U2 - Live Nation 12-Year Deal

U2 signed a 12-year deal with Live Nation covering touring, merchandising, digital and branding rights of U2.

U2 will continue recording and publishing under the terms of their contract with Universal Music Group. [via billboard]

Alternate MIDI Controllers

Deviant Synth has a posted a good roundup of alternate MIDI controllers, including the Haken Continuum, Kellar Bass Systems Jam Bass and H-Pi Tonal Plexus (pictured above). [via rekkerd.org]

KMFDM 24/7 - Interview + Shirts

KMFDM DOTKOM Field Communication no. 0159:
March 30 2008

KMFDM 24/7 UPDATE
The first release in the KMFDM 24/7 series, Kickin' Ass sold out in less than 48 hours. Not only did all 250 copies of the regular 7" disappear quickly but the two Test Pressings that were for sale were among the first to go. KMFDM would like to thank everyone for the great response to the first item in this unique series.

As promised the KMFDM Store gave away one of the 5 Test Pressings of this 7", randomly inserting into an order. Jade A. of San Antonio, TX was the lucky recipient of the Test Pressing this time around. Look for a free Test Pressing to be given away with each 7" in the series.

The next KMFDM 24/7 release is Don't Blow Your Top. It will be available on Tuesday April 01, 2008.

BRIMBORIUM ON GERMAN ALTERNATIVE CHART
It seems that Germany has welcomed KMFDM's Sascha K. back with open arms. After debuting at # 11, KMFDM's first ever full length remix album Brimborium rose week by week to # 8, then # 5, then # 3, to finally nab the # 2 spot on the German Alternative Chart for the week of March 17th.

KAPT'N K. INTERVIEWED AT VAMPIRE FREAKS
A new interview with KMFDM’s Sascha K. has been posted by our friends at Vampire Freaks. Check it out to see what the Kapt’n has to say about the past and the future of KMFDM. Links to this and other interviews and reviews can be found at KMFDM DOTKOM in the Web Press Section .

The Kapt'n K. Vampire Freaks Interview is here.

KMFDM DOTKOM Web Press section is here.

XF SHIRTS BACK IN STOCK
Both Excessive Force Shirts are now back in stock in the KMFDM Store. The Shirts can be found in every size, from Small to XXXL. They are available on their own, bundled with their corresponding CD or in a money-saving Mega Bundle.

Califaudio Banner

For the past three months, I've been enjoying working on Califaudio.

This website has become a place where I write about music, instruments, sound gear and technology I find interesting. Hopefully, you do too.

I don't get a lot of comments written on the site, but I do get a decent amount of email through Califaudio. Thanks for your support!

If you'd like to help spread the word about Califaudio, tell a friend, or you can copy the html code below and put it on your website:

<a href="http://blog.califaudio.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://califaudio.com/images/califaudio-bannerV8.jpg" alt="califaudio" border="0" /></a>

This Califaudio banner was created by Essylt, who shot the black & white studio pictures I posted yesterday.

Online Music Collaboration Software

While we're still in the infancy of online music collaboration, we've advanced technologically since the days of mailing tapes and files on CD-R back and forth via The Postal Service. Now there are plenty of faster delivery methods, including email, ftp, DigiDelivery [now by Aspera, formerly Avid/Digidesign] and free file hosting services, such as YouSendIt and MediaFire.

Still, there's nothing like jamming in real time.

Although there have been some innovative but failed online music collaboration attempts, like RocketNetwork and MyVirtualBand, there is no doubt the future will bring high-quality options for musicians to jam, record and perform live across the Internet with hi-def video conferencing.

In the meantime, let's check out three new and upcoming online music collaboration tools:

eJamming AUDiiO is a cross-platform app that allows musicians to play together over any broadband connection. Latency is determined by many factors, including Internet connection speed and the distance between the users.



Sessions can be recorded in CD-quality. eJamming’s Overdub mode allows the musician recording a new track to experience near-zero latency while everyone else in the session hears the new tracks synced to the previously recorded tracks.



eJamming is completely free now during the public beta period. After this initial period, the software is exprected to remain free to download, but you will have to pay a monthly subscription fee (probably about $10) to use it. Soon a new Jamcast feature will be added that allows streaming of live concert performances as well.



NINJAM [Novel Interval-based Network Jamming Architecture for Music] is a cross-platform program that uses OGG Vorbis audio compression to compress the audio, then streams it to a NINJAM server, which in turn streams it to the other people in your jam. Users can control their own personal mix.


