Moog MiniTaur- First Look at NAMM
File this one under: I begged and begged and cried and sighed and pleaded and finally it happened. This is the second part of my NAMM analog love triangle. Moog have struck gold with the MiniTaur. As the name suggests, this is a desktop analog module based on the original Taurus synthesizer. If you don’t know, the Taurus was actually a floor based bass synth that allowed players to play amazing bass sounds by foot while still performing with their other instrument of choice. That said, the standards are high for this little wonder- and it doesn’t disappoint.
Unlike some desktop synths, this one sticks to a “one function per button” mantra. Built with a simple two oscillator layout, the MiniTaur offers an oscillator mixer that allows you to use different combinations of square and sawtooth waves to blend classic Moog bass sounds. A robust mod matrix offers LFO Rate,… Read the rest
Arturia MiniBrute – First Look at NAMM
Is it professional to start a post telling you about my erect nipples?
No? Ok, well, I won’t talk about them. However, I think I am caught in an affordable analog synth love triangle. While the other player is to be named later, the Arturia MiniBrute is definitely pretty close to talking me into marriage. Arturia have effectively surprised me with their current star of the floor: The MiniBrute.
Unlike Arturia’s typical offering, this is a 100% self contained analog synth. That’s right, not just a super realistic, tightly integrated machine thing; but a full fledged analog synth. I’m not talking “mostly analog” here, I’m talking cv outputs, voltage controlled oscillators (with sub oscillators) and amazing sounds. We got to spend a few minutes with Romain from Arturia and he showed us the ins and outs of this thing. Between USB, 5 pin DIN MIDI and the CV outs, this… Read the rest
ReMess Up Your Audio
Are you like millions of other Americans? Do you have a guitar effects processor and would like to spruce up your love life/guitar tracks? Do you find it hard to concentrate at work because your synth parts aren’t “sick?” Well if this sounds like you then stay tuned for the next 30 minutes to learn how you can bring that spark back to your love life and audio tracks. [Note: this won’t take 30 minutes and “millions” of Americans is probably an exaggeration.]
Why are you chasing around more plug-ins? Well, for one they are cool and keep sounding better with each passing year. But, if you already own an external effects processor/sound mangler then it’s time to start using that, too, in your arsenal of effects for a mix.
There is a reason why we have interfaces with so many outs. You have 8 outs, say, because… Read the rest
M-Audio Venom Review. WA-TA!!!
I remember my first synthesizer experience. It was a Korg Poly-Six and it actually belonged to my older brother Michael. He would play Steel Breeze, The Tubes, and Duran Duran licks because they actually had keyboard solos in the 80′s. I never really asked questions about what he was doing when he was changing filters and oscillators. I just knew it sounded rad and I wanted to play, too. Then he did something that I will never forget. He used an arpeggio for the beginning of Hungry Like The Wolf by Duran Duran and it changed my life. From that point forward I was hooked on analog synthesis.
There are a number of classic vintage synths that define the evolution of electronic music for sure. M-Audio sampled the best of the best, added Avid’s top notch DSP, audio effects, packaged all in a sleek, post-modern, performance… Read the rest
M-Audio VENOM at Winter NAMM 2011
I used to work at Harris Music and Sound in Pensacola, Florida about 11 years ago and I remember once explaining MIDI to an older gentleman who wanted his keyboard to “talk” to his drum machine. I was showing him a product by a company called Midiman that had multiple midi ins and outs and I explained to him that this little box was only the beginning of what was to come. I embraced technology (being into dance music) because this was the culture. Midiman became M-Audio and I had every controller they put out. I wanted a Midi out in my neck so I could control synths with my vocal because I wanted to be a robot. I probably still do. Anyway, M-Audio released their first ever programmable super synth called the Venom. The Crystal Method said this keyboard changed their life. We caught up with Taiho at… Read the rest
