MMT featured artist Andrew York wants to release his next recording without a label, and is using Kickstarter to make it happen. He set a modest goal, and after one day is more than half way there. Get a preview of the music below, where Andy explains his preparations and plans for the project.
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We first featured Zoë Keating as a Free Friday pick in 2010. Last year she received more mentions in MMT than any other artist — largely due to a guest post she wrote for us: “Zoe Keating on Spotify, Apple and Independents (and lettuce).”
In addition to being at the vanguard of alt-classical music, she has become a leading light for the DIY movement and unofficial spokesperson for indie musicians. As the handcrafted artisan music blog at the intersection of art, commerce, and technology, Zoë’s story and music have a special resonance with MMT.
Stage fright steered her away from a career as a classical performer and into a liberal arts education at Sarah Lawrence College. After college, Zoë strengthened her tech skills through the tuition of several dot-com startups while moonlighting as a musician.
Then the dot-com bust provided an opportunity to work at music full-time while doing information architecture on the side. Everything converged around the cello and MacBook Pro. Although limiting at first, through advances in technology she is now “dealing with the repercussions of being able to do almost anything.” And she has dealt with those repercussions quite well — producing music and managing her career with fierce independence and great success.
You can sample some performances and get more information from her featured artist profile, available from the dropdown list at the top of each page and previewed below.
[click through for full profile]
zoë keating photo: nadya lev
street signs: steve jobs keynote from the ipad launch
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Best Buy is offering iTunes gift card at a 20% discount for a limited time (i.e., hurry up!). In addition to music, videos, books, movies, and rentals, the digitally delivered cards can be used for software purchases in the Mac App Store. Since Apple rarely discounts its products, here’s a chance to save some money.
For example, Logic Pro sold for $499 before it was offered as an App Store download for $199, and can now be had for $160 with the purchase of two $100 gift cards at the discounted price of $80 each.
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As we reflect on 2011 through the lens of MMT statistics, it’s not surprising to see that Apple dominated the year from multiple angles. Apple’s iCloud service was the subject of this year’s most popular post, and 6 of the top 11 stories had ties to Apple services, apps, or devices.
With the introduction of Spotify in the US, and the integration of multiple music services into Facebook, 2011 was a breakout year for streaming music. And even if you get your streams from MOG or Spotify instead of iCloud, chances are good there will be an Apple computer, tablet, phone, iPod, or other device in the mix.
Another to
pic high on the list is artist compensation. Apple shows up here, too — whether they are being praised, thanked, blessed, or cursed. Steve Jobs keeps popping up in our Music 2.0 series, where Pete Townshend expressed a desire to cut off his balls and Jon Bon Jovi personally blamed him for “killing the music business“.
In a few hours, 2011 will slip away — just like Steve Jobs, Napster and a disheartening number of artists. Thanks Steve, thanks sleepy cat, and thanks to all of the musicians who left us their songs, compositions, and performances.
Thanks and Happy New Year to all our MMT readers, and special thanks to guest authors Zoe Keating and Chris Taylor for writing the #4 and #7 things on our list for 2011.
Zoe KeatingPhoto: Jeffrey Rusch
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originally posted 10/19/2011
Christmas 2011 Update: Moog Music Inc. now offers Animoog for iPhone at an introductory price of $0.99, and has put the iPad version on sale for $9.99 (regularly $29.99).
A year ago, we wrote about the mixed reviews for Moog’s first iOS app: Filtatron. Our main complaint then was about the performance interface. What a difference a year makes. We are picking Animoog as the MMT Editor’s Choice for Best Synthesizer App for the iPad.
Animoog outshines Filtatron in every respect, but has blindingly better performance controls. There is a keyboard with adjustable spacing, and each key can act as a slider to adjust user-selected parameters — providing effects similar to aftertouch on a physical synth keyboard. And the X/Y pad is both a visual and auditory treat. There is a lot of movement in these sounds, and you can see and control it by dragging a green dot around the 8 x 16 grid.
We usually save the video until the end, but go ahead and press play to listen to the demo while you read the rest of the post.
A Tour of Animoog from Moog Music on Vimeo.
Sounds pretty good, eh? Here’s what Wax808 had to say in their 5-star review from the iTunes Store:
First of all let me say that I am a hardware purist, I hate using computers for making music. I also own a Moog Little Phatty, a DSI Mopho, and have owned a few other analog synths in the past. At first glance this appears to be a whole new type of interface and way to modulate classic synth sounds. The reality is that this is an incredibly deep and beautiful sounding instrument. Use the iPad as a sound module and reap the rewards of the continued work of Bob Moog and Steve Jobs. Absolutely stunning offering.
