New Sonic Academy website

Sonic Academy has upgraded their website with a better layout and feel. I love the video section it is now very easy to see all tutorials at a glance. Only suggestion I'd make is to have a page which details the Synths required for the tutorials since not everyone has the mulla to buy 10 to get through the tutorials.

Cant be 100% since I'm on a work computer but there looks to be some minor bugs with images that cant be found.

Sonic Academy

reFX Nexus2

I thought I had bought the creme de la creme of Software Synth packages with Komplete 5 but stumbled upon reFX's Nexus2 software today and it looks pretty great.

If anyone has it I'd love to hear your opinion of it, at USD$1919 fot he full unadulterated version its a bit much to go on a whim for. But it would be high on my list of Synths to but if I ever got a decent paying track or a better job

More info visit the reFX Nexus2 site

Ableton 8 Suite arrived!!!

The Ableton 8 Suite arrived at work yesterday!! Spent 4 hours installing the extra packages (the ALC files uploader really needs batch functionality), updating the sample files and the surprise 1.4 GB update! So once I'm finished with a few more tonight I will finally be able to stretch my legs in all its advance goodness.

Some of the first things I want to check out is

• whether my old songs will still load since there was a file format update that means that old Abletons cant open new Ableton files, just hope its not also the other way around, or whether it needs to be converted
• load a few songs and check out the DJ and VJ functionality, will need to wait until I can afford the Ohm64 to really give the DJ side a rinsing since my current Mixer doesnt accept MIDI connections like the Ohm64

Give me a few days and I will update on my progress and my opinions.

Use Serato and Ableton with the Bridge

Not really a fan of Serato but there is an interesting article on CreateDigitalMusic explaining how this new bit of software help both applications can work together.

No release date but atleast it is free for owners of the respective applications.

Ableton Serato: The Bridge fuses DJ Sets Live Sets Full Details

Zodiac Cartel new site

One of my favorite arists, Zodiac Cartel, has a new store front on his website and has packs that include full Remix Parts to some of his songs. I for one will be downloading all of the packs tonight as I want to support Artists getting paid directly from their respective websites rather than having everyone paying service/hosting/random fees to Beatport or the evil iTunes.

ZodiacCartel Store

Ableton shipment delayed

Its taking forever to change status, its somewhere between Germany and Australia...

Ive been looking through my MusicTech Focus of Ableton Live 8 which is a great for someone wanting to get right in there with some professionals helping you along the way.

There are heaps of packages to install once I get it because its been a while since Ableton 8 was released, and they are also having some focused tutorials on the site to get people using all the power it has to offer.

Ableton 8 Suite is on its way to me

Ive taken the plunge while they have their 10th Bday celebrations to buy Suite 8. Should be here in a week or so, I will give an update once its here. You should consider upgrading while the 20% off sale is on cause even if Ableton 9 comes out within 6 months the cost will be higher than now and if there is a feature you really need then a one version upgrade shouldnt be a killer like the USD$400 one for me.


So far I have a few projects planned including putting together a 20-30 minute DJ mix that I'm going to add some jingles over and present to two radio stations hoping to get on the air in 2010.

Remix Comp: Witch Doktor by Armand Van Helden

Been a while since my last update as I've been on holidays and doing some SonicAcademy tutorials (they are great)!

This classic Strictly Rhythm track should be a dream to remix into almost any genre, looking forward to see how "out there" people can go.... go gabber!:p

Prizes include an official release, Beatport gift voucher and Traktor Duo.

http://www.beatportal.com/feed/item/beatport-presents-the-strictly-rhythm-remix-contest/

Beatport Remix Contest - Yello!!!

For those not in the know Yello are behind the infamous "Oh Yeah" track in Ferris Buellers day off, and now thanks to the samples being made available you can sample it to your hearts content.

The other track of theirs you can remix is Bostich, which I didnt recognise until the guy started yelling and remember hearing it on the Optimo Essential Mix

Yello - Bostich

Yello - Oh Yeah

Hands-on Ohm64

After seeig reviews in my regular magazine buys, I finally got a hands on go with the Ohm64. After 10minutes playing around I know I'm getting it. A bit more expensive than some other similar offerings but read the reviews and decide for yourself.

For me I need the ability to use it with other applications (APC40 and Launchpad only support Ableton) like Traktor Scratch Pro.

Also Ive been interested in seeing how VJing is and the controller comes with the companies full version VJing software.



Livid Instruments
Review between Ohm64, APC40 and Novation Launchpad