The NINJAM solution to the latency problem of Internet streaming is to lengthen the delay to intervals measured in measures. Just as your interval finishes recording, it begins playing on everyone else's client. So when you play through an interval, you're playing along with the previous interval of everybody else, and they're playing along with your previous interval.

An alpha version for OS X is available here.


Bitwaves MusicBeam is an AU/VST plugin with near-real-time performance across various sequencers and platforms using Java. It's been tested with Logic Audio 5.5 (PC), Logic Pro 6.3-8 (Mac), Garage Band 3, Ableton Live 6.0 (Mac/PC), Digital Performer 5.0, and Mackie Tracktion 2. Available Q3 2008.



Real-time open source music for geographically-challenged musicians is becoming a reality.

Fantastic Machine - Animusic

Youtube [via Katskanna]:

"This incredible machine was built as a collaborative effort between The Robert M. Trammell Music Conservatory and the Sharon Wick School of Engineering at the University of Iowa.

Amazingly, 97% of the machines Components came from John Deere Industries and Irrigation Equipment of Bancroft Iowa, yes farm equipment!

It took the team a combined 13,029 hours of set-up, alignment, Calibration, and tuning before filming this video but as you can see it Was WELL worth the effort.

It is now on display in the Matthew Gerhard Alumni Hall at the University And is already slated to be donated to the Smithsonian.

Enjoy.


By the way, IT"S FAKE! did it get ya?"

The animated video was actually created by Animusic. The piece is called "Pipe Dream" and is on the Animusic 1 DVD. There's also a "Pipe Dream" sequel on the second DVD. A third Animusic DVD is currently in production.

Leon Scott Phonautograph

The biggest audio story of the week has to be the discovery of recorded sound that predates Thomas Edison's reciting of "Mary Had A Little Lamb" on tinfoil by 17 years.

Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville recorded ten seconds of an anonymous woman singing the folk song “Au Clair de la Lune” on April 9, 1860, using a phonautograph. The device had a horn attached to a stylus, which etched sound waves onto sheets of paper blackened by smoke from an oil lamp. The idea was to "see" sound, not to play it back. That idea hadn't been conceived yet.

Listen to the recording here. Amazing!

Check out the full NY Times story.

TJ Milian Studio

My home recording room.

TJ Milian Studio. Photos by Essylt Jarrot.

Musical Instrument Museum Phoenix 2010

Scheduled to open by early 2010, the Musical Instrument Museum [MIM] will exhibit instruments from every country in the world. Ground was broken last month on the 20-acre site on the north side of Phoenix, Arizona.

The collection's approximately 5,000 instruments will include exquisite heirlooms of royal courts and handcrafted pieces passed down through generations. With modern wireless headsets and videos screens, visitors will see the instruments and hear their sounds being played in their original settings.

The 180,000 square-foot museum will offer 75,000 square feet of gallery space, a world-class performance theater, a conservation laboratory, a recording studio, a restaurant, coffee shop and gift shop. There will also be areas set up for the playing of instruments, including Congolese slit gong drums.

For more info, visit themim.org.

Ladytron Black Cat

Ladytron: "Black Cat" mp3.

From their upcoming fourth album, Velocifero, out on Nettwerk on June 3.

European tour starts April 30 in Manchester. US tour kicks off in Seattle on May 24.

Moog Voyager Old School #1

The first Minimoog Voyager Old School was completed yesterday at Moog Music. Check out matrixsynth for more news on the Voyager OS, Little Phatty and MP-201 Multi-Pedal.

Irmin Schmidt & Kumo Axolotl Eyes

Irmin Schmidt & Kumo [myspace] will release their second album, Axolotl Eyes, as a CD/DVD set April 14th on Mute. Several tracks feature Ian Dixon on trumpet and Paul J. Fredericks on vocals.

Irmin Schmidt [Can] and Kumo first worked together on Gormenghast in 1997 before crafting their 2001 debut album, Masters of Confusion.

The first 5 parts of an 8-part podcast are available now on Mute Station. For a limited time, you can download the new unreleased Das Eb remix of "Kick On The Floods" here. European tour dates are in the works for this year. [via sideline]

MRI Recording

I updated the previous post with a sound sample of an MRI machine.

Bent Festival LA 2008

The Tank has announced the lineup for The Fifth Annual Bent Festival of hardware hacking, DIY electronics and circuit bending. Events are scheduled in Los Angeles, New York and Minneapolis.

