Roland V Synth XT Namm 2006

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Elastic Audio Synthesis has already captivated artists the world over. Now the V-Synth GT’s multi-core engine supercharges your expressive power, and enables sounds to go even deeper.

The power of AP-Synthesis and other innovative synthesizer technologies will give you the tools to break through into new realms of creativity. Delve in and explore unknown dimensions with the V-Synth.

The SB-246 comes with an array of percussion and rhythm sounds, as well as 24 bass sounds, fat synthesizers, acoustic instruments and special effects. Since no data loading is required, you can start to lay down tracks right away. East Coast, West Coast, Old School, and plenty of other styles in various categories make up a full complement of 80 “kits.” Each kit features a layout on 13 drum pads with built-in touch sensors bring out not only your timing, but also the dynamics and delicate nuances of your finger work.

All 210 preset patterns of the SB-246 have been pre-programmed by upcoming U.S. hip-hop artists Beat Kangz. Masters of current styles and classic hip hop beats the Beat Kangz have programmed tracks that are ready-to-go into the studio today. Intros, Fills, Endings and other variation patterns can be combined to create tracks that are ready to record.

The loop pattern sequencer is great for putting together complex tracks. Just connect a few measures and add rhythm sounds in real time by playing the pads. Non-stop programming helps you stay in the groove. Patterns can be assigned to the pads then played and switched in real time. Play loops in DJ style and end up with a finished song. Alternatively, patterns can be lined up one by one using step input, or using the FAST (Formula Assisted Song Translator) method to specify a pattern sequence and then write it out in one go.

The SB-246 is described as the ultimate machine for building authentic tracks perfect for all hip-hop styles equally at home on stage, in the DJ booth or on the street.

The SB-246 has an MSRP of $309.99.

More information is available at the Zoom site.

• Custom Control Surface Creation: Control Tracktion’s transport, navigation, options, and channels via your favorite low-cost hardware controller, or even the sliders, buttons, and keys on your MIDI controller keyboard.
• MP3 Import and MP3/OGG Export: Import MP3 files using the LAME codec, and export both MP3 and OGG files with the new menu item Export>Create an MP3/OGG file.
• MIDI Loop Recording: Create and build MIDI clips in loop record mode much like the way you can with audio files.
• Support for the Frontier Design Group TranzPort: Control Tracktion with the Frontier Design Group TranzPort Wireless DAW Controller.
• Filter Icon “Quick Control Parameter: All filter icons can now display any automatable parameter as a small horizontal slider on the filter icon for even quicker adjustments.
• File Import Improvements: Select and import multiple files from the import file dialog. Even drag and drop, or import from a CD on the PC.

Tracktion 2.1 is a free update for registered Tracktion 2 users. Just visit http://www.mackie.com/products/tracktion2.

Also new this year are six new mixing plug-ins that are free for registered users of the boxed Tracktion 2 Music Production Software budle. These fabulous plug-in processors will greatly enhance your sound and productivity. Here’s what you get with the new Mackie Mixing Tools bundle:

• MRVB-1 Studio Reverb: Simulate the effect of playing in a small garage with a concrete floor, or pretend you’re the headliner at a concert hall with the great-sounding MRVB-1 stereo reverberation plug-in.
• SP-1 Stereo Panner Plus: Boldly use this plug-in for basic panning to Tremolo, Vibrato and Rotary Cabinet effects, or get totally crazy with AutoPan mode.
• CM-1 & CS-1 Mono & Stereo Compressors: Great-sounding, easy-to-use tools for anything needing some dynamic intervention.
• EQ6M & EQ6S Six-Band Mono & Stereo Multi-Mode EQs: Six bands of frequency, gain and “Q” control with parametric and shelf mode selection for ultimate tonal control.

Download

To get the new plug-ins, Tracktion 2 users just need to log onto their my.mackie.com account. This will take them to a special section that determines eligibility. If eligible, simple instructions will walk users through the simple download, installation, and authorization process.

M-Audio has posted beta drivers for the entire FireWire-compatible family of products, including FireWire 410, FireWire 1814 and the new ProjectMix I/O. Beta drivers for the Fast Track USB and Fast Track Pro have also been posted to http://www.m-audio.com.

The M-Audio engineering team is actively working on Intel-based Mac support for the remainder of the company’s USB interfaces. Visit the Support > Drivers section of the web site for additional drivers, as the compatibility list will be updated regularly.

Also at NAMM, M-Audio software partner Ableton announced that Live 5.2 will deliver native support for new Intel Macs—in addition to significant gains in audio performance. Live 5.2 will enter beta testing as soon as the new Intel Core Duo-equipped MacBook Pro is available and is expected to be released in February. M-Audio projects the rest of its developed and distributed software will be operable on “MacTel” computers in the near future.

More information is available at the M-Audio site.

Targeted to the musician, AV and home studio hobbyist, as well as educational and worship markets, these music production systems are portable solutions for recording on a computer with the convenience of USB audio and the familiar interface of an analog mixer.

