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

Tutorial Book For The Akai MPC

MPC-Samples.com releases The JJOSXL Chopping Bible


MPC-Samples.com has announced the release of the JJOSXL: Chopping Bible by MPC-Tutor, the first and only dedicated tutorial book for JJOSXL, the advanced third party operating system for the MPC1000/2500.

They tell us that, with 125 pages of step-by-step tutorials and practical projects for you to recreate in your MPC, this book comprehensively teaches you everything about the art of chopping in JJOSXL:

  • Fully understand the destructive and non-destructive chopping processes
  • Develop optimal workflows & techniques for chopping drum breaks and entire songs
  • Learn accurate & fast chopping methods along with advanced pad previewing options
  • Build velocity sensitive finger drumming kits from chopped breaks
  • Master the more advanced uses of the patched phrase feature
  • Use sustain looping on instrument chops to create multisampled notes and programs
  • Utilise filters, tuning, effects, ADSR and other program parameters to customize your chopped programs
  • Discover the different methods for implementing polyphonic and monophonic programs
  • Loop individual drum chops for unique percussive effects
  • Create your own songs and beats using nothing but non-destructive chops

MPC-Samples.com says that each chapter is broken down into a number of beat making projects written in a no-nonsense, step-by-step style, with clear MPC screen shots and all the files you need to recreate each project in your MPC - giving you a fun, hands-on learning experience to quickly master the complexities of JJOSXL.

Author Andy Avgousti, told Sonic State, "JJOSXL completely transforms the MPC1000 and MPC2500 into an incredibly powerful sample chopping powerhouse, but getting to grips with this additional complexity involves a very steep learning curve. When writing the book I wanted to ensure that I not only clearly explained the 'technical' aspects of all the advanced chopping features, I also wanted to show people how to easily apply this newfound knowledge to their day-to-day beat making workflow. It's all about taking full advantage of JJOSXL to get even more creative with your MPC."

MPC-Samples.com believes that, from learning the basics of chopping, to developing workflows that suit your own unique style, right through to building your own songs and beats using chops of vintage blues recordings and even entire classical music pieces, JJOSXL: The Chopping Bible is the easiest way to quickly become a JJOSXL chopping master!

Technical Specifications

  • Contents: 125 page PDF ebook, plus over 200 example tutorial files
  • Format: PDF, JJOSXL project files & WAV files
  • Compatibility: MPC1000 running JJOS2XL 3.2x, or MPC2500 running JJOS-XL 3.2x
  • Author: Andy Avgousti (MPC-Tutor)
  • Publisher: MPC-Samples.com
  • Download Size: 69MB
  • Delivery: Download instantly after purchase.

Pricing and Availability:
$19.99 / £11.99
For a limited time, every purchase of the JJOSXL Chopping Bible will include an exclusive JJOSXL discount code, entitling you to a full copy of the JJOSXL operating system for only $110 (a saving of $13), or alternatively an upgrade from JJOS1 to JJOSXL for only $67 (a saving of $7). Terms and conditions apply.

More information:
MPC-Samples.com

An Electric Piano For Your iPad

IK Multimedia releases iLectric Piano


IK Multimedia has announced the release of iLectric Piano, which they describe as a studio-quality electric piano app for iPad, now available on the App Store. They tell us that electric Piano offers over 40 classic electric pianos, electric grands and clavinets, all carefully sampled from the original instruments. Here's more details direct from IK Multimedia:

From clean and icy-cool to sharp and staccato to growling and distorted, iLectric Piano faithfully recreates the gamut of classic electric piano sounds - tones heard on countless hit songs, iconic jazz recordings and classic rock albums. The sonic quality of iLectric Piano rivals that of the best electric piano instruments for Mac/PC.

EP Paradise
iLectric Piano's collection of over 40 sounds includes must-have classics "EP" and "Wurly" (sounds based on Rhodes® and Wurlitzer® instruments, respectively), which emulate two of the most iconic electric piano sounds of all time, and come in both stage and suitcase incarnations, along with other variations.

A number of different "Clavs" are included, plus "Pianet" and "Cembalet" (all three are based on Hohner® instruments). "FM EP" (sound based on the Yamaha® DX-7) is a drop-dead emulation of the hugely popular, bell-like electric piano sound from a groundbreaking FM synth from the early days of MIDI. "E Grand 1" (sound based on Yamaha® CP-70) emulates the full-size electric piano that was housed in a baby grand-style cabinet, and "E Grand 2" is a sound based on the Kawai® version of an electric grand.

