Virtual Instruments

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. Read more…

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 €. Read more…

There’s an early review of Berna – the virtual studio app that recreates a 50’s electronic music lab – at Waveformless.

They say there’s a lot to like in Berna:

The flexibility of the matrix and the vast array of unusual sound manipulators will be a breath of fresh air to those burned out on the virtual analog trance machines that seem to get released every week. The limitations present here are faithful to what the original studios were limited to, and sometimes having those kinds of restrictions can lead you down very interesting paths you might not otherwise travel.

For sure, this isn’t the most useful piece of software in the world (to most of us), but it’s really hard to find fault anywhere with the program. The sound quality is great, the tools are weird and fun to play with (it drove my cats NUTS), and you can learn a bit about the history of your craft in the process. If nothing else, it’ll certainly give you an appreciation for how easy modern electronic composers have it.

So if you’d like a break from the norm and feel up to making some crazy 1950’s sci-fi soundtrack fodder, it’s hard to go wrong for a mere 10 Euros. [9/10]

See the full review at Waveformless.

Free Music Software: Artifake Labs have released the RedTron_400, a software version of the Mellotron M400. Read more…

Synthesis has changed a lot since the days of Switched On Bach – and it’s getting to the point that recordings of virtual instruments, and even virtual orchestras, are nearly indistinguishable from the “real” thing.

Of course, this begs the question – what is the real thing?

How close are virtual orchestras coming to traditional orchestras?

You be the judge.

I’ve embedded an example below that contains short sections from three symphonies, by Beethoven & Schumann. See if you can identify the one that is virtual – and if you can articulate why you think it sounds “virtual”.

Image: jordanfischer