Elektron-Users

so for a uni graduation gift, i got a black macbook (!). i just got it about an hour ago, so i haven't even had a chance to open it yet.

problem is, i've never used a mac before and have no software other than office and whatever comes built-in (dual boot will make it a convenient transition though). what audio software should i check out? extra points for freeware and mac-capable softsynths.

congrats! i just picked mine up last night too.

so here's a brief list of recent Intel Mac apps that come to mind:

-Automat - freeware synth
-Renoise - tracker application
-Live - ...obviously
-iDrum - reason like Redrum
-Expert Sleepers - various looping, sample oriented plugs. some are free and some haven't been ported yet
-Audio Damage - plug-ins. these are great...not free but really worth the little bit of money they cost
-Crystal - freeware synth
-Reason - just announced yesterday
-StylusRMX - fancy drum/loop plugin
-Arturia Prophet V - plug
-Wave Editor / Sample Manager - Excellet Audio editor and sample managing apps...expensive but really nice.


others have been announced and more on the way everyday. i'm sure i missed quite a few here. i was just looking yesterday at the same thing. i think with Live + Automat + Crystal + few plugs one would have a simple but really powerful rig.

i kinda like the limited palette that exist for early adopters right now. it will help keep me focused on just a few...which was a direction i've been heading into for a while anyway.

Live + Automat

good luck and enjoy!!!

you may also want to check over at: www.macmusic.org & www.bigbluelounge.com ...releases, updates, mac community, etc

sweet! thanks! looks like i'll still be able to use live (my main audio prog i used on xp). i may keep that in dual boot though, as i have a bunch of freeware pc-only vsts.

btw- seeing the monome in your avatar makes me think i should ebay my old dell (pile o dung) laptop and pick up a monome to go with the mac....

man let me just say, MONOME 40h!!! i've never been so ecstatic over a purchase ever. i've been interested the Monome (the_box) for over a year when i heard about Daedelus and Tehn using them. when they made them and said $500, i was like ouch! but i had been saving some money for something (wasn't sure what) and decided to say fck it.

so, so glad i did. the potential, amount of immediacy, quickness, organic, and most importantly FUN i've had the last 4 days is worth the price alone. though i had an idea it was cool, playing with it and the great free apps really makes you be like "everyone should have one these".

i've had a lot of nice gear and hold warm thoughts on many of those pieces but i can't ever recall having this feeling with any instrument, let alone a little box with green buttons. who knew thats all it took

what are you using the monome with?

dirge wrote:
what are you using the monome with?

Right now i'm mainly using MLR. which is a freely distributed app made for the Monome. I've used 'Step' which is also made for the Monome. Mapd should drop at any minute. Then i will probably use MLR + Live.

There's enough free apps right now and the list is already growing that i'm really quite busy. The Max/MSP Runtime (application that enables apps and Pluggos to run without buying a license) isn't Universal Binary (intel mac) yet but runs flawlessly anyways.

Mapd which is said to be released any moment should open the flood gates to Monome shaking hands with mostly any app.

here's a prototype Monome 100h (16x16) from about a year ago from one of th creators of the Monome. This is MLR he's using here. It makes more sense once your using MLR but this is shows off the effortless fun/experimenting.

http://146.186.186.101/~bcrabtree/tehn_mlr.mov

^when i first saw that video i thought, "how confusing...how do you know where...what etc". then once i played with the 40h + MLR i got it in like 2 minutes.

loads of fun...

Yep...my two latest purchases... a macbook (white) and the 40h. Should be fun. I think the black would have been better if the outside was glossy.

what is this monome? I keep hearing about it. is it just a bunch of switches or something a bit more special. Being into max msp, im really interested in all things like this and wacom tablets and lemur etc...