Synths and workstations

Synths and workstations

Jeremy Ellis on the new Native Instruments Maschine MKII

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Only hours after the new Maschine leaked onto the internet and we braught you the first details, Native Instruments have made it all official and introduced the MKII version. Next to that they now have published an incredible performance from Jeremy Ellis with the new Maschine and Maschine Mikro. He creates a track completely from scratch — the sound you hear was recorded live in one take without any overdubs or post production. Filmed at the abandoned former US listening station on Berlin’s Teufelsberg.

Percussa Soundor – Free Open Source FM Synth
Synths and workstations

Percussa Soundor – Free Open Source FM Synth

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PERCUSSA announced SOUNDOR, the free and open source FM Synthesizer for Max for Live, the visual programming environment in Ableton Live based on Cycling 74’s Max/MSP. SOUNDOR is available as a free download from the Percussa website, and allows users to explore FM Synthesis using hand and finger gestures, through AudioCubes’ high speed and low latency sensors, requiring no MIDI mapping or programming.

Radical Piano Rack Extension released
Synths and workstations

Radical Piano Rack Extension released

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Propellerhead has released Radical Piano for sale, a new Rack Extension instrument that brings a wide range of natural and bendable piano sounds to Reason and Reason Essentials. Using a blend of sampled pianos and physical modeling synthesis, Radical Piano is a lightweight, authentic instrument with sounds ranging from pristine concert grand pianos to creaking living room uprights.

Synths and workstations

Excellent DIY work – The Diva Controller

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Mario is a good friend of Gearjunkies. We have posted already more of his great work he does on custom specialised software controllers. His latest work is a controller for the u-he Diva software synthesizer. Inside the controller there are 2 Doepfer USB64 Midi Interfaces, one special Wheel Electronic for Pitch and Mod Wheel and the MKE Electronic for the 4 octave Fatar keyboard with velocity. The DIVA Controller has about 90 knobs and 25 switches.

Synths and workstations

More DSI Mopho x4 – Demo Video

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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.

Synths and workstations

Google+ Hangouts On Air launched

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After the release of Google+ last year it has been relatively quiet (we think). But that doesn’t mean Google hasn’t been busy. This week they annouced a new high quality ‘Studio Mode’ for musicians to play live concerts, online! Bands can now stream online concerts to their fans with good sound quality.

Synths and workstations

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

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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.

Synths and workstations

Paolo Apollo Negri Talks Waldorf

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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.

Synths and workstations

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

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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
Synths and workstations

Dave Smith Introduces Mopho x4 Analog Polyphonic Synthesizer

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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
Synths and workstations

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

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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.