Cult of the Maschine is a techno jam produced entirely with Native Instruments’ Maschine.

via SuicideServer:

A little loveletter to Natives Maschine and my other lovely gear. This is the fist time i did a video with Modul8 to add some more spice instead of the old finger cam. The track was produced entirely with Maschine, which was hosted in Ableton Live8. I used a delay and Beatlookup from the Reaktor User Library. Enjoy

7aliens’ Catanya is a polyphonic pattern-based software arpeggiator VSTi MIDI plugin.

It retails for about $70.

Features:

• next generation pattern arpeggiator
• easy to use
• fully editable patterns
• multiple instances
• 9×32 note matrix
• 1100 presets (music phrazes)
• supports recording final output into DAW for additional editations
• presets browser with ability to choose genre, style, rhythm, instrument, tempo
• applicable with any VSTi plugin or external HW synthesizer (via DAW’s midi out)
• unique AI Random functions for making unique velocity Groove
• realtime velocity spread
• support Cubase, Ableton Live, Reaper, FL Studio, Mackie Tracktion, NI Kore 2, EnergyXT

Predefined Presets
By Musical Instrument

• Basic Arpeggios 54
• Basses 386
• Drums&Percussion 101
• Guitars 50
• Pads 27
• Pianos 262
• Strings 31
• Synth 217

By Music Style

• Dance 330
• Classical 19
• Free (Universal) 192
• Funk 27
• Jazz 48
• Pop 147
• Rock 93
• Urban (Hip Hop, R&B) 155
• World 123

Sunday Synth Jam: Anti-snob Torley demos his steel guitar synthesizer playing secrets.

This video demonstrates instrument articulations in the North India Kore Soundpack, a new Hindustani instrument library for the Kore platform. Examples include the Sitar, Tabla and Bansuri.

More on NI’s North India Soundpack at the Native Instruments site.

If you’ve used the North India Kore Soundpack, leave a comment with your thoughts!

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.

In this official Native Instruments video, songwriter and producer Bryan-Michael Cox talk about software synths and Kore 2.

Based on unusual acoustic sample material and brought to life through advanced sound programming, this new library for KORE 2 and the free KORE PLAYER offers highly original instruments for music projects that would benefit from “weird and wonderful tones and textures”.

Acoustic Refractions was created in collaboration with prolific sound design artist Jeremiah Savage, who recorded an assortment of unusual acoustic samples from “everyday objects” as the starting point. The sonic raw material at the heart of this KORE SOUNDPACK comes from items such as light bulbs, blocks of ice, washing machines, spray cans, shredded paper, water, glass and stones, and even the Golden Gate Bridge.

This source material is processed through the powerful KONTAKT sample engine integrated in KORE 2, which renders the sounds into fluid, atmospheric instruments that are highly playable despite their unusual sonic origin.

Acoustic Refractions includes 100 individual KoreSounds, complete with morphable Sound Variations for added sonic variety and concise parameter assignments for immediate, intuitive sound tweaking in KORE 2 and KORE PLAYER. Full musical metadata for all presets also makes Acoustic Refractions integrate seamlessly with any individual collection of KORE SOUNDPACKS.

Acoustic Refractions is available for download purchase in the NI Online Shop for $79 / €:69.

Native Instruments

To celebrate a great year for music production, Native Instruments has prepared this free gift for you. KORE SOUNDPACK COMPILATION VOL.1 is a full-featured production-ready sound library that includes 100 Kore Sounds plus 700 Sound Variations, taken from twelve different KORE SOUNDPACKS. You will find a wide range of carefully selected synthesizers, acoustic instruments, percussion, groove construction kits and multi-effects patches, instantly usable for a wide range of musical styles and genres.

Download links:

• PC version
• Mac version

Native Instruments REAKTOR SPARK is a KORE Soundpack based on the new Spark performance synthesizer designed by NI founder and REAKTOR mastermind Stephan Schmitt. 

