Why Would Apple Patent a Blatantly Obvious Synth Method?

The Week of Deep Apple Electronic Music Patent Mysteries continues! Behold as Apple submits a patent for — as near as observers can tell — detuning oscillators with common beats. Let’s switch to synthesis 101 for a second. Detune two oscillators, and destructive interference between them will create beats. Apple’s patent claim: “The present invention […]

Berlin Conference: Open Instruments, and Linux for Music

Sensors for music making, from the group Recursive Dog The 5th Annual Linux Audio Conference, March 22-25 in Berlin, looks really cool, even if you’re not a Linux die-hard. Sessions include: an open, XML-based format for time and position in audio files, putting together a Linux studio with expert Dave Phillips, open hardware instruments with […]

Fear Not, New DIYers: Sparkfun Demonstrates Surface-Mount Soldering

Soldering is strangely addictive, like knitting for tech geeks. Maybe it’s the solder fumes, but I find myself oddly relaxed. The other big surprise is that it’s really far easier than beginners think. (Read: I’m a klutz. If I can do it, so can you.) And there are plenty of good visualist hacker projects to […]

Mid-Range Pro Tools Digi 003 Line: What’s New, Why White is Totally In

The Digi 002, both in control surface and rack versions, has gotten its successor in the form of the Digi 003. The new release largely updates the control surface functionality Digi’s mid-range line. These units run Pro Tools LE, just like their lower-end counterparts, but with greater control and audio I/O. And, most importantly, Digidesign […]

Pro Tools for Vista?

Digidesign reports that Pro Tools for Vista is “coming soon.” How soon? Um … soon. I’ve heard through the grapevine that a Pro Tools release is expected within the next few months. In the meantime, Pro Tools users should avoid Vista for the time being; it won’t work. I know we have some huge fans […]

Funky Music Art: 28 Gig Posters in 28 Days Complete

Nat “funnelbc”, creator of the CDM logo and graphic appearance, took on a project the rest of us at Team CDM thought was completely insane:

HD4NDs' Mike on Building Your Own HD Workstation

Mike of HD for Indies fame has an article on DV.com on building a workstation (Mac or PC) for HD editing and post/correction. Getting the right gear involves lots of decisions. I often spend an hour or two reviewing filmmakers’ or producers’ needs before we arrive at a system recommendation. Every shop and every project has […]

HD4NDs’ Mike on Building Your Own HD Workstation

Mike of HD for Indies fame has an article on DV.com on building a workstation (Mac or PC) for HD editing and post/correction. Getting the right gear involves lots of decisions. I often spend an hour or two reviewing filmmakers’ or producers’ needs before we arrive at a system recommendation. Every shop and every project has […]

More Apple Patents Suggest New Music App, Musical Instrument?

At the very least, it looks like Apple is working on significant new music software features, as you might expect. But depending on how you read their patents, new music hardware — even touchscreen hardware — could be in store. Apple is a big company with a lot of intellectual property, so teasing out patents […]

PCDJ Goes Cross-Platform: Reflex DJ App

While not as well known as some bigger-name DJ apps, PCDJ has some loyal fans in the Create Digital Music community, with good reason. The app has long had an agnostic approach to vinyl control formats, supporting everything from Final Scratch to Ms. Pinky. And it gains popularity points with lovers of custom effects by […]