We live in extraordinary times—times when the Internet has driven innovation and shared culture to previously unknown levels. And as with extreme performance in pro sports, we’re now treated to harmonization of the most tone-deaf renditions of the USA’s national anthem that are reimagining tonal harmony.
Music
Mood Machine, Liz Pelly’s book on Spotify, will be a must-read
Music Music tech Tech Web December 2, 2024
Artists and labels unite in Resiliencia following Valencia flooding
Music November 25, 2024
Revisit David Tudor’s Rainforest sound installation with 360-degree view
David Tudor’s Rainforest series is a beautiful artistic use of resonance, a well that never runs dry. So as I was going through some teaching notes today, I found myself returning to Tudor’s thoughts on the piece, plus a 360-degree record of a recreation at MOMA a few years back.
Vlad Kreimer, SOMA founder, under fire for event in occupied Crimea
The founder of SOMA Laboratory announced he would participate in an event in occupied Crimea in September at a venue backed by the Russian government. That revelation has produced an outcry from Ukrainian and international musicians and cultural workers – starting with a former Mariupol resident.
Add a notation view to Ableton Live Clips, for free: FPB Clip To Score
Ableton Live has never had a built-in notation view, but one intrepid developer has created one in Max – and it’s free/donation- and community-supported. And it works beautifully.
Hands on: Cong Burn’s Stacks plug-in and iOS app synths, loops, and layers
From the creator of Strokes, Stacks is a unique 4-voice wavetable morphing polysynth combined with a 4-track granular looper. But that description doesn’t really do it justice: modeling and digital grunge combine to make a raunchy instrument that behaves like an experimental studio.
Rare Oberheim OB-1 is perfect as a plug-in: review, Tom Oberheim vid
Falling through a hole in space-time from 1978-1979, the Oberheim OB-1 seems strangely at home as a monosynth (or polysynth) in 2024. GForce made an addictively good recreation in plug-in form – and it’s the perfect time for Tom Oberheim himself to weigh in on his creation.
Resolume 7.21: Transform widgets, group parameters, new tutorials
Resolume Arena, Avenue, and Wire got a nice little bump update as this media server / live visual platform continues to excel. That includes features other environments should copy, like an easy transform widget and group-able, fold-able parameters for inputs.
Bitwig Studio now has some gorgeous themes, thanks to user mods
Bitwig Studio, by default, has one love-it-or-leave-it color scheme. There are contrast controls, but that’s it. Without an official, supported solution, users have banded together to create their own customization – and some of the themes they’re producing look fantastic.
Tesla Berlin factory opens a “rave cave” as Musk embraces far-right
Talk about “business techno”: corporate techno appropriation continues, as Elon Musk has evidently opened an employee-only club space at the Gigafactory Berlin. And it’s emblematic of some political storm clouds gathering over the German capital.
Listen to Palestinian voices Julmud, Baraari, Abul3ees, Shua on NTS
From Bethlehem, tune into a live recording of some of the best MC and production talent Palestine has to offer—and a deep-felt cooling session, like a gentle stream.