There are a lot of good iOS tuners out there. Two we particularly like for ease of use and accuracy are the BOSS Tuner (free) and VITALtuner (free or paid). But the paid version of Fender Tune, available here, is our new go to tuner. It’s accurate, easy to use, includes alternate tunings, and has settings for guitars, bass, and ukulele. But the thing that makes it stand out is that you can store custom tunings. That’s huge since few apps that include alternate tunings allow you create custom ones. Take the tuning Nick Drake uses on several albums - CGCFCE. We’ve never seen that tuning included in a tuner app. With Fender Tune it’s not an issue. Just enter it in as a custom tuning and you’re ready to go. When you go to the tuning page you can click on the note names to play samples of each note. This is helpful to quickly get your guitar close to in tune. Then use the main tuning function for accurate, precise tuning. The paid version also includes a chord finder, scales, a metronome, some basic drum beats, and some helpful beginner videos.
Simul-Sync /
TRACK OF THE MONTH / august 2019: Mirrors on the Wall /
Mirrors on the Wall: TRACK OF THE MONTH / august 2019*
This month…When you listen to "Mirrors on the Wall," you will fully understand that the bass was invented to make people shake, shimmy, and strut. But here we come to further understand that deep funk rhythm is a chemistry: bass needs drums. And these beats lay down a groove so infectious, it just might stay in your head all day long. Add in some awesome sounding sonic accoutrements like analog synths and robotic vocals and suddenly it seems like Jamiroquai and Daft Punk threw a party…and this is the invitation.
Find this one filed under SUPERFUNK…SOUL in The Music Orange Library Online (MOLO).
library.musicorange.com/
*Each month, we feature a new track from the Music Orange Library online—the easiest, most intuitive online library in the industry. If you like what you hear, please visit and check out some of our latest tracks. Enjoy the Music!
Things We Like: Song Exploder Podcast /
Song Exploder is a podcast where "musicians take apart their songs, and piece by piece, tell the story of how they were made." You get to hear isolated individual tracks while the musicians walk you through their decision making processes as they created their songs. Past episodes have included artists such as Bleachers, Nine Inch Nails, MGMT, The Killers, and Fleet Foxes. Well worth checking out.
Things We Like: Onde Magnétique OM-1 Cassette Synthesizer /
It’s hard to play, has a limited choice of notes, and sounds like it’s been sitting in a dusty attic for half a century. But the OM-1 Cassette Synthesizer is a quirky beast with an appealing sound that’s all its own. It utilizes continuous tones on a cassette tape and 8 buttons that can change the playback speed in order to create different pitches. Each button can be individually tuned so you can create whatever scales you want, and a pressure sensitive volume control allows you to change the volume by pressing harder or softer. It even includes some basic envelope controls. The maker is currently sold out so you’re going to have to find one on eBay or Reverb. http://www.ondemagnetique.com
#TBT: Plexophonic "My Walking Stick" /
Ten years ago, Music Orange composer Michael Lande posted a series of his early jazz arrangements on YouTube under the moniker “Plexophonic.” The performances were done with only tenor ukulele, vocal bass, vocal trumpets, and hand percussion, with an occasional guitar or celeste thrown in. Check out the very first one, “My Walking Stick.”
Did You Know We Have Our Own Cocktail? /
TRACK OF THE MONTH / july 2019: Green-Light /
Green-Light: TRACK OF THE MONTH / july 2019*
This month…If you’re looking for an energetic ska instrumental that’s retro but not kitschy, look no further. "Green-Light" packs the punch of yesteryear’s 2 Tone Records, but with a more modern mix. Playful electric guitar leads bounce alongside bobbing rhythms, punchy drums, and a classic horn section that sounds so good, you can literally hear a party starting in the background.
Find this one filed under ALT LATIN…SKA in The Music Orange Library Online (MOLO).
library.musicorange.com/
*Each month, we feature a new track from the Music Orange Library online—the easiest, most intuitive online library in the industry. If you like what you hear, please visit and check out some of our latest tracks. Enjoy the Music!
Happy 4th of July! /
Our Work: "La Serenata" Wins Awards /
So happy to announce that during Pride Month “La Serenata”, scored by Hector Perez from Music Orange, won a Jury Award in Connecticut and an Audience Award in SF for Best Short Film! Woohoo!
Music Orange Library Online Tips #4 /
Here's a final tip for getting the perfect track from MOLO (Music Orange Library Online):
Sometimes you might not find the exact, perfect, ideal, just-right track you're looking for. Maybe there's one you kinda like, if only it were slower...and had glockenspiel. No problem.
We're a working music house with full-time composers, lots of instruments, and big studios. In fact, we wrote all the tracks on MOLO. So we can rework, edit, and tweak any track in the library, and if you just can't find the perfect track, we can create it from scratch. That's what we do.
Thanks for reading, and happy hunting for great tracks. If you need any help don't hesitate to contact us.
