The modal synthesizer Reaktor Prism, the studio reverb Reflektor, the organ emulation Vintage Organs, the effect suite Traktor’s 12 and the amp emulation Rammfire are based on the technology of Kontakt, Reaktor and Guitar Rig, and can be used both within the full versions and the free player versions of these instruments.
PRESS RELEASE: SONiVOX, Boston MA, based award-winning music software company today offered a pre-release preview complete with MP3 and Video examples of the first instrument from their new NEMESYNTH Audio Research Group, VOCALIZER – Vocal Production Synthesizer. VOCALIZER is a completely new concept in modern music production that couples a new technology synthesis engine with an open input based architecture. VOCALIZER is one part effect plugin and one part virtual instrument. Vocalists, non-vocalists, & producers feed VOCALIZER any audio source, and it re-pitches, effects, and re-synthesizes the original source into a whole new sound. Primarily designed for vocal use, vocalists will enjoy the vast options afforded by VOCALIZER to add previously unattainable dimensions to their voice. Inversely, non-vocalists will enjoy the opportunity to use their voices in musical ways that they previously thought impossible. VOCALIZER also works well with other types of inputs. Drum & percussion tracks fed through VOCALIZER result in complex synth lines that perfectly sync to the original dry drum & percussion parts. Other input sounds afford a powerful and flexible new approach to sound design. VOCALIZER users can take any sound and use it as a shaping tool to be VOCALIZED. The VOCALIZER marks the first release from SONiVOX’s NEMESYNTH Audio Research Group. Spearheaded by noted audio guru and scientist Jim Van Buskirk, pioneer inventor of the virtual instrument, modern computer driven sampling, and real-time low-latency convolution, SONiVOX’s NEMESYNTH Audio Research Group’s sole purpose is to discover, research, & develop revolutionary new enabling technologies for musicians everywhere. VOCALIZER – Vocal Production Synthesizer is MAC & PC compatible and will work with most major DAW software as a VST, AU, and RTAS plugin. VOCALIZER – Vocal Production Synthesizer is slated for a release date of October 1st 2010 with a MSRP of $149.99 and an estimated street price of $99.99 SONiVOX claims that VOCALIZER must be heard to be believed and invites all to checkout the VOCALIZER videos and mp3 examples at www.sonivoxmi.com ——————————————————————————————————————- Information taken from official press release, for more visit Sonivox ——————————————————————————————————————- Submit a press release: email musicradar.pressreleases@futurenet.com Connect with MusicRadar: via Twitter , Facebook and YouTube Get MusicRadar straight to your inbox: Sign up for the free weekly newsletter Related Stories New music tech gear of the month: review round-up iPhone/iPad iOS music making app round-up: Week 6 Griid vs touchAble: iPad Ableton Live controllers head to head SampleRadar: 1,338 free female vocal samples Squarepusher announces new album
Following the release of a single on Ed Banger , Squarepusher (AKA Tom Jenkinson) has revealed that he’ll be releasing a new full length album, ShobaleaderOne – d’Demonstrator, on his usual label Warp. This will be available from from October 18, with the tracklisting still to be confirmed. No tracklisting or further details at this stage, though if the video trailer above is anything to go by, this isn’t going to be the moment that Squarepusher goes downtempo. Related Stories New music tech gear of the month: review round-up iPhone/iPad iOS music making app round-up: Week 6 Griid vs touchAble: iPad Ableton Live controllers head to head SampleRadar: 1,338 free female vocal samples Sonivox unveils Vocalizer: vocal production synthesizer
Something a bit different for this week’s SampleRadar – a sizeable collection of vocal lines from singer Mandy Edge. If your latest track is lacking in personality, these could be just the thing to give it some, and because each line is supplied in soft, medium and hard variations (and with two harmony parts), you’ve got plenty of flexibility. What you need to know The samples are supplied in six stylistically themed folders: just open them up and start exploring. All the samples are supplied as 24-bit WAV files so can be imported directly into your DAW or sampler of choice. Because they’re royalty-free, you’re welcome to use the samples in your music in any way you like – all we ask is that you don’t re-distribute them. The female vocal samples are supplied in a zip file, so you’ll need to extract them before you can see them. Enjoy! Example sounds All night (hard) Do you feel the same (medium) Gotta slow down (soft) Forget about her (hard) Female vocal samples: click to download Female vocal samples (426MB) These samples originally appeared on Computer Music magazine’s cover DVD. Check out the latest issue for many more. Tutorials Recording vocals Essential vocal production tips {PAGEBREAK} Related Stories New music tech gear of the month: review round-up iPhone/iPad iOS music making app round-up: Week 6 Griid vs touchAble: iPad Ableton Live controllers head to head Squarepusher announces new album Sonivox unveils Vocalizer: vocal production synthesizer
Production music company 615 Music in Nashville announces that it has acquired noted production music company Kingsize Music, based in New York City. Since 1996, Kingsize Music and its principals—Peter Primamore, Jay Stollman and Freddy Shehadi—have been providing high-quality, award-winning music for television and film. Randy Wachtler, 615 Music CEO and founder, made the announcement.
