Patching, programming visually by connecting virtual patch cords between onscreen objects, has generally been the domain of the few. Max/MSP/Jitter and Pd lovers and modular soft synth fans all patch regularly. But the mainstream audience? Now, Yahoo is letting you “remix” and “mash-up” RSS feeds from the Web, and guess what interface they’re using? Yahoo […]

The creators of Fruity Loops aka FL Studio (Image Line software) have just announced a new DJ application called DeckaDance, and this thing looks like the answers to our prayers. We here at CDM love applications that don’t tie you into a specific controller/hardware/control vinyl solution. DeckaDance seems to have everything we’ve ever wanted in […]

No official changelog yet, but Ableton has released a 6.0.5 update to Live. (See latest versions to download, provided you’re registered.) This version appears to resolve some of the bigger issues with Vista. Given good experience from some users with SONAR and FL Studio 7 and audio drivers, that could make it worth trying out […]

For bigger gigs I tend to include a DVD player running as a backup in case of a crash. I’ve never actually needed it yet, but it’s nice to have the safety net. Here’s a simple technique utilizing Adobe Encore to turn your AFX composition into an Autoplaying DVD, sans menus. It also uses Dynamic […]

In honor of post-Valentine’s Day weekend, the Love Philter. FL Studio, better known to PC musicians as “Fruity Loops”, is now available in its version 7 upgrade. (This release was announced last month but wasn’t immediately available.) FL Studio’s lifetime upgrades mean that, unlike your operating system, the upgrade is free if you’re a previous […]

In case you missed this in comments, CDM reader Trademark has rigged a quick demo of how scratching with the Nintendo Wii remote might work. To manipulate the audio, he’s using the open source Mac/Linux audio programming environment SuperCollier: If you think of this as a replacement for vinyl, you’ll naturally be disappointed. (The same […]

Not that public domain status has ever stopped visualists from using footage in sets, but if you want to mix in brilliant vintage video footage and be legal (perfect for that six hour set you’re doing at the FBI Intellectual Property Unit after-party in Vegas), here’s yet another answer: OpenFlix: Public Domain Movies Unlike the […]

It’s remarkable what a difference accurate multi-touch can make for interface design, especially when the surface is scaled relative to the human body (sorry, iPhone). Jeff Han’s work, widely spread around the blogosphere, is significant because his team has really rethought the whole interface. Gestures for moving things around in 3D space just make perfect […]

Winning the award this month for “Most Insane Project Mockup”, I give you the Plattabass. It’s a bass. It’s a record player. It has magnetic sensors embedded in the neck. And yes, that is a crossfader. Even crazier: Mobius (Ray Belden) plans to actually build this thing. We’ll be watching. Proposed specs, courtesy Ray: 2 […]

The Musini began its life as an award-winning toy. The product description is hilarious: A perfect gift for rambunctious toddlers, the Musini music box provides a constructive way for children to channel their physical and creative energy. While kids step, jump, turn, and tap, the Musini’s patented MusicSensor detects their every move and translates it […]