No more generic synth sounds: excellent tutorial on sampling sound design on Prophet X

Sequential continues a grand tradition of analog/digital hybrid instruments. And a major advantage to that – you’re not restricted to the sonic colors of just the analog sound sources. Prophet X is a 50GB custom multisampler, too.

SOMA’s ORNAMENT-8 isn’t a sequencer, it’s an analog computer and behavior synthesizer

Its independent cells are delay lines creating a dynamic equilibrium. It represents a temporal dimension and an “infinite now.” Okay, mainly, it’s covered in a whole lot of metal patch points you use with alligator clips to f*** up patterns and time. Let’s do the simple take first. Inventor Vadim Minkin has developed the ORNAMENT-8, […]

Native Instruments exec shakeup: Daniel Haver and Mate Galic are out as CEO and President

It’s the end of an era. After more than 20 years leading the company, both CEO Daniel Haver and CIO/President Mate Galic are out of their roles.

The Sacred Rage, an all-star compilation for Beirut, as Lebanese fundraisers find an audience

When words fail, perhaps there is music. Morphine Records dropped its compilation The Sacred Rage last night, a profoundly personal LP. And even with a storm of crises the world over, these projects find receptive music lovers. On this moment, and the music it is assembling:

Live strategies for playing with Arturia KeyStep Pro and hardware: must-see videos

Arturia’s BeatStep Pro has long been a hub of choice for live performance, including with modular. But the KeyStep Pro actually does more – and these videos explain how. That could help answer how to play live with your gear (and apps).

Roland TR-8S 2.0 firmware is huge: FM synth engine, tons of new FX features

Forget 808 day – sorry. The really good news from Roland this month is that their current drum machine just got a whole lot more powerful, with a free update.

The Amiga just got a new, open 8-bit hardware sequencer cartridge you can build

There’s a new, open-source sampler – for the Commodore Amiga. Yes, as in you’ll be building your own DIY cartridge to run it. Brace yourself – 90s. Music. Incoming.

Support the people of Beirut: music to discover, ways to give to vulnerable communities

This week saw a catastrophic explosion atop layers of existing crises in Beirut. From Lebanese artists – and their extended family of music makers around the world – comes an answer in sound, and a call for help.

Bandcamp Friday is a chance to support Iranian music artists, too

Like a peak-season bounty of fruits and vegetables, music is a haul that’s never too bountiful. So since we’ve featured a lot of music from Iranian artists lately, here are picks from Iran.

Free sounds and samples in Ableton Live, powered by commons and community

Freesound4live brings the incredible and eclectic open sound community freesound.org right into your Ableton Live session – so you can access sounds and new inspiration quickly, for free. The Max for Live device is the work of Alessandro Aylesim Miracapillo. And this is both convenient and unlike any other sample tool. You can browse, search, […]