Ableton Live 6 is now out in beta, but now that you’re reading this, you’re too late: the beta rosters are already full. As with previous upgrades to Live, Ableton is rolling out the beta in waves, and the first wave is the smallest. If you missed the boat, though, previous experience suggests you won’t […]

Numark’s new VJ product looks like it could be the missing link DJ controller hardware a lot of us wanted. The Behringer BCD2000 is inexpensive, but availability has been scarce and it doesn’t yet support the Mac, on top of some MIDI implementation oddities. (See shipping and driver complaints, full review on PC.) The US$300 […]

The One Laptop Per Child initiative, aka “that $100 laptop” though it will initially cost more like $140, just got its first leg up. Nigeria has ordered one million of the custom Linux laptops. Now the big challenge will be whether the OLPC developers can deliver the machines on-budget and on time, given its wildly […]

(Update: I bought one of these controllers soon after they became available in Australia, and found that it had some compatibility issues with various VJ software. Definitely try before you buy. Jaymis.) Numark launched their NuVJ VJ product, a combination of a DJ-style MIDI controller with software from Arkaos, back at Musikmesse in April. The […]

(Update: I bought one of these controllers soon after they became available in Australia, and found that it had some compatibility issues with various VJ software. Definitely try before you buy. Jaymis.) Numark launched their NuVJ VJ product, a combination of a DJ-style MIDI controller with software from Arkaos, back at Musikmesse in April. The […]

Steve Mann, Chris Aimone, et al of the University of Toronto have developed a system for using streams of water to play a musical instrument. They describe the results in theoretical terms for the academic community, referring to ancient Greek water organs and the ability to have greater tactile feedback than other alternative instruments. But […]

Louie Iturzaeta writes to say PSP Rhythm has now hit version 6.0 with lots of new features. It’s pretty incredible to watch this application grow. I know we have some readers using this, so here’s what’s new: New user interface with programming grid, graphical knobs for parameters, oscilloscope. Sample Loading from Pattern Mode with up […]

Watch a behind the scenes video of film/TV composer, producer, and electronic musician James L Venable as he’s working on the final touches to the score for “Clerks 2”, in theaters now: “Music Lessons” with James Venable, via Train Wreck: Video Chronicle of Clerks II Production Venable is best known for the D&B inspired theme […]

It’s been a week now since Adobe Lightroom Beta 3 for Windows was released. In that time I’ve had some a bit of confusion, some fun, productive times, a couple of epiphanies, plenty of crashes, and have eventually developed a bit of a geek crush on this new software from Adobe. A little background: I’m […]

Let there be plug-ins. Sure, Intel Mac users (and would-be Intel Mac buyers) are happy to have Logic, Pro Tools, Ableton Live, and other software running on their new boxes, but without plug-ins, what good are they? Popular developer iZotope announced this week that they are releasing Ozone 3 (64-bit mastering, pictured in fashionable Ghostbusters […]