In addition to Ableton’s announcements today about Ableton Live Intro and their giveaway of 10 free Live Packs to celebrate Live’s 10th anniversary, it announced the release date for Max For Live and the beta release.

Max for Live will be available on November 23rd, 2009. It will cost USD 299/EUR 249. If you already own Max 5, the discounted price is USD 99/EUR 79.

If you’re a Live 8 user already, you can join the Max For Live beta.

Max for Live, co-developed by Ableton and Cycling ‘74, puts the power and potential of Max/MSP inside Live. Max for Live is a tool kit for making new devices. You can build new devices from scratch, modify existing ones or simply use devices that others have made. Max for Live includes several ingenious example devices and plenty of tutorials to take you from using to tweaking, and then to building.

Key Features:

• Build your own audio effects, MIDI effects and instruments
• Use the API to control Live Sets, tracks, clips, devices, notes, loops, parameters etc.
• Extend your hardware’s feature set: provides objects to access any hardware controllers that are connected to Live
• Includes a specialized version of Max for creating and editing Max devices (Please note: does not run independently of Max for Live)
• Comes with a selection of MAX devices that are ready to use out of the box for audio and MIDI processing, algorithmic composition, real-time performance and hardware control
• Devices keep playing in Live while they are being edited in Max
• Flexible user interface design: the UI can look like Live or completely different
• Includes hundreds of built-in Max objects for logic, MIDI, scripting, audio and video processing
• Supports video synthesis and animation via “Jitter” objects
• Includes step-by-step tutorials for learning to program with Max for Live

Ableton is celebrating the 10th anniversary of Live by giving away 10 free Live Packs for Ableton Live 8 and up.

The Live Packs feature the work of 10 top Ableton Live artists, and let you look inside their songs and see how the artists work their magic.

The Live Pack artists include:

• Adam Freeland
• Apparat
• Brian Ales
• Covert Operators
• Junie Morrison
• Martin Gretschman, aka Acid Pauli
• Micah Frank
• Mum
• Swayzak
• Thavius Beck

Note: The free Live Packs will work in Live Intro or Live Lite, but will be read only.

No registration or email mumbo-jumbo is required – just go to Ableton’s site and start downloading.

GroovePacks’ FreeStyle 2 for Ableton Live offers 148 Live Clips, 55 Audio Effect Racks, 17 Instrument Racks, 3 Midi Effect Racks, 197 samples.

The video above offers a demonstration of the effect racks in FreeStyle 2. A loop is played while several fx racks are simply turned on and off in turn.

Click here to view the embedded video.

This demo shows sSome examples of the instrument racks in FreeStyle 2, with realtime tweaking.

Ableton Live freebie: The Covert Operators have released The Covert Seq, a MIDI controllable step sequencer made out of a combination of Dummy Clips and Ableton’s MIDI Effects, as a free download.

The Covert Operators call The Covert Seq “the most complex MIDI Effect Rack ever made”.

Fortunately, they’ve made a series of videos, available at their site, that demonstrate Covert Seq’s functions.

Just when you think it’s safe to buy that cool matrix sequencer MIDI controller monome thing you’ve been jonesin’ for, out pops the $399 Livid Block matrix sequencer MIDI controller monome thing.

Description:

The Livid Block is a compact programmable MIDI control surface designed for interactive audio performance. Built on the same bi-directional and adaptable platform as the Livid Ohm64, Block provides an interface for creating and interacting with sound in a small easy-to-transport body.

Sixty-four LED buttons provide visual feedback with the instrument by connecting it to Ableton Live, Max/MSP,  pen source sounds apps, or any other software that supports MIDI.

The open source blockEditor application lets you reprogram any of the controller’s sixty-four clip buttons, eight knobs, two faders, and seven function buttons. Block is hand crafted from lightweight wood and aluminum for easy portability.

Block has bi-directional talkback communication allowing the controller to talk to your software, and software to your device. MIDI messages can be sent to the Block to light up the buttons for an interactive performance. Completely programmable and mappable, Block provides a flexible control surface that be used with any software or setup. Completely USB powered means you don’t have to worry about adapters and and power strips, and it is plug and play so no drivers are required.

The Livid Block is expected to be available starting Nov 1st for $399.

More details and photos below!

