I personally prefer and use Beatmaker for iPhone but this new app from IK looks promessing.

GrooveMaker for the iPhone is a re-invention of IK’s original Mac/PC application now with interactive touch control and complete mobility. Each GrooveMaker Pack is a powerful combination of software and sound loops, allowing you to produce beats, grooves and even full soundtracks, all in real-time, anywhere! GrooveMaker offers a totally new experience working with loops! The library sound content is organized in groups of over 60 loops per “Song”.

“Songs” are like mega-construction-kits where all the loops can be combined with one another for millions of possible, unique mixes. Loop types include entire drum grooves, kicks, bass lines, percussions, effects, instrumental lines and pads.

4 style-based randomization buttons allow you to instantly combine a massive amount of synchronized grooves together with one touch. Using IK’s patented “groove generator” technology, GrooveMaker allows you to produce millions of different combinations of loops on the fly. No other software gets you so many remix groove variations so quickly and all with real time control of your mix!

Entire groove snapshots can then be sequenced to produce a whole song with ease and exported to your Mac/PC using a WiFi connection as high-quality 44Khz-16 bit WAV files. You can import your tracks into your preferred DAW or DJ program and take it even further!

There are currently 4 GrooveMaker Style Packs available: FREE, Club, House and Hip-Hop plus 4 more coming soon: Techno, Trance, Drum ‘n’ Bass and Electro.

If you are into DJing/remixing, GrooveMaker can be an invaluable source for making beats and grooves and can even be incorporated live into innovative DJ sets.

If you are a composer using loops, GrooveMaker will allow you to come up with inspirational rhythmic tracks, efficiently, with incredible speed and a totally new approach to loop browsing and groove composition.

All of this for only $9.99 (EUR7.99) /$4.99 (EUR3.99)! Plus a totally FREE version! Hundreds of loops are included in each pack yet it is sold at a fraction of the cost of comparable loops libraries. Each pack also includes the software for your iPhone/iPod Touch! Available on the App Store now.

Source: Music Industry Newswire

When it comes to recording vocals, I personally prefer condenser mics for their warm sound and sometimes the “proximity effect” can be beneficial on certain types of vocals.

Here’s a list of some other mics that will work well in a home studio environment and all for under $300

Shure SM57

Relating cost to quality, the Sure SM57 is arguably the best multi-purpose vocal and instrument microphones of all time.  It earns the top spot in our list for its low price and great all-around sound.  It’s fair to say that every major studio has at least one SM57 in their mic locker.  An added bonus for small and home studios is that the SM57 is a dynamic microphone and does not require phantom power.  Generally speaking a condenser microphone will capture sound with more accuracy and quality, however it’s worthy of our list due to its low cost, versatility, and quality.  Those just getting into recording this is a great home studio mic that wont break the bank.  In short it’s impossible to go wrong with this microphone.

Shure SM57 Instrument/Vocal Mic

Rode NT1-A

  If the Rode NT1-A cost the same as the shure it would be in first place.  This condenser microphone is the most expensive in our list of home mics, but gives excellent results when recording vocals or instruments.  The NT1-A microphone  edges out the next three mics in this review, but only by a small margin.  You can call it personal preference, but we feel the sound is just a little bit clearer.  If you’re looking for an all-purpose mic to record at home and have some extra cash this microphone is a great choice.
Rode Microphones NT1-A Anniversary Model Microphone

Shure KSM27

  The Shure KSM27 is our favorite microphone under $200.  It edges out the Audio Technica slightly on vocals, but there are a number of those who feel the AT-2035 is equally as good (or better). Really its nearly a toss up for us, but in our tests vocals sounded a bit brighter.  Bottom line is that the best microphone for you may not be the best for everyone, but this microphone preforms very well.
Shure KSM27 Studio Condenser Microphone

Audio Technica AT-2035

  This is the least expensive condenser microphone in our review, but it does well for both vocals and instruments. In addition it’s the most searched microphone at Build The Studio.  The AT 2035 is gaining poularity for its low cost and great sound quality.  Again, all of the microphones in this review are used daily by engineers all over the world, and each has its own loyal following.  Remember that there are many other factors to considering the ultimate sound quality of your recording, but this mic is a great choice. 

Audio-Technica AT2035 Large Diaphragm Cardioid Condenser Microphone

AKG Preception 220

  The AKG Preception 220 is our final contender in the list of home studio microphones under $300.  Its a good price for a good microphone.  We’re not totally sold on the flavor of this microphone, but nonetheless it’s a great condenser microphone for recording vocals or instruments. Its easily worthy of a top 5 finish.  At a cost of around $150 its a great addition for many home studios.

Source: Music industry newswire

Berlin, Germany /Music Industry Newswire/ — Native Instruments today introduced EVOLVE MUTATIONS, a powerful new instrument for movie, TV and game composers.

Developed in collaboration with renowned sound design house Heavyocity and powered by the industry-leading KONTAKT engine, this unique sonic resource includes an arsenal of highly expressive instruments, rhythms and ambiences that can add profound depth and impact to any dramatic piece of music. As the successor of Heavyocity’s universally acclaimed “Evolve” library, EVOLVE MUTATIONS contains 275 new instruments based on 2 GByte of exclusive high-quality sample material. The material is organized into four categories that provide the crucial elements for powerful scores: “Rhythmic Suites” include stirring percussive and tonal loops complete with individual slices and keymapping; “Percussive Kits” allow the creation of original percussive beds; “Stings & Transitions” support a composition with striking and suspenseful transitional elements; “Tonality & FX” provide a range of highly expressive, evocative instruments and pads.

