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March 30, 2006
BBC's music cubes
Okay some explanation may be required. If you head over here you can create your very own music cube. The idea is that you can select music genres that reflect your taste. You can then put this anywhere, or just play with it yourself. Folks can tune into BBC radio stations that stream that kind of music online.
If you are anything like me, I listen to a wide variety of tunes, and to have access to high quality online radio is a lovely thing. The quality of the streaming is very respectable as well.
I love the bbc is doing all this fantastically progressive work with new media, and is another reason why publically funded broadcasting is a good idea. They've released symphonies online, they are making many of their tv shows available online (albiet to UK based visitors - as they have paid the UK television license which funds the bbc) and much more.
The genres you can choose from is a little limiting, but I feel that the music cube you see here is a reasonable representation of the kind of music that I'm personally into. There's also an element of personal identity that you build through your musical tastes, and this is a nice reflection of that.
It's a fun excercise to put this sort of thing together so give it a try!
BBC Music Cubes thanks dylan!
Streaming radio i also like:
gaming fm - video game music
soma fm
Posted by funnelbc at 09:02 AM | Comments (0)
March 26, 2006
The ABC needs your help
In Australia we're lucky enough to have a national, independent broadcaster. The Australian Broadcasting Foundation (ABC for the non-Australian visitors) provides radio, television and increasingly, new media services on the website such as podcasting many of it's popular radio shows, online news and plenty more. Basically, the ABC is a fantastic thing for independent critical thinking here in Australia.
Right now, the Cabinet's budget committee is deciding the ABC's funding for the next three years. Their next meeting is on Tuesday.
Above and beyond it's basic role as broadcaster the ABC provides and documents Australian culture, promoting a genuine sense of multiculturalism (along with SBS - the special broadcasting service - another publicly funded broadcaster here in Australia.) and also promotes and fosters independent Australian music. And much more.
We are extremely lucky to have such an institution here in Australia, overseas the airwaves are bought and sold and the public interest is not as much of an issue as revenue.
Recently there's been a lot of talk about the role of the ABC and the future of Australian media, and one way that we can take a stand for independent music, genuine celebration of multiculturalism and the cultural identity of Australia is to let the government know that they can stop trimming away money from the ABC's budget and start investing back into publically funded media.
As the petition puts it,
Dear Mr Costello and Senator Minchin,
We believe in the value of a well-funded and independent national broadcaster.
We understand that the ABC has asked you for a modest increase in funding to meet the demands of a 21st-century media outlet.
With a budget surplus of nearly $10 billion, funding the ABC is surely money well spent.
Send the message to Canberra: FUND OUR ABC please tell your friends and family who care about independent, music, news and the arts.
Related posts: My Talkback Radio Experience
Posted by funnelbc at 05:07 PM | Comments (0)
March 24, 2006
Good Aussie music subscription emails
One of the best resources for people interested in what's going on locally in the music scene are subscription based email services. I'm sure there's plenty more and if anyone knows of a quality subscription based email please email me on info at ausmusician dot com.
These are all good services most of which I have been signed up to for at least the last year, and there's no need to worry about giving your email address to these guys. That's right, I've giving these my personal seal of qualitee!
Lost at E Minor
Lost at E Minor is a bit of mixed bag of music, art and design news. There's profiles on local artists and they also give away lots of gear via random email draws. It's really nicely put together and well worth a subscription.
You can preview what Lost at E Minor looks like here
Subscribe to Lost at E Minor
VIP Indie Initiative
The Indie Initiative has a regular email that details music news, and as well as shows that are on. It used to be called the VIP Jager Uprising email but now it's called the VIP Indie Initiative Members email. It's a really up to date list with details for shows in the current week, and Indie Initiative.com is well worth a visit too. An absolutely excellent resource.
Naked Dwarf.com.au
Taking out 1st prize for the dodgiest sounding URL in the history of the interweb, is nakeddwarf.com.au. It features regular competitions to win stuff, details of upcoming gigs, and a bunch of other great stuff. The Naked Dwarf started down in tassy and has gone national. I really like this and the presentation is really good as well.
