2008 episodes (44)
Sonic TALK111 - Tidy Your Room Young Man
We start with an homage to Oliver Postgate - the UK children's TV show creator who passed away this week, then we're on the Stylophone both real and iStylophone versions, then we're on to Christmas themes and No1 singles both UK and US - or rather lack of, then we preview the brilliant Sonic TALK remix from The Circuit Symphony which shows off the excellent VariPhrase technology of the Roland V-Synth GT - great work mate! Then we satisfy the curiosity of Kayle Clements who wants to know how we got together and how we got into our musical gigs. We finish with the perennial topic of messy workspaces or not. Caution, those of you with an obsessive need to tidy up may find this topic distressing...
Sonic TALK110 - Live - Dont Forget The Feta
PJ Tracy, Dave Spiers, Nick Batt. Our first moments are spent marveling in the wonders of Ad Jingles and their creation, with blasts from John Parr and Jonathan Hodge, then we discuss the recently announced Moog Taurus pedals reissue. Then a quote from Blixa Bergfeld on Disquiet gets us onto the topic of originality, then we talk about Raysgigs.com - a site where Ray Morrissey lists over 5000 gigs he has attended and made notes on many occasions - a real goldmine of information and impressions. And thats it for this week.
Sonic TALK109 - Singing Shorts
Dave tells us the latest installment from the weird world of hearing and balance tests and we ponder a positive word beginning with X, which takes us to Xanadu, Mark's theta wave podcast gets a mention, then we're on to the world's thinnest speakers, made of carbon nanotubes, Ray Kurzweil wonders if machines can have souls - discuss, then we're on to a topic sent in from Kayle Clements about replacing band members, the nifty Optogate triggers a discussion on must have gadgets and gizmos. And finally - Oliver Davis from the Circuit Symphony sent us in a demo of work in progress to play us out.
Sonic TALK108 - Grunting Performers, Resort Studios
First PJ tells us all about his recent Emmy winning experience, Dave pines for his new Roland D550 and MKS70, then we move on to the WiiMote to MIDI, Jordan Rudess shreds on the nanoKeys, then we ponder the merits of Resort Studios - Nassau Compass Point especially, then we're on to rare synths we have played..
Sonic TALK107 - How To Get That Bond Drum Sound
We talk of the ZX Spectrum sound chip, last weeks Music Live! show in Birmingham, and AudioNerd's new plug-in TemperTemper which is a Microdiatonically Equal Tempered Metronome - a click that can be in tune with your track. Then it's on to the new Bond movie and jack White's theme tune and drum sound, FourTrack for your phone - old school for today, long-term relationships with electronic musical instruments, Beardyman does Jazz - an amazing beatboxer and two KP3s, MTV Music and any old excuse for us to look back.
Sonic TALK106 - Marking Homework
Electoral preamble aside, we move on to the subject of AsioHead's homework, who gamely rose to the challenge set last week to finish a track by this week - in fact we have two! Well done mate. Then we're on to the Yamaha Tyros 3 - the uber arranger keyboard as demonstrated by Martin Harris, which brings back memories of major chords for Dave Spiers, then more madcap research from those Microsoft boys and girls in the Cambridge Sensors and Devices department with the touch screen you don't touch, the new Fraunhofer HD-AAC mpeg encoding algorithm works on 24-bit 96kHz loss-less compression and what it might mean is next, followed by a discussion on how hard it is to learn a new DAW where I get some useful tips on Ableton Live.
Podcast Sonic TALK105 - What's The Worst That Could Happen?
After hellos and discussion of various ailments we move on to the current economic climate and what that might mean for music, as well as plucking a few artists from the charts in the last two Uk recessions, then we're on to Dr Pepper and Chinese Democracy - thats the new album/single from Axel Rose, the mesmerizing Daito Manabe's MAX/MSP twitch patch video is up next, followed by the forthcoming Vemia Auction - a great place to find all things electronic and vintage, Nick kicks off the movie soundtrack topic with a burst of John Carpenter's Assault On Precinct 13, after which the team tell us of their own favourites, then we finish with Asioheads' MIDI file spotting and also some advice on how to Get Stuff Done.
Sonic TALK104 - Warbling Divas and Tumbleweed
After Dave Spiers tells us about his hearing tests from earlier today, we talk of the iTunes Genius recommendation system and other similar services, then its the great Reason bassline challenge and the panels own favourite b-lines, Nick embarrasses himself with girls singing about synthesizers, then we ponder the 7 music trends whose return must be stopped, which takes us into the world of warbling divas.
