SodaSynth runs natively in Chrome. With soft synths a dime a dozen, how do you set yourself apart? Defying conventions is a pretty good start, and a team of developers who built the Mixxx open source DJ tool are doing just that. SodaSynth from Oscillicious is a soft synth with a different approach. With no […]

Here’s a software release I don’t think most observers saw coming: Roland has new software for computers and iPads that lets you edit visually. The underlying VariPhrase technology is familiar from other Roland products, though combined here with something Roland calls V-Remastering. The upshot is this: you begin with a heat map-like visual of a […]

It’s small, but I think it’ll be pretty huge. We’ve seen plenty of guitar audio interface adapters out there. Here’s the dirty little secret: they’re pretty awful. Because they connect to the audio jack of the iPhone or iPad, there are issues with impedance matching and noise / signal-to-noise. (Read: they don’t sound great. I’ve […]

3D projection mapping seems to be exploding in its commercial potential, as big-impact, architectural-scale visuals themselves become a medium. We’ve followed the work of German-born, Italy-based artist Roberto Fazio before. Here’s the latest example, which is not only documented but includes some behind-the-scenes insights into production. Lots o’ details below, plus a showreel:

MOTU’s MachFive sampler, while perhaps not getting the kind of attention rivals from NI and Steinberg have, has had in its history some compelling features. Those features were in a multi-window interface, though, that not all of us loved – while I can’t find the review, I know when I covered it for Keyboard, I […]

Roland’s GR-55 guitar synth is one powerful accessory for guitarists – maybe a little too powerful. With its various modeling, effects, and synthesis powers hidden in layers of menus, navigating all those sonic capabilities can be a chore. Enter one user from the GR-55’s dedicated community of guitar synthesists. Marc Benigni used TouchOSC control software […]

They are so totally invited to our platonic solid and regular polygon music festival. Let’s hold it on the island of Samos, okay? Who’s in? Photo courtesy the artists. Perhaps channeling ancient cults of Pythagoras, the producer duo Kompal, based in Austria, have not only made an insane noise machine powered by light, but also […]

I took a look at Omnisphere 1.5, the synth so big it’ll make your head hurt, for Keyboard in a story out now (and readable now). As I begin the story: Seeing its six DVDs of sound content, you might be tempted to duct-tape a key down and let Omnisphere finish your film scoring gig. […]

Steinkamp’s organic 3D projections, up close, as constructed in pixels. Image (CC-BY) Mike Linksvayer. Visualist/VJ and motion graphics artist Annapurna returns to CDM – see her kick-off post in which she talks about her own work. In a medium where too often people are interested only in the newest thing, the latest Vimeo upload, devoid […]

Steinkamp’s organic 3D projections, up close, as constructed in pixels. Image (CC-BY) Mike Linksvayer. Visualist/VJ and motion graphics artist Annapurna returns to CDM – see her kick-off post in which she talks about her own work. In a medium where too often people are interested only in the newest thing, the latest Vimeo upload, devoid […]