IK Multimedia and Ampeg announce the future release of a new Bass Amp modeling plugin, the Ampeg SVX. This plugin will include over 20 Ampeg bass amps, such as SVT Classic, the SVT 5 PRO, the BA500 or the B15R, and of course effects designed for bass : Chorus, Delay, Flanger, Phaser, Octaver, Wah, Auto Filter, Distortion, Graphic EQ and Compressor.
Ampeg SVX is expected to be released within the summer of 2005. Prices and distribution are to be announced.
G-media is on the way to release (price and date TBA, but it's soon) an Ohm force development (you know the crazy blokes) which seems to be just like a MiniM… in AU, RTAS and VST. Need I say more? Well... M-audio is making a bundle called Gforce with impOSCar, M-Tron, Minimonsta and Oddity (price TBA).
If you know about JoMoX (XBase, Airbase, Sunsyn), you know about the brain behind the great designs: Juergen Michaelis. When he's alone at night, he does thing on his own (he's the boss anyway) and what did he finished at last? His Resonator Neuronium.
A unique synth, analogue, based on neural networks (remember Hartman Neuron? it's a digital implementation of the basic ideas leading to something different). Unique because it was a private project, and finally, Juergen is going to make a small series of 10 machines at least to be able to lower the towering price to a more reasonable 2499€. Building will start once 10 firm buys are secured with a provision. This is a very unique thing, it's rare to see new stuff in synthesis, this is one!
After design some cute preamps in their german laboratories, Mindprint comes along with a desktop interface, TRIO. First point, you don't need a computer, second, it's a one button/pot-one function box and it's 24 bits/96 kHz.
It offers as inputs: 1 Mic XLR In Class A with phantom power, 1 instrument in (HiZ by Hugues&Kettner) and 2 Line In on jacks, 2 aux In and 2 DAW analog In in RCA, 1 Insert send and one Insert return in jack. Out: 2 direct Out and 2 DAW analog Out in RCA, 2 Headphones out in stereo jack, 3 pairs of speakers out (3 pairs: 2 Jack, 4 RCA), S/PDIF optical In/Out (2 TOSlink) at 44, 48, 88 and 96 kHz in 24 bit linear, sync: master or slave. It runs on an external PSU.
Nomad Factory has announced a new plugins bundle, the Essential Studio Suite, which contains 9 essential plug-ins : Multiband Compressor, Essential Channel, Essential Graphic EQ, Essential Compressor, Essential Gate Expander, Multiband Loudness Maximizer, Loudness Maximizer, Tube/Tape Warmer, and Retro-Vox.
This bundle will help you to "create professional projects from tracking to mixing to mastering", and costs $300.
EastWest has announced a new set of upgrades to all versions of Symphonic Orchestra.These updates will approximately double the size of the original editions Platinum, Gold and Silver. Upgrades will cost $2,995 for Platinium Pro, $995 for Gold Pro, and $295 for Sliver Pro.
The Pro Edition Upgrades will be available in March 2005.
Blue Mic débuts the Kickball, a new dynamic spherical mic designed for low frequency applications. It can be used on any instrument: kick drum, snare drum, tom toms, electric bass, bass and more. We note that the Kickball is the world's second phantom-powered dynamic microphone.
Waves Art has updated their Power Suite bundle for Mac OS X to version 4.0.9. All plug-ins of this bundle (FinalPlug, MultiDynamics, TrackPlug, MasterVerb and WaveSurround) now fix VST problem stealing keyboard events from host and MultiDynamics AU output meter problem in Apple's Logic 7.
At NAMM, Spectrasonics has announced the release of an update to version 1.2 for Stylus RMX, its realtime groove-based virtual instrument plug-in. This version adds new features including three new professional quality effect modules (Radio delay, PRO-Verb, Spring Verb), as well as enhanced compatibility with major host applications (multiple Outputs in Apple Logic 7, multiple Outputs in Pro Tools v6.7) and various additional enhancements and improved performance.
