Όλα τα τελευταία νέα για τη Μουσική Τεχνολογία και την Ακουστική, κατευθείαν από τις επίσημες ιστοσελίδες των εταιρειών, συγκεντρωμένα σε ένα blog!

Podcast: SONIC TALK 293 - My Golden Spanner

24 carat Moog, Korg Polysix App, Imogen's gloves, Chromebooks and Donald Fagen

Guests:
Gaz Williams - Songsurgeon.co.uk
Mark Tinley - likebeing.com
Dave Spiers - GForce Software
Rich Hilton - Nile Rodger's studio guy and member of Chic


The panel assembles to discuss - that golden Moog, the Korg Polysix iOS app, Imogen Heap and her gloves, the new Google Chromebooks and Donald Fagen new release Sunken Condos.

Free '80s Synth Sounds For JUPITER

Roland announces JUPITER Synth Legends Volume 1


Roland has announced JUPITER Synth Legends Volume 1, the first in a series of free sound libraries for the JUPITER-80 and JUPITER-50 synthesizers featuring a wealth of authentic vintage sounds from some of the most legendary and iconic instruments in Roland's history.

The collection uses Roland's SuperNATURAL synthesizer sound engine to capture the essence of historical Roland synths and showcases all-new Tones, Live Sets, Registrations, and arpeggio patterns. Roland says that the Live Set architecture and multi-effects of the JUPITERs are fully maximized, giving players a huge selection of "dream" synth combinations comprised of the most legendary synths ever created.

  • JUPITER Synth Legends Volume 1, the initial release in the series, honors these seven legendary Roland instruments from the 1980s:
  • JUPITER-8 (1981)
  • JUNO-60 (1982)
  • TB-303 (1982)
  • SH-101 (1982)
  • JUPITER-6 (1983)
  • JUNO-106 (1984)
  • D-50 (1987)

Here's more details directly from Roland:

These classic synths each have between 10 and 20 iconic factory preset sounds that distinguish their character, and they're all represented among 123 newly created single Tones for the JUPITER-80/-50. There are 512 new Live Sets also included that combine the historic synths together using layers and multi-effects processing. Many Live Sets feature single legacy Tones, enhanced with effects unavailable in the original instruments, and nearly 300 new arpeggio patterns are included that are perfect for a wide range of contemporary electronic music genres.

The inspiring sounds made by these classic instruments have helped shape modern music, and now players can access them all inside the JUPITER-80/-50. Future JUPITER Synth Legends volumes will feature the sounds from other sought-after analog classics and spotlight the three vintage LPF types available in the JUPITER-80/-50.

In honor of the release, Roland is hosting the Roland JUPITER #SynthLegends Giveaway. Synth fans in the U.S. can enter the contest for a chance to win a JUPITER-50 fully pre-loaded with all the sounds from the JUPITER Synth Legends Volume 1 sound collection. Synth fans are also being encouraged to join the conversation with @Roland_US on Twitter using the hashtag #synthlegends to share all-time favorite synthesizers and synth sounds.

Pricing and Availability:
Free download

More information:
www.rolandus.com/go/jupiter-80/

Soundiron Releases Reason ReFills

Old Busted Granny Piano and Tuned Micro now available for Reason 6


Soundiron has announced the arrival of their first two ReFill Packs for Reason. They tell us that they've worked with Propellerhead to carefully optimize and redesign their Old Busted Granny Piano and Tuned Micro libraries specifically for the Reason 6 platform, with Combinator and NN-XT presets that truly capture the playability and advanced control functionality that people have come to love with these popular instruments.

A spokesperson told Sonic State, "While ReFills and Kontakt presets have very different capabilities and strengths overall, you'll find many of the same familiar UI features, a variety of matching presets, stylized artwork and the same great sound. And don't worry, we'll be adding new offerings to our Reason catalog as time goes on to expand the selection for our Reason users. And existing customers of the Kontakt versions of these libraries are eligible to receive low cost cross-grades to the Reason version."

Here's Soundiron's description of the new ReFill packs...

Tuned Micro Reason ReFill Edition

Tuned Micro is a compact yet powerful multi-instrument collection focuses on a variety of our unique stringed and tuned percussion instruments. We took a dozen of the popular instruments found in our Stringed and Tuned Percussion Bundles for Kontakt and selected a core set of samples from each that offer a good introduction to the signature style, flavor, tone and quality you can expect from our full libraries. You'll find a useful variety of bamboo log drums, wooden box drums, plucked zithers, prepared piano, steel bells, music box, PVC tube drums, wine glasses, kalimba/mbira, toy glockenspiel, waterharp and a modified twine-strung cello.

