The Offers in Detail:

• Kore 2 + Komplete 6 for 699€
• Komplete 6 Update from any previous version: 74,50€
• Kontakt 4 Update 64,50€
• Traktor Scratch Pro Update , FM8 or Absynth 4 Update from 34,50€
• Guitar Rig Update for 34,50€
• Free Traktor Pro with Audio DJ 8 Soundcard (Free Traktor Duo with Audio DJ 2 or Audio DJ 4)
• Kore 2 Update or Battery 3 Update from 49,50€
• Reaktor 5 Update from 59,50€

I got myself a Kore2+Komplete, an Audio 8 DJ Soundcard and a Traktor Scratch Pro Update. Since I already own Komplete 6, i am selling it (as well as Traktor Pro and tons of other gear) on the Audio Sellout list.

Here are the two graphics of the Native Instruments offers:

What is a monome? "a reconfigurable grid of backlit keypads which connects to a computer. interaction between the keys and lights is determined by the application running on the computer. there is no hard-wired functionality."

(see more videos of the monome on vimeo)

Owl Project is a collaborative group of Manchester based artists who share interests in human interaction with technology and process led art. Over the last few years they have become known for a distinctive range of wooden musical and sculptural instruments that critique human interaction with computer interfaces and our increasing appetite for new and often disposable technologies.

While the idea of the hardware alone is already nice, I was wondering how that instruments sound. As you can decide by yourself (I inserted the videos from the owl website right to this posting) - there are some people that are fascinated after seeing the creators (Simon Blackmore, Antony Hall and Steve Symons) perform.

"Admittedly I just didnt “get it” at first. From a solely audio perspective, the sounds produced didn’t appeal to me. It seemed like a near random collection of sounds, which although generated in a unique and unusual way didn’t have any meaning.
However, when they performed live infront of us my opinion changed. It turned from being a video on the screen to a entertaining engaging show, in which the performers were totally immersed. Perhaps the process of making the sounds is more important than the sound itself." (pixel-junkie.com)

While this seems to be a new and nice idea at first, lots of people I know doing DIY technology end up creating wooden cases to hold their prototypes. The main difference might be that owlproject uses wood for their finished products. Makes me remember my old synthesizers with wooden panels.

The following information is compiled from the owlproject website just to give you an overview of the instruments they have.

Log1k

Log1k Definition 2001
The Log1k is a sequencer & sampler, which also contains; Signal generators and other noise making devices.It has several, Mic inputs and 8 Audio outputs. It requires around 24 AA batteries. A mains 240v Fluorescent tube provides a screen like glowing panel which also provides electrical interference. The Log1K is defined by being constructed from a fully circle log section. This is divided into two half's and hinged at one side; thus giving it a laptop like appearance.

The Log1K was removed from operation after damaging several sound systems and catching speakers on fire.

m-Log

It's the latest development in Owl Project technology; a powered USB controller interface. Like the iLog, the m-Log fits in the palm of your hand and is made using a semicircular cross-section of a branch. Personalise yours with switches, wooden knobs and an accelerometer. The m-Log has plug and play compatibility with a wide variety of applications, notably MAX MSP and SuperCollider.

Want an m-Log?

Get your saw and soldering iron ready. Either make it yourself with the full kit, or come to the next m-Log workshop! The Owl Project will guide you through building and using your new m-Log. (you can contact them via email or phone. go to the owlproject website for more information)

iLog

ILog Definition 2008
The iLog is a stand alone noise generator. It is powered and outputs an audio signal.
The iLog should fit in the palm of the hand and is normally made using this semicircular cross section of a branch. At its base is the power socket and at its top is the audio out put.

Maybe you’ve got thousands of Logs in your pile. Maybe you have just a few. Maybe you like creating noise on the go. Maybe you just wanna grab a log and run. No matter where or what you want to do, there’s an iLog made for you.

ILog models
Metro - Beat generator (2001)
Signal - Tone generator (2003)
Rustle - Voice sampler (2005)
Photo-synthiser - AM detector (2007)
Modulator - Effects & feedback (2008)

Sound Lathe

Sound Lathe is a new piece of work by the Owl Project that explores of the sonic properties of woodwork.The Sound Lathe produces audio data, saw dust, noise and wood chippings. With this human powered machine, turned spindles are shaped into complex sounds such as tones, glitches and beats..

