September, 2007 archive

Native Instruments has announced Guitar Rig 3, an update to its digital guitar studio.
It now offers more amps and effects, new live features, a completely reworked tone library complete with improved preset handling, and a redesigned Rig Kontrol pedal board with optimized control and audio interface functionality. Both a “Kontrol Edition” with foot pedal and [...]

Native Instruments has announced Kontakt 3, the latest version of its popular software sampler. The new version is centered around a next-generation instrument library that, according to NI, “sets new standards both in its musical scope and in its creative value, while also adding a wide range of new functions and refinements in all areas [...]

Months of hype about Toshio Iwai’s innovative music gadget, the Tenori-On, appear to be paying off for Yamaha. Yamaha reports that, having sold out three months’ stocks within hours of the launch, they plan to forward production and air freight supplies into the UK to keep pace with demand.
Peter Peck, Marketing Manager Music Production at [...]

Apple today unveiled Logic 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. With this release, Apple has cut pricing to $499, half the price of the previous version.
Logic Studio features Logic Pro 8, a major upgrade that combines [...]

Wusik, creators of the Wusikstation VSTi, have announced 3 new products.
Descriptions:
Wusik Tool Melody
You play a chord in the lower section of the midi-keyboard, and the upper section white-keys will follow the chord you play. So, for instance, if you play 2 keys at the lower area, those 2 keys will be used for all the [...]

This minimal 20-minute video by Nate Harrison looks at the history of the “Amen Break,” arguably the most important sample in history. Along the way, it touches on the art of sampling and genres from jungle to f’d-up beats.
The six-second drum sample came from the b-side of a chart-topping single from 1969. The sample [...]

Peter Peck of Yamaha gives a demo of the Tenori-On at the official UK Launch in London on Sept 4, 2007:

Here, Toshio Iwai, the creator of the Tenori-On, gives a demo of the new music gizmo:

While the Tenori-On may have a cramped user interface with limited expressive capabilities and primitive sound manipulation options, it’s got [...]

Fusion jazz pianist, keyboardist, synthesist and composer Joe Zawinul, best known for his work with the group Weather Report, has died at the age of 75. Zawinul died today in Vienna, from a rare form of skin cancer.
Zawinul played with Cannonball Adderly, Dinah Washington and Miles Davis. With Davis, Zawinul helped create the jazz fusion [...]

Numark has announced that it’s shipping the world’s first iPod DJ mixing console that lets you scratch, control pitch, key-lock, and simultaneously play two songs from a single iPod.
The Numark iDJ2 is the only iPod mixing console that provides music control with real-time scratching, pitch control, seamless loop, and full cueing. The iDJ2 features [...]

Arturia has announced version 2.0 of its Analog Factory software. The update is free for all registered owners, and includes numerous improvements and bug fixes.

New Features:

Includes 3500 sounds instead of 2000
Now includes presets from the acclaimed Jupiter-8V
Improved effects management
Vst 2.4 \ Cubase 4 ready

Main Bug Fixes:

Preset switching has been improved to avoid any problems whilst [...]

Moogfest, in conjunction with The Bob Moog Foundation, has announced the first annual Moogfest Symposium.
On the evening of September 20th, 2007, luminaries in the field of electronic music will gather at the Music Department of Columbia University to discuss how the life and work of synthesizer maverick Dr. Robert Moog has affected their own work.
Members [...]

Sion Software has released version 2.0 of their free QuickAudio audio editor for Windows.
QuickAudio lets you edit, play and record digital audio as well as convert between various popular audio formats. It has standard audio editing features, multiple undo, audio spectrum analysis as well as support for up to 24 VST plug-ins.

Image-Line have released a VSTi version of DrumSynth Live.
DrumSynth Live is an updated version of the DrumSynth standalone created by Maxim Digital Audio. DrumSynth Live features simultaneous support for 24 programmable real-time drum patches, each assigned to a separate key (C4 to B5).Sound is created by two noise generators and filtered by bandpass filters [...]

Audiorealism has announced that their new uber-drum machine, Audiorealism Drum Machine (ADM) , is now available for Mac and PC.
Sounds
ADM contains three classic vintage drum machines from that era rolled into one, combined with a 32-step internal sequencer and pattern controlled fx (PCF). Get all your patterns into ADM via the Import Rebirth function or [...]

 

 Tweaked drums [0:23m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Model switching [0:17m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

IK Multimedia has announced that SampleTank 2.5, a major update for the sample workstation plug-in. It includes many new features, such as an enhanced built-in multi-effects system with send and master effects, the addition of a high-quality studio reverb, the ability to read all “Powered by SampleTank” instruments and more.
New effects section with SEND and [...]