osc 1

DSI Evolver Banks

osc1 — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:25:48 +0000

There are not many complete banks posted for the Evolver on the internets, but if I find more I plan on posting them here for my own convience.

Back in January 2008, Rozznet created a Bank of 128 patches for the DSI Evolver.

http://www.rozzer.net/wp/?p=47

http://www.rozzer.net/downloads/Rozzer_Evolver_Bank.zip

The following was recently uploaded by Anu Kirk, a bank of 50 patches. You must be a member of the group to access the files section. There are a few more individual patches available there as well, most in sysex format. The ELS format requires SoundTower’s Evolver Editor (the “offical” editor). The demo version will work for sending patches to your Evolver.

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/DSI_Evolver/files/Patches/ - Jinsai Bank 1.els

Tenori-on / Monome clone for DS update : CellsDS

osc1 — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 22:40:44 +0000

So awhile ago I joked about the possibility of a Tenori-on version coming out from Nintendo. Looks like homebrew won again. Bret from GlitchDS.com has released CellsDS which is actually more of a Monome clone where you can write your own engines and control surfaces (MIDI is still in the works).

Out of the box (aka zip) it comes with several Engines already so those of you that don’t want to write your own sequencers don’t have to. It includes a basic step sequencer, “Block” mixer, Tenori-on style Bounce sequencer, and a few more. Very cool.

The LUA scripting is very very easy to get a grasp of even if you are only slightly familiar with scripting (php experience and the like will benefit you) and the documentation + examples are well done and easy to follow, and surprisingly flexible (including sending custom variables from one engine to the other).

It comes with a large library of default sounds, so for the even lazier, you don’t have to create your own. Head over to http://www.glitchds.com/cellsds/ for more information.

I should probably mention that previously, there was Monomeds but it was largely an unfinished project and open source. I’m not sure if CellsDS is branched off of that code or not, but users that were looking forward to a finished Monomeds app for the DS should be aware of this program, esp. now since the midi implementation is set to take place soon.

Yes, midi note out and clock sync are planned. I’ve been debating how to do the midi note out. I’m torn. Here are my options:

1) Make it easy on the Lua programmer by making play_note(note_number) automatically output a midi note where the midi note is based on the note_number and the channel is based on the engine number.

or…

2) Add a new function called something like send_midi(param1, param2, param3, param4). This is more flexible but makes more work for the Lua programmer.

Anyways, CellsDS is a subtle yet killer application b/c of its flexibility. So if that sort of flexibility and the ease of LUA scripting appeals to you, or even if you just want another fun sequencer for the DS and don’t want to muck about with coding… check it out.

Tenori-DS? Electroplankton 2.0?

osc1 — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:32:18 +0000

Now that the Korg DS-10 is a certified best seller – 3 weeks running @ #1 or #2 since its release, despite being sold in Japan strictly through Amazon.jp! Will we see future “serious” music applications for the Nintendo DS? What about a Tenori-DS? A portable version of the Tenori-On? Will Toshio Iwai return to Nintendo for an updated version of his beloved Electroplankton, giving us such a product? Not even a rumor at this point, but definitely something that could have some legs if either camp were to mention even a wiff of a possibility. A homebrew release of a Monome-style midi controller is already out there on the interwebs so its already a desired concept. Not to mention theres just a logical and technological reasoning behind such a natural pairing. So where could Toshio Iwai turn his sights next? Hopefully, this is it.

Jeskola Buzz 1.2x — 2008 updates

osc1 — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 05:30:08 +0000

Oskari Tammelin aka Jeskola has jumped into the Buzz 1.2b (Oct 2000) replacement madness that’s been going on the past several years by returning to Buzz, rebuilding the lost 1.2b code, and giving it a much needed update and bringing it up to date while at the same time adding new features, replacing old hacks developers have used in the past by giving them native interfaces, and much more. Serious progress has also been made – and in part made Oskari’s job of returning to Buzz much easier – by the open sourced and very impressive programs Buze and Aldrin (linux) with more progress to come, but more on that some other time. Below are a few images of the current Buzz beta and some links to the latest beta and change log:

http://www.jeskola.net/buzz/beta/files/changelog.txt

http://www.jeskola.net/buzz/beta/files/

Korg DS-10 DNB

osc1 — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 04:18:50 +0000

Made a video of myself running through some DnB patterns I whipped up. Enjoy!

