iOS update: Yellofier gets improvements!

Electronic Beats iOS app, Yellofier, just received a very nice update. You now have a second bank to have a second recording to chop up and use. The best part of the update is you can now pitch each step in your patterns by holding a step down and then dragging up or down. Nice job guys! Other various workflow improvements have been tweaked so go and update or buy now if you haven't already!

iOS update: Touchable upgrades to version 2!

If your an Ableton junkie, touchable, one of several Ableton controller apps for iPad, is getting a complete overhaul of its engine and takes ideas from Ableton's Push Hardware to make it the most fully featured iPad controller for Ableton yet! If you already own Touchable, then great news because the upgrade is free! Press release states it should be ready in a few weeks. Here's the video.

iOS Release: CTRL+Console

CTRL+Console, the kick started app designed to control Final Cut and Adobe Premiere Pro has just been released.. It's free to try and each editor cost $30 via in-app purchase. Not a bad deal considering hardware of this nature costs a lot more. Someone already made an Avid Media Composer template for it so expect more to come! There are official templates coming for Light Room and Mackie Mixers too.  Check it out in the App Store.

OSX Update: Logic Pro X

Earlier this week apple introduced the long awaited update to their digital audio workstation Logic Pro now titled, Logic Pro X. Apple used this naming scheme to coincide with the ability to natively transfer your work in Logic Pro X to Final Cut Pro X. This is not their main selling point however.

Apple's developers have updated their patch library to work with new features regarding sound design, as well as new pitch tuning algorithms and a free dedicated iPad app called Logic Remote which includes an assortment of controllers for playing instruments and useful transport controls. The midi fx seem to be the David of the Goliath. Within the midi fx plug-ins, there is something called scripter and it lets you code your own midi plug-ins using JavaScript. I have a feeling scripter will become a big reason to stay with Logic Pro X as more plug-ins will be released overtime. Hopefully coders will be able to add more than custom midi scripts in the future such as maintenance plug-ins like Cockos' excellent digital audio workstation Reaper. Logic Pro X is still priced the same as it's predecessor at $199 US in the Mac App Store and the iPad app Logic Remote, which only runs on iOS 6, is of course at the iOS App Store.

iOS Freebie: Traktor

Get on down to the app store today and download Native Instrument's DJ app Traktor for FREE! (reg $19.99)

I don't know how long this deal will last so get stepping!

iOS Review: Figure (The 3 track workhorse)

Since Thor has been released it reminded me that I was going to do a review on Propellerhead's Figure which is a great music app for people with only partial (or just plain lack of) rhythm to come up with some really high quality song sketches. The app has a set of tools most apps don't have such as it's musically scaled touchpad keyboard appregiator wheel of fun, x/y effects per track and live transpose features. You can make songs in just a minute or two and spend another 10 minutes tweaking them and come out with something useable. The program's sounds are big, powerful and eq'd nicely and the "power wheel" lets you change your groove with ease. Recording is done live and is quantized if the "power wheel" is set to anything above zero. One feature I like is being able to play live ad-lib on top of prerecorded material on a track. If you find your songs all start to sound the same, use the transpose feature in the song page to get to other scales on the keyboard. This is a great way to give your songs more variation. You can export any loop or one track of a loop by muting the other tracks then exporting. You have two ways of exporting loops. One is using iTunes which will leave the delay trails intact so your loops will not be trimmed to properly loop without alteration in a DAW. The other way to export is using Audio Copy Paste which exports the audio "loop ready" to throw into apps like Looptastic or Glitch Breaks but doesn't leave the delay trails intact so some loops will sound like they are being cut off.

