Today, Gamechanger Audio introduces a new line of three AUTO audio effects: AUTO Reverb, AUTO Chorus, and AUTO Delay.
What they say about the line:
“The AUTO Series pedals are a fusion of classic audio effects and groundbreaking parameter automation.
Each AUTO Series pedal turns your performance into sound design, with your touch, dynamics, and note choices automating the effects parameters and shaping tones in real time – The AUTO Series reimagines what a pedal can be.”
Each pedal features two on-board automation sources that can produce automation signals based on specific elements of your performance:
The DYNAMICS Engine monitors your instrument’s volume, your picking intensity, and overall playing dynamics.
The PITCH Engine precisely tracks your note choices and overall instrument timbre.
With a simple patch-bay interface you can route these automation sources to any of the four primary effect knobs.
In addition, each pedal has four corresponding smaller knobs, also called attenuators – they determine the amount and direction of all parameter automation signals.
The separate AUTO footswitch engages the whole automation section, allowing you to easily switch from a standard effect mode to a pre-routed automation setting.
Each of the effects is available now, priced at $329.
Synthesist Jonas Fasching shared this video, exploring the psychoacoustic possibilities of binaural recording of a synthesizer.
Binaural recording uses a pair of microphones, positioned similarly to human ears, to capture what a person would hear in the same position.
The video demonstrates how you can use binaural recording to capture real-world reverb and mix it with your synthesizers.
Here’s what Fasching shared about the technical details:
“In this video, I am trying to record a Synthesizer, the Novation Peak, in Binaural with the SR3D Binaural Microphones. I am recording the sounds of the synthesizer in a skatepark and i capture the sound of the room and the reverb with these binaural microphones.
While Fasching demonstrates the technique with a synthesizer, the same approach could be used with any instrument.
*Note: The term ‘binaural’ simply means ‘involving two ears’, rather than a specific technique. The term is used in several ways relating to recording and electronic music synthesis:
Binaural recording refers to using a specialized microphone, as demonstrated in the video, to capture sound the way a person would hear it in the same position.
Binaural mixing refers to mixing with psychoacoustic processing, in order to create an immersive spatial stereo mix.
Binauaral beats refers to the psychoacoustic effect of hearing a ‘phantom’ tone or beat when you listen to two closely related tones in your left and right ear. For example, if you listen to a 440 Hz tone with your left ear and a 444 Hz tone with your right ear, you would hear a 4 Hz tone or beat (the difference between 440 & 444).
Binaural synthesis is a term used to refer to two different concepts:
Artificially creating the psychoacoustic effects of spatial audio; and
An approach to sound synthesis that uses a separate channel to generate audio for each ear, instead of using a single synthesis channel and then using panning or effects to create a stereo effect.
What these have in common is that the effects are best heard, and in some cases only heard, when listening with headphones.
Synthesist Starsky Carr – in his latest video – takes a look at the combination of the Roland MKS-80 Super Jupiter and the Retroaktiv Super Controller, which he describes as the “Superer Jupiter”.
Can it really beat the classic Roland Jupiter-8, which now goes for $20,000+ used?
Watch the video and share your thoughts in the comments!
Video Summary:
“The Roland MKS-80 Super Jupiter is often labelled as an enhanced Jupiter 8 in a box – even Vintage Synth Explorer calls it something like that. Here I look at it along with the Retroaktiv Super Controller.. which really does feel like it brings the instrument up to date and makes it a whole lot easier to use. Essentially if you’re thinking of buying an MKS80 or if you’ve got one you never really use… GET ONE OF THESE. They’re cheaper than the original MPG80 controllers, and blow them out of the water as far as functionality is concerned.
I forgot to mention the build quality… which is excellent. Everything has that old school hardware feel. The buttons are lovely and clicky, the knobs are boltwd to the chassis,the sliders feel nicer than my jupiter or Odyssey. No complaints there.”
