In this Native Instruments video, Jeremiah Savage, the creator of Sonic Fiction, explains the unusual concept and creation process of his science fiction-inspired software instrument.

Native Instruments’ Sonic Fiction is a new KORE-Powered instrument that combines field recording with advanced synthesis to create hundreds of otherworldly sounds.

Native Instruments Sonic Fiction retails for $79. Description:

Expanding on sound design paradigms established with Jeremiah Savage’s previous ACOUSTIC REFRACTIONS collection, the sounds in SONIC FICTION are inspired by imaginative Science Fiction scenarios and concepts. Unusual, complex acoustic sources ranging from volcanic mudpots to television static were carefully captured in extensive field recording sessions, and combined with the vast synthesis and sound processing capabilities of ABSYNTH, KONTAKT and KORE. The result is an array of previously unheard, charismatic instruments that are both alien and organic in their sonic character, but also highly playable and of profound musical value.

SONIC FICTION provides 100 KoreSounds with eight morphable Sound Variations each, resulting in 800 individual sounds. Concise parameter assignments allow for immediate, intuitive sound tweaking in KORE 2 and KORE PLAYER. Full musical metadata for all presets also makes SONIC FICTION integrate seamlessly with any individual collection of KORE-Powered instruments.

You can find out more about Sonic Fiction at the NI site.

This set of videos offers a visual introduction to Native Instruments’ Maschine 1.1.

• ProToolerBlog has a large list of 27+ resources for free Kontakt sounds
• Rekkerd has over 35 sources for free Kontakt sounds

If you’ve got other suggestions, leave a comment below!

Sunday Synth Jam: This track was done using only the Novation Launchpad and Ableton Live 8. Plugins used were Native Instruments Massive, Discovery DSP and ABL2.

It would have been nice to get an inset of the screen on this.

via SuicideServer:

The idea to this video came after someone asked me here on Youtube if i need all of my machines to make music – so you guys are the judge now Cheers

Native Instruments has released Maschine 1.1, a free software update for its groove production studio.

The new version optimizes the workflow and increases the creative potential of Maschine through new MIDI I/O capabilities, support for the REX loop format, enhanced controller interaction, and more.

To allow producers to easily incorporate external gear into their Maschine projects, the new version adds MIDI I/O functionality. Hardware synthesizers and similar devices can now be controlled from the Maschine sequencer both through polyphonic tracks and from individual monophonic sounds within a Group, while a special “Batch Setup” function makes it easy to set up MIDI input configurations in existing projects. Maschine 1.1 also adds support for REX files, enabling users to include pre-sliced loops in their projects that sync to tempo automatically. Any pattern in Maschine can also be directly exported as an audio file into a host sequencer or other audio software through a convenient drag-and-drop feature.

Further enhancements in Maschine version 1.1 include additional slicing options, advanced scene triggering, new metronome and record count-in options, extended controller integration for parameter adjustment and file saving, and a wide range of minor optimizations.

The 1.1 update is now available as free download for all owners of Maschine.

Native Instruments today introduced the BERLIN, NEW YORK and VIENNA CONCERT GRAND as well as UPRIGHT PIANO, four software instruments that offer detailed reproductions of some of the world’s most revered pianos.

Previously available within the acclaimed AKOUSTIK PIANO, these instruments can now be purchased individually to specifically accommodate a certain sound or musical genre, or as a bundle that offers the full range of piano tones.

BERLIN, NEW YORK, VIENNA CONCERT GRAND and UPRIGHT PIANO are available in the NI Online Shop at $79 / 69 € per individual instrument. A bundle of all four instruments is available for $189 / 169 €.

Details:

All four pianos are powered by the industry-leading KONTAKT engine, and are playable in the free KONTAKT PLAYER as well as the full KONTAKT sampler. The three concert grands and the upright piano recreate each nuance and detail of the original instruments by combining elaborate multi-sampling with sophisticated emulation of soundboard resonance and pedal behavior. Making full use of the advanced sampling and scripting features of the KONTAKT engine, they remain both efficient and convenient to use for a wide range of musical styles and applications.