I honestly wish I didn't have to export audio loops to make full use of figure but it's the only way to use it in a multi track scenario. This leads me to my main gripe with Figure which is the lack of midi clock sync. Why the f**k do we keep getting WIST support and no midi clock? WIST only "start syncs" when you have 2 devices paired and the sync sucks and goes out every time you change a patch or tweak a sound. If we were given midi clock support, we could actual sync Figure internally with other apps, over wifi wireless network sessions and hardwired core midi over the camera connection kit and be stable for hours. Don't even get me started on why Figure added the ability to upload to sound cloud direct within the app. Can someone please comment on why that is something to give two flying s**ts about. If Propellerheads just charged more for the app than its $0.99 asking price, maybe they would give it the support it deserves. I would gladly pay for a midi upgrade of Figure. That I would blog with great joy. I think I will hold my reservations about the app on this blog and go bitch in the App Store because after emailing Propellerheads, they told me to start a thread on their forum to get people interested in midi clock but the problem with that is, any time you post a topic, it gets lost in an abyss of threads only a couple days later so that idea was useless. I can only hope that iOS 7's inter-app midi feature can be easily implemented with an update and Propellerheads take note of it. They did get on the Audio Bus band wagon which is pretty simple for developers to add to their apps. I can either wait forever for midi or get cracking exporting loops or just give up and play with my Monotribe.

iOS Review: PixiTracker

I decided to give PixiTracker for iPad a try since it's free right now and I left impressed and inspired by the features it has on hand. First forget any idea that this is a PC music tracker. This is a drum machine with a few surprises. Not only does Alexander Zolotov give us a great drum/synth step sequencer, you'll notice at the top of the display, there is a keyboard with octave and velocity controls which is used to change the pitch of each seperate note of each track. With this simple feature you can make any melody you want and with the song mode you can chain patterns to make even longer melodies. The sounds are very 8 bit and can sound extra crunchy pitched down. Another cool feature bottom left of the display is a waveform viewer that lets you scrub the selected sound and change the sample start and end points. This app may not be a one stop shop but you can make full compositions with it or just focus on pattern creation and export as WAV files or use audio copy paste to send your loops to Looptastic or GlitchBreaks or Auria ect. The app's settings page was recently updated with connections for AudioBus and Jack Audio so try routing it to Sugar Bytes new iPad effects app Turnado. The ability to save and load songs, a dedicated main volume control, 12 track sequencer, 16 cool pitchable sounds, sample start/stop adjustments and a very cool video mode makes this app worth much more than the asking price of free!!! (limited time) So leave a good review as a way of saying thanks. Works great on iPad 1 too.

Viddy This: Future Sound Of London - Cascade

Cascade from the album Lifeforms

iOS app update: Alchemy Mobile Synth Studio gets multitrack!

This wav based synthesizer based off it's bigger Mac/PC brother, now has a 4 track sequencer. You can easily switch between any of the 4 sounds in a song and recording is very straight forward. You now get drum kits and can tune them and use the touch morphing also! Upgrading to pro lets you save your tracks and add swing. The overall speed and performance have skyrocketed on iPad 4. The controls are super smooth and the latency is almost non existent. Job well done Camel Audio. I can't figure out how to get MoDrum midi clocked to Alchemy yet but I will keep trying. This update makes me want to get back into this synth. If you felt the same way about it before, I strongly encourage you to give this app another chance. And yes it has Audiobus now.

Record store day 2013: Boards of Canada and Third Man Records

Our Northern electronic music duo, Boards of Canada, are in the kitchen again and released some one-off 12" vinyls in certain outlets on record store day hinting at a new album from Warp (which has been confirmed). Reported findings seem somewhat reminiscent of Willy Wonka's golden tickets hidden across the globe. Third Man Records own record booth was pressing vinyls like crazy on the same day. Coincidence?...yes, it was record store day. Here's a video version of one of the records.

iOS Updates for Auria, Funkbox, ,Shapesynth, and Audioshare!

Lazy style.

Exomoons @ Guitar Center Expo 2013

Check out our gear highlights from the expo in beautiful long beach Califonia. For the people that missed NAMM this is a special chance to check out some of the newest gear and get event only pricing. If you've had your eye on that special piece of gear this might be the place to find it at a bargain. Also a good place for aspiring musicians and distributors to highlight their craft. Here's some new and not so new iOS interfaces and studio hardware.

@ The Arturia booth show casing the new iMini synth app for iPad.

