You are a giant nerd. You can get any analog monosynth for 599, shipped to your home. What are you really thinking when buying it? You've been tricked by marketing. Avoid "exploitive products" where marketing trumps the actual uses of the product. It used to be that you could get something that produces an entire song, for cheap, and thats barely true today. Many instruments being sold are not enough to make a full song. You have to think about what you are buying and why now more than ever.
The Korg MS-20 is definitely a toy, an electronic buzzer. If you wanted one you would have already purchased one on ebay ten years ago. The marketing and actual use of of the product doesn't meet the price considering today's computing power. The purpose of the product is to exploit nerds in the same way rebooted movie franchises. They aren't as good as the original and trap certain types of susceptible people and their money.
Anything "analog" from modern instrument producers is definitely a trap. High prices on vintage synths are an ebay trap. You are paying their fees and a jacked up price.
You have to remember you are buying an over glorified buzzer. Most likely nobody will want to listen to your amateur noise. There is no art in copying another persons sound or producing more crap people have already heard. Do you want to pay $600 for "music" no one will listen to? What are you aspiring to be? Modern instruments are a better choice, and nothing analog today could be considered modern. The computer is a much better choice, especially for new creators.
Today's synthesizers are made in China for cheap and failing components will make the entire thing become garbage. They won't last as long as the originals made in the 70s, 80s, or 90s. The environment is taking a hit. You are part of the chain if you buy products from companies that are trying to exploit you.
Please be aware of people in china and the environment etc when you order an instrument. It should be something designed to last forever and give you infinite use. Cheap goods, even with a high price, will never satisfy you totally. It just might be that you are deriving little musical value from the instrument and everyone is paying a high price. Don't let the companies take advantage of you. When it comes to synths, stay digital, save the environment, and save your money. Don't be susceptible to the nerd economy.
Please re-use your stuff! Trade and find new uses for old things. Don't pay too much. No need to buy new.
I was trying to find a use for my old macintosh and I only had the original Mac OS 9 CD. This site here has all of the classic system updates for old macintoshes. Thank god this stuff still exists somewhere. I wish there was a torrent site for classics, but this site: Macintosh Garden seems to be OK.
I do have old audio programs for OS 9 somewhere. But loading games will have to work for now.
Here are some reasons NOT to use synthesizers in your productions.
1. If You need a natural sound, then don't use a synthesizer. Synthesizers do not cover enough audio ground unless they are also romplers/samplers. Most people don't listen to pure synth tones. Any programming to make them sound natural will be time wasted. 2. If you could have bought something else that makes you feel more creative. 3. Learning synthesizer takes away time from learning keyboards or production. 4. When they eat up your entire recording budget. You might have a problem! Synthesizer are very expensive for what they really do. 5. If synths don't fit into your style. You may like playing with them, but some instruments are just wrong for different reasons. Make music you want to listen to. For example, if you are more of a punk, going vintage or buying a new digital keyboard won't fit with your modern aesthetic of a laptop or converted video game console.
A "Song Sandwich" is a new format of song file with embedded data and links. Your downloaded song will sound different every time its played back to fans.
1. Fans will hear a different version of their song each time.
The artist embeds live data links into the music which can affect playback for a new experience. Artists could embed their webcam feed, a new image, or quote which will insert itself into the music and change the lyrics. Expletives could be toggled on or off. Take a marketing quiz created by the label and your music will play to your taste and never offend you in any way.
2. Music will always be up to date
No longer will someone in the studio have to remix or remaster entire tracks of audio. They could edit some parameters and send the updates to the song file on the server. You can be the George Lucas of audio. New data will be pushed directly onto fans.
3. Plugin creators will be paid when the listener updates a song. If the artist uses a synth or effect, its embedded into the song or retrieved from the server. The listener could opt to pay to update it.
4. Content creators will be paid each time the artist uses a synth patch or sample on the songs. The more custom patches, commercial synths, and other modules available from the server, the more expensive the song is! Artists could also embed free open-source sound modules.