The MW10 and MW12 feature USB connectivity for direct computer audio interfacing, with plug-and-play operation under Windows and Mac OS. A downloadable low latency Audio Stream I/O (ASIO)-compatible driver is also available. Both units include bundled Steinberg Cubase LE, a cross-platform software that provides a complete solution for audio/MIDI/video playback and notation applications, making the MW10 and MW12 ideal accessories for personal or remote recording, songwriting, production, podcasting, AV applications or even live mixing. Cubase LE contains up to 48 audio tracks, up to 64 MIDI tracks and 40 VST instruments and effects, and is also fully expandable.

Model MW10 features 10 inputs, including four ultra low noise mix preamps with Phantom power. Input channels contain three-band EQ, pan and high pass filters. Top-mounted input connections include XLR, 1/4-in. and RCA phono jacks, with insert I/O for connecting to external devices on Channels 1 and 2. The mix master section includes Aux Send/Stereo Aux return, Stereo Master, Control Room and Headphone outputs.

The MW12 includes 12 inputs, with six ultra low-noise Phantom powered mic preamps. Input channels include 3-band EQ, pan and high pass filters, while Channels 1 through 4 also contain insert I/O. Two Aux sends (one switchable pre/post fader) provide flexible monitoring, while switchable Stereo and Groups are available for flexible channel grouping. Connections include XLR 1/4-in. and RCA. The mix master section includes Stereo/Aux returns, plus a Stereo 2-Track/USB return with a volume control.

“With the MW10 or MW12, you’ve got an extremely versatile interface for recording or mixing—with or without your computer,” states Athan Billias, director, Technology Products. “With the addition of Cubase LE, that interface becomes a powerful tool: you can easily combine all your different analog, digital, audio, video or MIDI sources; access the world of VST virtual synths and effects; mix everything the way you want to; then record or even print out your final result. Because they’re portable, you can take the MW10 and MW12 anywhere and you’re ready to capture that next moment of inspiration.”

The MW10 (MSRP $249) and MW12 (MSRP $379) are available in February 2006.\

More information is available at the Yamaha site.

Many messages and signatures were collected on the poster, which will proudly be on display at the Moog Music factory in remembrance of Bob Moog, a true pioneer in the world of electronic music.

Moog ignited the world of electronic music by creating the modular electronic music synthesizer. Other electronic musical instruments came before, but Moog’s was the first to achieve popular adoption by musicians. Besides engineering some of the most highly regarded electronic musical instruments of all time, Moog wrote extensively about electronic music.

In addition to his modular synthesizer, Moog is known for the Minimoog, a hugely popular portable synthesizer; theremins; and more recently, the Moogerfooger guitar pedals.

The company invites fans of Moog to come sign the poster, when in Asheville, NC. Call 800.948.1990 to set up a tour.

Apple

Other features are integrated support for the Apogee Ensemble FireWire interface, compatibility with Pro Tools HD 7 DAE, a complement of feature enhancements and improvements, and project compatibility with GarageBand 3.

Features:

• Universal compatibility – Logic Pro 7.2 ensures Logic users are poised to take full advantage of the powerful next generation of Macintosh computers as they become available.
• Integrated support for new Apogee Ensemble – Logic Pro 7.2 offers integrated support for Ensemble, the new FireWire audio interface solution from Apogee Electronics, providing superb Apogee sound quality, mix-and-match expandability, at breakthrough pricing. Multiple parameters — including headphone level, metering source, output levels, and even microphone input gain — can be manipulated from a control panel within Logic Pro.
• Digidesign Pro Tools HD 7 DAE support – Logic Pro 7.2 is fully compatible with the Pro Tools 7.1 version of DAE. All features are supported, including ESB and EXS24TDM.
• Serato Pitch ‘n Time support – Logic Pro 7.2 users can purchase a special Audio Unit version of the legendary Pitch ‘n Time plug-in from Serato — providing access to its extraordinary algorithms directly from Logic Pro’s Time and Pitch Machine or from the audio time stretch options in Logic’s Arrange window. This option renders rich and natural-sounding results, even at extreme settings.
• Improved Rewire support – Logic Pro 7.2 provides support for stereo Rewire objects — and now clearly labels the incoming Rewire streams to reflect the source application. In addition, you can create Rewire objects directly from the Create Multiple option in the Arrange window.
• Enhanced Control Surface support – The Arrange window in version 7.2 provides visual indication of which tracks are currently active on the control surface. This is especially useful with supported control surfaces that do not provide LCD or other feedback information, such as the newly supported iControl from M-Audio.
• 32-channel support for multi-channel Audio Units instruments – Users of multi-channel Audio Unit instrument applications will appreciate that Logic Pro 7.2 has an increased output capacity of up to 32 mono-channels.
• Playback of compressed files – Logic Pro 7.2 allows you to play back AAC and Apple Lossless files directly — with no need for conversion. This feature ensures project compatibility with Garageband 3 and offers great sonic quality with the convenience of smaller file sizes.
• Access two new Garageband 3 compatible effect plug-ins. – Ducking plug-in: The Ducker plug-in offers automated voice-over volume reduction functionality (“ducking”) on Output or Bus tracks. Speech enhancement plug-in: Speech Enhancer provides a simple option for cleaning up and enhancing recordings made with limited frequency range microphones.
• New royalty-free jingles and sound effects Apple Loops – Logic Pro 7.2 includes the same Jingles and Sound Effects library that ship with iLife ’06. A dedicated Effects button in the Loop Browser makes it easy to view and filter this new collection of sounds. The library includes more than 200 Sound Effects and 100 Jingles.