Spark was designed by Stephan Schmitt as a personal project over the course of three years, with the goal to create a synthesizer with a highly energetic sound character and maximum potential for real-time expression.

According to Schmitt:

The structure of Spark reflects my personal preferences in regards of synthesizers. Instead of creating a full-blown mega/multi-purpose synth, I try to keep it as small as possible and with a special character.

A main goal is to allow dramatic real-time influence on the sound source. The synth itself offers only a few simple automatic movements (2 envelopes and 1 monophonic LFO). Like a natural instrument, it needs to be played expressively and therefore stays a challenge for the player and the sequencer programmer.

Create Digital Music has an interesting look at the ideas behind NI’s Spark.

REAKTOR SPARK is available for download purchase in the NI Online Shop for a suggested retail price of $59 / 49 EUR.

Spark combines powerful subtractive synthesis with a sophisticated array of internal feedback loops and various other special sound shaping features. This allows its distinctive sonic output to cut through any musical arrangement with vivid, animated and organic tones, which are especially gratifying when played live with a keyboard and a set of real-time parameter controls.

The REAKTOR SPARK sound pack built around Spark makes this powerful synthesizer conveniently accessible for users of KORE 2 and the free KORE PLAYER, providing 200 versatile presets as well as intuitive sound tweaking options through the unified KORE interface. Owners of REAKTOR have access to the full set of Spark’s parameter and control elements, and can also explore and modify the complete signal flow structure of this extraordinary instrument.

This video, via CDM, demonstrates the Native Instruments Spark synthesizer in Kore, with its parameters being modulated by the Blackbox recorder.

True Strike Tension is built on sample material that has been carefully selected from ProjectSAM’s acclaimed True Strike 2 library. It draws upon various  percussion instruments from Africa, Japan and the Middle East, including the Kenkeni, Darabuka, Bendir, Okedo-Daiko and others.

All sounds in True Strike Tension are designed to add suspense, tension and emphasis, with a special focus on Hollywood-style film scoring.

The sound shaping and preset morphing features in Kore 2 and Kore Player let you adjust and animate all sounds in True Strike Tension to make them better fit the dramatic requirements of any scene.

True Strike Tension is available for download purchase in the NI Online Shop for a suggested retail price of $79/€69.

Audio demos are available at the NI site.

This video, via Create Digital Media, explores using Massive in Kore for hands-on control. It also takes a look at some creative signal routing and modulation possibilities in Massive.

Feedback is something people primarily associate with rock, heaviness and sludge, but there’s something here for the meditator as well as the rockist.

It’s a nice demo and showcases the range of Massive.

Kore 2 Software Edition is designed for those who want to combine Kore 2 with their existing MIDI controller equipment. The Software Edition provides the full functionality of the Kore 2 application, but leaves out the dedicated Kore hardware controller. All owners of Kore 2 Software Edition will also have the option to add the Kore controller later on at any time as a separate purchase.

Prices:

• Kore 2 Software Edition is available now for a suggested retail price of $229 / €199.
• Kore 2 with hardware controller included has been reduced to $449 / €399.

Drawing on the combined sonic power of Native Instruments’ most acclaimed software instruments, Kore Electronic Experience merges seven Kore Soundpacks into a single package at a substantial price advantage. Ready for use with the included Kore Player and with Kore 2, Kore Electronic Experience is a highly capable instrument and effects processor in its own right.

With 800 distinctive instrument sounds, 150 powerful multi-effects and ten unique drum kits, Kore Electronic Experience offers a deep selection of sounds specifically designed for contemporary electronic music styles, as well as for movie and game scoring.

The bundle includes Best Of Absynth, Best Of Reaktor Vol. 1, Deep Transformations, Fm8 Transient Attacks, Massive Expansion Vol. 1 And Synthetic Drums Reloaded, as well as an online voucher for the download of an additional sound pack of the user’s choice from the remaining Kore Soundpack arsenal.

With the included Kore Player software, Kore Electronic Experience is ready to play both as a standalone instrument as well as within any music sequencer application.