5. New levels of fan engagement and controversy! I could see a fan conversation on the internet forums going on like this...
"The 2016 un-updated version of Atomic Cowbell's Crap Stain, running on Itunes+ is the best there is! Roll back your plugin versions and see what I mean."
"No you should update to SynthPlug7000. Download the updated lyrics track while you are at it too."
"I just removed Moby.3ds and replaced him with DancingJesus.3ds. The animation is really funny."
5. Remixers will get paid to give unpopular songs exposure.
Top remixers and artists will have a following and there will be no difference between the two. In the future these data streams and edits will literally be point and click, drag and drop. Artists with little exposure could have their tracks remixed by a top artist or remixer. When a fan sees this they can download it, everyone gets paid, and a new artist is heard.
There is no efficient way to do this yet. We are only waiting for the infrastructure and file format. With copyright and competing technologies it will be awhile before the music industry teams up. A scrappy tracker-type version will happen first. If networked, Song Sandwiches will become the new Napster. Trading links to hacked data sandwiches with external links will be the new YMTD, and the final word in meme-generation. It will be live. It will be in 3d. And It will never stop.
New things are created when two different technologies are integrated. Also when old technologies are re-purposed. Everything comes together at a certain time and place just because we can. New musical styles can come about in the same method. They have roots in these technologies that were meshed together or repurposed. Sample synthesis brought new musical genres to the 80s and 90s. Vast computer power from 2001 and later brought about more control over our music.
What is your favorite new technology? What is an old technology that you could find a new purpose for? Thinking about these questions could lead to new music!
Lastly maybe we should spotlight softwares that are just putting out the same thing. Refining an old technology, in a way, is deconstructive. In practice its okay, but this minimalist approach should be criticized. For one thing it is not new. It does not lead to new thoughts and sounds. Secondly the decision not to incorporate other technologies leaves you with building blocks that don't connect with eachother very well...for example two VST plugins that can't interact. There are endless software clones, none of which will have a big impact because the developer chose not to repurpose and combine new things or code that was available to them. The ipad world is filled with these and get a big PASS from me. Sometimes its not a matter of inventing, which is super hard. Sometimes its just taking two things and mixing them together. You are taking a big risk if your output depends on refinement and minimalism no matter how perfect your product is. Minimalism and refinement have no place in the future because your customer and listeners are perpetually bored.
Die Antwoord repeats the phrase often in their music and videos. They talk about being gangsta and gangsta life. Ninja & Yo Landi's personal values, or at least taste in art, could be derived from their creation. To most people, "keeping it gangsta" would be about guns, money, drugs, and about being a physical threat. They did not invent the culture. In their video collaborated with Harmony Korine they jack wheelchairs using handguns and dream about having a better life. A better life to a gangsta is through materialism and luxury objects. In the video they have stolen the "Rolls Royce" of wheelchairs. Most philosophers would disagree that material objects or wealth would constitute a better life. There is nothing left for Ninja & Yo Landi to aspire to once they have the best wheelchair and if they ever see one better out there they will have the same anxiety. In fact, their premium wheelchairs are not enough to satisfy their desire. They have to kill another man to put holographic mags on the wheels. Only an uneducated or poor person would think their life is better using these methods. In fact the use of colored animal pajamas suggests they have the mindset of children. It would definitely make them a a far worse person from the view of ancient philosophers. Partly this is the humor in the video. But becoming suddenly wealthy in real life has changed them and made life easier. They should know that keeping it gangsta is not something that would lead Die Antwoord to happiness for very long. In short, this is not the answer. It seems like this is an intentional reflection purposed by video's creator, Harmony Korine. This reflection might be lost on Die Antwoord because of their repetition of gangsta style lyrics. Humor and a subtle warning message in the video could be lost on fans, especially younger ones. Most fans won't go out an act like this but it could inspire greed and vanity.