The Logic Pro 7.2 Crossgrade price is $49.

The Revolution is our latest concept synthesizer providing an intuitive interface which we feel most accurately represents the principles of time and music. From ancient sundials to modern day analog clocks, time has been represented as the circle, a cycle which never ends. For time itself is nothing more than our perception of the revolution of planets as they journey through their celestial orbit. It is this motion we call time which can be measured, divided, and arranged to provide the foundation of music. This circular cyclic theme can furthermore be found throughout music in everything from song structure, and repeating rhythms, to the fundamentals of sound itself, being the sin wave. With this understanding we must conclude that music is cyclic, and should so be represented in its natural form.

Flickinger was excited about his latest design, the XS analog modular synthesizer. It’s a modular synth designed to expand the sound capabilities of their existing products and other modular synthesizer systems.

“Steinberg’s development activity for this exciting new platform is continuing apace,” says Steinberg’s Director of Engineering, Markus Stehlik. “The latest version of our VST plug-in standard released at the NAMM show already supports the Mac/Intel hardware platform, and future Mac versions of our products will also support the new standard,” Stehlik adds.

Steinberg has already engineered test versions of its Cubase and Nuendo host applications for the new platform ahead of a future commercial release for the Mac/Intel versions. “We’re very pleased with our progress in the development for Mac/Intel and will be offering full support in later versions of Cubase and Nuendo in 2006,” comments Claus Menke, Steinberg’s Director of Product Management.

More information is available at the Steinberg site.

This new release includes several major development enhancements to the recording and MIDI capabilities of the program, transforming version 6 into a full-featured professional digital audio and MIDI workstation. ACID Pro 6 is expected to be available in March at an MSRP of US $399.95.

ACID Pro 6 not only continues to provide the powerful loop-based music creation tools that it’s been well known for since 1998, but now provides users with a multi-track recording and MIDI sequencing environment that will appeal to creative professionals and audio engineers looking to record, produce and mix in ACID software’s fast, efficient and easy-to-master platform.

“Since its launch nearly 10 years ago, ACID software has redefined the way music is produced by allowing users to arrange loop-based segments that matched in tempo and pitch. Our newly enhanced digital music workstation technology introduces the optimal creative platform for music composition, recording and mixing by combining our multitrack audio technologies with comprehensive inline MIDI editing and sequencing,” said Dave Chaimson, vice president of marketing, Sony Media Software.

Chaimson continued: “Starting with a new high-performance multi-threaded audio engine, we’ve reengineered ACID Pro 6 to perform faster and more efficiently not only on dual-core and multiprocessor systems, but also on single-CPU machines providing more efficient track buffering for higher performance at lower latencies. No longer simply a loop-based production tool, this application moves into the category of full-featured DAW’s by combining our highly-decorated ACID music creation technologies, superior 24-bit/192kHz audio support, with new MIDI editing and workflow capabilities that truly change the way in which engineers, producers, and musicians will create, produce and mix audio.” Award-winning composer Russ Landau uses ACID® Pro software and Sony® Sound Series™ loops to create music for “Survivor” and other popular television shows.

“Sony® ACID Pro software is my speed tool for assembling a comprehensive collection of thematic variations in minimum time,” said Landau. “Its new multitrack and MIDI capabilities are a significant enhancement to an already stellar application.”

New Digital Music Workstation Technologies

• Multitrack Audio and MIDI Recording – Simultaneously record multiple tracks of audio and MIDI into the ACID timeline through a variety of methods, including step recording, punch in/out, continuous looping and more.
• Multiple Media Files per Track – Layout multiple media files per track, including one-shots, Beatmapped events, loops and disk-based files with new automatic crossfade capabilities.
• Inline MIDI Editing – MIDI data can be manipulated directly on the ACID timeline, using either a piano roll or a drum grid interface. Edit all note position, velocity, pitch bend, and controller information using an easy, visual approach in the main multitrack interface.
• MIDI Filtering and Processing – ACID Pro 6 software provides processing of MIDI data directly on the timeline, including quantization, swing, editing of velocity values, event duration changes, and more.
• VSTi Parameter Automation – Using automation envelopes, ACID Pro 6 software provides increased mixing flexibility for VST instrument parameters.
• Drum Map Editing – The Drum Map Editor provides an intuitive way to create custom Drum Map templates, to make working in the Drum Grid even easier.
• Project Sections – ACID Pro 6 software now provides for the creation of project sections that lets users more efficiently rearrange time-based segments of audio and MIDI events located across multiple tracks.
• External Control Surface Support – ACID Pro 6 software allows for hands-on mixing using external hardware control surfaces. Control record, transport, envelopes, faders, mutes, solos, pans, and effects automation. ACID Pro 6 software includes native support for the Mackie® Control Universal, however the generic control interface option allows user-customizable mapping of up to five generic control surfaces
• Record Input Monitoring – The new multitrack workflow provides users with the ability to monitor audio signals with real-time track effect DSP during recording sessions.