Kore Electronic Experience is available for a suggested retail price of $229 / 199 EUR at authorized dealers and in the NI Online Shop.

Originally released within the “Biolabs ABSYNTH Sounds Vol. 1-6? series from Camel Audio, every sound in Absynth Twilights is enhanced with consistent controller assignments and eight morphing-capable Sound Variations for Kore 2 and the free Kore Player. Full meta data for the Sound Browser in Kore also allows producers to locate sounds based on intuitive musical attributes.

Absynth Twilights is available for download purchase in the NI Online Shop for a suggested retail price of $59 / 49 EUR.

Created in collaboration with established urban music producers and sound designers, the latest entry in the Kore Soundpack range provides an assortment of hip-hop grooves, drum kits and instrument sounds for use in Kore 2 and the free Kore PLAYER software instrument.

Description:

At the heart of Urban Arsenal is a comprehensive collection of authentic hip-hop grooves and drum kits, which can be easily tweaked and transformed through the sound shaping and control features of the Kore platform. Over 1,000 sampled drum sounds form the basis for 40 groove sets and 32 drum kits, including a “human beatbox” kit from beatboxing champion Mando.

With over 15,000 overall groove variations, an “Instant Remix” function and many other creative features, Urban Arsenal is designed to make it easy to create the sonic foundation for contemporary hip-hop tracks.

The groove material of Urban Arsenal is complemented by 50 sample-based instrument sounds that use the Kontakt engine integrated in Kore, offering an assortment of typical brass, strings, bass and leads sounds as well as a collection of mini-scratches.

Additionally, the sound pack includes 70 new synthesizer sounds that take advantage of the integrated engine of the powerful Massive synthesizer, with a range of inspiring leads, sub basses, pads, bells and mallets specifically designed for urban music styles. All instrument sounds can be adjusted, tweaked and even morphed using the intuitive macro controls and Sound Variation features of Kore 2 and Kore Player.

Urban Arsenal is available for download purchase in the NI Online Shop for a suggested retail price of $119 / €99.

On 11 dates in different cities, NI product specialists will demonstrate the unique musical workflow of KORE 2, and how to efficiently integrate its versatile functionality in different studio and stage setups.

Workshop topics include:

• Introduction to KORE 2,
• efficient usage of the KoreSound database
• sound design and preset morphing
• host automation and plugin management
• live use as a performance instrument.

The workshop will be interactive, and specific interests from the audience will be incorporated.

Attendance is free of charge, no prior registration required.

KORE 2 workshop tour dates:

USA:

• May 29 – San Francisco, Robotspeak
• June 3 – Miami, Sam Ash
• June 5 – Atlanta, Sam Ash
• June 10 – Santa Monica, West LA Music
• June 12 – New York, Tekserve
• June 12 – Universal City, West LA Music
• June 26 – Los Angeles, SAE
• June 26 – New York, B&H

Canada:

• June 16 – Toronto, Steve’s Music
• June 17 – Toronto, Long and Mcquade
• June 17 – Toronto, Saved by Technology

Native Instruments has released four new Kore Soundpacks:

• “MASSIVE Expansion Vol. 1″, which contains 200 production-ready leads, basses and pad sounds based on the powerful MASSIVE wavetable engine;
• “Best of ABSYNTH” with 200 outstanding soundscapes, pads and keyboard sounds from the library of Native Instruments’ acclaimed semi-modular synthesizer;
• “Pop Drums”, featuring studio-grade acoustic drum kits specifically engineered for pop productions, and equipped with an extensive collection of MIDI grooves; and
• “KONTAKT Sax & Brass”, a library of highly sophisticated trumpet, saxophone and trombone instruments, recorded by renowned sampling specialist Chris Hein and designed for Jazz, Funk, and R’n'B styles.

The new KORE SOUNDPACKS are now available for download purchase on the NI website for a price of $59 / €49, with “Pop Drums” being priced at $79 / €69.

