Category: Synth News

Syntronik J-60

IK Multimedia Announces Syntronik J-60 new bonus content available with 1.2GB of new oscillator samples

Christopher Laird Simmons

SYNTH NEWS: IK Multimedia today announced that registered users of the Syntronik J-60 synth can download a free update from their User Area and enjoy 42 all-new instrument sounds and an additional 1.2GB of new oscillator samples. The J-60 is based on the Roland® Juno-60, one of the most popular polyphonic synths of all time, used by artists like The Cure, Howard Jones, Eurythmics, Billy Idol, INXS, Ultravox and many others.

Patch Base FS1R Editor

Coffeeshopped Adds Yamaha FS1R Editor in Patch Base 2.10 Update

Christopher Laird Simmons

SYNTH NEWS: Chadwick Wood over at iPad software developer Coffeeshopped recently announced that the latest update to the awesome PATCH BASE synth editor, now includes the somewhat rare FM synth, the FS1R from Yamaha. According to Chad, “Patch Base 2.10 adds an editor for the most complex FM synthesizer I’ve ever encountered: the Yamaha FS1R. This thing is a beast. First of all, it has 8 operators for FM synthesis! Imagine the possible chaos.”

Native Instruments Expansions

Native Instruments Expansions offer genre-specific sound packs for MASCHINE, BATTERY and MASSIVE

Christopher Laird Simmons

SYNTH NEWS: Native Instruments today announced release of “Expansions.” Based on the acclaimed MASCHINE Expansions series, these 50+ genre-based sound packs contain everything a musician needs to create a full track in a specific style. From preloaded drum kits to specially-designed synth presets, construction kits, samples, and song patterns, Expansions have been designed to fully integrate with a range of popular NI products.

Output Releases ANALOG BRASS & WINDS

Output Releases ANALOG BRASS & WINDS – Blurs Line from Powerful Orchestral Sounds and Legendary Synths

Christopher Laird Simmons

SYNTH NEWS: Output Inc. has announced ANALOG BRASS & WINDS, “a virtual instrument for those who dare.” The new “Next Level Air” instrument “blurs the line between powerful orchestral sounds and legendary synths.” The company sampled an 18-piece brass section, 18-piece wind section, and hand-selected soloists at the stunning BMC Hall in Budapest. The meticulously sampled recordings range from traditional techniques to wildly unusual ones.

Spectrasonics Updates Virtual Instruments with Standalone Modes

NAMM 2018: Spectrasonics Updates Virtual Instruments with Standalone Modes and Remote Controls

Christopher Laird Simmons

SYNTH NEWS: After many years of user requests (and whole forums filled with workarounds) Spectrasonics has released new Mac and Windows standalone applications of the company’s award-winning Keyscape, Omnisphere 2, Trilian and Stylus RMX virtual instruments. Perfect timing for NAMM 2018. A new smart updater feature makes it far simpler to know if there are version updates/fixes.

UVI SubCulture Falcon expansion

UVI announces SubCulture, new Falcon Synth expansion delivering dark subs, stabs, deep bass

Christopher Laird Simmons

SYNTH NEWS: UVI has announced SubCulture expansion pack for Falcon with 110 dark and hard-hitting patches made for producers of modern bass, post-EDM, DnB, garage and more. The second collaboration from sound designers Richard Gale and Carlo de Gregorio, SubCulture dives into the underground with a shadowy collection of snarling basses, dark ambiances, rhythmic tempo-synced patches, emotive cinematic textures and more.

Spitfire Audio ORCHESTRAL SWARM

Spitfire Audio takes flight with ORCHESTRAL SWARM, a creative collaboration with Bleeding Fingers

Christopher Laird Simmons

SYNTH NEWS: Spitfire Audio has announced their latest orchestral instrument library, ORCHESTRAL SWARM, the direct result of a creative collaboration with Bleeding Fingers, a next-generation composer collective who wanted to create a new Swarm library in pursuit of composing a perfect soundtrack to the oceanic goings-on featured on the groundbreaking BBC “Blue Planet II” natural history television series.

