Story Index for Articles, Interviews, News and Reviews
(MUSEWIRE) — Today, Mikiko Miyakawa, the New York-based composer/pianist, originally from Japan, announced that her classical piano album “Elegy In Violet” was released Sept. 20 by Centaur Records. Mikiko is a former new wave keyboardist and manager to Eiko Shuri. (VIDEO)
COACHELLA, Calif. /MuseWire/ — Saimac International announced today that the Coachella music scene is growing! Executive Producer Lola Acosta’s longtime vision for THE DESERT ROCK FEST is happening.
TORRANCE, Calif. /MUSEWIRE/ — The ASIA AMERICA YOUTH SYMPHONY (AAYS) will premiere its first ever, “Music On Canvas.” DAVID BENOIT, Music Director and Conductor, will lead the prestigious AAYS in a performance of Gershwin’s classic “An American In Paris” while young artists from RYMAN ARTS create inspired artworks live on stage to the music.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. /MUSEWIRE/ — FAST TIMES and RUBIX KUBE LA, two of the nation’s biggest ’80s tribute bands, are pleased to announce a co-headlining residency at the legendary Whisky a Go Go. This event kicks off on April 29, 2019 and will run every Monday night.
NEWS: The new for 2019 Stylophone GEN R-8 is a dual VCO British made boutique synthesizer with a fully analog signal path and a touch keyboard that you can play with your finger. The GEN R-8 also works as a MIDI controller keyboard (with Local ON/OFF) where the CV/Gate outputs on the sequencer doubles as keyboard CV/Gate when the sequencer is not running.
NEWS: New Strymon Volante Magnetic Echo Machine effects pedal features magnetic drum, tape, and (reel-to-reel) studio echo as a stereo multi-head delay that also offers a looper and vintage reverb. Situated at the center of Volante’s control surface are four delay playback heads with individual playback and feedback controls — each head’s playback level can be set for full volume, half volume, or off, and each head can be switched in or out of the feedback circuit.
NEWS: The new for 2019 G-Sonique TECHNOL HN1 plug-in multi-instrument was created for TECHNO / MINIMAL / INDUSTRIAL music producers, but can be used in other music styles (Electro, Progressive, Industrial, Illegal Tekno, Minimal. Psytrance, Darkpsy, Darkprog, Hitech, Neurofunk Drum & Bass, and also for dark ambient, experimental genres, film / video game music).
NEWS: ARGOSY announced this week (Jan. 10) its acquisition of all assets of Sound Construction and Supply, Inc., a Nashville based manufacturer of furniture for recording studios. This acquisition will help to enhance and expand Argosy’s portfolio and further allow it to deliver on its mission to help studio owners transform their space.
SYNTH NEWS: UVI has announced the latest in their Prototype Series, PX V8. Examining a rare 8-voice analog polyphonic synth, the Voyetra 8, PX V8 presents a rich and charactered analog instrument thanks to its unique voice cards, real analog unison and deep modulation system.
SYNTH NEWS: The all-new Haken Audio ContinuuMini electronic music instrument, first previewed at the 2018 ContinuuCon event, launched this week on Kickstarter, and was fully funded its first day. The ContinuuMini has been designed to be a portable and more affordable version of Haken Audio’s larger Continuum Fingerboards.
SYNTH NEWS: The Coffeeshopped Patch Base synth editor for iPad/iOS was recently updated to an all-new version, with new interface and subscription model pricing. Additionally, Patch Base 3 now offers an editor/librarian for the Yamaha TG33 desktop synthesizer.
NEWS: UVI has released “Walker,” a comprehensive and flexible footstep foley designer for film, games and post production, offering a customizable engine including 6 shoe types, 14 ground surfaces with adjustable texture layers, 8 clothing materials, and intelligent automation tools to help accelerate common production tasks.
