Blog Action Day: A Greener Music Industry

Archangel Green is the first ever UK Record Label fully committed to a greener music industry. Their studio is powered by a green tariff provider, and when band “The Phoenix Rose” signed to the label they both agreed to numerous clauses aimed at making the production, performance and distribution of their music as environmentally friendly as possible. A 100% digital release, it sets new standards for how music can be produced and distributed in an environmentally friendly way, bringing the green agenda right into the center of popular culture. (more…)

Track of the Day: Red Alert – Construction Kit

Author: Ma13sharp11
Track Name: Red Alert – Construction Kit
Duration: 2:39

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High energy blend of funky guitars, heavy guitar riffs and hits, acid synth lines, beatboxing, alert siren sound fx. This breakbeat style track works great for action oriented projects.

Purchase this track

Audio Gadgets: Korg WAVEDRUM

Recently AudioJungle author Danielku introduced me to the Korg WAVEDRUM. I’m a huge fan of electronic percussion gadgets, and this one seems to be very expressive. Unlike a lot of other electronic percussion instruments, this one is designed to be played with your hands.

The original WAVEDRUM was created back in 1994. Today’s second-generation model has more and better sounds, greater expressiveness, and better DSP. It has 200 instrument (100 for the head and 100 for the rim), 200 programs (100 preset and 100 user), and 100 loops.

Like the original WAVEDRUM, the device is better suited as an audio sound source rather than for MIDI sequencing. One user (tdultz) reported that he did not get very useable data when sequencing with Pro Tools. Then again, what other device or virtual instrument would be able to make use of all of that subtle sensor information as you play with fingers. And that isn’t going to be a problem—Tdultz is very happy with the WAVEDRUM’s sounds:

I cant say enough about the sound quality. Perfect sounds with zero ‘hiss’ going in from the 1/4″ audio left and right channels… Over 90 percent of the sounds are affected by the pressure sensitive drum head surface. With all the percussion sounds, pressing in gives a talking drum or tabla feel (you hear each sound bend in real time as you press or release). Other sounds produce ambient noises as a background complment to the percussion. You can keep playing the percussion sounds over certain ambient noises by using it much like indian tablas (apply pressure with the left wrist while you play with your fingers and hands.)

The second-generation WAVEDRUM sounds even better.

That’s enough talking—you want to hear what it sounds like, right. Youtube has a bunch of demonstrations, like this one.

What are your thoughts about the Korg WAVEDRUM? Do you have one? Do you want one? How would you use it?

Audiotuts+ Roundup

Audiotuts+ is our sister site, and part of Envato’s Tuts+ family designed to power up your skill set. It is a blog for musicians, producers and audio junkies.

The site is interesting and informative, and always worth a visit.

Want more? Join the Plus program where you can access source files and bonus tutorials.

Here is a roundup of this week’s tutorials and articles. (more…)