I’m all about free software / Plug-ins, but unfortunately most of it is made VST and I won’t give up my Mac / Pro Tools combo so there aren’t very many free RTAS plug-ins. Yet I’m not a selfish person so I’ll keep you in the know about free plug-ins on any platform. Just bake me some M&M chocolate chip cookies and we’re even. So what we have here is a delightful plug-in that creates custom gate patterns. Basically the sound you get out of this is that Timbaland synth sound. Like THIS. Its actually pretty popular right now in rap and dance music and can even be used in rock. I have a variation of this plug-in that also creates a random filter on each gate sequence and that steps it up to a whole other level. You can take any old boring synth sound and make it GOLD with one of these.

StormGate1 is an unique and innovative amplitude rhythmic gating effect which lets you draw the gating patterns freely by hand or with the aid of powerful drawing tools.
It can be used as a creative tool to create rhythmic parts out of anything (pads, noises, etc…), as an enveloper, or even like a simple but powerful dynamics processor to simulate compressor sidechaining or in more creative manners.

StormGate1 offers 16 different amplitude patterns. The internal sequencer can be synchronized to the host song position and is capable of chaining (extending) the patterns.
You can draw the gating envelopes simply by selecting the appropriate drawing tool and operating on the big envelope display. There are many other functionalities in this small plug-in, please read the user’s manual to learn more!

To grab this small piece of rhythmic ear candy, Click HERE.

Sorry about the site being scarce of any posts. Some jackass (lightning) decided to blow out the dome we have out here on the boat. Yes I’m posting from the Ocean (if you’re headed this way, could you bring me some Buffalo Wild Wings please) Anyways…. Blue has announced that the new 2nd generation Mikey is here. This makes recording even MORE portable offering very clear recording for most iPods, and iPhones. I’m gonna be honest here, the iPhone speaker isn’t half bad but I’d bet brother’s house that this mic blows it away. This has a pressure gradient cardioid condenser capsule in it and can deliver CD quality audio using the free app “bluefire” to spit some hot fire freestyling into your ipod or iphone, just don’t actually try to spit fire into it. I’m bot buying you another one homie. I wonder if I can use this as a speaker phone?!

The all-new Mikey is the perfect tool for mobile recording. Featuring two custom-tuned Blue capsules for stereo recording, a line-input, USB pass through and a stylish updated 230-degree rotating design. Mikey’s three gain settings allow for a versatile recording experience for everything from a loud concert to a whisper. Record lectures, voice notes, live music, interviews, and more. Mikey also comes with its own soft carrying pouch for convenient storage and protection while on the go. Mikey turns your iPod into the coolest mobile recording device around!

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I’m big on helping other people get their product out. Its part of the reason I started this site. Now I’m going to use it in a different area… You… the readers. Throw a comment on a post. Let me know you’re reading. Add my Facebook Page. Basically just show some sort of love and I’ll return the favor by helping you get your work out there. Our first subscriber of the month is Madbull studios. He found this site through sheer dedication and I bet through wading through thousands of pages looking for reviews on FXpansions Geist Plug-in. And from what I hear on his Soundclick page, its definitely paid off. The beats sound great and the Geist mixes are crisp with plenty of low end. This is the type of stuff they should put on their page to show this program off at it’s potential. To view all of MadBull Studios’ work (and I’d keep checking back for new beats with Geist) check out his page.

Madbull Studios

Once again, if you’re interested in having your music plugged on the site, all you need to do is let me know one way or another.

Also, you like what he did with Geist and own an iPhone or an iPad? Go check out this program here. I’ve been playing on it all weekend and I can’t put it down. For $10 bucks you can’t beat it.

Celemony, the company responsible for people thinking 90% of the rappers can actually sing has turned 10 and instead of being selfish and demanding everyone take a day off and cater to my every whim… I mean their whim.. *shifts eyes* they have decided to give us gifts. You just have to do one thing to enter to win one of these AWESOME wooden boxes!!! You’ll have to click that sweet link at the bottom of this post to get that. I’m seriously trying to show off the new format to make the page look better by creating a drop down link IN THE PAGE unlike other sites who only care about page views. Yea you know who you are.

We’ve been around now for 10 years; and so, for 10 years, has Melodyne. We would like to express our thanks with ten of the legendary wooden boxes in which the first Melodyne was delivered. Each box contains a license for Melodyne editor, for Melodyne studio and for all Celemony software products released in the next 10 years. Whoever gets a box will receive all the software products and updates released by Celemony until the year 2020 free of charge.

