YouTube – Jarreblog: playing Hang in Budapest.

Just a great video from Jean Michael Jarre and the incorporation of live music. He saw this street musician and brought him in to perform. Brilliant.

A lot of hoopla has been going around the internet this past week regarding the iPad. Love it or hate it, the fact of the matter is that Apple has a track record of producing new hardware that rocks industries in such a way that the entire industry changes. The question comes down to then how will the iPad impact music production?

One of the biggest complaints I have seen from people regarding the iPad is that it is not running OS X and while this might seem like a fault at first I actually think it is a blessing in disguise. OS X and even Windows are what I would call “dead” platforms. Not dead in the sense that people will stop using them, but dead in the sense that they have pretty much reached the pinnacle of their development. They are mature and probably won’t be seeing any revolution design changes.

There has also been several complaints about the restrictive nature of the iPhone/iTunes application ecosystem.  Peter Kirn over at CreateDigitalMusic.com. I agree with his sentiment to an extend in so much that the closed fist that Apple has on the App store can be detrimental, but I am not so quick to jump to his side in that open source is the solution. I love open source as much as the next person, but the inherent problem with open source on the whole is that almost all of the products are not consumer friendly. And to be honest the way in which Apple governs its App store has probably not afflicted most consumers in any great impact. In fact it could be argued that Apple’s approval process has been a huge success at keeping the applications on the store and on the iPhone running amazingly well. Regardless though of what you think about that process we will see music production applications come to the iPad. It is safe to say that there will always be a place for those who want more openness to go as well, namely Android.

There is new OS war brewing and in this OS market there is tremendous growth potential for the company that takes it over. Right now the front runners are Apple with the iPhone OS and Google with Android/Chrome OS. What is unique about these OS’s and most of the products that they are running on is that they are middleware of sorts. They are complimentary to your traditional OS. They aren’t going to replace it. You will sync your general media, contacts, documents, etc. on them and chances are sync that back to your “desktop” OS when you are done. The assumption that these platforms are inherently less powerful is entirely the wrong way to look at these platforms in my honest opinion.

So being that they are middleware or complimentary, how do they come into play in music production? Are you going to be running the latest version of Logic Pro or FL Studio on them? Chances are the answer is no, and while that functionality may come with time that is not where its strength is going to lie. Instead think of ways in how these OS’s and devices can link up and also complement your traditional workflow.

If you can break away from the traditional mindset that these devices need to run your existing applications in existing methodologies, their potential grows tremendously, and not just for music production.  Think for a second of the iPad not as the hardware running your DAW but instead  as running or being a control interface for your DAW, or perhaps operating as you would an external synthesizer. May be it replaces your midi controller?

The power of external DSP systems has  proven itself to be useful in music production. The TC Powercore, Muse Reactor, Virus TI, etc. How would your production setup be improved if for example you could run a modular synthesizer just on the iPad, where the DSP processing is handled and it shows up in your DAW as any other VST? Think of how the Virus TI works. The OS on the iPad has such low overhead compared to a traditional OS that you could do DSP offloading applications on it that you perhaps couldn’t do in a traditional OS environment.

Hey Remeber this guy? The Jazzmutant Lemur? It was the “groundbreaking” multi-touch control surface interface that everyone wanted for years, but was just too expensive to own. Well guess, what. Apple just announced a $500 multi-touch control surface.

Wan to know something else? There is already a control interface software that runs on the iPhone/iPod Touch called TouchOSC that utilizes Open Sound Control.

You see where this is going, don’t you? Just look at the plethora of other interesting music creation applications that already exist on the iPhone.

Jasuto

Noise.IO

Inuta

Heck, Even Akai is getting in on the synthesizer creation business and we have also seen how well the Korg DS-10 synthesizer has been received.

The point is I think there is a huge potential here that is going to explode. No, this is not a replacement for your desktop, but were you really looking for that anyways? What is is though is a very interesting piece of hardware (that will only improve in future generations) that developers are going to take advantage of in the near future to produce some crazy good applications for. Just think of what they can do with that screen real estate!!!!

First up is the MixDeck, a new integrated all in one DJ solution that can handle everything from CD’s to mp3′s to an iPod.

