Last night I was happy at home during a big storm that hit the NYC area. I did a little test using Skype and Ecamm Network’s Call Recorder. As you can hear it works as advertised:

Skype Call with Leslie by thingstocome

“Install Call Recorder and you’ll instantly see recording controls in Skype. Use the Record and Stop buttons, or activate Call Recorder’s automatic recording feature. The recorded files are saved into a folder on your Mac, neatly named with the caller’s name and the date. That’s it!” – ecamm.com

Photo credit: re-ality

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“Propellerhead Software’s product specialist James Bernard kicks off this series of tutorials with a demonstration on creative uses of the Record mixer’s dynamics section to create rhythmic gating effects, also known as ‘trance gate’.” – PropellerheadSW

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jnZ1EwvW88

“In this week’s episode, James Bernard shows how to create a typical dub step wobble bass sound in Record and Reason.” – PropellerheadSW

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mKL2xCw1Ds

“In the third episode, James Bernard gives you even more tips on creating dub step wobble bass sounds in Record and Reason.” – PropellerheadSW

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGPYBnpt1ZA

“Week 4 is here and this time James shows you the basics of the Contol Volt and Gate features in Reason and Record. Many users shy away from CV/Gate for fear of not knowing what they do, but CV/Gate is an immensely powerful feature and quite straightforward to use once you grasp the basic concept.” – – PropellerheadSW

For more info: propellerheads.se

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I was pleasantly surprised to hear an ice cream truck on my block yesterday. I snapped a photo and recorded the melody the truck was playing. It has to be one of the happiest sounds ever created.

Ice Cream Truck by thingstocome

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Here’s a pro-audio podcast I just discovered while listening to SonicTalk. Audionowcast is quite similar albeit with a more USA centric accent. They are up to 80 episodes and if via the iTunes download page you can troll through some descriptions to see if you want to hear any older shows. Subscribe page: click here

“The AudioNowcast is a podcast that covers all aspects of audio in the music, recording, film & television industries. Topics include: song writing & music marketing; recording & mixing; location sound, sound design & sound editing. Our panel is made up of industry professionals who share their insights, stories and tips.” – nowcastnetwork.com

For more info: nowcastnetwork.com

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

I’ve been having fun with Everyday Looper and it’s a good App. This guy makes it look great (in a French way)! About $5.

“I just spent two sessions with the Everyday Looper (5 hours and 3 hours, respectively) and I can honestly state that this $4 program gives my $250 looping pedal a run for its money.” – ProfHop

Download now on iTunes: click here

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

Big City Music has released a good look at the Metasonix D-1000 Vacuum Tube Drum Machine. It’s unique and definetly sounds ancient in terms on electronic sound. Those who can appreciate the amazing soundtrack to Forbidden Planet (iTunes link) or some Aphex Twin will appreciate this box.

“The first drum machine made with vacuum tubes since the Wurlitzer Sideman of 1959. Unlike the Sideman, it’s a “modern” primitive device–with plenty of inputs, outputs, and flexibility. Even though it has only four drum sounds — two tunable drums, a tunable “snare” drum (harder sounding than the others), and a cymbal — control voltage inputs give great flexibility.” – metasonix.com

For more info: metasonix.com

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I often thought to myself, “This car stereo sounds better than anything I hear in my home.”. So here’s an idea… why not put a car stereo in your home? I know the car’s acoustics is probably a large factor in its sound but could this be another way to check your mixes? In the late 80s I had an incredible Alpine system in my car. It was one of those units that the green buttons turned beige when you pressed them. Of course I had to take the faceplate with me everywhere I went and I had a “NO RADIO” sign on my window. Ah the old crime ridden yet a lot more fun NYC. Now if I can hack my bed to mechanically bounce…

“pioneer head unit with 2 clarion tweeters beatin” – subwoorferman

What do you think… good idea or just plain stupid?

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A real analog kick processed by some monster hardware boxes. Record it 65 ways and give it away free. That’s what Wave Alchemy just did. Hey, it got me to their site to look around.

“65 24-bit 100% royalty free kick drum (Jomox AIRBase 99) samples which have been recorded through an A-grade signal chain including devices such as the Thermionic Culture Vulture, Empirical Labs Distressor and API 512c pre-amp.” – wavealchemy.co.uk

Get your free samples here: http://www.wavealchemy.co.uk/club_kicks_2/pid60/fr

via Synthtopia

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Gary Numan In Conversation from Machine Music on Vimeo.

I’ve always thought Gary Numan was highly underrated. Go back today and listen through his albums and see if you don’t agree. Honest loud real analog synths and interesting vocals. They don’t make them like they used to.

“Gary Numan (born Gary Webb on 8 March 1958) is an English singer, composer, and musician, most widely known for his chart-topping 1979 hits “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” (with Tubeway Army) and “Cars”. One of the first musicians to use electronic synthesizers successfully in rock music, his signature sound consisted of heavy synthesizer hooks fed through guitar effects pedals. Commercially unsuccessful for many years of his career, Numan is nevertheless considered a pioneer of commercial electronic music. His use of themes from science fiction, and his combination of aggressive punk energy with electronics, have since been widely imitated.” – Wikipedia.org

The official Gary Numan homepage: http://www.numan.co.uk

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Synthinetic from alexabreu on Vimeo.

If you want to turn your child into a future button pusher Alex Abreu & Ithai Benjamin’s Synthinetic box seems more fun than most things you can get at Toys R Us. I credit the fact that my father grabbed some old synths from the music department at the school he taught at when the music dept. closed down for my lifetime obsession with electronic music. The younger you grab someone the better (don’t let your mind go too far on that statement please!).

“The little kinetic noisy synthesizer of your dreams.” – alexabreu

For more info: alexabreu.com

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