Each of the original instruments was carefully set up and recorded using a special recording technique that completely minimized room ambience, resulting in pristine sound quality:

• The BERLIN CONCERT GRAND is based on a modern masterpiece of German piano construction, and carries the original’s vitality and expressiveness throughout the entire dynamic range.
• The NEW YORK CONCERT GRAND is the authentic rendition of the standard in concert halls worldwide, especially suited for jazz and classical solo material.
• The VIENNA CONCERT GRAND replicates an acclaimed Austrian piano design, with eight full octaves of powerful, orchestral sound.
• Complementing the three concert grands, UPRIGHT PIANO offers the warm and intimate tone of one of the world’s best concert pianos.

NI’s new Traktor Kontrol X1, up close and personal….

This is a video introduction to Native Instruments’ Traktor Kontrol X1, a new DJ controller designed by the team behind Traktor DJ.

Native Instruments today announced Traktor Kontrol X1, a performance controller designed by the team behind Traktor DJ.

Description:

Traktor Kontrol X1 provides DJs of all styles and genres with a way to control loop, cue, effect, track selection and transport functions of their system. The unit accommodates the two most common digital DJing paradigms – it complements a typical timecode-controlled Traktor Scratch setup consisting of a hardware mixer, turntables or CD decks, and also works as a self-contained controller for DJs who play beat-gridded tracks with Traktor software and mix externally.

Two X1 units can also be combined into a four-deck setup that controls all decks and effect units of Traktor Pro or Traktor Scratch Pro simultaneously.

Traktor Kontrol X1 is equipped with precise buttons, knobs and encoders, complemented by dynamic colored backlighting for additional visual feedback. The X1 integrates with the Traktor software through a dedicated high-resolution protocol, resulting in a level of precision and responsiveness beyond what regular MIDI-based controllers can provide, and allowing for true plug-and-play operation with no setup or specific configuration required.

Traktor Kontrol X1 has been specifically designed for usage in performance environments. Its compact casing is both robust and lightweight for high portability, and the special vertical form factor makes the unit fit seamlessly within a typical club setup. The optional carrying bag for the X1 doubles as a stand that raises the controller surface to match the height of typical DJ mixers.

Traktor Kontrol X1 can be used to control any MIDI-compatible DVS, DJ software or music performance application. The optional MIDI mode of the controller can be engaged on the fly via a dedicated button on the unit.

The X1 also comes with a carefully designed set of parameter assignments for the Serato Scratch Live system, matching the relevant features of the software to the controller without any setup effort. A special Serato Scratch Live overlay for the X1 is also available.

Traktor Kontrol X1 also ships with Traktor LE, software that provides two decks with essential looping, effects and mixing features, turning X1 into an entry-level solution for digital DJing.

Traktor Kontrol X1 will be available in February 2010 for a suggested price of $229 / 199 EUR. The carrying bag / stand for Traktor Kontrol X1 will be available for $49 / 39 EUR.

This video gives an overview of what’s new in Native Instruments Komplete 6.

via NativeInstruments

Glass Works is the first SC product to be packaged in Native Instruments’ Kontakt Player, meaning that non-Kontakt owners can enjoy the enhanced scripting and control that Soniccouture instruments have become renowned for.

Glass Works is a sampled collection of 3 instruments which generate sound from glass.

These are :

