Avalon Design – Preamplifier, Compressor and Direct Input Recording Equipment

Avalon is known as one of the leading suppliers of Class A recording systems, including microphone preamplifiers, tube channel strips, compressors and direct input channels. Their designs have won many awards, including the TEC award for best preamp, and Electronic Musician Editor’s Choice award for best preamp. Their high-end discrete Class A audio equipment is… Read More Avalon Design – Preamplifier, Compressor and Direct Input Recording Equipment

January 22, 2004January 14, 2007Leave a comment

Akai MPD16 Pad

This 16 pad USB MIDI controller is an inexpensive way to add a ton of flexibility to your system. The MPD16 is an MPC-style MIDI pad controller. It gives you 16 touch-sensitive pads that you can add to your computer music workstation by just hooking up a USB cable. Carrying on the style of the… Read More Akai MPD16 Pad

January 21, 2004January 13, 20071 Comment

Akai Music

Akai is best known for their samplers, but they have created some other innovative products. Their lineup now includes: MPC1000 Music Production Center – this sampler production center provides an integrated desktop sampler along with 64 tracks of sequencing. Z4/8 24-bit Samplers – the world’s first 24-bit/96,Hz dedicated hardware samplers MPC4000 Sampler/Sequencer – this is… Read More Akai Music

January 21, 2004January 14, 2007Leave a comment

New Kurzweil Keyboard Workstation – the Most Advanced Ever?

Kurzweil has earned a reputation for producing some of the most capable and best-sounding keyboard workstations. Their K2500 and K2600 lines have become workhorses for professionals worldwide. Now, Kurzweil has announced the latest in its line of ultimate synth workstations, the Kurzweil K2661. Fully compatible with all Kurzweil K2x00 models, musicians should be able to… Read More New Kurzweil Keyboard Workstation – the Most Advanced Ever?

January 20, 2004January 13, 20071 Comment

Open Labs Announces NEKO

At the Winter NAMM Convention, Open Labs introduced NEKO, the first open platform musical keyboard workstation and the OpenSynth™ hardware and software reference platform. NEKO is designed to bridge the gap between the personal computer and traditional music keyboard workstations. It is a keyboard and music control surface that gives immediate physical access to the… Read More Open Labs Announces NEKO

January 19, 2004April 5, 20071 Comment

Vangelis – Chariots of Fire

When Chariots of Fire was released in 1981, it came with a unique soundtrack by Vangelis. At that time, putting a soundtrack of electronic music on a period film was unheard of. The music worked, though, because of the simple, beautiful melodies and the way Vangelis used synthesizers in an orchestral way. Chariots of Fire… Read More Vangelis – Chariots of Fire

January 18, 2004January 14, 2009Leave a comment

Vangelis – Direct

This 1988 Vangelis CD is a bridge between the symphonic electronica sound that Vangelis made popular in the eighties and his current, more dense orchestral sound. Direct is a mixture of electronica, new age, space music, and folk sounds, mixed together in Vangelis’ unique way. The CD starts of with “The Motion of Stars”, a… Read More Vangelis – Direct

January 17, 2004October 8, 20213 Comments

Vangelis

Vangelis has been one of the most acclaimed electronic musicians of all time. He has recorded a great variety of music over the last thirty years, won the academy award for musical score, composed hit songs, and written the scores for several ballets. Vangelis is best known for his music that was featured in the… Read More Vangelis

January 17, 2004January 5, 2007Leave a comment

Robert Rich – Propagation

Propagation is a deep ambient album featuring music that explores the idea of life spreading itself. Robert Rich submerses you in a soundscape that has an organic and primitive electronic feel. The titles of his pieces on Propagation capture the spirit of the music: “Animus”, “Lifeblood”, and “Whispers of Eden”. Each of the pieces on… Read More Robert Rich – Propagation

January 17, 2004January 5, 2007Leave a comment

Robert Rich

Robert Rich is one of the pioneers of ambient music. His music draws on elements of dark ambient, tribal and trance music. On over twenty albums, he has created music that always defies easy categorization, but always bears his distinctive mark. Rich is one of the most creative and inquisitive ambient musicians, and his music… Read More Robert Rich

January 17, 2004January 5, 2007Leave a comment

Synthtopia

Month: January 2004

Avalon Design – Preamplifier, Compressor and Direct Input Recording Equipment

Akai MPD16 Pad

Akai Music

New Kurzweil Keyboard Workstation – the Most Advanced Ever?

Open Labs Announces NEKO

Vangelis – Chariots of Fire

Vangelis – Direct

Vangelis

Robert Rich – Propagation

Robert Rich