Alan Smithson (CEO) gets down with Emulator, the premier touchscreen DJ controller software from SmithsonMartin. Alan was a super awesome guy plus he hooked it up with a full retail version of Emulator and a donky kong T-shirt!

Check back later for more pics and previews

iOS update: S4 Rythm Composer + S4 Industrial Composer get Audiobus input

These two free drum machine apps from Sobal Corperation's S4 dev team (Japan) are loaded with cool features including WIST, core midi, audio copy and now Audiobus input. Similar to Korg's iElectribe in layout, very tunnable and if you like crunchy glitch beats (the sample quality is not great) you'll problly enjoy these apps. You can easily program 16 bar drum loops up to 128 bars all available in 64 banks but the coolest feature is the drum roll slider, check it out!

Price: FREE!

iOS Music: DM-1 4.0.1 update

Fingerlab's #1 drum machine app now Includes multiple minor bug fixes including:

-FX channel fix.
-Midi issue with step 1 fix.
-Dropbox issue bug fix.

Nothing too special. Have a nice day!

iOS Synth: Addictive Synth 2.1.0 update

VirSyn's amazing iOS synthesizer has been updated to version 2.1 featuring audiobus. But screw that, midi clock sync and FM oscillators are the real news in this update.

- Audiobus support ( Sender App )

- New FM Oscillator configuration

- MIDI Clock Sync

- 32 new presets

- Oscillator phase sync

- Audiorecorder without preset time limit.

- Improved Flanger effect.

- Reduced latency
- Improved compatibility with genome midi sequencer

iOS Synth: Animoog 2.1.0 update

Bob Moog's amazing sounding iOS synth has now been outfitted with...

-Retina graphics
-The 4 track now has file folders
-Audiobus 1.0.1 update

iOS Music Update: Werkbench goes 2.0

A rather interesting sampling tool from developer Bolasol, werkbench gets a graphic overhaul, looper with audio paste and improvements to the engine. Did you know you can swipe your finger across the Werkbench logo to stretch and stutter the currently selected sound? Another weird but cool feature is you can do a tap tempo while syncing midi clock by hitting the big SYNC label above the + - keys.

Even though I have been successful at getting WerkBench to Sync multiple ways, I was unable to sync the midi clock to an app on the same iPad. So as it stands, virtual midi clock between apps with WerkBench does not werk...However, I can midi slave sync WerkBench with a wireless network session using a second iPad with either MoDrum, DM-1 or DrumJam as a wireless network session master. Only certain programs let you enable a network session such as the ones listed above. I've also got WerkBench to sync with hardware midi sequencers using hardwired Core Midi with a M-Audio Uno MidiSport with the Camera Connection Kit. The last way to start sync WerkBench is by using a macbook pro (running OSX Lion with whatever DAW you use to send midi sync out) by enabling the macbook's wifi and going in to it's audio midi setup located in Finder-> Utilities-> Audio Midi Setup-> Window (top bar) -> Show Midi Window -> Network-> Double click on iPad that is connected to the same Wi-fi network. Using an Ad-hoc connection between the macbook and the iPad, instead of regular Wi-fi, did not seem to make a notable difference using iPad 4 with WerkBench.

Vangelis - Blush Response (Blade Runner Soundtrack, 1994)

Additional music was composed by Vangelis for Sir Ridley Scott's film Blade Runner. It wasnt until 1994 the extra cuts were released on CD. Some songs have vocal tracks dubbed from the film that don't seem to add any thing special to the songs, kinda like the original version of the film with Harrison Ford's painful monologue. Thankfully that version is mostly forgotten, as likes of the "happy ending" version. Intrestingly the happy ending cut contains stock footage shot for Stanley Kubrick's horror film The Shinning.

Posted for promotional and informational purposes only.