Keeping it gangsta also means being a physical threat. Lyrics like "Physically fit, the Ninja very energetic" mixed with others warning not to mess with him are many. Keeping it gangsta is merely the typical way to market music to youths in the United States. The youth want strong "don't mess with me" type people as their role models who flaunt their power. But in real life people are often forced to be hypocritical to survive. If they were joking they would eventually get really tired keeping it gangsta every night. Eventually Die Antwoord would lose and let their card slip. Most people won't think about it for longer than a second, allowing them to repeat the phrase and collect all the cash there is to take as a performing artist.
Can rave be gangsta? Traditionally techno has never been about guns and money. Usually it is about dance, technology, inside jokes, and a fresh sound; the fun of borrowing and making a new product often without any intention. Some Drum N Bass and Dub has been about that, or at least drinking & drugs. Die Antwoord's "DJ Hi-Tek" who takes beats to the next level is obviously a joke. The group does not take electronic music seriously. Most artists Die Antwoord has shown to admire like Aphex Twin, The Orb, also don't take their music too seriously either. So there is the very possibility that they do not take their style of music to heart, and taking things to the next level is not true. Keep in mind techno came to be 20 years ago. What they are doing is a rehash. They borrow it and rap over it. Die Antwoord is still more rap than rave in this aspect. They are the equivalent of what The Prodigy was to the 90s "techno" electronica as well. The borrowed imagery and borrowed sound make up a new product but it is not traditional rave music, it is more rap.Taking shit to the next level is something ancient philosophers would agree with, but perhaps it is something they aren't really doing yet.
It is possible that staying gangsta means something completely different to Yo Landi & Ninja. It could be something that gives them confidence to tackle hurdles in life. It is also likely they don't adhere to any particular philosophy unless it brings attention. Becoming famous and rich are all temporary things. Sometimes vulgar images do have some kind of political purpose or personal message. All of this is just speculation. We can only look at what they supply and its artistic tone to interpret these things. Since they are both anti-status quo, but glorify wealth, I can only interpret it as some kind of philosophical failing in being gangsta. Not everyone can shoot to superstardom on the same path. Believing so might be a lie. Being gangsta is not virtuous unless it means something completely different to Die Antwoord.
What is Die Antwoord's philosophy? In short, ME ME ME.
"Dat's right it's all about me!"
"I like partying! partying! partying! damn!"
"Play now, cry later"
"....piss on all the hard-up 'n fokken rap"
"Fuck everyone"
Get money but don't sell out.
Positives about the group: Nobody really does take them serious. They call to action to keep life in the present. Their videos are quite fun and succeed in making you want to dance. They are accepting and celebrate people that look different. They are about equality and resist being pigeon-holed into any social class or system. Other themes include love, friendship, and family. Baby's On Fire is a great example of what they can do right in a video.
In conclusion I'd recommend people would keep it next level for real and not in the way Die Antwoord does. I'd probably like this group a lot more than I do now if they changed and adopted different values. They wouldn't have to change their music style or rapping and it would still be great. In the meantime, all their creations just beg you to laugh at them. Everyone slightly educated knows the message is a lie.
That means you may have trouble with my RSS feed, which previously used Feedburner & Google. I no longer use any Google products. I don't like their companies any more for many reasons. All youtube embeds will be gone. Not every video will be back on Vimeo
Vimeo is easier for me to use. The uploads seem faster. The descriptions are easy to edit. Load times are good. I don't have to deal with the spam either. At the moment I don't use any google products whatsoever. With my youtube & google account gone I don't have to worry deal with their crap. It is my data after all and it should show up where I like.
People don't read anything on the internet, so I'll keep this short.
-Its 2012. There are too many software synthesizers. In 1-2 days nobody will remember the plugin or iPad app you released. They all have underdeveloped preset banks. Nobody can even keep up with the blog posts for these things Don't!
- Don't make another hardware instrument without a built-in pattern sequencer or song sequencer! How are people supposed to make music? most people can't play keys or even know what midi does!
- Don't have a software editor on your hardware synth. They end up being buggy as hell. The reason hardware exists is to have knobs! Actual controls. 1 knob per function or don't bother. Can you guarantee your editor will work with Windows 9000? No you can't.
