Latest News & Articles
MOTU Track16 Audio Interface Now Shipping
MOTU have just announced that they are now shipping the new Track16 Desktop Audio Interface, worldwide. Track16 is a 16 x 14 desktop studio interface with mixing and effects. Track16 connects via FireWire or hi-speed USB 2.0 to a Mac or PC computer and features elegant design, compact size, simple one-touch operation, and studio-grade sound quality. Together, the Track16 base unit and included breakout cable provide a total of sixteen inputs and fourteen outputs, hybrid FireWire/USB connectivity, optical digital I/O, MIDI I/O, and SMPTE time code sync. Advanced features include a 16-bus digital mixer (with reverb, EQ, and compression), audio analysis tools such as an FFT with spectrogram “waterfall”, and an instrument tuner.
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.
New Sounds and Samples on Sample Saturday
These are the releases we have encountered this week on the Loops and Samples front. Just like the quality of the audio software we use these days the quality of the content we use (loops and samples) equally matches the high standards of this software. Below is this weeks selection.
Arturia announces V Collection 3.0 Instruments Bundle
Music software and hardware company Arturia is proud to announce availability of V Collection 3.0, a classic collection of ten award-winning software instruments, as of July 25. V Collection 3.0 is the ultimate reference solution for demanding musicians seeking the legendary analogue synthesizer and classic drum machines sounds that have defined modern electronic music-making. Those sounds are proving more popular than ever, and Arturia’s TAE® (True Analogue Emulation) technology-powered software instruments have proven themselves time and again on countless hit records and praised productions around the globe.
Reason Controller Panorama P4 Now Shipping
Nektar Technology, Inc. the California based new brand for Advanced Control * Enhanced Workflow Controllers today announces Panorama P4, the first dedicated Keyboard Controller for the highly acclaimed Propellerhead Reason Music Creation Software is shipping.
ESI introduces new Aktiv studio monitors
Off the back of their higher end UniK series delivered earlier this year, ESI has announced the release of a new line of affordable studio reference monitors – the Aktiv 05 and Aktiv 08.
New firmware with HUI support for A&H GS-R24
Allen & Heath has released a major firmware and driver update for its acclaimed recording console, the GS-R24. The new firmware includes integrated support of the HUI protocol for direct integration with DAW applications with HUI MIDI control presets, such as ProTools and Reaper, and users also benefit from a range of enhancements to the FireWire interface driver.
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.
Sugar Bytes Turnado 1.5 Update Released
Since it’s launch in the last year, Turnado has been helping musicians and producers push their sound in new directions. The world renowned beat-boxer and vocalist Beardyman is among them and we’ve been working together with him to bring you this exciting and powerful update. Turnado 1.5 brings you a set of brand new features that have been designed, in collaboration with Beardyman, to improve the live improvisation capabilities of Turnado on stage, and in the studio. Furthermore, Turnado 1.5 supports the new ProTools AAX plugin interface.
Kemper Profiling Amps – Artist talk with Andy Sneap
Andy Sneap is one of the go to producers for modern metal productions. Kemper Profiling Amps caught Andy right after the production of the current Testament Album “Dark roots of earth!” He shares with us how the “Profiler” did work for him since he discovered it in September 2011. Thanks to Andy Jones and Oz Owen for shooting and editing this for Skating Dog Productions!
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.
Native Instruments RAW VOLTAGE Maschine Expansion Introduced
Native Instruments today introduced RAW VOLTAGE, a new MASCHINE Expansion which captures the sound of a huge modular synthesizer system. For instant use with MASCHINE or MASCHINE MIKRO, RAW VOLTAGE contains kits, instruments and patterns that share the unique, rich and organic sound characteristics of analog synthesis.
XILS-lab Oxium performance soft synth plug-in available now
Oxium is a unique, yet cost-conscious (€99.00 EURO/$129.00 USD) performance-orientated soft synth plug-in, adept at giving equal billing to still-sought-after classic analogue sounds and more adventurous modernistic tones.
Free Food from iZotope for Iris!
iZotope have just released a free sound library for Iris Synthesizer plugin. Food celebrates the longstanding sound design tradition of using edible items for sonic inspiration. Sourced from a diverse range of delicious samples, Food transforms creative kitchen commotion into rich sonic ingredients, perfect for cooking up your own audio adventures.