Viddy This: Future Sound of London - My Kingdom

Stuff like this never gets old, classic FSOL video for "My Kingdom". This track features slowed down vocal samples from "Rachel's Song" by Vangelis which was originally composed for the 80s sci-fi movie Blade Runner. The Future Sound of London love sampling a lot of obscure and obvious sources like: Bram Stokers Dracula, Tangerine Dream, Predator, Isao Tomita, Run-DMC, and Walter Carlos just to name a few. This song also has been remixed by Italian dubstep artist Mobtrow into his own version called "My Dub Kingdom" which is available on Mutant Dubstep vol 3.

iOS Synth: Sunrizer 2.5 Update

Huge update for beep street's virtual analog synth Sunrizer, new features include:

• New effects: rotary speaker, equalizer as a separate module
• Dual band effects processing
• New filter types: Analog LP12, Waveshaper, Resonator, Resampler, LPF + Resampler, Frequency shifter. Filter key tracking for filter B.
• Stereo filters in parallel mode
• Phrase sequencer
• Keyboard velocity simulation 
• Random arp mode added
• Recordings export via DropBox
• Support for AudioBus v.1.0.1
• 2 banks added: Horizon and app-sound.com with 135 new presets
• Adjustable polyphony
• The ussual Bug fixes and performance improvements 

iOS Music Update: Glitch Breaks gets midi clock!

Alex Matheu's loop app Glitch Breaks has been updated to support full midi clock sync both virtually (within the same ipad) and wireless network session clock also! Playing Glitch Break loops with Yonac's Magellan arps on one track and playing live keys on the second synth is defo the way to enjoy this new addition to the midi clock gang.

Peavey Amp Kit Update adds Audiobus

Sweet! Now with stereo channels, Audiobus output/effects/input and added support for the new Amp Kit HD + bug fixes.

DON'T update if you have 3GS or iPod 3rd generation, ya dig.

iOS Synth: Arturia iMini released

Famed software vst developer Arturia has partnered with the Bob Moog foundation to create a new iOS synth exclusively for iPad. Based off the infamous voyager minimoog from the 70s, the iMini comes with 500 presets and all the midi and WIST features you can shake a stick at, sorry cv gaters. Let us know what you think of this synth if you try it. Also Roland is really missing the boat with soft synths.

$9.99 US

iOS Music Update: DM-1 Drum Machine app update adds midi clock

Fingerlab's awesome DM1: The Drum Machine for iPad and iPhone just got 1000 times more awesome, well for us anyways. The newest update adds midi clock sync and works over a wifi network session and internally between apps! Booyah

Get it while it's hot!

Tags: drum kits, 808, linn drum, 909, mpc, RX, CR-78, 606, Roland, Akai.

iOS Space Update: Solar Walk 3D Update

Vito Technology's iOS app Solar Walk 3D is the best space experience for iOS. Exploring our solar system is a visual joy with this superior app. Apple even featured this app in a iPad commercial.

-Updated to fix a bug in German language mode. Der Ratt Keller

Korg MS-20 mini reborn @ NAMM 2013

                       

You asked for analog and you get analog, Korg is setting the trend for the analog revival and they're not playing around. Who thought we would see so many modular synths back on the consumer market so soon? The MS-20 mini is a faithful reproduction of the wildly popular 1970s MS-20. Packing all the punch of it's bigger brother (pictured right), the mini comes complete with standard midi and USB midi connections for modern applications. It would be interesting to hook up the new Kaossilator Pro+ or KP3+ now with USB midi directly to the MS-20 mini to use the Kaoss pad as a digital key controller for a modular synth, just drag your finger and turn knobs!

Korg MS-20 mini $599 US (due sometime spring 2013.)

Or the:

Moog Minitaur (tabletop unit only, no keyboard) $599 US, you decide.

Kaossilator Pro Plus ($399 US) now sports a USB port and much more.

iOS Synth Updates: Synthmate + Bleepbox get Audiobus and more

SYNTHMATE a FREE iOS synthesizer gets audiobus integration, added core midi and now you can send songs via e-mail.

BLEEP!BOX the drum synth sequencer also gets updated for audiobus, iPhone 5 support, bug fixes and iCloud improvement. Have fun!

iOS Music Update: Konkreet Performer controller now has iOS virtual midi support!

A very cool iOS midi and OSC controller primarily used for Mac and pc can now be used to control all of your favorite parameters in your iOS apps that support virtual midi!