Thanks to its ultra-low latency engine and instruments that are multi-sampled at multiple velocities, iLectric Piano provides a realistic playing experience. The app has an on-screen keyboard, which easily slides to change octaves.

iLectric Piano is equipped with a powerful and flexible effects section that provides the tools to customize and creatively alter the piano sounds. Up to four effects can be used simultaneously, including EQ, Reverb, Overdrive, and a choice of five different modulation effects: Chorus, Flanger, Tremolo, Phaser and AutoPan.

Hit Record
The accurate and warm-sounding instruments available in iLectric Piano are sure to spur creative playing and musical ideas, and the app is equipped to capture both with its onboard MIDI recorder. Finished recordings can be exported as WAV or m4a audio files via file sharing, email, and the copy function. For added convenience and control, iLectric Piano's parameters can easily be assigned to be controlled externally via MIDI.

IK Multimedia offers two excellent choices for playing iLectric Piano from an external keyboard: iRig® KEYS, the ultra-portable 3-octave MIDI controller for iOS and Mac/PC, which combines with iLectric Piano to make a high-quality electric piano rig that can be played anywhere; and iRig® MIDI, the Core MIDI interface that allows connection of any MIDI keyboard or controller to an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

Pricing and Availability:
The iLectric Piano App for iPad is available for $19.99/€15.99 from the App Store on iPad or at www.AppStore.com. iLectric Piano comes with 19 high-quality electric piano sounds. More piano sounds can be added with the Electric Piano Expansion Pack, which includes 22 instruments and is available as an In-App Purchase for only $9.99/€8.99.

More information:
www.ilectricpiano.com

Equinox Sounds Releases Trap & Dirty South MIDI Melodies

30 melodies in MIDI and WAV formats


Equinox Sounds tells us that Trap & Dirty South MIDI Melodies features 30 melodies in MIDI and WAV formats inspired by some of the top Dirty South/Trap artists and producers on the scene such as Lex Luger, Mike Will, Yung Chop, Drumma Boi, Lil Wayne, T.I., Gucci Mane, Young Jeezy, and more.

A spokesperson told us, "You will also get these 30 melodies in WAV format and each melody is accompanied by its corresponding drum loop in a separate file so you can mix them if you want. These melodies and drum loops come labelled with the original tempo when recorded.

As these patterns are supplied in MIDI format, they will provide you with as much flexibility as possible. You can edit and transpose them, assign any sound you want and get your own and original melodic lines. The editing possibilities are endless as you can play the performances at any tempo or pitch without artefacts.

You can use these MIDI files as a jumping-off point to start your own track or base your production entirely around them as they are 100% royalty-free."

Features:

  • 30 Trap & Dirty South MIDI Melodies
  • 30 Trap & Dirty South WAV Melodies
  • 30 Drum Loops in WAV Format
  • BPM Information Included
  • 100% Royalty-Free

Pricing and Availability:
Trap & Dirty South MIDI Melodies is currently available for $19.95 as a download.

More information:
www.equinoxsounds.com

Plug-In Enhances Vocals

noveltech VOCAL ENHANCER goes native


Plugin Alliance has announced the availability of noveltech VOCAL ENHANCER, which they describe as an all-new native version of Alliance partner company noveltech Audio's unique vocal processing plug-in, formerly only available for TC's PowerCore.

Plugin Alliance tells us that noveltech VOCAL ENHANCER gives vocal recordings unprecedented clarity and crispness without unwanted side effects, thanks to Finnish high-quality audio technologies developer noveltech Audio's patented IAF (Intelligent Adaptive Filtering) technology that lies at its very core. They say that, unlike conventional enhancers, it dynamically boosts the 'desired' characteristics in audio recordings, rather than statically boosting set frequencies, like an EQ, or artificially adding harmonics. However, since the algorithm involved constantly adapts itself to the source material, the results still sound natural when applying high amounts of processing -- perfect for making vocals and a whole lot more besides simply sound a whole lot better.

Thanks to that innovative IAF technology, says Plugin Alliance, noveltech VOCAL ENHANCER really couldn't be simpler to use, requiring only two user parameters for basic operation (FOCUS FREQUENCY and ENHANCEMENT) with an additional two-band filter section for fine-tuning purposes -- perhaps not quite a make-it-sound-better button, but not far off!

noveltech Audio's Dr Ismo Kauppinen told us, "The IAF technology allows us to take the rocket science out of vocal processing. Even less experienced users will instantly achieve high- end results. And the ability to increase the material's perceived definition is a feature previously unavailable on any sound processing tool!"