The site appears to be down at the time of writing but I'm sure it will be up and online shortly nakeddwarf.com.au
Posted by funnelbc at 02:13 PM | Comments (0)
More Nintendo DS homebrew lovin'
Tobias Weyland (as featured prominently from yesterdays post regarding Nitrotracker) also put together a Sampling Keyboard for the DS.
You simply record the samples and use the stylus on the onscreen keyboard to trigger the sounds. This guy is a gun, I love that he was inspired by Ferris Buellers Day Off.
Meanwhile I'm waiting impatiently for my superpass2 to come in the mail so I can get into all this homebrew on my DS. I'm convinced that the DS has fantastic potential for portable music composition, and I'm looking forward to seeing more stuff developed for the platform.
Free TobW.net - Sampling Keyboard for DS
Once again, I am indebted to CDM for this tidbit of news.
Posted by funnelbc at 01:46 PM | Comments (0)
March 23, 2006
Nitrotracker - tracker for Nintendo DS
I'm perhaps a little too excited about this. I've been very keen to see music software evolve for the Nintendo DS - I have recently purchased Electroplankton which is lovely fun, but pretty much just that - lovely fun.
But what I'm really into as a concept, is independent music software for portable devices. I think there's plenty of potential for these powerful gaming and processing devices to be used as the logical successor to some of the music hardware out there.
Without further ado: Tobias Weyand has released a tracker for Nintendo DS. You're going to need a Nintendo DS that can run homebrew - that basically means a flash card adapter for the GBA cartridge slot, and passme or passme 2 for the DS slot. That'll set you back around $100AUD delivered (or $71.50 USD or $781.64 Mexican Pesos). I'm very excited about this, it seems like a fantastic extension of the Nintendo DS's strengths.
What Nitrotracker can do is pretty impressive. First up it makes use of the touch screen, allowing you to input using the touchscreen - and as well as that, you can swap around screens so that both main screens can utilize touchscreen input. This includes selecting, copying and pasting using the stylus. Yum.
Nitrotracker can load samples off your flash cart (in WAV format in any sampling rate as well as 8 or 16bit quality). In addition to this, it allows sampling via the inbuilt microphone which is logical and along with the touchscreen vindicates Nintendo for their wacky product design. The quality might not be astounding, but good enough for jazz. Regardless the ugly duckling of portable gaming is looking pretty compelling these days.
It allows you to view samples, 16 hardware channels, automatic standby when the lid is closed - very nice. Just like a normal DS cartridge, and a really good feature to have for the musician on the go.
Planned/Upcoming features include 32 or even more channels, and excitingly sample post processing - effects basically. Excellent. It's already looking really polished, and I cannot wait to see this develop. I can certainly see this unit attaining a cult following of the like that nanoloop and little sound dj currently enjoy. And the potential here is clearly beyond chiptunes and appeal to a wider music making audience is also clear.
I received my Supercard in the post last night which is a pretty good coincidence, however I'm waiting on a Superpass2 so that I can actually run this, but the moment it arrives in the post, I will post up my thoughts on Nitrotracker.
You can download Nitro Tracker v0.11 and read more about it here. via Create Digital Music - check out the comments as Tobias comments on his recommended flash kits for the DS.
Related Portable Music:
PSP Seq 1.00
Phoenix Studio
little sound dj homepage
nanoloop homepage
Posted by funnelbc at 03:47 PM | Comments (0)
March 22, 2006
jazzmutant lemur reviewed in keyboard
I was idly thinking about MAX/MSP and realtime music control, and went back to cycling '74 as food for thought. I wish to revisit that topic in some depth in the future, but anyway....
I noticed there's a reviews on the website for the one of the bigger music publications Keyboard Magazine. It's worth a read - the article is written by Peter Kirn (of CDM fame) and gives a good overview of the unit. Overall the feeling for the click lazy is that it's a really interesting, if somewhat niche peice of hardware, and you can expect to spend quite a bit of time customizing it (for better or worse). Sounds like the technology is still maturing from what I understand.
Keyboard Mag Review - Jazz Mutant Lemur
There's also a review in the current (newstands) issue of Electronic Musician, and it should be up on the website next month if you can't get hold of the paper magazine. Last year was the year of the affordable control surface, (as declared by me) and this year, maybe it can be the year of real time customizable music control surfaces. Or perhaps something more catchy. I think the Lemur is the tip of a very large iceberg for digital musicians though.
