Drum Machine Samples - Links To Download

Here are some links to Drum Machine & Drum Samples. I'm keeping these as bookmarks for the future.

http://modularsamples.com Synth Drums

A cool sample pack: http://www.hexawe.net/mess/200.Drum.Machines/
now a 330+mb zipfile

A huge archive! http://samples.kb6.de/downloads.php

Goldbaby: http://www.goldbaby.co.nz/freestuff.html 
collections of freestuff from one of the nets best sample groups.

Netboy, a very old site I've talked about before! http://gamelay.usami.com/~netboy/w30/samples/



Some more kits: http://www.rhythm-lab.com/category/drumkit - drumkits page

Universal Synthesizer Patch Format: A Work In Progress

What is USPF? It allows synthesizer patches to be shared across any platform and plugin. You could even broadcast patches from your website!

What doesn't it do? It does not attempt to recreate the sound quality or specific nuances of synthesizers. Every synth sounds different. The formats aim is to get similar sounds into new synthesizers that adopt the universal format. Not all tags will be read by every synthesizer. It is a general format.

USPF is similar to XML and html. There are tags, comments, etc. If you can program a webpage, you can make a USPF file.

Right now things are in initial stages. If you'd like to help develop it further please contact me through this forum.



An example of what USPF tags looks like:

<filter id="1" type="LP,-13db" cutoff="1/4" mod="1" velocity="1">
<amp val="1"/>
<osc id="1" type="square" width="9/10" portamento="on" legato="off" time="13" velocity="1" mod="5">
</amp>
</filter><osc id="2" type="triangle">

Knob values are in fractions because synthesizers have different ranges!

Download the full beta file w/ comments here.

Some work needs to be done on documenting specifics of oscillators, envelopes, mods, and maybe different engine types etc.

Abandonware: Redmatica Autosampler

Redmatica Autosampler seemed to be abandoned or bought out this year by Apple. But that means there is no current method to sampling midi instruments on the mac. Only if you scour the web its possible to find it. (on 4 shared).

It seems like there should be a VST sampler on the mac also...

New Product: Akai Professional MPC Renaissance

I love all the inputs. This looks like the best hardware controller I've ever seen. If the software is good, you might not need Ableton anymore. Awesome.

Link

MPC Renaissance

Music Production Controller

› Fuses legendary MPC production with the power of your computer

› Vintage Mode changes sound character to MPC3000, MPC60 and more

› 16 backlit MPC pads,16 Q-Link controls, and adjustable backlit LCD screen

Awesome Jam With My Rolands

Roland Super Jam by Stealthgear

Made with XP-30 and V-synth, Luxonic & sampled drums.

Walker Bass (Mp3)

Walker Bass, a short chillout MP3

Download Link (MP3) 2 min

Created with JX-8p, Audio Bassline, Ohm Force, FM8

Yamaha DTX-Multi 12 Drum Pad

Feature packed, theDTX-Multi 12boasts over 1200 stunning voices in high quality covering drums, percussion and keyboard sounds, many drawn from Yamaha's professional Motif synthesizer range and many completely new. Up to 200 custom set ups can also be created and stored with ease to suit any musical context using all internal sounds and 42 types of effects.

Features USB and 64 MB sampler flash rom!!

Link Here Found on Music Radar.

I like the multi-level design!

Battlestar Galactica Disco

http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2009/10/11/giorgio-morode-lost-disco-battlestar-galactica-soundtrack-album/

Take a Listen @ Synthopia

Nudge Monome Flash Clone

by Hobnox

LinnDrumm II Design

Looks like I didn't see this yet. Its a cool 3d mockup. Looks a little like a mixing console. Everything is starting to take this shape lately.

http://www.rogerlinndesign.com/products/linndrum2/index.shtml

PSP Beaterator: Whats taking so long?

