9/9-9/10: Giant Free 2-Day Electronic Convergence in Midwest US

CDM’s Cris and organizer Scott Kellog send along word of a mass, 2-day, free festival in Indianapolis Indiana featuring 18 Midwestern artists. Each day will run noon to midnight, so prepare to get your full dose of electronics, folks, tons of music, workshops, seminars, open improvs, and general electronic geekdom. Avant-garde? Absolutely. Stuff you can […]

Patch Bay: Synths, Non-Theremins, T-Shirts, Input Systems — All on the Web

Back with Patch Bay, CDM’s ongoing ‘best of the Web’ link log. Yes, sometimes it’s best not to waste your time listening to be jabber on about a link, when you could be enjoying the link love yourself. Speaking of which, enjoy: Matrixsynth has a roundup of Tannerin and other non-Theremin but Theremin-like instruments. Regular […]

Hackaday Csound Tutorial; Is Csound Dated?

First off, major, major kudos to hackaday for providing an extensive how-to on controlling Csound with MIDI. Csound is a free, text-based synthesis environment, directly descended from Max Mathews’ original digital synthesis environment introduced in the late 1950s. (See CDM’s brief history of Max, including how his instrument wound up on the cover of Playboy.) […]

Toast 7: Put Music on DVD; Other Audio Features (Mac)

Roxio has posted more details on Toast 7, the update to the venerable CD burning app for the Mac (check out Hear It!): New & improved in Toast 7 [Roxio] As a guest wisely commented on my previous story, there’s plenty here for audio users: “Very hefty stuff… the audio DVD is tops… nothing else […]

BT Loves Free Csound Tool [Updated]

Doh. Got the HTML screwed up here — now updated and fixed. Okay, I expected I’d get called down by a reader for criticizing Csound. Instead, electronica legend BT is here to set the record straight. And, as the hackaday post said, part of the reason Csound is popular is because it’s so easy to […]

VJ Coverage in Keyboard; Holly Daggers’ Killer Live VJ Setup

First off, welcome readers of Keyboard Magazine, which has bravely taken on a new regular feature on VJing for musicians. Don’t read Keyboard? Check out online stories or subscribe at Keyboard’s site. In the September issue of Keyboard, there’s not only a great cover story on Trent Reznor, but I did a two-page feature on […]

Studio Furniture: M Rack, Perfect for Computers, Music, and Small Spaces

You know the problem: computer furniture seems to be built for imaginary people with undersized tower computers who never actually do anything. Want to integrate a music keyboard, computer, monitors, and a rack of gear in a small space? Good luck! But James (of reflexaudio and the fabulous new blog Retro thing) sends along a […]

VJ Coverage in Keyboard; Holly Daggers' Killer Live VJ Setup

First off, welcome readers of Keyboard Magazine, which has bravely taken on a new regular feature on VJing for musicians. Don’t read Keyboard? Check out online stories or subscribe at Keyboard’s site. In the September issue of Keyboard, there’s not only a great cover story on Trent Reznor, but I did a two-page feature on […]

Digidesign Buys Wizoo; Promises New Pro Tools Products

Digidesign has acquired virtual instrument / soundware / effects maker Wizoo. [via] No big deal, right, since Digidesign’s M-Audio unit already distributes Wizoo products? Think again — Digidesign claims this is a very big deal: think Digi-branded, new products. From the press release: “We plan to deliver powerful integrated synthesis and sampling instruments that provide […]

Black Eyed Peas Live Performance Rig, Dream Keys, Mac Setup

Give the Black Eyed Peas a stage, and they’ll give you a party. So what technology drives this terrific live show? Printz Board is the multi-talented musical director for the Black Eyed Peas; he’s their main keyboardist but also doubles on bass and (his first instrument of choice) trumpet. (Watch for a story I did […]