Posted by funnelbc at 02:26 PM | Comments (0)
March 20, 2006
monday 20th mixed (gig) bag
Catching up on a bunch of stuff I've been trying to post. Sorry to folks who have emailed things in and I've not done anything about it! Maybe this can be a new feature! Excitement and hiijinks folks!
SXSW to MPAA STFU
Here's a nice little article about how at the South By South West (SXSW) conference during a seminar on the topic of Future of Darknets (good topic also). But what happened when one of the panel members was introduced... because the panel was hijacked the moment one panelist said, "Hello, my name is Kori Bernards, and I'm from the Motion Picture Association of America." A bunch of folks got a chance to talk back to a representative of a widely loathed organisation.
Results are here on Powazek
Artic Monkeys come to fame by encouraging P2P
There's also a nice peice on the wired blog that talks about the sucess of the Artic Monkeys and how they actively encouraged file sharing to get their sound out there. Nice display of alternative music distribution doing a band no harm commerically.
Wired Blog - The Web's First Rock n' Roll Success?
Pulling the out a SNES Sound Chip...
You can pull a SNES sound chip out and use it as more authentic synthesis/playback of SPC SNES soundtrack files. Useful if you are into chiptunes and retro music. Kinda useless, but also very cool.
Bluetooth Phone Headset + headphones
This is a nice idea. It's an inline bluetooth adapter that allows you to use your mp3 player, and when you get a call it beeps and you use your headphones and the unit has a mic in it. I would put down dollars for this thing. That is all.
Guitar Australia has FREE Guitar Lessons
Nick Fletcher of Guitar Australia has set up a rather groovy site, where you can access free guitar lessons. He's already got quite a bit of content up, with guitar lessons, and tutorials for classic songs as well. A really nice free resource. Nice job Nick!
Guitar Australia - Free Music Lessons
Related: CDM has a nice roundup of free tutorials as well: CDM - Music Tutorial Roundup
That's it for the mixed bag of music news, if you've got anything to submit, email it through to info {at} ausmusician.com.
Posted by funnelbc at 12:05 AM | Comments (0)
March 19, 2006
drm'ed tracks suck (battery life)
And while we want to purchase music legally online that doesn't have completely awful DRM attached it it - (I suggest innovators like fakescience for DRM free and interesting music) there's a bit of another reason to steer clear of DRM'ed music. Apparently the added processor work that it requires of your MP3 players processor to decode the encrypted/protected content has a real world affect on your mp3 player's battery life.
Heavy DRM not only slows down an MP3 player but also sucks the very life out of them. Take, for instance, the critically acclaimed Creative Zen Vision:M, with a rated battery life of up to 14 hours for audio and 4 hours for video. CNET tested it at nearly 16 hours, with MP3s--impressive indeed. Upon playing back only WMA subscription tracks, the Vision:M scored at just more than 12 hours. That's a loss of almost 4 hours, and you haven't even turned the backlight on yet. - Source: Mp3 Insider (link below)
You can read more at MP3 Insider: The truth about your battery life
Posted by funnelbc at 08:33 PM | Comments (0)
nintendo music live performance
For those of us not lucky enough to live where they have concerts of video game music (read japan) you should perhaps have a look at this.
It's a live recording of the Mario and Zelda Big Band from 2003. I must stop writing this so that I can pay proper attention to the clip while my girlfriend is busy on the phone. Let my nerdy mario + nintendo related proclivities continue unabated...
This comes via my new video game blogging favourite 4 Color Rebellion, which by the way is a rather fine site. Mario & Zelda Big Band Live - Google Video
Related: Do check out gamingfm.com they have a lovely selection of video game tunes, with classic console, total pc, modern console and the complete selection of video game sounds. gaming fm.com
Posted by funnelbc at 08:12 PM | Comments (1)
March 18, 2006
free gig poster graphic design
A few years ago I ran a bit of a thing and offered free graphic design for bands who were unsigned and needed single and album art. Even then with the relatively meagre amount of visitors I got quite a few responses. For those of you in the know, as well as being a nerdy web-master type guy, I also happen to be a graphic designer.