Unlike many electronic instruments, the Sound Lathe produces a unique wooden object at the end of each performance. This object serves as a memory of the performance, slightly faulty and incomplete as it represents the conclusion rather than an accurate recording of the process.

Checking out the owl project website is highly recommended. Besides the videos and pictures I already embedded here, there is a lot more of information available on their projects - and maybe you want to build your own wooden-electronic instruments?

via weburbanist: "The study of musical instruments (’organology’ – no, really) is the study of the human condition. Every culture is defined by its own distinctive set of trills, whistles, parps, honks and beats, and every corner of the world has evolved its own location-specific indigenous instrument to renew a sense of cultural identity through noisy self-expression. And instruments evolve – never more so than now, in the midst of a technological revolution that has opened up entirely new ways to make music. So settle back and compose yourself as we look at ten new instruments that look set to accompany us into the world of tomorrow."

"Each AudioCube is identical. You connect them with a USB cable to your computer, one after the other, and assign a colour and behaviour. After that, they work wirelessly with each other, and use their four onboard infrared sensors to communicate and measure distances to objects nearby. One cube stays connected, to pass the information from the cubes to the software on your computer. Location, orientation and distance information is passed to the software, while you interact with the cubes. The software can connect via MIDI or OpenSoundControl (OSC) to any software or hardware for music or visuals which you already have, or you can use it within your DAW (digital audio workstation) software as a VST plugin, or as a host for VST instruments to let you create sound immediately."

In the Video below, there is also an example how to trigger loops from Ableton Live. All in all these interfaces look really nice - they seem to be a quite intelligent and intutive interface to create, modify and trigger sounds. (see other AudioCube videos on Vimeo)

2 AudioCubes are priced €399.00, if you get a set of 4, they cost €649.00 (including tax). AudioCubes work with computers running Mac OSX 10.4 or later, or Windows XP SP2 or later. Drivers are not needed. Dimensions are 75mm x 75mm x 75mm.

I definitely have to get those. I will post a full review and some examples when i have them!

A Monome for the rest of us. The new Ableton Live Controller by Novation looks quite like the monome. Still, if it integrates in Ableton as well as the Akai APC 40, it can be a quite handy - and cheap: 150€ (199US$) is said to be the street price (to be released Nov '09).

Still since the APC40 uses a proprietary protocol, it is uncertain if the Launchpad will be usable for controlling other things than Ableton Live.

Here is the full Press Release Information from Ableton AG:

Ableton is very happy to announce Launchpad, a new dedicated controller for Ableton Live, co-developed by Novation and Ableton.
Launchpad features a multicolor, 64-button grid for launching clips, as well as dedicated scene-launch buttons. Despite the big grid, Launchpad is compact and portable: it'll fit in your bag for gigs and won't hog your desk space in the studio.
Launchpad doesn't just launch clips. In mixer mode the button grid offers a unique way to control Ableton Live's mixer. Two fully customizable user modes transform the grid into a drum pad controller, a DJ effect controller or anything else you can think of. These user modes make Launchpad the ideal hardware counterpart for Max for Live (coming soon).
Launchpad is Automap-enabled, and if 64 buttons aren't enough, you can link up to six Launchpads together.
Launchpad comes with a special Live 8 Launchpad Edition and 1GB of sound content. Launchpad will be on sale worldwide starting on November 1, 2009. Pricing is expected to be around USD 199 (MAP)/149 EUR (VAT not included).

Weitere Informationen, Videos und genaue Spezifikationen finden Sie auf:
http://www.ableton.com/nl398-launchpad

Doepfer Sneak Peek from niamhguckian on Vimeo.

(via the blogosphere)Dear Friends,
It gives me great happiness to announce at last the release of 'Totally Wired', a film about Schneiders Buero, now available on DVD from Amazon
To thank you for your patience and support, a 10% discount is available to you with the following code: FRLD3JPV
The film will also be available from HERE and in Schneiders Buero, Berlin.
All Tweets, Forwards, Adds and Posts would be greatly appreciated!
I hope you enjoy the film and look forward to your feedback.
Niamh Guckian, Director, 'Totally Wired'.