Category Archives: Workstations

Native Instruments Maschine 1.8 Now Available – Here’s What’s New

Posted on by
10

MaschineNative Instruments has released an update to Maschine, version 1.8.

Here’s what’s new in Maschine 1.8:

  • Offline time stretching and pitch shifting feature
  • Transient Master
  • Tape and Tube Saturators
  • Save group with samples feature
  • Improved handling of missing samples
  • Revised select page (hardware) with access to note length
  • Quick select events of a sound in a pattern (Shift + Select + Pad)
  • Quick erase events of a sound in a pattern (Erase + Select + Pad)
  • Pre-hear samples from the hardware browser before loading them
  • Choke all playing sampler voices feature (“panic button”: Shift + Mute)
  • Sample play position indicator on the waveform (hardware and software)
  • AutoWrite pinning feature
  • Various bug fixes

See the NI site for details.

New Korg Krome Workstation Priced Starting At $999

Posted on by
33

Korg Krome Workstation

Korg earlier in the week introduced the Krome keyboard line – a new family of workstation keyboards.

The response here and at the Korg Facebook page was mixed. Some readers were hoping that Korg’s ‘major announcement’ would be a new analog synth, while others were disappointed by what they saw as another “generic, overpriced workstation keyboard”.

Now Korg has released pricing details for the Krome, though, and it looks like the new workstation is priced very competitively, given its features. Krome features include sounds derived from their flagship Kronos keyboard, a 7-inch color touchscreen, unlooped piano samples and integration with your DAW.

The Korg Krome is available in three models:

  • Krome 61 (Semi-Weighted Keybed)- $999
  • Krome 73 (Semi-Weighted Keybed) – $1,199
  • Krome 88 (Natural Weighted Hammer Action) – $1,599

Product Highlights: 

  • Kronos-derived full length, unlooped piano and drum sounds, plus new electric pianos
  • Electric pianos with eight-level velocity switching
  • Korg?s 7-inch color TouchView display
  • Drums offering separately mixable direct and ambient sounds
  • Drum Track plays back realistic grooves at the touch of a button
  • 640 Programs and 288 Combinations
  • Powerful Effects with 5 Inserts, 2 Master, and 1 Total FX, plus per track/timbre EQ
  • Aluminum panel design
  • USB connection to your computer, plus an SD Card slot for data storage
  • You can use the Krome editor to edit sounds on your computer
  • Available in 61, 73, and 88 key models.

We’ve got the official intro video and specifications below. See the Korg site for more details.

Continue reading →

Korg Krome Workstation

Posted on by
53

Korg Krome Workstation

Korg has introduced the new Krome workstation line, available in 61, 73 & 88 key models.

YouTube Preview Image

Key Features:

  • KRONOS-derived full length, unlooped piano and drum sounds, plus new electric pianos designed to shine on stage
  • Electric pianos with eight-level velocity switching for unmatched expressive power
  • Clear, intuitive control with Korg’s exclusive 7-inch color TouchView? display
  • Drums offering separately mixable direct and ambient sounds for studio-grade quality
  • Drum Track plays back realistic, inspiring grooves at the touch of a button
  • Expertly created, in-demand sounds including 640 Programs and 288 Combinations
  • Powerful Effects with 5 Inserts, 2 Master, and 1 Total FX, plus per track/timbre EQ
  • Distinctive aluminum panel design exudes a sense of quality
  • USB connection to your computer, plus an SD Card slot for data storage
  • You can use the KROME editor to edit sounds on your computer
  • Available in 61, 73, and 88 key models.

Details and demos below.

Continue reading →

Native Instruments Intros Maschine MKII

Posted on by
29

Native Instruments has introduced Maschine MKII, the next generation of its hardware/software beatmaking workstation.

Here’s what’s new with Maschine MKII:

  • Each one of the 16 touch-pads can be assigned a different color to easily separate and identify sounds, patterns, groups, and scenes.
  • With the new Maschine, you can timestretch and pitch shift your samples directly from the hardware, eliminating the need to jump back and forth from host systems.
  • The Maschine MKII controller now has a master push encoder with grid, and 47 all-click-buttons that help to speed up the workflow.
  • The Maschine MKII’s high contrast displays have a higher viewing angle that will help keep things visible, even with some difficult live performance placements.
  • The new Maschine also allows for Host Transport Control, meaning that the hardware’s transport controls can be used to control the host DAW when the unit is being used as a VST, Audio Unit or RTAS plug-in.
  • There are also some new effects such as Transient Master, Tape and Tube Saturators; and
  • A full version of the Massive synthesizer is included.

Details and video demo below.

Continue reading →

Korg USA Announces Lower Prices On Korg Kronos Workstation

Posted on by
24

At the 2012 Summer NAMM Show, Korg USA announced the arrival of the Kronos X Music Workstation, an expanded Kronos, featuring boosts in internal memory capacity and the size of its SSD, plus enhanced sampler functionality.

Korg has also announced lower prices on its original Kronos workstation models:

  • Kronos 61 – U.S. street price $2799.00
  • Kronos73 – U.S. street price $3299.00
  • Kronos88 – U.S. street price $3499.00

Continue reading →

Native Instruments Slashes Prices On Maschine, Maschine Mikro

Posted on by
20

Native Instruments has announced that it’s slashing the price of both Maschine & Maschine Mikro. Through August 31st, 2012, Maschine is available for 399 $/?, and Maschine Mikro for 249 $/?.

  • Maschine – The hardware controller that combines the flexibility of computer-based music production with the ease of a groove box into one powerful creative tool. Until August 31st, it’s priced at 399 $/? (originally $599/599 EUR).
  • Maschine Mikro – The compact music production studio ? the same pads, the same software and the same 6 GB+ library as MASCHINE, but smaller and highly portable. Until August 31st, it’s priced at 249 $/? (originally $399/399 EUR).

See the Native Instruments site for details.