To participate in the prize draw, all you have to do is….
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Ohhhh man. The new gear just keeps rolling in post-AES. At first I was a little worried because during and right after AES, I didn’t see a ton of impressive gear coming through, but once the companies settled back in and got over the mass gear hangovers, the press releases came in like a flood! And most of them don’t even come close to making me as happy as what Telefunken has been up to. *Props knee up on chair *cue the inspirational backdrop music!! This company, like Neve, is a staple in the recording industry, and in actuality go hand in hand. Telefunken has graciously allowed the populous (who before couldn’t all afford the impeccable microphones) to also get to take part in using the equipment that shaped the industry of microphones into what they are today. The best part is they’re not doing it in the vein of other companies that piece together lackluster cheap looking microphones. They’re still putting their best foot forward for the working guys as well. I mean just look at that mic!!! Its gorgeous. I still want the AK47 more but asthetically, I think that mic is the best looking out of the whole RFT line and maybe even some of the higher end mics as well. I only wished I looked as attractive. *stop inspirational background music abruptly.

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CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY!!! The 500 series is officially cool now that the one and only Rupert Neve has designed a module for it. Sure the Radial Workhorse is great but this cements the 500 series as “hitting the big time.” For the new guys, the name Neve is synonymous with recording. He revolutionized the way music today sounds with his groundbreaking consoles and outboard gear. Now he has decided to take a crack at the 500 series market and if you can’t already tell, I couldn’t be happier. This module features a pre-amp similar to the 5017 standalone unit the company already sells. They just about packed everything you could fit into a 500 series module. I can’t wait to get my hands on this.

At the 2010 AES Convention, Rupert Neve Designs announced the company’s first foray into the 500 Series with the Portico 517 Pre/DI/Comp module. Based on the Portico 5017 Mobile Pre, the 517 provides world class, transformer-coupled preamp, compressor and DI circuitry, with Vari-phase, Silk and DI/mic blending capabilities for $950 U.S. list.

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Internet went down today but not before I could snag a demo of EVITouch’s ElectroBeats. David Guetta (which I mistakenly thought was THUS GUY ) collaborated with the makers of this program to create a surprisingly useful piece of software for the iPad. Truth be told, I bought an iPad thinking it would never be more than a toy to play movies and sweet games, but companies like Neyrinck and UVITouch are giving this toy some street cred with musicians and recording engineers alike. Not only is this program pretty powerful for making music, its extremely fun. I seriously didn’t put it down for an hour. You don’t even have to be musically inclined to enjoy it. Its extremely easy to use and doesn’t just have those crap sounds you usually get on a mobile app. You can actually make some professional sounding tracks with it and on top of that you can export multitrack formats into most studio software like Logic, Pro Tools, and Ableton just to name a few. Its only $10 and works on iPhone and iTouch as well but you better have some tiny drumsticks or fingers to operate it. Come to think of it, just forget the drumstick comment. I don’t want your parents sending me hate mail blaming me for ruining your phone. But then again, you females don’t need any help on ruining phones. I swear, yall go through phones like my friend Joey goes through toilet paper. Seriously dude, what are you doing in the… ohhhh you’ve made yourself into a mummy CUTE!!!

This program really is great. Just look at some of the features this thing offers.
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I lost a bet a long time ago that I was sure was a definite win, but alas it wasn’t and now I have to name my firstborn Motu (don’t ask why but I guess there’s worse names out there.) Now I’m not so mad about it, 1) because having a name that is an acronym of “Mark of the Unicorn” kinda sounds sweet and 2) They released their new gear as Pro Tools 9 compatible. Hopefully more companies will jump on this bandwagon and go ahead and release drivers soon. I wish for the world to experience the greatness of the world’s greatest DAW. Don’t for a minute think they pay me. I wish they did, but I just believe in the product that much. And back on the MOTU name….come to think of it, Mark of the Unicorn kinda sets the kid up for a future of RPGs and LARPing. CRAP!!

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Yea when most sites are too busy stuffing their stupid, no personality having faces, I’m over here posting FREE STUFF. Although I do have to account for MacMusic and they’re alive and kicking on this great day of thanks where we celebrate stealing food from the locals. (That’s the story they DON’T tell you. See you learn alot on this site.) And to celebrate thievery, here’s some free software that emulates one of the most used vintage keyboards in history. The Fender Rhodes.

Hit the button below for info, downloads, and so I can show off my site’s fancy new feature to save space without making you go away from the page! GIVE THANKS

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I really wish Focusrite would build a channel strip to combine with the ISA One preamp, but this is a step in the right direction. This reminds me that I need to do a review on my ISA One I have. It was the first outboard pre-amp I ever bought so I have an affinity for it sort of like my spiderman underoos I still fit in I mean… C’s Markle Sparklefrost Moose she sleeps with at night like your plastic sheet you still sleep on at night.. I know you still do your mom told me… YOU’RE 29 years old now for craps sake!!! I’m sure Focusrite would agree too. Lets see what they have to say about this plug-in because now I’m sort of skeeved out by your “Problem”

Focusrite’s new Midnight plug-in suite takes two of the most iconic Focusrite modules of all time – the ISA110 equaliser and ISA130 compressor; models their sound exactly with powerful DSP technology; and gives them elegant, functional on-screen front panels that make them simplicity itself to use. Now you can add that authentic, classic Focusrite sound to your own tracks at a price you can afford. Your productions have never sounded so good. (more…)