Our Next Event!
27May – details coming.
Snow Job in Denver and some pre-NAMM
by Marc on Jan.12, 2011, under News
Yeah, it snow’d, good drop out here.
Woot – spreading the word! Kent and I (Marc) will be dropping some workshop at the Colroado Music Swap. Our presentation is focused on the non-Ableton crowd featuring studio to stage features and Ableton as a live processing device for traditional musicians.
Colorado Music Swap featuring Us!
Wow on this…right? (via CDM) Our crew (Chace Flowe is one of many) has been doing this for year. On top of that – most people should know that these results are possible without Ableton (it helps) and certainly no need for anything from NI or other third parties. Some of the most amazing visual possibilities come from open source. Our favorite is Processing. Check it out!
Via Gear Junkies, the Access Virus gets more sexy (of your into that type of thing).Behold. Dark Star:
No, not a Grateful Dead legacy type of thing...
Attention beat makers – practice considerations and quotes via Sounds and Gear points us to this great article on beats per week versus regimented practice.
Our friends over at OpenLabs have a new release – will this be able to compete with the juggernaut that is Apple core audio. The product Is found here.
Nice Rack
Finally some serious congratulations for Mark Mosher on breaking 400,000 views on YouTube.
Some serious view-age
Happy New Year 2011 – Patch Lab kicks us off!
by Marc on Jan.03, 2011, under News
Mark Mosher of Modulate This! takes no time off, he has released a new project called Patch Lab.
His words:
I’ve had a passion for programming synths and working with samplers for over 20 years. I’m constantly experimenting and creating new patches with a large variety of electronic music instruments. I’m also creating original harmonic content via field recordings and re-synthesis.
Liine Griid Hawt(ness)
by Admin on Oct.27, 2010, under Locally
Some additional content for our next meet up – Nick over at Liine provided an evaluation copy of Griid Pro (http://liine.net/griid/en/product.html) for us to enjoy. This is an extra special happy treat of a post and presentation.
Griid is pretty cool, I gotta say. I use my iPad for visuals and video playback, so you will not be seeing me walking around the venue touch screening. But that is another story for another day…
Always up to embarrass myself, let me declare the painful experience of getting that evaluation copy of Griid from the iTunes library to the iPad.
That was a 2+ hour experience reading ehow and similar posts. (turns out I had to back up all sorts of stuff and perform some magical sync. Be sure to not only put your left foot in, but also shake it all about).
Otherwise everything went smooth.
So now i am “Star Trek’n” with the ‘pad. The walk through provided by Liine was straight forward, all problems were totally operator error (as usual).
Griid, like others controller applications, connect via wi-fi. On a Mac the settings were not too difficult. An “ad-hoc” network is required for non-router use such as Liine requested.
This is more or less an open (but password secured…right?) connection similar to bluetooth. The iPad connected to my Mac laptop and soon enough was running. I had an hour in vested in the initial setup. Remember, unlike bluetooth, this is not a one-to-one connection but one to many – so be sure you secure yourself appropriately.
Griid is a controller that, well, controls Ableton. Control comes via a hybrid of OSC control (delivered via Liine’s software package). The incoming control is translated to MIDI and ther you go, you know the rest.
Liine IS hitting the Python API for Ableton. So you will see clip name and similar information API only information (yeha, M4L can do it.. but not everyone has that).
The Pro version (100% worth the price) includes a zoom function allowing rapid navigation – handy for people who have looooong set with a tom of clips.
Regarding connectivity, let’s say “damn close to instantaneous”. The complaints you might expect from me (as a controlerism advocate) are not aimed at Liine or the app. Instead your limitation is in the accuracy, precision, and response inherent to the iPad as a device and far from the control of anyone in the development cycle of the app.
If you are looking for DJ or better control, this will do just fine.If you are looking for instrument level control of a fine tuned MIDI device (such as those form the instrumentalist part fo the hood) adding something like a MIDIFighter will allow you to get physical control you may desire.
Gimme the buttons right.
I am going come back to topic after our next meet up. Be SURE to be there as Darren Kramer will be presenting the Touch-Able application. I promise the meet-ups WILL not be turning into a iPad central, we do however owe a little time to the iPad and these new additions to the scene.
IN FACT:
I will be making up for any time invested in iPad world with an awesome clandestine presentation at the end of the evening. Something you will NOT WANT TO MISS.
I think we are doing a first – if everything goes as planned our Colorado group will be on the cutting edge of new information and technology as of yet off the radar and unspoken.