Additional ACID Pro 6 key features include:

• On-the-fly punch-in recording
• Envelope automation recording
• Track record meters
• MIDI track envelopes for controllers
• MIDI keyframes for patch changes and sysex messages
• MIDI Quantize and Velocity filters
• MIDI file import and export
• Freehand envelope drawing on the timeline
• Gracenote® CD album identification
• Dual/Multi-core processor support
• Film-style panning mode for 5.1 surround projects

ACID Pro 6 core features include:

• Unlimited tracks of audio and MIDI
• Real-time pitch and tempo matching
• VST effect and VSTi support
• Over 20 real-time DirectX effects
• 5.1 surround mixing
• ASIO driver support
• Nestable folder tracks
• Beatmapper™ remixing tool
• Groove Mapping quantization tools
• Chopper™ editing tools
• Media Manager search technology
• ReWire mixer and device support
• Video scoring track (AVI, MOV, WMV)
• Integrated disc-at-once CD burning
• One-click music publishing to ACIDplanet.com

Availability

ACID Pro 6 software will be available worldwide through software stores and online retailers at US $399.95. More information on ACID Pro 6 software and the entire line of Sony Media Software products can be found at http://www.sony.com/mediasoftware.

With the Update to 1.5 at the end of January, Melodyne uno and essential will be compatible with the new Intel Macs, as will the multi-track Melodyne cre8 and studio with Version 3.1 in the spring.

The unique audio software Melodyne also profits from the considerably faster Apple computers by offering more tracks and more fluid operation. The adaptations to the Universal Binary technology required by the Core Duo’s architecture was tested last autumn and will now be integrated into future program versions.

Melodyne itself will then run without limitations, exploiting the new reserves of power. How the integration into other programs via ReWire and the plug-in interfaces will function is naturally dependent upon the adaptation of the corresponding host programs. Further information will be appearing shortly on the Celemony web site.

The updates offering Intel Core Duo compatibility will be free for registered Melodyne users. The updates for Melodyne uno and Melodyne essential will appear at the end of January and those for the multi-track Melodyne cre8 and Melodyne studio in the spring.

More information is available at the Celemony site.

NAMM 2006 Winter Show: Denon DJ

Designed to provide DJs with the ultimate monitoring tool, the DN-HP1000 headphones utilize a dynamic, closed back design for superior isolation. Additionally, these new headphones employ one of the largest speaker drivers (53 mm) in their class for outstanding audio quality at high volume levels, and feature rich bass with an extended high-end frequency response (5-33,000 Hz).

Based on market input gathered directly from DJs, the DN-HP1000 headphones’ soft padded ear cups are able to swivel a full 180 degrees because of Denon’s dual pivot action, which provides maximum comfort for hours of listening. In addition, the DN-HP1000 utilize a rugged folding design, dual nickel plated adapter (1/4″ [6.3 mm] and 1/8″ [3.5 mm]) and semi-coiled soft insulated cord with reinforced cable strain, and include a stainless steel plate etched with the distinctive Denon DJ logo on each of the headphone cups.

The lightweight (11.28 oz/320g) DN-HP1000 headphones come complete with a leather carrying bag, and are currently available with a U.S. MSRP of $199.99.

More information is available at the Denon site.

The DN-X500 is a professional 4U 19″ rack-mountable analog matrix mixer that has eight line and two phono inputs which can be freely assigned to any of four channels. Four smooth 60 mm VCA channel faders provide level control, and a responsive 45 mm VCA crossfader offers contour adjustment. Independent PFL channel meters help DJs to optimize and match levels for each source, ensuring a smooth transition between sources when crossfading.

Each channel has a 3-band equalizer with independent EQ kill switch (high-mid-low), and there’s also an independent EQ off switch. Any channel, including the Master, can be pre-monitored through the Booth Output in the same manner as with headphones, including volume control. A powerful, clean headphone output is also provided.

The channel faders and crossfader can supply 5V pulse triggers for starting playback with any compatible Denon DJ CD/MP3 player. Independent 3-band Main and Aux Mic EQ is supplied, as well as independent Cue for all channels. There is also a Mic Talkover Function with Sensitivity Adjustment.

Outputs include Master Out, Booth Out, Record Out and Subwoofer/Lighting output with frequency adjust, which is ideal for driving powered (or un-powered with amplifier) subwoofer cabinets or as a signal feed for lighting systems.

An Effects Send/Return Control is multi-channel assignable, and has a wet/dry control knob for setting the balance between processed and unprocessed signals. Effect On/Off switching is included, as is pre and post Effect Cueing.