Bent Festival LA
April 17-19, 2008

Thursday - Saturday 7-10 PM
Grand Performances at the California Plaza
350 S. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles CA 90071

Thursday, April 17

7:00PM der Warst
7:35PM Aimee Norwich
8:10PM univac
8:45PM embarker
9:20PM Joker Nies

Friday, April 18

7:00PM Tasos Stamou
7:35PM XDUGEF and OGOGO
8:10PM Krach der Roboter
8:45PM Clay Chaplin
9:20PM Pleather

Saturday, April 19

7:00PM Peter McPartlan
7:35PM Lesley Flanigan
8:10PM Travis Weller
8:45PM Leeane Berger
9:20PM Mario de Vega

Saturday, April 19 - AFTER PARTY @ Zero-point
Zero-point
1049 E. 32nd St.
Los Angeles CA 90011

10:30-11:15 ATTN
11:30-?? DJ Tendraw

The shows are free. If you want to get in on the circuit bending action, you can take part in the workshops on Friday and Saturday afternoon for a small fee.

The Bent Festival is produced by The Tank, a non-profit space for performing and visual arts in New York City with a mission to provide a welcoming, creative, collaborative, and affordable environment for artists and activists engaged in the pursuit of new ideas.

Neumann TLM 103 D Digital Microphone

Neumann Solution-D [via neumann.com]:

The Solution-D digital microphone system is comprised of the following components: A digital microphone (available at the moment are the D-01 and TLM 103 D large-diaphragm microphones and the KM D small-diaphragm microphone), the DMI-2 digital microphone interface and the RCS remote control software, which operates and remotely controls the microphone. A PC or Mac can serve as the control computer, which of course can simultaneously be used to operate the actual recording system, for instance.

The signal and data transmission of the microphone conform to the new AES 42 standard. The introduction of this standard governing the transmission of output signals, the supply of power and the remote control of microphones with digital outputs provided the necessary preconditions for the development of digital microphone technology. Neumann made a decisive contribution to the drafting of the AES 42 standard.

Instead of being used with the DMI-2, the KM D small-diaphragm microphones and the TLM 103 D large-diaphragm microphone can alternatively be connected to the AES/EBU or S/PDIF interface of a recording system by means of a Connection Kit. However, if a Connection Kit is used, it is not possible to control the microphone functions remotely. Thus a control computer is not required. In this case, if it is necessary to synchronize several microphones, a sample rate converter must be used.

All of the possible Solution-D system configurations are illustrated here and here.

The Starter Sets, comprised of a KM 184 D or TLM 103 D and a Connection Kit, provide an economically attractive entry into the world of digital microphones. If the user later wishes to take advantage of additional switchable parameters and remotely controlled functions, the system can be expanded at any time by acquiring a separate DMI-2.

Any audio engineer who is familiar with digital technology can begin production with Solution-D immediately, without extensive training. The additional features provided by digital microphones open up new possibilities for production.

TLM 103 D digital large-diaphragm microphone

The TLM 103 D, available immediately, is the digital version of a classic mic for home recording and project studios.

In the microphone, the Neumann A/D converter which has been extensively proven in the D-01 receives the output signal directly from the capsule. With a dynamic range exceeding that of the capsule, the converter permits optimal utilization of the capsule qualities. This ensures that the capsule signal is made available to the recording system without any coloration, with a hitherto unknown transparency.

If required, the DSP functions integrated into the microphone can be configured and controlled remotely via the DMI-2 digital microphone interface and the RCS remote control software. These functions include gain setting, a compressor/limter with an additional de-esser function, and a peak limiter. The digital concept proves particularly beneficial here. The peak limiter, which receives the output signal almost directly from the capsule, acts as an automatic “safety valve”, permitting safe exploitation of the entire available dynamic range even in stressful recording situations.

For the purpose of clear identification, information concerning the name of the manufacturer, model, serial number and installed software version is transmitted by the microphones to the connected receiver.

The microphones are equipped with a 3-pin XLR connector for transmission of a bi-directional signal conforming to the AES 42 standard. This signal includes the balanced digital microphone output signal, the phantom power supply, and a remote control data stream that also contains a signal for synchronizing the microphone with a master clock.

Two versions of the TLM 103 D are available: Classic nickel, and black finish. All standard sampling frequencies are supported, from 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz.

More details at neumann.com.

EMS VCS3 - Synthi Sequencer + Trautonium

The VCS3 is the original EMS portable semi-modular synthesizer unleashed upon the world in 1969.

The rare Synthi Sequencer 256 below is basically the sequencer section of the Synthi 100.

The Trautonium was invented in the 1930s by Oskar Sala in Germany. Its sounds can be heard in the classic Alfred Hitchcock horror film The Birds.