I PROMISE!
Don’t forget Mark Mosher will take us beyond clip launch on the Launchpad (very excited!).
Season 2, episode 1 – New Meet Up
by Marc on Oct.15, 2010, under Locally
We have 3 presentations including some petting zoo time with Touch-Able.
Mark Mosher form Modulate This! presents “Beyond Clip Launch with the Novation Launchpad”
Darren Kramer (DKO) takes us past the Lemur and into the iPad via Touchable App
Finally a clandestine presentation and guest you will not want to miss! We will look at some widely used technology for electronic music in a very new way. Not to miss!
This event is ALL AGES + FREE!
Forest Room 5 is so awesome for helping us out. The room is so cool! We get a fireplace!
Forest Room 5 is located at:
2532 15th St
Denver forestroom5.com
Expanded Details :
Mark Mosher will go over many tips and tricks on how to get the most out of your launchpad.
-Fakeing Velocity
-Visual Feedback
-MIDI Mapping and discrete controller mapping
-Pretty Colors (Mark’s exact bullet point)
-Under the hood for a live set and demonstration playing music (live) from his new album on the launchpad. (http://markmosher.ban…)
Darren, our resident Lemur handler (http://jazzmutant.com…) will bring in the new guns – iPad and TouchAble http://www.touch-able… – this includes some petting time with the application.
Darren’s set has traditionally used the Lemur, but now he is finding the iPad is a very useful too to expand what is possible. In fact – his new project caters to professional iPad use.
Finally – our first clandestine presentation (no, not a smoke screen). Something that has been in the works for a while and has the potential to make you rethink control of Ableton and electronic music. This topic is huge, unbelievably critical, and something you will not want to miss! (this has nothing to do with the fireplace).
Closing Notes:
The MEGA-nome should be discussed as well, so plan on some late(r) night plotting.
Live PA Battle – December 12, 2010 at Cervante’s Otherside. PLAN ON IT! Lets get our talk on regarding this event. (!)
We are always looking for ideas, presenters, and feedback. Email is super bitchin’, Facebook less so, but the Meet Up Site is CRITICAL: http://www.meetup.com…
We recently added a group simply titled “Creative Electronic Music” – this will handle workshops and the not free and non-Ableton focused events. We appreciate your support for both groups. Free is important, but unicorns have not taken over the planet coming from planet Utopia just yet, so some things cost money.
The finishing touches are being placed on a set of workshops for February 2011 – 4 Saturdays of Ableton, Launchpad, APC, and all the basics to send you out to kick some…well you know.
Questions – let me know! Bring a friend and have someone to site with!
Only you can prevent forest fires.
Robert Henke in Denver
by Marc on Sep.30, 2010, under Locally
Robert Henke spent a few days with us – the posts are starting to roll in – Mark Mosher did a great job documenting the visit.
There are photo streams (still adding, I hit the limit).
I have a few pages of notes and ideas from the visit – I am still gathering my thoughts on the topic – I promise some insight.
Robert said he will be back for CMKY.
Don’t forget ILL GATES is dropping a workshop tonight and a performance too!
Ableton 8.1.5 out for download
by Marc on Aug.12, 2010, under Locally
Ableton has released 8.1.5 for public download last night.
A forum thread on the release.
Mark Mosher gets all the credit for posting this way way early in the cycle. Pay him as much browser love as possible because he is too cool!
What BPM do you use to beat the heat?
by Marc on Jun.10, 2010, under News
Personally I love 105 BPM. I don’t know if that has any impact on the heat though.
Gonna hit on the “Game Changer” here for a sec. In short “Meh”.
Ean Gold is someone to watch, and this is a great idea. When I put this item in perspective with my controllers (analog/digital/etc) this is no more than a novelty.
Again the Dicer certainly is cool, it fits a need, and I offer my props on that level. The real question I ask is simple:
“Is the DJ crowd deprived of gadgets?”
Seriously, this is no more than a tightly packaged PIC micro-controller that is well thought out. The polish that Novation added is the only real leap (packaging and marketing). The “Game Changer” label certainly gets under my skin and contributes to (this editors) diminishing view of Novation.
Perspective : I first knew Novation in the late 1990′s when my friend Greg was repping and I managed an all synth/keyboard boutique. But we are the jolliest buncha’ mean folks you may meet when we get on the “who sucks” discussion.
In short, the only gear I am not pissed off at is Nord and anything I have not owned. (But there was a huge issues w/Nord about a year ago – but that was all US distribution channels).
