It's taken a fair while, but it seems that the World Wide Web is finally ready to embrace audio.
Previously web developers have had to depend on Flash, but with the arrival of HTML5 it seems that interesting audio functionailty built right into a site's code. Check out this tantalising HTML5 audio visualisation video from www.storiesinflight.com.
Apparently the visualisation looks much better on the site itself, though you'll probably need to download the latest fully patched beta version of your browser to see it in action.
The results are in and MusicRadar's quest to find out what the most popular DAW is has come to an end. And it was certainly a surprise to us to find out that the bloat-free and inexpensive Reaper from Cockos Incorporated came out the clear winner with 34% of the vote. Ableton Live and Apple Logic came second and third, lagging way behind on 13% and 12% respectively. To see where your preferred DAW came in the rankings, head here. You can also read the full MusicRadar story on the shock result here.
It sounds like a joke, but it?s all too real: Native Instruments' next release is an Alicia Keys-endorsed Kontakt piano instrument called, unbelievably, ?Alicia?s Keys?. It appears that the soul diva herself was involved in the recording of the instrument and used it comprehensively on the creation of her new album. Check it out!
So what celebrity endorsed instruments would you like to see? We?d like to get our hands on ?Trevor?s Horn?, but there must be some less risqué-sounding possibilities out there?
While the concept of the ?best? DAW is a hard one to swallow for many (everyone works in different ways, after all), you?ll more than likely have a favourite. And our friends at MusicRadar are on a mission to find the most popular recording app of all?
The shortlist is as follows: Ableton Live, Apple GarageBand, Apple Logic, Avid/Digidesign Pro Tools, Cakewalk Sonar, Cockos Incorporated Reaper, Image-Line FL Studio, Magix Samplitude, Propellerhead Reason/Record, Sony Acid, Steinberg Cubase and Steinberg Nuendo.
You can click on the above links for full reviews or vote for your favourite DAW here.
The Bloc Festival, taking place at Butlins in Minehead from Friday March 12 to Sunday March 14, already has one of the best line-ups we've seen in years, including Grandmaster Flash, Roots Manuva, Nathan Fake, Flying Lotus, Autechre, Skream, Benga and many, many more. You can check out the full line-up and booking details here: www.blocweekend.com
Now, to make things even better, Ableton have announced that they'll be taking over the Fenchurch Dome from 13:00 til 17:00 on Saturday March 13 for a special production session. This will feature Surgeon, who'll be going over his DJ setup, giving a short performance and answering your questions, and Al Tourettes, who will demonstrate how he uses Ableton Suite for production, sound design and remixing. A product expert from Ableton will also be there to give an introduction to music production and performance for beginners. All of the information can be found here: www.ableton.com/pages/2010/bloc_festival_uk
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Would your tracks sound better with a real drummer playing on them? Then Voxengo's new drum recording service will be of great interest to you. Simply send them your song, and they'll have an experienced drummer record a drum track in their recording studio ? they'll then send you the multitrack recording. It's all recorded at 96kHz/24-bit and you get separate WAVs for overhead, side, room, snare drum, bass drum and toms.
The service is normally $70 per song, but between now and March 6th 2010, they're doing it for a ridiculous introductory price of just $15. Check it out right here: www.voxengo.com/drumservice
Well here's something a little unsual: rather than giving you one of his tracks to rework in typical remix competition fashion, monkey-loving chill-mesiter Bonobo is offering to remix a track of yours! To enter, head to the competition page and upload...
Computer Music's blog posts are now available via Twitter - come follow us at twitter.com/computermusicuke.
That?s right, the sample-sculptors at Wave Alchemy are offering CM blog readers a whopping 150 free samples from their Drum Tools 01 ? Minimal Techno & Tech House library
The 18MB download includes kicks, hats, claps, toms and FX - everything you need to make your own groovy minimal beats. Click here to download the pack
If you like what you hear, make sure you check out the full version of the library, which you can get from distributors Loopmasters here.