Features:

• Portability – A compact and lightweight design lets you slip this controller into your backpack. Plug it into your computer’s USB, and you are powered to play.
• Design – Block is completely plug and play and USB powered. This means you don’t need drivers to use it and it works with a single USB cable.
• TalkBack – Reprogrammable buttons with LED talkback provides visual feedback by sending MIDI commands back to the controller.
• Software – A growing collection of open source sound applications and utilities provide a wide range of uses and endless customization.
• Home Grown – Handcrafted by artists in Austin, Texas.

Specs:

• 10.25″ x 10.25″ x 1.5″ (WLH) / weight 3 lbs. (26 cm x 26 cm x 3.8 cm, 1.36 kg)
• USB Powered
• Bi-Directional MIDI communication (talkback)
• Class-compliant: no drivers needed for Mac, Windows, or Linux.
• 64 Programmable backlight buttons for talk-back and interactive performance
• Programmable MIDI mapping allows you to change the MIDI settings on the hardware
• Anodized Aluminum Faceplate
• Open Source software tools to create your own LED talkback interaction
• Editor included for MIDI editing, and LED talkback programming
• Made in the USA
• Compatible with any software that supports MIDI learn
• ROHS compliant
• USB cable included

Dreamscapes 3 contains 100+ airy soundscapes, mystical pads and ambient drones for Ableton Live (Version 7 and up). The Live Pack is designed for ambient elecronic music, soundtracks, experimental projects and more.

Each of the presets use a Live simpler device wrapped in an instrument/effects rack with eight macro controls to further tweak the sounds.

If you like the pack, don’t miss Dreamscapes 2 and Dreamscapes 1.

If you like Ableton Live 8 and you like freebies, you’ll want to check out extendlive’s free live pack Time Designer:

Time Designer is our debut Live Pack containing 50 advanced multitap delays for Live 8 and a 10-step tutorial for creating and customizing your own delays using only Live’s built-in devices.

Features:

• 50 advanced multitap delays for Live 8
• Annotations for all presets
• 10-step tutorial
• An example Live Set demonstrating some of the presets

Requirements:

• Live 8 or later
• 10MB of disk space

Download it here.

If you’re a Live user, check this out and leave a comment with your thoughts!

Update: Here’s an example of Time Designer in action:

Jodrell Bank by tay0

Explains Jodrell Bank:

Rough mix of a track in progress – uses the Time Designer Live pack posted to Synthtopia yesterday. A commenter asked to hear it, so here it is. Other goodies used: Absynth 4, Reason 4, Korg AE-1 mk II, live drums.

MrBook has shared documentation on his awesome hack to add MIDI to the Gakken SX-150 synthesizer.

Here’s what you’ll need to turn the Gakken SX-150 into a MIDI synthesizer:

• Gakken SX-150 Analog Synthesizer Kit
• Arduino (This one is the classic, but my favorite ones, are the ones from Modern Device)
• MCP4921 12-bit DAC
• 4N28 Optoisolator
• 1/4” Audio Jack
• DIN 5 Pin Chassis Socket (Female MIDI plug)
• Diode (N4148)
• Resistors(220 ohm, 100k ohm and 3.3k ohm)
• Wire, breadboard (or wherever you wanna do the circuit), soldering stuff and patience.

Details at MrBooks’ site. See this previous post for a demo of the Gakken SX-150 being sequenced by Ableton Live.

Steelberry Clones has released Moog Drum One, a free “Moog drum machine” for Ableton Live 8:

I’ve taken the time to program detailed percussive patches & from these i’m creating sample sets. This is the 1st “Moog Drum One” Drum Rack for Ableton Live 8.

Captured @ 24bit/96k with Lynx converters & DBX 903 compression.

Analog Signal path = Moog Voyager-DBX 903’s-Console EQ-Dominator II- Lynx.

Six velocity samples per pad.

Download : To install, extract the Pack with Live into a folder of your choosing. Then open the extracted project & save the Drum Rack into your library.

You can preview the sound of Moog Drum One below:

Torley posted this video review of Native Instruments Acoustic Refractions, a new SoundPack that combines sampled material with KORE processing to offer 100 original virtual instruments.

