AudioMulch 2.1: Time signature support from AudioMulch on Vimeo.

Does music production need more software with more features? Probably not. Could it use a little spice in its rhythms and time signatures? Absolutely! So, while I already have great respect for the idiosyncratic, underground-favorite AudioMulch, the addition of custom time signatures in the video above is especially good news.

And that brings us to the latest updates in AudioMulch, the cult-hit Windows-only app that’s grown up and now runs on both Mac and Windows. 2.1 adds dynamics processing devices, support for Mac Audio Unit plug-ins, an optional light grey color scheme (for those who missed the earlier skin), and updated help. Why use AudioMulch? This modular patching environment is packed with a carefully-selected array of useful objects, called “contraptions,” which make it relatively easy to patch together custom performance and production creations without the usual mucking around with low-level objects.

What’s New In AudioMulch 2.1?
Release Notes

Whether you’re likely to be sold on trying AudioMulch or not, interviews with users make for great reads:

Shadow My Dovetail – excerpt by erdemh
Turkish electroacoustic musician and composer Erdem Helvacioglu talks bout combining the software with his acoustic guitar live, complete with sound snippets on SoundCloud.

Octo Test (excerpt) by Jet Jaguar by AudioMulch
Jet Jaguar, aka Michael Upton, is behind some of AudioMulch’s example patches, and jams with loop players in the tool live and on the radio. (Part of what I like about this is that it’s sometimes the simple approaches that make people most satisfied.)

When you are ready to get started, or hone your chops in AudioMulch, there’s an excellent set of tutorials. I’ve chosen the introduction to AudioMulch’s MetaSurface below, because I think it best represents what’s unique about the tool, but you’ll also find other sound basics, MIDI control, plug-in use, in-depth details on a filter and waveshaping “contraptions,” and even tutorials and lesson plans.

http://www.audiomulch.com/content/tutorials

AudioMulch introductory tutorial 4: Using the Metasurface from AudioMulch on Vimeo.

Download a trial version (or update) of AudioMulch for Windows (XP/Vista/7) or Mac (10.4, 10.5, 10.6):
AudioMulch Downloads

And if you’re using the tool, we’d love to hear from you.

AudioMulch 2.0 live patching screencast from AudioMulch on Vimeo.

Wonderful things come from Australia. Developer Ross Bencina has released AudioMulch 2.0, the audio patching environment, now on both Mac and Windows.

Audiomulch is all pretty in black now with a new UI. But why is it special? AudioMulch has always been distinguished in its quick workflow, its ready-to-use objects that allow sophisticated patches with relatively simple structures, and its idiosyncratic soundmakers. The Metasurface multi-parameter controller is also a favorite.

The price is higher, which may scare away some – US$189, or $89 upgrade. There’s a 60-day trial that you can try out.

But the best part of this launch is that, instead of releasing a flashy demo with pans over girls in bikinis or booming drum beats and type flying through that says something like “THE FUTURE OF MUSIC IS NOW … HOLD THE SOUND IN YOUR FIST … BE THE MUSIC … WHERE IS YOUR GOD NOW?”, they just released a video showing someone making a piece of music. (What a concept!)

The video at top is a live-patching video, and it really reveals how, powerful as many interactive music environments may be, having some objects that get straight to what you want musically makes a real difference. (That’s something to keep in mind even as you create macros or code in other environments, too, I think.)

I like the idea of other people doing live-patching videos that work as music and not just tech demos, not only in AudioMulch but whatever your tool of choice may be.

If you give AudioMulch 2 a try, let us know what you think.

http://www.audiomulch.com

AudioMulch isn’t just a sequel or a new episode. This is AudioMulch: The Next Generation. We have holodecks in this one.

That’s the claim of the developer, anyway, and looking at the features, I have to agree. AudioMulch has long been a cult favorite for people wanting to patch together unusual sonic tools and performance rigs. That puts it in a category with apps like Reaktor or Max/MSP, but unlike those tools, AudioMulch has a lot of stuff built for you already. Those buildings blocks also have an idiosyncratic personality of their own, but remain flexible enough that you can make them a comfortable part of your own setup.

Oh, yeah, and this formerly Windows-only app now works on the Mac. Mac users can even open 1.0 patches. (Check the screenshots; you may not really be aware or care which OS you’re on.)