The DN-X900 has the same feature set as the analog DN-X500, but adds numerous digital enhancements. In addition to eight analog line inputs and three phono switchable, the DN-X900 offers four digital inputs on coaxial connections. Two digital outputs are also provided in S/PDIF coaxial and TOSLINK formats.

A Track Mark feature (Track ID) allows DJs to make a new track on a CD burner without ever removing hands from the mixer. A Zone Output with volume adjust is also provided.

Both the DN-X500 and DN-X900 are compatible with the optional ACD-46 Rotary Knob Kit, enabling a rotary control to be substituted for any channel fader. Any or all four of the channel faders may be replaced with rotary controls, making the DN-X500 and DN-X900 perfect choices for either fader or knob-style DJs.

The Denon DJ DN-X500 is available with a U.S. MSRP of $499.99, and the DN-X900 is available at a U.S. MSRP of $699.99.

More information is available at the Denon site.

NAMM 2006 Winter Show: Denon DJ

The core interface of the DN-S3500 utilizes Denon’s all new proprietary 12-pole Direct Drive brushless motor design, delivering instant full rotation speed with a powerful 2.5 kg/cm of start-up torque within 0.5 seconds for true turntable reaction and response. Selectable platter speeds of 33.3 or 45 rpm offer analog manipulation suited to the user’s preference. Seven onboard effects — including four superb built-in effects such as Flanger, Filter (High-Mid-Low), Echo, and the world’s first Echo Loop — are available for realtime performance control and feature full parameter adjustment and a unique wet/dry mix control for the effects. Three platter effects — Brake (adjustable in real-time), Dump (reverse sound without losing true forward time) and Reverse (with new reverse platter spin action) — allow DJs to interact with their CDs, CD-R/CD-RWs and MP3 files as if they were on a analog turntable.

Like other highly acclaimed Denon DJ CD/MP3 player turntables, the DN-S3500 features full MP3 playback support for complete control over today’s most popular musical formats. MP3 functions include Frame Search, MP3 Hot Starts and Seamless Looping with B point trim, ID3 tag display for Artist, Title and Album, support for constant bit rate (CBR) and variable bit rate (VBR) decoding up to 320 kbps, and a powerful MP3 File Search System that can quickly and easily locate hundreds of files in various folders. Also available is a new MP3 Memo system that saves the user’s cue points and loops to internal memory, as well as the world’s first ID3 BPM tag, which automatically recalls the BPM metadata of a given MP3 file. Furthermore, once a track is chosen using the convenient parameters knob, Denon DJ’s Next Track Function with Crossfade — another world’s first — allows the user to search for the next track to be played, then set the unit to crossfade seamlessly at the conclusion of the current track. This provides non-stop mix action using tracks on the same disc, and applies to CDs as well.

The DN-S3500 also includes many powerful sample and loop functions for extended mixing capabilities. In conjunction with the 15 second on-board sampler, the world’s first Seamless Loop to Sampler Copy function allows even further creative possibilities during a performance, such as exchanging the disc during sample playback and overlaying CD scratches using the sampler. The world’s first Two Way CUE Search System features both Denon and Pioneer® cueing methods to give further customization towards the DJ’s stylistic preference. A convenient Forward/Both directional lever controls the output of the user’s scratch strokes. Two Hot Starts and seamless loops with B point trim can be set on the fly, as can further Key Adjustments and Cue Stutter points. CD Text support provides scrolling display of track names when used with many commercially available discs or with the user’s own CD-R/RW compilations. Deep pitch resolution of .02% and .05% for the ±4/10% range is available for DJs who require critical beat mixing and precision. Full pitch control is available in increments of ±4%, ±10%, ±16%, ±24%, ±50% and ±100% for CDs, with MP3 pitch adjustment in the range of ±4%, ±10% and ±16%. Shockproof memory is provided for both CD (20 seconds) and MP3 (100 seconds). Three-way pitch bend is controllable using the scratch disc, pitch bend buttons or the traditional finger-pressure along side the spinning platter.

Additional CD manipulation features include Pitch On/Off, Key Adjust On/Off, Seamless Loop, and a Memo function which can store Cue Point, A and B point data, BPM, Playback Pitch and Range for later recall. Up to 5,000 track points can be saved to internal memory and shared with others Denon players. The instant start (0.02 seconds) integrity and high quality player mechanism assure further confidence and control in performance applications.

The convenient Power On Play feature allows for unattended playback on power up, and unattended Relay Play is possible between two DN-S3500’s for smooth uninterrupted playback when the DJ requires a short break. The unit is also compatible with all Denon DJ mixers for Fader Start Control directly from the mixer’s interface. Convenient Play Lock and Eject Lock features prevent unintentional track change or disc eject during a live performance. Furthermore, customizable paper slip mats can be applied under the removable clear scratch disc for platter personalization. A large fluorescent tube display provides ample at-a-glance recognition, with extra visual cues such as the EOM function which flashes the status time bar to alert users that the current track is about to end, and 3-way BPM counter. Features include a digital output and CD-ROM upgradeable internal software to round out this complete digital DJ turntable solution.