Sonic TALK103 - Stinky Macs, Stinky Mics
This week Mark is excited about his new iPhone app RJDJ which does seem pretty nifty, we then talk of the new Apple laptop range which seems to have omitted musicians and video producers from it's possible customer base by the exclusion of FireWire on the Mac Books and only FW800 on the MBPros, we touch on the panels experiences with the new Spectrasonics Omnisphere mega instrument, then we take a look at the new SoundCloud.com audio sharing and distribution service, then we touch on the new Metallica album which has been mastered too loud and results in poor MP3 encoding and other issues, the Tone Generation series from Ian Helliwell is up next, then it's smelly Mac Pros and other stinky equipment to end the show on a low note.
Sonic TALK102 - Better Late Than Never
So this weeks show covers, Punk meets butter as Johnny Rotten appears in a butter ad in the UK - we wonder if it's all gone wrong and at what point is it acceptable to take the money and run. Then Dave drops a massive hint on the next 80's band to reform, Mark shows us an interesting duet between Le Bon and Debbie Harry, then we discuss the new Roland Cakewalk V-Studio, ProTools 8 and a time/pitch conundrum for Mark.
Sonic TALK101 - Post Centennial Rant
As this is episode 101, we indulge our grumpier sides and talk about things that really annoy us in the studio world, but not before we marvel at Matt Mahaffey's amazing rendition of classic AC/DC track Back in Black on drums and Omnichord, then we discuss the recently delayed release of the Linn Drum II and the availability of Dave Smiths new Mopho desktop synthesizer. Then we discover who are panel would like to meet or work with alive or dead - which was one of the topics we didn't get around to last week (no surprise!).
Sonic TALK099 - International Dance Party
First up we remember the voice of Don LaFontaine, Mr movie trailer himself, then we ponder the SPL Transient Designer which seems to be used so much these days, another brief spell remembering Richard Wright keyboard player with Pink Floyd, the wonderful International Dance Party machine and other party machinery and finally the Korg M3 Xpanded and other workstationery.
Podcast Sonic TALK098 - 100 Million Youtube Views
After thanking the powers that be for not obliterating us in the Cern particle accelerator experiment that took place on the morning of our recording, we move on to Sony's latest laptop recall gaffe, then the new HG Fortune The Dream Machine self generating VST synth, then the first 100 Million views for a Youtube video goes to.... After which we ponder the new Waldorf Blofeld keyboard and how Sugababes got away with using that Apple Loop as the main theme of their hit 'Change'.
Sonic TALK097 - Sweet Robot Music
First up we ponder the significance of Universal Audio's latest UAD-2 Sharc powered DSP plugins and examine their claims in detail, then we run from the awesome attack of the musical robots - is no one safe? After which, we discuss the new wave of DIY stompboxes and otherwise, followed by EQ tips and pratice.
SonicTALK 096 - Where the Good Doggies Go
Firstly we talk of Creamfields and other weather dependent activities, then we're into Slau's response to Rich Hilton's question on M&S mic tecnhnique, sound libraries on hard discs and other sound effects related chat, then we talk of music that makes us cry, Psychedlic Furs and then to a topical politics in music.
Sonic TALK095 - iPhone Saviour of Software?
After I gloat about the Olypmpic medals table, we talk about good working practices to make sure your ears stay healthy when wokring in the studio, then on to manuals paper and otherwise, followed by a spell on Alan Blumlein - grandaddy of stereo recording then the promising Girton Labs SenseSurface a sort of hybrid LCD/ hardware control system, then I wax lyrical about the iPod Touch and the pretty promising App Store from Apple - saviours of the developers? We end on a blast of Isaac Hayes who sadly passed away on the 10th of August.
Sonic TALK094 - Moroder Owns the Olympics
Mark Tinley, PJ Tracy, Dave Spiers, Rich Hilton and host Nick Batt As well as the Olympic theme and singers and composers of Olympic theme songs, we linger in the backstage area to discuss band riders and unreasonable requests, a quick announcement for the B52's remix competition winner, GigaStudio to be no more, the enigmatic Studio Electronics Omega Orion - to Nelly Hooper and then 6 degrees of separation just about finishes us off.
Sonic TALK093 - Thomas Dolby and Nirvana
This week we think back to Thomas Dolby's Windpower which celebrates 26 years since it's release this week, then on to the latest iPhone apps - Beat Maker and a Tenori-on-a-like sequencer, MacBook Touch coming soon? Modular Synth beats, the Nevermind Baby is now 17 - what were we up to?