After listening to the Jupiter-80 again I have to say I'm very impressed. One issue keeping people from liking it is the lack of sampling. I think Roland's reasoning is that the Supernatural sounds take place of any multisampling or single shots of everyday instruments. They went to a lot of trouble to program these sounds in a way that is not static like a sample, but flowing and dynamic. Also, If you are making your own sounds from complete scratch with all layers this machine is capable of, its going to be ridiculous to get into single shot or multi samples. I'm sure the idea is to build off what they have already provided for you. Compared to something like the V-synth GT or V-synth factory presets I think they've got better presets on the Jupiter-80. After listening to more demos, I think they have given you more than enough to start tweaking useful sounds.
One other thing to note was the possibility of layering an arpeggiator with other sounds. You can play a pad with a chord and automatically have a different arpeggiator cycling in the "background". I'm not sure what other roland equipment does this, but its very powerful. It sounds like you are playing an entire song with a few keys. The amount of layering on the Jupiter-80 can save a lot of time and sound very good.
The other problem Roland has on their hands is all the comments from analog purists. Jupiter-80 obviously is digital and getting a lot hate because it isn't like the Jupiter-8. It is still meant to be their top of the line keyboard. This is probably the most advanced keyboard they've ever made, lacking sequencer. From one perspective, the Jupiter-80 can sound much better than what the Jupiter-8 does. If you want your music to stay in the past, get something thats been available for 30 years. If you want to go to the future get the Jupiter-80.
Things I like on Jupiter-80:
- Layered Sounds + Arpeggiator.
- Super Natural Sounds & rom take place of sampling (save time)
Get the sysex of my JX-8p final archive. 50% Techno 50% Vintage/Moog/80s/Funk! Its an entire internal memory (32) plus almost a cartridge full (with room for blanks / templates), for a total of 61 presets. These are all my techno basses, pads, strings, and moog sounds. Not all are re-releases, as many have not been heard or have been reworked or tweaked. All sounds are guaranteed useable for modern productions.
The NES Chip Collection is now available as an Ableton Live Pack! Only $30
Product Info:
Do you want to make chip tunes? Or integrate the sound of the NES into your music? You do not have to buy the NES or mess around old gear and software that doesnt quite emulate that natural sound 8 bit sound. These are profesionally recorded samples at 24 bit 96khz bit rate directly from the NES output on the back of the machine. People will actually think you have an NES with midi. Every Square wave, Sine, Noise, and even 8-bit percussive samples.
8 Bit Drum WAVE sound files
NES Square Waves files
The NES Sine wave
Individual NES Noise WAVE files with integrated refill patch!
Awhile back I released some patches for JX8p. It was a bulk sysex file. Well JX8p doesn't use bulk sysex. It saves each file individually if you aren't using a memory cartridge.
SabaTwoTiga is a free VST instrument for powerful electronic leads. The 4 voice selector knob allows you to quickly find a tone. 2-way switches modify the sound in an all or nothing fashion, eliminating time spent mousing for a new sound. It is a beefy and musical synth.
Got an extra home amplifier that use Dolby Prologic? What about three?
The human ear can easily tell where sound is coming from. With only two (stereo) or three (prologic) front speakers, we haven't yet gone far enough to trick the brain into believing we are in a natural sound field. We need five front speakers! When digital surround standards added more rear channels, they were neglecting our front-ward listening abilities. Thankfully its still possible to enjoy this setup with a only a stereo source (mixer, keyboard, dvd, cd, or workstation) and common analog dolby prologic amplifiers.
Goal: To use three Dolby Prologic home amplifiers to spread an audio signal across five front speakers for improved sound imaging
You Need:
-Three Amplifiers With Dolby Prologic Mode (Two with discrete RCA outputs)
-RCA Cable & Speaker Cables
-Five Speakers (Left, Mid Left, Center, Mid Right, and Right)
Note: if you have surround speakers & sub, you can hook those up normally for 8 or 9 channel dolby prologic.
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