MUSIC MAKERS: A historic lineup of L.A.’s leading artists, performers, poets and authors will salute Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center (‘Beyond Baroque’), the city’s legendary literary center, at its 50th anniversary “Bohemian Bacchanal” on Nov 10, 2018 in Venice, CA. Performers slated to take the stage include John Doe and Exene Cervenka (who first met at Beyond Baroque and formed the iconic LA band X); and John Densmore, founding member of The Doors.
MUSIC PLUG-IN NEWS: UVI’s all-new ‘Plate’ plug-in a custom-shop electro-mechanical reverb with fully-configurable design. A realtime physically-modeled simulation, Plate allows you to control each aspect of the design including metal type, plate size and aspect, input and output position – and more.
BOOK NEWS: Former Cash Money Records artist Tab “Hot Boy Turk” Virgil Jr. takes you on a journey of deep spiritual and mental growth in his new book, ‘The AutoThugOgraphy of Turk’ (Hardcover: Wahida Clark Publishing: ISBN: 978-1947732216).
NEW MUSIC: The Ormewoods – Claire Pearson and Don McCollister – are an Americana and folk duo, and their new music video, “Hope, Pray, Sing,” was released to draw people closer together rather than tear them apart.
SYNTH NEWS: While you might have heard rumors about a new polyphonic Moog Synthesizer at recent synth shows, it turns out that the rumors were true. It’s here, it’s real. It’s the brand spankin’ new MOOG ONE from the wizards at Moog Music. Briefly, it’s a 61-key, 16-voice Programmable, Tri-timbral Analog Synthesizer with 3 Voltage-Controlled Oscillators, 2 Independent Analog Filters, 4 LFOs, 3 Envelope Generators, Arpeggiator, Sequencer, Eventide Reverb Suite, and CV I/O. (UPDATED)
NEWS: Spitfire Audio, a British music technology company, well known for its industry leading scoring libraries, has launched its first ever Audio Annual, a 246-page visual magazine, designed to celebrate each year that it has been in business.
SYNTH NEWS: UVI’s newly announced Drum Designer combines the “best of synthesis and sample-based drum techniques, breaking down drum hits to the component level and allowing users to rapidly create, edit and combine sounds with the flexibility of a synthesizer and the polish and impact of high-quality sample libraries.”
NEW MUSIC: The PondHawks, a ‘groovy psychedelic-pop progressive’ band in Chicago recently announced the release of their new single, “River Grove” on the Riverpool Records label. Mario Novelli, born and raised in River Grove, co-wrote the song with songwriting partner, Jorie Gracen. The two formed the very popular indie band in 2007, which has over 600,000 fans worldwide.
NEWS: Texas Select Radio has announced the 2018 Battle of the Bands at Hub Streat, a full service Culinary Entertainment Center, featuring hand crafted cocktails, craft beer, a menu for every taste from a scratch kitchen, live entertainment and a dog friendly patio. The Battle of the Bands competition starts on October 3 and will run every Wednesday (7:30 to 10:30) until Nov. 14. Semi-Final Round will be held on November 7 and the Final Round on November 14.
NEW MUSIC: Country, folk, Americana singer-songwriter Michael Patrick will release his latest, long overdue recording, “John Wayne Movies” with two special CD release shows on October 13, 2018 at The Lighthouse Tavern, and October 20 at Roxy and Dukes in New Jersey.
NEWS: Lindsay Ell is headlining the final Monster Energy Outbreak Tour of 2018. Lauded as “one of the most exciting and talented young artists in country music” (Forbes), Lindsay Ell is a triple threat: accomplished musician, unique vocalist and songwriter. Her first full-length album, “The Project,” debuted at No. 1 on the Country Album Sales Chart in August 2017 and was lauded as Billboard’s “Best Country Album of 2017.”
NEWS: Universal Audio has announced their new Apollo X models, now with hexacore processors as standard. The Apollo X is UA’s new flagship Thunderbolt 3 audio interfaces, “featuring elite-class A/D and D/A conversion, new HEXA Core UAD plug-in processing, Unison mic preamps, +24dBu operation, Surround Sound,* and more. All in a sleek, expandable Thunderbolt 3 package for Mac and PC.”