If you’ve used NI Acoustic Refractions, leave a comment with your thoughts!

via Torley:

This new KORE SOUNDPACK is a fresh and exciting exploration of the world of sound. Combining curious and engaging sampled material with advanced processing in KORE, ABSYNTH, and other sound engines included in KORE and KORE PLAYER, this pack contains 100 completely original yet highly playable instruments that will resonate with modern musicians and sound designers.

ACOUSTIC REFRACTIONS draws inspiration from many idiosyncratic sources, as well as everyday objects and circumstances. Their transformation into playable instruments is a triumph of imagination, creativity and advanced programming. Beautifully sampled from such diverse sources as ice instruments, spinning washing machines, traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge, carpets being ripped, underground parking garages, and rain on a car windshield; ACOUSTIC REFRACTIONS is a celebration of refreshingly off-kilter sound design.

Jeremiah Savage, this pack’s creator, is an experienced musician and sound designer, and the founder of echoexist. His approach to sound, and particularly the idea of greater flexibility and exaggeration of acoustic sound by electronic means, is the root of the ACOUSTIC REFRACTIONS pack. Below, Jeremiah describes some of the inspirations behind particular sounds.

Processed using KONTAKT, many of the sounds have distinctly fast attacks, which then flow into atmospheric, fluid sounds via processing in ABSYNTH, KORE, and other audio engines. Utilizing the morphing features of KORE 2 or KORE PLAYER, it is also simple to create radically distinct sound variations from the same intriguing source.

Description:

BMC pack 001 contains fifty drum kits. There are forty impulse set and ten of the kits using drum rack device groups.

The BMC Pack 1 samples are all 24-bit, 44khz in wav format of classic drum machines, perfect for use in every style from classic rock to modern electronic dance music genres.

Using the Live device rack macro controllers you can create an unlimited number of variations from the basic presets. There are seperate controls for the kick drums pitch, decay and volume allowing you to transform the overall kits pitch and sample release while retaining individual control of the kick drums tuning.

Effected racks contain standard reverb and delay as well as more exotic control effects to experiment with.

This pack requires Ableton Live 7 for the drum racks and the one set of twenty impulse device racks and effects.

Download here.

The Covert Operators has released Encounters, a Live Pack designed for performance and DJ sets.

The video above shows how to use the Audio Modulation Dummy Clips that come with the Encounters Live Pack.

Features:

• 25 Arpeggiator Racks that allow unique sequences to be played with little effort. More info about how to use the preset or how it was made can be found in the info text view if you mouse over the preset name.
• 40 Audio Effect Racks ranging from simple filtering tools to some creative Racks made using Live 8’s new and improved Audio Effects. These Racks also come with notes that either recommend sounds to use it on or the notes explain what is going on inside the Audio Effect Rack.
• 50 Groove presets, selected from a large collection of grooves that we extracted from our personal record collection.
• 100 Dummy Clips that contain parameter automation for 10 different Audio Effect Racks. Trigger pre-programmed effects by triggering clips. The improved Effects such as the Simple and Ping Pong Delay now sound smooth when the delay times are altered. The lack of a smooth delay is exactly why you didn’t see this earlier. Its a flexible collection of Dummy Clips that automate an Audio Effect Rack, this means that you can hot-swap a Rack with any other Rack and keep the automation.

Encounters is 25 EUR.

This is a demo of littlescale’s free Khene Sample Pack, used in Ableton Live.

The khene (also spelled “khaen”, “kaen” and “khen”) is a Laotian mouth organ.

Details of the sample pack below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Download here.

At the 2009 Frankfurt Musikmesse, Cakewalk introduced the SONAR V-Studio 100 portable music production studio.

V-Studio 100  combines the most essential tools needed by music producers and performing musicians in a compact package.

Features:

• High Speed USB 2.0 Audio Interface
• Universal DAW Controller
• Personal Digital Mixer
• SD WAV Recorder
• VS Production Pack suite of virtual instruments and effects (Mac/Win)
• SONAR VS digital audio workstation (Win)

Details below. If you’ve used the Sonar V-Studio 100, leave a comment with your thoughts!