What is taking so long for Rockstar to make a PSP music creation game? Popular websites list Beaterator as a Rockstar creation in 2005. I know I played something with exact same interface, name, and flash technology running on a different website earlier than 2005. I'm taking a guess that it was purchased or liscensed by Rockstar and is finally making its way. WHATS TAKING SO LONG? I don't think anyone has been anticipating its release. I haven't. I remember playing Beaterator free on the web years ago. Corporate control made it disappear. Its only after Rockstar took control of Beaterator that I wasn't able to play it anymore!

I'm not going to buy it on PSP to support a flash game that was intended to be free and intended for everyone to use. I hope it doesn't sell well at all.

There are many free homebrew music creation titles on the PSP with similiar features!

Korg MicroSampler Looks like Voltmeter

It seems like they come out with a new mini keyboard ever year.

From youtube "looks like a midi keyboard for troops in iraq... really ugly"

To me it looks like a plastic Voltmeter from electronics class or a yard sale toy. It looks like it has a sequencer at least. If it doesn't have time-stretch, pitch, beat-match, and sample chop, like modern samplers, then its not necessary to own, but I hope it does for the sake of people buying this ugly thing.

Link to Video

Royksopp Remixable Track

Their favourite track of mine is still Poor Leno that was also availble in the snowboarding game SSX3, but now you can remix a new one in this new contest.

Free Röyksopp Track To Download & Remix From Synthopia

One Key Drum Programming Tips

Ever had trouble timing drums on a keyboard? Use this tip to consolidate your drums onto one key to reduce errors.

How it works: Accents trigger fast snare and bass drum (high velocity), and normal strikes (low to high velocity) just play bass drum and optionally a soft/quiet/blended snare. This allows you to naturally play rock rhythms on the same key and frees up other fingers.

For this to work you'll need a sampler that supports custom velocity sensitivity and at least two samples per key. I used the V-Synth. I'm sure this will work in Reason or anything remotely modern.

1. Find your drum samples. Bass, Snare etc. Setup zones or make keymappings for drums.

2. Place a Bass Kick - 0-127 Linear Velocity (straight upward graph) on Middle C. This is OSC1 on the V-synth

3. Place a Fast Snare - 100-127 High Velocity (highly peaked graph) also on Middle C. This is OSC2 on the V-synth

Thats it. Now its slightly easier to play rhymthms on a keyboard using a single key.

BONUS TIP: Make a bass drum sound slightly more real! Using a variation of above you can blend a bass drum sample and a soft snare. Why would you want to do this? In real life when you press the bass pedal your resonating the surrounding drums (the snare's springs). In studios where samples are recorded their goal is to isolate sounds and make sure this doesn't happen. If your using samples from entirely different kits or electronic drums this method will blend them. If we add a soft snare sample to our kick drum at much lower volume you can blend them like its coming from one drumset. Make sure you use appropriate velocities for this. You don't want the snare to actually sound like an accent or compete with the real snare.

I hope this helps people make more natural sounding drum rhythyms or inspires someone to do something new with sample layers.

Free Real Drum Kits

Ever needed a real drum kit samples for free? Check out all these links compiled from From the Freesound Project. All have been checked by me for decent quality. Great for getting started without purchasing many of the commercial packages out there.

LINKS:

freesound :: view pack :: Tama Birch Drums

freesound :: view pack :: Rock-Drum-Kit

freesound :: view pack :: Studio Drums 1

Ian's Drum Set

Snare Drum in Parking Garage

Bonus: Look at these glitched up video game sounds from CyberiaLainKittyKat

Rare Yamaha Prototype Synth DX-2000???

(artist's rendition)

Could it be true? A Yamaha DX-2000 FM synthesizer that was never put into production available on Craigslist? Careful searching of the internet shows that no such "DX-2000" model has ever existed. However a Yamaha DX-200 does exist. Could the poster have been confused? I say no! The description is too subtly detailed. This machine either exists or is a total joke. Evidence of this, the USB port, which the DX-200 does not have, the 200 note polyphony, and wav playback. The description actually resembles a roland D-50 on steroids. More than a groovebox, this prototype is unreleased competition to the Roland V-synth. Requests for pictures were not yet returned.



