Google Chrome Drum Machines on Audiotool’s Sketch

SoundCtrl January 27, 2014

By Ruben Lone

Cologne, Germany-based Audiotool has created a browser-based music production suite that fuses the immediacy of modular synthesis with the accessibility of the internet. Audiotool offers a free workstation for producers interested in electronic music synthesis, with proprietary instruments, effects, and mixing controls all in a broswer window. Audiotool’s site also functions as a community for producers and composers who have cerated music using the platform, and Audiotool provides in-depth reference Wikis for each of its devices.

As part of Google’s Chrome Experiments, which showcase creative web coding applications built in HTML5 and Java, Audiotool has designed a standalone sequencer app called Sketch. Sketch is modeled on of iconic analog drum machines and bassline synthesizers, which three web-based versions of the Roland TR-808, TR-909, and TB-303. These instruments, widely used in house and techno styles, are an entry point (if not a mainstay) for electronic music production, as the basis of their functionality is essential to most of the sequencer instruments that succeeded them.

StubHub Boasts Its New Transparent Pricing

SoundCtrl January 24, 2014

By Jason Epstein

That’s right: StubHub is treating price transparency as though it were a perk.

In recent years, StubHub has joined the ranks of Ticketmaster in providing a highly sought-after service with hardly any competition – and making an absurd profit from service fees that have ballooned to epic proportions. But now, StubHub is purporting its friendliness with promises to be transparent about the service fees you’ll be paying…by forgoing showing customers ticket fees, in exchange for displaying the full price of the ticket. (Okay, that’s not entirely true; if you click ‘See Details’ under ‘Price Details’ they’ll let you in on the actual makeup of your total cost.)

It’s called “All-in Pricing.” Here’s a quote from their announcement email:

“On StubHub, you’ll see the final price right when you hit the site. Nothing more will be added to your cost. Not even delivery charges.”

5 Music Discovery Tools That Aren’t Spotify or Rdio

SoundCtrl January 23, 2014

By Carolyn Heneghan

As streaming becomes the prominent method of listening to music, online music discovery tools have arisen en masse. However, at this point, they’re really a dime a dozen. To help you on your search, we’ve curated five of the best music discovery platforms that are sure to bring about a heaping helping of bold, new favorites for your music collection.

seevl

A passion project of rising startup MDG Web, seevl presents a new way for music lovers to both discover and find information pertaining to new music. Seevl is an unlimited and targeted music discovery platform that, immediately from its homepage, offers suggestions based on what’s trending—though there’s plenty more to it. One registered, the site is a rich resource for personalized recommendations. While music platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and Deezer are focused on content licensing, seevl turned to improving music discovery as its primary objective.

Nord Releases The Lead A1 Synth, Debuts at NAMM

SoundCtrl January 23, 2014

By Ruben Lone

The latest in their line of analog modeling synths, the Lead A1 is Nord‘s newest performance synthesizer. With a quick user interface and simplified front panel, the A1 recreates analog sounds to a tee, and packs features including 8 oscillator configurations, filters, LFOs, onboard effects including chorus and ensemble, and master clock control for onboard syncing.

The power in this synth comes in the oscillator functionality with a new Wave engine, which allows for shortcuts to Pitch, Detune, Shape, Sync, FM (frequency modulation), AM (amplitude modulation), Dual Oscillators or Noise, without requiring the patching usually found on all-analog synths.

Lively Introduces Instant Access To Recorded Concerts

SoundCtrl January 21, 2014

By Carolyn Heneghan

When you’re fiddling with your phone and attempting to take photos or videos of a concert, you can hardly enjoy the show. You want to bring a piece of the memory home with you, but you actually establish a memory by fully experiencing the performance with your eyes rather than through a screen. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could have access to audio and videos of the show as soon as you leave, without having to capture the media yourself? Now with the Lively app, you can.

Lively is dedicated to providing high-quality audio and video of live performances to its users while also offering a platform for artists to interact with their fans on another level. The quality of the audio and videos far surpasses anything you could capture with your phone while at the show, so you can relax but still bring home high-quality versions of the memories when you leave.

According to Lively’s latest press release, Lively’s team has quadrupled in size since it first launched in May 2013, and they’ve also moved into a state-of-the-art facility in Seattle. They’ve now worked with more than 110 artists in 47 venues across the country, and they’ve delivered thousands of app downloads. Capitalizing on their early successes and developing the improvements needed to take the app to the next level, Lively’s team has now officially launched its updated version two of the app.