Eavin bigger than Glast time. Omnipresser gets an update. Output release Studio Collection. Analogue Solutions reveal Colossus. ADE finalise programme.
Choones to the rescue! New desktop app Choones will save DJs using iTunes from having their playlists deleted after Apple’s October release of macOS 10.15 Catalina, which deletes iTunes and replaces it with an app called ‘Music’. This removes the ‘iTunes Music XML File’ feature, which allows DJs to link their iTunes accounts with Serato, rekordbox, Traktor and VirtualDJ. Choones advise DJs using this feature not to update their Macs straight away, but if they do, their Choones app could help sync their stuff to DJ software. If you’re one of these people, keep calm and watch this video:
Keeping it zen in ze ‘dam. Chilling out in Amsterdam isn’t an odd occurrence, but it’s certainly a first ADE who has announced this week the ADE Zen Space, a multi-day program in De Waalse Kerk in the center of Amsterdam where visitors can relax with a special sleeping concert, meditation and special audiovisual installations. Sounds like an idea esepcially as they announced the full line-up also with Sophia Saze, Frank Wiederman and Paco Osuna added to the lineup. You’ll need the rest. Full line up here and for a breakdown of some techno highlights we’re most looking forward to read here.
Dam! Now where did I leave that £25k? Get looking for the coins down the back of the couch as Analogue Solutions has announced “Colossus”. True to name this thing is a beast and it’s not hypebole to say things like this come around once a generation. Inspired by the EMS Synthi 100 from the 1970s, Analogue Solutions state firmly that Colossus is not just a synthesiser. “It is also art, architecture and exquisite studio furniture”, they say on their website. A true heavy hitter with twelve oscillators, multi-vernier knobs, twelve VCAs, and eight filters with dedicated envelopes. There are dual 64-step sequencers, spring reverbs and ring modulators, and even a built-in oscilloscope. Of course, with the exception of some digital elements in the sequencer, it’s all analogue with no USB and no MIDI, which was an intentional move in an effort to steer away from digital altogether. Yours for £25k. Two please…Shipping in 2020. More here.
Sonarworks wants to hear from you. Win, win win is all anyone has heard from Attack lately. We realise we have been running several competitions but when the opportunity to dish out good stuff for our community comes up, it’s hard to pass by. In this competition, Sonarworks want to know what you do know of them (or not) and answer some very simple questions on your studio workflow. They are giving away three pairs of headphones to lucky winners including Sennheiser HD650. Enter here.
Be the next Queen. Famously used by Bryan May in 1974, Eventide have updated their plug-in version of the classic Omnipresser – initially the first dynamics processer of any kind. The Omnipresser introduced the idea of the ‘side chain’ and techniques such as ‘look ahead’ processing. Functions include allowing users to set compression and expand ratios over a wide, continuous range from extreme expansion to infinite compression. This new update adds a Mix control and Input/Output Gain knobs It’s available for $49 on the Eventide site. If really really aggressive and angry compression is your thing then this is the one for you.
Side by side. Made from 100% real wood and heavy-duty, hand-welded steel, Output have just released their Studio Collection, featuring a customisable sidecar rack, speaker stands and updates to the Platform Desk Line. It looks sleek, but the ability to adjust the studio furniture, according to Output CEO and Founder Gregg Lehrman, allows musicians to “streamline workflow with an organized space.” The sidecar comes at $329+, speaker stands at $275/pair and the platform is $549+. Head to Output’s site for more information.
Shape your sound. The Cable Guys announce their follow up to the Shaperbox plugin, called…drumroll… Shaperbox 2. The award-winning software gives producers a simple and hands-on way of shaping the wave of a number of effects to your sounds. It has improved the DSP, smoother graphics, faster editing and workflows with new effects possibilities, including a filter, auto-panner, time-twist tool, multiband sidechain and stereo expander. The shapers go between £30-£40. Check it out below and you can read our reviewer of the original Shaperbox here.
Good news down under. Australia’s New South Wales parliament’s upper house voted on Thursday to overturn regulations that led to several festivals, including Mountain Sands and Psyfari, to cancel or downsize, being deemed as “high risk” due to drug-related deaths in 2018. Festivals were made to pay themselves to increase police presences and introduce “excessive” bans on BYO alcohol. But now, one month later, the regulations have been dropped, with Labor calling for new health guidelines to be rolled out to the whole of Australia, and not just NSW. Read more.
Eavin bigger than Glast time. In a hopeful attempt to finally win the record for the biggest sit-down ever, Glastonbury, which this year created historic moments such as Stormzy’s headliner set, has been given the green light to increase their capacity. After a board meeting, the Mendip City Council this week gave the go ahead for a 3.4% increase, taking the festival’s capacity up to 210,000 people. Though Worthy Farm haven’t yet confirmed this happening, it’s certainly exciting. What’s better is, the extra tickets will be sold to customers travelling by public transit, in-keeping with Glasto’s bid to be environmentally friendly. Read more here.
Italian techno returns. Florence’s late night venue ‘Jaiss’ will re-open after having closed in 2004 for ‘administrative reasons’. The team behind the club have been hosting events at various other events, but now they return to the legendary space, which opened back in 1994, a golden era for techno in Italy. Perc headlines the re-launch event, alongside Francesco Zappalà, Fabio MC and Brian Fasano. Florence is back in the rave game, baby! Don’t miss the re-launch event.