All posts by Mikey Backpack

5 Investments That Will Improve Your Live Show

5 Investments That Will Improve Your Live Show Lots of musicians out there are perfectly happy working in the studio and presenting their work in a recorded format, but there are just as many musicians who have the urge to perform their music for live audiences. Part of performing music is playing the actual music, but there is so much more that goes into a show that will enhance the experience for your audience. It is important to remember that your live show should be that – an experience. How you present your music will be surrounded by context, the context of not just what is heard but what is seen. The experience begins before you step foot on stage and continues after you’ve performed your last piece. We have some ways for you to improve the experience of your live show for yourself and audience members. su_divider top=”no” divider_color=”#d2d2d2″ size=”1″ Stage Design …

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NSynth Super – Google’s Learning Synthesizer

NSynth Super – Google’s Learning Synthesizer Google recently announced the NSynth (Neural Synthesizer) Super, the product of an ongoing research experiment into machine learning technology and art. Their interest began with project Magenta – an exploration into machine learning algorithms and the potential for helping artists create art and music in new ways. NSynth uses algorithms that go beyond combining sounds, it uses sounds from other synthesizers to create completely new and unique synthesized sounds. Its algorithms input the sonic and acoustic characteristics of multiple sounds and then use that data to synthesize a new sound with similar characteristics. Conceptually, it’s like how convolution reverb can process the acoustic properties of a room based on a reverb or other sound and then create a new reverb based on those properties.   su_youtube_advanced url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTXU9Z0NYoU” showinfo=”no” rel=”no” modestbranding=”yes” https=”yes” /su_youtube_advanced   The NSynth Super is a hardware device that uses the algorithm internally and can …

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ADHD – Free Tube Leveling Amp Plugin

ADHD – Free Tube Leveling Amp Plugin Audio Tools recently announced the release of their plugin ADHD, an emulation of hardware leveling tube amps, similar to the classic LA-2A Leveling Amplifier. Leveling amplifiers are typically associated with subtle compression for adding flavor and the ADHD stays true to form, it works especially well with a light touch. What sets this plugin apart from other leveling amplifier emulations? ADHD has an unusual amount of knobs for compressors of this type which gives you much more control over your compression parameters. On the interface, you will notice the classic VU meter smack dab in the middle of the plugin, next you may notice the typical two knobs for Gain and Peak Reduction. The developers of this plugin went the extra mile though and gave us controls for Attack, Release, Ratio, and Dry/Wet. These controls make it a much more flexible tool than the …

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Ultrakick – The Ultimate MaxforLive Device for Kick Drums (Interview)

Ultrakick – The Ultimate MaxforLive Device for Kick Drums (Interview) Today we want to share with you one of the most powerful and in-depth plugins we have ever seen for creating Kick drum sounds – Ultrakick. Ultrakick’s developer Daan Pothvaen reached out to us at Beat Lab so we checked out the plugin and were thoroughly impressed with what he created. A quick list of features is below; below that, we have a more in-depth review; finally, we had an opportunity to ask Daan some questions so check our interview too! 100% synthesis: no samples involved. 8 partials per oscillator with unprecedented options for sound design. Tuning: move all frequency-related envelopes up or down with a single click. Spread settings for frequency envelopes: create organic sounds with no effort. Action menus for quick actions like envelope randomization and osc partial presets. Accurate waveform image rendering. Numerical envelope point programming for high …

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DLYM – Imaginado Releases FREE Delay Modulator Plugin

DLYM – Imaginado Releases FREE Delay Modulator Plugin Imaginado recently released a free plugin called DLYM, a Delay effect with an internal LFO (hence Modulator). Imaginado is known for its popular DRC synth it released last year and its class of iOS apps for controlling Ableton Live and Traktor. DLYM produces a chorus and flanger effect that is modeled from the DRC effects engine. As per usual with Imaginado’s plugins, DLYM has a clean and simple interface adhering to the flat design world, with a minimalistic approach in mind. The plugin has the following features: 2 processing modes – ‘Analog emulation’ and ‘Dimension style’. 6 time syncable modulation waveforms – Sine, Square, Saw, Triangle, Sample & Hold and Filtered Sample & Hold. Adjustable stereo spread. Crossover/cutoff to control frequency range of the effect. Built-in preset/patch manager. Imaginado also said this on their website, “Whether you’re looking to add just a touch …

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Beat Lab Artist Series Recap: Brady Watt

Beat Lab Artist Series Recap: Brady Watt Last weekend we had another Beat Lab Artist Series presentation and we were graced with the presence of talented bassist Brady Watt. Brady has been the bandleader for Talib Kweli and has had his funky hand involved in countless recording sessions. He joined us to share some production tips but mostly to give a presentation on his live-performance solo set up using Ableton as a companion and controller. Brady began by sharing a bit of history – he grew up with hip-hop influences like Wu-Tang, Tribe Called Quest, and Gang Starr. His affinity for hip-hop clearly worked to his advantage as he’s been professionally recording for hip-hop greats like Talib Kweli, Ski Beats, Curren$y to name a few. Brady opened up Ableton and gave us a look at one of his live sets where he explained how simplicity can be used to your advantage. …

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