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01-31-08 / 11:41 PM : Rhodes return (cjed) |
Rhodes announced that the production of the famous electric pianos will start again, after 25 years. We should see a Mark 7 soon. |
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01-31-08 / 11:33 PM : Realsamples Grand Piano - Erard Pianoforte (cjed) |
Realsamples provides audio demos of its new piano samples library, Grand Piano (Erard Pianoforte) - Edition Beurmann. It brings 32, 16 and 8 velocity layers and 24 bits/192 Khz samples. It is priced 120$. |
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01-30-08 / 11:10 PM : EastWest Goliath : new instruments list (cjed) |
EastWest now gives the list of new instruments found in Goliath (8 Gb new samples compared with Colossus) : DRUMS/PERCUSSION (
Custom Congas, Distorted Beatbox, EW Studio 2 Ludwig Kit, Radiostatic Anamoly, Rhythmic Synth FX, Tong Zi, Tambourines, Tibetan Bell), GUITARS (Concert Guitar, Fender Telecaster, Fender 5 String Bass, Hard Rock Rhythm Guitar, Les Paul Guitar, Ska Guitar), KEYBOARD/MALLET (Italian Accordion), ORCHESTRA (New Flute, Staccato Flute, 6 French Horns, Legato Violins and Cellos, Marcato Violins and Cellos, Orchestral Percussion Kit, new Trumpet, Staccato Trumpet, new solo Violin), PIANO/ELECTRIC PIANO (PMI Bosendorfer 290 - full version -), CHOIR/VOCAL (New Basses, Tenors, Altos, Sopranos and Boys Choir, Solo Boy, Solo Female Vocals). For owners of Colossus, by keeping the Kontakt 2 licence, the upgrade costs 200 euros (plus the required iLok key). Those having buyed Symphonic Orchestra and Symphonic Choirs should expect a great quality for the new drum kit (EW Studio 2 Ludwig), new guitars and Bosendorfer piano (famous), for the purchase to be useful. However no audio demos of the new instruments are available yet. The online demos are the ones from Colossus.
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01-30-08 / 10:50 PM : Roland RD700GX et Fantom G : videos (cjed) |
Roland provides videos (from NAMM) of its new products (RD700GX, Fantom G). The RD700GX features a new piano sound (no audio demo yet except the video), a 256 Mb ROM (same size as Fantom G), and allows to play any audio file from a plugged USB key. Moreover these samples can be assigned to the keyboard, and speed and tune can be ajusted in real time. A rebate is announced for the old Fantom X series, for example 200$ plus an SRX12 card on a Fantom X8 purchase (the average price - without promotion - is 2600$), however the new Fantom G8 (3000$) seems a better choice (two times more ROM size, new keyboard). |
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01-28-08 / 09:31 PM : Steinway & Sons and Garritan : piano software (cjed) |
Steinway & Sons and Garritan announced a venture to produce a realistic piano samples library (due to Winter, 2008). |
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01-28-08 / 09:19 PM : Roland RD-700GX et 300GX (cjed) |
Roland presented the RD-700GX and RD-300GX, that replace the SX. The 700GX onboards 256Mb samples and an electric piano derived from the SuperNATURAL system from Fantom G. It can also receive two SRX expansion cards (128 voices polyphony and 16 multitimbral parts). The keyboard, of type PHA II Ivory Feel, provides ivory touch feel. Many Midi outputs and programmable zones make this digital piano a perfect master keyboard (it also features a pitch bend/modulation lever). |
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01-25-08 / 11:44 PM : Realsamples historical instruments (cjed) |
Realsamples presented 8 new collections of historical instruments (old Pianos, Harpsichords and Spinet) : English Spinet by Thomas Hitchcock, London 1718, Italian Harpsichord by Pierluigi, Livorno 1579, Dutch Harpsichord by Andreas Ruckers, Antwerpen 1628, English Harpsichord by Jacob Kirckman, London 1766, Grand Piano (Pianoforte) by Pierre Erard, London 1835, Grand Piano (Pianoforte) by Johann Andreas Stein, Augsburg 1791, Dulcitone Celesta by Dyson & Sons, London 1910 et Grand Piano (Pianoforte) by Traugott Berndt, Breslau 1848. These are the first libraries providing 192 Khz 24 bits samples (96/48/44.1 khz samples will also be available). |
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01-25-08 / 11:31 PM : MOTU Digital Performer 6 (cjed) |
MOTU presented at NAMM version 6 of Digital Performer. It brings better performances, notably through a buffering mechanism for plugins rendering. It is announced for the first quarter at 795$. |
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01-25-08 / 11:19 PM : Applied Acoustic Strum Acoustic GS-1 (cjed) |
Applied Acoustic presented Strum Acoustic GS-1, an acoustic guitar modeling plugin, that provides strum playing techniques. It will be available during the first quarter (AU/VST/RTAS) for OSX (universal binary) at 229$.
