Benton Pena @ technology + culture + life and everything in between

Finally finishing my home studio, here the photos of how my project is going…

As I posted before, here it is the main MIDI controller an M-Audio Ozonic, the groove box Korg EMX-1 on blue, on black the Korg KaossPad 3 an Effects box with a 4 track sampler. –>

<– Here the mixer the Edirol M-16DX from Roland, this mixer is quite versatile has 16 channels, effects and what I love is that works as an audio interface so this completes your DAW more information here.

This is one of my favorite synth, the Novation X-Station, sweet fat sounds and most parameters can be accessed right in the panel, also works as a MIDI controller of course and has an audio interface, great for traveling as it can work on batteries or powered by the USB port. Sounds just great. –>

<– Here the rack, on top the I/O module of the M-16DX, below the classic synth Yamaha TX81Z, below a rompler the Roland M-DC1 classic dance sounds and effects. Below a vintage piece of equipment the Akai ME30PII Midi Patchbay, expander and merger 4 x 8 no more troubles with MIDI devices. In the bottom the classic Emu Proteus I, a rompler with the basic rock and pop sounds from the EIII library. I used this machine in 1992 when I use to play rock with the boys.

What’s left is a rack power conditioner the monitor speakers that will be the M-Audio AV40, the monitor stands and a LCD monitor… But the more exciting, an analog synth, combined with a analog vocoder plus a modulizer, sorry but this will be a custom made device(DIY) that will be my signature sound for my music, so I can’t give further details.

It’s a little messy, but is a work in progress thing

The Korg/AQ DS-10 + Nintendo DS Lite Equals a portable music creation tool, that emulates the popular MS-10 synthesizer, a cool & classic analog synth known for its great bass and percussive sounds. With it boasting two patchable virtual synths with two oscillators each, a drum machine, a sequencer, and a full range of effects, to name but a few features this is not a game.

I would use it as a portable music book for making music on the fly while traveling or even in the street while walking, just to catch my inspiration in the moment.
Enjoy this vid.

The cost? about USD 60 for the software and USD 150 for the DS Lite.

Here a few links:

http://www.aqi.co.jp/product/ds10/en/index.html
http://createdigitalmusic.com/2007/03/15/hacked-midi-support-for-nintendo-ds-dserial/
www.vintagesynth.com/korg/ms10.shtml

Jezzz I just like the way this guys perform, look at their video - Daft Punk - HARDER BETTER FASTER STRONGER (Alive 2007)

Daft Punk - HARDER BETTER FASTER STRONGER (Alive 2007)

If you wonder what’s inside their pyramid look at here:
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/44892-daft-punks-magical-pyramid-spaceship-infiltrated

shovelgloving, a daily, full-body workout that requires just 14 minutes and a sledgehammer wrapped in a sweatshirt. The brainchild of a guy who just wanted an exercise routine he could do from the comfort of his bedroom, shovelgloving is a surprisingly effective exercise routine for working your entire body. Shovelglove exercises are also fun to do, incorporating old-timey routines like the butter-churn, wood-chop, and (naturally) shovel.

Watch out the videos here: http://www.youtube.com/user/everydaysystems

Here part of the instruments…

M-Audio Ozonic - main MIDI controller
Korg EMX-1 - Groovebox
Korg Kaoss Pad 3 - FXs and 4-trk Sampler

My dear friend The ANALOG© and his documental about his surf trip to Costa Rica, how I miss the waves! here his description and film, awesome!!!:

OLAS DE UNA MILLA . Trailer largo.

DOCUMENTAL DE SOUL SURFING. Realizado en 16mm y super 8mm, en Costa Rica. Dirijido, filmado y editado por Tabaré Blanchard e Iván Herrera.
Esta es una prueba de lo nuevo que viene. Es algo mas que un trailer…mucho mas largo.
Un surf trip en Costa Rica, que terminó en documental.

Very nice mixer, it’s a dual channel USB-powered mixer with two linear faders, one crossfader, eight backlit buttons and 24 potentiometers, all built around a PIC 18LF4525 microcontroller. See it in action here:

aurora Open Source DJ Mixer\MIDI Hardware w/ Ableton Live from aurora mixer on Vimeo.