A spokesperson for Plugin Alliance had this to say, "Technology in general, of course, stands still for no one, so -- having previously been exclusive to TC Electronic's now-discontinued proprietary PowerCore platform -- now it's possible to implement this tailored technology to run natively on today's powerful PC and Mac computers; and, thanks to Plugin Alliance, the noveltech VOCAL ENHANCER plug-in is available for a whole host of popular professional audio formats, including AU, AAX, RTAS, TDM, VENUE, VST. Ladies and gentlemen, choose your plug-in..."

Pricing and Availability:
Available in 64- and 32-bit versions, noveltech VOCAL ENHANCER can be purchased and downloaded (in all Mac OS X and Windows formats -- AU, AAX, RTAS, TDM, VENUE, VST 2.4, and VST 3) directly from Plugin Alliance for $199.00 USD

(Alternatively, customers can conveniently purchase any Plugin Alliance plug-in when walking into any Waves VSSD system-enabled store.)

More information:
noveltech VOCAL ENHANCER

Less Noise, More Soul

Hal Leonard publishes essays on the search for balance in the art, technology, and commerce of music


Hal Leonard tells us that their new book, Less Noise, More Soul, features the unique perspectives of highly accomplished performers, engineers, and producers on the question how modern technology has influenced and shaped the way we create and consume music today. Here's the full details in Hal Leonard's own words...

The digital revolution has enabled the creation and distribution of music in ways previously unimagined. Paradoxically, it has also made possible better and better recordings of less and less substance. Artists, engineers, and producers have begun to raise questions about the balance between the profoundly human undertaking that is the creation of music and the ever-more-antiseptic means by which it is translated into recordings.

Less Noise, More Soul: The Search for Balance in the Art, Technology, and Commerce of Music brings together original challenging and though-provoking essays by a select group of industry professionals, many of them award winners, who share a wealth of experience, passion, and insight into where popular music has been, where it currently finds itself, and where it's going.

The book is designed to be a portable vehicle for generating discussion: not too long, and replete with the poignant, thought-provoking commentary of many "brand-name" players in the industry. Perfect for the office or the college classroom, Less Noise, More Soul will enhance the understanding of music as a medium and a business for students, artists, producers, and other industry professionals. Contributors include Bob Ludwig, Adam Ayan, Kenny Aronoff, Lydia Hutchinson, and more.

If used in an academic setting, this book will provide relevant content for courses like Sound Recording Theory and Practice, Analysis of Recordings, Writing and Production in the Pop/Rock Idiom, Advanced Production for Writers, Sound Processing Application for Writers, Principles of Production for Musicians, Creative Production Skills, and others.

About the author
David Flitner (Wolfeboro, NH) holds a PhD from Tufts University and has been a consultant to the US Congress. He is the author of two previous books and has written on music and public affairs for numerous publications, from major newspapers to Billboard. He composes and records with the band Thinline.

Pricing and Availability:
$18.99

More information:
www.halleonardbooks.com

Ensoniq SQ80 Sampled

Binary Music releases Crosswave sample library for Kontakt, Ableton Live and EXS24


Binary Music has announced the release of the Crosswave sample library for Native Instruments Kontakt, Ableton Live and Apple EXS24.

The library features the Ensoniq SQ80, which was originally manufactured in 1988 as the successor to the ESQ1. The hardware instrument used three 8-bit wavetable oscillators per voice and digital amplifiers but, crucially, it had Curtis 4 pole 24dB/octave filters, making it a distinctive hybrid instrument.

Binary Music's sampled instrument has an easy-to-use custom interface and contains 133 patches made from 1,642 individual samples recorded at 44.1 kHz, 24 bit resolution.


Pricing and Availability:
Available as an instant download, price: £15.00 (Kontakt) £12 (Live & EXS24) + VAT in E.U.

More information:
Crosswave

Machinedrum Gets His Hands On Ableton Push

Release getting closer - we're getting excited


Artist/DJ Machinedrum has just posted a shot of his setup with Ableton Push running a session together with his laptop and what looks like a good old Korg Nano Kontrol.

Envious comments have been posted on the Instagram image, and by the looks of it, he's impressed so far.

Ableton Push should be appearing sometime soon together with Ableton Live 9 with expectation mounting for something special. Ableton themselves have put a lot behind the new Push hardware, aiming to take Ableton Live to a new new level of performance.

We've seen that Live can do amazing things for the live performer, with on the fly arrangements and tweaking, but with Push, they want to give the same intuitive power to the process of creation.

As we discovered when we had some quality time with product specialist Dennis De Santis, Push really does free up the performer from the laptop and screen and with a little time invested in the interface, allow for new and creative ways to perform music at the point of composition.More Information

Instagram post
MachineDrum.net
Push Demo at NAMM