DS-10 Update, a few more details.

osc1 — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:53:06 +0000

Update 8/1, demo video:

My DS-10 Has Arrived. Not going to bother describing the feature set entirely, as I’m busy using the DS-10 right now and theres tons of information and videos already out there, but I thought I’d drop a few tidbits of info that I found pleasing:

The pattern management and solo/mute features are very similar to the way Electribes work. You can ‘Lock’ the selection of a new pattern to wait for the first pattern to finish playing. This makes coming out of mutes and solo performances easier to come out of because it frees up your hands.

Each stored session is a collection of a project’s patterns (PTN) and all the current settings of the 2 synthesizers, 4 drum parts, patching. etc. The FX are also similar to the Electribes.. each of the 4 drum parts can all have individual effects [chorus, delay or flanger] and then there’s a global fx chain that can be mixed in various ways [syn1, syn2, syn1+syn2, all (including drums), off]. All of the FX can be sync’d to the BPM or runfreely. All basic synth parameters, vol/pan, cutoff/resonance, note/gate can be recorded in realtime. Further modulation, to a decent degree as on the MS-10 is available on the patchbay page.

There’s also a Song mode where you can string a ton of patterns together. You have several save slots, but not only can u save a project but you can also store presets for all the drum parts and synth parts seperately to be used in any project.

The Drum parts are actually all full blown synth parts, with the lack of a release on the envelope and the ability to tweak the parameters in realtime (though their patch bays are also there like syn1/2 so you can automate w/ lfos still). All the patching options are also still there. The sequencer for the drum parts by default is the matrix sequencer like you see in all the pictures and videos, but you can alternately use a piano roll sequencer. This really opens things up as you could imagine.

AKG K-701 Headphones

osc1 — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:34:52 +0000

Finally got a hold of a new pair of AKG K-701′s. My old Sennheiser HD570′s (discontinued little brother to the HD650′s) had finally deteriorated to the point that I had to replace them (and my HD600s were broken). I mix on monitors as well, but my apartment setting(s) have pretty much relegated all my late night sessions to headphones, so I need the best I can afford. Google them if you don’t know about them but want to know more, there are enough sites that already cover their specs and quality.

Apparently, these things have a break in period of about 200 hours.. but right out of the box they are easily the best can’s I’ve ever stuffed my head into. The Sennheisers’ I’ve owned over the years hid a lot more from me than I previously thought, they were a bit too sweet in the mid-ranges and not honestly clear enough in the highs. I cannot speak for the HD650′s though.. I’m sure those are some amazing reference/production headphones as well.

I can’t explain how clear the high’s sound on these headphones.. I can hear a clarity now that I’ve never heard before outside of expensive monitors. I’m not suggesting headphones are replacements for monitors.. but I would definitely say that a quality set of headphones like these, or the HD600/HD650′s, or Grados’ headsets, would blow away a budget or low priced set of monitors.

The obvious side effects of sticking to just headphones though: speaker bass response, because of the cones, especially in consumer products, will always be better. That’s not saying the bass or details of the audio will be better or worse, but the actual RESPONSE will show up on monitors/speakers in a way that’ll reveal them in the mix according to how most people will hear your music. For example, I’ve got a track I was working on late at night that sounded great on my headphones, but the next day when i checked out the mix on my monitors it was disturbing to find out that a mid bass tone repeated throughout most of the song was dominating and killing the song (badly). Another obvious side effect would be natural panning. Panning instruments hard left/right on headphones can sound and feel unnatural when your are producing which could lead you away from respectably mixing your stereo-field and levels.

Open-air headphones are much better in dealing with the panning issue than closed headphones, because you get some natural sound bleeding out from the headphones around you, you can work at training your ears to adapt to this sort of thing so your mix is solid, but that takes years of experience and besides.. they’re still no 100% substitute for monitors. AKG made a wild (and expensive) set of headphones a few years ago to address that issue.. if you can honestly call them “headphones”. The speakers are supported in the open and positioned away from the ears, while aiming towards them. Take a look:

By the way.. the K-701′s packaging is really nicely done and is fun to open. ^_^

Kaossilator 16-step

osc1 — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:41:04 +0000

Eventually I need to slow down with the Korg posts, but this is decent enough to share. As I mentioned previously I recently got myself a Kaossilator for a price i couldnt pass up…and I’m glad I did. There’s quite a few tricks to using the thing to speed up creativity like using the arp/gate patterns to automatically quanitze individual drum hits/ and drum synths, etc. (see the charts below, click for larger versions).