As a KONTAKT-Powered instrument, EVOLVE MUTATIONS offers intuitive playback and sound shaping functionality within the free KONTAKT PLAYER software, including efficient envelope, filter and effects control. All sounds can also be loaded into the full version of the KONTAKT 3 sampler for advanced sound editing. EVOLVE MUTATIONS is available for download purchase in the NI Online Shop for $119 / 99 Euro. More information on EVOLVE MUTATIONS can be found at www.native-instruments.com/evolvemutations.info Native Instruments is a leading manufacturer of software and hardware for computer-based music production and performance.

The company’s mission is to develop innovative, fully integrated solutions for all professions, styles and genres. The resulting products regularly push technological boundaries and open up new creative horizons for professionals and amateurs alike.

Pro Tools 8.x: Sneak Peek at Cutting Edge (Track Comping) from Scott Church on Vimeo.

Pro Tools 8.x: The Score Editor from Scott Church on Vimeo.

Pro Tools 8.x: The MIDI Editor from Scott Church on Vimeo.

Pro Tools 8.x: New User Interface and Brief Overview from Scott Church on Vimeo.

“It takes 10 years of extensive training to excel in anything”
Herbert Simon – Nobel Laureate

As 2008 wines down, I’m already thinking about 2009 and realized that 09 will mark my 10 year anniversary in the game. This journey started for me in 1999 as a 17 year old freshman in university. That’s when i started producing, flowing, witting, ect…

Scientific research has concluded that it takes 10 years of training for a player/athlete to reach elite levels or for an artist to master his/her craft or create their best work. This is called the ten year rule or 10,000 hour rule, which translates to slightly more than three hours of practice daily for ten years. I’m at the stage where i feel like I’ve mastered my rhyming, flowing, producing, mixing skills and I’m ready for the big league. It didn’t come easily but the long term result has put me in a place where my confidence, skill and swagger is unmatched and 2009 will prove me right.

I will write more about this at the end of the year as I look back at the past 10 years and set goal/expectations for the next 10.

I discovered and fell in love with Hip hop in 1989, started my journey as an emcee/producer/entrepreneur/engineer in 1999 and heading to the big leagues in 2009. IT’S MY YEAR….stay on the look out because big things will happen.

I’m not a rapper, I’m a LYRICIST on nice beats.

Lyrically yours,

Logiq
OOMG MUSIC INC.

If you are one of the MANY people impatiently waiting for Pro Tools 8, here is a sneak peek of what you can expect:

- 10 inserts (5 more than previous versions)
- Grid lines show through audio regions
- Meter markings on the mix faders
- Insertion Follows Playback button (yes, its not the “N” key mystery anymore)
- Waveforms are shown in higher resolution
- Customizable tool bars at the top of the Edit window (which can be saved in a Windows Configuration)
- Universe window is docked and resizable
- Time Lock feature allows you to edit a region without it in time
- MIDI Scrub tool
- Elastic Pitch tool
- MIDI Editing window (can be either a separate window or a docked window)
- MIDI Smart tool — this makes editing MIDI SO MUCH EASIER!!!
- MIDI notes shown with lighter color have lower velocities, darker colored notes have higher velocities
- 64 sample buffer size for USB interfaces
- Video Satellite (use a separate computer for viewing HD video, connected via ethernet)
- When launching, PT asks whether you want to create a new session, open a session, or start with a template
- at least 30 template files (.ptt files)
- Pressing SHIFT while opening a session makes all plug-ins inactive

OK, that’s a big list… but not enough to warrant PT8 status. Good thing there are a million more improvements…

PT8 comes with 5 new FREE virtual instruments:
1. Mini Grand – 1.5GB worth of great sounding piano
2. DB33 – B3 organ with a convolution modeled Leslie cab (which can be used as a standalone effect, sans the B3)
3. XPand2 – a serious upgrade to XPand! with 2GB of sounds and 1500 patches
4. Vacuum – mono synth with gnarly tube sounds
5. BOOM – an analog style drum machine

In addition, you also get Eleven Free (light version of their awesome guitar amp simulator) and Structure Free (light version of their sampler)… in addition to a whole slew of new effects plug-ins. Its quite a big offering. In fact, it all adds up to 9GB for the entire PT software package.

BUT WAIT… there’s more.

First, there’s track comping… where you can record in Loop Record and each take is recorded onto a new playlist. Then, you can open and view multiple playlists for one track all in the Edit window. Making a comp between playlists is now even easier. No more switching between edit playlists. Then, there are “Automation Lanes,” which show any or all automation for a track on separate “lanes” at the same time. Draw volume, panning, and mute automation at the same time. No more switching between automation playlists.

And finally… yes, we’re finally getting to the end of the improvements… the Score Editor. Yup, PT has notation now, driven by the Sibelius engine. You can view the Score Editor as a separate window or as a docked window and edit on the page just like editing MIDI. Print and/or save your score as a PDF. The Score Editor doesn’t have all the complexity of Sibelius, but you can easily export directly into Sibelius for further tweaking.

If you are into video game orchestras, then check this out.

I love this song!
Enjoy

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