I am so happy to add a controller to our next meet up!
Mark Mosher (Modulate This!) will be joining us on Sunday to present Audio Cubes. Click here to read what Mark has to say on the topic.
In my mind, Audio Cubes, from Percussa, are like a 3D reactable table after shedding several thousands of dollars and pounds.
This page will get you in-line pretty fast (great stuff).
And some informative video:
Tell us about how YOU control your electronic music so we can keep the demos coming!
Before we talk about mutants, here is a listing I bumped into for the Boulder Laptop Orchestra (up coming) http://bit.ly/9hP0D4.
About those mutants, they are Jazz Mutant(s)!
Via Gear Wire We learn that Jazz Mutant Lemur V2 (free upgrade by the way) is now super-dooper! Ableton is supported ke the front of a wheaties box.
Copy & Paste:
However, Jazz Mutant has a summary (gosh they sure are cool)
Ohh, there is a promo picture I think looks cool, and see more here:
Free Stuff – head over to Sample Radar for some free dub samples.
Reminder: If you need to build ONE BUTTON like I did:
The get your Brain at Livid. While you are there check out the short run of the Diablo.
Here’s something easy and great. Use a Korg Kaos Pad KP3 as an Ableton controller.
Compare a street value of $349 t a $220 ONE BUTTON.
Remember – Cache Flowe Sunday
As promised! Cache Flowe will be joining us for an evening of Live visual processing. This is going to be an amazing evening for all!
Those of you interested in adding a visual element should check out Processing.org, the source for much of the scripting and framework Cache Flowe uses in his live sets. Beyond visual Cache Flowe will be performing music and explaining his set up and approach to a full Live A/V set. A few key topics:
When : March 14, 2010 7pm
Where : The Walnut Room located at 3131 Walnut Street in Denver.
How Much? Not a single penny – FREE! Just the way we like it!!!
Cache FLowe Bio : Mashing up idm, hip hop, funk, drum and bass, trip hop, experimental, jazz, techno, and dubstep, CacheFlowe creates genre-skewing electronic music that has received acclaim from local and international press. Producing with a computer since 1996, he’s honed an original style that’s defined by stuttery, complex breakbeats, deep analog basslines, techno-flavored synths, organic instrumentation and contorted samples. Working on the same Ableton Live set since early 2004, CacheFlowe’s live show is a fast-paced smorgasbord of chopped breakbeats and analog synths on 8 channels of audio. He bobs and weaves through an array of electronic genres and tempos, using nothing but sounds and loops from his own productions. Appearing on official record label releases alongside the likes of Twine, Ladytron, Daedelus, Ulrich Schnauss, Starkey, Machinedrum, ISAN, Submerged, Fog, and sharing the stage with Amon Tobin, edIT, Machinedrum, Dizzee Rascal, Mochipet, Jeff Parker (Tortoise), DJ Olive (MMW, Sonic Youth), Nels Cline (Wilco), and countless local talents, CacheFlowe continues to freak the beat in new and exciting ways.
You can find Cache Flowe at CD Baby, Discogs, MySpace, and via Plastic Sound Supply on YouTube and of course his main site.
Some video for your viewing pleasure!
Media and Press information is located here.
Just say no to forest fires.
I happen to be listening to Mark Mosher’s Interview on ModulateThis! with Bert-Schiettecatte from Percussa Audio Cubes. I would provide some commentary, but I am still listening. …and so could you:
This has peaked my interest. I know we will be seeing a demo on these very soon from Mark. Great interview!
This CDM Article on Austin’s hardware hacking has some fun videos and info. There are more than one way to hack. Here’s a select video:
A little noisy, but there is always the saturators and resonators to fix things.
The aptly titled “Scratch Yourslef Stupid“:
Scratch Yourself Stupid from digital funfair on Vimeo.
Special Reminder: This is cool:
http://www.curiousinventor.com/kits/midiator
For anyone looking for Arduino part, Curious Inventor has you covered.
I look forward to seeing more projects with these chips.
DJ Toomp on Hardware versus software.
DJ TOOMP Hardware vs. Software |BLVDST.com from Blvd St on Vimeo.
You can really see the gear lust in his eyes at one point in the interview. To really understand your equipment you need to think like the box. You are the MPC.
Thanks to this Synthopia article pointing out the Open Source project for creating iPad instruments. So much hope!
Argos Interface Builder, v0.20 from Dimitri Diakopoulos on Vimeo.
Go go Argos Interface Builder. Wow!
Just as I was starting to sell myself on the DNA program by Celemony DNA and Ean’s crew over at DJ Tech Tools released comprehensive video and information on the topic. Thanks so much, it was very helpful.
There is a link for Boulder artists located here:
http://soundcloud.com/groups/boulder-electronic-music-artists – the text in the link says it all.
Keepin’ them short but good, out!
Of course you get the blatant promotion:
PETTING ZOO on Sunday – many controllers, many fun, no hay on floor!
Meet up
The controllerism show is on the horizon! RSVP Now! FaceBook
I missed some emails this weekend as POP email crashed for my provider (I aggregate). So if there was something crazy interesting/important/similar – resend! I will be going backwards through emails.