Back to the Dicer, and in the scope of Ableton there is no “standard interface” like the turn table. The APC is the only kinda’ almost, the Trigger Finger is also a good contestant. So the universal “game changer” is probably not going to happen for the modern digital musician.
But this is not a sad note – “The Bridge” is coming. We are all hoping that this is a stable non-crashy release with some fun stuff. This is going to close the gap on DJ-Ableton artists. This is awesome!
On the note of “Ableton Artist” – is it DJ? I don’t like getting grouped with that crowd (I have never DJ’ed, so don’t box me in!). Electronic artist is not quite there, electronic musician is totally good but too long. What the hell are we? There is a bunch of software nipping at the heels of Ableton and you certainly do not what to reference your trade by the name of the product (sorry Ableton). So what do we call our self?
The Ableton spectrum is HUGE – from folk to techno to dub-whatever to a bunch of categories I could not describe.
Electro-crunk-wobble-swing-remixed jazz changes? HUH?
So the point is clear – make your own game changer. I am working on my own game changer as I hook up with a crew who has a CNC machine (oh HELL yeah). So if you ever wonder why I don’t do too many shows or gig like mad, I am usually soldering, programming, and plotting!
Other News
Fader Fox gets a rejuvenation. Check out this article form CDM, here’s a sexy image. The big change – USB!
File Under: I was wrong!
I was predicting apocalypse with “DJ Hero“. Well, we are still here! But now there is a new threat to society and our lives. It comes from the same concept. As Mark Mosher reports – there is a real MIDI keyboard included in the new Rock Band.
Is the the end?
Is doom near?
Mark has some great commentary as well, worth the stop.
Probably not. Here’s a video:
Follow up coolness – Mark is a synth guy (is it our age?). So much of his work touches me in that special place, you know, in the oscillator. Here’s something fresh on Modular Synthesis.
OMFG REMIX! Here’s a link for some Bass Nector Natives. Get them NOW! These don’t stay up long. Save time and go right for the stems HERE.
I gotta tell you – go out have fun! There is nothing really happening on my radar screen. The iPad hype has faded, iPhone 4g is not really a gamer changer (LOL), and no new software releases are on the horizon.
Or is there…???
–Marc
PS new site on the way. New domain too.
Pre-Launch thoughts on iPad and electronic music.
by Marc on Mar.26, 2010, under News
Beyond any reasonable doubt people are excited about the iPad.
I avoid the great jubilation over getting screen lock for bed reading so let’s pull together some recent news and throw it at electronic music.
The 2 big items of the past 2 weeks are both near misses.
The first is MIDIpad where this Synthopia article first caught my eye. From the bullets (and my thoughts…):
- Communicates with MacOs and Windows based PCs.
- That is awesome for Ableton and most electronic music platforms.
- Communicates with stand-alone-applications and hardware.
- Again, great.
- Communicates via network-MIDI-protocol.
- Whad’dya say?
- Plug & play via Apple Bonjour, wireless-LAN.
- Come again?
- Multitouch Interface.
- Of course.
So, MIDI over network sounds cool. I have reasonable doubts. A QoS issue comes to mind, and debates are pending. In the end I think this is sexy and stable when used correctly and well understood.
Some serious networking knowledge required however.
A great implementation of this could be with other OS boxes, Linux on my list, triggering events.
These events could be DMX, or even visual (or MIDI). Currently I am enjoying Processing thanks to Cache Flowe. I so want to fire MIDI or similar events into this program!
My fear, as I mentioned before when jumping on the term-wagon, wireless needs to be secured.
Now don’t get me wrong. I want to stage-dive while controlling an array of electronic equipment. My personal choice would be playing the mind control program. None the less, my eventual delivery to a velvet thrown to rule the world as we know it would be made so much better steering the mind control program with the iPad.
This reality is in jeopardy. I just don’t dig on wireless in a live environment. There are a number of methods (script wise) that I see crushing wireless devices. This would of course stop the mind control program before total world domination has taken permanent effect,
As my skills in Linux and other hardware / software grows I am very reluctant to open up a wireless device. If you are playing at a festival you can count on contact with a few thousand people while playing or setting up. Your wireless device, a strange thing to carry to a gig, has a hefty range. This is not a one-to-one connection or a cable. Instead this is a broadcast device that can even be detected by T-shirts.
I find it rather probable that a small minority could rock your world. Google searches for router flooding, router dos, remote router crash, and router hack is enough to strike fear.
