Workstations

At the recent 2007 NAMM Expo, Roland announced an Oriental-themed keyboard, the EXR-46 Oriental Arranger.
The EXR-46 OR offers dozens of authentic sounds, drum kits, and phrase samples from a wide range of Arabian Gulf-region countries. In addition, authentic Music Styles have been preprogrammed into the EXR-46 OR, making it easy to create song arrangements.
The [...]

Hyundai has appointed artificial intelligence guru Ray Kurzweil as Chief Strategy Officer of Kurzweil Music Systems. Kurzweil Music Systems helped pioneer sample-based keyboard technology, but has struggled to keep up with larger keyboard manufacturers in recent years.
Hyundai, one of the world’s largest corporations, plans to work with Ray Kurzweil to “build Kurzweil Music Systems into [...]

2007 Winter NAMM Show: M-Audio announced releasede the Torq Xponent integrated hardware/software DJ performance and production system.
The system brings traditional CD DJ-style control and mixing to the world of computer-based DJing, and looks like it will offer a nice combination of dj software and an good-looking dedicated control surface.
Here are the details….

2007 Winter NAMM Show: Open Labs announced the Gen 3 series of MiKo Mobile ProductionCenter products, with powerful upgrades to the MiKo SE and MiKo LX.
Open Labs had these on display at the NAMM show, and a little hands-on time revealed that they were more than the sum of their parts. The [...]

2007 Winter NAMM Show: Korg seemed to have something for just about everyone at this year’s NAMM show. The Pa1XPro Elite is an updated version of its Pa1XPro Professional arranger keyboard. Priced like its predecessor but offering enhanced features, the new Elite version delivers two of the most popular options pre-installed, the CDRW1×8 CD [...]

2007 Winter NAMM Show: Korg introduced the droolworthy M3 Music Workstation/Sampler. The new keyboard represents the third generation of Music Workstations from Korg. It inherits elements from the flagship Oasys, distilled into an affordable music production package with a new tone generator, a wealth of innovations and new sounds.
This new chip-based synthesis system, EDS (Enhanced [...]

2007 Winter NAMM Show: Yamaha introduced a new portable synthesizer featuring sounds from the popular Motif Series, real-time control, street-smart grooves and computer integration in a portable 61-note keyboard.
The MM6 synthesizer not only features sounds from the Motif, but the quick edit knobs and arpeggios to control them. You can jam over the top [...]

Korg has announced the Pa800, a new Arranger keyboard based on an entirely new engine offering sophisticated sound and effects engines, TC-Helicon based vocal effects, real-time performance features and stereo two-way speaker system in a sleek, professional package.
The Pa800 features 61 keys with velocity and aftertouch plus Korg’s RX (Real eXperience) Technology for a natural [...]

Akai Professional has introduced the latest member its music production center (MPC) family, the MPC500.
Portable and battery-powered, the MPC500’s functionality includes drum programming, sequencing, and sampling capabilities that allow artists the luxury of creating music on the go in a compact, road-worthy chassis. The MPC500 is data compatible with both the MPC1000 and the MPC2500 [...]

NAMM 2006 Winter Show: Alesis introduced a free Version 1.20 firmware upgrade for the company’s Fusion 6HD and 8HD keyboard workstations. With a combination of new sounds, exciting new features, and software that facilitates greater compatibility with commercially available sample data, this new update is a must have for Fusion owners.

The V1.20 upgrade provides a [...]