NEWS: The Bob Moog Foundation has announced a new 2018 charity benefit raffle for three iconic Moog Synthesizers to benefit music education including Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool, and the Moogseum. The raffle includes three winners for a vintage Memorymoog, Moog Source, and Moog Rogue keyboard.
SYNTH NEWS: KORG announces new ELECTRIBE Wave virtual instrument for iOS, with a sound wavetable featuring sounds widely used in the latest music creation. Unlike a PCM synth, the wavetable allows you to repeatedly play fragments of short waveforms, and change the waveform position during playback.
SYNTH NEWS: UVI has announced “Devinity,” delivering 120 patches showing off the unique style and approach to sound design of Richard Devine: Modular sequences, FX, pads, animated, percussive sequences and more await. Expand Falcon with 120 masterfully-designed presets; tweak and perform patches on-the-fly with macro controls; deep editing capabilities of Falcon allow limitless customization.
NEWS: The Bob Moog Foundation announced this week that it will be moving to downtown Asheville N.C., where it will also be launching the long-awaited Moogseum in 2019. Since its inception 12 years ago, the Bob Moog Foundation has been a force for science education, historical preservation, and creativity.
NEW MUSIC: Unique Messengers is comprised of two men who are passionate about their desire to inspire and motivate others through the messages in their music. Their new song “Give Up That Gun” contains a pertinent message they hope would inspire listeners to make positive changes in their lives and support gun reform.
NEWS: Mike Shinoda, co-lead vocalist for multi-platinum Grammy-Award winning rock band, Linkin Park, is set to headline the Monster Energy Outbreak Tour 2018. Shinoda’s North American tour follows headline shows across Asia and Europe and launch of his album ‘Post Traumatic’ in June.
NEWS: RØDE Microphones recently announced the appointment of legendary audio innovator Chris Woolf as a Senior Innovation Engineer, exclusive to RØDE. Formerly a Senior Engineer for the windshield and microphone accessories company Rycote®, Chris Woolf is the inventor of, amongst many other patented noise-reduction solutions, the ‘Rycote Lyre®’ shock-mount and the ‘Rycote Cyclone®’ Windshield system.
NEWS: In case you missed the recent launch, Stratum, a virtual instrument by Sonivox, is a rock-solid layering of a classic Supersaw synthesizer and a 4 operator FM synthesizer. Originally made famous by the Roland JP-8000, the Supersaw waveform has made a strong comeback in the trance and hardcore genres due to its edgy sound, particularly in synth leads and synth basses.
NEW MUSIC: Johnny Chief Project, an alternative rock band, are at L.A.’s Clear Lake Recording Studios recording and putting together the band’s debut EP “Talking to Myself.” The EP is being co-produced by the two core members of the band, Johnny Chief and Alex Medrano, and by Jose Miguel Smithers, the band’s current studio and touring drummer.
NEWS: The 2018 ScottWorks festival on Sept. 8 will include a symposium on Raymond Scott’s 1930s jazz compositions, and 1960s electronic music inventions. There will be presentations, panels, gallery displays, and interactive exhibits during the day, followed by a concert at night featuring live performances to celebrate Scott’s multi-dimensional music.
NEWS: IK Multimedia’s new analog synth module, the UNO, is now shipping, the company announced today. UNO Synth, IK’s first hardware synthesizer is a true analog synthesizer which brings all the warmth, depth and fatness you’d expect from a real analog synth. Ideal for notebook and “bed top” synth musicians.
NEWS: ARTURIA have announced their latest analog drum machine, the newest member of the “Brute” analog hardware family, DrumBrute Impact. In the sound department, DrumBrute Impact features 10 fantastic sounds accessible through 8 responsive performance pads.
MUSIC NEWS: The 12th edition of San Fermin in Nueva Orleans runs July 13-15, 2018, features live music including The Crystal Method. Nola Bulls, LLC steps up to the big leagues for the 12th edition of the ever-growing San Fermin in Nueva Orleans (SFNO) presented by The Advocate, a.k.a. The Running of the Bulls in New Orleans.
NEWS: RØDE Microphones has announced that two of its team members recently received U.S. patents through their ingenious work at RØDE. Technical Engineering Manager Luke Hamilton was awarded the patent for the gamechanging Hamilton Condenser Microphone Backplate and Lead Industrial Designer Samuel Trewartha for the innovative housing on the award-winning Stereo VideoMic X.
The innovative ElectroSpit Mobile Talkbox ESX-1 has been fully funded on Kickstarter. It’s a “tubeless talkbox reimagined for the future” for musicians which allows you to do classic formant talkbox effects without a portable amp and plastic tube, as made famous on songs like Frampton’s “‘Do You Feel Like We Do” (among many others!).
Waldorf Music has announced a full production launch and general availability of Kyra – the world’s first fully FPGA powered synthesizer featuring 128 voices (regardless of settings and effects), each with 10 oscillators per voice, and 8-part multitimbrality, based on the Exodus Digital Valkyrie previewed at Musicmesse.
SYNTH NEWS: Haken Audio has announced an addition to their multi-dimensional music instrument line-up, the ContinuumMini. A smaller version of the Continuum Fingerboard instrument was revealed at ContinuuCon 2018 in Paris. This version is far more affordable, and still has EagenMatrix virtual instrument on board. A Kickstarter will launch July/Aug. 2018.
NEWS: Summer is a great time to pick-up some awesome deals on music tech, much like the annual holiday sales. This is an ongoing “round up” of some of the best deals to be had during Spring/Summer 2018 including music software, plugins, virtual instruments, and more. (Updated 6.6.18)
NEWS: ModeAudio has announced a new sample library, “Dark Mass – Ambient Drone Samples” which according to the company, “surges forth, enveloping all it touches in quietly undulating intensity, sweeping through the landscape of your music with 706MB of caustic drones and meditative textures.”
SYNTH NEWS: Spitfire Audio has announced the roll out of their new LABS Program, which “is an infinite series of software instruments, free and easy to use; made by musicians in London for anyone, anywhere” according to the company. The first releases, SOFT PIANO and STRINGS are both completely free, with much more to come.
NEWS: Softube has released “Tube Delay” for MODULAR the software Eurorack synth for everyone. Modular synthesis is all about options; defining options by building a system one way or another, and exploring the sonic possibilities those options afford you.
SYNTH NEWS: The newly released TRK-01 REAKTOR instrument from Native Instruments (NI) marries classic mixing techniques with innovative sound design, sequencing, and modulation. It is designed to inspire creative and exciting kick-bass combinations, offering solid, powerful sound whilst also addressing some of the most common problems encountered when mixing kick and bass, such as clashing frequencies.
SYNTH NEWS: UVI Updates Retro Organ Suite to v1.5. The new version adds the “Yammy C10,” a new combo organ based on a fully-restored and reinvigorated 1970 Yamaha machine, and new rotary speaker effect improvements from the latest generation of the UVI Rotary plugin. The update is free for existing users.
NEWS: EastWest Sounds Online announces Voices of the Empire, a cinematic and ethnic vocal tour de force, featuring the raw, primal vocals of Uyanga Bold. Produced by Doug Rogers and Nick Phoenix, Voices of the Empire is a must-have virtual instrument for composers and musicians looking for that epic vocal sound for their next project.
NEWS: TC Electronic announce TC2290-DT plugin based on their classic 2290 Digital Delay, with included USB-powered control surface. Adopted by producers, FOH engineers and musicians such as David Gilmour, The Edge and Robben Ford, it set the benchmark for delay units.
NEWS: Spitfire Audio has announced its new Spitfire Symphonic Woodwinds Expansion Pack that strengthens and enhances the core Symphonic Woodwinds library, Seminal Orchestral Woodwinds, with over 167GB of additional content.