Live Soundscape Improvisation For Yamaha DX7
The video, by Midera, captures a live soundscape improvisation on a vintage Yamaha DX7 synthesizer.
Here’s what they shared about the technical details:
Yamaha DX7
Fractal Audio FM3
Spitfire Audio’s Ronroco by Gustavo Santaolalla Now Available
A signature sound that adds emotion into music, film and games.
This obscure Andean instrument, played by composer Gustavo Santaolalla, is the star of Spitfire Audio’s latest plugin: Ronroco by Gustavo Santaolalla.
The ronroco is a mandolin-like instrument with 10 strings arranged in five double courses, the middle pair tuned an octave apart to create a distinctively resonant tone.
Spitfire Audio’s new instrument samples the composer’s own ronroco, handmade by master luthier Chiquito Rodriguez, meticulously capturing Santaolalla’s unique and emotive playing style and signature E minor tuning.
Equipped with multiple articulations, including slides, slurs, twiddles, tremolos and vibrato, the instrument incorporates adjustable strum speed and authentic fret and string noise for added realism.
The plugin features three performance modes (Note, Chord and Sequencer) that can be used to perform and program realistic chords, strums, arpeggios, and lead lines.
Its auto-chord voicing feature automatically maps chords with reference to traditional tunings and realistic finger placements, recreating how the chords would sound if performed by a ronroco player.
The plugin is also equipped with a 32-step sequencer with per-step articulation, and an effects section that includes two types of reverb and a delay with modern, tape and ping-pong options.
Ronroco by Gustavo Santaolalla Walkthrough:
Ronroco by Gustavo Santaolalla is priced at £139/$169/€149, but an introductory discount of 20% is available until 8 May.
Find out more on Spitfire Audio website.
Introduction To Balfolk Boombox ‘Synthy Gurdy’
Hurdy gurdist Rory Scammell shared this intro to the Balfolk Boombox, a custom hurdy gurdy synthesizer that he created in collaboration with Sam Palmer.
The hurdy gurdy is a traditional string instrument that produces sound using a crank, which rubs a rosined wheel against the strings.
Scammell & Palmer’s version features a variety of Eurorack modules, allowing the instrument to play percussion, bass, leads and more.
Here’s a performance video of the Balforlk Boombox in action:
