the crystilised remix video is here!

the xx - crytilised (nsok remix)

what we learned from "In Rainbows"

The new massive attack album is available for pre-sale. The vinly edition costs £ 30.00!! that's over fifty dollars for us americans. You can pre-order 'Heligoland' at thevinylfactory.com where you can also buy ridiculously expensive records by air, monkey, xx and hot chip to name a few.

taking a page from Radiohead, Massive Attack as decided to only offer this one vinyl edition. No $12.99 100gram disc in traditional jacket, and why? because vinyl enthusiasts are much more into the hobby of collecting than mp3 hoarders. It's not only important for us to have a physical copy, but we specifically want that limited edition collectible - 180gram - foil printed - gate fold, with an additional 12" and free download... (whether we can afford it or not.)

and that's the problem, sometimes we cant. $50 bones is whole lotta paper to be dropping on a brand new record. And it's a little frustrating they don't have a more afordable vinyl option. After all a good record player only costs $100. To put things in pespective, letting go of fifty bones for a record is sort of like spending $5,000 to fill up your car, but it comes with a free car wash.

At least at the end of the day Radiohead did release a simple and affordable copy of 'In Rainbows,' though i had already emptied the coffers for the limited edition version which is stored (entombed in plastic) and rarely, if ever, sees the light of day. I like special editions, but i also like dj'ing and podcasting. Do you think i'm going to bring a fifty dollar record to the club? Hell no! And yet, i hardley ever spin cds, and i never spin mp3's, so basically, while Massive Attack has offered a beautiful and collectible presentation of their latest sonic offerings, they have done so at a price point which will cause it's exclusion from my set, which (podcast and dj sets combined) prevents a couple thousand people a month from hearing the music.

here's my suggestion, if you are going to sell me a fifty dollar record for my collection, can you include a cheappy disc i can play out, with out fear of capitol losses?

5Sign podCAST001

forty minutes of beats and live music.

To preview our chinatown beatdown we caught up with FONIKS at his home studio in Eagle Rock, just down the street from 50/50 grind. We recorded Foniks doing what he does best; dropping super tight productions live on the MPC 2000xl.

showcasing the music of:

little people - foniks - luke vibert - dorian concept - abstract butta fingers - gonjasufi - nsok - projecto 2501 - 5signs - prefuse 73

quest aperance by spel

download and share.

microKORG XL

korg is pretty well known for making sick synths. and now that computer technology is getting so small, korg in on board to bring thier wicked electronic sounds to smaller units.

the original microkorg is famous. i can't think of any keyboard i've seen in more studios. from rock musicians to hip hop producers and everything in between, what can't this box do? easy. it can't play more than one key at a time. they even have a word for it, monophonic. for those of you less experienced in musical terminology, that's like playing a drum set with one stick and no feet.

then along comes the micro Korg XL

8 steps of polyphony! i've had this synth for less than a week. hands down it is the most fun and inspiring keyboard i've ever sat down with.

here's the specifics from the manufacturer:

Tone Generator System: MMT (Multiple Modeling Technology)

Multi Timbral= maximum 2 (when using Layer, Split, or Multi)

Voices=8 voices

Structure: [Synth] 2 oscillators + noise generator, Oscillator 1: Wave: 8 types (Sawtooth, Pulse, Triangle, Sine, Formant, Noise, DWGS, Audio In), Modulation: Waveform, Cross, Unison, VPM, Oscillator 2: Wave: 4 types (Sawtooth, Pulse, Triangle, Sine), Modulation: Ring, Sync, Ring+Sync, Waveshape: Type: Drive, Decimator, HardClip, OctSaw, MultiTri, MultiSin, SubOSCSaw, SubOSCSqu, SubOSCTri, SubOSCSin, LevelBoost,

Multimode Filters: Filer 1: -24 dB/oct LPF ~ -12 dB/oct LPF ~ -12 dB/oct BPF ~ -12 dB/oct HPF ~ Thru, Filter 2: LPF, HPF, BPF [Vocoder] 16 channel vocoder, adjustable level and pan for each channel, Formant Shift function, Formant Hold function

Keyboard: 37 notes (mini-keyboard, velocity sensitive)

Effects: Timbre: 2 band EQ, Master effect x 2, 17effects

Arpeggiator: Six types: UP, DOWN, ALT1/2, Random, Trigger, Individual step on/off function

Programs: 128 programs (A/Bbanks x 8 genres x 8 category)

Inputs:
[AUDIO INPUT 1] jack (with MIC/LINE switch) – Rear Panel
Connector: 1/4” phone jack (unbalanced)
[AUDIO INPUT 1 (MIC)] jack – Front Panel
Connector: XLR jack (balanced)

Outputs:
[L/MONO, R] jacks
Connectors: 1/4² phone jacks (unbalanced)
[PHONES] jack
Connector: 1/4² phone stereo jack

MIDI: IN, OUT, THRU connectors

USB: Type B connector

Display: Custom LCD

Power Supply: DC 9 V (AC adapter), or six AA alkaline batteries (sold separately)

Battery Life: approx. four hours (with alkaline batteries)

Dimensions: 556(W)x231(D)x73(H)mm/21.89"(W)x9.09"(D)x2.87"(H)

Weight: 2 kg/4.41 lbs. (without batteries and included microphone)

Accessories: AC adapter, Gooseneck Microphone