There are two phenomena right now on the Interweb. One: access to self-distribution (for artists and small labels) means artmakers can explore new models for the business that supports their work. Two: an open market for ideas (the blogosphere, namely) means if you can come up with some pithy something or other, you can achieve […]

There’s been quite some interest — and discussion of the relative merits of high-end mixers — in the boutique DJ mixer Ecler EVO4. It’s a more svelte rendition of the EVO5, and also doubles as a hybrid MIDI control surface. There’s still no word on pricing, but if it comes anywhere close to a US$1000 […]

Free, odd soundware keeps on coming — hot on the heels of faux bent instruments and a tape-recorded Roland 606 and 808, here are more sounds to satisfy your need for unusual sounds. Stephen Haunts was inspired by the cassette-recorded 808, and writes to tell us he’s decided to give something back. He’s uploaded 22 […]

The Breadboard Band in action — it’s like a soldering class collided with a musical performance. Photo: Amy Young. The exceptional Masayuki Akamatsu, best known around these parts as the maker of the wonderful aka.objects for Max for hooking into Wii remotes, Space Navigators, MacBook motion sensors, and more, gets an in-depth interview over at […]

Deepvisual have posted a 3 minute look at some of the VJX16-4‘s functions on VJForums. More tutorials on a variety of gear can be found on their website.

proem headlines the CDM party Monday night, with myself and Lila’s Medicine, backed by Jay Smith and friends’ best visualists in Texas (brought to you by Livid Instruments). Photo (from the Decibel Festival, not in Austin): pinkpucca. Texas, here we come. Before the armies of bands hit Austin for South by Southwest, we’ve got some […]

Project Wonderland, rendered in Java3D, which was just open sourced. Not so awesome-looking, aesthetically. (The point here is more lightweight, online collaboration and utility.) But J3D can be useful, and this announcement is another win for open Java — not to mention, between JOGL and J3D, you can make a 3D project in Java look […]

If you’re in Austin for South by Southwest Interactive, you’ll want to duck out of the parade of open bars Web companies are offering and check out some of the live music and visualism happening. Saturday night, I’m judging a laptop battle as CDMotion contributor Dan Winckler is the evening’s VJ. Monday, as proem, Lila’s […]

Processing is an open-source coding tool, built in Java, designed specifically to be versatile for artists and friendly to non-coders. Code is elegant and simple, but can take advantage of all the potential power and performance (no, really) of Java. Java really can be fast enough to use in live performance situations, though its one […]

Daft who? In case you haven’t heard, the “it” French duo of the moment is Justice. Sure, they may not have a giant light-up pyramid on tour, but, their new album was one of the records we couldn’t stop listening to in 2007 (as opposed to Daft Punk, still riding the momentum of tunes we […]