The Denon DN-S3500 Professional Direct Drive CD/MP3 Player is available with pricing of $699.99 MAP and MSRP of $879.99.

More information is available at the Denon site.

Emulator X2 builds on the unmatched sound quality of E-MU’s pristine 24-bit/192kHz sound engine and patented pitch interpolation, and can be run either standalone (64 MIDI channels) or as a VST instrument (16 MIDI channels per instantiation). Emulator X2 ships May 2006 with a 2in/2out USB MIDI interface and over 3GB of sounds at an estimated street price of $299.99. Emulator X2 will also be available as an add-on for any E-MU Digital Audio System or Xboard USB/MIDI controller ($249.99), or as an upgrade for existing Emulator X owners ($79.99).

SynthSwipe

SynthSwipe is a sampling tool that will automatically sample and create presets from any hardware or software MIDI instrument and create a playable preset. Simply set the initial sampling parameters (i.e. key range, how many notes, how many velocities per note, velocity range) and SynthSwipe does the rest with the utmost precision. SynthSwipe is an invaluable tool for sound designers and anyone who wants to bring their old synth and sound module soundsets into the computer.

TwistaLoop

TwistaLoop is a tool that automatically analyzes any audio by dissecting it into its rhythmic components, allows the editing of this audio with multiple loop points and regions, and offers total control over tempo with real-time audio time expansion/compression — all with E-MU’s patented pitch interpolation for unmatched audio fidelity.

Morph Filter Designer

The Morph Filter Designer provides users with filter creation tools that E-MU’s sound designers have been using for years to create the legendary morphing Z-Plane filters. The Morph Filter Designer now allows the construction of all-new exotic filter types that can be morphed from one type to another in real-time.

Multi-Function Generator

The Multi-Function Generator offers advanced LFO/envelope/arpeggiator programming, providing three function generators per voice that are directly tied into Emulator X2’s powerful synthesis architecture (over 100 parameters). These Function Generators have several key sync and direction modes that enable complex levels of control, and can be programmed to modulate pitch, filters, volume, retrigger samples or LFO’s, change tempo or trigger other events.

Transform Multiply

Transform Multiply is a convolution DSP tool that creates new sounds by combining the timbral and time elements of two signals in a way that reinforces frequencies common to both sources and discards frequencies not present in both. This powerful tool is applicable to everything from adding a custom reverb (by adding a reverb impulse to another sound) to full blown voice articulation of musical instruments (combining speech with an instrument).

More information is available at the E-Mu site.

“Ethno is truly unique because it combines ethnic instruments with world loops and phrases, all in one window,” said Jim Cooper, Director of Marketing for MOTU. “This hybrid approach allows Ethno to provide the most comprehensive collection of world sounds ever assembled in one virtual instrument.”

The Sounds

With 4GB of expressive ethnic instrument sounds combined with another 4GB of authentic world music loops and phrases, Ethno Instrument delivers all of the exotic textures needed to take recordings to the four corners of the globe. Ethno’s multi-column preset browser clearly organizes both instruments and loops by regions of the world, including Africa, Asia, Australia, Celtic, Eastern Europe, India, Middle East, Mediterranean, West Indies, Occidental and others. Instrument sounds may also be browsed by instrument categories, including Woodwind, Stringed, Bell/Metal/Gong, Key, Voice, Percussion and others. When the user loads a sound, a map displays the area of the world that the instrument comes from. If the user then clicks the map, a picture of the instrument appears so that the user can see what it looks like.

Musicians who specialize in each instrument were recorded in world-class studios with pristine audio fidelity and careful attention to detail. For example, many of the included instruments do not conform to Western tonality, so two different Ethno presets are provided: one preset with original, unmodified tuning and a second preset with each note tuned to conform to a Western 12-tone chromatic scale. Users can then play the instrument in its truly authentic form or easily incorporate it into music with conventional Western tonality.

Loops and Phrases

Ethno Instrument’s 4GB of stylistically authentic loops and phrases include percussive rhythms, vocal utterances, solo and ensemble voices, single-instrument chord progressions, multi-instrument rhythm sections, ornamental flourishes (such as harp glissandos), and much more. Rhythmic loops always play in tempo with each other, wherever possible, and a “Sync to Host” button allows loops to play in tempo with the time line of plug-in host applications such as Digital Performer, Pro Tools and Live. State-of-the-art time stretching technology ensures sound quality, even at extremely slow or fast tempos. Many additional looping controls are provided, such as Sample Start adjust, Double/Half Tempo and Latch mode for starting and stopping loops with a single keystroke.

Highly rhythmic and percussive loops are stored as sliced loops, similar to REX2 files. With a single click on the “Map” button, loop slices can be automatically mapped to MIDI notes as single hits or beats. Users can then trigger (and record) the individual beats from a MIDI keyboard, drum pad or other MIDI controller to completely rearrange (or otherwise manipulate) the beats any way they wish.

