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Luminth Kickstarter Launches Thursday, May 16, 2013

Luminth and Luminth Orbiter
Luminth and Luminth Orbiter

If you’ve been wondering why there haven’t been any updates on the site for a while, it’s because John and I have been deep in the cave working on our latest NTHSynth project.  We’re happy to announce the Luminth and Luminth Orbiter software!

The Luminth is a minimalist USB control peripheral. To use the Luminth, simply click, turn, and push+turn. The Luminth changes color with the music.

Luminth Orbiter is a generative music software application. Make dramatic changes to the music with a single click. Dive deeper to make refined, subtle adjustments. Or, let Orbiter work autonomously to create music that morphs over time.

The Luminth is the best way to control Luminth Orbiter software, but Orbiter is fully functional with or without the Luminth.

The Luminth and Luminth Orbiter will be available for purchase at 12:01AM EST on Thursday, May 16. Check nthsynth.com on Thursday for a link to the Kickstarter project page and purchasing information.

NTH Music Synthesizer Now on Kickstarter!

The NTH is a fun-to-use, sonically-rich, hackable music synthesizer.  It features digital oscillators, an analog low-pass filter, an integrated step sequencer, MIDI I/O, and simple, intuitive controls.

The NTH Music Synthesizer is now available on Kickstarter.com.  The NTH is available for purchase from February 2, 2012 to March 1, 2012.

Upon successful funding, production of the NTH will begin and the entire design will be open-sourced.

Audio examples, product photos, and additional documentation can be found at the NTH website:

http://nthsynth.com/

The NTH was designed by Kevin Holland and John Staskevich.  Kevin’s music and software can be found at sineqube.com.  John’s electronics designs can be found at highlyliquid.com.

Cycling ’74 Expo this week!

Getting ready to attend the Cycling ’74 Expo this weekend, I uploaded a small video of the pendulum/photoresistor/Arduino/Max/Nanokontrol instrument I’ll be presenting as part of their Science Fair.  It’s generating some nice music and I’m content with the state things are in.

If anyone is also attending, please introduce yourself.  I’m excited to meet people in person that until now I’ve only had virtual contact with.

The video is simply a phone recording.  Disclaimers about sound quality apply.

 

Show this Friday & interview posted

I’ll be performing at Wild Goose Creative as part of the Fuse Factory’s Frequency Friday series at 2491 Summit St. in Columbus, OH.  Doors open at 8 PM.  Admission is $5.

 I will be playing guitar using my custom looping software, and it will mark the debut of my homemade electronic instruments in a live setting. Hopefully nothing blows up. The show will also feature an interactive component using a repurposed game controller similar to the Art Pad shows, so come out and play along with me.  😀

Richard Bowers conducted interviews of the performers and put together this video to give you a taste of what you can expect Friday night:

 

Cigar Box MIDI controller @ Highly Liquid

I’ve recently been privileged to get to know and work with John from Highly Liquid. He specializes in retrofitting pre- or sans-MIDI gear, and produces original MIDI hardware for standalone projects created by musicians, technicians, artists, and hobbyists. Working out of the Columbus Idea Foundry, John used the laser cutter there to repurpose a cigar box as a unique MIDI controller. I was asked to prototype a demo in Max/MSP to demonstrate its functionality. Details on the build, and instructions on developing your own can be found at the Highly Liquid blog.  I highly recommend checking it out.  And while you’re there, check out the MIDI wall he created at the Foundry.

Atari Punk Console/Stepped Tone Generator

I figured it was about time to try out this classic schematic, originally designed by the venerable Forrest M. Mims III.  I’ve included my own schematic using photoresistors to control the unit’s parameters, as well as allow for CV control from my little sequencer.  Video also uploaded to YouTube.  Overall, a fun and easy build.  😀

Atari Punk Console/Stepped Tone Generator
I also added toggles to switch the photoresistors on and off.