Check out more info at Cycling ’74 and Ableton. Also monome.
Category: Cats
-
Infinite-Response VAX77
I have been pondering a replacement for my aging Roland A80 keyboard. The VAX77 MIDI Keyboard Controller from Infinite Response seems like a possible candidate:
This was the model with the heavier weighted keys (closer to a piano keyboard). It is one of the first I have seen since the A80 and the Ensoniq keyboards that has polyphonic aftertouch, as well as release velocity. I also liked how it folded down to have size and fit into a bag. It’s still a heavy keyboard, but it’s at least “schlepable”.
One caveat is the controller section, which is handled via the touch screen. I am interested in seeing touch-screen technologies grow in use, but there is a part of me that still wants physical knobs and sliders for my real-time controllers.
-
The Lunar Experience
Analog control modules (sequencers, triggers, MIDI converters, etc.) from The Lunar Experience:
Also, some video of the trigger module in action:
-
Nord Wave and Stage EX
As soon as I arrived in the hall at NAMM I immediately faced the bright red instruments from Nord. The Wave synthesizer (featured below with Zip) was interesting in terms of programming features though the use of external waves was a but limited. I did like the new filter models including the multi.
My friends had recommended the Nord Stage. I tried out the electric piano models and now I want one for my live shows! its too bad the stage and programming products arent in a single package.
-
Weekend Cat Blogging: Works of Art
I managed to get this photo of Luna sitting in front of a ledge overlooking the downstairs. I think she matches the works of art on the wall quite well.
Astute readers may recognize the large black painting from one of our reviews last October. See if you can pick out the artist.
Weekend Cat Blogging is being hosted this weekend by The Meezers.
The Carnival of the Cats will be up on Sunday at iMeowza.
And of course the Friday Ark is at the modulator.
-
CatSynth pic: Switchboard Operator Kitteh
From I Can Has Cheezburger?:
We have actually seen this picture before (with a different lolcat caption). You can see the previous version here.
-
Acxel Resynthesizer and Rhodes Chroma
From Kevin Kelly of The Audio Playground Synthesizer Museum, via matrixsynth:
The Technos Acxel is an interesting synthesizer, based on manipulation of spectra in the frequency domain. This is something several of us have been doing in software for quite a while.
In addition to the Acxel and the Rhodes Chroma, I see an E-MU EMAX in the background.
-
CatSynth pic: Button and a Dotcom Modular Bed
From James Price, via matrixsynth:
“This is my mostly empty dotcom with my kitten, Button, inside.”
“dotcom” of course refers to the Synthesizers.com rack, which apparently doubles as a comfortable napping spot.
We would like to remind everyone that you can submit your own cat-and-music pictures via our online form, via facebook, or @catsynth on twitter.
-
Weekend Cat Blogging: Desaturation
Our first Weekend Cat Blogging of 2010 begins in grayscale:
Luna is on her favorite beanbag chair in a relatively clean studio. Nearby is a crate full of old audio interfaces – it seems we have quite a few E-MU, M-Audio and Digidesign interfaces, some in various states of disrepair or obsolescence. We rely on one or another of these portable interfaces for live shows.
Meanwhile, Luna drifts off to sleep…
Weekend Cat Blogging will be hosted by Pam at Sidewalk Shoes.
The Carnival of the Cats will be up this Sunday at Mind of Mog.
The monthly Bad Kitty Cats Festival of Chaos will be hosted on Sunday by Samantha and The Orange Kitty at Life from a Cat’s Perspective.
And of course the Friday Ark is at the modulator.
-
CatSynth pic: Happy Times
From Retribution Body on flickr, via matrixsynth:
“I’m very happy with the new rig. It’s very West Coast Serge / Buchla compared to the ARP, it’s a very different beast. I’m looking forward to doing some serious recording with it.”
“Once again, Ernie is very helpful.”
You can see more on the associated flickr set.