Description:

Customers can take control of their music productions by using the VS-100 as a 24-bit/96 kHz high speed USB 2.0 audio, MIDI interface and universal DAW controller. SONAR V-Studio 100 also includes the VS Production Pack, a powerful suite of high quality instruments and effects. The VS-100 hardware and VS Production Pack have been designed to enhance productions on both Mac and Windows in conjunction with popular DAW software including SONAR, Cubase, Logic, Ableton Live, and others. For PC customers just getting started with digital recording, SONAR V-Studio 100 includes the SONAR VS digital audio workstation.

When inspiration strikes, the VS-100 is the ideal tool to get ideas down fast, without the need to boot up a computer. In standalone mode, the VS-100 hardware functions as a personal digital mixer and SD Wave recorder. Customers can use the VS-100 to record and mix rehearsals and live gigs and can also use it to play backing tracks (even while recording). Customers can then simply transfer the stereo recordings to their favorite DAW software to use as the basis for new tracks or for further editing and sweetening, to upload to the Internet, and more.

Second product in the next generation SONAR V-Studio line

SONAR V-Studio 100 is the second product in the next generation V-Studio line of Cakewalk branded hardware and software solutions from Cakewalk and Roland. Following the release of the flagship SONAR V-Studio 700, two great music technology leaders have again combined the best in hardware and software engineering to address the varied needs of today’s modern music producers and performing musicians.

SONAR V-Studio 100 Hardware Features

High Speed USB 2.0 Interface

SONAR V-Studio 100 is a high quality USB 2.0 audio and MIDI interface utilizing world-class Roland engineering design and component technology.

• 8 in + mix / 6 out, 24-bit/96 kHz quality
• 2 mic pre-amps w/phantom Power, hi-z guitar input; MIDI I/O
• ASIO, WDM, WASAPI, Core Audio support
• Compatible with DAWs such as SONAR, Logic, Live, Cubase, and Digital Performer

Universal DAW Controller

SONAR V-Studio 100 is a universal DAW controller that supports all popular digital recording software for Mac/PC via Mackie control protocol, including Logic, Live, Cubase, and Digital Performer. Additionally, V-Studio 100 provides extended control capabilities over SONAR through the implementation of Cakewalk’s Active Controller Technology (ACT).

• 100 mm motorized, touch-sensitive fader
• 5 rotary encoders, 11 buttons and transport control
• Use with any DAW through Mackie Control protocol
• Advanced control of SONAR through Active Controller Technology

Personal Digital Mixer

SONAR V-Studio 100 is an ideal digital mixer for small groups or solo performers who need easy control of few instruments and vocals mics; DJs, MCs, and any electronic musician who needs to mix multiple sound sources. All users can enhance their live sound with the pro-quality on-board effects which offer easy routing and accessibility.

• Ideal for mixing small bands, solo musicians, DJs, home studios
• 8 inputs, 6 outputs plus headphones
• 4 types of reverb and 6 channels of EQ and Compression

Mobile SD Recorder Live Player

SONAR V-Studio 100 can capture that creative moment whenever inspiration strikes by providing high quality digital recording that can be used without being connected to computer. Record directly to the VS-100’s SD-card to capture song ideas, rehearsals, or live performances. Create backing tracks on your DAW of choice and transfer them to the VS-100’s SD-card for playback during live performance (even while recording). Likewise, recorded performances can be easily transferred from the VS-100’s SD-card for additional editing, tracking, and sweetening.

• Record away from your computer
• 2 channel wave recording and playback
• Capture rehearsals and live performances
• Play and record along to backing tracks
• Built-in metronome
• Insert markers during record and playback
• Loop a region for practicing parts or jamming
• Easily transfer audio to and from any computer via USB

SONAR V-Studio 100 Software Features

VS-100 Production Pack (Win/Mac) suite of effects and instruments includes:

VX-64 Vocal Strip is a seven-stage processor designed specifically for shaping and sculpting incredible sounding vocal tracks. Each of the VX-64’s stages have been fine-tuned to be vocal-specific, taking the work out of dialing in an entire chain of vocal processors.  The VX-64 features a new Cakewalk technology that employs phase-coherent, multi-band saturation to avoid unwanted distortion; unique filtering to avoid harsh artifacts at extreme high and low frequencies; and an auto-leveling circuit that prevents the tube saturation from sounding too harsh when high gain transients are processed by it. VX-64 also employs a new de-essing algorithm designed with Cakewalk’s LP64 linear phase effect filtering technology to remove sibilance without creating any frequency smearing.

