Arturia’s polysynth software flagship now adds a generative, polymetric/polyrhythmic sequencer and the ability to process external audio inputs, along with other features. It’s also easier on the CPU, and this is a free update. Here’s what’s new in Pigments 5 – and how to dive into its best sound and sequencing features right away.
Music
Liz Pelly’s Spotify book reveals how company uses ghost content
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Inside the Dune 2 score with Osmose and Hans Zimmer
Gear Music Music tech Stories Tech December 11, 2024
Lower your blood pressure, raise your vibration: eu-IV’s tape beats
Dark days need sounds like eu-IV – “you-four,” as in euphoria. The prolific Baltimore-based producer cut his teeth backing rappers, and now his ultra-chilled beat-tape music has an ease and honesty that you’ll feel right in the heart.
Mega Milton puts all the analog utilities in 8HP: new from ALM / Busy Circuits
It’s like someone took all those questions you see on forums and Facebook groups and built a module out of it. Line input? Mixing? Noise source? S&H and slew? Put it all in one 8HP module.
3x new firmware for Noise Engineering’s Alia oscillator – and Cursus is back
The Cursus was lifted; now it returns. Following their release of the 10HP Alia oscillator module, Noise Engineering is repeating the formula: unveil one new firmware release and bring back two favorites.
NTS-3 is kaoss pad as kit, complete with SDK – plus updated NTS-1
KORG’s fun easy-assemble kits now see an updated NTS-1 mkII and even more fun, a new NTS-3 kaoss pad kit.
Erica Synths Megarack is the 8×126 HP Eurorack case of your dreams
The perfect Eurorack case doesn’t ex– OH. MY. GOD. Yes, this is all aluminum, and you might need a step ladder to reach the top-row ladder filter. And it’s beautiful. Full specs: It’s actually competitively priced – pre-VAT, EUR 1750. Of course, then you’ll have to figure out how to afford filling it. I’m sure […]
KORG’s microKORG, KingKORG NEO: vocalist, or Economy Plus
KORG remains on a quest to get some microKORG mojo going. But both new models – a new microKORG and a 37-key KingKORG Neo – are trying. One looks like it’s closer to the appeal of the original than the other. Here’s a preview.
Max 8.6: Samplers, gamepads, colors, Max for Live, and more
Cycling ’74’s Max 8.6 is out now, bringing a ton of fun, musical stuff to the open-ended music and media toolbox. That includes major updates for anyone working with Ableton Live, but plenty for everyone else, too. And if you’ve got a gamepad, you can plug that in and start playing right away.
Listen to Gościńska’s full hour of brain-tickling Polish producers, with links
Take your mind, body, and soul on a holiday to a world of sonic invention. I mean, literally Poland in January is not going to be everyone’s #1 holiday destination pick, but Polish music? That’s another story. this full hour from our friend (Kasia) Gościńska represents the bleeding edge of production at its finest, and Bandcamp lovers, oh yes, we have links. it’s IDM, it’s techno, it’s broken bass, it’s electro, it’s leftfield experimental – you’ve seen those dropdowns when submitting music to streaming. It’s just good.
Yamaha’s SEQTRAK looks like a return to fun mobile music designs
It’s an FM/sample-based synth, sampler, drum machine, and connected music maker. And most noticeably, it sees Yamaha return to the kinds of fun design we associate with 80s Yamaha and Casio.