For years I’ve been torn between many different computer-based recording solutions, both lightweight/economical and extensive/expensive. Until now, most software solutions have managed to cover all the basics of recording pretty well, often with one outstanding feature, like Ableton’s clip view or Logic’s bundled synths. Finally, one program seems to have [...]
Billed as The Groove Sketchpad, iMaschine follows hot on the heels of the 1.7 release of the full software, and the launch of Maschine Mikro, a slimmed down version of the original hardware. The family is growing, and given Native Instruments’ versatility with their software to date, it’ll [...]
Native Instruments’ Maschine has really led the way in terms of solid updates since its impressive, but admittedly premature 1.0 release back in 2009. User requests have been incorporated and great new features added such that the all-in-one production studio is really starting to live up to its [...]
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a full blown production console at your fingertips, while also accessing the speed and storage capacity of your PC or laptop? Enter: Native Instruments Maschine. Native Instruments unveiled their revolutionary Maschine console hoping to take the industry by storm. [...]
Love the hype or loathe it, the iPad is happily changing the way a generation of musicians interacts with sound. From new implementations of classics, like Korg’s iMS-20, to mainstays like GarageBand, to a growing number of interfaces for existing performance software, the touchscreen input is redefining our [...]
The awkwardly named iXiMix is a UK based development team specializing in iOS control interfaces for your favorite music software. At the time of writing, they’ve released touch controllers for Traktor, Access Virus and, of course, Ableton. This last one pits them against some increasingly stiff competition, but if there’s one [...]
Last month we reviewed Pioneer’s achingly beautiful DDJ-T1 Traktor controller, and bemoaned the unfortunate timing that saw the hardware coincide with the most substantial update to the software in a decade. Pioneer had promised a 2.0 upgrade to the manufacturer’s edition of Traktor in July, and they’ve delivered. Bundled with [...]
From humble beginnings nearly a decade ago, Ableton Live has matured into a very serious DAW and performance platform with an army of slavering fans worldwide. On stage, it’s used by a breathtaking roll call of diverse artists from Sasha, Daft Punk and Deadmau5 to Jan Jalinek, Jamie Lidell and [...]
Right from their earliest days, Apple's iDevices have been seen as potential tools for new media applications. Music apps were among the first available and, thanks to some runaway successes and great innovations, have grown in number and sophistication in the years since. It's no surprise, then, to see some [...]
Pioneer's Pro DJ line has built a solid reputation on well-designed, high quality equipment, and in particular its CDJ line has earned its place in that most worn of marketing catchphrases, the Industry Standard. For years they've been the choice of many of the world's biggest clubs and, it follows, [...]