Latest News & Articles
Sound Burst announces Nord Modular VSTi clone
Still in love with the sound of the Clavia Nord Modular? Now it can be virtually yours. Sound Burst Northmood is the sample-based player that plays like the original instrument.
The best patches have been sampled, note by note, sometimes with several velocities, using world-class audio equipment by Focusrite, RME, BSS, Aphex, Mindprint, Creamwere and Lucid Technologies. The result is just astonishing.
Gearjunkies Messe 2005 Pictures
Our reporters walked the floors of the Messe for two whole (exhausting) days. They took a lot of pictures for our archives. We can’t show them all, but we give you a selection of them here.
Korg Oasys:
Gearjunkies Messe 2005 Roundup
It’s time for the Gearjunkies Messe 2005 Roundup! We are back, gave all the gear a place, and ready for our take on what is going on in the Gear industry at this time and day! After some tossing, we came up with, what we thought, was the most cool and innovative new products at the 2005 show.
Korg announces D3200 Digital Recording Studio
Announced at the 2005 Musikmesse show, the D3200 Digital Recording Studio provides up to 32 tracks of simultaneous playback and up to 12 tracks of simultaneous recording to support high channel-count projects – such as recording a live band.
The D3200 provides 16 and 24-bit uncompressed 44.1 or 48 kHz recording and playback. Up to 32 tracks of simultaneous playback and up to 16 tracks of simultaneous recording are possible (A maximum of 16 tracks can be recorded simultaneously using 12 analog inputs, S/PDIF inputs and the outputs from Session Drums. When using 24-bit 44.1/48 kHz recording, a maximum of 16 tracks can be played back and a maximum of 12 tracks can be recorded simultaneously). By taking advantage of the eight virtual tracks provided for each track, you can record a total of up to 272 tracks (2 Thirty-two tracks plus a stereo master track for mixdown, all with 8 virtual tracks). In the 24-bit mode, the digital data passing through the fader and EQ is recorded onto the internal hard drive as 32-bit data. A 40 GB hard disk is standard, allowing approximately 119 hours of recording at 16-bit resolution on one track. The internal processor uses 64-bit precision.
Korg launches D4 – New 4 track recorder
The D-series of KORG, the epitome of audio quality and intuitive operation, got a new member to this productline. The D4 digital recorder is hardly larger than a VHS cassette but offers nevertheless professional effects, a rhythm function and a tuner. With five real time automatic controllers you have access to nearly all functions, all effects in best “REMS” quality. The recording and editing functions are quite sublime. And with the USB connection you can transfer songs and other data problem-free to your computer. With the D4 we can state clearly: It is mall, but be aware! It sure can handle your creativity!
Measuring only 191 (W) x 145 (D) x 41 (H) mm / 7.52″ (W) x 5.71″ (D) x 1.61″ (H), Korg’s all-new D4 provides 4-track recording in a compact package. You can plug in mic or guitar or use the built-in mic to record audio, one or two tracks at a time, to a CompactFlash removeable media card. Korg’s onboard REMS effects and amp simulations an inbuilt tuner and a bunch of onboard rhythm patterns should also make the D4 a great practice tool for guitar players.
Scarbee announces Drum VSTi
SCARBEE is proud to announce our latest release – the Scarbee Imperial Drums XL. Scarbee SID-XL represents a powerful new synergy between Scarbee’s renowned drum libraries and Steinberg’s cutting edge virtual sampler technology in the form of the Halion Player, based on the HALion 3.1 sampler engine. Scarbee librarires now come ready to play ‘out of the box’ as standalone instruments for Apple OSX and Windows XP as well as a plugins in various interface formats: VSTi, AU, Dxi.