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01-23-08 / 11:06 PM : Spectrasonics Omnisphere: episode 2 (cjed) |
Spectrasonics provides a second video of Omnisphere, EPISODE 2 - The NAMM Experience. |
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01-23-08 / 12:19 AM : Korg PA2XPro (cjed) |
Korg presented the PA2XPro, a new arranger workstation (derived from the M3) fitted with a motorized touchscreen, MP3 management, extension through samples (up to 256 Mo). It is priced 3000$. We can read a first review here. |
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01-23-08 / 12:12 AM : TC Electronic Desktop Konnekt 6 (cjed) |
TC Electronic presented during the NAMM a new firewire audio interface (that can be powered by the Firewire bus), the Desktop Konnekt 6. It brings a mic preamp, Jack and XLR connections and a reverb (M40 Studio Reverb).
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01-22-08 / 12:59 AM : Art Vista Virtual Grand Piano 2 (cjed) |
Art Vista presented Virtual Grand Piano Version 2.0, a piano sounds library (uses Kontakt 2 player) that provides velocity settings for most master keyboards. It is priced 199$. |
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01-22-08 / 12:50 AM : EastWest Forbidden Planet (cjed) |
EastWest also presented Forbidden Planet, a new virtual instrument providing 1000 esoteric presets, with morphing and wave sequencer, for these kinds of music : film, TV, game, hard-driving electronica, gothic punk, industrial ambient. An original multi-effect, "Déja Vu", is included. A funny demonstration video (musical animation) is available here. |
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01-18-08 / 12:59 AM : Spectrasonics Omnisphere : video (cjed) |
Spectrasonics provides a presentation of the new synthesis virtual instrument from Eric Persing, Omnisphere. That is here for the first video. The software is expected September, 2008, and seems a good sequel to Atmosphere. |
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01-18-08 / 12:53 AM : Vocaloid 2 Prima / Ethno World 4 (cjed) |
Vocaloid 2 Prima is a virtual vocalist plugin modelled on the voice of a soprano opera. It uses VOCALOID 2 Singing Synthesis technology from Yamaha. It however only works on Windows (Vsti), and is priced 200$. That is here for stunning audio demos. EastWest also presented Ethno World 4, with very convincing audio demos (better than RA ?). It is priced 500$. |
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01-18-08 / 12:46 AM : Quantum Leap Goliath (cjed) |
EastWest also presented Goliath, an extended version of Colossus (8 Gb new samples in addition to the intial 32Gb library). The new instruments are not easily listed in the description ("new content from the latest EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP collections, including PMI Bosendorfer 290"). No new audio demo yet. It is priced 476$, and hopefully the upgrade is only 199$ for Colossus owners. |
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01-18-08 / 12:24 AM : SO Play upgrade/Complete Composer Coll (cjed) |
EasWest announced the avaibility of Play upgrades for Symphonic Orchestra. It is priced 49$ (aditionnal 49$ to keep the Kontakt 2 version). Moreover a new bundle, COMPLETE COMPOSERS COLLECTION, is listed at 956$ : it includes SO Gold, SO Gold XP, Symphonic Choirs, Colossus, RA, StormDrum, PERCUSSIVE ADVENTURES 2 and EASTWEST/PMI BOSENDORFER 290 GRAND PIANO (130 Gb). Somewhat frustrating when we spent 2000 $ (including promotions) for only the four first products... Finally Quantum Leap Pianos is announced for this January, 31, after a long delay (the same for Stormdrum 2, whose demos are finally available here). |
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01-18-08 / 12:09 AM : Roland G6, G7 and G8 unveiled (cjed) |
Roland G6, G7 and G8 are real, they have been announced by Roland. We can read the descriptions and watch a video : two more ROM size than in Fantom X (previous Fantom sounds plus selected samples from SRX cards), new SuperNATURAL ARX extensions (two expansion slots, ARX01 Drums exp and ARX02 Electric Piano available in option) that provide advanced settings (mic positions, pre-amp, modeling, 3D animations, as in recent software virtual instruments), 8,5' color LCD screen, new sequencer (128 Midi tracks, 24 audio), 22 inserts per part, backup on USB key or through USB, external edition provided through a AU/VST plugin, ivory like keyboard on the G8. Prices are unknown at this time. |
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01-17-08 / 11:44 PM : Cubase Essential 4 (cjed) |
