Why the bleep do we bleep?

Eurorack enthousiasts should check out this new podcast.

The Tubbutec µTune microtonal quantizer

Jan Caron of Gearslutz and Tony Dubshot discuss the awesome Tubbutec µTune microtonal quantizer. And let's not forget the Ornament and Crime module, a versatile module which can also do xenharmonic quantizing and is a good enough choice for beginners. And here's a mix of some xenharmonic tunes by Tony Dubshot.

The Linux Experryment

For many years the Dubbhism studio-computer has been running versions of Cubase; first on the Atari ST and later on Windows. Now there's nothing wrong with Cubase, but Microsoft never felt right. The release of Windows 10 was the final insult. Running Reaper on Linux seems to be a realistic alternative.

Modular Microtones #1

Why would anybody want to make microtonal music with a modular synth? Somehow, using a computer seems more logical. Especially if you want perfection, which is a common syndrome among microtonalists. But if you’re ok with an oscillator drift of about +/- 1 cent, making microtonal music on a modular system can be big fun. 

Review ~ BeatStep Pro by Arturia

You don't have to be Nostradamus to see that this will be a hit. The Arturia BeatStep Pro has the connections, the brains and the looks. It's playable, fairly easy to use, not too expensive and it has some nice extra's that show Arturia's experience. Here's what Allert and Ben of Sonar Traffic had to say while checking out the BeatStep Pro.

Visual tools for mixing sound

If you have a small studio, or if you’re still learning to trust your ears when listening to a mix, visual aides are really helpful. The frequency analyzer is a budget producer's best friend. The phase scope is also quite useful. But why stop there? Lissajous curves are big fun! Here's a roundup of basic spectrum analyzers and some specialties.

Oskar Sala's frequency shifter

Not your average frequency shifter. This is a one off, custom built, nothing but tubes inside, and it sounds great. You may have heard about Mr. Sala's Mixtur-Trautonium, which is a really nice vintage synth, but his frequency shifter is just as interesting.

Review ~ TherapSid by Twisted-Electrons

When the French one-man company Twisted Electrons shipped it's first batch of SID-based TherapSid synths in the fall of 2014, some users experienced 'stuck notes' and MIDI-trouble but Alex seemed to react swiftly and accurately. And so, by january 2015 the € 399,- for a TherapSid (with 6581 chip, or € 333,- without) seemed a justifiable investment. Long story short: the monster has matured quite a bit.

Dynamic Tonality releases Transformer

Transformer 1.0 is a new tool for xenharmonic experrymentation, developed by Dynamic Tonality. Explore tuning~timbre relations using powerful new tricks, based on Bill Sethares' theories. Features like morphing between tunings are not very mainstream, but the live input can retune an incoming signal to any tuning. A great new toy! 

Peter Blasser on JI, integers and saving energy

Here's an entertaining video featuring Peter Blasser of Ciat-Lonbarde and some of his electronic instruments.The Justints software (with the 8-bit style visuals) has some just intonation-properties.

Dutch Modular Design ~ Falafular

This is the 3rd time we investigate new eurorack modules developed by Dutch designers. Previously we checked out Das Ding's Baby 8 and we had a quick look at Jan Willem's Ginko Synthese (an in-depth review of his Sampleslicer coming soon on Dubbhism). But right now we have Falafular on the brain. And yes, there's a falafel-connection.

How to make microtonal chiptune music

The subtle art of chiptune production is all about creating special effects in the mids. That's why real 8-bit music sounds best when you hear it on a noisy old laptop or something. Also, 8-bit music is best served pure. Having said that, you should really try out this handy how-to by Sevish: "Microtonal chiptune music with One-SF2 VST".

Dutch modular design ~ Das Ding's Baby 8

Dutch electro legend Das Ding aka Danny Bosten has recently begun to build his own Eurorack-compatible mini-sequencer. It's called the Baby 8 and if you're interested you can buy a hand built version (stand-alone or rack) directly from Danny. Just contact him via Facebook. Also, check out this Juno Plus interview about the Baby 8.

SoundBytes Magazine's FMTS 2 review

The Xen FMTS 2 is a free VSTi synth by Jacky Ligon (Xen-Arts). It opens the way to wild explorations of tunings and timbres. It was used extensively on the latest Dubbhism Deluxe release, an album by Jacky Ligon, Sevish and Dubshot titled '23'. Check out this well written FMTS 2 review by Warren Burt for SoundBytes Magazine.

DIY corner ~ spirit voices & spooky drones

Simple circuits can produce amazing results. The Spooky Tesla Spirit Radio is simpler than a theremin and it can sound a lot spookier. It's perfect for crazy drones. Check out the 'Disembodied Spirit Voices' @ 1:15 in the video. Want to roll your own? Go here for instructions.  

Maestro Echoplex EP-4 vs Roland RE-301

Two classic analog tape delays, the Maestro Echoplex Ep-4 and the Roland RE-301 Chorus Echo are compared using a Moog synth.

How to mix bass like a pro

Uberdude Dave Pensado has a crucial YouTube channel. Pure science.

Dutch modular design ~ Ginko Synthese

Last week's edition of the Noodlebar was a classic. Sierra Romeo (a.k.a. Terrace) did a stunning set, and he was closely followed by Gein, Falafel Biels and Colloid a.k.a. Jan Willem (photo), who is also the man behind eurorack modular start-up Ginko Synthese.

Modular showdown at the Noodlebar

In recent years, modular synths have become quite popular. If you want to meet the musicians, the gearsluts and the diy-synth builders who laid the foundation for this revival, check out the Noodlebar: a monthly electronic music event hosted by Roodkapje in Rotterdam.

Livid DS1 ~ a USB MIDI controller that looks like a mixer

This week Dubspot announced a remarkable hardware collab: "We could never find a single complementary controller on the market to meet our functionality and durability needs, so we decided to simply build one ourselves, with Livid Instruments as the perfect partner."