Thise update is now available as a free download for all registered users.
Dave Smith after the infamous evolver and Poly evolver, release the announced Keyboard version. Spec wise it's the same as the rack version analogue/digital hybrid with wavetables, with a 61 keys keyboard and still the possibility to link it to 4 Evolvers for expandability.
Korg's white elephant, Korg's see snake, in one word OASYS. This long long to come project, believed to be stored away due to the tremendous need of computing power needed. After years of development, it was supposed to be after having brought the OASYS card and induced the Z1 and Prophecy. Well, after more than 10 years, I don't even recall… Korg can release the OASYS synth. It's a synth workstation, a MIDI controller, an effect rack, but for now you don't see the real innovation into. It integrates into an underlined by LINUX platform: PCM, analogue modeling, tone wheel modeling (B3 anyone?), KARMA, sampling, vector synthesis (think Wavestation)… All in 24 bits, and if I remember rightly, it's not the full OASYS yet, there's expansions possible and it's not the end of it…
Native Instruments has released Komplete Sound, a huge collection of ensembles, sounds and samples for NI's software instruments, combining all eight products from the Native Instruments sound line into one single pack. It contains Reaktor Electronic Instruments Vol. 1, Reaktor Electronic Instruments Vol. 2, Battery Studio Drums, Synthetic Drums , FM7 Sounds Vol. 1, FM7 Sounds Vol. 2, Absynth Sounds Vol. 1, and B4 Tonewheel Set "Vintage Expansion".
N.I. Komplete Sound will be available in March 2005 for $339 / 289 Euro.
Waves releases Q-Clone, a very new product utilizing a new technology that lets you use your outboard hardware equalizer in a completely new way. By capturing the sound of your own gear, Q-Clone allows you to use that sound freely throughout your session, adjusting the sound of each track just as you would if you had dozens of that same hardware equalizer. Q-Clone has softwares: Q-Capture is used to capture the sound of your hardware, and Q-Clone shows you the equalization curve of your hardware
Q-Clone costs $1000 and is available for MacOS X in VST, AU,RTAS, MAS, AudioSuite and HTDM formats. A demo version is available for download.
Native Instruments presents Electronic instruments 2 XT, the extended version of NI's Reaktor instrument collection. The new version contains all the synthesizers, drum machines and effects from the collection as individual self-contained software instruments. The eight instruments included in Electronic Instruments 2 XT are:
Ableton announces the worldwide release of Operator, a powerful new software synthesizer instrument optimized for use inside Live 4. Operator brings an eclectic spectrum of sonic possibilities and musical inspiration to Ableton Live users. Operator features powerful oscillators, innovative Time and Tone controls, multimode resonant filters, looping envelopes, an LFO and more.
Operator is available now for $149, and a demo version of Operator is included in the Live 4.1 update.
Korg is giving away a demo of the Legacy plug-ins to help people have a go at their product. it won't replace the real MS20 (I won't give you mine!) but the range is rather convincing and of help given the bang for the bucks ratio. Demo is for OS X 10.2.6 or higher, G4 800 minimum, 1,25 GHz recommended.
M-Audio has announced its first two virtual instruments. Key Rig is a virtual keyboard rack with stage piano, MS-2 polyphonic synthesizer, MB-3 electromagnetic organ, and a GM-4 General MIDI Module. Drum & Bass Rig is a virtual bass and drums rack which contains real drums, electric bass, LC-5 loop creator, and BL 6 bass synthesizer and step sequencer.
Key Rig and Drum & Bass Rig are available as stand-alone, VST, Audio Units and RTAS version for $129,95 each.
After a too long run of products only dedicated to PC, E-mu builds USB/MIDI controllers, the Xboard 25 and Xboard 49. Both have a velocity sensitive full size keyboard, aftertouch and 16 controllers. Each controller can answer to his own, MIDI channel, snapshots can be made and sent at a button pressing, part of the keyboard can be used as on/off switches. To add on this this not so virgin territory, E-mu throws in the Proteus X LE Desktop Sound Module (1000 sounds, 50 Z-plane filters, extensive 80 modulation source/destinations, 6 stages envelopes…).