To the point: while exploring my KO, I discovered a boot-up mode by holding random buttons while powering the unit on. I googled a bit and found out ppl @ Korgforums and Youtube have already discovered this but the information seemed pretty buried so I thought I’d pass the info along myself.

When powering on the unit, hold down the TAP/BMP and Rec/Play buttons simultaneously and wait for the screen to boot up. DLY will read on the screen then release the buttons. Hold down Rec/Play and press the TAP/Bpm button again (Length setting). You can now change the overall pattern length to 16 steps and record some parameter automation like loop length and tempo, which can’t be recorded in regular mode. Recording acts differently as well, for example.. you can let go after laying down some sounds then make some changes on the length and tempo and the changes will be recorded.

You gain some you lose some. Overdubbing can no longer be undone via Fix and Cancel. In 16-Bar mode you can only delete the entire loop or keep overdubbing. Instead you have Erase and Clear. Erase works like it does in regular mode and so does Clear. Also, you can Pause the playback but if you stop it in order to sync something with the downbeat (pause/begin record on trigger), it will overwrite what was previously there.. not a big deal really. Check out the video below the charts for a great example of the sorts of things you can do in this Mode by tripleninesquared.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buaFeNpb0A0

Korg DS-10 update

osc1 — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:30:16 +0000

NCS Product Update – July 25, 2008
«©NCSX» An initial shipment of AQ Interactive’s highly anticipated KORG DS-10 Synthesizer software for the Nintendo DS arrived today and preorders will begin shipping this afternoon. Please note that the remainder of our shipments are expected to arrive next week.

Update: I’ve pre-ordered a Japanese version of AQ Interactive’s Korg DS-10. Apparently the DS-10 has got a bit of a raw deal in Japan in that it is now exclusively going to be sold through Amazon.jp. People are having an odd time figuring out that move, espcially in a region where for quite a time they couldn’t keep Kaossilator’s on the store shelves long enough to meet the demand. Speaking of the Kaossilator, I got caught up a little and managed to find one for such a good price ($125) that I had to pick it up, plus it looks tons of portable improv fun. I’m especially encouraged by the fact that it has one-hit kits and some drum synths instead of just relying on drum loops.

There’s still going to be a english language release in the States but that has been apparently set back to October and will be sold in stores where-ever available, not through Amazon. Apparently the gaming distributor XSEED has gained the rights to distribute the DS-10 in North America, so it sounds like a done deal.

Anyways, as soon as I learned of the new import date and that in Japan iwas exclusive to Amazon.jp (you cannot order through Amazon.jp in North America) I decided I could wait no longer and immediately ordered myself a Japanese copy which should be up for Sale offically on the 24th. No delays are expected. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

Here is a fully detailed image gallery of the DS-10 from DSFanboy.com:

http://www.dsfanboy.com/photos/korg-ds-10/912601/

Check out this cool video/interview with the Creators of the DS-10:

http://gamevideos.com/video/id/19545

Korg DS-10

osc1 — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 17:41:28 +0000

Korg, Nintendo, and software developer AQ Interactive have announced the upcomming launch of the Korg DS-10, a software emulation of the MS-10 (and then some) for the Nintendo DS. When this news reached me I was totally taken back – a big name in electronic music instruments offically licensing software for a handheld! The DS (particularlly the DS Lite) has already entered the realm of a classic OS for homebrew and commercial music apps and games, but with this announcement it’s locked. Count it among other odd classics like the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, and early Nintendo platforms. Hopefully this will also inspire even more music applications to appear for the DS. We can always use more.

http://www.aqi.co.jp/product/ds10/en/index.html

Also worth note – contrary to initial reports, it is scheduled for a world wide release, not just Japan. http://www.ds10blog.jp/?p=35

http://au.ds.ign.com/articles/860/860494p1.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rorBOzwR3Tc | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQcp2Mkt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbfsCNEjOuo | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOXzZuOWMP8