The One Who Runs Away Is The Ghost sees an electronics market in Shenzen through two young sisters’ eyes – a world of ghosts and monsters. It was the perfect opportunity for the equally fantastic Imaginarium of Hainbach’s electronic music compositions. He talks to us about his process and the connection between machines, memory, and the curiosity of children (including his younger self).
Music
ALM/Busy Circuits’ first plugin is an FM drum synth with step sequencer
Bring that FM drum synthesis in the box, too: ALM/Busy Circuits have made their first soft synth. Akemie’s Taiko Eurorack module is reimagined as a six-voice FM drum synth with step sequencer. And it’s delightful; here’s a quick hands-on guide.
CDM deals: Softube, KORG, Universal Audio plug-ins – last call
If the February doldrums have you, Plugin Boutique has some last-minute software sales now, including a big deal on an SH-101 clone from Softube and 95% off a bundle from Universal Audio. And that could very affordably get you a nice synth fix.
Tour Collage, a colorful playground for endless custom effects
Collage is a vast collection of effects based on some 43 processors you can quickly turn into your own custom effects, complete with a colorful interface maker. It’s creative and unique enough that you might just miss how much is there. Here’s a complete walkthrough of what’s inside.
Samplr, one of the best iPad music apps ever, now has MIDI control
Samplr remains one of the most satisfying musical apps for iPad – a multitouch sample recording and manipulation tool. And now it adds MIDI control, meaning you have even more reason to take this into live situations.
Finding one another in sound: compilations for Palestine
In the face of daily violence and massacres delivered in near real-time to our phones, musical artists are finding ways to find one another and be named. Compilations in solidarity with Palestinians take on a new urgency — as a way to weave threads between people.
Moog’s new synth keyboard, “leaked” via Super Bowl, Andrew Huang
Moog Music has a new hardware synth inbound, as revealed in the Super Bowl halftime show with Usher on Sunday night, and via electronic music personality Andrew Huang.
Grab all the free plug-ins from BABY Audio and roll for inspiration
Speaking of BABY Audio, they’re up to five free plug-ins, each versions of their premium offerings. That includes several that feature quick-access randomization, which could be a source of inspiration when you’re stuck, adding some instant spice.
Baby Audio’s Atoms mass-spring physical modeling synth, tested
Atoms is a gem of a new physical modeling soft synth, built on a structure of masses and springs, with intuitive and expressive control of bowed, organic, and alien sounds alike. Here’s a hands-on with Baby Audio’s latest plug-in.
Free Cables visual tool update – and building a custom video mixer
Cables (cables.gl), the powerful, completely free, browser-based, node-patching generative graphics tool, adds custom Ops and more in its February update. Even better, if you’re looking for how to work with this, they’ve got a profile of a user who built a concert-ready video mixer entirely in Cables, with tips on how to create your own.