All photos courtesy of Jim Cowgill (Sequenox), who shot these yesterday at the Musical Instrument Museum [Musikinstrumenten-Museum] in Berlin.

Saul Williams Troubadour Concert

Saul Williams put on a high energy show last night at the Troubadour in West Hollywood.

His growth as a performer since his last tour was evident at the sold out concert. Saul's list of demands: Analyze the show tomorrow. Tonight let's have fun.

It was fun. Saul came out in some kind of Civil War feather costume and let loose. He jumped down into the crowd to dance and sing. He seemed to be having a great time.

At one point, he stopped rapping for a second and the crowd took over, shouting his words back to him. It was a real moment. You could see the emotion in his eyes.

The new keyboard player and guitarist added to the stage show. CX Kidtronik was gold also. He's an MPC master. I'd like to know what his white and blue synth noise box was. He made some really cool "frying electronics" sounds with it.

Saul Williams played a good mix of new and old tracks. His performance of "No One Ever Does" was outstanding. "List of Demands" closed out the main set, and he finished the night with a powerful version of U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday."

The NiggyTardust tour is not to be missed. Check here for more dates.





Update: LA Times review

Ministry Cover Up Preview

Ministry updated their myspace with previews of the covers on the upcoming Cover Up album.

Al Jourgensen singing "What A Wonderful World" is hilarious!

The Sound of Touch

There are some great ideas coming out of the MIT Media Lab.



Check out the Sound of Touch:

The Sound of Touch is a new instrument for real-time capture and sensitive physical stimulation of sound samples using digital convolution. The hand-held wand can be used to (1) record sound, then (2) brush, scrape, strike or otherwise physically manipulate this sound against physical objects. These actions produce sound in a manner that leverages peoples existing intuitions about sonic properties of physical materials. The Sound of Touch permits real-time exploitation of the sonic properties of a physical environment, to achieve a rich and expressive control of digital sound that is not typically possible in electronic sound synthesis and control systems.

The ability to flexibly capture and sculpt audio is characteristic of digital tools; our system enables physical and continuous sound manipulation typical of acoustic instruments and found objects.

The Sound of Touch is a collaboration with Hayes Raffle and Roberto Aimi, and is based on Aimi's methods for realtime percussion instruments.

[via the music of sound]

NIN Ghosts Video Update

I updated the previous post with a second video.

Easter Church Choir

To celebrate Easter, I dug up a recording I made of a Parisian church choir rehearsal in June 2005.

While visiting Notre Dame in Paris, I noticed an interesting sound emanating from a nearby cathedral, the name of which I can't recall right now. As we walked closer, the sounds of a church organ and choir came into focus and grew louder with every step.

Upon entering the grand building, I felt a chill as a wave of sound came rushing toward me from the choir. The reverb was monstrous.

I broke out my Edirol R-1, pressed record and took a seat, hoping nobody would notice or mind my recording. There's a bit of handling noise on the distant recording, but here it is:


paris church 1 : mp3 download


paris church 2 : mp3 download

Happy Easter!

Autism: In My Language

In My Language is a powerful statement by Amanda Baggs.

More:

Amanda Baggs: Wiki, CNN, Wired, blog
A Way of Describing Autism
Autism, Speech, and Assistive Technology

30 Ghosts IV NIN Califaudio Video

Update: New video version 2 added below.

I enjoy getting lost in music. The new NIN album, Ghosts I-IV, is a great soundtrack for daydreaming.

Every time I listen to it, 30 Ghosts IV conjures up images in my mind of various places, times, people, things, experiences, possibilities and abstract thoughts.

For the Ghosts Film Festival, I wanted to create a video that you can get lost in along with the music.

Music for Daydreaming + Visuals for Daydreaming.


Video for 30 Ghosts IV is up on the Califaudio youtube.

Higher quality versions of the video with stereo sound are available for download now:

30 Ghosts IV NIN Califaudio [480 x 272 - 21 MB] for iphone
30 Ghosts IV NIN Califaudio [640 x 360 - 36 MB] for ipod
30 Ghosts IV NIN Califaudio [960 x 540 - 85 MB] for itunes, quicktime, apple tv

The hi-res version has much more detail, but the file is huge. Email me if you want it.

Watch the video in full screen mode and cross your eyes like you're trying to see a Magic Eye stereogram image for a cool 3D effect.

+ + +

Update: I just finished a second version of the 30 Ghosts IV video.


30 Ghosts IV NIN Califaudio v2 video on youtube.

Higher quality download:

30 Ghosts IV NIN Califaudio v2 [960 x 540 - 85 MB]

I attempted to make this new version sync better with the timing of the music and a bit less straining on the eyes and brain.