We've designed a dual-layer mix control for each instrument category preset that allows you to create custom blends with selected layered pairs from the 20 different articulations. Each preset comes with dual layer volumes, attack, release gating, filter, Echo, Reverb and other shaping and special FX parameter controls that can be automated and changed in real-time, allowing truly unique sonic possibilities.

Granny Piano Reason ReFill Edition

The Old Busted Granny Piano is a unique instrument that goes way back with us. This classic beat-up, worn-down, rickety upright piano is just the kind of faded old beauty that your grandmother had collecting dust and creepy porcelain dolls in her living room when you were a kid. With a watery and faded tone, wobbly hammers and a few broken strings, you'll hear and feel every creak and groan as it plays. Clearly, the years have not been kind to her looks or her voice, but her soul truly has aged like a fine wine. This old girl has heart, so give her a whirl.

We've included plenty of Combinator patches that feature front panel controls to easily reshape the action and tone right at your fingertips, with note attack to simulate pad-like sounds, note release, release sample volume and the volume of the pedal sound effect that plays when you use the sustain pedal. We also included a couple of nifty reverb effects and an awesome "Grahammy" mode which makes Granny sound like she's coming out of an old phonograph, complete with vinyl record pops. We also included a selection of ambiences we call Geriatrocities – various sustaining pads and evolving drones derived from the source.

Pricing and Availability:
You can download each for $29. Existing owners of the Kontakt version of each library can order the Reason ReFill Edition as an add-on for only $9. All ReFill Editions require Reason version 6.0.2 or later.

More information:
Soundiron

Best Service Updates Engine

Engine 2.1 gets full 64-bit cross-platform support


Best Service has announced the immediate release of Engine 2.1.0.186. They tell us that this new version brings a couple of really great new features and a lot of minor bug fixes. One of the new exciting features being the AU and VST 64-bit OS X support. From now Engines memory access is not limited any more to 4GB. The company says that tou can use a 64-bit sequencer to take full advantage of your computers RAM and load as many Best Service Engine instruments as you like (and your computer can handle).

New features:
- Added 64 Bit Support for OS X 10.6, 10.7, 10.8
- Improved Memory Management
- VST Gui updated to 3.6 for better mouse handling [Mac 64bit only]
- Enhanced/Improved legato
- Enhanced directory/file structure management. It´s now possible to use UNC Path and special characters  [PC]
- Enhanced/Improved Convolution Reverb
- Enhanced/Improved Midi processing
- Fixed some bugs in the E-License Manager [Mac]
- Fixed some minor bugs
- Fixed split keyboard function
- Fixed some bugs in the midi learn function
- Fixed virtual keyboard

Pricing and Availability:
Engine 2.1 may be downloaded for free at Best Service website

More information:
Best Service

Beyond Tech House

Ueberschall announces the availability of a new sample collection


Ueberschall has announced the availability of a new sample collection, Beyond Tech House, with which they say Berlin based producer and DJ Asem Shama captures the vibe of today's club sound on the edge of Tech-House and Techno. They tell us that this library delivers sophisticated grooves, elaborate hooks and ground shaking basslines ready to be recombined and shaped to fit your production needs. Here's the details in Ueberschall's own words:

Harder than House, groovier than Techno. Tech House melts the best elements of two styles. This library is an explosive laboratory for your latest grooves.
Asem Shama has already galvanized successful Ueberschall libraries such as Sounds of Berlin and Electro ID.

Beyond Tech House focuses on quality not quantity. Each single loop has been perfectly constructed and balanced. Guaranteed and approved for club-use! Be aware: We cannot exclude the risk of a restless dance-leg-syndrome!
This library's sound convinces by its extreme compactness, punchy and deep basses and powerful drums - really PHAT! In addition, the right mixture of minimal chords, wicked percussions, larger-than-life pads and experimental FX-sounds guarantees a cool atmosphere for your tunes.

Each of the ten construction kits consists of an 8-bar main-part and a 16-bar break, allowing to create transitions and suspense arcs easily. Beyond Tech House enables bedroom producers to design perfect club tunes using their sequencers. All loops have been prepared to be freely combined and mixed in Ueberschall's Elastik player - the next groove is always just a few clicks away.

The construction kits offer: mix-part, backing-part, drum-mix, bass-drum-loop, snare/clap-loop, hi-hat-loop, percussion-loop, bass-loop, synth-loops, FX-loops as well as single sounds for drums and percussions.
This makes Beyond Tech House the ideal source of inspiration for ambitioned dance-producers, PDJs and club-cracks, but as well a best match for game-productions, dubbing and jingles. Go Beyond!

