Ample Guitar M Lite

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I checked out bedroomproducersblog earlier tonight and I loved what I heard of this VST which aims 'to bring the Martin D-41 Guitar sound to your studio': the Ample Guitar M, by amplesound.

I'm eagerly downloading the free version (the 'Lite' in the title) right now. 

If it is anywhere near as good as the full, paid-for version shown off in the video above I will be very pleased indeed.

Download from: amplesound.

More Free VSTs

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Your Beats: ShiNoLa 'Love Poop'

Many thanks to everyone who has submitted tracks to 'Your Beats'.  In this edition, Chicago comes through yet again.

The city's ShiNoLa kindly sent over his latest release (sorry) 'Love Poop', which he just dropped (my bad).

Now there's a sentence I never thought I would be typing.

It's an experimental outing which mixes the playful with the poignant.
 
Of the highlights, 'Chromosomes' sounds like N*E*R*D on a merry-go-round in fast-forward; whilst 'A Based Message' has a melancholy Lil B over the top of some beautiful electronica.

However, 'The Moaning After' may be the standout track.

After a NSFW introduction, a euphoric wave of synths and reverbed vocals wash over the listener, with lots of sensual moans and big, choppy drums adding extra atmospheric layers to get lost in.  Lovely.

Insert one more poop-related pun of your choice here.

For more Shinola, visit: being-shinola.bandcamp.com
      

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Vince Clarke x Arturia MiniBrute

Here is a beautiful looking - and sounding - video from the guys over at Arturia.

''They’re French, but MiniBrute is in English! The MiniBrute features on my new electronic dance music record; I’m using it a lot for basses at the moment, and also for odd squeaky sounds.'
- Vince Clarke, 2013 (Erasure)

GRENOBLE, FRANCE: music software and hardware company Arturia is proud to announce that legendary synthpop Svengali Vince Clarke — musical mastermind behind one of the most successful songwriting duos of all time — has added a MiniBrute Analog Synthesizer to the stunning synth collection currently residing at his Brooklyn-based studio...

Depeche Mode, Yazoo, The Assembly, and Erasure all have two things in common: one, they were founded by Vince Clarke; two, they have all enjoyed catchy Clarke-penned, synth-driven Top Ten hits in the UK and beyond. In a noteworthy career spanning four decades and countless millions of records sold, Clarke has had more hit singles than most of us have had hot dinners, clocking up no fewer than 17 Top Ten entries in the UK with Erasure alone. And let’s not forget five consecutive chart-topping albums — not bad going in the increasingly disposable world of pop, be it synth-driven or otherwise.

Clearly, Clarke knows a thing or two about songwriting, as attested to by being honoured with 2009’s Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection by BASCA (British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors). Of course, Clarke can comfortably find his way around a fair number of synths, too, as attested to by the well-earned songwriting success-funded collection of analogue classics currently residing at his NYC studio, recently relocated from a custom-built cabin in rural Maine to inner-city Brooklyn. But this is no millionaire’s museum piece, but rather a unique personal workspace, where each and every awe-inspiring instrument within regularly earns its keep on a variety of musical projects, with Clarke becoming something of a sought-after remixer of late, as well as collaborating with former Depeche Mode bandmate Martin Gore for the first time in 30-odd years as techno-inspired two-piece VCMG.

Yes, Vince Clarke certainly knows a great-sounding synth when he hears one, which is exactly why an Arturia MiniBrute Analog Synthesizer has made the transatlantic crossing to join him in his Brooklyn basement studio: “When I first tried the MiniBrute, the first thing that struck me was the fact that it’s small, so I thought, ‘Excellent! It will fit in my studio!’ The fact that it has MIDI and CV and Gate is pretty cool.”

