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

ArKaos VJ - Use MIDI and ReWire to Create Video for Live Shows or Rock Videos

If you are looking for a way to use VJ software sync video elements to music for a live show or a rock video check out ArKaos VJ. The software not only responds to MIDI, but also supports ReWire so that you sequence video elements from inside your primary music application ( ex. Ableton Live, FL Studio, Reason...).

If you are familiar with sequencing with software you'll find ArKaos VJ easy to use as it offers a drag-and-drop keyboard interface right within the software. Simply import pictures and movies, drag stills of videos to a key, then drag an effect to the key. Pressing the keyboard within the application using your mouse or sending MIDI data to the application via a hardware controller or from a ReWire host launches the clip.

Flash movies with editable text and live video camera feeds can also be used from within the application. There are plenty of effects to choose from, and you can customize effect parameters. Beat detection is also included. In addition to using this live, you can also export your work to a Quicktime movie.

For me, the only downside was the pricing model . The software runs on both PC and MAC and costs $335 / 279€. While I think this price is more than fair if you are primarily a VJ, I wish they offered an alternative and somewhat stripped down ReWire version for people who are primarily musicians who want to add video elements to their live shows or create rock videos for YouTube.

• Official ArKaos VJ Site
• Free trial

The NEW ReMOTE SL COMPACT - A More Affordable Alternative to the Remote SL

$299.95 US Novation Remote 25SL 25-Key Compact USB Keyboard Controller

$399.95 US Novation Remote 49SL 49-Key Compact USB Keyboard Controller

If you've been drooling over Novation's ReMOTE SL series keyboards but didn't find them affordable then you might want to check their latest keyboard the ReMOTE SL COMPACT.

According to Novation, "The ReMOTE SL COMPACT MIDI controller is the first keyboard to provide an affordable route to automatic, instant and intelligent control of all major sequencers and all automatable plug-ins."

The Compact has fewer knobs, sliders and buttons making room for larger drum pads. It comes in 25 and 49 key configurations.

Features:

• 144-character screen that can display up to eight assigned parameters at the same time.
• Automap Universal allowing you to quickly assign and control parameters for sequencers and plug-ins.
• Semi-weighted keyboard with after-touch
• Speed dial takes control of whatever the mouse is focused on
• Larger programmable drum pads than previous SL series keyboards.

What's missing from other SL series keyboards:

• No X/Y Pad
• Joystick is replaced with pitch and mod wheels.
• Fewer knosb, sliders, and buttons

Links:

• Novation Product Page: http://www.novationmusic.com/uk/products/software_control/remote_sl_compact/
• Zzounds has these keyboards in stock: 25-Key | 49-Key
• Novation ReMOTE SL COMPACT 25-Key USB MIDI Controller
• Musicians Friend now has these in stock.

Coming in October - The Ohm Real-time MIDI Performance Instrument

Livid Instruments has a fantastic looking controller called Ohm which comes in two models, Wood, and Metal. I created a Flash app above that allows you to toggle between the two models.

Looking at the pictures, the build quality looks incredible. This is reflected in the price which is $899, although they are offering Ohm at an introductory price of $790.

Here is a summary of features:

• Backlit for use in any environment, and comes in rugged rackmount metal or handcrafted mahogany.
• Both MIDI out and USB connectivity and has the controls you need for any MIDI compatible software.
• For VJs and Musicians
• Marketing copy specifially mentions "Ohm users will find it to be highly intuitive and adaptable to music generation with programs like Ableton Live®, and FL Studio®
• A patent pending two-handed layout with a center button array is ergonomically designed for multichannel performance.
• Backlit LED controls feature a thirty-six button clip bank, onboard function controls, effect mute buttons, BPM tap, high-quality faders and knobs, and a DJ-style crossfader.

Set to ship at the end of October, they are taking pre-orders now. Even if you are not interested in this controller, you may want to check out out their website becuase they have some other interesting controllers as well as VJ products.

Links:

• Livid Instruments
• Ohm

M-Audio Posts More Vista Drivers

I just noticed that M-Audio posted 32-bit vista drivers for a many of their products including:

  - Fast Track USB
- Session 1.5
- M-Audio Micro
- M-Audio 02
- Trigger Finger
- Axiom 25, 49, 61
- Oxygen 8 v2, 49, 61
- ProKeys 88, 88es
- KeyStudio
- Keystation Pro 88
- Keystation 49e, 61es, 88es
- eKeys 49, eKeys
- X-Session Pro and X-Session (UC-17)
- MIDISPORT 1x1 (works for old and new versions)
- MIDISPORT Uno USB
- MK-225c
- MK-249
- MK-249c
- MK-361
- MK-361c
- MK-425c
- MK-449c

In addition, a beta version of the Fast Track Pro driver is also available.

M-Audio Trigger Finger Tutorial & Enigma Preset for FL Studio FPC

None of the default Trigger Finger mappings work with FL Studio's FPC. I've created a preset that works with FPC using the Enigma Editor.  In this article I'll show you how to download my Enigma bank then copy the preset for FPC into one of your Enigma banks.

The article is rather long, read on, and feel free to comment with your own tips...

M-Audio Announces Vista Compatibility for 2nd Quarter 2007

Article update: M-audio has released a ton of 32-bit drivers for their products - see this post.

I just received a press release indicating M-Audio will offer drivers for most of their products for Vista by the end of this quarter.

"Los Angeles, CA, May 30, 2007—M-Audio®, a leading provider of creative tools for computer-centric musicians, is proud to announce the release of Microsoft Vista drivers for many of the company’s most popular products.

M-Audio currently expects to release 32-bit Vista drivers for all of the following models during the second quarter of 2007: all FireWire products; all currently selling USB MIDI keyboards; Fast Track™ USB, Fast Track Pro, JamLab™, MobilePre™ USB, Black Box™ and Transit® USB interfaces; Conectiv™ and Xponent™ DJ interfaces; and the Revolution™ 5.1 PCI card."

Related links:

• Other vista related articles in this blog
• Will your M-Audio  Axiom work with Windows Vista?
• M-Audio Vista Drivers Page

Tutorial: How to use the Axiom 25 with Ableton Live and with Live's Impulse Drum Sampler

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Ableton provides a free Live Pack containing three custom programs for M-Audio Axiom series keyboards. These programs contain mappings that allow you to control Live's transport, switch scenes, launch scenes, control volume, control instrument/effects parameters, trigger clips, and play impulse sounds with the Axioms drum pads.

This article offers tips for setup and usage and goes beyond the information in the Ableton Lesson by offering illustrations and examples. The article is specific to the Axiom 25 but owners of other Axiom 49 or 61 will also find this information helpful.

The article is rather long, read on, and feel free to comment with your own tips...

Will your M-Audio Axiom work with Windows Vista?

Article Update: Check out this article for M-Audios announcement about compatibility.

According to the M-Audio knowledge base, "Currently, M-Audio does not offer Vista drivers or Vista software updates (beta or otherwise)."   Despite this information, some users on the Ableton forum are reporting that they are able to use their Axiom keyboards with Vista. I decided to do some hands-on testing with my Axiom 25 on a Vista system and see for myself how well it worked.

I plugged my Axiom into the USB port of a HP Pavilion dv9000t laptop running Vista. Much to my surprise,  Vista auto-detected the Axiom and installed two ports - one port the Axiom controller  itself, and another port for external MIDI in/out.

I was able to map the ports within FL Studio 7 and Ableton Live 6.0 and the keys, knobs, pads, assignable buttons all work as expected.

So, while this is not officially supported, it seemed to work for me.

I did not have a chance to test the Enigma editor (I was testing this on a friends system and ran out of time).  If any of you readers out there have done so, feel free to add a comment to this post and let us know how well it worked.

Copyright 2007, Mark Mosher

Novation ReMOTE SL and Windows Vista Drivers

I just verified with Novation support that ReMOTE SL drivers are compatible with the Windows XP SP2, XP X64, Vista and Vista X64.  According to support, the drivers have not yet passed Windows logo testing, so for those using Vista X64, hold down F8 during startup to disable driver signing. They indicated that logo testing should occur within the next few weeks.

To learn more about remote SL controllers visit - http://www.novationmusic.com/product.asp?id=30&Type=1&bArchive=False.

If you're looking to buy one of these controllers, check out the deals that Musicians Friend.

I am self-determined (MTV) by CME

Yamaha is distributing midi controllers and hardware made by CME in China. CME  has some pretty interesting products, like the VX Series that supports motorized faders. Checkout CME's web site here http://www.cme-pro.com/ .

Now here is the fun part - CME produced a rock video to promote their product line. The song is called "I Am Self-Determined" and the lyrics are Chineses with English sub-titles. I found a copy of it on youtube.

If you have trouble with the embeded player, use this link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7IE9jeJpUg