SKANNER is the holiday gift for you from Native Instruments: Stephan Schmitt’s raucous and exciting new synth is available for download now. SKANNER can be used either with the latest version (5.6.2) of the free REAKTOR 5 PLAYER, or REAKTOR 5.6.2. Play samples like a synth – SKANNER will rip through your holiday lethargy.
Next year we are having a great event in the Netherlands for the aspiring DJ and producer. Dancefair is the educational event for everyone in the Dancescene. A platform where manufacturers and software developers will present their products and where renowned artists, producers and engineers will take you into their musical world.
Cause for great joy at Celemony: the Recording Academy has announced that the Munich software house (“Melodyne”) will be honored in February 2012 with the Technical Grammy. The Technical Grammy is one of the most important international awards and is awarded to individuals and companies who have made contributions of outstanding technical significance to the recording field.
The Steinberg UR28M is next to the UR824, one of the latest USB audio interfaces by Steinberg. This interface has a very clear overview and is pretty easy to use in your setup. In this review I will focus on the most important features of this interface.
XILS-lab is proud to announce availability of the Synthax A and Synthax B sound sets for its Synthix soft synth plug-in — a Mac (OS X 10.3.9 and later; Audio Unit, VST, RTAS — Pro Tools 7.0 and later) and PC (Windows XP, Vista, and 7; VST, RTAS — Pro Tools 7.0 and later) compatible virtual recreation of the much-sought-after Synthex, a lush-sounding, 1982-vintage, eight-voice programmable analogue polysynth (independently designed by Mario Maggi and built by Italian home-organ manufacturer Elka) — as of December 14, 2011.
Numark, the world’s leading manufacturer of DJ technology, is now shipping the N4, a four-channel DJ controller with built-in mixer. Featuring 4-decks of software control plus a built-in mixer that can be used with or without a computer, N4 is designed for DJs who want powerful capability in a lightweight, portable package. This complete 4-channel controller has everything DJs need to perform at their highest level: large, touch-sensitive platters, 4-decks of software control with loop and effects controls, a built-in USB audio interface and a comprehensive mixer section with EQ, and gain. N4 will come with both Serato DJ Intro software and a 4-deck version of Virtual DJ LE.
In the 1980s, analog synthesis entered a new stage, with more portable options like the battery-powered EDP Wasp, and polysynths like the fat Roland Jupiter and Korg’s PolySix. Meanwhile, digital synthesizers debuted with the legendary Yamaha DX7 and its FM synthesis, while Casio offered its own take with the CZ-1 and its phase distortion synthesis.
Alesis, a leading manufacturer of professional audio electronics and musical instruments, now ships the iO4 USB audio interface. The iO4 is a compact audio-recording interface for home, project and portable studio recording setups. This four-channel USB device for Mac and PC-based systems enables users to record and monitor up to eight channels of audio (4 in, 4 out) at 16-bit recording, or four channels (2 in, 2 out) at 24-bit. The iO4 is compact enough to comfortably fit into a mobile recording rig, laptop bag or backpack, yet contains high-quality components and circuitry suitable for the studio.
Camel Audio is pleased to announce Dream Voices for Alchemy and the Free Alchemy Player is now available. Dream Voices contains 150 presets and costs just 59USD / 49EUR / 39GBP.
SampleTank for iOS, the first pro-quality, sample-based sound and groove workstation, has been updated. SampleTank is now available as a universal app for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, through the iTunes App store. The update adds a 4-track MIDI recorder, a new beat-making interface, an expanded set of instruments and patterns, improved compatibility with third party docks and much more. It can be played directly from the app or can be used live with any MIDI keyboard or pad controller with the iRig MIDI interface adapter.
There have been already a lot of rumours about it, now it is official: Nektar, the California based new brand for Advanced Control * Enhanced Workflow Controllers annouce Panorama P4, the first dedicated Controller Keyboard for Propellerhead Reason. This couples with a great prize competition. Musicians can win the very first Panorama P4 rolling off the production line, by submitting their competition entry at www.nektartech.com.
Harmony Systems, Inc. announced the worldwide availability of gbTouch 3.1 and gbRemote 1.1, upgrades to their popular Delora line of iPad and iPhone music controller applications. gbTouch, for the iPad, and gbRemote, for the iPhone/iPod touch, offer control surface and remote control capability for the Apple GarageBand music application on the Mac.
Gospel Musicians is proud to announce a partnership with Overloud Audio Tools. The best love to partner with the best and the Vintage Keyboard FX plugin by Overloud is one of the best vintage effects plugins for electric pianos. Teaming Neo-Soul Keys with the VKFX will solidify our place as one of the best electric piano plugins on the market. If you are one of those guys that absolutely have to have the most realistic electric piano Suitcase for your studio or live gig, then pairing these two giants together will absolutely give you the most advanced electric piano experience on the market.
NOTION Music, creators of award-winning music creation software, announce the new NOTION app for iPad. This notation editor and playback app gives musicians the ability to compose, edit, and play back scores using top notch real audio samples performed by The London Symphony Orchestra and recorded at Abbey Road Studios. With the mobility of the iPad, NOTION allows users to capture musical ideas at any time and any place. And for the first few days of release, NOTION for iPad is available for only $.99, regularly $14.99! This special offer will be available until December 20, 2011 at 11:59pm.
When a young Benoit Heitz saw a friend’s computer running Reason he had an epiphany: “His computer isn’t better than my parent’s computer. That means I could be making music.” He started out not knowing the first thing about drums or music in general. Three years later he was touring the world as an international DJ.