Scarbee Imperial Drums (SID) XL builds on the roots of the first Imperial Drums and adds a number of important improvements. Features at a glance:
– Disk Streaming Sample-Based Virtual Instrument included (Steinberg HALion Player)
– Stand Alone, Rewire, VST, DXi and Audio Units supported
– Software and Soundware is USB key protected (key included)
– All of the original SID content + more than 25 new drums (including 5 new snares)
– All new Ludwig Vistalite drumkit (John Bonham) and Remo Rototom set
– Multitrack to Multiple outputs version of each drum
– Stereo mixdown versions of each drum in different fashions
– 12 different stick types; 3 beater types for bass drums
– Endless kits combinations possible
– Tons of Midi groove files already included and customized for SID-XL
– ModWheel, KeySwitch and Midi CC technique switch and positional control
– GM compatible mapping version of every drum
– Scarbee Sound Quality
– Same production team and environment as the original SID: Elio Rivagli on drums, Simone Coen producing, editing and recording and re-recording, Maurizio Macchioni engineering
– 8 DVDs, 35 GB
Scarbee Imperial Drums XL will be available in Q2 2005 for MSRP $349.00 (euro 272).
EMU releases new USB Midi controllers
The new E-MU Xboard Professional USB/MIDI controllers for PC and Mac offer unmatched playability, real-time control and programmability in a portable keyboard package ideal for studio and stage use.
The Xboard™ 25 and Xboard 49 both feature fullsize velocity sensitive keyboards with aftertouch, 16 programmable real-time controllers, Xboard Control editing software, and E-MU’s new Proteus X LE Desktop Sound Module with over 1000 sounds.
The Xboard Control software provides an intuitive desktop interface that lets you effortlessly create custom templates for all of your favorite hardware and software instruments. The Xboards also allow you to set discrete MIDI channels for each controller and offer unrivalled real-time control and performance features, including Snap Shot that lets you send multiple program changes and controller values by pressing a single button, and Xboard Latch Mode that enables you to define a section of the keyboard as on/off triggers – perfect for drum loops.
Vestax prototype: the STC-V1 stage controller
We announced sometime ago the Vestax Groovecaster.
A turntable/guitar. We did not take this seriously, but its a fact now. On the Frankfurt Messe Vestax showed us the STC-V1.
EMU releases new laptop audio systems
E-MU’s new 1616M and 1616 CardBus Digital Audio Systems are the most powerful and portable laptop audio systems ever created.
The E-MU 1616M and 1616 include a PCMCIA card and compact MicroDock audio/MIDI interface that deliver the same powerful DSP effects, zero-latency monitoring and pristine 24-bit/192kHz A/D and D/A converters of E-MU’s best selling PCI Digital Audio Systems.
The E-MU PCMCIA card can be used standalone for its DSP power and studio-quality headphone amp, or plugged into the MicroDock for a total of 16 inputs and 16 outputs plus MIDI I/O, including two custom preamps with Neutrik connectors, 48V phantom power, and analog soft limiting circuit for clip protection.
E-MU’s CardBus Digital Audio Systems ship with ASIO2 and WDM drivers for Windows XP and 2000, as well as the new Production Tools software bundle that includes E-MU’s Proteus X LE, as well as software by Steinberg, Ableton, IK Multimedia, and many more – everything you need to create, record, edit, master and burn your music.
Schippmann announces the ebbe & flut synth
The Schippman ebbe und flute is a hight quality analog signal processor with two very fat precises VFC’s with 12 different function as its core. A very effective automatic soft knee compressor controllable with only one knob and a very good adjustment properties is part of the device as well as a really musical distortion unit.
MacBeth M5 makes his debut in Frankfurt
meet the MacBeth M5, 32 kilos in weight analog power!
Kurzweil announces the PC161
The PC161 is the new midi Keyboard controller from Kurzweil. This performance controller as Furze’s names this keyboard features outstanding sound and impressive master controller functions.
Novation announces the Remote LE
Unsurpassed MIDI controlling technology from the the pioneers, Novation, is now available in tis most compact format to date.
IK Multimedia updates SampleTank to 2.1
IK Multimedia is proud to announce more details on the new SampleTank® 2.1, a significant upgrade to the industry standard sample workstation plug-in coming soon. Many new features in both software and sounds bring SampleTank to the next level of great value and usability.
