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Widely acknowledged as the definitive source for "Visual, Concrete and Sound Poetry". There's so much here, you could spend days and weeks browsing! My favourites are the Sound and Film & Video pages.
Circuit bending tips, tricks and community
I recently had the opportunity to toy with the Dexter and was very impressed. Multi-touch, seamless integration with Logic and Nuendo (Pro Tools is coming), durable and long lasting (no mechanical parts to fail) and - just announced - JazzMutant are offering a free upgrade giving the Dexter the ability to operate as the Lemur. Could it get any better? Be warned however, it appears the channel number is capped at 64. See review on ProRec
From interactive media artist and game developer Toshio Iwai, the Tenori-On has been developed in conjunction with Yamaha and is set for a UK test release this September. Cost estimates are in the region $1k.
Users include Jim O'Rourke and Kieran Hebden - interviews here
At least two other similar products are available: sE's Reflexion Filter and the Mic Thing by SM Pro Audio. My own inclination is towards the PVB - its size presents greater potential across a number of applications. Nevertheless, hearing is believing!
Excellent presentation of Web 2.0 and what it means in just over 4 mins from Prof. Michael Wesch. I get shivers when I watch it!
What a good idea! Computer peripheral manufacturer Belkin will soon (~Novemebr) be releasing the TuneStudio which will allow users to record up to four tracks of audio onto a 5th generation iPod. The unit can also be used as a USB audio interface for either PC or Mac. Let's just quickly clarify some technical details: The unit is supplied with a four channel mixer; only two of which (channels 1+2) have XLR microphone inputs but can supply phantom power. Channels 3 + 4 provide stereo inputs - 1/4" balanced or unbalanced jack on 3 and RCA phono jacks on 4. The TuneStudio will record the output of each channel independently and supports a max file resolution of 16-bit 44.1 kHz WAV. Headphone and monitor outputs (with individual controls) and a simple compressor complete the output section. Finally, recorded material can be transferred to your preferred audio workstation via iTunes.
Analogue Summing Amplifier. For those working within the digital realm, the (not new) idea here is that you run your final mix as a number of o/p's (either individual tracks or groups) from your workstation's digital to analogue convertors i.e. multiple analogue o/p's from the hardware audio interface. These o/p's are in turn connected to the summing amp i/p's and it's the o/p from the summing amp which is recorded as the final stereo master. This technique is used instead of a final bounce or audio mixdown from within your DAW. Why? Simple answer is that the analogue summing simply sounds better and this of course is our primary concern - You'll find the mid and high range to have increased punch, warmth and clarity. As always, hearing is believing! Also check API Chandler Neve and Speck for alternative models. Article from 2004 in Mix Magazine on Analogue Summing and units available.
From Make Magazine, the video details how soldiers during WWII built simple & lightweight but effective radios from available materials
A recent study by David Moran and Brad Meyer (published in the September 2007 AES journal) suggests that audio professionals who participted in double-blind listening tests were unable to distinguish between high-resolution audio and standard 16-bit/44.1kHz CD quality audio. Stunning! It might also be worth mentioning that the article passed AES rigorous peer review without an argument. You can review the test setup and equipment used here. Also take a look at some comments from Mix magazine here.
Extensive archive with content spanning the history of sound recording.
Excellent explanation of the over compression of modern music. The "Loudness War" started some time in the mid 90's in a time when record sales were driven primarily by radio play - excessive compression then became a way to deliver as much punch as possible over the airwaves. Note that not all recordings are over compressed and for some music the over compressed sound is part of the style.
Interesting site dedicated to unusual instruments and custom instrument manufacture. Tools & Reference page features a selection of useful resources for instrument makers
The excellent Hometracked recently featured an article on reference drum tracks i.e. using high quality recordings to contrast with your own, compare for quality, tone etc. and achieve better mixes in the process. Reference is made to two sites which provide recording outtakes by the legendary John Henry Bonham and Dave Grohl (while recording for Queens of the Stone Age in 2001/02). Well worth a listen!
Research at CALTECH (California Institute of Technology) into booming sand dunes - a phenomenon caused by an avalanche on the leeward (downwind or sheltered) side of large sand dunes. A resulting low frequency booming sound can be heard which is similar to that of a low-flying propeller aircraft. There is no accepted explanation nor is it understood why some dunes boom and others don't. Example on YouTube from New Scientist
Create your own tracks/songs in minutes with this innovative web application
Online Audio archive with a collection ranging from news recordings to music to concerts to book recordings and radio. Well worth a dig!
Unique project which brings together sound, architecture and communication technology by allowing users to upload sounds for playback within a vast concrete grain silo. I'm not kidding! Sounds are played into the silo, transformed by the natural acoustic and recaptured by microphones for playback over the web. Brilliant!
The incredible Fora.tv once again deliver a fascinating presentation, this time from the esteemed neurologist Oliver Sacks who is discussing his latest book Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain
Collaborative database of sounds free to use under the Creative Commons license.
The Long Now Foundation - The Herbst Theater - San Francisco, CA - Jun 26th 2006
Two masters speak at length about nature, technology, pattern, art, narrative, games, music and generative systems
Founded by Hugh McGuire, LibriVox provides a digital library of free public domain audio books that are read and recorded by volunteers. Catalogue here
Lightweight microphone mounting solution from DPA. The D3 is designed for three microphones arranged in the Decca Tree T-shape or as an equilateral triangle. Other configurations are possible however and it's capable of being used with all microphone holders. Note also that you can upgrade the D3 to an S5 (surround mount) with the D3X upgrade kit, let the fun begin!
Bre Pettis from Make Magazine is once again hard at work bringing a DIY philosophy to everyday things. The video details how to construct a Mellotron inspired instrument from a number of walkman/s or is it walkmen?
I used the 24/8 quite a bit shortly after it first came out (~1994) and loved it. In the years that followed, studios (or at least the ones I worked in) went Digital mad - and for good reason. I have a somewhat faded recollection of a colleague once quoting a statistic that for hit records produced, two consoles reigned supreme, SSL (no surprise there) and...Mackie! This may or may not be accurate but it is true that the Mackie 24 and 32/8 sound far in excess of their relatively modest price tag. I returned to the 24/8 again in 1999 which was teamed up with Pro Tools and three 888 24-bit I/O. The combination proved to be fluidity itself and I'm still impressed when listening to mixes from that period. I mention it here for two reasons 1. it serves as a reminder that the latest, greatest and most expensive isn't always necessary and 2. I feel that younger engineers aren't being exposed to analogue boards nearly enough. They can be picked up as used units or Mackie (thankfully) still make them. For almost new try here and brand new here or here
Electronic Music Production, MP3's, Radio, Live Shows, Blogs and Community
Networking site for DIY studio folk
High definition lossless music download store.
As it's name suggests the site sets out to plot the evolution of sound but more particularly recorded sound from ~ 1900 to present day. There appears to be one or two inactive links.
