Making a boombap beat with dilla and the Web Audio API

A brilliant tutorial from Adam Renklint on creating a hip hop beat from simple samples, the Web Audio API and a handful of effects. The tutorial uses Adam’s Dilla library which takes its inspiration from the classic Akai MPC60 sequencer by allowing you to schedule beats in 96th beat increments. I love the simple notation language for scheduling the beats and the way Adam uses it to create the groove.

Madeon’s Adventure Machine

The technique of combining simple loops into more complicated tracks is taken to a wonderful extreme in this interactive promotional piece for Madeon’s debut album Adventure. You can create and share your own remix of a Madeon song using this slick app. Apparently, if you have a Novation Launchpad MIDI controller, you can also trigger the loops using that. If you’d like to send me one to test that theory, please get in touch!

Web MIDI spec update

In other Web MIDI news, the W3C’s Audio Working Group has just published a revised working draft of the Web MIDI API. There’s been some changes to how device states are monitored, and the changes coincide with Google’s Chrome team announcing their intent to ship which means Web Midi will be available without setting an about:flag in Chrome soon.

Web Audio Charity Hack Day in Scotland

A Web Audio hack day is being run as part of ScotlandJS on Wednesday the 6th of May. All proceeds will be given to charity and attendees will have the opportunity to work with mentors to learn more about Web Audio. I’ll be at the conference, so if you do make it along please come and say hello!

Vuvuzela Denoiser

Hate Vuvuzelas? Love watching replays of 2010 world cup matches in your browser? This site is for you! Vincent Choqueuse uses the Web Audio API to explain lots of different signal processing concepts, including this creative use of a 5 band notch filter to help remove the sound of that infamous instrument.

303 simulator

A comprehensive simulation of a Roland TB-303, the machine responsible for countless acid-house tracks. The simulator allows two machines to play at the same time, and also has a drum sequencer with TR-808 style samples.

Hand-drawn schematics from the Bob Moog archive

The Bob Moog foundation have released a new collection of schematics of early Moog synths and prototypes, some hand-drawn by Bob Moog himself. I particularly like the front panel layout for the Synthesizer 1P.