Applied Acoustics Systems PIVOTAL

AAS gets ‘Pivotal’ with sound bank for Ultra Analog VA-2 by sound designer Daniel Stawczyk

Christopher Laird Simmons

SYNTH NEWS: Applied Acoustics Systems (AAS) has announced PIVOTAL, a new soundbank (soundset) for its Ultra Analog VA-2 “virtual analog” synth, as well as free AAS Player. For this library, sound designer Daniel Stawczyk created a hefty 158-preset collection of focused and upfront sounds covering all the classic categories—arpeggios, basses, leads, synths, and effects are all there.

Korg MS20

Synth, Samples, and Plug-ins Deals for August 2017 including Korg, UVI, and Air Music

Christopher Laird Simmons

SYNTH DEALS: In a return to form, I’ve brought back my monthly round-up of great deals on synth gear, such as virtual synths, plug-ins, samples, iOS apps, and more. This list is updated all during August, until the next month when a new list is started. Remember everything has an expiration date, and some offers are for existing users with an account from the respective brand / company / product.

Brainworx celebrates 10 years of premium audio plugins

Brainworx celebrates 10 years of premium audio plugins for recording and performing with promotion

Christopher Laird Simmons

PLUGIN NEWS: Brainworx is celebrating their 10th anniversary in 2017, and is offering fans and new users a promotion during August in celebration. The technical achievements of the last 10 years alone are noteworthy enough, but Brainworx’s success is also deep-rooted in company CEO Dirk Ulrich’s extensive experience as a producer and audio engineer, work which continues to this day.

Bob Moog Foundation Summer 2017 Raffle

Synth Memories: Bob Moog Foundation Summer 2017 Raffle Proffers Moog Memorymoog to Aid Charity

Christopher Laird Simmons

Today, the Bob Moog Foundation announced its Summer 2017 Raffle for a vintage Memorymoog Plus Synthesizer. Proceeds from the raffle will benefit the non-profit Foundation’s educational and historic preservation initiatives. The vintage Memorymoog Plus synthesizer is described as a very unusual and powerful polyphonic synthesizer with six voices for each of the three oscillators, MIDI, and a sequencer. Tickets to enter the raffle, which runs Aug. 8 to Sept. 6, 2017, are $25 each.

Alchemy Synth in Logic Pro X 10.32

Apple Updates Logic Pro X DAW to 10.3.2 with enhancements for Alchemy Synth and New Virtual Drummers

Christopher Laird Simmons

Apple today announced and released an update to their Logic Pro X DAW (aka “Logic 10”) to version 10.3.2. Highlights include three new Drummers who play percussion in the styles of Pop, Songwriter, and Latin; and Alchemy now includes an automatic time align feature for improved morphing, plus new additive effects expand the options for filtering and modulating sound.

Continuum Fingerboard Version 8.50

Continuum Fingerboard 8.5 released with New System Presets and EaganMatrix Synth Capabilities

Christopher Laird Simmons

SYNTH NEWS: Haken Audio has announced Continuum Fingerboard Version 8.50 is now available. The new software/firmware update for the Haken Continuum instrument adds many new System Presets and new EaganMatrix capabilities. The brilliant new External Note Mode offers a new way to combine keyboard playing with Continuum, where each formula can be customized for the limited accuracy of keyboard aftertouch and pitch.

Spitfire Audio Bernard Herrmann

Spitfire Audio Scares Up New Bernard Herrmann Composer Toolkit with Classic Sounds for Orchestration

Christopher Laird Simmons

MUSIC GEAR: Spitfire Audio has announced a new virtual orchestra sound sample library that brings to life the classic and iconic vibe of composer Bernard Herrmann, known for “Psycho,” “Vertigo,” and many other classic films. This is Spitfire’s first dry scoring stage ensemble library and the company worked closely with the Herrmann estate to examine his most famous scores and understand what makes his work so special.

ASCAP and YouTube

ASCAP and YouTube sign multi-year agreement for US public performance rights and data collaboration

Christopher Laird Simmons

INDUSTRY NEWS: Today ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, and YouTube have signed a multi-year agreement, effective immediately, for U.S. public performance rights and data collaboration. According to the annoncement, “The mutual goal of this agreement is to work together to ensure that ASCAP members get paid more fairly and accurately for the use of their music on YouTube.”

