LABS – Instrument Update
The last time we wrote about Spitfire Audio’s Let’s All Be Something (LABS) free instrument series we covered their Electric Piano. Well, it’s been a few months and they’ve been churning out instruments since then. In this article, we’ll cover the latest in a series of instruments from the plugin maker. Charango The first instrument to come after the LABS Electric Piano was Charango. The Charango is a stringed instrument similar to a guitar, but native to the Andean culture. It is in the lute family of stringed instruments. It has ten strings that come arranged in five groups of two. This charango — an Andean guitar-like instrument — was recorded back in 2006 by Christian Henson on a KM184 mic in his Soho flat, played by his brother Joe. This was the instrument that inspired Christian and Paul to create Spitfire Audio. It plays quite smoothly for a stringed instrument which can always be tricky …
Read More7 Factors to Think About Before Buying a Digital Piano
7 Factors to Think About Before Buying a Digital Piano One of the music producer’s most important tools is the keyboard, and if your compositions rely on realistic piano sounds then you’re going to want a good piano. Unfortunately, not everyone has the room for an acoustic piano, or can afford to buy one. That’s where the digital piano comes in – a digital piano uses recorded samples and an electronic keyboard to recreate the sound and feel of acoustic pianos. Digital Pianos typically have more than just one sound in addition to a Grand or Upright piano, sounds like: Organ, Strings, Harpsichord, etc. The quality of these internal sounds, the build, and the other included features will determine the cost of the piano. We’ve assembled a list of factors to think about when searching for the right digital piano, read them below. su_divider top=”no” divider_color=”#d2d2d2″ size=”1″ The Keyboard The keyboard of a …
Read MoreAI Experiments – Sonic Exploration through Machine Learning
AI Experiments – Sonic Exploration through Machine Learning As computer musicians, we get the best of both worlds: we get to geek out in the mathematic, technical world of synths and plug-ins, as well as enjoying the magical, emotional and mysterious world of music. Some of us are more computer-ey (the more left-brain type) and some of us are more music-ey (the right-brain type). But, as producers, we have to tap into both of these sides to get the work done. Over at AI experiments, they’re doing the same thing: combining the best of both worlds by using artificial intelligence and machine learning to organize how we make sense of the world around us—including language, sound, objects, and music. AI experiments is an open source platform where anyone can toggle with tools and technology to explore how machine learning work. Below are three cool experiments that use some crazy …
Read MoreSweetcase- Vintage Electric Piano VST/AU Plug-In (Free Download)
Sweetcase- FREE Vintage Electric Piano VST/AU Plug-In NoiseAsh Audio Tools has released a Vintage Electronic Piano Plug-In most notably named Sweetcase available for both OSX and Windows in VST/AU format. Its interface is simple, the sound quality is decent, but most importantly, it’s FREE! Who doesn’t like free stuff?? With the high costs of some Electronic Piano plug-ins nowadays this is a bargain not to pass up. Sweetcase’s easy-to-use setup has all the modulation controls required to get that vintage sound you’re going for. Most of the sound produced can bring forth that old school jingle jazz vibe. The plug-in isn’t much of a CPU eater so additional processing won’t be much of an issue if you’re trying to be creative and punch its sound even louder. I especially like messing around with the Intensity and Speed modulated with the Pan, Expression and Pitch types to create a weird atmospheric type …
Read MoreRoli Seaboard-Future of Keyboards
Roli Seaboard-Future of Keyboards MIDI Keyboards have been one of the most effective controllers a producer can wield in their arsenal of equipment, though regardless of the dozens of evolutions keyboards have encountered, they never strayed too far from the centuries old counterpart: the piano. The ROLI Seaboard takes a dramatic step in the realm of MIDI Keyboards towards greater musical expression and a large leap in musical inventiveness. The Seaboard aims to transform the traditional keyboard/piano, (characterized by single tone keys and fixed velocities,) into a unified expressional tool, using the power of five different parameter controls: Strike Press Slide Glide Lift The strike parameter is essentially a more advanced velocity control, measuring the force of contact you make with ‘key waves,’ while press is controlled by the pressure applied, maintained, or reduced after you have struck. Glide is a horizontal pitch control which you can influence by gliding through the …
Read MoreSkoove- Learn Piano the Easy Way
Skoove- Learn Piano the Easy Way If you’re trying to step into the world of music production, but don’t have formal knowledge of music theory or proper technique, you may be interested in Skoove. Skoove is an online tutorial app that teaches you piano and music theory. Developed by Dr. Stephen Shulz and Dr. Florian Plenge, the program is geared for simplicity, aiming to stray away from conventional and classical forms of training, and to teach you in a relaxed and efficient manner. Learning a Language The program jumps right to. You set your midi controller, get briefed on how the app works and from that point on you’re playing the piano. The lessons workout in a ‘show and try,’ system, as in, you watch a video showing you what to do, then you’re given a chance to try. While you play, a scroll of notes roll along, on beat, and …
Read More