• Le Cristal - A bizarre ’sound sculpture’ designed in 1952 by Bernard and François Baschet. It consists of about 4 octaves of chromatically tuned glass rods, which are rubbed with wet fingers. The vibration of the glass is passed to a heavy block of metal, which itself is tuned and in fact determines the final pitch. The entire mechanism is amplified by a large steel plate, called the “fiame”. There are also three small fiberglass cones that amplify the higher frequencies.
• The Glass Armonica – A musical instrument that uses a series of glass bowls or goblets graduated in size to produce musical tones by means of friction (instruments of this type are known as friction idiophones ). The instrument was invented by Benjamin Franklin, who called his invention the “armonica” after the Italian word for harmony. He worked with London glassblower Charles James to build one, and it had its world premiere in early 1762, played by Marianne Davies.
• Cloud Chamber Bowls – The Cloud Chamber Bowls are Soniccouture’s recreation of an instrument built in the 1960s by maverick American composer Harry Partch. It consists of hanging “bowls” which are sections of 12-gallon glass carboys. Both tops and bottoms of the carboys are used. Partch had 14 (later 13) bowls hanging from a large wooden frame he called a “tori”. The name “Cloud Chamber Bowls” arose from the fact that Partch found the original tops and bottoms at a Radiation Laboratory at UC Berkeley in 1950. The bowls were originally used for cloud chambers used in tracing paths of subatomic particles.

Glass Works is available now on DVD and Download, priced GBP 99 / USD 159.

This demo of the rare Zion Turbo Guitar Synth Controller demonstrates how cool guitar synthesizers can be.

This clip shows the Zion Turbo synth guitar used with the Roland GI-20 to drive Native Instruments Reaktor 5.0 and Arturia V2600. A BX-13-VX is used to interface between the 24-pin and 13-pin interface.

via WayneJoness:

Super rare, American-made Zion Turbo Guitar Synth Controller, designed for the vintage 24-pin Roland Guitar synthesizer series, and build in the mid-nineteen eighties.

Native Instruments has released an excellent free video tutorial series (above) on Maschine, their hardware/software music production workstation.

The Maschine tutorials cover:

• An overview
• Live recording
• Step recroding
• FX and automation
• Sampling with Maschine
• Beat slicing
• Scenes & performing
• Exporting audio from maschine
• Software sequencer integration
• Using Maschine as a MIDI controller
• Controlling Traktor Pro with Maschine
• Controlling Ableton Live with Maschine

Kontakt 4: This set of Native Instruments videos take a look at Kontakt 4, including:

• an overview of what’s new in Native Instruments Kontakt 4;
• the new Authentic Expression Technology of Kontakt; and
• how to find the sound you are looking for in the Kontakt 4 browser.

This set of videos take a look at Native Instruments’ Absynth 5 software synthesizer, including:

• an overview of what’s new in Native Instruments Absynth 5;
• how to use the new Aetherizer of Abynth 5 in a few simple steps; and
  
• how to use the new Mutator technology and the convenient fine-tuning controls.

This is a quick demo that shows how you can browse sounds and samples on Native Instruments Maschine, from the hardware, and how this lets you make music without looking up from the controller.

via SoundsAndGear

Native Instruments

Details on each of the releases below or see the Native Instruments site for  more information.

ABSYNTH 5 marks a new generation of the acclaimed semi-modular software synthesizer that is renowned for its unique evolving sounds and textures. The new version enhances the profound sonic capabilities of ABSYNTH with powerful additional synthesis and effects features as well as overall improved audio quality, and offers an ingenious new way to create complex sounds via “mutation” based on musical attributes.

ABSYNTH 5 is available in the NI Online Shop for a price of $199 / €179. An update for owners of previous versions of ABSYNTH can be purchased for $79 / €69.

More information on ABSYNTH 5 including audio demos can be found at http://www.native-instruments.com/#/en/products/producer/absynth-5/

With GUITAR RIG 4 PRO, Native Instruments raises the bar on sonic authenticity with new speaker emulation technology, and further expands on nearly all aspects that set GUITAR RIG apart as the most capable digital guitar solution. The advanced speaker emulation is also the basis for the versatile new “Control Room” module, which allows users to freely mix and match up to eight phase-aligned studio microphones for each cabinet, providing an unlimited range of high-end studio recording tones.

