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

1930s Hammond Organ Sampled

Precisionsound releases Gospel Drawbars


Precision Sound tells us that their goal with Gospel Drawbars has not been to make a generic virtual recreation of an organ but to capture the character of a unique instrument, in this case one of the first ever Hammond organ models made, a Hammond AB from the late 1930s.

A spokesperson told us, "We have created a user-friendly control panel for blending a number of pre-made settings. The drawbar settings have been carefully chosen to include both mellow standards and trebles with attitude. We recorded all the settings through the organ's own Leslie speaker, in stereo, which gives a warm and pleasing colour to the sound. Gospel Drawbars has 22 recorded settings and 955 stereo wav samples in total, recorded at 24bits and 44.1 Sample rate."

You get 22 programs for NI Kontakt 2 and Logic EXS24. The NI Kontakt 3-5 scripted version has 22 bonus presets to start with for your own tweakings.

The total size of the library uncompressed is 1.10 GB.

All formats are included when you buy Gospel Drawbars.

Full version of Kontakt is required, this library does NOT work with the free Kontakt Player!

Pricing and Availability:
Gospel Drawbars costs $69 +$11 if you want it on DVD.

More information:
www.precisionsound.net

Buy One Sound Library, Get One Free

Camel Audio announces Alchemy offer during March


Camel Audio tells us that, for the next three weeks, you can choose any two libraries and you'll get the equal or lower value one free.

A spokesperson told us, "Are we sound of mind, or as mad as March Hares? Buy any Alchemy Sound Library and get another absolutely free till March 31! What's more, Taste of Camel is included with all new orders. Simply add two or more libraries to your cart and the discount will automatically be applied. Now is the perfect opportunity to fill the gaps in your collection and
make a sound investment for the future!"

Pricing and Availability:
See website

More information:
www.camelaudio.com/Sound-Sample-Libraries.php

Kompletely Updated

Native Instruments announces KOMPLETE 9 and KOMPLETE 9 ULTIMATE


Native Instruments has announced the latest generation of its two KOMPLETE software bundles.KOMPLETE 9 includes 33 instruments and effects with six new additions, including the brand-new MONARKmonosynth, plus the completely redesigned BATTERY 4 drum sampler. KOMPLETE 9 ULTIMATE includes all 65 current KOMPLETE Instruments and Effects at the time of release and over 370 GB of content. NI tells us that each bundle now also features essential studio effects, delivering complete production solutions from initial idea to finished composition. Notably, KOMPLETE 9 and KOMPLETE 9 ULTIMATE are available for the same prices as their predecessors. Here's all the details in NI's own words...

The brand-new MONARK delivers the warm, organic sound of a classic analog monophonic synthesizer that has shaped four decades of popular music. Its smooth and natural sound is complimented by an intuitive, streamlined control panel that allows users to quickly dial in sounds and start creating music. Based on years of research, MONARK uses REAKTOR's powerful modular DSP framework to faithfully recreate the interaction of complex analog circuits, including the behavior of the filter when overloaded, filter and oscillator drift, and snappy envelopes that make stabbing melodic lines and even punchy electronic drum sounds easy to create. The sound has been fine-tuned by ear by MONARK's engineers to create a powerful mono synth with a level of richness and depth not previously found in software.

BATTERY 4 is a completely re-designed drum sampler delivering powerful contemporary drum programming options in a sleek, easy-to-use interface. It provides over 70 new and exclusive contemporary kits tailored to electronic and urban styles. All kits load with an adaptable color-coding system, providing instant visual recognition of their layout. Custom kits are quickly created with intuitive drag-and-drop actions. BATTERY 4 also features a number of new effects and effect enhancements: SOLID G EQ and SOLID BUS COMP from the SOLID MIX SERIES, TRANSIENT MASTER, plus tape saturation, LoFi, and a powerful convolution reverb. Users can create chains, re-order effects, and set up sidechaining with simple drag-and-drop actions. These features combine to deliver an advanced drum sampler with an instinctive workflow that aims to accelerate the creative process.

