Native Instruments Improves Studio Plug-Ins

Vintage Compressors and Transient Master updated and half-price

Native Instruments has announced the re-release of four studio effects. VINTAGE COMPRESSORS andTRANSIENT MASTER feature sleek new user interfaces, and can now be used as stand-alone plug-ins in any DAW. To celebrate this re-release, all four products, plus the VINTAGE COMPRESSORS bundle, are available for half price until November 26. Here's NI's description of the plug-ins:

VINTAGE COMPRESSORS are painstakingly accurate emulations of three legendary compressors found in recording studios worldwide. Each has been created by NI and Softube to deliver the true sound of the original - with additional sidechain inputs and dry controls for parallel compression. The VC 160 and VC 2A also feature a Low-Cut dial for avoiding overly hard compression. Producers can explore a wide range of modern, creative compression techniques with the beloved sound of classic studio equipment.

Each compressor can be purchased separately or as part of the VINTAGE COMPRESSORS bundle. The VC 2A is based on a legendary electro-optical tube compressor/limiter. Its medium-to-slow auto-release setting makes it especially suitable for adding smooth presence and punch to drums, vocals or the stereo bus. The VC 160 is based on a studio staple with a voltagecontrolled design. This compressor provides extremely-fast signal detection – perfect for drums and any instrument where adding punch and edge is essential. The VC 76 recreates a popular FET compressor renowned for its super-fast attack and unique 'All Button Mode'. Versatile enough for use on a wide range of sound sources, its streamlined control panel means this extremely precise, studio tool is also extremely intuitive.

TRANSIENT MASTER is a unique envelope shaper providing users with the ability to place instruments – especially drums and percussion – in the mix, independent of compression and EQ settings. This deceptively simple tool is based on a popular standard used as a secret weapon in many studios.

Pricing and Availability:
From now until November 26, the VINTAGE COMPRESSORS and TRANSIENT MASTER are available at the NI Online shop for half price.

The VC 2A, VC 160, and VC 76 are available for $ 59.50 / 49,50 €
Regular price: $119 / 99 € each.

The VINTAGE COMPRESSORS bundle is available for $ 114.50 / 99,50 €
Regular Price: $ 229 / 199 €.

TRANSIENT MASTER is available for $ 59.50 / 49,50 €
Regular Price: $119 / 99 €.

More information:
www.native-instruments.com/vintagecompressors
www.native-instruments.com/transientmaster

Let The Children Sing

Soundiron's Mercury Symphonic Boychoir claims to be the most comprehensive sampled children's choir ever

Soundiron tells us that the brand new Mercury Symphonic Boychoir is quite simply the single most comprehensive, playable and powerfully sampled children's choir ever released. This traditional English all-boy's choral ensemble features 42 staccatos & 42 sustaining marcatos both with 4x round-robin, 18 tempo-syncing Latin poly-syllabic sustains with phrase-synchronus polyphonic legato, unique poly-staccatos, dynamic true legato vowels with real-time speed control from fluid portamento to tight, drone and whispering chants, trills, sweeps, swells and other choral effects. You'll also find two exquisite soloists (soprano/younger and alto/older), each with a wide range of poly-syllabic phrases, staccatos and fluid true legato vowel sustain. Here's the rest of what they have to say about it in their own words:

We're also pleased to announce our newly upgraded Phrase Builder with instant marcato-staccato syllable switching and multi-sequence pattern creation. We are also proud to announce our new Word Master, an easy to use graphic interface that lets you choose from dozens of sustaining marcato words and staccato syllables on the fly, all with multi-layer selection and blending, legato, key-switching and more.

The library was recorded in the same large hall that we captured our Olympus choirs in, with close and far mic positioning. We've integrated fully customizable mic distance mixing into every Mercury preset with optional mic purge/load controls.

Conducted by esteemed maestro Robert Geary of Olympus/Requiem/Volti and SF Choral Society and performed by the award-winning Pacific Boychoir (ages 8-13) featuring Director Kevin Fox, this living masterpiece offers stellar sound and unmatched attention to detail. We recorded the choir with a dozen large diaphragm Neumann microphones and Sound Devices recording hardware and then precision hand-mixed to a well-balanced 5.1-friendly dual-position array for peerless tone, clarity and fidelity without sacrificing performance or plug-and-play ease-of-use. This library is designed for the full version of Kontakt 4.2.4 and later. The free Kontakt Player does not support this format.

