The modular MIDI controller seemed fun, but practicality and price detracted from wide adoption among musicians. The developers are back with a new Kickstarter, this time aiming their MIDI controller at non-musicians.
They're pairing the new board with an app that's designed with ease-of-use in mind. I'm honestly not sure how this is supposed to be useful at all to non-musicians, but in the hands of a musician it does seem pretty slick. I enjoyed this demo performance very much!
You can pre-order the Joué Play for $290, and they hope to begin shipping in October 2020. Their last Kickstarter was 6 months late on its delivery goal. Embedded here is their official Kickstarter promo video, which includes the most "fucks" I've ever heard on Kickstarter!
YouTuber ChrisLody shows off the hidden features of the WAVES oscillator in Korg's NTS-1.
Video Description:
Just a quick tutorial video on how to edit the Korg NTS-1 'WAVES' oscillator. The WAVES oscillator is a custom oscillator for the NTS-1 that comes pre-installed. It's got a lot more depth than the other oscillator settings but unfortunately the details aren't really covered properly in the manual or anywhere on the net that I can find. So here is my exploration of it. It can be an extremely gritty sounding oscillator, or layered set of waveforms when pushed.
I'll be covering how to use other custom oscillators in depth soon too as it took me a while to work out how that all works.
Red Means Recording shows off a new videopak for the OP-Z app's video synthesizer. The pack is available for $13 on Gumroad, with a 30% discount if you use coupon code "crystalsun" at checkout.
Here are some infos about the setup and how this performance was created.
The Roland TR-8s plays drums, with patterns created for this performance. The Arturia Minibrute is used for basses, playing sequences from its own sequencer, note triggered from its keyboard. Filter cutoff is mapped on a Nanokey Studio midi controller knob, to keep it at hand. The Minilogue XD is for pads, arps and chords, and it also plays sequences from its own sequencer. Filter cutoff is mapped to an expression pedal, so it can be tweaked hands free I used the Waldorf Rocket to play some square wave leads, with notes triggered from Ableton Push 2. The ipad runs Moog Animoog app, with an evolving pad patch. It takes midi notes directly from the Minilogue XD sequencer, doubling it, while its volume is controlled by another expression pedal. The only virtual instrument is an Ableton Simpler device with some vocal sample chops in it, played from Push 2 pads.
The main brain is Ableton Live. I used it as a master clock, to record audio and to apply effects on every track. I use mostly Ableton Live stock effects + Soundtoys and Native Instruments plugins. Push 2 gives a great hand to keep Ableton features at hand while performing.
About the structure. The performance starts with some noise and delay effects before bringing in Bass and Kick. A Rocket lead phrase anticipates a broken beat drum pattern. Then some synth chords from the Minilogue XD get in, playing along bass and drums, using dynamics and filters to underline some passages, while Animoog app is always used to create buildups. The second phase opens up with an arpeggiated synth patch from Minilogue XD, which brings in a four on the floor kick pattern. Again, the Rocket and the Minibrute play together a bass and lead phrase. Minilogue XD changes to a dreamy pad to anticipate a very well known bassline, played here as a tribute. Then everything fades to migrate to a groovier beat, anticipated and accompanied by some rhythmic vocal chops + bass and pads. To fade again and return to the four on the floor beat, this time leaded by some moody Minilogue XD chords, reminding of 90s Berlin Techno. Finally, all the instruments mutate into a wild Acid Techno groove, where the Minibrute shines as a protagonist, playing the acid bassline, before every sound gets mutated into chaotic noises and delayed repetitions to go back where it all started.