Along with MONARK and BATTERY 4, KOMPLETE 9 adds a set of essential instruments and effects for the first time. Like all NI studio effects, the updated SOLID MIX SERIES now operates as stand-alone plug-ins in any DAW, giving users a complete studio effects suite for creating polished, release-ready productions. SESSION STRINGS is an easy-to-use contemporary string ensemble for quickly adding modern arrangements to all styles of music. THE GIANT delivers the immense sound of the world's biggest upright piano, plus an additional cinematic mode perfect for atmospheric textures and soundscapes. The comprehensive bundle also features best-selling KOMPLETE Instruments and Effects such as the awardwinning KONTAKT 5, GUITAR RIG 5 PRO, and NI's flagship modular synthesizer REAKTOR 5, powering the dynamic PRISM and SPARK. MASSIVE, FM8, and ABSYNTH 5 cover the complete spectrum of synthesis for any production task. KOMPLETE 9 also includes TRANSIENT MASTER, REFLEKTOR, THE FINGER, and TRAKTOR'S 12 for a complete production suite with powerful options for both studio and stage.

KOMPLETE 9 ULTIMATE is NI's all-inclusive production package with all 65 current KOMPLETE Instruments and Effects at the time of release, over 16,000 sounds, and 370 GB of content on a single USB hard drive for easy installation. This one-stop production suite features all products included in KOMPLETE 9, plus the REVERB CLASSICS and PREMIUM TUBE SERIES studio effects, the essential cinematic strings collection ACTION STRINGS, the playable horn section SESSION HORNS, and the Rickenbacker®-approved SCARBEE RICKENBACKER BASS. Also included are the epic DAMAGE industrial percussion instrument, the 11-piece SESSION STRINGS PRO ensemble, the futuristic RAZOR and SKANNER XT synthesizers, and many more. Providing world-class sound and ease of use for all producers, composers, musicians, and sound designers, KOMPLETE 9 ULTIMATE's collection of premium instruments and effects redefines value in a bundle of this size.

KOMPLETE 9 and KOMPLETE 9 ULTIMATE also include an e-voucher worth $ 25 / 25 EUR, valid towards any KOMPLETE instrument or effect or MASCHINE Expansion at the NI Online Shop.

Native Instruments is offering nine lucky winners to win the new KOMPLETE 9 ULTIMATE bundle before its release. The competition takes place on the newly launched KOMPLETE Twitter Channel.

Pricing and Availability:
KOMPLETE 9 is available for pre-order at a suggested retail price of $559 / 499 EUR. KOMPLETE 9 ULTIMATE is available for a suggested retail price of $1099 / 999 EUR.
Updates for owners of KOMPLETE 2 through 8 are available from $149 / 149 EUR.
Expected in-store date is March 27, 2013.

More information:
www.native-instruments.com/komplete

MIDI Construction Kits For Chillout And Lounge

Equinox Sounds releases Chilled Jazz MIDI Kits


Equinox Sounds tells us that Chilled Jazz MIDI Kits features five Construction Kits in MIDI format for creating smooth relaxing Chillout Jazz and Lounge music. Each Kit is provided with it's component parts and comes labelled with the original tempo when recorded. You'll get MIDI loops and phrases containing drum loops, basslines, piano loops, saxophone, trombone and trumpet loops, keyboard loops, string lines, flute loops and more.

A spokesperson told us, "As these Construction Kits 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!"

Product Features:

  • 5 MIDI Construction Kits
  • 90 BPM
  • 100% Royalty-Free

Pricing and Availability:
Chilled Jazz MIDI Kits is currently available for $19.95 as a download

More information:
www.equinoxsounds.com

Reason 7 Is Here - New Features - Video

Audio slicing, new mixer, easy parallel channels


Propellerheads have just announced Reason 7 -with a host of new features and an enhanced Factory Sound Pack with more loops and sounds to get you started, Reason Essentials 2 has also been announced giving an entry level way in. With over 90 Rack Extensions already available, the Propellerheads boffins have focussed on "new creative and inspirational improvements for the mixer, the rack and the sequencer".

Anyone purchasing a qualifying product after March 1, 2013, will be entitled to an upgrade license and software download to be made available to you on the Reason 7 release day which we understand is Q2 - so April maybe?