What I'm offering is simple. Design for band posters (at this stage) FREE. All you have to do is bear mind the following:
1. It must be for a real gig, that means you have to a venue name, details etc.
2. I'm doing these for free, so I will fit them in around my normal paying clients. This means, depending on the response I get you may not get artwork done, simply because I don't have time. Please don't take this personally. As I said, it's free so you gets what you pay for.
3. I'm also doing this to blow out the creative cobwebs as it were, and I want to try and do these to kind of experiment. If you are know exactly what you are after in terms of a look, please take it to a regular graphic designer. (Unless you want to pay my normal hourly fee ;). I'm looking to do pretty interesting stuff, but if you for example, if you don't dig how this site looks for example, you might not want to go with me for your gig poster.
4. How to make it more likely I'll do artwork for you - You are polite in your email request and you have music online I can listen to so I can hear your music. If I dig your tunes, I'm probably more likely to do stuff for your band.
5. I retain all copyright and all that jazz on the artwork. If you want to use it on an album cover etc without asking for permission or working out something with me means I'll be pretty un-excited. I'd probably share my experience with the some 800 unique visitors a day this site currently gets. Play fair folks. A photo of the artwork printed up and stuck on a lightpost or in a window would be nice too!
Here's the details I would need filled out:
Band Name:
Gig Location:
Date(s):
Website if applicable:
Genre of music:
Comments:
If this all sounds like it's up your proverbial alley. Drop me a line on info {at} ausmusician.com and I'll bung you an email back with artwork if I get a chance to look at your request.
Edit: 19/9/06.
This has been running for a little while now, and I would like to add that if you are keen to donate a few dollars to help with 2 causes (explained here) and make it (a bit more) likely that I will have time to do your poster, then feel free to drop onetonnemusic some money via paypal!
Posted by funnelbc at 10:17 PM | Comments (10)
March 17, 2006
talkback radio
This is a bit of an Australian media related post, so here's some background for my overseas readers: There has been a great deal of talk recently our Goverment Senate representative has recently spoke about the plans for the future of Australian media. On one hand they are saying they wish to protect cultural diversity, and on the other hand, they are proposing to remove our media cross ownership laws so that instituions that own 75% of the Newspaper market for example, can buy TV and radio stations here in Australia. It's all very concerning.
I just had a chance to have a chat with Biggsy on Melbourne's very fine 3rrr Radio which is a first for me. Talkback radio is not something I ever saw myself calling up. A big hello to any rrr listeners who have checked out my site as a result.
What I rang up to chat about - I was a bit nervous and got a little off topic, but basically, why on Earth do we continue to hire Communications Ministers such as the previous, Richard Alston and now, Helen Coonan - who seem to know very little about Communications, IT & the arts? Apparently a background in Law gives you the background you need to understand IT, Communcations Infrastructure and the Arts. As Biggsy quite rightly points out, I shouldn't be surprised at all. I guess a better word is saddened.
When the media companies who have to compete with blogs run by well funded organisations such as myself - (HAH!) they apparently need more control of the industry. They apparently think that 75% of audience reach is restrictive and represents real competition. I think that's bloody shabby corporately funded politics at the worst.
Allocate more more funding to the arts, make it less difficult and cheaper to get a license to broadcast radio into the real world - so that people can get better voice in the conventional mediums, not take away protections so that Newscorp et al, can own more of our airwaves. It's really awful to think that this kind of political double-speak & double-think can go into the media and almost no media outlets seriously question what's going on. Because it's not in their business interests obviously.
They've set a threshold that media "diversity" cannot fall below, which is much lower than the current amount of broadcasters that we currently have. It seems to me disingenuous to be saying that they're protecting media diversity and then on the other hand, take away the barriers to more media ownership by the existing big corporate players.
And keep your goddamn filthy hands of the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Foundation - Publically funded TV). The same Senator in question, has raised the potential of putting ads on the ABC. John Howard unbelievably (because my impression of the man is that he would privatize his grandmother for a quick buck) has put the kibosh on that, but it's a telling indictment of where Senator Helen Coonan is at.
Stunned by the hypocracy and the lies folks. Just stunned.
Posted by funnelbc at 11:43 AM | Comments (0)
March 16, 2006
Troubleshooting
Sorry folks, just troubleshooting some problems.
Here's some digg music news for your troubles...
Posted by funnelbc at 08:08 AM | Comments (0)