During the NAMM Steinberg presented Cubase Essential 4, a light version of Cubase 4 including : 64 audio tracks (unlimited Midi tracks), Instrument tracks (each one limited to one midi channel input), Amp simulator, Halion One, GM sounds bank included (derived from the Yamaha Motif) that allows direct mapping and playing of Midifiles through Halion One, time stretching in real time (AudioWarp), samples editor, Arranger Track, MediaBay, freeze, PPC VST3 plugins bridge, dynamic multiprocessing management, compatibility with Leopard and Universal binary. It is announced at 149 euros for the first quarter. Finally that is close to Cubase Studio 4 features, for up to a third the price. |
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01-16-08 / 10:24 PM : Roland Fantom G6 / G7 / G8 ? (cjed) |
On many forums some Roland fans wondered if the company would unveil a Fantom G (there is still Juno G), as the Fantom X didn't evolve since mid 2004 (there was a low cost version, the Fantom Xa, in 2005) ! It seems by these photos (Roland Spain site) that it may be true, a mistake or a hoax ? We will know the truth tomorrow or in two days during the NAMM (January, 17-20). |
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01-14-08 / 11:08 PM : ESI K.ON (cjed) |
ESI presented the K.ON, a new USB master keyboard with 88 hammer action keys and 4 expansion slots (for synth modules from other vendors). It is bundled with Cubase LE 4. |
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01-14-08 / 10:49 PM : Virus TI Snow (cjed) |
Access presented the Virus TI Snow, a very good looking portable version of the Virus TI. It is 100% compatible with original TI patchs, and offers 50 voices of polyphony and 4 multitimbral parts. Included oscillator models types are virtual analog, hypersaw, wavetable and graintable. A plugin (AU/VST/RTAS) is provided to allow editing from a computer. Screenshots and stunning audio demos are available through the Downloads page. The Virus TI Snow is expected this Spring, 2008 at 1350$. |
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01-13-08 / 06:42 PM : Yamaha KX25 / KX49 / KX61 / KX8 (cjed) |
Yamaha announced new USB master keyboards (KX25, KX49, KX61, and KX8), with integrated phrases sequencer and loops, and aimed at operating more closely with Cubase and Logic. Pricing isn't available for now.
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01-07-08 / 10:44 PM : Sonart : free BASS BOX library (cjed) |
Sonart provides for free at download a new synth bass library, BASS BOX (1,3Gb - 1000 24 bits samples -, 640 patchs for Kontakt2, etc.). That is here (link Buy Now - 0$ - and account creation). |
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01-07-08 / 10:39 PM : Clavia Nord Wave Manager (cjed) |
Clavia provides at download the Nord Wave Manager, a multisamples editor for the Nord Wave (OSX and Windows). It allows a quick split of samples over the zones, and makes easier the loop settings. |
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01-05-08 / 05:54 PM : EastWest Ministry of Rock review (cjed) |
The site amazona.de provides a review (german) of Ministry of Rock from EastWest. Moreover we find below the article some links to whole new and stunning audio examples. That is complementary with demos and videos available in the product page at soundsonline.com. |
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01-05-08 / 05:47 PM : Synthogy Ivory 1.70 Lepoard update (cjed) |
Synthogy provides a 1.70 update to Ivory, that brings compatibility with Leopard (also for Italian Grand expansion). We find the two installation programs, the AU, RTAS and VST plugins. We can read a very interesting review of Italian Grand at keyboard (also listen to stunning audio demos here - the piano might be a Fazioli F-308). |
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01-05-08 / 05:34 PM : Zero-G PHAEDRA (cjed) |
Zero-G presented PHAEDRA, a synth/pads library for Kontakt 2 (4 Gb, 20 000 samples, 720 patchs). The instruments (Mini Moog D, Welsh Moog, Yamaha CS5, amaha CS-15, Yamaha CS-30, Korg Monopoly, Korg MS-20, Studio Electronics SE-1, Roland SH-101, Crumar Multiman, Akai AX-73, and Ensoniq Esq1 - this one digital) were sample chromatically (that is a sample per note, with long sustain), as usual with orchestral libraries, and the editor states that it sounds much more powerful and fat than virtual analog (modelisation) softwares. Moreover the included presets use fully Kontakt2 editing and scripting features, so they can really be a starting point to new patchs. Audio demos are provided, and it is prices 199 (1Ghz G4 required).s |
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01-03-08 / 08:59 PM : Alien music (vincent) |
Yamaha has made a new instrument interface called Tenori-on. From the demo it looks more like a DJ stuff than a real instrument! |
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