Category: Synth News

BERLIN, Germany — Native Instruments today announced that a demo version of KONTAKT 3, the latest version of its industry-leading software sampler, is now available. With its powerful high-resolution audio engine, comprehensive sound shaping capabilities, unique KSP script programming, and universal sample format compatibility, KONTAKT has established the cutting edge of sampling technology for music production, live performance and sound design.

PARIS, France — The E2Deesser features Eiosis’ patented, exclusive processing structure and algorithm to bring you a new approach to de-essing. It allows the independent processing of sibilants inside vocal tracks in an extremely easy to use and efficient manner.

BUENA PARK, Calif. — Yamaha Corporation of America has released new drivers and firmware updates for their GO46 Mobile FireWire Audio Interface, MOTIF XS Synthesizer Workstation, and n Series FireWire Digital Mixing Studios.

MEYLAN, France — Version 2 of Analog Factory is now shippping from Arturia. Registered users of 1.0 can download this upgrade for free. With 3500 presets, improved management of the effects and up-to-date compatibility with all sequencers, Analog Factory 2.0 is the instrument of choice when quality sounds must be accessible through a simple workflow.

BERLIN, Germany — Native Instruments and legendary hip hop artist Grandmaster Flash just announced a collaboration based on Flash’s recent decision to switch to TRAKTOR SCRATCH, finally making the move to a digital DJ system after three decades of pioneering vinyl DJing.

BERLIN, Germany — Native Instruments and Beatport recently unveiled Beatport SYNC, a free music playback application for Mac and Windows that provides a unique feature set for modern listening habits. Based on the groundbreaking TRAKTOR DJ software, Beatport SYNC combines powerful music management capabilities with basic DJ mixing functions.

PFINZTAL, Germany — Return to Analog. VTAPE is a set of two plug-ins based on a thorough simulation of the famous sound of analog tape machines. VTAPE Saturator simulates the recording and playback on an analog tape mastering machine.

CHAMPLAIN, N.Y. — CME is now shipping their new M-Key portable MIDI controller in the US. M-Key is a 49-key MIDI keyboard featuring an ultra-thin, full-action semi-weighted keyboard, a joystick control, a mobile phone sound module, trigger pad, knob controller, U-CTRL and speaker.

NEW YORK, N.Y. — Killian Wells, an up-and-coming young pop singer, songwriter and producer, has allegedly become the target of a stalker from British Columbia, Canada, according to his label Inferno Records. Wells claims the overly zealous fan has e-mailed and made multiple phone calls to his Manhattan recording studio posing as a DJ from a phony radio station in an attempt to obtain unreleased tracks and to set up an interview. As a result, Wells has changed his phone number.

MEYLAN, France — Based on the much-acclaimed Analog Factory 2.0, a software instrument offering 3500 legendary synthesizer sounds, Analog Factory Experience includes a high quality 32-key, custom-made, MIDI keyboard. Musicians just need to plug in the keyboard via USB and launch the software. From there they can put their mouse away, everything is easily controllable from the keyboard.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — International Productions, a Los Angeles based company, today announced that baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky will perform one live concert on the stage of the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on November 11, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. Accompanied by conductor Constantine Orbelian and the Russian Chamber Orchestra.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — With a new genre of music called axuality, guitarist Brian Butler is composing and performing music with a lofty goal: to improve listeners’ mental outlook while enjoying cool, unique guitar playing. Whether performing live or when recording his just-released album, also entitled “Axuality,” Brian Butler improvises layers of sounds in order to emphasize the purity of the creative process.

HAMBURG, Germany — Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH is proud to announce a new version of its award-winning Nuendo audio production environment. Nuendo 4 offers a range of new features and technologies dedicated to mixers, engineers and editors in post production, studio recording and live recording.

BOSTON, Mass. — Take a fresh look at your evolving music creation and production needs, and turn to SONAR 7 Producer Edition, the technology leading digital audio workstation. SONAR offers a remarkable experience that excels at every step of your production – from its inspiring, open and customizable environment, to intuitive music creation and editing tools, to polished mixing, editing and delivery – with the recognized best audio quality in the industry.

NEW YORK, N.Y. — Korg is pleased to announce the release of system version 1.3 for Korg’s flagship OASYS synthesizer, delivering the next level of the sound-creating and performance potential of this acclaimed instrument. In addition to new features and enhancements, version 1.3 includes a new version of KARMA (2.1), and makes available two more optional expansions: the MOD-7 Waveshaping VPM Synthesizer, and the EXs-3 Brass & Woodwinds Expansion sample library.