New in version 2.0:

• An all-new UI, built from the ground up, with drag-and-drop patching and faster MIDI control and parameter access
• Gray is out; black is in.
• Dockable windows stretch across multiple screens.
• Up to 2X performance efficiency increase
• Patchable MIDI routing, finally – so MIDI matches up with the power of audio in the first version
• Metasurface, tempo, and transport can now be controlled by MIDI and automated
• Complex time signature support, automated time signature changes, additive meters
• Improved support for consumer multichannel audio (see note below)
• Startup enabling of audio, MIDI, networking

I was curious about audio support. Here’s the answer:

I’ve made some changes to the DirectSound and WMME driver interfaces so they can output to surround outputs (ie on soundblaster etc), without needing ASIO4ALL or similar. No WaveRT at this stage. Previously the multichannel support in AudioMulch only worked well with ASIO or with some older WMME drivers for pro cards.

Of course, WaveRT support would be even better from what I can tell, though I don’t know how much (ahem) fun it is to develop that support.

The only bad news is that the cost has increased to US$189. But if you have 1.0, an upgrade is $89, and once you buy a license it’s portable across Windows and Mac. That’s especially nice; for me – as for a lot of us these days – the Mac is my backup to my Windows machine, and visa versa.

It’s funny, I always liked Audiomulch but could never quite get into it; I always felt there was a certain level of polish and functionality that wasn’t there. It looks like it might be there now.

We’ll have a closer look at this as it ships, which should happen very soon.

Availability: May 1, just in time to use AudioMulch to play your Kentucky Derby party

AudioMulch 2.0 Preliminary Information

Surprisingly-detailed AudioMulch Wikipedia page

Previously:
Gig Rigs: Girl Talk – PC, Plastic Wrap, and AudioMulch

Yes, for the record, that is a young woman screaming to the sounds of AudioMulch. Believe.

Jordan Harris was able to snag some screenshots of Girl Talk’s rig. There’s not much to tell: a laptop, a mouse, and in a sign of the growing stature of Girl Talk (Gregg Gillis), some very practical plastic wrap to protect the machine. What’s unique about Gregg’s work is that this computer doesn’t clear out the room: it attracts screaming throngs of fans. Especially lady fans, proof that this does not have to be a sport for boys. (As it happens, I find they also like watching American NFL football. Poor girls; everyone is convinced they know what they want but don’t ask.)

Every music tool is supposed to have celebrity users, right? Well, AudioMulch definitely can claim Girl Talk. This $89, currently Windows-only tool (yes, Vista-compatible) has long had an underground following. It’s a real-time modular synthesis, composition, and performance tool, which you might suppose would put it in the same category as the likes of Reaktor and Max/MSP. Unlike those tools, though, its modules are laser-focused on certain sonic capabilities. There are ready-made objects for live performance control, and unique, handy tools for setting up envelopes and sequences. It’s got fantastic pre-built effects like a delay line granulator and live looper. And because AudioMulch is also a VST host, it could be your one and only environment.

AudioMulch is the software equivalent of that deceptively cute little rally car that blows more impressive-looking cars off the road.

Version 2.0 is due early next year with new features and Mac compatibility.

GearWire did a fantastic video tutorial series on AudioMulch last year.

PCs are computers that look ugly and don’t have slick ads with popular songs playing in the background. People believe they’re not used for music, but they are, often by musicians who actually play stuff life (yes, even with a mouse as a controller) rather than playing backing tracks from inside space-alien props.

Plastic wrap, according to Wikipedia,“is a thin plastic film typically used for sealing food items in containers to keep them fresh.” Going by the popular brand name Saran, the 1953 invention was not originally designed to protect computers from beer. But if you play music that people like to dance to and you typically see beer bottles around (note the unprotected shot below), it may be an important music technology accessory. Update: According to an interview, the Saran Wrap is there to protect Gregg’s laptop from .. Gregg? So, either he’s lying about the sweaty hands to sound extra awesome, or he really does have some sweat issues. I can’t say I’ve ever worried about my hands the way I’ve worried about beer. (And I tend not to have those screaming, drunken fans, even.) Hot venues? Hot laptop, powered up to full crunching audio signal? Gregg, if you’re out there, inquiring minds…

Two more photos of AudioMulch after the jump…

Updated: more details from Jordan:

He did have one more spare latop on the table next to him, although it stayed closed the entire show.  No idea if it was the Toshiba in the other pics.  Also, the laptop in pics is a toughbook I believe.  The show was at the abercrombie holiday party at the lifestyles community pavilion here in columbus.  This is a pretty large venue with an indoor capacity of 2200.  The guy tore the place up with just a laptop and sheer force of character.  I believe there are a few videos and some pictures posted here: http://thegrip.wordpress.com/2008/12/15/girl-talk-abercrombie-fitch-2008-holiday-party-at-promowest-pavilion-in-columbus-ohio/#more-3776

There are some good shots there showing just the size of the crowd who came out to see this guy use his laptop on a cheap folding plastic table.  This was a private invite only party, but his show at the Newport Music Hall in January is already sold out.