Elastik-Feature
Ueberschall's loop-based Elastik player is the ideal plug-in for libraries such as Beyond Tech House. Its elaborate time-stretch- and pitch-change-algorithms allow matching of loops to any song within seconds. Using Elastik player's attribute-based browser, all libraries can easily be searched for beats, basslines, synth-loops and sorted in categories, by base pitch and original tempo. Hence, all instrument-phrases and drum-loops of a construction kit can be transposed, tempo matched and adapted to another kit effortlessly.
Drastic sound manipulations are possible by Elastik player's sequencer-controlled functions such as formant, resample, reverse and a multimode-filter with a grip comparable to a DJ's kill-eq. Indispensable for modern club tunes!

  • 1.2 GB, 10 construction kits, 299 extended loops and single sounds
  • Genre: Tech House
  • Elastik soundbank for Mac/PC/AU/VST/RTAS/standalone
  • Elastik player included - no sampler required

Pricing and Availability:
49 Euro

More information:
Beyond Tech House

8 Construction Kits For Club Music

Equinox Sounds releases Clubby Kits sample pack


Equinox Sounds has released Clubby Kits, a downloadable sample pack that they tell us features features 8 Construction Kits for producing outstanding club music such as Electro, Electro House, House, Commercial and Progressive inspired by the latest chart-topping club hits. All the MIDI parts of these Kits are also supplied.Here's the details in Equinox Sounds' own words:

Clubby Kits includes 8 Construction Kits made for producers who want to make Electro, Electro House, House, Commercial and Progressive radio and club bombs. Each Kit is provided with the BPM and presented with a full mix and its component parts.

The collection also includes the MIDI parts of these Construction Kits.

Each of these Kits is given its own unique treatment, to create a pack which has all of the unmistakable hallmarks of the genre but with a sound all of its own and available in WAV and MIDI formats.

Features:

• 8 Construction Kits
• MIDI parts of the Construction Kits included

Specifications:

• BPM Range: 128-132 BPM
• 161 MB Uncompressed
• 100% Royalty-Free

Formats:

• WAV
• MIDI

Pricing and Availability:
Clubby Kits is currently available for $19.95 as a download.

More information:
Equinox Sounds

Steinberg Releases Virtual Electric Piano

Neo Soul Keys VSTi combines sampling with HALion technology


Steinberg has released Neo Soul Keys, the latest addition to their range of Virtual Studio Technology (VST) instruments. They tell us that, recreating the sound of one of the most popular electric pianos of the past, Neo Soul Keys brings the vintage keyboard sound to the musician's fingertips.

Matthias Quellmann, product marketing manager at Steinberg, told Sonic State, "Neo Soul Keys takes virtual e-pianos to a new level! It's amazing just how authentic and vivid the play and feel of this instrument has become."

Here's more details in Steinberg's own words...

In collaboration with Gospel Musicians, Neo Soul Keys offers users a unique and authentic-sounding e-piano experience. Based on the powerful HALion engine and sampled with 12 velocity layers for sustain, release and staccato notes, the Neo Soul Keys virtual electric piano features sound quality and playability on par with the real world.

Employing the acclaimed VST Amp Rack technology first introduced to Steinberg's Cubase 6 production software, Neo Soul Keys features six different amp types and a comprehensive set of high-class studio effects, such as vibrato, tube distortion, flanger, phaser, chorus, delay, reverb and wah. Also included are bell, pedal and key noises to reproduce all aspects of piano sound plus more than 40 presets that allow users instantly to hone in on various timbres.

Neo Soul Keys can be used as a plug-in in every VST 3, VST 2 and AU compatible host as well as library expansion in HALion Sonic, HALion Sonic SE and HALion 4.


Features at a glance

• Faithful sampling of original Mark I suitcase piano with multiple velocity layers of sustain, release and staccato notes

• Elaborate interface for direct access and intuitive workflows

• VST Amp simulation with 6 different classic amp types

• Premium effect section including tube distortion, chorus, flanger, phaser, delay, reverb and virtual wah pedal

• Vintage modeled vibrato with intensity and speed control

• Realistic sounds with level controls for bell, pedal and key noises

• Authentic bass, mid and treble boost to recreate the original sound

• Adjustable velocity curves for individual playing behavior

• Dedicated "bark" samples for classic grit sounds for authentic vintage sounds

• Virtual microphone simulation with axis and off-axis positioning, and condensed and tube microphone types

• MIDI Learn and automation functions for all parameters

• VST 3, VST 2 and AU host compatibility as standalone plug-in

• Full accessibility in HALion Sonic (1.6.2 or higher), HALion Sonic SE and HALion (4.5.3 or higher)

• Cross-platform 32/64-bit for Windows and Mac OS X

Pricing and Availability:
Neo Soul Keys is available as download through the Steinberg Online Shop. The retail price is 79.99 euros including German VAT.

More information:
Steinberg