Vince Clarke Launches Company, Announces Modular Synths | Emusician: "Depeche Mode, Yazoo, The Assembly, and Erasure all have two things in common: one, they were founded by legendary synth-pop Svengali Vince Clarke; two, they have enjoyed catchy Clarke-penned (or co-penned), synth-driven Top Ten hits in his native UK and beyond. In a noteworthy career spanning four decades and countless millions of records sold, the Ivor Novello Award-winning songwriter has had more hit singles than most of us have had hot dinners, clocking up no fewer than 17 Top Ten entries in the UK with Erasure alone."

Just loved the bio so much.

Labels: modular

Native Instruments Unveils Stems Open Audio Platform at WMC 2015 | Emusician: "As an open format, anyone will be able to create, perform with, and distribute Stems in any way possible. Producers, DJs, and labels will be able to author their own Stem files using a free standalone application called the Stem Creator Tool. Developers will have full access to format specifications and code examples for them to integrate Stem support into future music performance and production tools."

I once knew an unfortunate amount about the MP4 container ('MooV') file format.

Labels: apple, atom, moov, native instruments, Stems

Jay Z asked Apple's Jimmy Iovine to collaborate on revolutionary streaming platform Tidal: "The rap idol hopes Tidal's new model will drive more direct compensation from streaming plays, while serving as a catalyst for artist experimentation. Not beholden to record labels, musicians would be free to create almost anything they desire. For example, artists could break conventional format and release 18-minute songs, or meld genres into completely new hybrids, testing for audience response.

Yo, Jimmy! I needa get whichu.

Labels: distribution, producing

How to get all the awesome extra sounds for GarageBand 10 | Cult of Mac
When you download GarageBand from the Mac App Store, you get 50 sounds, 500 loops, 1 drummer, and 2 basic lessons for guitar and piano. Likely, though, you want the full package, though, which expands the content to 200 sounds, 2,000 loops, 15 drummers, and 40 basic lessons for guitar and piano.

Frankly, I'm frightened to upgrade lest all the features I depend on are upgraded away in the interest of trying to get people to use Logic. Unfortunately the German logic of Logic is not so logical to me.

Labels: engineering, producing

Sennheiser Headphones Win iF 2015 Design Awards - Magnetic Magazine
The International Forum is a decades-old institution in which products with outstanding development are awarded for their efforts in a range of categories (engines, vehicles, toothbrushes, etc.). Sennheiser received the coveted iF label in the “product design” category with their RS headphone series, URBANITE headphones, and the in-ear-canal CX series.

Love Sennheiser, always have. The yellow foam model one of my all-time favorites for studio use.

Labels: engineering

Xiaomi releases a $63 GoPro competitor (with optional selfie stick) | VentureBeat | Gadgets | by Emma Lee, TechNode: "Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi is breaking into the sports camera industry with a low-cost camera retailing at only RMB399 (US$63). The GoPro-style gadget is also offered in a RMB499 version, which includes an accompanying selfie stick."

If the price was keeping you from getting one. Sony also has a GoPro type camera.

Labels: gopro, gopro clones