RemixGalaxy Blog

A new lightweight version of Pro Tools, bundled with a redesigned M-Audio FastTrack audio interface, may be the ticket for those want serious DAW performance on a not so serious budget. Pro Tools M-Powered Essential is powerful enough for many home studios, with up to 16 audio channels and 8 virtual instrument tracks available for use. It is nowhere close to the awesomely awesome power of a Pro Tools HD system, but it’s also about 1/100 of the cost. It is the perfect way for the beginner and the hobbyist producer to enter the world of industry standard Pro Tools without breaking the bank.

The Fast Track audio interface from M-Audio is a 2 in/2 out USB 2.0 unit with an XLR mic input, a 1/4-inch instrument input with gain control, a 1/4-inch headphone output and RCA stereo outputs. It also features an upgraded mic pre-amp for significantly improved recordings, according to M-Audio. Controls are simple, and as far as consumer audio interfaces go, this is pretty easy on the eyes. As an added bonus, the interface is compatible with the full Pro Tools M-Powered software if you should ever choose to upgrade.

The whole bundle is selling at street prices around $120, putting Pro Tools within reach of just about everyone.

Consisting of Jules de Martino and Katie White, UK’s popular dance-rock group The Ting Tings is currently preoccupied with conquering America. Having already hit #1 on the album charts in the UK with We Started Nothing, the duo is accompanying Pink on a huge U.S. tour. With booming, radio-ripe beats and contagiously catchy lyrics, it seems like every one of its tracks is written to inspire a sing-along. The single “Great DJ” is no different, with a bouncy, jittery vibe and endearing simplicity. It’s a perfect jam to dress up a bit, as Scottish electropop musician and producer Calvin Harris did with an extra coat of synth and some chipper beats.

The Ting Tings – “Great DJ (Calvin Harris remix)”

For this next ditty, things are going to get a little bit steamy. Recently, the production duo of Shuka and The Gunna dropped a scalding mixtape composed of select Marvin Gaye and Jay-Z cuts that simultaneously oozes swagger and melts hearts. Melding the self-proclaimed “Greatest Rapper Alive” (yeah, right) and the legendary chocolate crooner is a forehead-slapping idea made all the more appealing by assembling an entire mixtape. Jay-Z’s version of “Hello Brooklyn” featured awesomely declarative lyrics, though the beat didn’t capitalize on the original grooves laid down by the Beastie Boys. Seeing room for improvement, The Hood Internet touched up Jay-Z’s track with the jangly, fluttering beats of Xiu Xiu and the results were appealingly fantastical. However, the Brooklyn Soul mixtape version is simply a straight-up serial killing. There just aren’t that many songs out there that you can get amped to, get down to, get dirty to, and listen to over and over again. This is one of those jams.

Jay-Z ft. Lil Wayne vs. Marvin Gaye – “Hello Brooklyn 2.0”

Jay-Z ft. Lil Wayne – “Hello Brooklyn”

Beastie Boys – “Hello Brooklyn”

Jay-Z ft. Lil Wayne vs. Xiu Xiu – “I Do Brooklyn When I Want (The Hood Internet remix)”

Brooklyn Soul mixtape

The UK-based production and remix duo of James Ford and Jas Shaw (aka Simian Mobile Disco) hasn’t been around very long. However, since popping up in 2007 with Attack Decay Sustain Release, the team has apparently done some serious networking. “I Believe” scored a spot on the FIFA ’08 soundtrack, while this year’s Temporary Pleasure garnered the support of Chris Keating (Yeasayer), Telepathe, Alexis Taylor (Hot Chip), and Jamie Liddell. Still, the most impressive contribution to the album might come from Beth Ditto on “Cruel Intentions.” Featuring snappy, crystal-chandelier beats and disco-infused alacrity, the synth-pop number buzzes like a thousand neon lights. On the other hand, Joker’s interpretation comes out just as tasty. The dubstep pioneer loves using plenty of analog synth, and it definitely shows. Either way, both versions are certified party starters.

Simian Mobile Disco ft. Beth Ditto – “Cruel Intentions (Joker remix)”

Since 2001’s Grow Up and Blow Away, Toronto’s Metric has experienced a steadfast ascension in popularity. However, this year’s Fantasies just may have established the New Wave-tinged dance-rock quartet as the reigning Canadian indie rock kings (and queen). In fact, their album has even made it onto the 2009 Polaris Music Prize’s shortlist for the Canadian Album of The Year. We’re not sure if Emily Haines’ looks had anything to do with it, but fellow Toronto natives MSTRKRFT have definitely noticed. The versatile vowel-hating electronic duo has been known to push songs along at spazzy Mountain Dew-fueled speeds, but their remix of “Monster Hospital” is paced very well and has a healthy dose of Daft Punk flavor.