• Complete system with CD/MP3/USB decks, mixer, computer audio and MIDI interface, and Universal Dock for iPod
• Play from CDs, MP3 CDs, USB flash drives, iPod, computers, and external inputs
• Record your set to iPod and listen later
• Mixer with EQ/rotary kills, replaceable crossfader, and complete controls for iPod
• Studio-quality computer interface for up to 24–bit, 88.2kHz audio
• Outputs (all stereo): Main (balanced XLR & RCA), Booth (RCA), Record (RCA), Deck 1 (RCA), Deck 2 (RCA), Cue (1/8” & 1/4”)
• Beat-synced DSP effects with wet-dry fader: chop, echo, filter, flanger, pan, phaser
• Smooth, fast, slot-loading drives with large, touch-sensitive illuminated platters
• Control MIDI software with no timecode needed via USB
• CD direct outputs for use with timecode interfaces
• Adjustable start and stop time for vinyl-like deck performance
• Automatic BPM analyzer and Tap tempo for manual BPM entry
• Slide BPM ±6, 12, 25, and 100% or bend with pitch buttons
• Key Lock holds pitch while you independently manipulate its BPM
• Seamless looping, sampling, and easily accessible hot cues
• Keep time moving forward while you cut or reverse the track using Bleep/Reverse
• Single-track, continuous, and programmable playback
• Fader Start plays the cued track when you move the crossfader
• Two large, backlit displays for BPM, CD/MP3 text tags, and folder navigation

Next up Is the NS7FX, which is their popular NS7 system with the included effects controller.

• High-resolution digital DJ controller with effects, built for Serato ITCH and compatible with Scratch LIVE libraries
• Direct-drive, motorized turntable platters with classic and modern feel settings
• Activate and control the effects in Serato ITCH
• Includes Serato ITCH DJ software
• Built-in audio with audiophile-grade circuitry, 24-bit interface
• Extensive loop, cue, and track-access controls
• Strip Search (patent pending) virtual-needle drop control
• Controls most MIDI applications without requiring a mouse or keyboard
• Rugged, all-metal construction
• Integrated laptop stand
• Fits in NS7 CASE for protection in transit to the gig
• High quality, replaceable, adjustable CP-PRO crossfader and D-TYPE line faders
• Support for Whitelabel.net files in ITCH
• Mix using either 33rpm or 45rpm speeds

Also announced is the new V7 virtual turntable and the soon to be released X7 mixer. The V7 features built in effects controls and the X7 features two usb inputs for syncing two laptops. Full details can be found at Numark.com

http://www.numark.com/wnamm2010

Indamixx has posted a video up doing a quick walkthrough of some of their partnered laptops and software including EnergyXT, Renoise and a new DJ software. Also quickly featured is a couple of new laptops such as their netbook, HDMI DJ system, IndaMixx Pro and IndaMixx Slim.

Great proof that Linux can succeed in audio in both the hardware and software realms.

via NoisePages.com

Features include:

• Serato-approved USB MIDI Sub Controller for Serato Scratch Live
• Simple USB plug-and-play Connection (USB MIDI / Bus power)
• Dedicated tactile controls to replace computer keyboard shortcuts
• High-quality steel cabinet with rugged rubber keys
• File Select knob and buttons with back-forward action keys
• Track Select and Fast Search buttons
• SHIFT/CLR Button
• 5 Cue Point and 3 Sampler Player buttons
• Auto Loop button with Loop Cut knob & Roll
• Loop IN/OUT button with Exit/Reloop
• File, Browse, History and Prepare keys
• Tap button
• MIDI mappable for other DJ software systems
• Unit measures 9.8″ width x 3.4″ depth, and weighs under 3 lbs

Priced at $199.

The other announcement is DN-HC5000 Serato which is designed to control Searto Itch

• Integrated “one to one” hardware-to-software mapping for instant control and minimum setup time
• Interoperability with Scratch Live crates, loops and cue points, and support for iTunes®
• Clean and simple software user interface with emphasis on hardware controller to display information
• Auto Tempo Matching and Beat Sync
• Optimal Gain and BPM Calculation
• Serato’s unique color waveforms for easy identification of sound
• Set and store Cue-points
• Manual and Auto Loop activation
• Exclusive access to fresh promotional music with Whitelabel.net

priced at a hefty $1099.

http://www.denondj.com

They have announced at NAMM that they are parterning with several companies, the first of which is Presonus to allow for direct uploading to the service from audio applications. Audio File Engineering is another partner and it is reported that Ableton Live will soon include the feature as well.

This is exciting news for the site and for the music web business. We have seen this sort of integration with other social networking services before, but not in the music world. How the feature is exactly going to be implemented is unclear at this point. Soundcloud has grown in large part due to its ability to easily distribute audio files and remix packs online. The ability to upload individual tracks within an audio project would be a useful one indeed.

Quote Alexander Ljung, SoundCloud CEO:

“We’re very excited to be launching the first of our music softwareintegrations with PreSonus and Audiofile Engineering. With these upcoming partnerships it’s possible to imagine a production workflow in which you produce a track, upload it to SoundCloud, and send it direct to Abbey Road for mastering without any files hitting your desktop. We’re imagining a future where music professionals can seamlessly use the web together with their desktop tools in a fully integrated and extremely powerful combination. The SoundCloud platform and our open API, in combination with progressive companies like PreSonus and Audiofile Engineering, are making it possible for this future to arrive in 2010.”

via Harmony-Central.com

First news from NAMM is trickling in. Akai has announced a new version of their APC line with the APC20. This is essentially half of the previously released APC40 from last year. The new APC20 features everything but some send effects, additional knobs and the crossfader from its older brother.

