What-Is-Musik-4D-b

The name musik 4d might sound like a science-fiction term, but the album it refers to actually exists. It's a new solo piano recording by pianist/composer Matthew Shipp, released as the ten-year anniversary of his Blue Series with Thirsty Ear Records. The LP is billed as "a synthesis and culmination" of his work with the label, and it certainly delivers. It's also a bit of a departure from the more jazz-oriented material he's been releasing lately, with a focus on spacey new compositions and startling re-arrangements of standards like the French class sing-along "Frere Jacques" and medieval folk song "Greensleeves."

We spoke with Shipp about his new record and the mystical side of music.

What's the deal with 8D music?

The letters in "8D" stand for different directions that surround-sound technology is able to simulate. These systems add artificial echoes and process them binaurally to trick your brain into thinking the sounds are coming from different positions. It's a cool effect that's pretty neat, but the truth is that there are no speakers in the room to create this 3D audio illusion. This type of music works best when you're listening through headphones, so don't expect a huge difference if you listen through your stereo.

You can buy a special set of headphones to play 8D music, but it's not necessary for the experience. You can find a wide variety of tracks on YouTube and some subscription streaming services, like Apple Music and Spotify, are starting to build their catalogs of 8D songs. You won't find Billie Eilish's Bad Guy, though, because the artist hasn't recorded a version in 8D yet.

Some MIDI keyboards include software instruments that are able to control the transport of your DAW and adjust other parameters through remote control. This can be an incredibly convenient feature, particularly if you use your keyboard as your main computer input device. It's worth checking out controllers that offer this functionality to see if they're right for your workflow. It's not a feature that every keyboard user needs, but it might be something to consider if you want to save time and avoid the frustration of clicking your mouse over and over. You can even do some of this with a standard MIDI keyboard if you're on a budget. musik4d , for instance, features a 25-key layout and eight encoders but doesn't include a mod wheel. (But it does include Bluetooth MIDI so you can pair with the WM-1 wireless MIDI adapter.) The MPK Mini is an excellent choice for many users, but there are other options out there if you're looking for more advanced features.