Musikmesse: Edirol CG-8 Visual Synthesizer

This is no VJ mixer. The Edirol CG-8 is a high-res 3D motion graphic synthesizer, taking synthesis concepts from audio and applying them to video. Integrate with music: You can use audio to trigger video live, with VLINK/MIDI connections for further music integration, especially tight integration with Roland and Edirol gear. Sample motion: Grab video […]

Musikmesse: Korg Kaptivator Video Sampler Revealed

While Edirol takes the synthesis approach with its new video box (at least from a marketing standpoint), VJ gear rival Korg is going the sampler route. As reported here earlier, the Kaptivator is a video sampler with a 4×4 Akai-style drum pad grid. Now that we're not reading in Japanese, we've got some more details: […]

DIY Portable Game System

The Mignon Game Kit lets you build your own portable game boy system, with a stunning 7 x 5 pixel resolution. (No, that's not a typo, but those individual red lights look gorgeous!) The kits come with different amounts of components, price EUR 29 – 69 plus shipping (no distribution outside Europe as near as […]

State of Surround: Audio Titans Massenburg, Emerick, Scheiner

Berklee student Rian Souleles brings CDM this report on the state of surround, straight from the mouths of some of the greatest engineers alive. Recently, on a Friday afternoon, about a hundred music technology students crammed into the hot sweaty live room of Berklee College of Music's Studio A just to get a glimpse of […]

MIDIBALL: Balloon Musical Interface

Want intuitive in an interface? Can't get much more intuitive than this: now-defunct interactive world-rhythm band D'CuCKOO (1986-1998, superceded by RhythMix) built the MIDIBALL: a helium-filled balloon packed with wireless triggers so that the audience could trigger sounds and images. D'CuCKOO also built bamboo trigger sticks, marimbas and drums and even a giant interactive 3D […]

More on Edirol CG-8, Other Video Performance Gear

Rob Read from Edirol tells CDM that, while the announcement of the new CG-8 video synth is hours old, we can expect some video samples on the site soon. Better news: Edirol hopes to show off this gear in person in New York, possibly as soon as this summer. New Yawkas, I'll see you at […]

Pianoquarium

This week's understatement of note: "Sometimes I am self-driven to do some weird stuff. I have no idea why." Indeed, Troy Errthum. Like turning an old upright piano into a 20-gallon pianoquarium, complete with live fish. (via hackaday) The piano itself is no longer playable (guess that's what happens when you replace the soundboard with […]

Musikmesse: Collaborate Online with Digitalmusician.net

Now in public beta (form required) but launching in August, Digitalmusician.net is an ambitious one-stop-shop for online collaboration. No, it's not just new-fangled live collaboration; it's the whole package: Interactive VST collaboration: Send audio and MIDI via a VST 2.0 plugin live to and from anywhere, with high-quality audio (256 kb MP3 max, stereo), on […]

Play OS X Audio Instantly, Free

Tom Erbe of Soundhack fame has finally brought his old Mac utility Instant Player to OS X. (download the beta from his freeware page) Option-click a sound in the Finder, and it plays instantly — no mucking about in the multi-column view required. Insanely cool for quick sound browsing, so give it a shot! Updated: […]

Pro Tools: Now Compatible with (Some) M-Audio Devices

The story so far: Pro Tools has traditionally been tied to software, including their LE software which requires an Mbox or 002 interface. Then Digidesign purchased M-Audio, a company that had become the fastest-growing music maker in the business by selling hardware accessories for all of Digi's rivals. Well, if you've been waiting to see […]