Hardware

The Missing Link – Bringing Ableton Link to Hardware Devices

The Missing Link – Bringing Ableton Link to Hardware Devices Knobcon 2018 just happened recently in Chicago, Illinois where people gathered to share their latest and greatest in the world of hardware synthesis and experimental music-making tools. Ed Guild of Happy Circuit shared his incredible creation – The Missing Link which is a box that lets you connect your analog gear to other Ableton Link compatible devices. What’s especially useful about this device is that it operates over Wi-Fi so you no longer have to worry about all those cables clunking up your workflow. We were fortunate enough to get some questions answered by Ed, our interview is below! su_divider top=”no” divider_color=”#d2d2d2″ size=”1″ 1. Your website notes that you’ve DJ’d, VJ’d and been involved with bands since 2001, has any of that time been dedicated to working in Ableton Live? _ I started out VJing in a live electronic dance …

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SKULPT – New Synth from Modal Electronics

SKULPT – New Synth from Modal Electronics Modal Electronics recently announced the release of their brand new synthesizer SKULPT. This beast has been making major waves for its size and punches it packs, see below the list of features this bad boy comes with: Features 4 voice – 32 oscillator virtual analogue synthesiser 8 oscillators per voice with 2 selectable morphable waveforms Mixer stage for osc levels along with FM, PWM, tuning and Ring Modulation options Monophonic, Duophonic and Polyphonic modes available Multi option Unison / spread to detune the 32 oscillators for a huge sound 8 slot modulation matrix with 8 sources and 37 destinations 3 x envelope generators for Filter, Amplitude and Modulation 2 x audio rate LFOs, one global and one polyphonic Realtime sequencer that will record up to 128 notes and up to 4 parameters. Fully featured arpeggiator with division, direction, octave, swing and sustain controls. …

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Key Control – A Hardware Device for Locking Key and Scales

Key Control – A Hardware Device for Locking Key and Scales Artificial Noise has announced Key Control – a hardware device that can lock your keyboard to scales and musical keys. How cool is that? Those familiar with Ableton Live’s scale MIDI effect will have some experience in the arena of locking keyboards to scales and will attest to the convenience of such a thing. Now you can have a hardware box that could do the same trick for any MIDI controller or synthesizer with MIDI. The box transposes all notes in a chosen scale to the white keys and makes the black keys able to then play chords in the scale. It’s no one-trick pony. The device is simple to use, just plug your keyboard into the box and then your box into the destination (DAW, synthesizer, sequencer, etc.). You could also plug in a synthesizer with a keyboard into the …

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Korg Volca FM Synthesizer – Fresh Off the Line

Korg Volca FM Synthesizer Korg has just released a new product in their growing arsenal of Volca instruments, the Korg Volca FM Synthesizer. The little piece of machinery is a three voice digital synthesizer, packed into an intuitive interface surface a 16-step sequencer, (typical in all Korg Volca’s,) and is equipped with a warp active step and a pattern chain that allows you to dig deep with the rhythmic patterns. The Volca series revolves around simplicity, so sound synthesis is made easy, with a set of modulator and carrier knobs, which are mapped to multiple parameters, making it easy for anyone to hop into synthesis. You are also equipped with a chorus effect to add an extra layer of depth to all your sounds. Two new key features of the Volca Synth is the warp feature and the arpeggiator. The warp feature allows you to warp certain patterns and can make for …

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IK Multimedia Giveaway – T-Racks Custom Shop

IK Multimedia Giveaway – T-Racks Custom Shop IK Multimedia, an Italian based company, aims to bring classic hardware into full digital form with all their color and character. Their motto “Recreate classic legendary products in the digital world and make them available to all musicians,” and they’ve been pretty successful thus far. In light of IK’s 20th year anniversary, they’ve decided to giveaway a free T-Rack Compressor. The download process is a bit convoluted if you are not already registered with IK, (explained down below,) but is worth the process. The compressor emulates itself after classic warm sounding compressors, giving you a big full sound. The side chain effect detects your bass heavy sounds before they hit the detection circuit which modulates your compression. A stereo enhancement effect also allows you to easily widen or narrow your sound. Throw the Classic Compressor on piano, drums or bass to get a …

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PTEq-X Amp Equalizer (Free Download)

PTEq-X Amp Equalizer (Free Download)   Ignite Amps, an engineering company primarily revolved around creating plugins that transform hardware, typically made for on-stage performances, into digital form. Creating everything from classic tube distortion, to mock stomp overdrive pedals, all in digital form. Their recent release includes a PTEq Amp Equalizer which adds power and punch to vocals, guitars, drums, or anything else you put it on. The PTEq-X is equipped with mid range equalizer, program equalizer, and tube gain controls allowing you to hone in onto specific frequencies and either reduce or boost frequencies. For example, you are able to dial into a certain mid range frequency and reduce its frequencies, and then boost certain low end frequencies. The result you can achieve with the plugin is pretty satisfying. It not only boosts your lows and shaves off a bit of your unnecessary high’s, but it also adds a nice warm …

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