Greg Cerveny

I dug up this Curtis Roads interview from Motherboard in 2009. Curtis Roads was the first person to write granular synthesis software and his interest continues almost 4 decades later.

▶ Motherboard - Curtis Roads pt 1
▶ Motherboard - Curtis Roads pt 2
▶ Motherboard - Curtis Roads pt 3

There are quite a few that seem like good reads:

• The Skipproof Virtual Turntable for High-Level Control of Scratching
• Composing for Laptop Orchestra
• An Interview with Max Mathews

Probably not a coincidence that they are all free as well.

▶ CMJ Most Downloaded Artciles

Dr. Richard Boulanger, of Csound fame, entered into mobile computer music earlier this year with csGrain.

csGrain is a stereo granular sound processor with 10 post-processing effects – all realized through a single Csound orchestra that is rendering, processing, sampling, resampling, synthesizing, resynthesizing, playing, reversing, delaying, triggering, gating, compressing, limiting, chorusing, flanging, echoing, filtering, pitch-shifting, harmonizing, granulizing, and recording – in any combination, or simultaneously; all in real-time, and all 100% being done in cSound!

Not only is it a fun instrument, but the manual also provides links to the respective cSound opcode documentation. Touching the .csd button reveals the source for the orchesetra. It's a clever app offering both interactive sound experimentation as well as computer music fundamentals.

▶ csGrain

In Amsterdam this week Trans-Dimensional Portal is sharing an ambisonic experience with anyone lucky enough to be in the area. The demo was shot in 4k resolution on a Red One camera and an ambisonic soundfield captured by a Core Sound TetraMic. I bet it looks and sounds great.

Perhaps Dan Hemingson's $9 ambisonic microphone experiments are more friendly to the home hobbyist. Add a multichannel USB soundcard to an iPad via a camera connection adapter and this could be mobile surround field recording.

▶ The Trans-Dimensional Portal
▶ Dan Hemingson's ACTLab Soundscapes

CDM has been covering 3D-printing for music makers this week. One feature that particularly stuck out to me are the new accessories Teenage Engineering is offering up for their gorgeous OP-1 Synth.

The 3D-printer ready add on units let you crank, bend, and robotically control synthesizer knobs. Previously, these $9-$14 accessories were only available in the US with a $28 shipping fee from Sweden. Kudos to the clever folks who found a great real world application for 3D-printers.

▶ OP-1 accessories CAD files

I just backed my first project on Kickstarter, Playsurface:

We have a new mechanical and electronic design approach to bring large-format touch computing and home touch tables within reach of ordinary developers and consumers. Our development of Playsurface started by assembling the best open-source optical touch table plans available, and we intend to create a hackable, multi-use, blazingly fast touch computing platform for gaming, music, browsing, device control, and other applications. The goal is to enable cutting-edge performance at a price point that makes buying a touch table similar to many consumer home computer purchases.

Giant multi-touch DJ controller here I come.

▶ Playsurface: The Affordable Multi-Touch Computing Table

Fuzzy Wobble brings us an attractive template for DIY DJ controllers.

I have designed a framework for making affordable and stylish modular controllers. You can use the content of this Instructable to make a wide range of controllers for a wide range of applications relevant to artists, DJs, VJs, gamers, producers, and the like.

I'm most in love with the white jog wheels.

▶ A Framework For Making Affordable & Stylish Modular Controllers

Catching up on The Moth's podcast, I discovered Thomas Dolby was featured last week.

I really didn't want all the limos to drive up to his house... I sort of felt like a dick.

Get it while you still can.

▶ The Moth Podcast - Thomas Dolby: Never Never Land

Earlier this month a creative hackathon called Art Hack Weekend SF happened in San Francisco.

The hackathon hopes to attract all who seek to push pixels out of the screen and implement highly dynamic and interactive creative experiences into their websites. With you, we hope to not just reimagine the future of the web but actually build it.

My favorite submission is Audio Reactive ShaderToy - demo. It is a combination web audio api and webgl integration connected to a live coding environment all within a browser.

Check out this and the other hacks as well.

Adafruit's Circuit playgound recieves an update to their app today.

Circuit Playground simplifies electronics reference & calculation so you can have more fun hacking, making, & building your projects! This app is designed for both iPhone and iPad.

• Decipher resistor & capacitor codes with ease
• Calculate power, resistance, current, and voltage with the Ohm's Law & Power Calc modules
• Quickly convert between decimal, hexadecimal, binary or even ASCII characters
• Calculate values for multiple resistors or capacitors in series & parallel configurations
• Store, search, and view PDF datasheets
• Access exclusive sneak peaks, deals & discounts at Adafruit Industries

What I love about this app is that the tools are collected in one place, fit specifically to adafruit customers, and used to open a new communication channel. The $2.99 a customer pays for the app comes right back as a discount off their next order.

▶ Adafruit Circuit Playground