On the other hand…does it talk USB class compliant MIDI device? (I did not see a mention)
And second we have the MIDI Mobilizer by Line 6.
Looks sexy huh? Well it certainly can be, as soon as…
Okay, first let’s look at what we know.
From the copy:
[yada]…lightest and easiest way to manage all your MIDI data.
Easily backup and transfer all your MIDI…[yada]
…to play, record, and backup MIDI information…
None of that says real time controller. It screams b-o-r-i-n-g!
Here is where is gets really steamy! There is a question:
Can anyone develop applications that talk to MIDI Mobilizer?
Answered:
Any developer who complies with Apple’s developer requirements and signs up with Line 6 as a MIDI Mobilizer developer can develop applications for MIDI Mobilizer. Contact MMdeveloper [at] line6.com for more information.
That is good to hear. I am thinking little Lemur. How about you?
There is going to be “slates”. Just as Mark Mosher points out in discussing Audio Cubes, your approach and potential will change with the interface. The ability to craft your user interface, interaction, subroutines, color, size, and so on… of y-o-u-r controller will change the game again.
Apple and the iPad are cutting a wide swath for us to blaze even more new paths.
We are stepping away from the “PC” in a great way and examining ARM Chip sets, PIC Micro Controllers, and Arduino chip sets and products from Apple. The iPhone.Touch is an ARM chip and the fancy Apple A-chip is probably not too different (only a week to go until we get inside the unit!)
Now we start hacking.
I would jailbreak my iPad and use it only for muisc in a heart beat! Don’t even have to ask me twice. Gimme one hour to hit the Apple store in Cherry Creek and game is on!
That is provided there is a program and UI builder…
Oh, not quite yet.
So the ball is rolling. Line 6 may have stepped up to the plate with the hardware. Did they leave the lid off the box far enough to do something really cool?
The “iPad to MIDI” converter is all we need. With the Lemur hovering around $2000 there is a lot of budget available for hardware that can perform like that.
Synthopia is betting some major street credit on the iPad music software genre. They are probably right. Don’t forget we need quality hardware interfaces ASAP.
iPad to MIDI – coming to a rig near you soon!
Cache Flowe and Mark Mosher decompression
by Marc on Mar.15, 2010, under Locally
Mark Mosher started off the evening with a presentation on Percussa Audio Cubes. Here’s a little video via David Henderson.
Percussa Audio Cubes are essentially a reactable physical world interface for controlling data. They play very well with Ableton, but the control can be ported to any digital information.
They sense light, each other, and orientation. So the possibilities are endless. Feel free to contact Mark via Modulate This for info or to learn more (he has written extensively on the topic and the archives include an interview with the creator of the cubes.
They are a fantastic interface and well worth the $200 per cube (pre-discount). Do NOT pass these by as a viable interface!
As for Cache Flowe, well, Justin did a total kick ass job on presenting. He will be back. I also see him joining us in teaching an intro class on Processing.org usage.
I could go on and tout the presentation but instead I thought I would tell you what I did when I got home after the meet up.
I downloaded the software here is the flow(e):
- Download – 57 mb zip file – a few minutes, went to bathroom
- Un-zipped – 1 minute
- Opened software (clicked on icon) – seconds
- Copied sample code into Processing and hit go – 10 seconds
And we have visual. Granted that was a straight line. But it really was that easy.
The day job for me is programming, so I understand what they are doing. The integration with Ableton – well, that is another thing all together.
That is where the class comes in! Stay tuned for details on that adventure. Our intro to processing will be a free class and happen at our Lab down south.
There is a gallery from the evening here. Or you can see it locally here.
Justin / Cache Flowe is an infinitely talented musician and programmer. But you DO NOT need his level of knowledge to make the magic happen. This stuff will be blowing up – video integration is already here, we just need to get all the various elements talking. Cache Flowe did all the leg work already – we can learn form his experiences.
–M
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Ableton Denver / Colorado User group. Please be sure and join the meet up sites: This one is for free meet ups and similar events http://www.meetup.com/ableton-denver and http://www.meetup.com/Creative-Electronic-Music-Colorado/ is for less Ableton events as well as unique non-free events. If you have something for our calendar please contact us!
One more thing, officially, we are an Ableton User Group and in *NO WAY* affiliated with Ableton or any other company. This group is funded by the members, the community, and Marc's cash.
Hey - do **YOU*** want to start a kick ass meet up or electronic music user group in your area? We can help. Ideas, the truth, resources, and what we have learned since we started this thing way back in 2008-ish (has it been that long?). Feel free to contact us.
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