Cheers,
The Music Orange Team
TRACK OF THE MONTH / june 2019: Head Held High /
Head Held High: TRACK OF THE MONTH / june 2019*
This month…A pulsing rhythm and vibrant energy give "Head Held High" a human quality – at times it seems like the song is breathing. This balances beautifully with the mechanical textures and tones that build the song’s electronic foundation. But it’s the uplifting melodies and anthemic feel that will make you want to hold your head high while listening.
Find this one filed under DANCE…ELECTRONICA in The Music Orange Library Online (MOLO).
library.musicorange.com/
*Each month, we feature a new track from the Music Orange Library online—the easiest, most intuitive online library in the industry. If you like what you hear, please visit and check out some of our latest tracks. Enjoy the Music!
Music Orange Library Online Tips #3 /
Here's a great tip for saving and sharing tracks on MOLO (Music Orange Library Online). At times you may want to store and pass along your favorites, and here is how you do it:
To add a track to a playlist, click the "+" icon in the bottom left of the player. Create as many playlists as you like. You can view all your playlists by clicking the "PLAYLISTS" link in the bottom orange bar.
You can share an individual track or an entire playlist with anyone you like. Just click the "share track" icon in the bottom left of the player. To share a playlist, open that playlist and click the "share playlist" link.
Thanks for reading, and happy hunting for great tracks. If you need any help don't hesitate to contact us.
Cheers,
The Music Orange Team
#TBT: Traditional Mexican Music Gets a Jolt of Electricity /
Back in 2014, Music Orange’s own Hector Perez was interviewed for The California Report on KQED radio. Hector discussed his GRAMMY-nominated project, Sistema Bomb, and the creative process he uses to generate electronic remixes of a centuries-old Mexican genre called Son Jarocho. Give it a listen to hear some of his tricks to get that electro-folkloric sound.
Music Orange Library Online Tips #2 /
Here's a new tip for finding the perfect track on MOLO (Music Orange Library Online). MOLO is pretty intuitive already, but this can speed things up even more:
You can search MOLO by keywords, like 'friendly,' 'energetic,' 'piano,' 'rock'—almost anything. Use as many terms as you like and MOLO will narrow down its results to match your keywords.
You can also use quotes to search for phrases, like "electric piano", and the minus sign to exclude keywords from your search.
And MOLO is smart. Don't worry if you only see a few results at first; MOLO is learning how you search and will become more accurate as you use it—including on return visits. MOLO is listening.
Thanks for reading, and happy hunting for great tracks. If you need any help don't hesitate to contact us.
Cheers,
The Music Orange Team
TRACK OF THE MONTH / may 2019: The Flow /
The Flow: TRACK OF THE MONTH / may 2019*
This month...Straight out of the gate, “The Flow” plays like a party jam. Lively piano notes kick off the festivities with a rolling drum beat and samples of people laughing in the background. Two electric guitars show up to trade off playful riffs before a horn section saunters in and joins the fun. But before the party’s over, some synthesizers arrive to add another animated melody.
Find this one filed under INDIE…ALT POP in The Music Orange Library Online (MOLO).
Music Orange Library Online Tips #1 /
Here are some quick tips to help you find the perfect tracks for your projects faster when using MOLO (Music Orange Library Online).
It's pretty intuitive already, but these simple tricks will speed things up even more:
Your space bar is your PAUSE/PLAY button. You can use it to stop and resume playback.
Use your up and down arrows to quickly navigate through the tracks in any genre.
When you're ready to download a track, just click on the download icon in the bottom left of the player.
Thanks for reading, and happy hunting for great tracks. If you need any help don't hesitate to contact us.
Cheers,
The Music Orange Team
Things We Like: JavaScript Emulator of the Legendary EMS Synthi Synthesizer /
The EMS Synthi A was small portable synthesizer first built in the 1970’s and made famous by Brian Eno, Pink Floyd (think “Dark Side of the Moon”) and Jean-Michel Jarre. It’s most unusual feature is the matrix style patchbay which allows you to connect anything to almost anything else. Alex Nisnevich has built an incredible Synthi emulator completely in Javascript which you can play from your web browser. It’s a lot of fun and definitely worth checking out!
#TBT: SF Chronicle: “Father Reardon” /
Here's a custom track we wrote way back in 2000 for the San Francisco Chronicle, as part of a larger campaign. From the sickly "xylophone" hits to the church organ to the swinging 60's conclusion, everything was designed to support the story of a priest calling in sick so he could stay home and read the paper.
Check It Out: Bandcamp to Start a Vinyl Pressing Service /
Bandcamp is starting what is essentially an integrated Kickstarter-like vinyl pressing service for its members. Offer an lp for sale, and once enough people purchase it Bandcamp will press and ship out the records. Bandcamp says the new service will eliminate the risk and hassle typically associated with a vinyl record run. Sounds like a good idea to us. You can learn more here.