Now for the big news: Animoog is selling for an introductory price of $0.99 for 30 days only (it was introduced on 10/17/2011). After that, the regular price is $29.99.
We especially like the options for both preset and user-defined scales, and the built-in recording module. Additional features are listed below, or go to the Moog site for more info.
Key Features:
• Anisotropic Synth Engine (ASE) – An exciting new Moog technology that allows the user to move dynamically through an X/Y space of unique timbres to create an expressive and constantly evolving soundscape.
• Timbre page – Assemble unique sounds in the X/Y space from timbres of a wide variety of vintage and modern Moog synthesizers and pedals. Note: this is NOT simple sample playback.
• Polyphonic Modulation – Simply slide your fingers to control multiple modulation parameters in Animoog right from the keys.
• Polyphonic Pitch Shifting – Easily manipulate the exact pitch of each note in a chord by rotating or sliding your fingers.
• Delay Module – A classic analog style ping pong delay.
• Thick Module – From bit crushing to unison voice detuning and drive, this module adds depth, edge and character to Animoog’s already massive sound palette.
• Moog Filter – The classic four-pole Moog ladder filter with High Pass, Low Pass and Band Pass modes.
• Record Module – Record your performance and overdub new layers, or play along live. Transfer recordings between Animoog and any other apps which support AudioCopy/AudioPaste
• Path Module – Direct ASE through Animoog’s X/Y space to create new expressive and shifting sounds that will blow your mind!
• Orbit Module – Control the rate of orbit in the X/Y space around the path you created for subtle to insane voice manipulation.
• Flexible Modulation Matrix – Amp, Filter and Mod Envelopes, LFO with infinitely variable wave shapes and sync, and four super flexible and assignable modulation slots.
• MIDI in/out – Use your Little Phatty or any other MIDI controller to control Animoog.
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The Anvil “Alloy Convertible” Turntable – $1,600 
Finally, an heirloom quality turntable with a cast iron plinth (base) and a proprietary cast alloy non-magnetic platter. Made in Detroit, USA.
Sennheiser HD800 Headphones – $1,499.95
Calling these “headphones” simply will not do. For this is the Sennheiser HD800 Over-Ear Circum-Aural Dynamic Premiere Headphone
The story of the Sennheiser HD 800 began with a dream: of developing headphones that go way beyond conventional equipment to become music phones, or even perfect sound phones. The dream of creating a hi-fi device that sounds as brilliant, clear, and undistorted as if you were sitting right next to the source. The dream of creating an acoustic experience more incredible than anything ever heard through dynamic headphones: in spheres that no other category is capable of reaching–right there where perfection begins.
Did they succeed in bringing this dream to life? They did for Bob Lefsetz:
And the organ on the Black Crowes’ “Thorn In My Pride” is a revelation, you can literally see it. Truly. Music video gives you the illusion you’re closer to the music, but on the HD 800s you don’t even have to close your eyes, you can literally see the instrument, the blond wood, the placement of the fingers.
Note: Links to Amazon are affiliate links
harpejji (K24) - $3,999
The harpejji is a tapping instrument with a keyboard-inspired playing surface capable of producing chord intervals that are impossible to play on a guitar or piano. All chords and scales of a particular type have the same geometric shape, so you can easily shift up, down, left, or right to play them with a different root.
The harpejji comes from Marcodi Musical Products of Baltimore, MD, and is hand-crafted in the USA. Blending the worlds of guitar, bass, keyboards, and percussive tapping, the harpejji brings benefits to all the musicians on your list.
Keyboardists will realize these and many more benefits with the harpejji:
- The Real Thing – The timeless and organic sound of real strings
- More Control – The expressive nuance of direct string contact (sliding, bending, muting, vibrato, etc.)
- EZ IvoriesTM – This marking system identifies all notes via a piano’s black and white color code
- EZ OctavesTM – Double your interval reach on a piano
- Add it to your Rig – No need to stop playing the keys. Add the harpejji as a new tier to your normal keyboard setup.
Bassists will enjoy:
- The choice to cover a one-note bass line, or play full songs by yourself
- Percussive Tapping – The percussive strengths of a tapping instrument
- Fuller range of notes – A range deeper than a 5-string bass and wider than a 10-string bass
Guitarists will find that the harpejji is unlike anything they have ever heard:
- Unique Tone – A tone and sound that blends well yet is distinct from all other instruments
- The power of 10-finger compositions – Utilize all 10 digits for new and creative musical compositions
- New Chords – New chord intervals that are impossible to play on guitar (or piano)
- Two Parts from one Musician – The ability to cover guitar and bass parts at the same time
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