IBC 2010 in Amsterdam is 7 days away but Avid has already been clear about what we can expect to see from them. Straight from the horse’s mouth… The debut of ISIS 5000 and Pro Tools|HD Series Interfaces as well as the latest Avid Euphonix control surfaces running with support for some of the industry’s most popular video and audio software. Demonstrations of the award-winning Media Composer 5 editing software and a breakthrough demonstration of “anywhere” web-based editing technology. The latest technology developments around Avid’s Integrated Media Enterprise framework. Avid
Native Instruments has finally released Komplete 7 and Komplete 7 Elements and with it introduced a total of five new effects and instruments. The suggested retail prices are $559 / €499 for Komplete 7 and $119 / €99 for Komplete 7 Elements. Every copy also includes an NI Online Shop voucher worth $60 / €50. For full details I suggest you check out the Native Instruments website
Given how well Apple’s mobile devices lend themselves to software control, it should come as no surprise that new controller apps are hitting the iTunes App Store on a regular basis. The last month has seen the launches of Griid (£14.99) and touchAble (£9.99), two brand new wireless controllers aimed at iPad-owning Ableton Live users (there’s an iPhone version of Griid, too). Griid is the first app from Berlin-based software developer Liine, and was created in conjunction with Canadian techno legend Richie Hawtin. Its main rival, touchAble, comes from AppBC and courtesy of programmer Christian Blomert (coincidentally also based in the German capital) in partnership with French producer Sylvain “Le K” Garcia. Setup At the time of writing Griid is only compatible with Live for Mac, but we’re told full Windows support should be arriving “very soon”
Sonnox has introduced two new bundles, Sonnox Post and Sonnox Broadcast. The Sonnox Post bundle includes Sonnox Restore, which in itself includes DeClicker, DeBuzzer and DeNoiser. Other plug-ins found in Sonnox Post are Oxford EQ, Dynamics, Limiter, Reverb and SuprEsser. Sonnox Post is available with a 30% introductory discount for: £1,526 ($2,570) TDM or £1,093 ($1,835) Native. Sonnox Broadcast is a smaller bundle aimed towards – you guessed it – the broadcast market. It includes Oxford EQ and Dynamics plug-ins, Inflator, Oxford Limiter and SuprEsser. Sonnox Broadcast is available with a 30% introductory discount for: £792 ($1,342) TDM or £405 ($685) Native.
