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Exciting new libraries from Native Instruments and the lovely Hollow Sun have been released for our creative pleasure this week.

Native Instruments 'Abbey Road 60's Drums'

I have been a longtime fan of Native Instruments Battery 2 ever since using it extensively on my album, Pilfershire Lane, and many other projects. See, I can be a bit of a digital luddite and very stubborn when I find something I'm cozy with. Change? Upgrade? Help!. Anyway, I finally took a leap and got my hands on Komplete 6, which includes the dazzling sampler, Kontakt 4 (and Battery 3 among many other programs). And, being the trememdous fan of 60's style drums that I am, I was over the moon to learn of the new Native Instruments collection for Kontakt 4, "Abbey Road 60's Drums".

Read all about this shiny new gem here...will I finally have that "Tomorrow Never Knows" sound? (Dreamy tangent below, i.e. favorite Beatles song):

Hollow Sun Novachord

Finally, Steve & Dan with Hollowsun have now released their gorgeous Novachord sample collection! Lots of blood, anticipation, love & gear lust has gone into this project that I have been covering on here since Dan obtained the super-gorgeous & super-rare Novachord last year. Find out more, listen to samples and order your very own Novachord library here on Hollowsun.

Again, my studio setup is all but non-existant at the moment, but I'm so excited to sink my teeth into all the wonderful programs I have when I get set up next week. I certainly don't feel qualified to make a super - technical review of these lovely creations, but I'm excited to show what and how I create with it. Keep your eyes peeled for shiny new films featuring these new goodies!

PS - I'm very, very new to Kontakt 4 (been using Logic 7's EXS 24 for ages, though), so any tips, tutorial links, etc are very welcome! Please comment below with your tips & tricks, kids.

Interested in honing your Theremin technique with a true legend? Lydia Kavina will be teaching a fantastic Theremin Workshop in Oxford on February 6th...an absolute must, don't you think?

I remember back when Maf acquired a Theremin kit for me from Big Briar, it included a divine instructional video by Lydia herself - I'd sit stunned watching her perform with such grace and beauty on this instrument that is notoriously difficult but incredibly gratifying to play.

Anyway, here's more about the workshop from Thereminist Gordon Charlton on the great site, Theremin UK News - check out Gordon's Theremin adventures here on the Beat Frequency Blog  and here on Theremin World, by the way.

Where:

Bate Collection, Faculty of Music

St. Aldate's, Oxford, OX1 1DB 

When: 

Saturday, February 6th 2010, 12:00 - 16:00

The workshop includes sessions for beginners and advanced players, as well as an ensemble workshop for all levels. Attendance is free for observers and £30 for participants (£15 for children/students/pensioners) payable on the door.

Here is further information about the workshop. How exciting! Read more about Lydia here - did you know she is Leon Theremin's grandniece? Make sure to mark the date if you can, rumor has it there may be a few special guests & surprises in store as well!

The past few months have seen a mysterious stream of 3 very lovely, disturbingly sweet videos coming to the AnalogSuicide.com doorstep, all wrapped up with a rich sonic, red velvet ribbon, all under the guise "iamamiwhoami". Along with our friend Brad at the great music blog MuuMuse, everyone's been throwing guesses at who it may be. What do you think? Possibly Fever Ray? Some say Gaga, Bjork, Christina Auguilera or Goldfrapp ( judging by the new single, 'Rocket' , I highly doubt it) ... Could it be a sort of NIN collaboration?

Let's have a look at the latest as the mystery weaves on! Via iamamiwhoami on YouTube:

And the rest of the videos:

Thoughts? 

Well! I'm still settling into what is a rather consuming (and exciting) transcontinental move , hence the more-than-occasional posts. And my oh my...I'm ready to get my studio's veins wired up , lush & full of sweet sonic blood again!Yum. 

That said, I want to post a few great videos from our friends Justin and Surachai at TrashAudio.com - This is featuring the wicked new Piston Honda oscillator from the Harvestman. In fact, a great compliment to these videos is this interview with The Harvestman's Scott Jaeger, by Velvet Acid Christ's Brian Erickson, on Synthtopia.

Marvel at the rest of TrashAudio.com 's NAMM 2010 videos here!  Tara will be back after what she hopes will be a brief but nutritious snooze....  x

As the sweet rain taps its chilly, odd tempo on the kitchen windows here in Wales, the mighty musical playground that is NAMM 2010 has unfurled itself full force in Anaheim, California this weekend! 

Quite a few friends of ours ( including SonicState, Matrixsynth, Sweetwater, Trash Audio, Gearwire and Synthtopia ) are getting a first hand peek at the newest, grooviest gear....here are some of many wonderful updates they have for us. What an exciting NAMM it must be this year! I'm still reeling from the fact that I now (can) have a Blue Microphone for stage use, yum.

Photo from GearWire.com

 First off, here's Nick Batt from SonicState.com and the legendary Dave Smith discussing the new Mopho Keyboard:

Here is a link to Synthtopia's NAMM 2010 photo stream on Flickr, including the mouth-watering OP 1 by Teenage Engineering, Moog Taurus 3 Pedals, Eigenharp & more!

And more from the excellent SonicState.com - here they chat with Dave Spiers from one of my favorite music software creators, GForce...Do we hear an Optigan marching forth? Indeed!

Keep yourself posted on SonicState's NAMM 2010 updates here.

More to come indeed! By the way, check out AnalogSuicide.com 's past NAMM capers here on the Tara Busch YouTube Channel.