Click image to enlarge
Link to the Craigslist post:
http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/msg/918488719.html

Hi, this is a prototype synth (DX-2000) from Yamaha I bought off of some one who worked there. It was a concept that was never actualized. The synth works identically to the FM8 software and has several effects and operators can call up pre recorded wav sounds which can be loaded in via USB. It features a sequencer and 200 notes polyphony. I have two and am selling one. The unit is one of a kind, you will not find this any where else. I will consider any trades or offers.

If you know anything about a Yamaha DX-2000 or have pictures of this synthesizer please let us know!!! It sounds like an amazing product, one which I want to own and test out. -Sammy

Juno G Rack/Module???

Check out this auction of a Roland Juno G......module.
Welcome to the chop shop!!

Thats right kids, a fully functional, 100% operational, Roland Juno G synthesizer
in a "one of a kind" tabletop module.

Auction link.

Who will bring the next holy grail of synth/sampler?

The holy grail of music making, is a sampler, sequencer, & programmable synthesizer for a price of $500-$600. I believe that companies are working to create an economical hardware product with these features by next year. What company would be able to pull this off? Korg or Akai? Lets see...




Korg:
With Korg's latest, and ugliest, Microkorg XL, we have an analog synth engine that also combines PCM waveforms. This is a perfect platform that could be upgraded even farther. Its easy to use and is super powerful. It even has a vocoder. If Korg decided to take this technology, add a sampler with card memory, then an onboard sequencer, call it the XXL, it would be an instant success.

Next we have...




Akai:
Akai is also poised to break the price/feature barrier. The very expensive MPC3000 has all the technology to be the standalone music station. Right now its selling like crazy. But what would sell even more units would be an upgraded MPC500 (XL), which had that same synthesizer engine.

Since Akai would only have to add the synth engine to their MPC500, and Korg would have to develop both sequencer and sampler, I believe that AKAI will be the clear winner in this race.
In conclusion there are people willing to pay $3000 for this much power, but even more people that can't afford this and will buy anything else. The first company to offer this much power for a lesser price $500-$600 will win and have more stable income. Lets just hope this hardware comes from a reputable company!

MPC5000 all you need with OS 2.0?

Once called a buggy mess, it now has a new update. The MPC5000 has keymapped multisamples, synth Engine, FX, & hard disk recording! Sounds like the holy grail of studio equipment.

Product Link

Previously: http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2008/08/03/dont-buy-an-akai-mpc-5000-until-you-read-this/
Create Digital Music: http://createdigitalmusic.com/2009/03/05/mpc5000-gets-20-os-does-it-stack-up-to-jjos-alternative-firmware/

 




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Has every form of sound synthesis been invented?

Seeing the lack of innovation and lack of products NAMM was worrying. What is the point of created the same synth over and over? Some were digital instrument versions which add to the convience, and are wanted, but they are only emulating technology invented over twenty years ago. Its taking the easy way out, but makes your company not as hot anymore, at least to me.

Here is a list of available types:
Subtractive synthesis
Additive synthesis
Granular synthesis
Wavetable synthesis
Frequency modulation synthesis
Phase distortion synthesis
Physical modeling synthesis
Sample-based synthesis
Subharmonic synthesis

Definition from wikipedia:

When any mechanical collision occurs sound is produced. The energy from the collision is transferred through the air as sound waves, which are perceived by the human auditory system.

By this definition there must be a greater horizon for sound.

Expanding physical modeling innovations, for the end user, along with today's processors, could be the greatest advance in sound generation ever.

Ideas: using a 3d scanner you could input physical objects, designate a material, then simulate what they sound like from the inside (reverb) or even what they would sound like being thrown at different surfaces with physics.
Why not make a synthesizer that can simulate the sound of an egg being crushed?? Maybe I want a building exploding from exactly 3 miles away. New, fun, models, and multiple parameters when changed, could create possibly bizzare, unheard of sound.

It sounds complex, but even a little bit of change, a little bring of fun, could bring in some fresh air and new money for those willing to pay for real creativity and not just another digital music device.