>> Drag and Drop

To import a loop into the host for further editing, processing and manipulation directly in the host, users can simply drag and drop the loop from the Ethno Instrument window into a host audio track. Sliced loops (described earlier) can be dragged into a MIDI track as MIDI data, where all of the MIDI sequencing capabilities of the host application, such as randomization and groove quantize, can be brought to bear on the MIDI notes that trigger each slice.

Sound sculpting and convolution reverb

The sound of all loops and phrases can be independently adjusted with a variety of intuitive sound-shaping tools, including an amplitude envelope, multimode filter, LFO, two-shelf EQ, pitch controls, and MIDI velocity response curves. Stunningly realistic built-in convolution reverb allows users to place their sounds in authentic acoustic spaces, from natural settings like caves and forests to spacious concert halls and soaring cathedrals.

Plug-in and stand-alone operation

Ethno Instrument can be used on the Mac or PC as a plug-in with any compatible host application (VST, DXi, MAS, Audio Units and RTAS) or as a stand-alone application (included), where users can load up to 64 different instruments per instance (triggered independently via 64 MIDI channels) to create ensembles of any size and scope, sub-mixed to as many as 17 independent stereo outputs (under stand-alone operation or under hosts that support multiple outputs).

A snapshot of all Ethno settings can be saved on disk as a “multi”. Multis can then be freely transferred and exchanged among computers and host programs. For example, an Ethno multi created in Digital Performer on Mac OS X can be opened in Ethno Instrument running under Pro Tools on Windows. Disk streaming can be enabled on a per instrument basis to conserve RAM resources and quicken load times. For live performance, “Expert Mode” provides advanced programming features, such as key switches, velocity layers and keyboard splits (zones). Ethno Instrument is powered by the second generation UVI Engine, renowned for its sound quality and performance.

Availability

The MOTU Ethno Instrument will ship in Q1, 2006 for a list price of $295.

More information is available at the MOTU site.

The Satellite FireWire Recording System features a two-part audio interface designed to get the best out of computer recording in both live and studio environments.

The heart of the Satellite System is the Satellite Pod, a portable two-channel FireWire interface that incorporates two of Mackie’s acclaimed Onyx preamps, as well as 24-bit/96kHz A/D and D/A converters. Additional Satellite Pod features include dual headphone/control room outputs with individual level controls, two inputs, two outputs, and a rugged portable design.

A unique feature of the Satellite System is the Satellite Base Station, which the Satellite Pod snaps into to provide AC power, additional I/O, talkback and monitor switching functions. By plugging the Satellite Pod into the base station, the Satellite System becomes a two-input, six-output FireWire audio interface with professional features such as an advanced routing matrix, built-in talkback microphone, advanced monitoring functions and surround speaker control.

The Satellite System’s two inputs can be switched between mic, instrument or balanced line input sources, and its six-channel volume control provides for surround sound mixing. Its control room section provides for switching between two separate monitor outputs for multiple monitor speaker setups.

Both Mac and PC compatible, the Satellite System works with all ASIO and Core Audio compatible software. It comes bundled with a full version of Mackie’s award-winning Tracktion 2 software, providing a complete out-of-the-box recording setup with professional features like a 64-bit high-definition mix engine, unlimited track count, ReWire and VST support, MIDI controller mapping, external synchronization, and integrated support for Mackie Control Universal and C4 control surfaces. Also included is a full set of Mackie’s Mixing and Mastering plug-ins.

Mackie Satellite FireWire Recording System Features:

• * Innovative 2-piece FireWire Recording System for professional recording to Mac or PC
• * Dual Onyx mic preamps for superior sound quality versus competing interfaces
• * 8 inputs (2 active at any time) for connection of microphones, line sources, and instruments
• * 6 line-level outputs
• * 24-bit/96kHz capable sound quality
• * Built in control room functions include talkback and A/B monitor switching
• * 6-channel volume control allows for surround sound mixing
• * FireWire protocol for low latency real time recording
• * Satellite Pod can be bus powered for field use, or externally powered, for added convenience

The Mackie Satellite FireWire Recording System will be available Q2 2006.

More information is available at the Mackie site.

With C4 Commander, keyboardists can tweak all the parameters in their favorite synths, guitarists can tweak their guitar processors, and audio engineers can unlock all the power of their rackmount reverbs while staying in the monitoring “sweet spot.”

Using an intuitive drag-and-drop visual interface, C4 Commander allows users to map parameters of hundreds of popular MIDI hardware devices to the V-pots and scribble strips of the C4, delivering hands-on control and visual feedback to the rest of your studio. More than 180 instrument profiles are included, and custom C4 layouts are easily constructed.

Users can map parameters of different devices to a single page on the C4 to use it as a live performance controller. (For example, it could be use to control filter cutoff for all your synths, both hard and software, on a single C4 controller page.) According to Mackie, “The level of hardcore tweakability is limited merely by having only 10 fingers and 24 hours in a day.”