On other news – we are having fun! I will be releasing a review** of the NIIO Analog Iotine Core in the next week. We teamed up with Chase to get some instructional videos on the unit. We are currently editing.
We got some good tape from Darwin on Max, I am open to ideas on how to get them online. YouTube limits are 10 minutes. The 10+ minute videos are a special feature I just don’t see how to get! Vimeo? Hosting on my server will probably get me some heat (because the bots will trigger mass bandwidth, plus there is not sharing/embed).
I have been spending time with Final Cut and Celemony DNA. Nothing too impressive to talk about in Final Cut, just another software package. But DNA is SICK!
Don’t forget Cache Flowe in March!
As for the summer – thoughts (feed back very welcome!). Our summers in Denver/Colorado/Boulder are some of the best anywhere in the world. I am looking to scale back the meet-ups after April (through the summer) so we can enjoy our evenings. Hell, even I want to ride around town with my wife on our cruisers. Instead of larger formal meet-ups I would like to invest in smaller gatherings all over and include our community in festivals (supporting) and do various levels of out-reach before shows and to similar groups.8
**On the topic of review – the term “review” is not totally correct. As there are a few companies looking to work with Ableton Colorado already, another round of “cleaning the air” is called for…
Our goal is to extend the use, functionality, and overall exposure of gear that is not on the radar (cough***Guitar Center***). There is a certain “departure” from journalistic integrity (if that is still a thing anymore). Our goal is to build community and knowledge in an academic manner with users (producers) and producers (of gear in this instance). The policy is simple:
If it is crap, send it back
Don, in the context of this “review” has a “filter” that is so freaking cool we need to help get the word out (I am using some bass sounds I generated in my standard set). So great.
Helpers wanted!
That is it, more soon.
–M
This is the a Controllerism special we are calling “The Petting Zoo“. Here is what we got:
Following the presentations stick around for some great hands on work with each unit and presenter. (okay, now you get the petting zoo reference?)
When : February 28, 2010 7pm
Where : The Walnut Room located at 3131 Walnut Street in Denver.
How Much? Not a single penny – FREE! Just the way we like it!!!
Our evenings sound track is provided by Circle Six via his Ardionome! Next Month Cache Flowe!
Our (new) friends at Curious Inventor are so kind they are loaning Ableton Colorado Stribe Duo and Midiator.
The Stribe Duo needs little explanation. I would sum it up with”pretty lights, crazy control, and great feed back”. If Neanderthal don’t cut it go to the site.
Kicking it up a notch – the Midiator converts video game energy into MIDI. Yeah, that is a PS2 controller. (think of it as Doom to MIDI conversion)
If anyone wants to help present and learn these great pieces form Creative Inventor send me an email at inf [at] abletondenver.com. I would love to hear from you!
The Arduinome
The Lemur
The Manta
The MIDI Fighter
The Livid DIY / Brain
The Monome
The Launch Pad
Darwin Grosse is an artist, producer, media software developer, and the Director of Engineering for Cycling ’74. He is also a prolific writer, having authored more than 120 articles for Recording magazine, several product manuals, and countless product tutorials. Formerly the editor of CreativeSynth.com, he now focuses on bringing his Beginner Mind to music and media production. [credit]
Darwin’s Play site : http://www.20objects.com
Darwin’s Blog : http://www.darwingrosse.com/
Darren Kramer is an Edwards Trombone Performing Artist and Ableton Specialist and is in demand as a freelance trombonist, composer and educator throughout the United States. Kramer graduated from the University of Miami and moved to NYC where he toured with Matchbox Twenty, Tom Jones, Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies. He has also recorded with such artists as Michael Brecker, Eric Marienthal and Jerry Hey and his original composition “Not Far From Here” was a finalist in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Kramer is now the President/CEO of his own music company, DKO The Darren Kramer Organization, whose inspiring concerts, educational clinics, five exceptional recordings, and over fifty challenging arrangements (Available Now for small group AND big band!) have helped modernize the trombone and expand its role in contemporary music. The 2010 DKO CD release is entitled “Beyond The Boneyard” and features an inspiring one man band performance utilizing electric trombone, keyboards and computer loops. This cutting-edge project is also being presented by Kramer throughout the country as a music software PowerPoint Presentation “Creating Music Using Software and an Electric Trombone!”.
Find Darren at ElectricTrombone.com
[bio pending]
Catch up with David at http://www.dhenderson.com
[pending]
Take a listen via MySpace.
Well, they are not coming here in person, but they will be with us in spirit. Digital spirit that is…
“We’re a few mechanical and electrical engineers from GaTech trying to make it easier to make and sell inventions. We write how-to guides, sell cherry-picked parts and tools, and also manufacture kits…”
Pay them some support here.
Hey, that is me! If I launch my website I will put a bio up.
No forest fires! MEDIA AND PRESS
The only thing I can say about the title of this post is “You Go Girl!”. (where the heck did I find this holiday?)