From the press online it appears that the APC20 is meant to be more of a companion kit then a standalone. You can chain up to six of them together.

Price is $199

http://www.akaipro.com/apc20

Korg has announced an updated version of their popular Kaossilator. The Kaossilator Pro is basically a step up from last year’s model and is analogous to the MiniKP and its bigger brother the KaossPad 3.

The Kaossilator Pro takes the same basic hardware specs and idea of the KP3 and focused on a sound source rather than an effects source. The overall idea sounds extremely appealing and it features 200 sounds (still not a true synth though) along with the ability to load PCM samples. It is not quite the sampled based KP4 many were hoping for, but it is a good start.

http://www.korg.com/Product.aspx?pd=564

As I have been dipping my toes into the water of tracking again I realized that it might be useful for people to have a blog that follows the development and music in the tracking world. Now, there are a couple of blogs out on the net that are focused on the demoscene and a few on tracking music, but the scope of tracking has changed so much these days. Many of these blogs, in my view are still very much focused on the oldschool of tracking, which is fine, but I would like to focus on topics of tracking that are related to the general musician. So many of today’s trackers can do full on music production as well as any other program and I would like to discuss the tools (hardware and software) and music that is coming out of that arena.

So, as I gather my thoughts over the next several weeks and months to focus the site, I would love to hear feedback if anyone has it regarding how to move the site forward with respect to tracking.

Novation and Ableton have announced a new dedicated controller for Ableton Live called the Launchpad. Taking obvious design ques from the popular DIY Monome kits, the launch pad a 64 button interface designed to control Live’s session view.

Details from Ableton.com

Big grid
Launchpad features a multi-color, 64-button grid for launching clips plus eight dedicated scene-launch buttons. The buttons are lit by LEDs displaying clip status so you can see at a glance what’s loaded (orange), what’s playing (green), and what’s being recorded (red).

Compact, portable
Despite the big grid, Launchpad is compact and portable: it’ll fit in your bag for gigs and won’t hog your desk space in the studio. It’s slim, sturdy, weighs less than a hardback book and it’s USB powered, so there’s no power adapter to drag around.

4 modes for flexibility
It’s not just about launching clips: as well as the Session Mode, Launchpad offers Mixer Mode—a unique way to control Ableton Live’s mixer—and two fully-customizable User Modes.

Innovative mixer control
In Mixer Mode, the rows and columns of the grid become virtual faders, sliders and knobs controlling track volume, pan, sends, mute, solo, Clip Stop Buttons and record arm, depending on the function selected. Use the scene launch/mixer function buttons to select the function you want to control.

Customizable
The two fully-customizable User Modes transform the grid into a drum pad controller, DJ effect controller or anything else you can think of. The default state for User Mode 1 provides drum pad control for Live’s Drum Racks—great for sketching out beats. Using Live’s simple MIDI mapping, it’s easy to create custom control environments, whatever devices you’re using and however your Live Sets are configured.

Made for Max for Live
The User Modes make Launchpad the ideal hardware counterpart for Max for Live. Launchpad is flexible enough to deal with even the most detailed Max for Live devices and can handle generic parameters and controls with ease. Eleven LED states provide visual feedback that’s precise enough for complex devices. Launchpad users will soon be able to download a Max for Live step sequencer patch from Novation and more Max for Live patches are planned for the future.

Communication goes both ways
Live and Launchpad are in a constant, two-way, hardware-software dialog. The back-lit grid buttons show what’s happening in Live and Live, in turn, shows which section of the Session View is currently under Launchpad control: a red border around the current clip group let’s you see where you are with a just a cursory glance at your screen.

Navigating the Session View
Obviously, you’re not limited to controlling only 64 clips. The arrow buttons move the grid up, down, left and right one track or scene at a time. Hold down the ‘Session’ button in Session Mode, and you can use the arrow keys to jump eight tracks or rows at a time—very useful for navigating around large, complex Live Sets.

More buttons? More Launchpads
Want more buttons? Launchpads are designed to work together, with up to six units at once. That’s more than 400 assignable buttons! Launchpads running on the same system can run in different modes, so you can control the Session View, mixer and custom setups all at once, with one Launchpad for each.

It will be avaliable November 1st and priced at ~$200.

http://www.novationmusic.com/launchpad

http://www.ableton.com/nl398-launchpad

via LivePA.org