More information is available at the Mackie site.

The system includes everything needed for portable, professional recordings including the Alpha Studio USB I/O mixer, Steinberg’s Cubase LE multi-track PC and Mac recording software, and the Lexicon Pantheon VST reverb plug-in.

Jeff Phillips, Harman Music Group Market Manager, Recording, comments, “The Alpha Desktop Recording Studio represents the entry-level of Lexicon’s family of feature rich USB audio solutions. Now, with three incredible Lexicon solutions to choose from, users can achieve professional quality audio recordings, wherever their creativity takes them.”

Alpha Studio is a bus-powered 2×2x2 USB I/O mixer packaged as a complete recording solution with Cubase LE and the Lexicon Pantheon VST Reverb plug-in. The Alpha Studio features one XLR microphone input, two TRS line inputs and two TRS & RCA line outs. Alpha’s front panel features an ultra high-z 1/4″ instrument input for direct to computer recording and a 1/8″ high powered headphone output for use with professional or consumer headphones.

Conveniently powered directly from the USB bus, the Alpha Studio can stream two channels of 44.1 or 48 kHz audio at either 16- or 24-bit resolution to Mac or PC computers. Users can record two tracks at once from two input sources. The microphone and line inputs have individual level controls and peak meters which are summed at the analog-to-digital bus. Mono/stereo monitoring is provided, as well as Zero-latency Direct/Playback Monitoring, allowing for delay-free overdubs. As with all recording solutions from Lexicon Pro, the Alpha Studio hardware can be used with almost any recording software the user prefers.

Alpha Studio will be available from authorized Lexicon dealers at an estimated street price of $129.99.

More information is available at the Lexicon Pro site.

Rapture is the latest dual platform synthesizer to come from the Cakewalk Instruments engineering team. In Rapture, musicians will find powerful and flexible wavetable synthesis in an inspired creation tool that enables vast sonic possibilities and experimentation.

Rapture combines one of the most advanced and exciting modulation systems available in any synthesizer today, with an unrivaled non-aliasing wavetable resampling engine for unparalleled sound quality and creativity.

Rapture Highlights:

• Wavetable synthesizer with cutting edge sound manipulation capabilities, well suited for electronica-related music styles
• Non-aliasing resampling engine for pristine sound quality
• Over 500 professionally-crafted sound programs
• Six fully-programmable, stereo sound-generating Elements
• Multi-waveform Oscillators with ring modulation
• Two 16-mode filters per oscillator with LoFi and Drive
• Over 40 Envelope Generators, LFOs, and Step Generators for superior parameter modulation
• Comprehensive MIDI Modulation Matrix
• Mix and modulate all Elements through global FX and dynamic Step Generator
• Superbly designed graphical envelope generators and LFOs for ease of use
• Expandable with native support for SFZ sample formats
• Mac formats: AU, RTAS, VSTi
• Windows formats: DXi (32-bit & x64), RTAS, VSTi

Sounds

Rapture sounds like no other synth, offering sound design capabilities with patches that blend up to six different Elements. Out of the box you get a collection of over 500 programs including Basses, Leads, Pads, Arpeggios, Textures, Electronic Percussion and Sequences.

At the heart of Rapture’s six-part sound engine are powerful, multi-mode wavetable oscillators. These wavetables provide an array of sonic possibilities, plus you can multiply each oscillator up to 9 times across the stereo field with controlled detuning, creating some of the fattest sounds ever heard. Rapture’s high resolution anti-aliasing rendering engine ensures that every note of every voice will be pure and vibrant.

Advanced Modulation Capabilities and Sound Design

Rapture’s modulation capabilities provide the basis for awesome synthesis capabilities sure to inspire listeners, performers, and sound designers alike. Rapture offers over 40 Envelope Generators, LFOs, and Step Generators per patch. These Step Generators breathe life into your sound, allowing for dramatic trance gate effects and percussive rhythms. With graphical step sequencing of sound parameters, Rapture provides a modern extension to traditional envelopes and LFOs, allowing you creative control of Pitch, Filters Amplitude, and other parameters.

And Rapture’s global and per-Element FX stages provide the finishing touches to your sounds. In the Global FX Stage Rapture offers 3 multi effect units with 9 Delay and 3 Chorus types, 3 Parametric EQs, and a dynamic Step Generator for volume with independent L/R control. The per-Element FX stages offer the multi-effect units and EQs mentioned above, plus two 16-mode filters per oscillator with LoFi and a 5-mode Overdrive section for additional control.

Design

Everything you need to make your sounds come to life are easy to find, and more importantly easy to use. A comprehensive MIDI Control Matrix provides for extensive MIDI controllers mapping of all of Rapture’s functions, with the added sensitivity over modulation depth and smoothness control. An X-Y pad lets you assign multiple Rapture parameters to X and Y axes, allowing you to intuitively glide between various parameter levels with ease.

Pricing and Availability

Rapture has a $199.00 U.S., estimated street price and will be available at select music and sound retailers around the world February 2006.

More information is available at the Cakewalk site.