Computer Music

Trent Reznor has always been known for pushing the boundaries of expectation. Having recently released his Ghosts I-IV, we at Gearwire were surprised to hear of a new album, "The Slip" being distributed online for free. This time, however, we have options.  

Waves has announced that a free preset download are available on their site courtesy of Jack Joseph Puig. The download is a collection of some of JJP's favorite Waves audio tools, and if anyone knows a thing or two about working with audio tools, it's Mr. Puig.  

Allow me to introduce "Bundled Together," a zany Odd Couple meets Sanford and Son sitcom starring Renaissance Maxx Native and Toontrack EZdrummer as a set of roommates living together in a software bundle. What wacky situations will this unlikely twosome get into next?  

Chalk one up for Charles Darwin. According to a documentary I think I watched about ten years ago, monkey tools used to be things like twigs, used to fish delicious bugs out of holes in the dirt. Now Monkey Tools Sound Grinder Pro has hairy bipeds working with waveform editing and such.  

This is one of those videos that may perpetually come back to haunt Eric Singer -- friend of Gearwire (you might know him for his work with LEMUR) and obviously very close friend of unusual MIDI controllers. The Sonic Banana was developed by Singer way back in 2000, but these videos are timeless.  

One obstacle that most bands will encounter quite a bit is finding an easy way to transcribe parts for each other. Notion Progression software makes it easy, catering towards both musicians as well as those who can actually read musical notation.  

Nowadays, more and more musicians are web-savvy, and at the very least know how to post photos on their MySpace accounts. Adding to that cache of basic knowledge, Gearwire decided to take a look at some simple ways to make your iTunes selections more publicly visible.  

Kanji Kinetic is a name not many may be familiar with, but with his new EP dropping just in time for summer, he will soon be a power to be reckoned with. Drawing from influences as diverse as drum and bass, old-school rave, Grime, and dubstep, Kanji conjures up unique beats crafted with the help of Apple Logic 8.  

Mahjongg's interesting instrumentalist composition features not one, but two Ableton Live operators working in unison. Ableton makes it easy by syncing everything up and letting everyone groove to the same pulse, no matter where you check it.  

VocalTuning.com can fix your vocal tracks in the same amount of time it takes Randall "Memphis" Raines and crew to boost 50 cars. In a world where professional singers can't be bothered to record everything correctly, this service helps those without pitch correction capabilities.  

Do you love contests and your mom? Well, so does J. Irving-Giles. Sonoma Wireworks announces the RiffRumble X: Moms Rule Contest. Are you up to the challenge?  

Despite the popularity of Native Instruments' KONTAKT, many users ignore the full functionality of the program. Soniccouture's Scriptorium aims to make users aware of some of the in depth manipulations you can make to your KONTAKT sounds.  

We continue our examination of the iZotope Ozone 3 mastering plugin where Gearwire's Bill Holland focuses in on paragraphic EQ. Watch and learn as Bill navigates and creates different curves and more.  

The iZotope Ozone 3 plugin can put the final touches on your mixes. Bill Holland checks out Ozone 3 and readies you for a closer look by previewing the plug and its credentials.  

In Episode 41 of Crosstalk, Bill almost strangles Britton for excessive use of a vocoder, Musikmesse proves once again to be the greatest show on Earth and the guys finally get to talk about custom analog synths.  

VRSonic's new VibeStudio is a massively complex program that allows users to get down and dirty designing spatial audio. Here's your chance to drop the band and start that solo soundscape project you've always wanted to pursue.  

Although his first major venture into synthesis involved custom-rigging synths for Rick Wakeman, Larry Fast became an overnight electronic music sensation with his first Synergy release, "Electronic Realizations for Rock Orchestra". In this interview, Larry talks about working with Moog, FM Synthesis, and helping Peter Gabriel bring his Musique concrète fantasies to life.  

Progression is a guitar notational software by NOTION music, and the announcement that IK Multimedia's Amplitube 2 Duo software will now be integrated with Progression literally shook Musikmesse.  

The most powerful processor in TC Electronic's PowerCore series has just added a couple of Sonnox's acclaimed plug-ins. The limited edition system made its debut at Musikmesse.  

Toontrack's EZplayer Pro software is a MIDI organizer that does more than organize. Percussively-minded, EZplayer Pro allows users to use it to create new drum grooves by combining elements found in preexisting files.  

BIAS was at Musikmesse showing off their new version of their Peak Pro software, Peak Pro 6. It includes more features than you can shake a stick at, but keep practicing, and one day, you'll be able to shake a stick at all of its new features.  

In promotion of I-Dance's Global XS, software that helps connect producers with labels and other industry hot shots, there will be a dance music competition with some serious prizes. Only one thing stands between you and the grand prize -- J. Irving-Giles and his toe-tapping, head-bobbing, booty-shaking club tracks.  

For those of us who love to do extreme tweaking during a live PA, Oli Larkin has developed yet another Max-developed tool. Get ready to effect like you've never effected before.  

New England-based Ras Iron Teeth creates music using a variety of software, old gear, new gear and a positive attitude.  

Everyone remembers this video of DJ Puzzle fooling around with the Yamaha TENORI-ON. For those who came away entranced by the blinking light-boxes, the opportunity to purchase one of these sequencing miracles will soon be upon us. Much like the Woodstock '99, it will be a festival to remember. Unlike Woodstock '99, however, you might actually remember what happened afterward.  

Blue Cat Audio's Digital Peak Meter Pro 3.0 has so many new features and updates that it has to be installed as a new plug-in, even if you have a previous version. Check out what's new in DPMP 3.0.  

Rain Recording's Solstice is the first computer of its kind to utilize AMD Dual and Quad-Core engines. In addition, its rock-star good looks will make you go crazy thinking that perhaps your spouse is cheating on you with your computer workstation.  

J. Irving Giles has always wanted a replica statue of Keith Emerson, which is why he initially joined Second Life. Then, he realized that it might be possible to play his favorite nineties jams with his Vox AC-15 and BC Rich Warlock and make some cash at the same time.  

We examine the Wave Arts TrackPlug LE channel strip plug-in's compression controls. With the equalization already handled in part one, Bill Holland sets his parameters and we get to hear the results.  

Ableton Live can do pretty much anything short of splicing, dicing, and pureeing an eggplant. When Gearwire's Bill Holland decided to integrate it into a full band, it proved challenging. In the end, however, the results proved to be both educational and rewarding.