Sonic TALK092 - Beckham Does Not Sniff Sharpies
We take a look at the new Wii MotionPlus addition for the WiiMote which allegedly ads true 1:1 motion control and increases the accuracy of the 3D positioning and it's musical possibilities - it's demonstrated by the new WiiMusic titles with people "playing" various instruments at the recent E3 demo. Then we talk about virtuoso drummers - with plenty of drummer jokes, then on to famous sounds, green technology and finally David Beckham in the Sharpies ad. Richard Evans, Mark Tinley, Dave Spiers and Nick Batt
Sonic TALK091 - Guys Love Luggage
This week we bask in the wonderful light shed by Grace Jones and her seminal Slave to The Rhythm album as well as taking a preview of her forthcoming release Hurricane, then we move on to the Nine Inch Nails Google Earth treasure hunt, of course we mention the recent 3G iPhone release then Crazy Coffins and the joy a man can find in choosing the right luggage, then we finish with the future of retail ads Presonus launch a new online store.
Sonic TALK090 - A Surfeit of Joeys
We first talk of plastic figurines and memorabilia as inspired by the Keith Emerson doll, then we're off on to Rich's work on Ramones album Subterranean Jungle, Devo take McDonalds to court, Jay Wasco's amazing rendition of Heart of Gold on the Swiss Army Bass and people who can play and sing one more instruments at a time, we then take the Audiocheck.net hearing challenge, then we discuss electronic drum kits.
Sonic TALK089 - Deep Thinking and Light Compression
This week we talk of creativity, inspiration and divergent thinking thanks to Sir Ken Robinson - who I saw speak at the LIMS show on education day, then we put Rich Hilton on the spot with a legacy question from Dan Austin who wants to know whats the difference between Peak Limiting and Compression and how do you use it? Then the Korg Nano series controllers and we're done.
Sonic TALK088 - Krakli Moog
We skip through the mental futuristic photo browser that is Taggalaxy.de, then on to Krakli Software's rendition of Video Killed the Radio Star, then on to the Moog Guitar which gets it's official launch at Summer NAMM, the Electronic Music Guide, AES, Sonicstate.TV and Prince is 50.
Sonic TALK087 - Yazoo Return Like Salmon
I'd like to shout out a thank you to Dan Austin, who sent in a few topics for us to look at , the first of which is the classic New Order track Blue Monday, drummers who could play tight, then we're on to the reformation of Yazoo with Vince and Alison back on stage "like salmon", Robbie Ryan posts us a comment, the Wizard Master Control program- a funky sequencer, Melloman Walkman based Mellotron from Mike Walters via Tara Busch, Compact Flash for scsi samplers and then we're done...
Sonic TALK086 - RocknRoll Swindles Lord Tinley
Starting out with the great Silibil n Brains hoax - two Scottish rappers who fooled the industry for 2 years, Noneric tells us about Snap, we cover Milli Vanilli, the Monkees and Audrey Hepburn too. Mark also has a theory about Pete Doherty and the KLF. Virus targets file sharers, Totally Wired - documentary of Schneiders Buero, Digidesigns' Transfuser grooves on and finally vegetable orchestra and other hand made instruments....
Sonic TALK085 - Rhythmic Intelligence, Moog Guitar, Funkytown
Our topics this week range from a quick plug for the WNYC Radio Lab podcasts, intelligence and rhythmic accuracy proves drummers are clever (or does it?), in-ear monitor systems, Lipps Inc. Funkytown, and the largest UK music chain goes down. Finishing up we talk of the Moog guitar, which turns out to be real after all. Somehow from there we get to Toyah Wilcox and dis-lexia - who says we go off topic?
Sonic TALK - 084 Watchout For The Bears PJ
We start by drooling over the wonderful treasure trove that is the rare gadgets at Wired.com, ponder Leon Theremins thrilling life and why no Gforce-o-mometer and Citroen DS? Then it's on to Metallica and downloads and of course Some Kind of Monster doc, the scary prospect of an MP3 tax in the UK, some real joy with the B52's remix competition and finally Apple clones on sale - good or no? A big thanks to Dave from Richmond Virginia for sending in a snippet of his Evolver and Kaoss pad 3 - keep em coming!
Sonic TALK - 083 I've Got a Talkbox and I'm Gonna Use it
fter discussing the merits of Ostend we move on to the bizarre Beamz laser musical system, then talk boxes get some love - we missed them out last week due to time constraints, then a brief sojourn into music technology spotted at the fair (or carnival if you're US based), Garageband.com get some attention after last weeks Talking Heads topic, Mark's tinitus eq theory, a brief musical interlude from Marc JX8P and a JMJ acapella, then we're homeward bound with 25 top tips for musicians.