Processing stages include:

• Input — simulates a tube pre amp
• De-esser — removes sibilance without smearing
• Compander — vocal compressor with an expander to reduce unwanted background noise
• Tube EQ — for adding character ranging from subtle warmth to intense heat to the vocal
• Doubler — advanced doubling effect providing the quality of actual re-tracking
• Delay — preset delays useful for vocal tracks with tempo sync
• Output — provide saturation control with a built in soft-clipping filter
• Order of processor stages is user definable with click & drag reordering

Channel Tools — provides easy and powerful control over individual placement of the left and right channels anywhere in the stereo field. Ideal for adjusting L/R channel placement, gain, pan/width, and phase; also provides a widening or narrowing effect to stereo recordings through adjustments to mid-side gain.

Boost 11 Peak Limiter — gives your tracks radio-ready punch through transparent peak limiting and volume maximization without additional coloring of the source material. Boost 11 employs a “look-ahead” limiter and PDR (Program Dependent Release) to provide professional results with a simple interface.

Native Instruments Guitar Rig 3 LE — built on the latest award-winning guitar amp modeler from Native Instruments; 3 amps and cabinets, 11 effects, tuner, metronome, and over 50 presets.

Dimension LE — a streamlined version of the acclaimed Dimension Pro instrument from Cakewalk. Dimension LE features over 400 sound programs, ranging from bass, organ, and electric piano samples to cutting-edge synth sounds, rhythmic grooves, and a special edition of Garritan Pocket Orchestra.

Rapture LE — is a special version of the award winning Rapture wavetable synthesizer. It includes over 200 programs and hundreds of oscillator shapes. Rapture LE is perfect for performing the modern synthesized sounds igniting today’s pop, dance, and electronic music.

Cakewalk Studio Instruments — a collection of four virtual instruments that provide a fast and easy way to create backing tracks using a photo-realistic, interactive user interface. Instruments include a Drum Kit, Bass Guitar, Electric Piano, and String Section.

SONAR VS digital recording software (PC only) — a special entry level DAW based on the powerful SONAR 8 audio engine but offering a streamlined user interface.

Availability

SONAR V-Studio 100 will ship with the VS-100 hardware (Mac/Win), the VS Production Pack (Mac/Win) and SONAR VS (Win) software available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Italian; Online Help contained in all versions in English, German, French, Spanish, and Italian; printed documentation is in English.

SONAR V-Studio 100 will be available through select music and sound retailers throughout the world beginning in June 2009. For more information on SONAR V-Studio 100,  visit www.sonarvstudio.com.

This is a quick demo of Monotouchlive – a software alternative to the Jazzmutant Lemur.

Description:

MonoTouchLive is the first, flexible software application designed for mass produced tablet PC’s, rather than custom built machines.

The software package is a stand-alone software controller, with a six channel mixer, designed to allow control over Ableton Live with a touch screen, bringing compatibility to both Windows XP and Apple bootcamp machines. Using the touch screen interface and a normal display, the innovation is almost ready for its first release, and incorporates a crossfader, various start stop buttons, track navigation alongside effect parameters and eq in its simple yet powerful interface.

Monotouch sells for $29.

If you’ve used Monotouchlive, leave a comment with your thoughts.

via oh96

Synesthesia has announced that it’s updated the Virtual Brain for the Mandala drum synthesizer to support multiple pads.

The new Virtual Brain v1.50 was developed from requests made by Mandala players and has been tested extensively in multipad experiments with Danny Carey of the rock band TOOL.

The new “Virtual Brain” v1.50 software is available now to anyone via free download from the company’s website at http://www.mandaladrum.com. Even without buying the Mandala, anyone can download the software and tinker with it – on its own, or with other PC or Mac-compatible musical devices.

The Mandala is an advanced drum synth device that works as a USB MIDI controller with most major music software such as Battery 3, Reaktor, FXpansion BFD, Ableton Live, Propellerhead Reason and Apple GarageBand. Synesthesia also offers a special set of presets and HD snare players for Battery 3.

Details on the update below.