Apple has been dominating the tech news agenda with its latest product launch event, which – as predicted – saw the announcement of the eagerly anticipated fourth generation iPod touch . Offering most of the functionality of the iPhone 4, this looks like the perfect app-lovers device, and if it’s new music making apps you’re looking for, you’ve come to the right place. Also make sure you check out these regularly updated features: The best iPhone music making apps The best iPad music making apps If you’ve got a new iOS app, make sure you let us know about it by emailing musicradar.pressreleases@futurenet.com with all the details. NEXT: touchAble hits the App Store Related Stories Roland Juno-GI is new mobile synth Roland announces Octa-Capture audio interface Roland AX-Synth now in black sparkle finish New music tech gear of the month: review round-up Griid vs touchAble: iPad Ableton Live controllers head to head
Pocket Piano from Critter and Guitari on Vimeo . Apologies to the immense powers of lumbering studio gear, but a new lifestyle may be forming around unique, mobile, small, simple synths. The latest entry comes from none other than Critter and Gitari, some of our favorite electronics designers, based in Philadelphia. This time, they’re touting a pocket synth. No MIDI, no control voltage – just wooden keys, some knobs, an audio out jack, and a speaker. But the killer feature is, it runs on batteries. That allows you to take it anywhere, including – as evidenced by the video – on the Staten Island Ferry. The sounds are decidedly lo-fi, but varied in synthesis methods: Vibrato Synth Harmonic Sweeper Two-Octave Arpeggiator Octave Cascade Mono FM Synth FM Arpeggiator Twist the knobs to select mode and waveform, with a colored light to give you feedback. Then play on the wooden keys, though they require a bit of what the creators describe as “a refined touch.” Lots of additional sound samples, including some that sound like they escaped from a vintage arcade cabinet (or a really cheap alien spacecraft): Pocket Piano Bonus: Here’s a wonderful recorder called the Kaleidoloop from the same builders, costing $299. They’ve been documenting its many powers over the past months. It’s insanely simple – to the point that somewhere, KAOSS Pad engineers are scratching their heads — but also insanely delicious. Kaleidoloop: Effecting a Voice Recording from Critter and Guitari on Vimeo .
This new set of 32 KARMA-fied combis for the Korg M3 and Korg M50 is priced at $32, and includes grooves and sonic textures in a wide variety of styles.
The Octa-Capture USB 2 audio interface is a 10-input/10-output device for computer-based multichannel audio production. Octa-Capture combines 24-bit/192kHz performance and proprietary preamp and streaming technology in a compact unit.
Waves is offering you to buy the SSL4000 Collection, API Collection, Studio Series and/or Studio Collection at a 35% discount. Offer ends September 30th. Waves
The BOSS Pedal Sketch application, a free download today for iPhone and iPod touch, probably isn’t what you think it is – but it is a novel concept in mobile apps, and a sign of some of the new ideas to be explored. If your first thought was that this is a handheld set of virtual stompboxes, as we’ve seen recently from the likes of IK Multimedia, you’d be wrong. (That’s okay, that’s what I thought at first glance, too.) Of course, as I’ve observed before, while these apps are cool for practice sessions, they’re no replacement for hardware – not until we have phones you can stomp on comfortably. What BOSS Pedal Sketch actually is is a handheld, digital notebook for remembering your stomp setups.
PRESS RELEASE: Roland is pleased to announce that its popular AX-Synth Shoulder Synthesizer is now available in a premium black sparkle finish. The new glass-particle UV finish reacts to various lighting conditions, creating a glistening appearance that is striking under stage lighting. The AX-Synth remains available in the standard white finish as well. Created with the art of performance in mind, the AX-Synth allows keyboardists to connect with their audience as guitarists and singers do. It represents Roland’s new generation of remote keyboards, offering an onboard sound engine that features a collection of the company’s best cutting-edge synth sounds. When wearing the battery-powered AX-Synth, keyboardists can escape their standard stationary rig and create kinetic musical performances, moving freely around the stage. The ribbon controller, mod bar, D BEAM, and assignable knobs give players the ability to perform memorable and expressive solos with the ultimate real time control. The AX-Synth features 49 velocity-sensitive keys, and is the first shoulder keyboard to include a 128-voice polyphonic sound engine with 256 distinct tones accessible from eight bank buttons. It can also send and receive standard MIDI messages for use with other keyboards or sound modules. The AX-Synth includes a dedicated V-LINK button to control visual elements, and a dedicated PC software editor/librarian application is available for download for players who would like to customize their own sounds
