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Dj Jazzy Jeff Isn’t Convinced About The New Technics Turntable

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Dj jazzy jeff

While many rejoiced the return of the Technic SL-1200G, DJ Jazzy Jeff had other thoughts regarding the turntables forthcoming return into the marketplace. In a Facebook post (which you can see below), the esteemed turntablist stated that “they [Technics] never really gave support to the DJ community,” and continues to make a comparison giving somewhat of praise to the Pioneer PLX-1000.

Few would argue the influence of the original Technic turntable, as it played a major role in the development of DJ culture, but Jazzy Jeff will need some more convincing when it comes to the new SL-1200G. Regardless of his thoughts on the new turntable, Jazzy Jeff still holds his own and dominates on the 1’s and 2’s.

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Moogfest 2016: Synthesis of Music, Art, and Technology

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Screen Shot 2015-12-08 at 11.50.37 AMSince its inception in 2004, Moogfest has brought together the brilliant minds of entrepreneurs, philosophers, scientists, artists, musicians, engineers, and forward-thinkers for a weekend of progressive exchanges and inspirational demonstrations and presentations with regard to art, music, and technology. Read more

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Jean-Michel Jarre Schools Us On The History Of Tech

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jean-michael jarreJean-Michel Jarre is a world-renowned producer, performer, songwriter, and composer. He has been an enormous pioneer in electronic music production and performance, inspiring and sculpting generations to come. He learned from Pierre Schaeffer, the so-called “father of musique concrete,” and one of the most innovative composers of the 20th century. Musique concrete is a style that arose in the 50’s and involved playback of primarily non-musical recorded sounds (via tape loops and turntables). This marks the beginning of the sampling era, and the style would be intimately linked with the evolution of technology for decades to come, influencing artists such as Aphex Twin and Brian Eno.

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After concluding his studies, Jarre released the album, Oxygène (1976), produced in his DIY home studio. The album was an enormous success, and ultimately went 18x platinum. In total, Jean-Michael Jarre has sold 80 million copies of his 17 albums, and holds a space in the Guinness Book of Records (largest concert attendance) for the 3.5 million people that attended his 1997 performance in Moscow. In this exclusive video, courtesy of Native Instruments, Jarre goes in-depth into the evolution of music technology, and how this evolution affects both the creative and technical side of music-making.

Click here to read his full interview with NI.

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Roland Teases New “Boutique” Synths

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Roland, one of the world’s most beloved producer of synthesizers, drum machines (including the iconic 808 and 909), and other audio gear, is notorious for slowly teasing us with vague announcements regarding upcoming products. They continue to push the envelope this day, venturing far outside the realm of traditional gear.

Most recently, they have released a video announcing “Boutique,” with little information other than short references to classic synthesizers such as the Jupiter-8 (1981), the JX-3P (1983), and the Juno-106 (1984). One can only imagine what to expect out of this new product, but the gear community will eagerly await for more news.

Stay up to date as Roland plans to unveil new information regarding the “Botique” synth line.

Listen to Windows Startup Sounds Slowed Down 4,000%

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Windows 95 recently celebrated its 20th birthday. In honor of the machine and all it has provided humankind, one person has taken the Windows startup sounds, and slowed it down transforming them into pure ambient bliss. From Windows 95 to Windows XP, the textures created out of this technique yield incredible results of sonic manipulation. Evoking elements of a cinematic soundtrack, it’s hard to believe that such lush music and soundscapes could be the result of a six second startup sound for a computer.

Upon listening to these recordings it feels as if one is traveling through the different dimensions theorized in Interstellar…

The slowed down Windows startup sounds were uploaded by the Soundcloud user, ideoforms, and are available for free download. Have a listen to the original Windows 95 start up sound for reference, and then venture into the ambient journey with the rest of the versions listed in the Soundcloud player below.

Win a Trip to Berlin or Los Angeles with Native Instruments

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Native Sessions

Native Instruments is giving away a VIP trip for two to Los Angeles or Berlin for their Native Sessions series. The event is a technology and product workshop focusing on areas such as Komplete, Traktor, and Maschine with developers and various artists.

Head to the Native Sessions Prize Draw page to enter for your chance to win the trip for two in either Los Angeles or Berlin

After hosting multiple workshops in London, Berlin, Japan, and Los Angeles, the Native Sessions Series has become a highly informative outlet for the musical community. For those interested, below is a 90-minute excerpt from the Native Sessions event in Berlin earlier this year. Native Instruments Lead Developers, TJ Hertz and Francisco Garcia, are joined by Alexkid and go in depth on technology and various techniques with Native Instrument products.

Native Instruments: Official Website | Youtube | Facebook

Doppler Labs Unveils Here Active Listening System

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here doppler

Doppler Labs has already been making waves this year with their game-changing Dubs Acoustic Filters, some of the most comfortable earplugs on the market at an affordable price. Today, the company has yet again pushed the envelope with the announcement of their upcoming “Here Active Listening System”, a set of powered earplugs that are controlled by a mobile app. Using your smartphone, users can adjust the level of noise reduction to taste; however, it doesn’t end there. The smartphone app also features a five-band EQ, various audio FX, preset filters, and preset modes. Perhaps most exciting are these presets, which can provide either functional operations (such as “jet engine” or “baby crying”) or aural enhancement (to enhance the sound rather than subdue it).

