Tech News Roundup: November 14, 2008

Tech News Roundup: November 14, 2008

14 November, 2008 | 12.00PM

• Written by: francispreve
• Filed under: Music News: tech news roundup

Last week, November’s music tech news got off to a quiet start.

This week, the pace picked up a bit.

Create Digital Music posted a slew of interesting tidbits, as did Synthtopia.com.

Throw in a handy new iPhone tool for producers and an incredible sale on AAS softsynths and you have the makings of a busy week for music tech.

Massive Tutorial Video

First up, Create Digital Music has the scoop on a new tutorial video for Native Instruments’ Massive.

Considering the complexity and power lurking within Massive, this video will be a welcome resource for both new and intermediate users.

Free oscillator functions for Ableton Live’s Simpler and Sampler

If you’re an Ableton Live user, you’ll find CDM’s coverage of this new, free sound design software rather interesting.

In a nutshell, the app allows users to design their own synth waveforms from scratch, then export the results for use in Live’s Simpler and Sampler softsynths, extending their usefulness immeasurably.

While the principle bears a resemblance to a 2006 freeware Mac app called MAMS, the implementation is much more sophisticated, delving into microtonal scales and other experimental exotica.

Definitely worth a closer look.

Vista Optimizations for Cakewalk Sonar

Cakewalk’s Chief Technology Officer revealed his secrets for optimizing Windows Vista for use with Sonar, which should help users get even more from their DAW.

The details are here.

Theremania

Before we move on to other blogs, CDM also posted a couple of nifty tidbits for Theremin aficionados.

New alternative controllers for the century-old technology include a DIY optical model, wrist mounts, and – we’re not joking - a cup of tea.

BBC Radiophonic Workshop sample library

Synthtopia covered Ian Boddy’s new collection of ultra-retro sounds from the classic BBC Radiophonic Workshop.

The audio material in this collection is about as analog as it gets and should please Doctor Who fans immensely.

Teeny-tiny retro synthesis

While we’re talking analog, here’s a nifty YouTube demo of King Capitol Punishment’s miniature Utopia Synth.

Intriguing.

A Visual Introduction to Synthesis

If you’ve been enjoying our Guide To Synthesis tutorials, then you’ll definitely dig this new series that covers similar territory via a series of video lessons.

iOscilloscope for iPhone

This dollar app (iTunes link) turns your iPhone into a functional oscilloscope, which is actually pretty useful – or just pretty – depending on your objectives.

Here are some of its features and functions:

- FFT allows you to view the sound waves in Fast Fourier transform mode.
- Sonogram allows you to view the sound waves in a sonogram form.
- Mute, mutes the sound so that there is no feedback.

The only caveat is that it won’t function if headphones are plugged into the iPhone.

For a buck, iOscilloscope is a must-have toy for iPhone addicts.

AAS 10th anniversary bundle of joy

To celebrate 10 years of making killer modeled softsynths, AAS is offering an anniversary bundle of all five AAS synths - Strum Acoustic - GS-1, Lounge Lizard - EP-3, String Studio, Ultra Analog and Tassman 4 for only $349.

That’s a savings of almost $1000, which is nothing to sneeze at.

Ableton Live Suite users have been enjoying the AAS tools for a year now, since Live’s Electric, Analog, and Tension devices are based on the same software technology.

But if you’re not using Live and want to share some of that magic, this is a really fantastic deal.

Have a great weekend…

• (0) Comments
• (1289) Views