PRESS RELEASE: Roland marks a new RD series milestone with the introduction of the RD-700NX, an instrument that raises the bar for onstage performance with its incredible sound, touch, and control capabilities. This flagship stage piano is packed with professional features for gigging keyboard players, including Roland’s SuperNATURAL Piano sound engine along with newly developed E. Piano based on SuperNATURAL technology, the finest keyboard action: PHA III Ivory Feel keyboard with escapement, a unique Sound Focus feature, and a large, high-resolution LCD screen. On board the RD-700NX are three stunning grand pianos (with 30 variations), all driven by the SuperNATURAL Piano sound engine. SuperNATURAL Piano offers the ultimate playing experience, delivering seamless variations in tone from pianissimo to fortissimo, notes that fade naturally without looping, and three-dimensional sound and response. The RD-700NX is also equipped with E. Piano sounds based on SuperNATURAL technology which offers accurate models of various classic electric pianos from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Going far beyond standard sampling of electric pianos, the SuperNATURAL technology enables complete control and expressivity, giving players the ability to customise sounds and create entirely new electric piano voices. For a true grand piano playing feel, the RD-700NX is fitted with the PHA III Ivory Feel Keyboard with escapement. This keyboard offers maximum comfort, playability, and response, and perfectly conveys dynamic, velocity-based tonal changes. This supreme keyboard action draws maximum expressivity out of both SuperNATURAL Piano and E
PRESS RELEASE: Roland announces the JUNO-Gi Mobile Synthesizer with Digital Recorder. The JUNO-Gi is compact, easy to use, and affordable and also boasts an all-new sound set designed for live performance, built-in eight-track digital recorder with 64 virtual tracks, and easy integration with many digital audio workstations through its built-in audio interface. The JUNO-Gi runs on AC power or batteries, so users can play music anywhere. On board are over 1,300 brand-new, top-quality sounds optimised for live gigs. Sounds are organised into Live Sets, allowing four-way splits and layers with ease. Tone Category buttons make it simple to navigate the massive sound library, while the powerful mood, pitch bend, and D BEAM controllers let players add expression to sounds as they perform. The JUNO-Gi also includes a built-in eight-track digital recorder for song production, complete with transport controls, mix faders, and a dedicated rhythm machine track. Record directly to a single high-capacity SD card for up to 192 hours of possible recording time with a single 32 GB card. JUNO-Gi sounds can be recorded easily along with a vocal mic or guitar when connected via the rear-panel XLR microphone, guitar, and line level inputs. Powerful dedicated effects processing is available for live recording, mixing, and mastering, including BOSS GT-Series professional guitar effects and effects designed for vocal processing. The JUNO-Gi also functions as a USB audio/MIDI interface, making it the perfect companion for computer music production. Users can record JUNO-Gi sounds and play software instruments in any DAW, and also record vocals and guitars while using the JUNO-Gi’s onboard effects. In addition, the JUNO-Gi comes bundled with Cakewalk’s award-winning SONAR 8.5 LE software, giving users a complete DAW solution for their PC. ——————————————————————————————————————- Information taken from official press release, for more visit Roland ——————————————————————————————————————- Submit a press release: email musicradar.pressreleases@futurenet.com Connect with MusicRadar: via Twitter , Facebook and YouTube Get MusicRadar straight to your inbox: Sign up for the free weekly newsletter Related Stories The most outrageous drum kits on the internet Korg microKey: the playable mini controller keyboard? Roland introduces RD-700NX stage piano Roland announces Octa-Capture audio interface Roland AX-Synth now in black sparkle finish
PRESS RELEASE: Roland introduces the OCTA-CAPTURE USB 2.0 Audio Interface, a 10- input/10-output device for computer-based multi-channel audio production. OCTA-CAPTURE sets a new standard in portable USB 2.0 interfaces, combining premium components, 24-bit/192 kHz performance, and preamp and streaming technology in an affordable and compact unit. Designed for high-level audio production, OCTA-CAPTURE features eight professional-grade VS Preamps with each channel providing a combo-XLR input jack, phantom power, low-cut filter, phase invert, and digital compression. These digitally controlled microphone preamps are built with premium components, resulting in transparent audio with a superior signal-to-noise ratio. The space-saving combo jacks also accommodate
