Producer Tim Exile (Timothy Charles Shaw) lets us know that he has introduced PTNSHIFT, a generative music performance instrument for Ableton Push and Native Instruments Reaktor.
He says that it’s inspired by Autechre’s generative live performances, and combines the “deep sonic universe of modular synthesis” with DJ-style interactions, like pattern-launching, mixing, blending and FX.
The official intro video:
Here’s a deep dive into PTNSHIFT:
*Note: PTNSHIFT requires a full license of Native Instruments’ Reaktor to run without restrictions.
PTNSHIFT is available now for $59 + tax and includes a Reaktor file and a MacOS and Windows companion app for capturing the Reaktor interface and displaying it on Push 2’s screen. Additionally, PTNSHIFT and Scapeshift are now available as a bundle for $99 + tax.
Geddy Lee teams up with Moog for limited edition satin red Minimoog Model D with ‘hot-rodded’ VCA circuit.
Moog Music has announced the releases of the Geddy Lee Minimoog Model D, a limited edition of the iconic analogue synth that pays tribute to the Rush frontman’s enduring influence on progressive rock.
The Geddy Lee Minimoog sports a custom satin red finish with metallic flecks that echoes the look of the keyboard rig used by Lee around the time of the 1984 album Grace Under Pressure, and the synth is adorned with a custom badge and sticker featuring Rush’s “Starman” logo.
The Geddy Lee Minimoog Model D arrives with a bundle of Rush merch, including an exclusive 10″ red vinyl featuring Xanadu and Jacob’s Ladder, a collectible poster, commemorative manual and gift box. Each instrument is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity hand-signed by Lee and individually numbered.
In a video shared to Reverb’s YouTube channel, Lee tells the story of Rush’s introduction to synthesizers in the mid-’70s, beginning with the Moog Taurus and then the Minimoog Model D. “It was the first time that a schlub like myself could dream big with an instrument that was easy to get around,” he says.
“You could get your head around it; you could learn about waveforms by just clicking the dial and blending them and playing with the modulation wheel. That’s the legacy of the Minimoog; not only does it sound fat and sophisticated but it’s not daunting to get your hands on.”
Lee goes on to discuss how the Minimoog was utilized on classic Rush tracks such as Tom Sawyer, Xanadu and Subdivisions: “For Tom Sawyer I played around with sawtooth and square waves, trying to blend the two of them so that I got a fatter sound from the square and a bit of rizz from the sawtooth”.
“The Minimoog Model D has shaped music history for over five decades, inspiring creativity across genres with its timeless instrument design and raw analog power,” said Erik Norlander, Director of Product Development at Moog Music. “The Geddy Lee Minimoog Model D combines the iconic sound and intuitive functionality of the original, with exclusive features that honor both its history and its future.”
The Geddy Lee Minimoog Model D is exclusively available via Reverb (US), priced at $5,499.
Sample platform Splice has launched an update to its mobile app that lets songwriters and producers record vocal ideas over tracks sketched out using its AI-powered Stacks feature.
Stacks can be used to generate track ideas by layering samples from Splice’s library. Pick a genre, and the app will instantly create a Stack that layers multiple samples in that genre that share the same key and tempo; these can then be mixed, muted or swapped out for new samples from Splice’s library, while the global key and tempo can be adjusted across the whole Stack.
Splice Mic lets app users record over ideas generated using Stacks, and it’ll even analyse the vocal recording to find additional samples that match it harmonically. After recording a loop of up to one minute in length, users can then trim it using the app’s audio editor before snapping it to the beat grid.
If they are not happy with the results, they can pick a new genre and Splice will select new samples to work alongside the vocal take. Multiple takes can be layered together, with a maximum of eight layers in a Stack. Finished ideas can then be exported as mixes, stems or Ableton projects to be polished in a DAW later.
“The phone is already a huge part of music making,” says Splice’s SVP of Content Kenny Ochoa. “About 1 million users have made more than 28 million stacks so far, and now songwriters and producers can record vocal ideas over stacks of samples. They can experiment with vocal, lyric, and genre and have even more control over their creative vision. and now those stacks can be merged with vocals”.
To celebrate the launch of Splice Mic, the company invited two opposing teams of songwriters and producers to create tracks in 60 seconds using Splice’s mobile app.
“We got the team together to see who could start the best new Stacks,” said artist and producer Leland.
“These creative tools are fun to use, and the results take songwriters so much deeper into the finished process. Before we even get to the studio, we can sketch out melodies and even hooks. This is so valuable to our community”.