Doppler Labs has initiated a Kickstarter campaign in conjunction with the announcement of Here Active Listening; with 28 Days remaining their Kickstarter has already raised $109,000, and with steady support it appears that reaching their goal of $250,000 will not be a problem. CEO and Co-Founder of Doppler Labs, Noah Kraft, had this to say about the Here Active Listening System:

“With the Here Active Listening System we want to give you the tools to have the perfect listening experience. We all perceive sound differently, but everyone has been to a concert where the audio wasn’t quite right or has been subjected to a long flight with a screaming baby.  Here changes all that, giving control back to the listener by allowing you to curate what you hear and how you hear it.  Our goal is to make it so you never have to deal with noise or a bad mix ever again.”

Doppler Labs have quickly and definitively established themselves as an authority in the hearing loss prevention industry. After giving every Coachella attendee a pair of Dubs Acoustic Filters, they have cemented their position within the dance music community as well. With the Here Active Listening System, Doppler Labs has developed a one-of-a-kind product that will revolutionize acoustics while spreading awareness about hearing loss (a topic that we don’t take lightly)”Here” is ideal for many applications with it’s broad range of functions and features, and can be utilized by anyone and everyone in their daily lives.

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The product has been fully developed and tested, and is undergoing crowd funding via Kickstarter for mass production. While one can contribute any amount, any contribution over $179 gets you your own Here Active Listening System. The concept and vision of Doppler Labs is incredibly forward thinking, and the introduction of Here will certainly revolutionize the sonic market.

Here Active Listening System is set to retail for $249 with an official release date to be announced.

Features

  • Smartphone-controlled
  • Volume reduction control
  • 5-Band EQ
  • Audio FX (such as reverb, flange, vinyl distortion, and more)
  • Preset filters and modes designed for specific applications
  • Completely wireless (connects by bluetooth)
  • 6 hour battery life (includes a carrying case that can hold 2 full charges)
  • Multiple silicone tip sizes

For more info and contributions, please click here to visit the Kickstarter campaign.
To learn more about Dubs and Doppler Labs, please click here.
To learn more about hearing loss and other ways to protect your ears, please click here.

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[Photos Courtesy of Doppler Labs]

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R Is For Roland – Book Of Synths & Drum Machines

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R Is For Roland

Roland is one of the companies directly responsible for the creation of house and techno music; their legendary 808 and 909 drum machines are some of the most highly-sought after machines in the world. In addition to the classic drum machines, Roland has been producing many types of synthesizers for over four decades and continues to dominate the modern hardware synth market.

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Last week, renowned photographer/illustrator Tabita Hub released “R is for Roland,” a coffee table book filled with high-quality photographs of classics such as the Space Echo RE-201, System-100, SH-7, CR-78, Jupiter-4, RS-09, TR-808, Jupiter-8, TB-303, TR-606, Juno-6, SH-101, Jupiter-6, MC-202, JX-3P, TR-909, Juno-106, TR-707/727, Alpha-Juno 1/2, TR-505 and TR-626. Along with these photographs are charts, graphs, and quotes/interviews from a number of heavy hitters, such as Lee “Scratch” Perry, Nightmares on Wax, and Portishead. Jeff Mills, one of techno’s greatest minds, has used Roland products since his early days, has contributed a quote saluting Roland’s iconic status in the dance music community: “Certain machines do have a particular fashion in which they spit out the sounds. The Roland TR series were revolutionary in this respect.”

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The visually stunning collection of photographs and other material is available for 44.64 EUR (53.80 USD). For more information and/or to order the book, click here to visit the official website. To learn a bit more about the amazing woman responsible behind it, check out the video below.

Roland Unveils AIRA System-1M Modular Synth

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Last week Roland teased us with an image of their next product in the AIRA series, with no information other than two captions – “Get Patching” and “Musikmesse Frankfurt 2015.” Recently, there has been much speculation as to what the product might entail, but the wait is over.

Yesterday, at the Musikmesse conference the Roland System-1M, a modular version of the System-1 synthesizer, and four digital FX modules, entitled Bitrazer, Demora, Scooper, and Torcido were revealed. While the original System-1 and the modular reissue (System-1M) are built with the same electronic components, they are different in two ways:

aira-modules-631x718Firstly, the original System-1 includes a keyboard, while the AIRA System-1M modular must be controlled by an external keyboard or sequencer. Secondly, the modular gives you far more versatility with flexible routing and additional FX modules for purchase. The AIRA System-1M and accompanying modules use 3.5mm mini-TRS patch cables, and can be mounted into any standard Eurorack.

The synth is scheduled for a June release, while the FX modules will be hitting stores in the 3rd quarter of 2015. For more info, check out the official Roland AIRA Modular page by clicking here.

Pioneer Launches RM Series

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pioneer monitorsPioneer, makers of the industry-standard DJM and CDJ series, is much more than just a company for DJs; they have come to dominate a number of other markets, such as car audio, home theatre, and music production. In the recent years, the company has produced the S-DJ monitors, delivering a great pair of monitors at a bargain.

Musikmesse is upon us, and Pioneer has just announced a new line of studio monitors, the RM series. The RM-05 and RM-07 speakers feature Pioneer’s newly-patented acoustic tube technology, designed to reduce standing waves that are inevitable in small and/or untreated rooms. The coaxial drivers create a far cleaner stereo image, with a 3-band EQ and grooves along the ports for a cleaner bass response. With die-casting aluminum, the RM Series is a highly unique product built to the same quality specifications that Pioneer is famous for.

The speakers are scheduled to be released in May 2015 with a suggested retail price of $585 and $775, respectively – keep checking back here for more updates. In the mean time, take a moment to check out the official product video from Pioneer.


Click here for more info