Two modular patching software packages for programming multimedia software visually, Pure Data (Pd) and Max/MSP/Jitter have long had a friendly relationship. The tools share code, are reasonably compatible in patches and external objects (sometimes with some adjustment), and are basically open source (Pd) and commercial (Max) cousins of one another. The user bases are likewise friendly with one another. But a certain rivalry hid behind the surface – until now.

Now, it’s personal.

Enough of the diplomacy. A group of dedicated patchers in Toronto have decided to dispense with this “we’re all winners” nonsense and decide which tool is superior. I’ll let them the organizers describe it in their own colorful way:

To celebrate Yuri’s Night, CDM is organizing a big design challenge. Bring your craziest, most futuristic musical interfaces / hardware projects / custom synths and controllers, and face off with other designers to win a Yamaha Tenori-On and other prizes.

Musical expression and space, after all, go together. The record above carried a special mix of great music made by humans around the world into space, via the Voyager spacecraft. Good thing it launched when it did: I imagine alien life would have been shocked if we sent a CD or cassette or 8-track or SDflash memory card, but LPs are cool again in other parts of the galaxy, too.

If you have any means of getting to the Bay Area on April 12 and you have something cool, we’ll want to see it. (Naturally, I’ll be one of the judges … but we should have some other judges to announce soon.) Even if you don’t win, I’ll be covering the projects on yuricdm.com.

Enter the Futuristic Music Design Challenge

Got any questions? Drop me a line.

Planet-wide futuristic design projects, too: While we won’t be able to judge them for the prize, if you have any futuristic design projects and can’t get to California — particularly if they’re inspired by space, exploration, or Earth and ecology — contact me and we’ll cover them on the yuricdm.com website and CDM as part of the global Yuri’s Night celebration.

Deadline: 11:59pm Eastern Monday, April 7

Performance/Competition: Saturday, April 12; Time TBA @ Yuri’s Night Bay Area

Official Site: yuricdm.com

So I was having a little chat with the Circuit Master over at www.getlofi.com about how and why we both got into circuit bending.

The number one reason, for me at least: tons of bend-able toys and devices can be found very cheaply at secondhand and thrift stores.

Which brings us to this:

The premise is simple:

1. Wait until October 28th with growing anticipation.

5. Document the process and end result, then upload it to the internet in some fashion- Youtube, Flickr, etc, all with the tag “circuitchallenge.” (and createdigitalmusic, of course)

6. The Circuit Master and myself will gather the results and feature them here and at www.getlofi.com.

The winner will receive, um, a token prize of low value, to be decided later. Something though. And we’ll publish your picture on the internet for the universe to see.

Of course, it’s not about winning, oh no. It’s about getting off your keister and bending some circuits!

Never bent a circuit before but always wanted to? Now’s your chance!

So mark your calendars now, and hit up the forums here at createdigitalmusic.com with any questions.

*EDIT: Rodney from Tiger Claw Records has agreed to donate a few Circuit Bending Compilation CDs as a prize, and I’ve got a stack of CDs from FutureKomp to give away as well. If that isn’t enough incentive to get out there and bend on the 28th, you’re in it for the wrong reasons!

**DOUBLE EDIT: The Squarewave Parade has agreed to donate a parasite for the contest! Totally awesome.

***TRIPLE EDIT: HighlyLiquid has donated one of their MIDI kits for the contest! So cool!

Here’s CDM’s resident game composer with the perfect opportunity for lovers of remixing and gaming. Why do I have a feeling that you’ll get disqualified if you mash Halo 2’s music with Animal Crossing or, for you long-time Mac/Bungie geeks out there, Marathon? (Maybe an odd quote from Myth . . . “Casualties.”) -PK

Tired of waiting for Halo 3, Gears of War, or Prey? Or is your music gear gathering dust since you setup that new Xbox 360? In either case, Sumthing Else Music Works (notable video game soundtrack record label), has a treat in store for you!

In conjunction with the recent release of the Halo 2: Volume Two soundtrack, a mash-up/remix contest has been launched. Once you register on the site, you can download stems from the original Halo 2 soundtrack, along with a Mashup Mixer application (if you so desire). You remix and mashup the stems to your heart’s content - using the provided Mashup Mixer or your preferred software tools - then upload the finished mixes for a chance to win some great prizes including Xbox 360 consoles, DJ equipment, and even a “high-end” Fender guitar signed by Nile Rodgers.