The v2 video seems to hold your attention more, but my original idea was for the video to avoid attention, and instead serve as a visual accompaniment for daydreams.

When I view the first version, I tend to zone out and "blank stare" as if I'm looking into or even through the video more than just watching it. Does that make sense?

MRI Sound Experience

This week I underwent an MRI scan of my right wrist. As this was my first MRI, I knew very little of what was in store for me. All I was told was, although the procedure is safe, I might get injected with dye with a huge needle, and I might feel claustrophobic in the chamber. No big deal.

Once I arrived at the doctor's office, I was asked to remove all coins and metal objects from my person, including my belt and shoes. When I was handed a pair of earplugs, I knew I should have brought a portable recorder inside the lab.

The doctor told me to lay on my stomach on the concave table. The table then started to rise and slide into the machine. A few seconds later, the sound show began.

First, a somewhat distant repetitive rhythm kicked in, followed by a series of synth-like bleeps. Then it got LOUD. There were all kinds of odd sounds resembling horns, jackhammers, alarms, sci-fi blips and industrial percussion. One stretch sounded just like a time-expanded drum loop. The sound was incredible.

You can hear some MRI sampled sounds here and here.

There were times during the 30-minute scan that I fell into a trance surrounded by the soothing ambient machine orchestra. Other times seemed a bit uncomfortable, as if trapped in this narrow tube while being subjected to obnoxiously loud power tools.

I was scanned three times using two different machines. I loosened one of my earplugs at one point to get a better listen. That didn't last long. The jackhammer started up again as loud as a jet engine.

After it was over, I felt relieved and slightly out of it for a minute. I was kicking myself for not capturing the audio. I considered grabbing my digital recorder and asking to record a session of the machine, but I was done. Plus, I figured somebody must have already recorded an MRI and used it musically.

I found this online: Project MRI by the CT Collective. The CD was produced last year using sample recordings of a real MRI machine. You can download all the tracks for free.

I'd love to hear more MRI recordings. If you know of any, please spread the word.

Update March 27, 2008:

I had to get another MRI today, so I figured I'd capture the audio with a portable digital recorder. Unfortunately, the technician wouldn't let me record the session. First she said the MRI would destroy my batteries. Then she said, since the MRI machine is a huge magnet, my recorder would fly across the room and stick to the MRI. Scary!

For a second, she seemed like she was about to let me set it up in the corner, but then said she was afraid the extra RF in the room might cause problems with the test results or even the machine itself.

All I was able to record was the MRI machine turned on in its resting state. It's what you hear before, during (in the background) and after an MRI scan.


mri : mp3 download
this track is unavailable until june 13, 2013.

Ministry Cover Up April Fools

Ministry will be releasing Cover Up on April Fools Day. The album is full of covers of classic songs by Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Deep Purple, T.Rex, ZZ Top and more.

Al Jourgensen's co-conspirators include Sin Quirin, Burton C. Bell, Josh Bradford, Thomas Victor, the Hell Paso Mosh Choir, the late Paul Raven, Tony Campos, Wayne Static, Edu Mussi and Plastilina Mosh.

On Tuesday, March 25, check the Ministry myspace for 30-second previews of all the covers.

Wisp The Shimmering Hour on Rephlex

Rephlex Records will release the new album from Wisp, The Shimmering Hour, on CD and 3x12".

Release and tour dates TBA. Listen to a preview of the album on the Wisp myspace.

QOTSA SoCo Music Experience

Queens of the Stone Age are set to headline the SoCo Music Experience. The festival, sponsored by Southern Comfort, is free to everyone 21 and older. The tour starts in Atlanta on May 17 and ends in Tempe on October 18, with Denver, San Diego, Madison and New York in between.

More QOTSA tour dates all over the world can be found at qotsa.com.

Paul Raven Memorial Concert

PAUL VINCENT RAVEN
1961 - 2007

A memorial concert for Paul Raven is planned for Saturday, April 12, at the Bridge House 2 in London. Raven, bassist of Killing Joke, Prong, Ministry and Pigface, died of an apparent heart attack last October.

The special lineup includes three bands closely associated with Paul: Headcount, October File and Gundogs, which features Paul's brother Dan on bass. [via blabbermouth].

iTunes All You Can Eat

According to Financial Times, Apple is talking to the major record labels about the possibility of offering unlimited downloads of the entire iTunes music library to customers who pay a premium on future iPods.

In addition to the "all you can eat" model, monthly subscription business plans are also on the drawing board. No official comment yet from Apple.