The glass harmonica is an instrument that enjoyed a spell of popularity during the 18th century. It is a form of idiophone, but this particular instrument fell from fashion following claims that it induced insanity in both performers and audiences…
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We are surrounded by sound, of both natural and artificial origin. As a token of resistance to the plethora of chart hit ringtones that constantly barrage us, I am providing a few alternative ‘mobile sounds‘ here (which may be used as ringtones or message alerts). But there are other angles on mobile sound too…
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For some people, the boundaries between senses can overlap – they see sounds as colours, or tastes and words intermingle. This condition is known as synaesthesia, and Terri Timely has created a brief but complex video that illustrates it in a fascinating manner…
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Back in January I decided it was time to take the plunge into Ableton Live, and it was certainly a worthwhile experience. However, the release of Pro Tools 8 has also proven too compelling to resist. I upgraded from version 7.4 last week, so here are a few initial observations on the new package…
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Once upon a time, our main source of music videos was something called MTV. Nowadays, MTV is largely bereft of any musical content and we turn instead to the wonders of the Internet to fuel our music video needs. Fortunately, there are many creative types keeping the flame alive…
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Image may not be everything in music, but it certainly is important. On the Web, images can be used for communicating to fans, creating an atmosphere, making your website more interesting and engaging, and even for networking…
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It may be due to the persistence of DJs and audiophiles, but the digital age has failed to drive vinyl to extinction, and there are signs that consumers are returning to the turntable ways of old. In many ways records are the very antithesis of mp3; they are unashamedly physical, and there is more than one way to spin a disc…
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Last week I received a question about how two musicians in different cities could jam together. I did mention the ejamming collaboration site in a previous post, but there are other options now available for geographically-challenged rockers…
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The art and science of mixing is a complex affair; the more you learn about it, the more you realise you have barely scratched the surface. However, there are a few general principles that can bring immediate and significant improvements to most mixes…
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It seems someone invents a new music interface every other day, and touch screens are becoming very much mainstream with the growth of touchy-feely mobile phones. I previously wrote about how to make your own touchscreen interface, but there are more ways to keep your hands in the mix…
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