I was looking at the Umixit site. There doesn't seem to be that much going on in terms of new music being released on that format.
I tried to order a few CDs from Webster Hall, but they wanted USD40 for international shipping - which is a bit over the top (I'd want to be ordering a whole box of CDs to justify that sort of shipping cost - Amazon charge about USD10 to ship from the UK to NZ). I might just grab some when I'm next in the US.
A pity, since the idea of a Cakewalk based system looks promising.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Stuff I'd like
Here's a few thoughts on what I'd like from music technology going forward:
I find hardware boxes more fun to use - I've got an old Boss DR-202 drum machine that I picked up on TradeMe - excellent toy! I also still prefer a real vinyl 12" to a CD.
- An interface between mixing software and something like Serato Scratch Live so you can "drive" the position through traditional terminals.
- Alternatively, a control surface with big spinning wheels - a bit like a Pioneer CDJnnn but as a controller rather than just a CD player.
- Even better, a "mixing appliance" - not something from Kenwood, but a hardware unit that provides multitrack playback and remixing.
I find hardware boxes more fun to use - I've got an old Boss DR-202 drum machine that I picked up on TradeMe - excellent toy! I also still prefer a real vinyl 12" to a CD.
Monday, October 16, 2006
YourSpins.com
Rupert at YourSpins emailed me last week to tell me about their remix technology/website.
YourSpins is slightly different to the other commercial formats. Rather than being focused around physical CD singles, they are mainly (entirely?) web-based. The site is an interesting blend of social networking (a la Myspace) with remixing.
They've currently got 38 tracks available for remixing, with artists including Coldcut, Moby, Sasha (who has long supported grassroots remixing, offering mixable tracks to download with the airdrawndagger album back in '03) and Erasure (that 80's thang again!).
The actual remix software is available in different formats. You can either use a web-based mixing tool, or download a Windows Media plugin. The way you make a mix is different, too - each segment of the tune has a choice of instrumental/effect styles to apply, which works along with adjusting the level faders to complete your mix.
Here's a snap of the Windows plugin version:
Getting results is quite easy. The only problem I had was making the levels match up between tracks to avoid choppiness. An envelope feature (like U-myx) would be nice to have, as would a loop button.
Once you've made your mix, you can post it back to the site for others to listen to. There's an active comments feature, so you've got an instant feedback facility.
YourSpins is slightly different to the other commercial formats. Rather than being focused around physical CD singles, they are mainly (entirely?) web-based. The site is an interesting blend of social networking (a la Myspace) with remixing.
They've currently got 38 tracks available for remixing, with artists including Coldcut, Moby, Sasha (who has long supported grassroots remixing, offering mixable tracks to download with the airdrawndagger album back in '03) and Erasure (that 80's thang again!).
The actual remix software is available in different formats. You can either use a web-based mixing tool, or download a Windows Media plugin. The way you make a mix is different, too - each segment of the tune has a choice of instrumental/effect styles to apply, which works along with adjusting the level faders to complete your mix.
Here's a snap of the Windows plugin version:
Getting results is quite easy. The only problem I had was making the levels match up between tracks to avoid choppiness. An envelope feature (like U-myx) would be nice to have, as would a loop button.
Once you've made your mix, you can post it back to the site for others to listen to. There's an active comments feature, so you've got an instant feedback facility.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Umyx 3.0
I've had a look at the preview clip of Moby's New York, New York single (featuring Debbie Harry on vocals).
This is (one of?) the first tracks to be supplied in the Umyx 3.0 format. The key feature here (notice the circled pulldown in the photo) is that you can not only switch samples in and out and change the volume, you can also cut, copy and paste sections of the song. This gives a *lot* more flexibility - you can extend the intro, remove choruses, really change the style of the song.
No effects or external samples though - although one option would be to feed the output into a mixer and play around with that.
This is (one of?) the first tracks to be supplied in the Umyx 3.0 format. The key feature here (notice the circled pulldown in the photo) is that you can not only switch samples in and out and change the volume, you can also cut, copy and paste sections of the song. This gives a *lot* more flexibility - you can extend the intro, remove choruses, really change the style of the song.
No effects or external samples though - although one option would be to feed the output into a mixer and play around with that.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
New Order - Jetstream
Band: New Order
Title: Jetstream
Amazon
Format: U-Myx 2.1
Minisite: t.b.d.
"Not as good as they used to be?" - When bands have been around as long as New Order that tends to be the case. However they've produced a reasonable pop song here. The vocal is a bit irritating (but you'll be able to mix that out). So not the next Blue Monday, or even Krafty, but probably worth buying (or downloading!).
Oh and it's U-myx 2.1, so you can't put the samples in a "new order" - groan!!
Title: Jetstream
Amazon
Format: U-Myx 2.1
Minisite: t.b.d.
"Not as good as they used to be?" - When bands have been around as long as New Order that tends to be the case. However they've produced a reasonable pop song here. The vocal is a bit irritating (but you'll be able to mix that out). So not the next Blue Monday, or even Krafty, but probably worth buying (or downloading!).
Oh and it's U-myx 2.1, so you can't put the samples in a "new order" - groan!!
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Welcome!
Welcome to The Concrete Mixer.
This blog provides a venue to discuss remixing and mashups. In particular, I'm going to report on emerging multitrack music formats like ChoonML, Umixit and U-Myx. I'll cover them from a technical and musical point of view, and try and review new music coming out in multitrack formats.
Feel free to email me with any comments, news, etc:
This blog provides a venue to discuss remixing and mashups. In particular, I'm going to report on emerging multitrack music formats like ChoonML, Umixit and U-Myx. I'll cover them from a technical and musical point of view, and try and review new music coming out in multitrack formats.
Feel free to email me with any comments, news, etc:
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