New features include:

• Master Window and Pad Windows combined into one Main Window
• More user friendly for multiple pad connection and multiple pad control of program
• Onscreen pad zones light up upon strikes
• Double the amount of preset hotkeys
• Added preset changing via external MIDI program change
• Greatly reduced load time for full kit (multiple Mandala) presets
• Added ability (PC Users) for Mandalas to control the Virtual Brain and 3rd party programs simultaneously with MIDI Yoke (free download from http://midiox.com)
• Automatic audio level safety when changing presets
• Virtual Brain starts on last used preset
• Added visual of exact strike ring position over swirl logo
• Added screen jump edit button for laptops when more than 4 zones active
• Number of voices now saves with every preset

The Mandala 2.0 retails for $349, and is available online at http://mandaladrum.com. Each Mandala is hand-crafted and thoroughly tested before it is shipped. Synesthesia also offers a discount to Dual Pack buyers from mandaladrumstore.com and will issue a $50 rebate with proof of a multiple pad purchase from MusiciansFriend.com.

Tape 1 – Customized for Ableton Live, Kontakt and Logic

Microtron™ Tape 1 contains an expertly recorded Brass, 8 Voice Choir and String Section library. All of the original imperfections, vintage analog quality and performance nuances of the Mellotron M400 have been immaculately captured through a Neumann U47 Microphone and Reeves Custom 50 Amplifier.

The Ableton Live version contains 3 individual multisampled instruments and a full “tape” instrument that has similar sound blending functionality as found on the original M400. Microtron™ Tape 1 for Live also comes packed with 50 professionally performed Live Clips complete with Macro and effects integration.

Microtron™ Tape 1 for Kontakt includes all 3 multisampled instruments complete with effects and a custom KSP user interface. Logic and Kontakt versions both include a collection of 50 professionally performed Apple Loops in SIAL format.

Background:

Throughout the 1970s, the Mellotron had a major impact on rock music, particularly the 35 note (G-F) model M400.

The M400 version was released in 1970 and sold over 1800 units, becoming a trademark sound of the era’s progressive bands. Among the early Mellotron owners were Princess Margaret, Peter Sellers, King Hussein of Jordan and Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.

Mellotrons were normally pre-loaded with string instrument and orchestral sounds, although the model 400’s tape bank could be removed with relative ease by the owner and loaded with banks containing different sounds including percussion loops, sound effects, or synthesizer-generated sounds, to generate polyphonic electronically generated sounds in the days before polyphonic synthesizers. Beneath every key is a disengaged tape head and roller. Depressed key engages tape head and roller.

The unique sound of the Mellotron is produced by a combination of characteristics: Among these are tape replay artifacts such as wow and flutter, the result being that each time a note is played, it is slightly different from the previous time it was played (a bit like a conventional instrument). The notes also interact with each other so that chords or even just pairs of notes have an extremely powerful sound.
Another factor in the strangely haunting quality of the Mellotron’s most frequently-heard sounds is that the individual notes were recorded in isolation. For a musician accustomed to playing in an orchestral setting, this was unusual, and meant that he/she had nothing against which to intonate. Thus, the temperament of the Mellotron is always somewhat questionable when it is used in the context of other instruments. Perhaps for this reason, and perhaps also to allow easy transposition of the instrument’s limited range, the pitch control is placed closest to the keyboard on the M400 model.

2009 Winter NAMM Show update: Korg announced a new black color option for their nanoSeries products.

The nanoKey, nanoPad and nanoKontrol are still a bit on the cheesy side, but at least they look a bit cooler. Details, With Initial Caps Via Korg Press:

At 12.6″ W X 3.27″ D X 0.55″ H And 0.49 Lbs., The 25-Key Velocity-Sensitive Nanokey Is A Midi Keyboard Controller That Provides A Great Feel And Maximum Expressivity In An Ultra-Compact Package. The Keys Can Be Set To Send Midi Control Data, Via The Cc Mode Button, For Control Over Any Midi Assignable Parameters Within The Software Being Used. An Octave Shift Up/Down Function Yields Immediate Access To The Entire Midi Note Range, And Pitch Up/Down And Modulation Buttons Offer Even Greater Expressivity.

