Music and recording gear. There's plenty of stuff to choose from. Rack mounted, pedals, computer based, standalone. Here's a list of some of the gear that I use in my studio - stuff I've paid for, and why I like and use it.

A circuit bent soft synth? Hell yes! I (ab)used Reaktor and created a circuit bent software synthesizer. I've been working on this off and on for over a year. Now, after many refinements, it's ready for the world.

And you can get it FREE!

Disclaimer. The opinions expressed are those of Michael Oster and may not reflect that of other audio and music professionals. Your mileage may vary. Just because I like one piece of equipment does not guarantee a thing. F7 Sound and Vision and Michael Oster are not liable for any damage caused by your agreement or disagreement with the following:

Reviews page 1
Apogee Big Ben
Zaolla Z-sub snake
Boss ODB-3 Bass Overdrive


Reviews page 2
Alesis Bitrman
AKG C 1000s
DOD DFX-9
Digidesign Mbox


Manley Vari Mu Compressor

Native Instruments Reaktor 4

PSP VintageWarmer

I review the iRiver IFP-899 It's a funky little mp3 player/recorder that's become a nice addition to my field recording setup. Read my review here..

Native Instruments Reaktor 4 (and 5). $559 list - a modular software synthesizer that fries my brain. (from a sound design tweakhead's point of view)


UPDATE: I finally upgraded to Reaktor 5!!!! There is more of what I love about Reaktor! Still, I think I only know about 1.5% of what there is to know about this program and yet I have a blast creating synths and weird noise makers - see Circuit Bent Sputnik for a recent example.

I LOVE this program
Mindbending possibilites overload my brain cells
Very steep learing curve - be prepared to dedicate plenty of time to Reaktor
A synthesis tweakhead's wet dream come true - and my first gig using Reaktor paid for it!


Older Stuff about Reaktor 4:
First impressions after 2 months with Reaktor: Imagine a synth. Re-imagine a synth. Create it. Recreate it. Reroute it. Experiment on it. Destroy it. Spank it. Humiliate it. Reanimate it. Reaktor gives you the tools to make just about any synthesizer (noisemaker) that you can dream of. It can even help inspire you to create something you've never considered before - plus, you might learn something. Reaktor's options are just about overwhelming to me, and I've got over a decade of experience messing with synths.


Reaktor is deep and you'll need to invest some time into reading the manual and experimenting with the program (this will pay off down the road). After 2 months of pretty hardcore use, I feel like I'm about 5% of the way to a decent level of mastery of this program. Reaktor 4 gives you the standard synthesis tools like oscillators, filters, envelopes, mixers, and lots more, plus the ability to connect and route those things in just about any imaginable way. You can use these tools to create anything from common synthesizers all the way to the outrageous and bizarre noisemaker (my faves).

Reaktor gets much deeper offering the ability to process incoming audio and resynthesize samples using a number of means. Also, it can operate in stand alone mode or as a plug in (which I have yet to try). Reaktor is it's own "animal" if you will, with a unique style and system about it. Native Instruments provides an online tutorial which I highly recommend - even if you're just looking into Reaktor. There's also a feature limited and time limited demo available on NI's site that's a must download!


I lose time in Reaktor and that's a good thing. I open Reaktor, start working, and before I know it, hours have gone by. Not only that, but I've got something to show for it in the way of a bouncing baby synth (or 2). Reaktor easily travels with me on my Powerbook G4, 1GHz, and, with a trusty set of headphones, I'm in business anywhere.


"But, I'm not a tweakhead!" (and I'm still reading this) You don't have to be a "synth geek" like me to benefit from Reaktor. There's a less-expensive version called Reaktor Session that lets you open (but not modify or create) Ensembles (Reaktor speak for synth / processing collections) from NI and it's users - and there are over 1000 of them. Reaktor Session lists for $289.

If extremely powerful, modular synthesis with virtually unlimited tweakability fits your style, you owe it to yourself to visit the Native Instruments website - www.nativeinstruments.com

*** Reaktor 5 is now shipping!
Remember to download the demo AND take the online tutorial!

Here's a sample audio clip from one of my more recent Reaktor 5 creations.


This is a simulated circuit bent instrument. At times, it sounds like a bent Speak and Spell, but that's by chance. I didn't use any samples in this instrument. It's all generated "real time" with Reaktor's oscillators and processors.

reak5glitch01.mp3

(Recorded without edits/effects)

LaptopNoise.com
Reaktor has been a big part of my noise making experience. Check out my sister site where I create noise on my... laptop.

Circuit Bent Sputnik!
What went in to the creation of this bleepy, glitchy, soft-synth? Get the details, AND the Reaktor ensemble, free....

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Copyright © 2007 Michael I. Oster. All rights reserved.



F7 Sound and Vision
17732 Nathan's Drive
Tampa, Florida 33647
813-991-4117

Circuit Bent Sputnik!
Can a computer simulation really make a dead President SOIL HIMSELF? Get this Reaktor ensemble FREE.

Experience "the Difficult Listening Channel" podcast where the sounds in my head become the sounds in yours.

Michael Oster

Download some of my new tunes - FREE
I've put 3 of my new tunes on the net for free downloading. They're not on any of my CDs so grab them now!


F7 Sound and Vision's Michael Oster has recorded music, thunderstorms, F-18s, wild animals, kitchen utensils, celebrities, strange insects... He also makes the coffee and takes out the trash.