Got a bit of spare cash knocking around? Then check out these two musical bargains:
1. Abbey Road Studios
The ultimate Beatles collectible could set you back in the region of £10 million if EMI decide to flog it ? and with £120 million in debt, they could do with a few quid.
2. Vince Clarke?s House
It looks like a spaceship and has the bargain price tag of £1,995,000. Guaranteed to ensure a little respect from Erasure fans.
Vince?s gaff is what we?d blow our virtual lottery winnings on, but which would you pick?
Get the cover image for your desktop here.
7.8GB OF CONTENT ON THE DUAL-LAYER DVD
? Nomad Factory MFX-Rack
Six superb processors in our exclusive multi-effects plug-in for Mac and PC. It's a noise gate, filter/overdrive, EQ, autopan/tremolo, delay and reverb all in one!
? 2043 24-bit samples in the Samplist's Toolkit
To complement our cover tutorial on audio and sampling, we serve up a collection of over 2000 'workhorse' sounds. Multisampled instruments, dance drum beats, fresh and funky FX, synth loops and more.
? Producer Masterclass tutorial and video: Foamo
He's got some of the biggest basslines in the business and remixed some of the coolest acts around. In this exclusive video, Foamo shows us how he creates his ear-battering, dance floor-filling beats using little more than Propellerhead Reason, Ableton Live and a MacBook Pro.
IN THE MAG
? The Beginners' Guide to Audio & Sampling
In the second of five monthly tutorials for beginners, we look at the fundamentals of recording, playing, manipulating and editing audio in your software DAW and sampler.
? The Max Factor
Get to grips with the core principles of Max for Live and begin building your own devices with our walkthrough guide!
? Fidget on a budget
In this recesion-busting dance music masterclass, we show you how to produce a fidget house track from start to finish, using nothing more than a few pieces of free and low-priced software
? CM Focus: Smooth R&B
Break out your soulful side with our guide to the production behind this ever popular and supremely polished genre. From sketching out basic rhythms and chords and recording vocals to dropping in slinky synth hooks and putting it all together, it's all in our concise guide!
? Githead interviewed
Arthouse supergroup Githead speak to CM! With members including Robin Rimbaud (aka Scanner) and personnel from Wire and Minimal Compact, this isn't your typical band, and they're no strangers to computer music either.
? Reviewed!
Magix Samplitude 11 ? u-he ACE ? Universal Audio Trident A-Range EQ ? Lexicon PCM Native Reverb Plug-in Bundle ? Softube Passive-Active Pack ? Cableguys FilterShaper2 ? 112dB Redline Preamp ? Progress Audio Kinisis ? ?and more
Plus!
? Mid/side mastering: All you need to know about this specialist finalising technique
? Sound Essentials: Create reverse builds with master sound designer Scot Solida
? Off The Dial: rachMiel focuses on musical paradoxes
? The Easy Guide: Deconstructing second and seventh chords
? The Burning Question: What should my next upgrade be?
? And much more!
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What's your dream job? Wannabe a professional producer, remixer, composer? Picture yourself as an underground hero crafting your own tunes at your leisure, or aspire to man the controls in a top-flight studio?
If you've got your sights set on a career in music production ? whether it be full-time, casual or something in between ? we'd highly recommend you pick up our brand-new Computer Music Special: How To Make It In Music. Written by industry experts, it uncovers everything you need to know to get on track for success in 2010.
Discover how to:
? Get your tracks heard
? Promote your act
? Build a fanbase
? Make money
? Make the leap from bedroom to pro producer
? Be your own manager
And if it's a full-time gig you're after, this is your chance to get insider advice from pros in the most coveted careers in the business. We've assembled a lineup of producers, tunesmiths, performers and tech-heads who share their insights on the skills you need, and reveal how you could get that break you've been seeking.
Computer Music Special 40: How to Make It in Music
Onsale dates*:
UK - available now!
Europe - from 17 Feb
North America - 10 March
ROW - 24 March
*Overseas dates are approximate due to factors beyond our control.
Computer Music Specials are available from selected WH Smith, Barnes & Noble, Chapters and independent newsagents.
Questions? Problems? Contact us at computermusic.special@futurenet.com
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