Pricing and Availability:
This library is officially scheduled for release on January 15th, 2013 with the retail price of $399, but Soundiron are offering it for pre-order now at $349. This price is only good until launch. And when you pre-order, you'll receive your direct high-speed download before the general public right on launch day, with no waiting in line. You'll also get exclusive access to playable bonus content before Mercury ships.

If you pre-order now during Soundiron's Thanksgiving sale, you can take an additional 30% Off and get the Mercury Symphonic Boychoir for $245!

More information:
Mercury Symphonic Boychoir

New Version Of 8-Bit Reason ReFill

Soundcells releases Digital Genome v3

Soundcells has released Digital Genome v3. Here's what they have to say about it...
"In modern molecular biology, the genome is the entirety of an organism´s hereditary information. It is encoded either in DNA or in case of this fine ReFill it´s the AMIGA1200 encoded in Reason´s NNXT samples. The AMIGA1200 with it´s 8-bit Paula chip was extremely popular among producers all over the world in the early nineties. "Digital Genome" picks up the thread where Soundcells left with "bitBUMPER deluxe" with it´s funky, housy and spacy lo-fi character! Warm, gritty, sleezy, dangerous and nostalgic are the keywords. This ReFill can be used as a full workstation since everything the old Amiga had to offer is in there: basses, keys, lead synths, warm pads and enough drums and percussion to eat your heart out. And do not forget the wonderful FX section. The 200+ Genome combinators are conveniently built up with the right button functionality. Version 3 adds 25 new combinator patches, new NNXT patches as well as revised backdrops."

'Digital Genome v3' Contents:

• 203 combinator patches in 6 folders, great for many different styles of music.

> 36 Basses
> 28 SFX
> 43 Keys
> 18 Leads
> 27 Misc
> 51 Pads

• 208 NNXT patches containing the basic sounds which were used for the combinators.

• 230 original AMIGA1200 samples, 178 MB uncompressed.

• 21 fresh and great useable rex loops.

Pricing and Availability:
Price is 19,90 EUR until December 1st (normally 29,90 EUR).

More information:
Digital Genome v3

Distort, Mangle And Transform Audio

iZotope releases the next generation of Trash

iZotope has released Trash 2, described by them as the ultimate audio mangling and distortion device and previewed in our AES coverage three weeks ago. Completely rewritten from the ground up, Trash 2 has an entirely new sonic architecture, brand new features, optimized performance, better sound quality, and support for modern hosts and formats. Here's the story direct from iZotope:

It's been a decade since Trash first arrived as the ultimate distortion toolkit. As the years have passed, it's remained a cult favorite of artists such as Nine Inch Nails, Noisia, Garbage, Ko?n, Sigur Rós, and anyone looking to add dirt, grime, and character to their tracks. Fully overhauled from Trash 1, Trash 2 adds a wealth of new features including twenty new distortion algorithms, fresh filter modules, fifty new impulse responses, multiband waveshaping, 64-bit and AAX support and much more.

"For Trash 2, we wanted to increase the level of freedom in the features that Trash 1 users loved best."explains Jack Cote, Product Manager. "Now you can have even more influence over your sound, whether you're loading your own impulse responses, creating new filter combinations, or designing and editing your own multiband waveshapes. With Trash 2, it's a new era of personalized distortion."

Key Features
Distort in ways you never dreamed with the Trash module's 60+ distortion algorithms, perfect for transforming your sound into something never before heard.
Design your own unique distortions, from massive to mild and everything in between, with a new, customizable, multiband Waveshaper.
Let your tracks inhabit any space or object with the new Convolve module. Choose from over 100 impulse responses, or load your own to put your bass in a washing machine or your keys in a cave.
Find a new voice: make your audio speak and growl with two redesigned Filters, each one featuring new vowel formant filters, screaming peaks, node modulations, and more.
Start trashing your audio immediately with an extensive new preset library and an ear-friendly Limiter that ensures you can play without fear.
For even more sonic mayhem, add the Edge Expansion Pack to Trash 2. Full of extra-exotic and extra-gritty presets for a broad range of sonic treatments, the Edge Expansion Pack is perfect for unconventional guitars, synth basses, synth pads, drum mangling, and more. With 30 new impulse responses for further tone coloring and 70 new presets built directly for these impulses, the Edge Expansion content was born to bring out the best of Trash 2's classic out-there sound.