At NAMM, Native Instruments unveils the second generation of its sampler Kontakt. Kontakt 2 iles a powerful new sampling engine that offers virtually unlimited polyphony as well as 64-part multi-timbrality. Multiprocessor support delivers up to 100% performance increase on dual processors systems, while Altivec optimization gives a further performance boost on Macintosh computers equipped with G4 and G5 processors. This new version also features support for multi-channel formats ranging from 3.0 up to 16.0, including industry standards like 5.1 and 7.1, a new Kontakt Script Processor (KSP) a fully programmable processing engine that transforms and generates MIDI and control events on the basis of a versatile yet easy-to-learn script language, a new Ram purge function, and a new convolution effect unit.
Kontakt 2 will be available in March 2005 for $579 / 499 Euro.
Steinberg announces an update to version 2.0 for its virtual drummer Groove Agent. This major update comes with a huge collection of new styles and drum sounds. It also offers the latest drum grooves and styles. Groove Agent is VST, ReWire and Audio Units compatible.
Groove Agent 2 will be available for US$249.99 in February 2005.
Ueberschall has announced in cooperation with Celemony, the Liquid Instruments Series. It allows you to fully control sampled lines and phrases, by editing note pitches, formants, note lengths, scales, tempo, start and endings. The first two volumes announced are Saxophone Vol.1 (baritone, tenor, alto, and soprano saxophones) and Electric Bass Vol.2 (with various styles such as funk, soul, disco, house, pop, rock and more).
Liquid Instruments Series will be available for MacOS X in VST, Audio Units and RTAS plug-in formats.
Steinberg announces HALion Player, the playback-only version of its HALion sampler. This new and light version of HALion can play any HSB, FXP or FXB files created for HALion 3, HALion Player includes the full HALion 3 sound library, with a huge selection of instrument and drum sounds, and utilizes the surround-capable HALion 3 playback engine.
HALion Player will be available as Audio Units and VST versions, for US$89.99 in February 2005.
LinPlug has updated RM IV to version 4.1.2. This update improves LM 4 import, fixes slight inconsistency in synth-modules sound, improves multi-channel support in Logic and adds faster kit loading on Mac. The RM IV is a flexible and easy-to-use drum machine that combines analog-style percussion synthesis with a fully featured, intelligent percussion sampler.
Native Instruments announced that Traktor DJ Studio is updated to version 2.6. This new release of the DJ mixing software features : compatibility to FinalScratch 2, WMA and AAC compatibility, internet broadcasting, input recording, enhanced browser and playlist features, and much more.
Applied Acoustics Systems today announced the upcoming release of the String Studio synthesizer for Mac OSX. String Studio is scheduled for release at the end of the first quarter of 2005. The String Studio synthesizer swaps the traditional oscillator, filter, and envelope pattern for reallife string instrument components. At the core of String Studio lies a new, cutting edge physical model of strings interacting with picks, bows, hammers, fingers, frets, dampers, and soundboards. Through this direct approach, String Studio delivers stunning guitars, basses, harps, clavinets, bowed instruments, percussions as well as rich and animated tones that blend the warmth, naturalness, and density of real-life instruments.
The String Studio synthesizer will be available for Mac OS X and Windows systems at the end of the first quarter of 2005 at a suggested retail price of US$249.
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After a too long run of products only dedicated to PC, E-mu builds USB/MIDI controllers, the Xboard 25 and Xboard 49. Both have a velocity sensitive full size keyboard, aftertouch and 16 controllers. Each controller can answer to his own, MIDI channel, snapshots can be made and sent at a button pressing, part of the keyboard can be used as on/off switches. To add on this this not so virgin territory, E-mu throws in the Proteus X LE Desktop Sound Module (1000 sounds, 50 Z-plane filters, extensive 80 modulation source/destinations, 6 stages envelopes…).