Metric – “Monster Hospital (MSTRKRFT remix)”

Just in time for the weekend, we’ve unearthed a ferocious foursome of Miike Snow remixes that will undoubtedly assist you in jump-starting your party cruising. The tritely anonymous yet anomalously infectious Swedish pop trio has been getting a lot of attention since their big-time gig at Lollapalooza, the king of summer pop festivals. Though the troupe’s indie pop idiosyncrasies aren’t exactly visceral, a healthy dose of slick electro-tinged harmonies really spruces up the gossamery vocals. Additionally, the trio’s opening track from this year’s self-titled debut album proves to be indeterminately malleable. Mark Ronson’s shockingly smooth rendition of “Animal” sounds like it belongs on an Amy Winehouse album, while Fake Blood effortlessly speeds up the tempo and amps up the beats a bit. Fellow Swedes Peter Bjorn and John added an opulently cavernous quality, and mouse-headed mega-DJ Crookers laid an egg with a generally loutish version. Though we still prefer the original track, all the remixes are worth checking out.

Miike Snow - “Animal”

Miike Snow - “Animal (Peter Bjorn and John remix)”

Miike Snow - “Animal (Mark Ronson remix)”

Miike Snow - “Animal (Fake Blood remix)”

Miike Snow - “Animal (Crookers remix)”

For our lucky friends in the UK, there is a must-see television event on the way. The BBC has announced that Synth Britannia, a documentary that explores “the impact of electronic music on popular culture in Britain,” will air some time in the coming months (the broadcast date has not yet been determined).

The show, which will air on digital BBC4, traces synth pop’s invention back to Gary Numan’s 1979 appearance on Top Of The Pops. This bedrock event then gave rise to the defining sound of the 80’s, with contributions from such groups as Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk, Ultravox, Soft Cell, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark and Yazoo. Groups like the Pet Shop Boys and New Order moved the direction of electronic music towards the dance genre.

The show includes interviews and other contributions from some of the era’s major players like Philip Oakey, Vince Clarke, Martin Gore, Bernard Sumner, Gary Numan and Neil Tennant.

Here’s a trailer to whet your appetite:

I hope that this makes it to BBC America!

Because of the number of new users that have recently joined us, we have extended the entry deadline for our first contest, the Presidential Remix Contest, until October 4th. That’s plenty of time to fire up mixStudio or your favorite production software and crank out a killer track! Who couldn’t use a brand new Apple iPod Touch, which is the prize for the best entry. See full details here.

FruityLoops is all grown up! Image Line Software just released Version 9 of their PC-only music production platform - now known as FL Studio.

Having started my music production life with FruityLoops way back when, I still keep up to date on the program, which provides free upgrades for life to registered users. The unconventional approach to making music, with some of the coolest graphics and user interfaces in the business, always appealed to me, even if the earlier versions were significantly less capable than industry standards like Pro Tools or Logic. If you’ve never used FL Studio’s step sequencer or piano roll, you are in for a treat.

So what’s new in Fl Studio 9 and is it worth buying if you’re in the market for a DAW? Here is the complete list of new features. There are new audio routing capabilities, multichannel audio recording, and several new softsynths (including Autogun with over 4 billion - yes billion with a ‘B’ - presets). Much of what is new appears to be old hat for the more mainstream DAW packages, but much of what is old has never been seen in those competing packages. This means that FL Studio now has capabilities rivaling any other DAW on the market, but with additional features and workflow that are totally unique. Add in the very reasonable price - $49 to $299 depending on the package - and the free lifetime upgrades, and you have a package that is definitely worth looking into if you’re in the market for serious music creation software.

There isn’t much to write about Joy Division that hasn’t already been written. The band was instrumental in pioneering the post-punk movement in the 70’s and was instantly ensconced in rock lore when lead vocalist Ian Curtis committed suicide on the eve of the troupe’s fist American tour. Praise for Joy Division has been heaped in piles, even by the likes of Bono and Moby. Joy Division’s ups and downs have been immortalized in varying levels of accuracy by films such as 24 Hour Party People, Control, and Joy Division. To this day, fans can be spotted trotting around town sporting shirts with the UK quartet’s instantly recognizable and intriguingly off-kilter Unknown Pleasures album cover design. It’s not surprising that Joy Division’s expansive, cavernous and desperately sorrowful sound continues to garner new fans. There’s just something about Curtis’s tortured baritone, and the group’s alternating icy-cold infectiousness and soul-crushing sparsity that sounds fresher than ever. Hence, one of UK’s hottest DJs-slash-producers just had to get his hands on JD’s “Control”. Fortunately, D. Ramirez did manage to retain the booming echos and bottomless harmonies of the original track. The aerosol spray can beat even stays discernible. All in all, it’s quite a feat.

Joy Division - “Control (D. Ramirez remix)”

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