September 12, 2018 | Instruments, Resources
What is a step sequencer? Step sequencers were originally hardware modules. They produced a limited number of control signals in a steady, pulsed sequence that kept repeating until deactivated. The output of the signal could be sent to some other synthesizer...
August 8, 2018 | Instruments, Resources
What is a Sampler? A sampler is an electronic or digital musical instrument similar in some respects to a synthesizer. However, instead of generating new sounds with Voltage-controlled oscillators, it uses sound recordings (or “samples”) of real or...
August 1, 2018 | Instruments, Resources
What are Soft synths? A software synthesizer, better known as a soft synth, is a generally speaking a computer program, or plugin that generates digital audio, usually for music. Computer software that can create sounds or music is not new. However, advances in...
July 26, 2018 | Instruments, Resources
ROM and Sampler A term ROMpler comes from a slang term given to sound modules that feature stock presets based on samples stored in ROM. They generally, lack in-depth synthesis technology and sampling capabilities. The term is a conjunction of the terms ROM and...
Feb 21, 2022 | Instruments, Resources
The talking drum is one of the earliest musical instruments used by percussionists. It originated in West African areas, but exists in Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, and Nigeria as well. It appears most commonly among the Yoruba ethnic group. However, it may also be found...
Feb 21, 2022 | Instruments, Resources
The ‘cabasa’, just like the ‘shekere’, is a percussion instrument made of steel ball chains looped around a large cylinder. The cylinder sits attached to a long, thin wooden, plastic or metal handle. It is a popular hand percussion instrument,...