GUITAR RIG 4 PRO is available in various versions to accommodate guitarists and producers of all categories. The GUITAR RIG 4 PRO software is available for a suggested retail price of $199 / €179 . Further versions of GUITAR RIG 4 include GUITAR RIG KONTROL with included foot controller/audio interface ($449 / €399), GUITAR RIG 4 ESSENTIAL as a more affordable software version with a reduced feature set ($99 / €89 ), GUITAR RIG SESSION which combines GUITAR RIG 4 ESSENTIAL with the SESSION I/O audio interface ($249 / €229), and GUITAR RIG MOBILE which now also includes the mid-range GUITAR RIG ESSENTIAL software ($119 / €99).

More information on GUITAR RIG 4 PRO including audio demos can be found at http://www.native-instruments.com/#/en/products/?pwfilter=guitar

KONTAKT 4 is a new version of the industry-leading software sampler. Taking the unrivalled performance and versatility of KONTAKT for music production, live performance and sound design even further, the fourth generation adds powerful “Authentic Expression Technology,” unique sample compression, an extended studio-grade sound library complete with a convenient new database system, and much more.

KONTAKT 4 is available for a suggested retail price of $399 / €379 at authorized dealers and in the NI Online Shop. An update for owners of previous versions of KONTAKT can be purchased for $149 / €129.

More information on KONTAKT 4 including audio and video demos can be found at http://www.native-instruments.com/#/en/products/producer/kontakt-4/

KOMPLETE 6 is the latest version of Native Instruments’ popular software bundle that has become a mainstay with professional musicians and producers. The new collection offers a veritable arsenal of acclaimed instruments and effects that cover all areas of modern music production. KOMPLETE 6 incorporates the latest ABSYNTH 5, KONTAKT 4 and GUITAR RIG 4 PRO versions, complemented by BATTERY 3, FM8, MASSIVE and REAKTOR 5. All included products offer comprehensive compatibility for current host software versions and operating systems.

Native Instruments

Traktor 1.2 Features:

• Users of TRAKTOR PRO and TRAKTOR SCRATCH PRO are treated to three extra effects in 1.2. Taking the total to 24, this update adds a Beat Slicer, Formant Filter and a Peak Filter.
• The TRAKTOR effects section just got twice as nice. With the addition of two more effects units (in PRO versions only) the potential for warping and twisting your tracks has been vastly increased.
• TRAKTOR now supports the HID (Human Interface Device) protocol for the Pioneer CDJ-400 and display support for the Denon DN-HC4500. HID is an alternative to MIDI control that boasts a much improved sensitivity, meaning even more precise control over pitch control and effects parameters etc. HID also utilizes the product displays to show TRAKTOR info such as track name, remaining time etc, directly on the hardware.
• The new advanced Élastique time stretching algorithm delivers a new level in time-stretching quality at an amazing workload efficiency. The algorithm has been developed to detect tonal and transient components in your tracks with high accuracy, making the Keylock function in TRAKTOR 1.2 sound pristine. The new algorithm also ensures exceptional efficiency in CPU usage.

Other Updates In Traktor 1.2

• Drag and Drop from decks to playlist
• Two additional favorite playlist slots
• New Progressive Sensitivity option for Pitch Bend
• Customizable Cue Play button behaviour (Instant On Release)
• Additional Preparation List features with diamond icons, Append/add next menu functions
• Adjustable minimum playtime filter for play count and history functions timecode
• Internal EQs enabled for external mixer mode
• New track caching technology with reduced memory footprint
• Improved Tap Tempo function
• Direct tag editing in Explorer node
• Pitch Bend controller assignable to jog wheels
• One-Click setting of hotcues

Traktor Version 1.2 is a free update.

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

Richard Devine is one of the early users of Native Instruments new The Finger, a $79 keyboard-controlled performance effects processor developed with electronic music artist Tim Exile of Warp Records.

He created this glitchtronica freakout, and has this to say about The Finger:

Here is a little experiment I tried using Tim Exile’s new Finger Plug-in with Logic 9.

I was running some of my drums on a track in Logic’s Flex mode, slightly drawing in graphic tempo changes, and automating all the parameter twist knobs drastically, while programming every MIDI parameter I could assign on the piano roll editor, Doing more then my two hands could do=) Just letting it all go crazy.

Some strange interesting results indeed. =)