They have been working on this for quite some time and the implementation is excellent and literally doubles the usefulness of this app! Find a new way to control all of your synth apps today!

iOS Music Update: Propellerheads music app Figure now supports Audiobus

Propellerhead's iOS app Figure now has Audiobus support.

To me this is a step in the right direction but not the final destination. If they can just add midi clock sync (virtual,wifi and over the camera connection kit), Figure would be on my top 3 list. I would pay for an in-app purchase of midi clock sync without question. Of course I think all iOS apps with a sequencer, lfo or arp should have it from day one. I salivate over the thought of routing apps thru Audiobus into Auria and having Auria be the master midi clock. We would be able to have several apps open at the same time and route them into separate tracks in Auria all while being synced to the grid. Sync, play, record, done. Of course we could just use Genome instead but Figure still needs midi in (virtual, wifi and over the camera connection kit) for that to be an option. But that would be more of a work around since I really like Figure's simple and quick sequencer. So what's it gonna be Propellerheads?

iOS Synth Updates: DXi, Genome Midi Sequencer and Shapesynth

The DXi is an FM/Yamaha style 80s synth. An update resolving an issue with the last update has been released. Now you can use the DXi on iPad with audiobus app if you wish, Yay?

The GENOME Midi sequencer for iPad has updated for multiple bug fixes.

SHAPESYNTH has now added audiobus as well and updated the resolution for the iPad screen. I still think the coolest thing you can do with this app is sync to the Sphero hardware via Bluetooth. This bad boy also works with the AKAI Synthstation 25.

iOS Synth Update: Huge Magellan update

Go update! The Magellan synthesizer app now has audiobus effects slot integration, a new patch randomization feature and a compressor! The synth gods have answered!

Namm News: Keith McMillen QuNexus Controller

I didn't notice much press on this one so I thought I'd share. It has polyphonic aftertouch and is everything the korg microkey wish it was. The QuNexus may just be the ticket for controlling iOS synths like Animoog and PPG Wavegenerator.

Here's Jordan Rudess ( an iOS synth maniac ) to tell you all about it.

Dubbed a smart sensor keyboard controller, The QuNexus
Learn more at Keith McMillen Instruments

Namm News: Buchla Music Easel (Analog beast from the grave)

Speaking of totally rad synthesizers of the past, Buchla is remaking a very old modular synth called the Music Easel.

I wish I had money for things like this

 Not to different from the original below

Found this at www.analogindustries.com 

( maker of iOS music sequencer Phaedra, and total synth head )

Vintage Gear: EMS Synthi (Pink Floyd)

A short clip from "Making Dark Side of the Moon" takes look back at the classic British EMS snythisiser complete with mega sized ribbon keyboard and sequencer. Made popular by rock legends Pink Floyd during the 70s for the hit "On the Run". When released the EMS was for more affordable compared to its American competitor Moog.

Thankfully KORG made the monotribe.

NAMM News: KingKorg announced

Majestic champagne gold finish.

It has a cv/gate out to play your Monotribe with keys. No ribbon control messiness.

KingKorg Synthesizer
Check it out at Korg

iOS Music Update: Novation Launchkey

-Improved MIDI compatibility.

-Graphical enhancements and minor bug fixes.

-Complete integration with new Novation Launchkey hardware controller.

iOS Music Update: Auria has Audiobus

WaveMachine Labs iOS multi-track DAW Auria now has Audiobus. My only gripe is audio bus needs a few years and a few more iPad hardware generations before its really capable of streaming several apps at once into a multi track like Auria. Now if they just add midi clock we'd be in business!!

Go update now or get it in the App Store.

iOS Music: Yamaha mobile music sequencer released

Yamaha has released a new music app yesterday, looks pretty cheesy. Might be fun if you like mixing pre made loops or corny generic techno from 15 years ago. Three Steps Ahead - "Oh Yeah!"

9.99 US (not available in all areas)

Exoplanet update 9.7!