The new SampleTank 2.1 software and sound features include:
• Enhanced STRETCH™ engine for outstanding sonic realism and more creative control of harmonics, speed and pitch of the sound. The new STRETCH 2.1 offers even more control over the pitch, tempo and harmonics with this unique technology. This allows the user to play extremely realistic pitch bending and glissando performances, play chords with single line phrases and even modify the melody lines of phrases as well as synchronize different tempo loops together. The new NOTE and PHRASE modes allow the user to choose which analysis to apply to the sounds so that the most accurate result is achieved. Also the new HARMONIC PRESERVATION control allows full control of preserving the instruments harmonics when played with STRETCH™. In the Pitch-Shift/Time-Stretch section a new GRAIN SIZE control allows user to adapt the algorithm to various type of sound material for better shifting/stretching results.
• Improved sound and performance – A totally redesigned resampling algorithm and a highly optimized pitch-shift/time stretch now make SampleTank® 2.1 sound better than ever as well as being more efficient on the CPU This improved performance goes together with an enhanced stability and stronger platform integration like full compatibility with the new Protools® 6.7 features and more.
• Stand-alone operation – The new SampleTank® 2.1 offers also stand-alone operation which allows instant playability. No host or sequencer is needed to use SampleTank® 2.1, only a computer and an ASIO, WDM or Coreaudio compatible audio card. The new standalone operation is perfect for live usage and for those that want to simply play sounds from their midi controller without having to open any other application first.
• 16 stereo outputs – SampleTank® 2.1 now has double the amount of outputs than before. Route any of the 16 parts through up to 16 individual stereo outputs to achieve maximum instrument separation for the mix and allow for the most powerful combination of internal and external signal processing.
• Keyboard and velocity splits – Not only can 16 part sounds can be easily layered in SampleTank® 2.1, but now instruments can also be spilt by range to have more than one sound assigned to different sections of the keyboard. This allows the user to have performance-oriented capabilities like playing a rhythmic part with one instrument on the left side of the keyboard and a lead solo with another instrument on the right. Splitting is possible also at velocity level which offers the ability to have certain multi-part instruments playing only when the keyboard is hit harder or softer.
• Greatly enhanced sound set now on 2 DVDs – The SampleTank® 2.1 XL library will now includes 2 DVDs with a 7 gigabyte sound set of sampled material and more than 2,000 patches including:
– Sounds from nearly every category of instrument with an emphasis on acoustic and
electric sounds with loops, bass, drums, brass, guitars, pianos, organs, orchestral,
percussion, strings, woodwinds, vocals and more.
– Several new large sized multi-dynamic grand pianos, drums and organs for incredible
realism and variety
– All new rare instruments sampled around the world
– Hundreds of new percussion loops provided as slices that can be played along with
separate midi files for total control of the tempo, groove and feel
– A diverse variety of instruments and phrases utilizing the newly updated STRETCH™
engine such as single line vocal and instrument phrases that can be played with
chords harmony in sync, rotary organs with real-time control of the speed of the
actual motion speakers and more.
Price, availability, upgrades – SampleTank 2.1® XL will have a suggested retail price of $499/499 Euro and is expected to be shipping in May 2005.
All SampleTank® 2.0 XL customers who purchased after March 1, 2005 will receive a free
update to SampleTank® 2.1 XL. SampleTank® 2.0 customers who purchased before March 1, 2005 can upgrade to the new engine for free and take advantage of a limited time offer to get the new sound set for $99/99 Euro. All SampleTank® LE/SE customers can upgrade to SampleTank® 2.1XL for $299/299 Euro.
For more information please visit: www.ikmultimedia.com
Vestax shows a new mixer: the R1 premium II
We did not get any information about this mixer, and we found it hidden in a rack.
The R1 premium II look nice old skool with the VU meters and is a 5 channel rack mixer.
Unfortunately we do not know any prices, but we will keep you up to date about this product