More information here: http://www.auroramixer.com/index.html

Yesterday June 27, 2008 Gates stepped down from his top job at Microsoft to turn his attention to running his foundation, these are 5 things we should know about Bill an American business magnate and philanthropist.

From an interview in The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch

1.  HE DOESN’T WANT TO BE THE RICHEST PERSON IN THE WORLD. I said to him, “You’re a competitive person, would it ever upset you if you weren’t the richest guy in the world?” And Gates’ responded,  “I wish I wasn’t, there’s nothing good that comes out of that,” he said. “You get more visibility as a result of it.”

2. HE’LL NEVER RUN FOR OFFICE. When I asked Gates if he would follow in the footsteps of other wealthy Americans who have entered into the political arena, Gates told me, “I certainly will never be a politician”. When I pressed him and asked why he replied, “For every reason. I wouldn’t like it, I wouldn’t be elected. I’m better at what I’m doing.”

3.  HE DOESN’T CARRY A WALLET. I asked him, “What did you carry around in your wallet…. how much cash are we talking here?” to which he replied, “I don’t carry a wallet around that often”.  I guess when you’re that rich you don’t have to!

4.  HE DOESN’T HAVE AN iPOD.  Ok duh, this was a given but I had to ask just to hear what his response would be.  “I don’t have an iPod. I think a phone is a nice portable device to have one’s music on…and I think some other people may do that in the future too, we’ll see.” he said.

5.  HE LOVES GOING TO THE MOVIES.  I asked him, “Is it tough for you go to a soccer game with your kids or to just go to the movies?”   He told me, “No, the movies are great - they turn the lights out!”  “I’m not bothered when I’m out in public or anything,” he said. “Somebody might ask for a signature, rarely, but that’s not a difficult thing.”

Santo Domingo. — ONEMAX, la primera empresa en el mundo en ofrecer comercialmente Internet y teléfono inalámbrico con tecnología WiMAX móvil anunció la ampliación de su cobertura.

Thien Doan, Vicepresidente de Mercadeo, dijo que la empresa ha instalado nuevas antenas que les permite llegar a sectores tales como : Los mina, Los Tres Brazos, Cancino, Villa Juana, Mejoramiento Social, y otras zonas . Agregó que está gratamente satisfecho con la respuesta del público dominicano con la tecnología.” Realmente no esperábamos menos de un país con una población mayormente joven y amante de la tecnología”, expresó Doan.

Por otro lado, Christophe Ngo Van Duc, Vicepresidente de Informática y Sistemas, explicó que por ser una tecnología tan nueva, para ONEMAX es sumamente importante garantizar un servicio óptimo a sus clientes. “Con la instalación de estas nuevas antenas hemos extendido nuestra red logrando ampliar la zona de cobertura y mejorando la calidad de la señal para continuar brindando un servicio optimo de Internet y Voz a nuestros usuarios”.

La red desplegada es de 3.5 Gigahertz (GHz), lo que representa un avance significativo en la introducción comercial del servicio de WiMAX móvil y destaca la oportunidad de este servicio para operadores de todo el mundo.

ONEMAX es una empresa que cuenta con el respaldo de un prestigioso grupo dominicano y la participación de inversionistas internacionales como Alcatel-Lucent. Es presidida por Raoul Fontanez quien dijo que “El lanzamiento de ONEMAX, en la República Dominicana, ha generado mucho entusiasmo,  un mercado ideal para la tecnología WiMAX,  debido a su economía en fuerte crecimiento, su población relativamente grande y joven de más de 9 millones de personas, con un crecimiento rápido demandando servicio de banda ancha y esto tenía que  ser proporcionado. Sin duda alguna abrimos  la puerta del nuevo concepto  de   Internet y telefonía al alcance de todos para integrar las nuevas formas de comunicarse, informarse y entretenerse. Las innovaciones tecnológicas de ONEMAX acabarán convirtiéndose en parte integrante de la vida cotidiana de todos nosotros”.