The Exoplanet app has updated to provide Improved graphic detail and menu navigation, also minor bug fixes. If you don't have this app get it for FREE while you can. As of today there are 860 confirmed exoplanets

Space: Deep Space Industries

Check out this article posted by centauri-dreams.org covering the company Deep Space Industries bold mission to harvest materials from asteroids. http://www.centauri-dreams.org/?p=26205&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+centauri-dreams%2Feepu+(Centauri+Dreams) and you can check out a live stream later today on YouTube http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=ht1_VIw6C98&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dht1_VIw6C98

iOS Music Update: DM-1 adds audiobus

Title says it all. You heard it here first!

Hardfloor will never die

I remember playing this a long time ago on PSP and I remember listening to german techno duo Hardfloor. The kings of 303 knob twiddling are featured on the soundtrack for the PS3 version of the popular game of rolling up garbage. Never thought this would happen, but the Japanese LOVE Hardfloor, trust me.

Supersonic, beats by Dre.

Funny commercial  featuring JJ Fad chat line? The 80s smash hit "Supersonic" featured beats by dre, no not those shitty headphones. You can hear the main bass synth melody in other Dr. Dre tracks, covers and remixes such as NWA's "Panic Zone" or the "Fergalisous" song. Also, JJ Fad and Salt N Peppa had the first commercially recorded incident of "Female rap BEEF" Don't you love hip-hop?

NASA 'Hedgehog' Mission

NASA may send spikey bouncy balls to Phobos within the next decade, too bad we can't get to mars with "SUPER SONIC" speed. : ( Read about it @ space.com or gizmodo

Music Flim: Sound City (An ode to analog recording)

Foo Fighters Dave Grohl's upcoming documentary about Sound City Studios premiered at Sundance today. It is an ode to analog recording and the magic made within the studio.

Viddy this: The Future Sound of London - Amoeba (1994)

One of my favorite tracks! Everything FSOL, Buggy G and EBv

iOS Music Download: Free Magellan patches (exomoons exclusive)

Check out this free custom bank of 5 presets for Yonac's Magellan synth for iPad at our exomoon corporation database.

Get em while they're icy cold and let us know what you think in the comments.

Mining ancient asteroids?

Think about it... Or not. Photo by exomoons.

Moona Lisa

  NASA Beams first image with a laser to the moon, check out the full story 

http://www.space.com/19323-mona-lisa-moon-laser-photo.html 

iOS Music Update: Shapesynth + Beat Machine

Shapesynth has added update for iPad 1 and older iOS devices

Beat-Machine has finally added Audio/Copy paste function, yay.

YOU heard it here first at exomoons!

Sound Transmission: E.R.P. - Lunar Ruins

A soundclip from #1 space electro artist E.R.P. aka Convexion, support the artist and buy the record.

iOS Music: MoDrum Review (exomoons exclusive)

The Joys of Midi

An iOS tale

A drum machine and more

With the rise of iOS for music production, Finger Pro’s MoDrum is a well thought out drum machchine designed to integrate in a studio and live environment. An 11-part drum machine beast with 32-step sequencing.

All the basics you’ll need are included such as global tempo, swing, effects, solo, mute, accent, individual volume control, individual synth parameter adjustments and quick pattern switching.
Kits are easily edited, auto saved and can be cloned quickly to work on variations of the original.

The sequencing of the drums is very quick, straightforward and gets you jamming in no time and as long as your patterns are in the same tempo they will stay in sync with the clock. If your using WIST the tempo will lock to what you started with.

Midi in the house
Midi network session implementation and a super stable midi clock are the business. MoDrum lets you enable a network session and connect with any other iOS device like a Mac can. No Internet required and with just a router and a bunch of iPads, iPhones and iPod Touches you can have a midi clocked studio all over again! You can even run WIST and midi clock at the same time. Finger Pro gives great how-to documentation for this within MoDrum’s Tools menu.

Once you start using MoDrum with other midi clock sync-able apps you will really see how iOS can be used for live performance.

Final thoughts

Go get MoDrum.

iOS Device	Lowest hardware supported	OS Version	Notes
iPhone/touch	3G	5.1	3G no reverb,
iPod Touch	Gen 2	4.2	Gen 2, 3 no reverb
iPad	Gen 1	5.1

January 2013