The Highly Responsive Nanopad Drum Pad Controller Is Equipped With 12 Velocity-Sensitive Trigger Pads That Offer Unsurpassed Power. The Pads Can Send Both Note And Midi Cc Data, While An X/Y Pad Delivers Real-Time Control Of Roll And Flam Timing And Dynamics. A New Chord Trigger Function Lets The User Enter Chords Onto A Single Pad. The X/Y Pad Can Also Send Midi Control Change Messages, Making It Ideal For Controlling Functions Such As Pitch And Volume. At Only 12.6″ W X 3.23″ D X 0.65″ H And 0.73 Lbs., The Nanopad’s Compact Footprint Enhances Its Appeal.

The Nanokontrol Features Nine Faders, Nine Knobs, 18 Switches And A Full Transport Section For Maximum Control In A Space-Effective Package (12.6″ W X 3.23″ D X 1.16″ H And 0.64 Lbs.). With Four Programmable Scenes, The Nanokontrol Can Transmit A Total Of 168 Different Midi Control Change Messages, As Well As Midi Notes Via The Switches. The Six Transport Buttons Can Each Transmit Either Midi Control Change Or Midi Machine Control Data To Control Functions Such As Start, Stop, Loop Or Record On Daw Software. Attack And Decay Times Can Also Be Specified For The 18 Switches, Enabling The User To Smoothly Feed Controller Messages To Parameters That Require A Range Of Multiple Values Such As Effect Wet/Dry Level, Synth Filter Or Volume Fader.

Software

The Nanokey Includes A Download Code For The Full Version Of Korg’s M1Le Software. An Upgrade Path To The Korg Legacy Digital Edition Software Suite Is Also Available, Containing An Expanded Version Of The M1 As Well As The Wavestation And 19 Mdex Effects.

The Nanopad Comes With A Download Code For Toontrack’s Ezdrummer Lite. An Upgrade To The Full Version Is Also Available.

All Three Models Include A Discount Coupon For Ableton Live Le Recording Software. “Korg Kontrol Editor” Software, Downloadable Free Of Charge From The Korg Website, Provides Nanoseries Users With Even Greater Control.

Both Color Options For The Nanokey, Nanopad And Nanokontrol Are Now Available With A U.S. Msrp Of $62.00 For Nanokey And $72.00 For Nanopad And Nanokontrol.

For more information, visit their web site at www.korg.com.

2009 NAMM Show: Jazzmutant has announced the V2 software upgrade for their Lemur controller, along with price drops for both of the company’s multi-touch control surfaces. 

Jazzmutant’s Lemur and Dexter both offer multitouch-sensitive surfaces for music, with the Dexter aimed at DAW users and the Lemur a more open-ended system.

V2 comes packed with new objects and features that allow users to really interact with sound and manipulate it in real time. Workflow improvements, scripting additions and other features allow the controller to be used better, faster and more in tune with some of the most popular software applications around with Ableton Live users, in particular, benefiting from some of the new features.

Price Cuts

A V2-powered Lemur will be reduced to €/$1769,00 (£1,660) for a limited 60 day period, starting from NAMM. Jazzmutant will offer the Dexter as a DAW only controller at the heavily (and permanently) reduced price of €/$1519,00 (£1,430). Crossgrading from Dexter to Lemur will no longer be possible, the crossgrade from Lemur to Dexter remains an option.

Here are the Lemur v2 features in detail:

• Breakpoint object — Offers total control of synthesiser or sampler envelopes with a multi-segment envelope editor. Rather than assigning knobs to these sound shapers, jump right in and directly tweak an on-screen representation of the envelope. This familiar, visual interface allows you to see — and hear — exactly how you are changing the sound and you can easily add extra breakpoints with a simple double touch.
• Gesture object — This emulates a trackpad control with advanced gesture recognition and has three novel ways to interact with your sound. You can send different control messages to your computer simply by pinching, rotating or tracing your fingers. An example could be with surround sound: rotate to change the source position, pinch to change the source level, and trace to apply some filter to it. 
• Alias — Now you can easily produce a copy or alias of a controller object that sends exactly the same information to your computer. This takes up less memory and is much less time consuming than setting up a new object with identical characteristics. Manipulating the original or its doppelganger can now control the same computer parameters but from different interface screens. Moving one will automatically update its “mirror image”.
• Tabbed Container — Containers are virtual panels that contain a selection of controls. Tabbed containers allow you to change the contents of this panel at the tap of a finger. Put all the controls you need for one part of your performance in one tab, then simply push the next tab to reveal a whole new bank with zero hassle. This feature allows you to greatly improve interface layouts.
• Mouse and keyboard control — Now Lemur’s objects can be used to remotely control the mouse cursor or computer keyboard.
• Workflow improvements — Workflow improvements include the ability to simply drag objects from the new palette into the work area — any custom-made modules from your library will also appear here. It’s now no longer necessary to select a MIDI or OSC target for each parameter within an object — just choose a “parent” target and you’re done. There’s also a new ‘colour chooser’ to make your interfaces visually distinctive.
• Extended scripting abilities — A new multi-line script pane opens up a whole new world of possibilities. You can now modify the physical behaviour, appearance or size of an object in real time. Add a ball to a Multiball object by touching a pad, or zoom in on a fader for ultimate precision. These scripts can act locally or be received from the computer. For Ableton users that means it is now possible to receive clip names and colours and display them on the Lemur. Any changes in your Live set are automatically reflected on the Lemur. 