While Clarke’s trademark British sense of humour shines forth for all to witness from the outset of this investigative pairing, there’s no denying the compact and bijou nature of the musical beast in question. Yet the Musikmesse International Press Award-winning MiniBrute manages to pack a lot of punch into its diminutive 390 x 325 x 70 mm frame. Setting a new standard for what a hardware monosynth should be, its 100 percent analogue audio signal path features an Oscillator Mixer (Sub, Sawtooth, Square, Triangle, White Noise, Audio In) and classic Steiner-Parker Multimode Filter (LP, BP, HP, Notch) approved by Nyle Steiner himself, together with additional analogue innovations: Metalizer (adds complex harmonics to the triangle waveform); Ultrasaw (adds a lively and bright ensemble effect to the Sawtooth waveform); and Brute FactorTM (adds anything from subtle overdrive to wreaking full-blown intermodulation havoc). These flexible features help the MiniBrute make its own distinctive musical mark alongside legendary analogue monosynths like the Minimoog, Sequential Circuits Pro-One, Korg MS-20, and ARP Odyssey — all of which Clarke, coincidentally, owns!

And all of which resonates deeply with this most musical Englishman in New York: “I really like the filter; you can put the resonance on full and get all those Kraftwerky-type sounds. It sounds like a synth with a Decimator or something like that on it! But whatever it does, or however it does it, I think you can get some very vicious sounds. The Brute Factor... that’s brutal!”

One thing’s for sure: present-day developments like the MiniBrute are helping to ensure that hardware synths are likely to remain Clarke’s calling card for the foreseeable future. “I personally think it’s great that all this hardware stuff’s coming out now; it’s what I grew up with,” he says. “I think there’s nothing that can compare to having a hands-on synth with knobs, dials, and sliders. For me, making sounds with a synth is also physical; I can use two hands and don’t have to pre-think or work it all out. So I think this resurgence in physical synths is a really cool thing.”

Never one for resting on his laurels, Clarke recently spread his wings with a couple of low-key DJ dates in Texas. Here, too, the MiniBrute might well be sharing the musical limelight with him in the not too distant future: “Rather than just play records, I’d like to incorporate some of the technology that I have into the shows as well. I could take along a sequencer or a synthesizer and actually mix it into the stuff that I’m playing.”

Compact and bijou... but packing a pure analogue punch wherever it may roam, MiniBrute is the revolutionary new analogue synthesizer from Arturia. Available now from a dealer near you...

MiniBrute can be purchased from any Arturia dealer or directly from the Arturia online store (http://www.arturia.com/evolution/en/buy/online-shop.html) for €499.00 EUR/$549.00 USD.'

For more, visit: arturia.com





Credits
Video: youtube.com/user/arturia
Image: arturia.com

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bboytechreport.com Guest Post: Lanzo 'Burn Better Trunks' Review

Regular readers already know that The New Beat Maker is #TeamLanzo all day.  On 4/20, the Chicagoan dropped the funk-filled 'Burn Better Trunks' project.  It's a banger.

In addition to my exclusive The New Beat Maker review, I also wrote another exclusive review for bboytechreport.com, which you can read here.

Check out 'Burn Better Trunks' in its entirety below, then purchase the project on bandcamp here.



Credit
Image and music: soundcloud.com/lanzobeats

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Rob Papen: Extras for The 4 Element Synth Book / DVD Set

From the guys at Rob Papen:

'ECHT, THE NETHERLANDS: virtual instrument and plug-in developer Rob Papen Soundware’s namesake founder/Managing Director Rob Papen is proud to announce additional online content for The 4 Element Synth subtractive synthesis instructional book/DVD set...

Last year globally renowned sound designer Rob Papen published The 4 Element Synth book with four accompanying DVDs totalling over 10 hours of tutorial content to critical acclaim. According to fellow sound designer Ian Boddy, “The whole package comes in a beautifully packaged book. Superbly bound and elegantly printed, it has the feel of a quality coffee table book — it even has such nice details as a silk bookmark and pull-out 4 Element Synth chart, complete with four DVDs stuffed to the brim to watch in conjunction with the contents of the book.”