DrumCore 4 Virtual Celebrity Drummer Plugin

DrumCore 4 Virtual Celebrity Drummer Plugin Adds GUI Zooming for Best Fit with DAWs and Screens

Christopher Laird Simmons

VIRTUAL INSTRUMENT NEWS: Sonoma Wire Works recently announced release of an update to their DrumCore 4, the critically acclaimed AAX/VST3/AU plug-in with tempo-stretchable audio and MIDI drum loops of performances by celebrity drummers, plus multi-velocity samples of their drum kits in many styles. DrumCore’s 4.2 update adds UI zooming, which helps DC4 fit better on laptops and smaller screens.

Syntronik from IK Multimedia

Super Iconic: Syntronik from IK Multimedia Captures 38 Classic Synths in One Virtual Instrument

Christopher Laird Simmons

MUSIC TECH NEWS: IK Multimedia has announced a new “super synth” to the virtual instrument world, for both newcomers and those of us who look back with nostalgia on classic synths we’ve owned and let go, or wish we’d owned. IK’s new SYNTRONIK for Mac/PC includes 17 instruments with over 2,000 preset sounds “covering a wide selection from 38 of the most iconic to ultra-rare and painstakingly multi-sampled vintage synthesizers.”

XILS Lab Announces PolyM Virtual Synth

XILS Lab Announces PolyM Virtual Synth, Recreating Classic Polymoog Keyboard

Christopher Laird Simmons

MUSIC TECH: XILS Lab today announced the upcoming release of their new virtual synthesizer instrument, the PolyM, inspired by the rare and beautiful sounding Moog Polymoog, perhaps most famously used in the song “Cars” by Gary Numan, but also used by many other musicians of the time. The XILS PolyM offers two divided-down oscillators providing 71 voices; each one with two envelope generators, one filter, one VCA and Pulse Width Modulation.

chromaphone-2

Applied Acoustics Systems announces Chromaphone 2 now supports Native Instrument’s NKS plug-in format

Christopher Laird Simmons

AAS’ creative percussion synthesizer plug-in, Chromaphone 2 now supports Native Instrument’s NKS extended plug-in format. NKS brings intuitive and seamless interaction between Chromaphone 2 and KOMPLETE KONTROL S-Series keyboards and MASCHINE hardware. Chromaphone 2’s key parameters have been mapped in order to provide optimal tactile control of its physical modeling engine.

Ether Fields expansion for Falcon

UVI announces Ether Fields expansion for Falcon with presets by sound designer Simon Stockhausen

Christopher Laird Simmons

MUSIC GEAR: UVI has announced “Ether Fields,” a new expansion pack for Falcon which “delivers a stunning selection of expertly designed patches” by one of the world’s preeminent sound designers, Simon Stockhausen. The collection includes bells, pads, soundscapes, granular and hybrid sounds, wavetables, sequenced sounds and more; perfect for those looking to expand their library of ready-to-play patches and ideal for those looking for inspirational starting points for their own sound design.

11493

Embertone Makes Your iPhone a Sexy Sax Beast

Christopher Laird Simmons

“Sensual Sax” from Embertone can now be had on your iOS device for playing solo, or with others. A new sampled saxophone virtual instrument. While some of us semi-dinosaur MIDI music dudes and dudettes might eschew the lowly iPhone and iPad for music creation when we have our various mega-rig Mac Pro studios to play with, the fact is that the largest growth base for new musicians is now on mobile devices. So, with this in mind, if that sounds like you, then a really cool new product from Embertone might make you breathless.

ContinuuCon Returns to N.C. for 2017

ContinuuCon Returns to N.C. for 2017 Showcasing Latest Multi-dimensional Music and MIDI Tech

Christopher Laird Simmons

For fans of expressive performance-focused MIDI instruments, the unique ContinuuCon event Returns to Asheville North Carolina for 2017 to showcasing the latest in Multi-dimensional electronic instruments, workshops, and live performances. The ideal event for those wanting to learn more about both the groundbreaking Haken Continuum instrument, as well as other next-gen music gear in a warm, informal setting. ContinuuCon 2017 will take place June 8-10 – UNCA – Asheville, N.C.

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