoshermusic.com
http://www.twitter.com/markmosher

Download/Buy my album REBOOT on Bandcamp
Buy on iTunes

"Blofeld LFOs Gone Mad" - One Patch Performance Series

 

In the past I’ve posted “One Patch Performances” series tracks as videos. I decided to add Soundcloud as an additional publishing method for posting these short performances as I really like it’s timeline-based commenting system.

“Blofeld LFOs Gone Mad”
For this performance I am playing Blofeld factory patch H005 DCS3 Bubbles and I’m changing modulation parameters in real-time. This preset has interesting modulation routings in that LFO 1 modulates the speed of LFO2. Mod wheel controls speed of LFO1.

I think this performance also shows off the huge sonic range of the Waldorf Blofeld. Using this one preset and modulation, the Bolfeld produces timbers that are bell-like, bubbly, wet, warm, harsh and metallic. I’m also using knobs and keyboard scaling to control motion. It’s just an amazing synth. See my annotations on what I'm doing across the timeline.

Blofeld LFOs Gone Mad on Soundcloud by MarkMosher. Download embedded MP3.

Mark Mosher
Electronic Music Artist, Composer, Sound Designer
Louisville/Denver/Boulder

http://www.modulatethis.com
http://www.markmoshermusic.com
http://www.twitter.com/markmosher

Download/Buy my album REBOOT on Bandcamp
Buy on iTunes

Camel Audio Releases 2 New Sound banks and a New Skin

Camel Audio just released two new sound banks. Biolabs: Alchemy LabsGenetically enhanced soundscapes, mutant pads and sound effects machines for electronica, ambient and IDM.

You can download from http://www.camelaudio.com/Biolabs-AlchemyLabs.php for $59. One of the coolest things about this sound back is that it also comes with a new skin which is shown below. Click the screenshot to enlarge.

The second sound bank is Junkie XL: Future Oldskool. Oldskool synths, fat basses and driving loops for dance, electronica & house.

Again, available as a digital download for $59 at http://www.camelaudio.com/JunkieXL-FutureOldskool.php.

Mark Mosher
Electronic Music Artist, Composer, Sound Designer
Louisville/Denver/Boulder

http://www.modulatethis.com
http://www.markmoshermusic.com
http://www.twitter.com/markmosher

Download/Buy my album REBOOT on Bandcamp
Buy on iTunes

Devo Gearing up for 2010 - Playing Awards Ceremonies at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Whistler, BC February 22nd...

2009 was a pretty big year for DEVO. They re-issued of 'Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!' and  'Freedom Of Choice' and went out on tour to perform both albums in their entirety.

2010 looks to be even bigger. They are wrapping up work on a new album, have a deal with Warner, are poised for a tour in 2010 with Josh Freese (NIN) on drums, will be performing with a “rumored” new look, and have kicked off some fun de-evolution and social commentary.

Upcoming shows include:

• A one hour plus Devo live concert covered by NBC TV at the awards ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Whistler, BC February 22nd. Checkout this Billboard interview with Mark Mothersbaugh on this show.
• Cochella Saturay, April 17th
• A full tour is planned

On Warner Brothers and Corporate Marketing
Is DEVO holding back on their rhetoric now that they are back with Warner Brothers? Thankfully no as evidenced by the blog post by bassist Gerald Casale:

“Spudboys and Spudgirls, what goes around comes around! 30 years of De-evolution finds Devo back together with the label that unleashed them upon the land - Warner Brothers Records! Why now, why WB? Because the hour is getting late. It's now or never and you know it's true. De-evolution is real! It's time for Devo to reclaim their territory now that the world has turned and vindicated their original vision. What better way to celebrate than with the devil you know? As Booji Boy said "We're All Devo"!”

They also are posting some new tongue-in-cheek “Devo Inc.” videos. Here is one on focus group testing.

View embedded video:

DEVO definitely have not lost their sense of humor and it looks like the spud boys are coming back in a big way. I’m looking forward to their electronic music and social commentary mischief!

Links:

• Official Site - http://www.clubdevo.com
• Videos - http://www.youtube.com/devovision
• Devo Tour Reports - http://www.clubdevo.com/tourreports
• Tour - http://www.clubdevo.com/tour
• Devo Obsesso - http://www.devo-obsesso.com/

Mark Mosher
Electronic Music Artist, Composer, Sound Designer
Louisville/Denver/Boulder

http://www.modulatethis.com
http://www.markmoshermusic.com
http://www.twitter.com/markmosher

Download/Buy my album REBOOT on Bandcamp
Buy on iTunes

 

Interview with Bert Schiettecatte Inventor of Percussa AudioCubes

 

I recently conducted a phone interview with Percussa founder and AudioCube inventor Bert Schiettecatte. I think music artists, visual artists, sound designers, those interested in tangible interfaces for installations, and music technology fans will all enjoy this interview – even if you are not in the market for a tangible interface. Below is a brief context-setting introduction. If you want to jump straight to the interview click here.

Introduction
If you’ve been following Modulate This you know I’ve been using AudioCubes, a tangible interface made by Percussa. As I started using the cubes, I began contacting Percussa with questions. Percussa is a small company in Belgium and Bert Schiettecatte the founder and inventor of AudioCubes himself is happy to talk with customers directly which I found quite refreshing.

I have to say that prior to my experience with AudioCubes, I didn’t know much about tangible interfaces and the more I talked with Bert, the  more I began to understand how big of an innovation Percussa AudioCubes actually are.

Most tangible interfaces are comprised of an infrastructure of components that include tables with special surfaces, cameras, projectors, software, and computers. In most cases they are very, very expensive, not very portable, and require a lot of calibration if they are moved. In other words, tangible interfaces are out of reach for most artists.

Bert formed Percussa with the radical goal of producing an affordable portable self-contained tangible interface that you could throw in a backpack and that eliminated the infrastructure. The result is the AudioCube. Each cube is a wireless, battery powered, autonomous computer that can be used as a performance interface to music software.

Below is a recent phone interview I conducted with Bert. In this interview Bert discusses his time at the CCRMA lab at Stanford and the founding of Percussa. He also offers an introduction to tangible interfaces; and a detailed run-down on Percussa AudioCubes, their function, their electronics and how they compare with other tangible interfaces. He goes on to discuss some of the FREE apps that Percussa provides AudioCube users. Note – I originally planned on a 5-10 minute interview but after editing I ended up at around 24 minutes. Bert had a lot of interesting things to say, so I decided to offer all 24 minutes.

Interview
Listen using the player below. Download Embded Audio Clip as MP3.

Modulate This Interview: Bert Schiettecatte Inventor of Percussa AudioCubes by MarkMosher

0:19 - Stanford and Laser Harps
1:21 - Founding Percussa
2:13 - What are Tangible Interfaces?
3:23 - AudoCubes Explained
5:35 - On Overview of the LED System
6:37 - Overview of the FREE apps That Work with AudioCubes
11:48 - Where Do People Go to Get the Apps?
12:26 - OS Platforms, drivers and AudioCube fabrication
13:43 - How do AudioCubes compare to other tangible interfaces
17:16 - What are typical uses of AudioCubes and who is using them?
18:11 - Art installations
19:50 - Packaging, where to buy and shipping
21:28 - Where to go to learn more
23:03 - Thanks Bert

Links

• Modulate This Category Dedicated to AudioCubes
• Official Percussa Site
• Bert from Percussa on Twitter
• AudioCubes on Facebook
• Percussa YouTube Channel

Mark Mosher
Electronic Music Artist, Composer, Sound Designer
Louisville/Denver/Boulder

http://www.modulatethis.com
http://www.markmoshermusic.com
http://www.twitter.com/markmosher

Download/Buy my album REBOOT on Bandcamp
Buy on iTunes

"From Germany With Love" I Reenter the Programmable Hardware Synthesizer World with Waldorf Blofeld

Since 2006 I’ve been working exclusively with virtual synthesizers. Prior to this I spent years, and years – uh, and years working with digital hardware synthesizers and samplers. I’ve officially reentered the programmable hardware synthesis realm when I took delivery of my new Waldorf Blofeld yesterday.

I’ll post more on why I went with Blofeld and what I’ll be doing with it in the future. For now, enjoy some synth porn. Click the pictures below to see larger versions.

 

Mark Mosher
Electronic Music Artist, Composer, Sound Designer
Louisville/Denver/Boulder

http://www.modulatethis.com
http://www.markmoshermusic.com
http://www.twitter.com/markmosher

Download/Buy my album REBOOT on Bandcamp
Buy on iTunes

Soundcloud + Composition, Performance, and Production Notes on song "Infected"

I just posted some behind-the-scenes notes on the REBOOT track “Infected” over on my “Mark Mosher Music” news blog.

I also wanted to mention that I’m starting to use Soundcloud more and you can friend up here - http://soundcloud.com/markmosher

Here is infected via Soundcloud player.

04 Mark Mosher-REBOOT-Infected by MarkMosher

Mark

Camel Audio Alchemy V1.12 Released Along with New FActory Content

Camel Audio has released Alchemy V1.12.22. It is a free update for registered users. Along with this update they have released a new set of samples and presets for the Factory library as part of the Group Buy bonuses.

Alchemy is one of my favorite synths for sound design and AudioCube work. I think it’s amazing that they are still offering content to reward those who participated in the group buy! I’m really enjoying some of the new presets, especially the Choirs. I also find that with each point release, Alchemy GUI gets a little snappier.

Registered users should visit http://www.camelaudio.com, login and download updates.

I’ve pasted update info from their web site below.