Appropriately subtitled The secrets of subtractive synthesis, this 200-plus-page enlightening tome was many years in the making, effectively dating back to 2001 when Rob Papen started teaching exclusive masterclasses in synth sound design in his well-stocked studio using the likes of his beloved Roland Jupiter 8 programmable polysynth and seminal Korg MS-20 semi-modular monosynth alongside other vintage analogue classics and more modern counterparts. Here he developed an approach to working with subtractive synthesis that he termed The 4-Element Synth© — hence the book/DVD set’s title. As implied by name, the book basically breaks subtractive synthesis down into four digestible and distinct chapters or elements: Element-1 / Oscillators, Element-2 / Filter, Element-3 / Amplifier, and Element-4 / Modulators — each of which receive their own equally easy-to-follow DVD treatment, thanks in no small part to the talented author and presenter’s easy- going onscreen persona.

No teaching technique needs to be set in stone, however; there is almost always room for improvement — or even additional content, as is the case with The 4 Element Synth. The beauty of online content is that it can, of course, be updated far faster than print or physical media, which is exactly what Rob Papen has done by uploading two additional Element-4 / Modulators chapter-related bonus videos here: http://www.robpapen.com/book-a-dvds-extras.html

Anyone who has already purchased The 4 Element Synth book/DVD set is invited to thereby (re)read the LFO and Element-2 section (p152) and then watch an all-new accompanying video about LFO and resonance modulation. Meanwhile, the Three points to keep in mind using an envelope section (p107) also benefits from additional demonstrative video content; as Rob Papen himself says, “There’s another important point about envelope modulation of the filter. As we’ve said already in the Element-2 chapter, many producers and synth players often use only the cutoff knob; they forget that there is also an envelope amount and the envelope settings that can change the sound — and not just a little bit! Keep these three points in mind when you’re working with the filter section of your synthesizer.”

Speaking of synthesizers, apart from those aforesaid analogue classics and a rather impressive looking (and sounding) ‘Moog-alike’ System-22 modular system from Synthesizers.com — all of which make musical onscreen appearances throughout The 4 Element Synth DVDs, Rob Papen also makes much use of his own company’s Predator — a ‘phat’ sounding killer soft synth that combines inspiring presets and first-class features to create the perfect ‘go-to’ synth for contemporary music production. Predator and Predator RE users can also download the preset banks used on the DVDs from here: http://www.robpapen.com/book-a-dvds-extras.html

Needless to say, anyone wishing to literally uncover the secrets of subtractive synthesis should surely look no further than The 4 Element Synth book/DVD set — now more enlightening than ever, thanks to these latest enhancements!

The 4 Element Synth book/DVD set can be ordered online directly from Rob Papen within the EU for €74.00 EURO (including 6% VAT) or outside the EU for €69.00 EURO — plus shipping (where appropriate) — from here: http://www.robpapen.com/buy-dvd-sound-design.html

Rob Papen is also delighted to announce availability of The 4 Element Synth from US dealer Sweetwater, as well as via various European dealers.'

Update:

For more on Rob Papen and 'The 4 Element Synth', check out bboytechreport.com's interview with the man himself here.

Credits
Video:youtube.com/users/robpapen
Image: robpapen.com

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Legendary DJ Kid Capri on The Round Up with Shaheem Reid

The legendary Kiiiiiid Capri sits down with Shaheem Reid on this edition of 'The Round Up', filmed at the Scratch Academy, founded by the iconic Jam Master Jay.

Capri shares the tragedy of his name, how he resisted the 'fast money' of the drug game, the laborious task of 'flooding the streets' with his classics, how a good deed got him a great look, 'Def Comedy Jam', the 'No Way Out' tour and more.  Enjoy.


Credits
Video: youtube.com/user/jayz
Image: talenthouse.com

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Sound Design Tutorial: Using Massive to Create Sub-Heavy Kick Drums

'Dubspot's sound design course designer and instructor Evan Sutton discuss basic kick drum synthesis using Native Instruments' Massive. 

This can be a useful production technique for everything from techno to trap. Also, this is a universal technique that can be applied using many other synthesizers.' 

Credits:

Video: youtube.com/user/dubspot

Image: residentadvisor.com

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Pensado's Place: With Special Guest Rodney 'Darkchild' Jerkins

The latest episode of this The New Beat Maker favourite features one of the most successful songwriter / musician / producers of the last two decades: Rodney 'Darkchild' Jerkins.

Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Brandy and The Spice Girls are just a handful of the superstars who have all had mega-hits with 'Darkchild'.

Catch up with Herb, Dave and Jerkins in this new, must-see episode.



Credits:
Video: youtube.com/user/PensadosPlace
Image: facebook.com/pensadosplace

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Sev Seveer - 'Refreshments' (STBB320) Doodle Vol.2

Chicago's Sev Seveer fired this down-tempo banger over to me this week and I've been playing it ever since, so thanks for that, Sev.

I'm going mad right now trying to think of what that main sample reminds me of, is it a Da Beatminerz / Black Moon kinda vibe? Whatever it is, it's as dope as hell and I love the track.

For more, check out: soundcloud.com/sevseveer




Credits: soundcloud.com/sevseveer

 

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Camel Audio Announces Alchemy Mobile V2 Update for iOS

Regular readers will already know that I'm a big fan of Camel Audio's classic Alchemy.  In our recent interview with saintjoe he confirmed his love for the synth in both it's freeware and paid upgrade forms, so it's great news to hear this from the guys at Camel Audio themselves:

'EDINBURGH, UK: professional audio plug-ins developer Camel Audio is proud to announce availability of Alchemy Mobile v2, a major update to its free iOS synthesiser for iPad/iPhone, as of April 30...

Perfect for developing song ideas on the go or in the studio, Alchemy Mobile is the mobile version of Camel Audio’s award-winning Alchemy soft synth, which can be heard on thousands of records and films by world-class artists. Thanks to the most powerful synthesis engine on iOS, discover an almost limitless palette of musical instruments created from samples, VA, granular and additive synthesis — from fat basses and evolving soundscapes to lush pads and pulsing arpeggios. Its unique remix pad, with tilt and inertia, creates constantly evolving and expressive sounds in a fun and physical way.

Alchemy Mobile v2 is more powerful than ever, and adds four-track MIDI recording and playback so users can layer different Alchemy parts to build up complete loops and song sections. Onscreen drum pads are available to create beats while the four-track sequencer includes mixer and solo/mute functions for intuitive song creation. Camel Audio has also added Audiobus support so it can integrate with mobile studios.

Additional Alchemy Mobile v2 improvements include 30 new presets — piano, strings, guitar, and drum kits; recording enhancements — overdubbing, song position indicator, and adjustable track length; iCloud backup and song transfer; sharper and clearer graphics; onscreen tutorial for speedy learning; lower latency for snappier performance on iPad 3/ iPhone 5; and simplified account setup — get 35 free presets by entering an e-mail address and password. Eight excellent demo songs showcase what Alchemy Mobile v2 can do — have fun remixing the tracks!

Exclusive features new to the in-app Alchemy Mobile Pro upgrade include saving and exporting user songs; saving and loading individual tracks; fine-tuning grooves with adjustable swing; and balancing polyphony verses latency to make the most of the host device’s resources. Other Pro upgrade benefits include an additional 75 sounds and 25 loops, virtual MIDI, polyphonic pitchbend, another eight demo songs, and much more besides.

Quite simply, Alchemy Mobile v2 turns any iPad, iPhone (3GS or later), or iPod Touch (3rd Gen or later) into an expressive synthesiser studio with stunning sound quality!

Alchemy Mobile v2 is available for free from the iTunes App Store. The Alchemy Mobile Pro upgrade is available for iPad/iPhone for $14.99/€11.99/£10.49 as an in-app purchase from within the free version.

Nine additional Sound Libraries each containing 50 sounds (with 400 variations) are also available as in-app purchases for $4.99/€3.99/£2.99 apiece. Anyone already owning the desktop versions of those libraries can download the Alchemy Mobile versions for free having purchased the Alchemy Mobile Pro upgrade.

Alchemy Mobile v2 can be seen and heard in a highly informative introductory video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WJzxtIiLpc&feature=youtu.be'

Related Posts:
saintjoe talks Camel Audio Alchemy, ethics and much more
Computer Music 150 Plugins Special: Camel Audio Alchemy CM and 149 other fantastic plugins!

Credits
Video and Image: camelaudio.com 

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