GRENOBLE, France — Arturia announced today that they will soon publish a major upgrade to Analog Factory, to be called Analog Factory 2.0, and which will be free to curreny registered users. Most notable is inclusion of Jupiter-8V presets and nearly twice the sound “patches.”

BUENA PARK, Calif. — Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH is pleased to announce that Groove Agent 3 is now shipping to resellers in the US though Yamaha Corporation of America. Groove Agent 3 provides new virtual drummer modules, drum kits and a range of other features to provide a complete and unique virtual drumming solution within one VST instrument.

CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple today unveiled Logic(R) Studio, a comprehensive suite of professional tools that gives musicians everything they need to create, produce and perform in the studio and on the stage for just $499. Logic Studio features Logic Pro 8, a major upgrade that combines an intuitive new interface with Logic’s renowned sound quality.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Native Instruments today announced KONTAKT 3, the latest version of its industry-leading software sampler. With its powerful high-resolution audio engine, comprehensive sound shaping capabilities, unique KSP script programming, and universal sample format compatibility, KONTAKT has established the cutting edge of sampling technology for music production, live performance and sound design.

ST. HELENA, Calif. — Dave Smith Instruments (DSI) announced on Auguest 31st that the newly designed Prophet ’08 is now shipping to authorized dealers, and is available direct from DSI. In addition to the standard Prophet ’08 features, the Special Edition includes red lighted wheels, exotic leopardwood end panels, and a special commemorative overlay signed by Dave.

PARIS, France — Eiosis is proud to announce the release of AirEQ TDM. Their acclaimed 8 bands EQ – which already exists in all formats for OSX and Windows – is now available in the TDM/RTAS format for Protools HD on Mac OSX.

PFINZTAL, Germany — VirSyn recently announced a new product called REFLECT, which is an algorithmic reverberation plug-in which combines the flexibility of vintage algorithmic reverbs with the sonic quality of convolution based reverbs.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Audiofile Engineering, a premier developer of audio solutions for the Mac, has recently acquired Rax version 2 software from PLASQ, makers of Comic Life and other software tools. Rax is intuitive virtual rack software for Mac OS X.

MODENA, Italy — The newly released SampleTank 2.5 is a major update for IK’s industry-standard sample workstation. With an exclusive combination of features and sounds, SampleTank stands apart from any other sample-based virtual instrument, making it one of the most powerful and easy to use solutions for making fully produced songs right out of the box.

NEW YORK, N.Y. — Approximately 25% of Americans are Black or Latino. In our nation’s professional orchestras however, Blacks and Latinos combined comprise approximately 4% of the musicians. On September 25, The Sphinx Organization, the non-profit organization dedicated to building diversity in classical music, will present the all Black and Latino Sphinx Chamber Orchestra and Harlem Quartet at Carnegie Hall.

DALY CITY, Calif. – Structure(TM), the professional sampler workstation for Pro Tools(R) that redefines the art of sampling, is getting some good company. The Digidesign(R) Advanced Instrument Research (A.I.R.) group is excited to present two new members of the Structure family – Structure(TM) LE and Structure(TM) Free – that both offer an affordable way to venture into the world of Structure.

LONDON, U.K. — Version 1.5 of GURU, FXpansion’s creative beat box workstation, has over 50 new features and an additional 3GB of exclusive, original audio content covering styles such as hip hop, grime, tech house, and electronica.

GERMANY — Access Music Electronics GmbH has announced a new update for users of the Access Virus TI line of keyboards. The new version features RTAS for Digidesign Pro Tools M-Powerered, LE and TDM users as well as optimisations for Imageline FL Studio 7 and Ableton Live.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Native Instruments has just released TRAKTOR SCRATCH 1.1, a free update for its new high-performance digital DJ system. The update includes additional functionality and a wide range of further refinements to various areas of the software, resulting in increased creative potential and optimized handling of the system.

MADISON, Wis. – In 2005, Sony Creative Software released Drums from the Big Room, an elegant five-disc collection of 24-bit multitrack drum loops performed by legendary timekeeper Steve Ferrone (Eric Clapton, Duran Duran, Tom Petty) and produced by Grammy(R) winner Greg Ladanyi (Jackson Browne, Don Henley, Toto).