G-Storm Plugins has released VSP-330 version 2.0 Voice Synth Plus – a recreation of the rare and nearly extinct Roland VP-330 string ensemble and human voice formant choirs.
The original Roland VP-330 Vocoder Plus was used notably by Vangelis on his soundtracks for Blade Runner and other movies.
This video, via airusersblog, offers an extendeded review of Arturia Spark Vintage Drum Machines - a software-only version of its Spark drum machine.
Sound Magic has introduced Hybrid Harpsichord – a new virtual instrument, based on an harpsichord built by Kirckman in the 1770s.
Key Features:
For details and audio demos, see the Sound Magic site.
Arturia has not been resting, lately, with recent introductions including the MiniBrute and the Oberheim SEM V virtual instrument.
Now they’ve introduced Wurlitzer V, described as ‘a high end software recreation of the classic Wurlitzer 200A electric piano.’
Unlike sample libraries, Wurlitzer V’s physical modeling engine reproduces the very acoustic properties of reeds, key action and amplification, delivering realism while offering maximum flexibility on sound. The Wurlitzer V goes further by giving you 70’s style stompboxes and tube amps.
Reader Neil Cosgrove sent word about an update to LNX_Studio – a free music environment for OS X that’s designed for realtime Internet collaboration:
LNX_Studio is a way of bring people together to make music with new and innovative tools. It’s all about creating and sharing ideas. There are many features in LNX_Studio and it’s strength lies in putting the creative process at the forefront of a networked collaboration.
This release sees some major changes, including the ability to design instruments and effects in SuperCollider. It has an automatic GUI system which is used to create and edit your own widgets. It’s ‘sequencing is driven by a fully featured piano roll.’
Developer Dimitris Plagiannis sent word about Bouzouki 8-String Acoustic -a new virtual instrument from Handmade Sounds that they describe as ‘the most realistic virtual bouzouki ever made’.
Bouzouki 8-String Acoustic Details
Bouzouki 8-string Acoustic is a Greek bouzouki sample library for Kontakt which captures the unique sound of the bouzouki and simulates a realistic playing technique.
The library is comprised of 1500+ 24-bit samples and a single Kontakt instrument patch. Note on and release samples were recorded chromatically, at soft, medium and hard velocities, down and up strokes, hammer-on, pull-off, slide and tremolo articulations. There are also multiple takes for customary major, minor and diminished chords and multiple noise samples including body resonance, fret and pick noises.
Extensive scripting has gone into the patch. This script simulates real playing by processing the velocity, speed and legato of the played notes and applying a number of rules that affect the final sound, e.g. appropriately positioning the notes on the correct fret and course, muting strings where needed, micro-tuning and fading sample attacks, and more. Additionally, there are 12 key switches that allow full manual control of course/fret positioning and articulation.
Acoustic Samples has introduced Wurlie, a new virtual instrument, based on the Wurlitzer 206A piano.
Here’s what they have to say about Wurlie:
Wurlie is a 64 keys Wurlitzer 206A piano, and as the Wurlitzer company named it, a “Student Electronic Piano”, and it has a build in amp and cabinet.
The 206A is a student model, and is very similar to a 200A except for its beige color and build in amp/speaker (it also did not come with a tremolo). We recorded it both from the direct output using a state of the art DI (Universal Audio Solo 610) and also using a pair of microphones right above the keys next to where the head of a player would be.
We also included our common features like the multiple releases and also included our sympathetic resonance system (both pedal up and down).
You also have access to various commonly used effects and a full control over the midi parameters to make it fit to your keyboards response.
Here’s a preview of Wurlie in action:
Sunday Synth Jam: Here’s a soundtrack style symphonic electronica synth jam, Supero (To Conquer).
Sonic Faction has introduced The Hatchet, a new virtual analog instrument for Ableton Live.
At the Hatchet’s core is the legendary Arp Axxe synthesizer which has been multi-sampled and re-programmed in Live.
Here’s what they have to say about The Hatchet:
The Hatchet is “a truly rich and warm sounding analog instrument that will take you back to the days of retro-synth bliss. On the surface, this synth is capable of blistering leads, smooth solos, wicked bass lines and cascading arpeggios – The Hatchet stays true to the original instrument’s parameters and capabilities.
But dig deeper and you will find a flexible and ever-changing wonder-synth that is full of sonic surprises. Sonic Faction has upped the ante by adding a whole rack of distortion FX as well as reverb, delay, psuedo-side chaining, resonator and more.”
The Hatchet also comes with a custom made step sequencer for the Novation Launchpad.
Sonic Faction is offering a 10% discount code, through the end of April, on The Hatchet, and all their instruments. Use discount code: 04synthtopia.
Retronyms today made an interesting announcement – it’s bringing the Akai MPC Fly app to Tabletop, its virtual studio for the iPad.
MPC Fly, announced at this year’s NAMM Show, is a hardware + software combination that turns an iPad into an old-school style MPC. The MPC Fly hardware is an iPad case that doubles as an MPC controller. The MPC Fly app runs on the iPad and offers basic MPC functionality.
Here’s what Retronyms has to say about the Akai deal:
As you may know, we’re working with Akai Pro on the official MPC App for iPad. And now we can announce that the MPC will be available as a device inside Tabletop!
The MPC on iPad is going to be a blast with classic MPC beat making features, sweet effects, and a killer sampling workflow, and now you’ll be able to work this legendary device into your Tabletop sessions!
Possibly the best part is how it works: owners of the stand alone MPC app will automatically unlock the MPC device in Tabletop for free — no need to purchase it twice!
Pricing and availability are to come.
What do you think of the idea of running an Akai MPC in Tabletop?