Would you pay $900 for a yellow box called “Assblaster” with a “disgusting and juvenile cartoon art by Dave Lovelace” on it? When it sounds as great as the video below you would. Right? Take a look as some of the specs:

“5 real new-old-stock VACUUM TUBES, The basic preamp stage of the Metasonix TM-7 Scrotum Smasher, driving the waveshaping (pulser) and ring modulation functions of the TM-1 (minus the ring-modulator carrier oscillator), which then drives a VCO derived from the Metasonix TM-3. (the oscillator is NOT intended for use as a synthesizer pitch source, only as a special effect for signal degradation), leading to: All new wide-sweeping bandpass filter, with envelope filter function plus wah capability (external pedal). Envelope follower, which also makes a gate signal. Noise gate on the output, which is always active and is driven by said gate signal. Relay-based, true bypass for the main circuit. Relay-controlled activation of the VCO and pulser. Controllable with manual switches or external Fender-type amp footswitches. Plenty of processing inputs and outputs for control voltages.” – Big City Music

Your really not going to get a sound like this from plug-ins. You can get the “idea” using Izotope Trash and say TC Electronic’s Filtroid together but honestly it’s not going to make your neighbor’s pitbull run and hide like the KV-100 can.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6y1KFuD0sk

For more info: www.metasonix.com

Here’s a choice I am running into that I need help making a decision for. When you post your commercial, for sale music online do you allow the full song to stream or only allow a 30 second preview? The large online music retailers such as iTunes and Amazon only allow 30 second previews. Do they know something about buying behavior? Does allowing just a short clip tantalize a listener so he wants to hear the rest of the song and clicks buy? Could it be iTunes and Amazon believe people will “rip” or record a full song stream even if just 128k quality?

Some websites like Last.fm give you the choice. I had my music set for 30 sec play and I received the following comment:

“30 second clips? can we get anymore of a rip off thats like showing half of the picture you painted, but if you want to hear the rest youll have to buy it if people like you enough, they will buy your music stop being such a rip off” – mnmcandiez

After a little thought I switched my settings to full song play. Is that the right decision? I think everyone knows it’s easy to record any sound your computer makes. I also know my publisher Strengholt music group doesn’t approve. There are some sites such as Bandcamp who rely on people buying music in order for them to survive yet they only allow full streaming songs.

So what do you do? What are the pros and cons here?

photo credit: mag3737

Apparently today is the 30th anniversary of the Cassette. Create Digital Music has a great walk down memory lane worth checking out: Happy 30th, Sony Walkman: Your Memories and the Best of Cassettes on CDM

Related post: Cassette tape nostalgia. Rewind.

There’s no drum machine like the Roland TR-808. It has kick that goes from a sharp click to boom and snares and hats that sound like chrome lightning. Since Roland never released the 808 and used prices are up and up it’s no wonder clones are arriving. We already have the Miami from Acidlab and as you can see above the MB808 from intellijel could be coming our way. I say yay.

More info: intellijel.com

The BBC has a great story titled, “Giving up my iPod for a Walkman” in which a 13 year old named Scott swapped his iPod for an original Sony Walkman. I often think what must young kids think when they play with old cassette decks and such.

“Another notable feature that the iPod has and the Walkman doesn’t is “shuffle”, where the player selects random tracks to play. Its a function that, on the face of it, the Walkman lacks. But I managed to create an impromptu shuffle feature simply by holding down “rewind” and releasing it randomly – effective, if a little laboured.” – Scott Campbell

Scott also is late to discover there another side to a tape and that “metal” doesn’t mean “metal band eq”!

Read the full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8117619.stm

photo credit: Rosa Pomar

If you’re looking for a very good sound analog synthesizer you may want to check out the new Analogue Solutions SEM clone Telemark. I can think of a long list of main brand synthesizers that cost around the same price ($1250) or higher than the Telemark that don’t have 1/10th of it’s character. Check out the video and audio sample below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rv_ftljSWo

Telemark audio clip: click here

For a history lesson concerning Oberheim’s SEM (Synthesizer Expander Module) head over to vintagesynth.com: click here If your about to go shopping keep in mind Tom Oberheim is also preparing to release a new version of his own classic. Read about the new SEM and check out a video over at Matrixsynth: click here

For more info: www.analoguesolutions.com

As musicians we all spend time checking out music tech blogs, participating in pro-audio forums and listening to tunes on various social music sites. We can all justify the time we spend on such sites as learning (and it really is!). I’ve found a new time waster: Craigsphone (iTunes link). I know the iPhone app has been around for a while. I know you could do the same searching over at Craigslist. However, I had not searched for local synths for sale on my iPhone until today. There’s something to be said for laying in the backyard on a chaise lounge chair and finger flicking through used goodies with knobs. There’s some great stuff you can find such as “3 Non-Working ADATS”.

Ever find a killer deal on Craigslist?

D16 have released their Roland TR-606 clone called Nithonat. I love all the D16 drum machines because they sound fairly close to the original hardware they emulate and also have terrific internal sequencers. My favorite feature is the random function. It is well worth reading the manual if you try/buy any of the D16 drum machines so you get the most out of them. Here is a set of samples I created from the new box:

Related post: D16 Drumazon and Devastor video.

Yes it is true you can get Antares Mutator for $10 from AudioMidi.com: click here Keep in mind you need an iLok. I love mangling my voice and lay it on thick when it comes to vocal effects and tricks.

“Torley is a happy human being, video tutorial/screencast pioneer, virtual world expert, social media guru, thought leader, freelance blogger, wild dancer, graphic designer, freesoul, ex-concert pianist, techno producer, loving husband and father to a couple cats…” – torley.com

Check out more Torley here: torley.com

As part of my job making the world a more effient place I sometimes end up in large building’s machine rooms. If you think analog synthesizers have cool knobs you have to check out some of this stuff. After I took a few photos I realized how loud my surroundings were so I hit record on my iPhone and grabbed the following sample:

After we did our “audit” of the building we took a moment on the 19th floor which was vacant. Imagine yourself living or working in a building with views like this:

Related post: Sounds from a life in Rockland County.