So, the folks at Celemony are working on a new project which caught my attention. It seems the makers of the Melodyne plugin are planning on releasing a new version of their groundbreaking software. Their new plugin (set to debut in the fall) is an updated version of their original Melodyne, but with a twist. The new Melodyne 2.0 is going to feature a new enhancement they call DNA or “Direct Note Access”. Currently the Melodyne software is capable of editing and transforming audio in a similar way to Ableton, allowing you to time stretch and pitch shift independantly. When the Melodyne first came out this was groundbreaking but it’s now a common feature on most digital audio workstations. The limitation to this technology is that if you record a chord or harmony part it is pretty much embedded into the mix (ie you can’t change the individual notes of the chord, only pitch the chord as a whole up or down). The new Melodyne 2.0 plugin is going to change all that. It can actually detect the entire note structure of a complex recording, like a recorded guitar part or a choir of voices, and allows you to click and drag any note and move it up or down or change it’s rhythm independant of all the other notes in the recording. A really good example can be found in the demo video on their site (incidentally, I wish I was a german synthesizer programmer so I could rock an epic beard too). If this plugin really works the way they say it does, it will radically change the way electronic music is produced and open up all kinds of crazy possiblities for sampling and remixing. Ok maybe I’m exaggerating but I’m still going to pre-order this plugin so I can start messing with it asap!
Finally, I’ll leave you with a fresh mix to tide you through the weekend! AC Slater just released a new mix on his MySpace page and I’ve been meaning to get around to mentioning it. This one’s got a bit of a classic rave flavor, which I’m digging. His previous mix, which was a bit tweakier, is also a favorite of mine. Both have earned themselves a place in my top mixtapes playlist and are helping to make my commute bearable, which given the state of the TTC these days is saying a lot.