Korg has unveiled the microKey, a new ultra-portable 37-note controller keyboard that features the same keybed as you’ll find on the company’s microKorg XL and microStation instruments. Befitting its tiny size, the microKey comes with mini keys, though we suspect these will be far more playable than those that featured on the nanoKey, the weak link in Korg’s otherwise excellent nanoSeries range of controllers. We’ve always wondered why the company bothered to release a keyboard that didn’t have proper keys, but hats off to Korg for (seemingly) getting it right this time. That said, it’s also worth noting that Akai has already released a mini-keyed controller – albeit a 25-note one – in the shape of the LPK25 . Full specs from Korg are as follows:
MusicRadar has already brought you the most outrageous guitars on the internet . Well, guess what? There’s just as many freaky-deaky drums out there, if not more. Maybe it goes deep into the psyche of the drummer, one who surrounds himself with items with which to hit, beat, bang, smash and crash (and to lovingly tap, we should add). With that in mind, we’ve plunged into the depths of blogs and forums to find the strangest, the biggest, the most creative, the most ‘What the hell were they thinking?’ drum kits on the internet. Some of you might find these kits as true objets d’art; others might find them abhorrent. Just remember: love ‘em or hate ‘em, you can always just clobber them to death. First up: the guy who is sure to be the most popular man at your next kegger… Related Stories Korg microKey: the playable mini controller keyboard? Roland introduces RD-700NX stage piano Roland Juno-GI is new mobile synth Roland announces Octa-Capture audio interface Roland AX-Synth now in black sparkle finish
Soundhack, the free audio tool for the Mac developed by audio wizard Tom Erbe, was long a beloved tool for doing strange and wonderful things for sound. It was followed by Spectral Shapers, Mac and Windows plug-ins that built on some of those ideas to do more “timbral morphing” with recorded audio. That includes “timbral filtering” and noise-reducing expansion with spectralcompand, drawn morphing filter shapes with morphfilter, audio positioning with binaural, and a terrific spectralgate for creative dynamics processing. In what can only come as great news to lovers of patching in the free and open source Pure Data (Pd) and commercial Max/MSP environments alike, those tools are now in beta as objects to include in your own patches. These patching environments really do feel like the virtual modular studios they are. Included: +binaural, +morphfilter, +spectralcompand, +spectralgate, +decimate, +chebyshev, +matrix, +compand, +delay, +pitchdelay and +bubbler This release promises a few bugs, so use at your own risk and write good, precise bug reports if you hit any trouble. Windows Max support isn’t there yet, but Mac Max support is, and Pd users can enjoy the software on Mac, Windows, Linux, and even 64-bit Linux. More updates coming later this summer. http://www.soundhack.com/externs.php
EastWest wants you to testdrive all of their virtual instruments for $129, they will even supply you with the drive for it. Good thing they do, $129 for a 10-day demo wouldn’t exactly be the deal of the century. Now on the other hand, it seems like an interesting deal. The hard drive comes loaded with full versions of all of their product except Symphonic Orchestra Platinum Plus (Platinum 24-bit samples are included). Couple this with a promotion that lets you buy many of the EastWest instruments (Hollywood Strings and The Dark Side not included) at a 50% discount (until September 30, 2010). The Terapack hard drive is a Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0 Gb/3.5″ internal hard drive and the products included are Hollywood Strings, The Dark Side, Symphonic Orchestra Platinum, Symphonic Choirs, Symphonic Choirs Expansion, Quantum Leap Pianos, Stormdrum 2 and SD2 Pro Upgrade, Voices of Passion, Ministry of Rock, Fab Four, Goliath, Silk, Ra, and Gypsy. I guess my biggest concern if I were a potential customer would be is 10 days anywhere near long enough time to give all the libraries a fair trial? Personally I would’ve liked to see the trial end at the same time as their 50% discount offer. More info at their website
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Read more: MOTU Ships Masterworks Plug-in Bundle
IK Multimedia has realized that guitarists like to jam along to drum tracks and has released DrummerTracks, a new series of of drum backing tracks. “Unlike loops”, says IK Multimedia, “DrummerTracks are full song drum tracks, recorded in world class studios by sound powerhouse Sonic Reality”. To me it looks like they’re most useful for jamming.
Blue Microphones in Westlake Village, Calif.,welcomes Stacey Moran as its Vice President of Marketing. Moran will be responsible for Blue’s overall marketing strategy and messaging of the Blue brand. She will also be working closely with the product development team in establishing strategic plans, along with executing the launch process and marketing for each product.
