Please let me introduce you to Reactable, a research project from Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona. It's a translucent table with a camera and a projector underneath. The camera scans the positions of various blocks, which can be twisted and linked. Several simultaneous performers share complete control over the instrument by moving physical artefacts on the table surface and constructing different audio topologies in a kind of tangible modular synthesizer or graspable flow-controlled programming language... The sounds - as implemented - are quite "experimental" but the design of the hardware is just incredible ! Just have a look at their web site and let me know !

MODARTT has released two new add-ons for use with Pianoteq: a Conrad Graf (1826) and a Johann Schantz (1790), two pianoforte built in Vienna. They complement the two other pianoforte already available: a Donat Schöffstoss (1812) and a Johann Evangelist Schmidt (1790). These four pianoforte represent the important period of piano music around 1800, and are located in Kremsegg Schloss museum, Kremsmünster, Austria, and Handelhaus museum, Halle, Germany. These add-ons are offered for free for use with Pianoteq. They are created in the frame of the non profit cultural project KIViR (Keyboard Instrument Virtual Restoration) which concerns historic keyboard instruments museums.
On a long-term basis, MODARTT aims to build an important collection of digital copies of historic instruments from all parts of the world, serving as maintainable testimony of the past.

ReFuse Software has announced Lowender, a subharmonic synthesizer, reminiscent of classic analog dual-band bass enhancer circuits. While taking classic subharmonic generator circuitry as its core, the Lowender expands on the concept in several ways :

- First, it offers switchable frequency ranges, so that the low end frequencies generated can be selected to fit the program material. In addition to the "Classic" frequency range (generating subharmonics from 24-56 Hz), there are also ranges suitable for the lowest octaves of guitar and bass.

- Second, the generated subharmonics pass through a gate tailored for low frequencies, which is useful for cleaning up unwanted bass rumble (e.g. from between kick drum hits in a drum loop).

- Third, the Lowender passes the bass material thro ...

Dreamtek, Apple Solution Experts for Audio are holding a free event for music producers, artists and anyone involved in music, on Tuesday 28th November at the Strongroom bar in London EC2A, part of the Strongroom Studios. The event starts at 3pm and finishes at 7pm.

Headline guest producers Future Cut and Mike Pelanconi, who produced the number one Lily Allen 'Smile' track, who will be showing visitors just how they put the track together, using the NEW Powerful Mac Pro and Logic Pro software. See how the project evolved, from original sample material to how it was reworked and audio editing methods that were used. Future Cut explains the vocal tracks and special methods used to create the song, how they used Logics internal software instruments, mixing methods and automation.

Sonic ...

Antares has announced the availability of Universal Binary versions of AVOX - The Antares Vocal Toolkit. The new versions are free updates to current owners of the AVOX suite of vocal processing plug-ins as well as owners of individual AVOX plug-ins. They may be downloaded from the Antares website. The Universal Binary versions of AVOX are available for Mac RTAS, VST and Audio Units.