Gearfuse

You’ve got beats, you’ve got a party. How are you going to bring it? Simple. Wait until Livid releases its OHM64 MIDI controller. It features a built-in LED matrix with push buttons. This will allow you to sequence only the cheesiest of 4/4 beats, ensuring maximum danceability. There are also plenty of knobs, buttons and sliders for you to play with, allowing you to mix and cut up music or video to your heart’s content. And check out that wood base. How classy is that?

While I’m just as excited as you are for the release of the OHM64, no date has been set and there’s no price. Since it’s built by hand, I’m guessing it’ll retail for around $500. Don’t hold me to that, though.

Link [via]

Quick! There’s an impromptu Foreigner concert going down three blocks over and they need a keyboardist! Not just any keyboardist, but one with just the right amount of pizzaz! That’s why I recommended you. You just pre-ordered that VAX77 synthesizer that folds in half for easy travel, right? Excellent. I hear it even can do MIDI. Now let’s get you up there before “Jukebox Hero” comes on.

Link [via]

This is a video I recorded earlier today demonstrating iTouchMidi, a program we wrote about the other day. I demonstrate how it works and show you how you can use your iPod Touch or iPhone as a beatmaking device. Very cool stuff here. Be sure to check it out and leave comments on those sweet sunglasses I’m wearing.

YouTube Link

The best things in life are free, no question about it. But even if it wasn’t free, I’d most likely buy iTouchMidi, a program for both OS X and Windows that will receive MIDI signals from your iPhone or iPod Touch via WiFi. Pretty insane right? Check out what this guy did with two iPod Touches and iTouchMidi software. He uses the touchscreens mounted to his guitar to control Ableton Live and pull off some Brian Eno-type shit. I’d keep writing but I’ve simply got to try this out for myself. I’ll report back with my findings, Cap’n!

Link [via]

I don’t know shit about this video other than it’s awesome and the guy is using a custom MIDI drum setup to beat the Dragonforce song that’s on Guitar Hero 3. Very cool.

Link

I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. The Basement Scientist, a fine DIYer and hardware hacker, has finally received his MIDI shield boards from Batch PCB. What does this mean? It means that soon, he’ll do a run of MIDI shield PCBs that will be available for purchase. In turn, that means you can easily run MIDI through your Arduino, making it fun and easy to create your own instruments.

I received my two MIDI Shield circuit boards from Batch PCB over the weekend. I’m happy to report that they came out 100% error free. However, I think I’m going to make one or two minor tweaks before getting a bunch produced.

MIDI requires the use of the Arduino serial port pins, which are also used by the on-board USB programmer. With my current design the MIDI Shield has to be unplugged before the Arduino can be programmed, which is a pain in the ass. Instead, I’m going to add a jumper to the MIDI Shield. Remove the jumper, program the Arduino, then put the jumper back on. Much better than pulling the whole shield off every time you need to upload code.

I’m incredibly excited to get my hands on one of these shields. I was contemplating on building my own but TMS has done a fine job and I wholeheartedly support it.

Link

Looks like NYC-based artist Rucyl Mills and I have a lot in common. We both love music and hacked M-Audio equipment for MIDI purposes. It’s wearable, it’s ugly and it’s ready to rock.

I built the elektro-07 so I could control the sonic and visual parameters of my live performances without having to look deep into the eye of my laptop, hunched over in computer music stance. I’m still learning how to play it.. Software wise, it runs a maxMSP/Jitter patch smoothly, connected to my laptop by a long usb cable. Major thanks to Luke DuBois. Originally it was named the Chakakhantroller after Chaka Khan… but you wouldn’t believe how many people don’t get the reference.. so I changed it to Elektro-07 after my newly launched label, Elektrocardio. Next version will be wireless, and yes… it’s made of black leather and snakeskin.

Link [via]

Not since the days of Sifl and Olly on MTV have I seen sock puppets singing. If Matt Irvine Brown gets his way though, he’ll have a choir of these singing socks howling at me on a bad night. Each puppet has built-in sensors that measure how far open the puppet’s mouth is. You can make the puppet sing higher and higher on a scale or go real low to make smooth love like Barry White. He can also be hooked up to Ableton Live or your favorite MIDI software as a controller.

Ridiculous looking? Absolutely. Sings out of key? Check. Entertains children, thus making it a cash crop? Oh yes.

Link

Air guitar is a big thing but an even bigger musical hit is on the horizon. Omer Yosha has created an interesting, elegant interface that uses infrared sensors to control music applications he’s calling AirPiano. Similar in concept to the theremin but with many more advancements, the AirPiano allows any untalented schmuck to wiggle his fingers above the board to make sound.

This is done by a virtual matrix of keys and faders above the board, each assigned with MIDI messages and ready to be triggered at the whim of the user.  Once those MIDI messages have been triggered it then relays the positioning of your fingers to a computer via USB, where the preprogrammed AirPiano software converts it into sound, or if you’re talented, music.

Link (via)

We’ve talked previously about how the Nintendo DS can be used in all kinds of fun ways, including both homebrew and music. The fine folks over at Remaincalm.org have rounded up 25 pieces of audio software for your enjoyment. You’ll find everything here: drum machines, sequences, mixers, loopers, bit crush filters, trackers, MIDI interfaces, samplers, synths and so much more.

After giving this list a go, you’ll be creating so many beats on your DS that people are going to start calling you Fatboy Slim. It’s probably due to your addiction to cheese puffs, though; not because you’re producing good music.

Link