For those looking for some game-related fun, or those hoping to get a jumpstart in the game industry, this could be a fun and interesting way to get the ball rolling. Samples of the soundtrack are available on the site, and there are some great sounds in there, just waiting to be taken to the NEXT LEVEL by our CDM readership.

If you decide to submit an entry - or if your entry is chosen among the winners - let us know so we can showcase your work!

While we’re on the subject of Novation, the good folks at Novation / Focusrite were kind enough to sponsor the Phildelphia Laptop Battle covered here on CDM. They have a great write-up on what went down. They also got to raise the stakes: competitors battled not only for bragging rights, but free gear. So who’s game for a laptop battle here in NYC?

Related:

Laptop Musicians Go Into Battle in Philly

Okay, New Yorkers — let’s get together on this one. Giant synth summits have happened on the West Coast (see CDM report with extensive links), but now DUMBO, Brooklyn can be the host to vintage synth madness:

“Bring your ARP 2600s, PAIA 4700s, Moog Modulars, Buchlas, Roland System 100s, Korg MS20s, Octave Kittens, Yamaha CS20s etc etc and pit them against the Macbeth Studio Systems M5 for New York’s first Analog Synth Free-for-all”

Sweet, eh? And there’s free booze, to boot.

But wait, there’s more: an artist who paints cables (you know, as in cords)! The engineer behind the Macbeth synth! Plus a whole week of performances in the DUMBO gallery!

I can’t make the whole thing; I’m actually performing in Williamsburg Thursday night. So let’s tag team. In the NYC area? Drop me a line if you want to join the CDM Team Coverage of the event. And I hope to see you Saturday night. The rest of the planet will be able to live vicariously through us.

Event details
Craigslist listing
via MusicThing

The Renaissance of the Theremin continues: this 1917 instrument, born out of radio tube experiments (ironically, the accidental discovery that human proximity interfered with the tubes), is still going strong. Here’s the latest:

Theremin Battle: An all-fun contest is underway Sunday night in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, reports Theremin World: show up, play 10 minutes, and you could win (drum roll!) twenty-five bucks! I like the idea of Theremerican Idol. See the details, and if you go, send photos and a report! (Anyone in NC out there?)

Gigantic Theremin Festival: Also in North Carolina, (Asheville, home of Moog Music), it’s Ether Music 2005, the Woodstock of Theremin music. Where else can you find Therecelebrities Lydia Kavina, Pamelia Kurstin, Bob Moog, Albert Glinsky, Herbert Deutsch, Jason Barile from Theremin World, and Armen Ra all in one place? Check out the updated schedule; if you’re not in Asheville this August 4-7, you’re not a real Theremin fan.

Theremin Invades Online Game: What do super-virtuosa Thereminist Lydia Kavina, a Russian orchestra, and Korean singing all have in common? They’re all included in the score for upcoming massively multiplayer online game SUN, composed by Lord of the Rings maestro Howard Shore. For more, check out Shore’s interview with IGN about the score. (via Theremin World)

Moog Music’s Ultimate Music Appliance: The folks at Moog are winning awards again, this time the Excellence in Design Award from, of all places, Appliance Design Magazine. The Faberge Egg of Theremins, Moog’s Etherwave Pro, held its own against high-end vacuum cleaners and water purifiers. I say sweep up your place with a cheap broom and save your pennies for the awesome instrument that is the Etherwave.

Need further evidence the Theremin is making a comeback? Bob Moog reports in the new Moog documentary that the instrument is taking Japan by storm. The instrument is finding its way into bands, not only as a novelty, but as a real instrument, played by ravishingly beautiful violinist like Meredith Yayanos of The Vanity Set. And virtuosos like Dr. Theremin relative Lydia Kavina are finally getting the credit they deserve. This instrument isn’t just “spooky novelty.” It’s the 20th Century’s violin. (So what will the 21st Century have to offer?)

I love it when CDM readers win major accolades. So it is with Cris “Atariboy” Pearson of plasq, who’s just scored the prestigious Apple Design Award for Best New Product for OS X at the WWDC conference. The winning app, the brilliant comic creation tool Comic Life got mentioned here on CDM just about before anyone knew about it. Congrats, Atariboy!

Of course, as this is a music site and all, we’re still partial to the very-cool, very-free, very-Mac-only sampling instrument Musolomo, which just got a lovely Sound on Sound review. But that doesn’t mean we can’t send kudos to Cris, and that I’m still not holding out hope that someone will create a digital music-themed comic using this tool. If it helps motivate you, I could point out that the Packrat strip featured on Music Thing got picked up by Keyboard. I’m waiting.