Loopmasters

Here are the descriptions:

DEEP TECH & MINIMAL HOUSE

Legendary house producer Andy Lee’s supremely recorded 24-bit/44.1kHz collection of multi-tempo edgy, dirty, and twisted samples draws a contemporary sonic line between Deep, Tech, and Minimal House — ideal inspiration for cutting-edge producers intent on capturing the current sound of global dance floors… or even influencing the future of those genres!

Content: 84 groove bass loops; 300 club-ready drum loops, including tops, variations, and percussion; 54 tweaked loops; 21 lead lines; 110 sequences and chord patterns; 16 vocal loops; 30 ready-programmed bass sounds; 40 synth stabs; 83 spoken vocal phrases; 22 SFX samples; plus 555 drum samples and one-shot hits. Tech Specs: 1.2GB downloadable original content (3.5GB DVD to follow), featuring 1,332 ACID’ised WAV files, 596 Apple Loops (DVD and download), 587 Rex2 samples, and 79 soft sampler patches (HALion, KONTAKT, EXS24, and SFZ formats).

Price and availability: From £ 29.95 to £ 34.95 (depending on format) also on DVD for £ 39.95

KJ SAWKA: LIVE DRUM & BASS DRUMS

“Hi! I’m KJ Sawka; I play Jungle and Drum ‘n’ Bass beats.” So says drummer Kevin Sawka, sensationally capable of playing the most complex Jungle and Drum ‘n’ Bass breakbeats by hand (and feet) — all without any loops or extended samples! This highly versatile and original collection contains an array of live Drum ‘n’ Bass samples and loops performed by the talented man himself, using various custom kits and recording techniques to give producers ultimate percussive flexibility.

Content: 351 dry live Drum ‘n’ Bass loops captured through a vintage Neve console; 46 processed drum loops; 100-plus live drum hits from multiple custom kits; percussion and top loops; plus 19 pre-programmed drum kits for creating user patterns, including full kits, percussion, cymbals, kicks, snares, and processed kits.

Tech Specs: 1.37GB (DVD), featuring 500 ACID’ised WAV files, 400 Drum ‘n’ Bass loops, 100 drum hits, 500 Rex2 samples, plus Apple Loops, Ableton Live Pack, and Reason ReFills (also available on DVD and via separate download).

Price and availability: £ 29.95 to £ 34.95 (depending on format) also on DVD for £ 39.95

DARK DUB (Push Button Bang)

Dark by name, dark by nature.. Dark Dub represents a musical journey into the darkest depths of Dub — the perfect sample collection for modern urban producers working in the Dubstep, Grime, Breaks, Drum ‘n’ Bass genres. Any dark modern electronica, in fact!

Content: A selection of highly usable single drum hits and effects elements, effects textures, instant seamless into backdrops, and panoramic evolving soundscapes (including 175 bass loops, 580 single drum loops, 100 rhythm loops, 100 texture samples, 128 musical melody loops, 140 hits and SFX samples, 195 single bass sounds, and 45 transition samples).

Tech Specs: 700MB collection (before file duplications) featuring 1,450 WAV samples, 500 Rex files, and 350 ready-to-play patches for soft samplers (Reason NNXt, HALion, KONTAKT, EXS24, SFZ), plus 100 ReDrum drum kits for the Reason ReFill version.

Price and availability: £ 29.95 (download only)