Our next meet up (invites almost ready to go out)
Jazz Mutant Lemur Darren Kramer presents
Percussa Audio Cubes Mark Mosher Presents (Mark can not make it)
Novation Launchpad + Monome 128 David Henderson
Arduinome Mike /Circle Six (also providing the evenings sound track)
DJ Tech Tools MIDI Fighter + (beta) Livid DIY (by me)
Manta by Darwin Grosse
DJ Tech Tools has the great article on controllers under $250. Check it out!
It is alive!
I finally started digging into the Livid DIY (also called the “Brain”). Some reference materials:
The what? Livid wiki on the Brain. And now for a crappy cell phone photo from late last night:
The development will take a while. I was having mad crashes on my Mac using the software editor from Livid. But this is a beta testing program.
I can hang.
This circuit board is very important because it is on the cutting edge of new technology. This new technology is not from Livid but from the brain of the user. If you have a problem to solve for control surface this is the unit to consider. I will be revisiting this circuit board again because Livid’s brain is great (so far).
I am using a Ceeco pay phone num-pad. Here is a link to the part and others that are similar. This num-pad was given to my by my wife from one of her thrift store binge runs. When I join her I often return with old video game controllers to mod. But she found this all by herself, thanks hun. When you hold the num-pad in your hand it feels tough. Think about the life of the typical NYC pay phone. Lots of abuse. This controller should be bullet proof! I left off last night triggering MIDI notes on release. I hope I can get the event to trigger on button press. I will drop some updates as I learn more.
Our next meet up is on controllerism, so consider this a primer. Mike (Circle Six) will be presenting an Ardionome (Arduino based Monome). This controller (type) is very similar technology to my freak-show control. Mike is looking more towards LED-square interaction while I am going for controllers for a specific purpose. My Ceeco controller is specifically engineered to control my beat repeat effect and nothing else. Stay tuned or join us!
Here is some foot controller awesomeness:
Here is Moldover and his new toy (note the ergonomics for hand placement – nice job!)
As many people may know, I write what I can when I can. The longer the interval the more stuff. So, here is some catchup!
Meet Up
Special thanks to everyone who came out this past Sunday. The meet up was really cool. Dawrin Grosse did a wonderful job. Special thanks to him. We do have video, we are working on that…
The next meet up is February 28, 2010 at 7pm at the Walnut Room. This is the a Controllerism special we are calling “The Petting Zoo“. I will have more details out soon, but for now I will drop the short list:
So, pretty good huh? This is definitely a first as far as I know. The intent is to end the evening with a number of small and discrete workstations where each one of these is set up and available for testing and questions after the presentations. So we will NOT be talking at you, instead we will be sharing. Only at NAMM or Messe will you see this many controllers on Ableton!
I think there is more swag available too (no promises, hopefully no one actually hung them self on the lanyards).
March 14 is Cache Flowe as our guest. Here is a collection of the visuals he is working on (flicker). This is gonna be great!
Post NAMM
Not much really. I covered most of the best stuff already. We do have “The Bridge” on the way. On that topic, I am looking for any collaborator/takers on getting a site up for this topic. We own the domains seratoableton.com and serato-ableton.com. All I need is content! Contact me on this (info [at] the site in your URL bar is the email).
Best synths and keyboard article / NAMM round up.
Here is a day 3 review on Synthtopia. Thanks Mark at Modulate This!
http://www.abletonserato.com/ good stuff? Time will tell.
As Seen On My Radar Scope
What is in your DJ bag? I found this informative. (soul)
When Ableton meets Serato is one of the best Q&A’s I have seen. Worth reading if you are interested in “The Bridge”.
Ghetto fab home made controller :
How many know about phase cancellation? As a self declared PWM junkie, this is right up my alley, check out the post at Ableton Tweets. video too!
Off topic a little but good stuff – the 4th amendment in the cloud.
How to make a Vocoder in Ableton:
Video processing device for Max (for Live) from Cycling 74. This is not my strength or a topic I chase, but the article is detailed and informative.
Yet another Bridge video (YABV): There are more on the Vimeo page.
[Live] “Bridge” 2/4 from Masato TSUTSUI on Vimeo.
So, is Pinky cool? This could see me getting Max for Live a little faster. Let me know!
Oliver (Things to Come) chimes in on The Bridge. He likes!
Oh, how I long for you… tube drum machine.
iPad
I want. I think the unit is a total flop in general, but the ability to control Ableton is already there. A full 10″ touch screen interface is so worth $499, even if it is flawed and generally received as iFlop. Sorry to the fanboy crowd, I am reading well over 10 times more “Apple is dumb” articles than praise for the unit.
Regardless, I want one. Here is an article on the implications for the audio engineer.
More soon! Warp your world! –Marc
Those of you who know me will laugh at this post. The iPad is released. The announcement is still going on, but I thought I would get a quick post out there in the interest of $34rch 3ng!n3$.
The facts so far (deemed pretty accurate):
Why is this interesting, what does it have to do with Ableton?
Well, this will make an amazing outsourced screen GUI. No CPU load, only (QoS absent) wifi communication. Time to think about isolated private wireless LANs as an external controller.
This will creep into Ableton. Price not declared yet. I will update with more if there is anything interesting.
–Marc
