New Music: With one old rock MIDI file, sliced by Synfire and dragged into place with sounds by Reason we have Tuesday on the Levee:
Maschine: Version 1.6 of the software is released and it is working really well. The big item is the ability to include AU/VST plugins and what is really good is that the controls of the plug in are mapped to Maschine knobs. This makes Maschine a great controller as well as being an excellent drum machine.
This works really well with “The Finger” since all the controls are mapped and you can twist the night away. Some really interesting effects chains can be created with plug ins and internal effects with inserts and sends.
There are also workflow improvements and with the ability to rename more items handy.
Native Instruments also added Komplete Elements which I have most of the things with Komplete but now I am evem more complete with added ensembles and Kore things.
Congratulations to Native Instruments who have shown a real ongoing commitment to Maschine.
iPad MIDI controllers These are a mixed bag:
Hexachrome is my favourite way for some quick harmonic note and chord entry. StepPolyArp is a handy arpeggiator. Amos cannot establish a connection so does not work at all Koushion is like the Tonori-on but has timing issues. It requires a DAW to start and stop.
What is also a bit messy is there is no standard WIFI midi connection software used on the Mac. Hexachrome uses OScullator, StepPolyArp and Amos use DSMIDIWIFI and Koushan has its own piece of software. There should be a standard.
Project – Transition tables with AC Toolbox: My original plan was something different by I went back to my work with Tchaikovsky using his original work to create a new piece based on the probability of notes in the original work and the probabilities of moving to next notes using a transition table.
The created MIDI file was then imported into Synfire for harmonisation. The instrumentation was with Reason pianos with some effects just for fun.
Game – Auditorium This is a fun musical puzzle game. The game is reviewed by IGN for the PS3 and there is a iPhone version as well.
iPad app Dingsaller is a join-the-nodes music workspace. A simplified Plogue Bidule or Max/MSP. In its current state the basics are there and works well with an occasional crash. (An update is soon to be released.) There is a clock (Tock) to send out time signals, seven midi note generators/modifiers, three instruments, three effects and three control units.
For playing there is a keyboard for adding notes and a X/Y box, sliders and tilt controls to modify the tune.
The editing of the nodes and sliding access to the dialog boxes works well in a touch environment. It is quick to learn and use.
What is needed next is more of everything. More effects, more random methods, more sequences and more instruments with more controls. The current groups are very limited. A SimpleSampler is included so additional sample can be uploaded via iTunes however the sampler is more for single hits than patterns.
It is worth the purchase price and I look forward for its future development.
Project: Electribe Practising song mode with the Electribe. It is not that good but it is a start of something. It is a self motivation exercise. To publish is to complete something even if just at the introductory stage.