Camel KORE is a collection of 35 presets for NI KORE which exclusively use Cameleon 5000, CamelSpace and CamelPhat, and demonstrate the wide variety of sounds which can be made by combining these plugins. The presets were expertly programmed by Biomechanoid with full controller assignments, and are free to all registered users of the required plugins.

Visit the Camel Audio website to download free demos or buy online.

Volumes 1-6 of the Biolabs Absynth soundsets are now available in KORE format for use in KORE or Abysnth 4, providing easier access to this unparallelled collection of sounds. Biolabs Sounds Vols 1-3 and 4-6 may each be purchased for $99 / €89 / £66. Visit the website to download 60 free example presets.

Native Instruments today announced KORE 2, the second generation of its advanced multi-functional host system. The new version extends and refines the concepts introduced and established with KORE – seamless integration of any software instruments and effects into a unified architecture, powerful realtime parameter control, and comprehensive sound access functionality. At the same time, KORE 2 expands its role by directly integrating powerful sonic capabilities with a comprehensive included sound library based on integrated NI instrument engines.

KORE 2 now also includes its own powerful sound capabilities, realized in a library of 500 specially designed studio-quality KoreSounds, each with multiple sound variations, covering all relevant musical styles and genres. The ready-to-use sound arsenal is based on the integrated engines of ABSYNTH, FM8, GUITAR RIG, KONTAKT, MASSIVE, and REAKTOR, and offers highly focused, musical sound shaping functions.

The standard library included in KORE 2 offers a useful selection of production-ready sounds designed by Native Instruments, with additional sample-based instruments from renowned sound provider Sonivox. At the same time, KORE 2 introduces the new “Sound Variations” concept that goes beyond the scope of conventional instrument presets. Any sound in KORE 2 can include up to eight variations, which are directly accessible within a dedicated interface area that even allows for seamless, intuitive morphing between multiple varities of a sound.

KORE 2 provides musicians with a revised user interface, and offers a new way of utilizing instruments and effects that is more efficient, more inspiring and more accessible at the same time. At the center of the KORE 2 interface is the new Sound Matrix, a highly flexible yet easy-to-use channel grid that allows users to plug in, combine and route any combination of instruments, effects, KoreSounds and MIDI files via intuitive drag-and-drop operation. In any given channel, both audio and MIDI signals can be flexibly routed within instruments and effects, which opens up vast new possibilities for creative sound design and dynamic live performance.

KORE 2 also takes the acclaimed “Find sounds fast” paradigm of the system to the next level with a significantly more powerful sound browser. The introduction of custom categories allow users to freely categorize sounds according to their personal criteria, further assisted by a new MultiEdit function. Searching and auditioning sounds is easier than ever due to an improved QuickSearch feature and a new Prelisten function that makes it possible to audition presets directly within the sound browser. KORE 2 also offers a batch import function that can transfer preset libraries of third-party software instruments and effects into its database in a single go.

The advanced included hardware controller that provides the unique hands-on capabilities of the system with its eight touch-sensitive high-resolution knobs has also been revised and optimized for KORE 2. The integration with the on-screen interface has been taken to a new level, making the controller a seamless, fully functional extension of the software. The KORE 2 hardware now focuses completely on control functionality and does not integrate an audio interface, allowing for a smaller footprint, less weight and an overall reduced price. Further improvements like a USB cable hook and a anti-theft lock option specifically accommodate live performers.

KORE 2 has also been enhanced with a multitude of other new features, including powerful and freely assignable step sequencer and arpeggiator modules, a substantially extended effects section with more than 30 highquality effect algorithms, multi-output capabilities for flexible routing of individual channels, a comprehensive context-sensitive info-pane system that explains all system features directly on screen, and a multi-lingual interface that supports five different languages.

KORE 2 will be available in June 2007 for a suggested retail price of EUR 449 / $ 499 from authorized dealers and in the NI Online Shop. Details regarding upgrade and update conditions for owners of KORE 1 will be announced at a later date.