For many on this side of the pond, electronic dance music is new to the charts and radio, coming over here through popular European producers David Guetta and Tiesto. Yet, more than 20 years ago, such sounds originated here, and Kevin Saunderson was one of the pioneers of the Detroit [...]
2012 has been a good year for Monophonics. The group was initially formed as an instrumental funk and groove outfit more than eight years ago. However the recent addition of singer/Hammond organist Kelly Finnigan to the lineup has opened up a new dimension of the band’s sound that’s enabled them [...]
Tabletop, by Retronyms, is a fantastic tool for sound designers looking to work in an environment that simulates the “real thing” while allowing the functionality of electronic expandability. The main goal of tabletop is to provide a studio-like experience for those designing, mixing, and recording sound. Everything from a light [...]
If you want to feel a vibe like you’re driving through the intro of a 1980s nightclub-scene television series wearing a bushy moustache, dial into Chromeo. Eminently danceworthy, infectious and ever-so-accessible to millions of electro-funk addicts, the stuff these guys have been exuding for almost a decade capitalizes on the [...]
When it comes to DJing and producing, many – from the novice to the professional – talk about effects, features, and comfort. But when a device doesn’t sound good – either from its own shortcomings or simply poor-quality acoustics in the space – what good are an extensive list of [...]
Music Studio Lite is a free music-making tool that can be used to make unique rhythms, loops, or even songs, depending upon the skill of the user. The app has several available features and extensive in-app help documentation available. The best way to learn Music Studio Lite would probably be [...]
Have you ever wanted to have a quality home studio? It’s practically de facto that a home studio is lower quality and has fewer resources when compared with a professional establishment. However, many producers frequently start as “bedroom recorders” before moving onto bigger and better things. If you find yourself [...]
Synth is a great way to learn about using a synthesizer to make and produce music. The basic version of this app, available for free from iTunes, allows you to experiment with several different synthesized sounds, adjusting the octave, pitch, and modulation. Different filters for delay amount, time, feedback, and [...]
Nostalgia is a two-way street for an electronic musician and producer: The preferred, and now classic, sounds are in one direction, but antiquated technology and cumbersome playability is in the other. Getting those ‘80s synth washes is contending with a lack of touch sensitivity and with equipment that has a [...]
Ableton is considered one of the quintessential programs for DJing and making electronic music. Yet, if you’re not fully skilled on the hardware aspect of either, using Ableton ends up being a daunting task. Ableton and Novation, for making Ableton Live more accessible, introduced the Novation Launchpad. Designed for DJing, [...]