Pricing and Availability:
Trash 2 is available for $149 (regularly $249 MSRP, €195 EUR) through December 6, 2012. Trash 2 Edge Expansion Pack is available for an additional $29 USD (€25 EUR).
For a limited time, Trash 2 will be available as part of iZotope's new Creative Bundle which includes Trash 2, the Trash 2 Edge Expansion, Iris+5, and Stutter Edit. This collection of must-have production tools is available for just $499 USD (€399 EUR) and available until December 31, 2012.
Upgrade Information: Trash 1 customers who purchased on or after October 1, 2012 will receive upgrades to Trash 2 for free.
For Trash 1 owners who purchased prior to October 1, 2012, special upgrade pricing of $99 will be available.

More information:
www.izotope.com/trash

Maschine Gets A Classy Metal Stand

Desktop or drum mounting

I know its just a piece of aluminium, but its black, anodised and has a place for your Native Instruments Maschine (MK1 and MK2 models) to sit on. Not gonna work with the Maschine Mikro though - sorry.

This latest accessory lets you sit your Maschine at a jaunty angle on your desk, grasping it firmly, or, you can mount it on a drum stand - drum spigot mounting adapter is included YES!

So you can rock it on stage and angle it where everyone can see you are not checking your email.

Priced at €69, its metal, it has a cool logo on it and its for Maschine - and just in time for Christmas.

Genius.

More Information
Native Instruments

Soundiron Thanksgiving Sale

30% off nearly everything in the store

Soundiron has been in touch to remind us that tt's Thanksgiving again and time to pig out and carve 30% Off on nearly everything in their store, including all of their already-discounted bundles.* They say that from now through Tuesday, November 27th, you just purchase any two or more items and simply check out. No codes, no hassle. It's as easy as that.

A spokesperson told Sonic State, "You can grab Requiem Light for only $269 or our massive Olympus Symphonic Choral Collection for only $385! Check out our famous Emotional Piano for only $98 or the entire Piano & Keys Collection for only $245. And check out our brand new line of super-affordable bundles, including Metal, Bamboo, Stringed, Tuned Percussion, Micropaks Collection and many more at rock bottom once-in-a-year holiday pricing."

* Please note: Sorry, the 30%-off Thanksgiving sale can't be combined with any other educational or store discounts codes. This sale ends at 11:59 PM US Pacific Time on Tuesday night, November 27th, 2012.

Pricing and Availability:
See website

More information:
Soundiron

Remix With TRAKTOR

Native Instruments introduces new generation of artist-based TRAKTOR Remix Sets

Native Instruments has introduced a new generation of TRAKTOR Remix Sets set up for immediate use with the latest TRAKTOR software with Remix Deck™ technology. They tell us that these exclusive premium-grade loops and one-shot sample packs provide DJs of different musical genres with complete tracks by renowned artists for enhancing sets, jamming and live remixing. Released in cooperation with leading online music retailers, the series kicks off in style with M.A.N.D.Y., who are celebrating 10 years of Get Physical with their track 'Twisted Sister', out now exclusively on Beatport. M.A.N.D.Y discusses the details in the video and here's more in NI's own words...

Programmed for ease-of-use and flexibility, the 'Twisted Sister' Remix Set™ provides DJs with 64 loops and one-shot-samples that are divided into different sections, identified by groups, pages and colors. All pages contain the original track split into four easy to use groups for drums (red), bass (pink), synthesizer lead (green) and sound effects/vocals (blue). While pages 1 and 2 contain the key elements of a track, pages 3 and 4 are the performance pages providing performable synths and additional vocal shots. With this new generation of TRAKTOR Remix Sets, DJs now have the ability to truly perform live.