Tonehammer has decided to release Requiem in two different versions – Light and Pro. The Light version is a cheaper entrance to the world of Requiem, while the Pro version includes a lot of news to current users. Requiem Pro is free to all Requiem users but is described as a major upgrade. From the Tonehammer press release: Essentially we reprogrammed and redesigned the entire library with brand new legato, new polyphonic legato, legato for chants and solo singers, chant- and word builder interfaces and brand new content in the form of two additional solo singers (super soprano and baritone) etc. Requiem Pro is free for all current Requiem owners. Requiem Pro requires full retail version of Kontakt 4, since it uses a variety of new features exclusively available in Kontakt 4.1.1 I haven’t tried Requiem or Requiem Pro but the demos are stunning in my opinion. Requiem Light contains all the same core features/articulations as Pro. However it uses 1 premixed microphone positions instead of 3 in Pro. It comes with 2 solo singers (soprano and tenor) instead of 5 in pro and lesser effects. Requiem Light supports the Free Kontakt Player by Native Instruments, so users don’t need to purchase Kontakt to use the library. The Pro version currently is being sold for $599 and the Light version for $299. Requiem Pro will eventually land at $799 (starting September 1st). A cross-grade between the Light and Pro versions are also available. Speaking of Tonehammer, a new library called Plucked Piano is coming this September. Tonehammer
From label to physical shape to the boxes they come in, these beer bottles have been reimagined for musical aims. Cheers! All images courtesy the artist, Matt Braun. What if blowing tunes on beer bottles was raised to the level of musical science? Through even the mundane medium of packaging, design can transform the everyday. DJ and designer Matt Braun of Philadelphia, collaborating with Chris Mufalli , use labels to tune the level of beer remaining in the bottle for musical results. Pitches are printed on the labels, allowing you to exactly match the liquid inside to a pitch you want, and join along with your fellow imbibers for a performance. It’s not just a label that’s different. Ridges on the sides of the bottles make them double as Guiro-style percussion. The neck was adjusted for ergonomics. Even the wooden box becomes a tongue drum. It’s all decidedly non-digital, group fun – Create Beer Music? (Actually, technically, they’re printing with digital tech, the quantization of liquid to discrete equal-tempered pitches is a digital process by definition, and you hold it with your fingers. So there.) So far, this has been used in a microbrew, but the duo are looking for a partner. I’d love to have this at our next Handmade Music, if any of you are in the bottling business. Tuned Pale Ale [2d3d5d.com - project site] Found via the wonderful, whimsical design blog etre , maintained by a usability and design consultancy Thanks to Johan Strandell / 40hz for the tip. The Tuned Pale Ale are just one of a number of unique designs from Matt Braun, all emphasizing making the ephemeral world of sound more physical. Matt’s site is a smörgåsbord of design concepts, many involving creative uses of lasercutters and 3D forms. There are “tuned gig buckets” for busking similar to the beer bottles, useful tools for DJs using 45s , and wooden drums made from digital images of the sounds of other drums, producing “generations” of instruments in which the sound of one gives form to the shape of another. Two of my favorites are pictured here.
Vienna Symphonic Library has announced the release of their new sample player. It provides full compatibility with all existing Vienna Instruments and features a Humanize function among other things. From the Vienna Symphonic Instruments press release: Up to eight instruments and articulations can be stacked in a single cell of a matrix, allowing for individual adjustments of volume and panning in the rack mixer. This way it’s easy to create powerful multi-instruments in a single instance of Vienna Instruments PRO that even allow for polyphonic legato-playing. Sample lengths of fixed performances, such as runs, fast repetitions or arpeggios can be matched to the required tempo with the time stretching tool. And if you’re into micro scales, such as Indian or Chinese, you have that as well. And yes, you can get creative and make your own. Vienna Instruments Pro Player will not replace the current player. The old Vienna Instruments Player will still be included with any Vienna Instruments Collection, while the Pro one is available as a separate download product in the webshops of the Vienna Symphonic Library for €125 / $163. Users who purchase Vienna Instruments Pro through September 15, 2010, will receive the all-new Flugelhorn as a free download instrument. There’s a lot more to say about this product, but if you’re interested in it you should just watch the videos on the Vienna website.
Muse Research just reduced the U.S. pricing for the entire line of Receptor 2 hardware plug-in players. Effective immediately, the Receptor 2 will sell for $1,599, the Receptor 2 Pro for $1,999 and the Receptor 2 Pro Max for $2,499. Users can purchase any of these models and other accompanying options through the Receptor resource site or through authorized Muse Research dealers.