Sonic TALK - 082 David Byrne Spotted On Train
Firstly we talk of old Mother Shipton, who may have forseen the collapse of the TC Electronic and Gibson merger, then we're on to Talking Heads - David Byrne spotted on the Heathrow Express, more on Jori Hulkkonen and his 303 orchestra, the Hobnox web browser 303/909 and fx environment, and finally the classic Oberheim OB2 and related synths.
Sonic TALK - 081 Robot Drummer, Guitar Hero, I Remember
First, Mark tells us of a rather personal encounter with a vibrating chair, then we're on to the cute little drumming, sampling robot, Gibson gun for some of the Guitar Hero and Rock Band cash, then we all fess up on what our first record purchases were and get more than we bargained for, Rich is playing with Micky Dolenz, 128k or 320kbps MP3 test at mp3ornot.com, and at last Gary Kiblers Korg Kaossilaor album gets a viewing.
Sonic TALK - 080 Synth Hero Worship, Guitar Hero Parody
A moment of silence for Mark's broken phone, the wonderfully pointless Furby Gurdy, a home made and as it turns out controversial, Laser Harp from Stephen Hobley, Waves and SSL, Jean Michel Jarre and his amazing series of Oxygene concerts with many of the original analogues, SSL and Waves plug-ins, Percussa Audio Cubes, and finally Dave Robinson tells us all about the Jean Michel Jarre gig in Dublin, Dave Spiers tells us how JMJ spoilt his wedding, Steve Strange in the queue, Santeri Ojala's excellent guitar parodies, and finally Digidesign's DShow gets some love.
Sonic TALK 079 - It's The Work of the Devil I Tell You..
Sonic TALK 079 - It's The Work of the Devil I Tell You..
Sonic TALK 078 - Play it Again BIll
This week, we revisit a couple of topics from last week due to some additional correspondence - MIDI 2.0 is on the way and Shane King sends us an Ultravox inspired track to check out. We then move on to the rather amazing Microsoft MySong technology which allows you to sing in a melody then have the computer suggest the supporting chord - and tweak. We ponder why Apple can get away with some of their rather monopolistic behaviour and then we're done.
Sonic TALK077- Massive Simmons Drum and Killer Robots
We talk this week of the demise of one of London's most prestigious studios the Townhouse, which will close its doors at the end of March 2008. Ray Kurzweil's futurism theories get us started on an esoteric thread, which is brought down to earth by Fade To Grey and talk of Billie Currie. And finally Happy Birthday MIDI.
Sonic Talk 076 - New Ableton Instrument? Old Yamaha FX
This week we talk of Create Digital Music who are in fund-raising mode, Nick finally upgrades his Macbook Pro HD to a 250GB one, Noneric's visit to Ableton uncovers a whole mess of speculation about some new secret instrument for Live, vocoders in general, recording Bowie, copyright extension for performers, the Yamaha SPX90 effects unit, then in-ear monitoring and the technology of live performance gets a quick look-in.
Sonic TALK - 075 Five Grammies! And a Hotz Box
First up, we congratulate Ms Amy Winehouse on her historic 5 Grammy awards romp - Dave Spiers' brother-in-law is bass player and MD for the band and has been round at his partying. Then we get stuck into the Hotz Box - a unique MIDI controller/instrument that was a hit amongst the bigwhigs in the 1980s - I'd never heard of this, but Chris Macleod, had the pleasure of staying with Jimmy Hotz and programming it for Jon Anderson for a Yes tour - he spills the beans. After that, we touch on the art of destruction - with tales of what we have broken - Chris enlightens us with the Keith Emerson L100 on casters story. Then we're on to Virtual Instruments magazine and other favourites, which leads on to a wider discussion of where all this stuff is going.
Sonic TALK - 074 Hand-held Mergers and McLove
This week we talk of mergers and acquisitions, in the light of Roland taking a majority share in Cakewalk, Gibson and TC Electronic announcing a merger and of course Microsoft's bid for Yahoo, Helicon technology gets a look-in along the way, followed by Novation's Nocturn controller, Inside Synthesis, our latest IPTV series on FM synthesis and FM generally, then a bit of a Mac-fest with the new Airbook and Mainstage in use. Finally we finish up with Rich having good things to say about the new Apple keyboard - of the QWERTY kind.
Sonic TALK 071- Linn Drum II, DSP synths, 8-core Macs
This week is a bumper, coming it at just over an hour, and to kick off the new year, we talk of Christmas past (noneric got an SP1200!), the pending NAMM future - including Linn Drum II, John Bowen's Solaris, the new Sharc based DSP synth Plugiator, new control surfaces from Euphonix, 8-core Mac Pros just announced too.