TRAKTOR's Remix Decks were introduced with the new version of NI's flagship DJ software TRAKTOR PRO 2.5, which came as a free update for all existing users of TRAKTOR PRO 2. Remix Decks allow DJs to creatively remix and rearrange tracks before and during their actual performance. With the all-new generation of TRAKTOR Remix Sets, DJs of any genre get inspiring fuel to perform live edits, layer individual parts, or work individual song elements by different artists coherently into their own DJ sets with total freedom, creating their own trademark sound.

Each regular track deck within TRAKTOR PRO 2 and TRAKTOR SCRATCH PRO 2 can be switched to a Remix Deck, thus offering dedicated transport, sync and tempo master controls. With its 16 stylish, multi-colored pads to fire loops and one-shot samples, the TRAKTOR KONTROL F1 was designed specifically to control the TRAKTOR Remix Decks and provides full and tactile control - DJs can combine this with Native Scratch timecode control via vinyl or CDs, or use the jog wheels of the KONTROL S4 and KONTROL S2 hardware.

Pricing and Availability:
All TRAKTOR Remix Sets are available exclusively through major
download shops for less than $4.99.

More information:
TRAKTOR Remix Sets

Advanced Production System Launched

Yamaha and Steinberg join forces to create Nuage

Yamaha and Steinberg have joined forces to create an advanced production system, Nuage, that they say empowers professionals in the television, advertising, film, and media industries with unprecedented capabilities and efficiency. They tell us that Yamaha hardware integrates seamlessly with Steinberg software in a cohesive platform that ushers in a new era of post-production productivity.

Kazunori Kobayashi, general manager of the Yamaha Corporation Pro Audio Division, told Sonic State, "Nuage is a professional production system that incorporates the most advanced technology and interface design know-how from Yamaha and Steinberg. Yamaha has been manufacturing digital mixers for 25 years, and it is 12 years since Steinberg introduced the first version of the Nuendo DAW. It is a great pleasure to be able to announce such a groundbreaking collaboration at this time, and we are confident that current Nuendo users as well as users who will experience a Nuendo based system for the first time will be more than satisfied with the extraordinary performance and efficiency that Nuage offers."

Andreas Stelling, Steinberg's managing director, added, "Combining Yamaha's long-term experience in creating audio hardware with Steinberg's expertise in software development leads to a system that sets new milestones in terms of operational speed, integration, configurability and design. The Nuage system solution is the quintessence of merging dedicated post-production software and hardware seamlessly together to one complete studio environment. With the Nuage console and Nuendo 6 representing the most sophisticated platform for audio post-production available today, we are delighted to offer existing and new customers a unique approach to achieving higher levels of productivity and quality."

Here's more details from Yamaha and Steinberg:

The numerous hardware and software components that make up a practical post-production system must function as a well-integrated whole in order to achieve professional workflow efficiency and output quality. The Nuage integrated audio production system offers top-class hardware and software working in perfect harmony, for unprecedented mixing, editing, or dialog replacement efficiency in audio post production applications. Yamaha control and interface hardware seamlessly integrates with Steinberg Nuendo DAW software in a purpose-built system that offers all-new productivity and flexibility as well as premium audio quality. For maximum system versatility the dedicated Yamaha control surface and audio interface hardware is modular, and all units communicate with each other and the central computer via a reliable Dante network, so it's easy to create custom configurations to match any application. Nuendo 6, the latest and most powerful iteration of Steinberg's acclaimed digital audio workstation software, is at the core of the system with unbeatable DAW features and performance.

Hardware components available for Nuage systems include the Nuage Fader channel-strip control surface that works with standard LCD monitors to provide smooth visual continuity right into the Nuendo mixing window, the Nuage Master controller unit with everything needed for Nuendo editing in a remarkably efficient arrangement, Nuage Workspace units that aid in creating a unified system layout, three Nuage I/O units that deliver exceptional sonic quality in up to 128 simultaneous channels, and a Dante Accelerator card that gives the computer running the Nuendo DAW extra low latency multi-channel audio data transfer capability. The Nuendo 6 DAW software at the heart of the system is a milestone release that comes with an enviable selection of features not found in any other post-production software.

Pricing and Availability:
See website

More information:
www.yamahaproaudio.com