Synths and workstations

Tal-U-No-LX – Roland Juno Emulation now available

TAL-U-NO-LX is a fully rewritten emulation of the popular hardware with a new engine and GUI. Up to date zero feedback delay filters and carefully calibrated controls make this synth a good replacement for the analog device with all the advantages software plugins have. As an addition, the TAL_U-NO-LX also supports portamento and different filter LFO waveforms and some more useful features. An arpeggiator with different sync modes and hold function is also included. A very fast envelope with a smooth roll-off and emulated inaccuracy gives this synth the typical sound. The synth was calibrated after a hardware device that’s property of TAL.

Paolo Apollo Negri Talks Waldorf

Paolo Apollo Negri is considered one of the finest Hammond organ players throughout the world, but his love for synthesizers has grown stronger and stronger in his live sects and studio works with The Link Quartet, Wicked Minds, Black Widow, Low Fidelity Jet-Set Orchestra and many others, as well as during his solo career. His last release, “Cobol”, is a synthesizer wonderland, where Waldorf Blofeld Keyboard, with its different type of synthesis, plays a central role, creating spacey landscapes, evocative intros and old fashioned polyphonic analog solos.

Something For The Weekend: Hans Zimmer Talks The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises is currently the biggest film in the world. To score this film German composer Hans Zimmer wired up his beloved Moog Modular and let the vintage oscillators sing. Zimmer’s body of work in the film industry includes such prolific films as Rain Man, Thelma & Louise, and The Lion King. For the past few years Zimmer has been working very closely with Christopher Nolan composing scores for Inception and the Batman trilogy. In this video Hans Zimmer and Richard King discuss the sound design of The Dark Knight Rises, fast forward to 5:12 to hear Zimmer’s thoughts on using a Moog Modular as part of the score.

Dave Smith Introduces Mopho x4 Analog Polyphonic Synthesizer

Dave Smith Introduces Mopho x4 Analog Polyphonic Synthesizer

Dave Smith Instruments is just a week away from introducing DSI’s new Mopho x4 synthesizer keyboard to the world. This new synth is polyphonic Mopho keyboard! The Mopho x4 is the newest addition to DSI’s revered line of analog subtractive synthesizers. Building upon the same award winning voice architecture of the Mopho and Mopho Keyboard, the Mopho x4 boasts huge sound and 4 voice polyphony in an ideally sized, portable, and elegantly designed package. Use it to create huge unison basses, creamy leads, maniacal sequences, and ethereal pads. The Mopho x4 is sure to satisfy all your polyphonic analog synthesis needs.

Elektron Talk with O.N.O from Tha Blue Herb

Elektron Talk with O.N.O from Tha Blue Herb

Based in the northern Japanese city of Sapporo in Hokkaido, O.N.O produces the tracks for hip-hop unit Tha Blue Herb. He is known for creating unique grooves with distinctive sampling treatments and complex beats. Besides being musically active as part of a group, he has released albums as a solo artist under the names of O.N.O and onomono, playing live shows using only hardware gear and appearing at numerous rock festivals and music events. Elektron caught up with O.N.O to interview him about his musical career, the equipment he uses, and what role Elektron machines play in his sound.

Apple OS X Mountain Lion Available Now

Apple today announced that OS X® Mountain Lion, the ninth major release of the world’s most advanced desktop operating system, is available as a download from the Mac® App Store℠. With more than 200 innovative new features, Mountain Lion includes iCloud® integration, the all new Messages app, Notification Center, system-wide Sharing, Facebook integration*, Dictation, AirPlay® Mirroring and Game Center. Mountain Lion is available as an upgrade from Lion or Snow Leopard for $19.99.

Karma-Lab releases KARMA for Yamaha Motif

Karma-Lab has released KARMA Motif Software, a dedicated PC/Mac program for the Yamaha Motif XS and XF (US $199). This brand-new entry in their line of software applications brings the award-winning and patented KARMA algorithmic music technology (previously only available for Korg workstations) to the Yamaha Motif, giving it new interactive groove generation and arranger-like capabilities.

The Dark Zebra – Special Soundset for U-He Zebra 2.5

A bank of over 400 presets, a collaboration between Hans Zimmer and Howard Scarr. Practically all Zebra sounds in the The Dark Knight as well as The Dark Knight Rises soundtracks are included, plus several more that didn’t quite fit into the scores. Furthermore, the pack includes Hans’ custom built version of Zebra, dubbed ZebraHZ. Many of the more recent patches make use of the extra features available in ZebraHZ.

Mostly Robot: Behind the Scenes of Sonar 2012

Native Instruments today presented a brand-new video of Mostly Robot, the all-star band made up of five exceptional artists: Jamie Lidell, Tim Exile, Jeremy Ellis, Mr Jimmy and DJ Shiftee. Conceived by Native Instruments and utilizing an advanced array of NI hardware and software, Mostly Robot played their debut performance at this year’s Sónar Festival in Barcelona to great acclaim. This new video covers both the actual performance and preparation of the show, blending interviews with exclusive backstage and performance material, and giving viewers the opportunity to witness the birth of this modern supergroup firsthand. 

[SummerNAMM] Korg Kronos X Announced

[SummerNAMM] Korg Kronos X Announced

The Kronos music workstation was unveiled in 2011 to critical acclaim, and the raves of players around the world asking “what can possibly follow this?!” In the year since its inception, KORG has continued to release system updates and additional Kronos Sound Libraries, bringing the Kronos to an even higher level of performance.