The main new features in Reason 7 are:

  • New External MIDI Instrument Device
  • Automatic audio slicing and quantizing
  • New Mixer Bus Channels - parallel channel creation or quick track grouping
  • Spectrum EQ and Analyzer
  • Expanded Factory Sound Bank - with a selection of "powerful hard -hitting drum loops"
  • More audio import options and formats
  • Theres also mention of something called the Audiomatic Retro Transformer effect unit which apparently adds a "futuristic-vintage sound to any tracks". This is not quite ready yet though so we'll have to wait and see what it actually does.

Pricing & availability
Reason 7 and Reason Essentials 2 begin limited public beta testing today and will be available for purchase worldwide in Q2 of 2013 at the following suggested retail pricing:
Reason 7 EUR €405 / USD $449
Reason Essentials 2 EUR €120 / USD $129
Reason 7 Upgrade (from any previous Reason version) EUR €129 / USD $129
Reason Essentials 2 upgrade from previous versions FREE
Balance (includes upgrade to Reason 7 for owners of previous versions of Reason) EUR €429 / USD $449

More Information
Propellerheads.se

Korg Interview With MS20 Designers

35 years between versions


As we wait patiently for the MS20 Mini to arrive for review, they are still as rare as a rare thing - at least around these parts, Korg continue to tease us with snippets of information on the new incarnation of the 35 year old synth.

In this interview posted on the official Korg Japan website with the original designers (Mr. Fumio Mieda - left and Mr. Hiroaki Nishijima - right) we get some more snippets of information.



Is there a point at which MS-20 mini is better than the original MS-20?

We've added MIDI input and a USB port that were not available on the original MS-20, allowing the new model to be smoothly integrated into modern music production environments. Another advantage is that that it's slightly smaller than the original MS-20, saving space. In particular, the newly compact body is something you'll appreciate once you've used it.

Why Did you Choose to make it smaller?

We have great respect for the original MS-20, so we felt that it would be devaluing to make the new model exactly the same size as the original. That's why the size is different than the original. We also felt that it looked good in a slightly smaller size.

What gave you the most difficulty in recreating the design?

As with the original MS-20, there was much deliberation in deciding on the transistors. That's because the performance of an analog

synthesizer is greatly affected by things that don't appear on the spec sheet, such as the pairing characteristics of the transistors, and their response and consistency in the micro-current domain.

There were different filters in earlier and later versions of the MS20 - which did you use?

The MS-20 uses the KORG35 circuit that was on the earlier version of MS-20. Preferences vary between users, but we felt that the earlier version of the filter created a sound that had a more distinctive presence, and thus it was the appropriate choice for this reincarnation.

Do you have plans to release the circuit diagrams as with the Monotrons and Monotribe?

As we did for the monotron and monotribe circuit diagrams, we will consider this if there is user demand. However, the MS-20 mini is more complex than the monotron and monotribe, so it will be more difficult to modify.

Do you plan to revive the other models in the MS series - the SQ-10 perhaps?

We want to give people who have never actually touched an analog synthesizer the chance of experiencing how much fun it can be. Just how necessary such a device would be in the present day is something that we'll decide after seeing the response from MS-20 mini users.

The MS-20 Mini will be available soon - honest! At around £500/$600

More Information
Korg.co.uk

Yamaha New HiFi Amp Teaser

Just nice


We mostly know Yamaha for their keyboards, workstations and synthesizers- well perhaps motorcycles too. But they have a long history of making amplifiers for both sound reinforcement and hi-fi purposes.

I spotted this one, and it caught my eye -just because its one of my favourite pieces of piano music "Claire De Lune" by Debussy and its a sexy gear video.

It appears that Yamaha are releasing a new hi-fi amplifier in the AS range - remember those? It's easy to forget that before iPod docks, earbuds and bluetooth speakers, we used to listen to music on hi-fi systems, some integrated and some as separates (no, really!) - amplifiers that actually power passive loudspeakers - it seems like such a long time ago that I sold my last pair of passive speakers - Tannoy Super Golds, to an enthusiastic hi-fi buff.

More Information
Yamaha Separates