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04-29-08 / 11:41 PM : Alesis SR-18 (cjed)
A long time after the SR-16 (shipped in early 90s), Alesis presents the SR-18. This drumbox can look minimalistic with its 32Mb ram only (500 drums sounds and 50 bass sounds) compared with the 50Gb samples of BFD or EZ Superior. However the HR16 (even older) still sounds powerfull, despites a few Mb samples size. Audio and video demos are available, and the SR-18 is priced 399$.
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04-29-08 / 11:22 PM : Arturia Analog Factory Experience review (cjed)
Audiofanzine provides a long review of Arturia Analog Factory Experience : at 299 euros it brings Analog Factory 2.0 software bundled with a mini 32 notes keyboard controller (from CME).
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04-27-08 / 10:50 PM : Copyright and use of sound libraries (cjed)
Through this study document, La protection et l’exploitation des banques de sons instrumentales, the author deals with the various kings of sound synthesis, evolving of sounds libraries, and copyrighting (also use licences). He mentions the creative commons licence and those products : VSL, Colossus, Synful Orchestra. For example, when using a loop from these libraries (rare - but some drums loops from Artist Grooves can sometimes be incredibly useful) the Soundsonline licence states :
(1) Loops must be used in a musical context with at least two other instruments that contribute significantly to the composition.
(2) The entire loop cannot be left exposed at any time in the composition.


These complementary informations will be of great help, as I plans to create Kontakt 2 samples libraries from sounds I programmed with the YS200 (FM 4 operators), D20, JV80 and XV5050 (besides the corresponding patches).
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04-27-08 / 07:41 PM : XLN Audio Addictive Drums / EZ / Artist Drums (cjed)
XLN Audio Addictive drums is a drums plugin that provides 3 kits (24 bits samples, 350Mb per kit, 3 Gb total). The user interface reminds a lot EZDrummer, but there are many more settings : besides the mixing console (dry/overhead/room, as for EZDrummer) we find a true sound editor as in Kontakt (pitch, envelops, effects). Then more than a hundred presets are available (full variations over a same kit elements). The audio demos on the site are stunning, more impressive than EZDrummer's ones. The software also brings a midifiles collection (3000), that are more original than those bundled with EZDrummer. The pricing is good, 198 euros (first in sales at Thomann.de in drums plugins category).

We can download a demo version here (180 Mb), that only includes one kit (one kick, one snare, two charlestons, a ride and a crash cymbal - no toms), but that offers many presets (25 full variations). Moreover this demo isn't time limited ! At first, it sounds more powerful than EZDrummer (and close to BDF2 demos), the kits are far more various than in EZ Drummer (including a good 80s kit). However finally the sound seems overprocessed (sound editor settings, effects), even with the clean Sonor kit, the same problem noted with Colossus kits, and that leads to a feeling of artificial or drum box sound. Moreover the charlestons included in the demo sound mudded, as if they have been recorded at a too low frequency (the same with the ride cymbal). The dynamic seems a bit better than with EZDrummer but the sounds are finally complementary (the EZ charlestons and cymbals are better, and the snare, despite being basical, produces the pressure feeling of a real drum).

Here are examples made using EZDrummer (base kit - edited - with Roger snare and GMS kick -, overhead and room setted upper), then Addictive Drums clean Sonor kit, Artist Drums's Simon Phillips kit (with two snares, the former sounding close to Adictive Drums Sonor snare), and finally the three kits together (perhaps the solution !) :

EZ/AD/ArtistDrums comparison (aiff, 10Mb).

Toms cound't be compared, however ArtistDrums toms are the best ever (some of the four Artist Drums kits include at least 6 elements). Artist Drums kits are about the same size as Addictive Drums ones : 350 Mb for wet or dry (and more than double for 5.1 kits, that merge the twos - but they aren't always necessary).
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04-23-08 / 10:42 PM : Spectrasonics Omnisphere contest (cjed)
Spectrasonics opened a contest around Omnisphere. Only registered users of a software from the company (Atmoshpere, Stylus, etc.) can participate. The goal is to produce a remix from 45 loops created with Omnisphere, and provided at download (Stylus RMX, REX2 and WAV formats). The contest ends June, 30, and winners (3 categories : Best Vocal Production, Best Instrumental Production and Most Creative Production) will receive a copy of Omnisphere when it ships September, 15, 2008.
Meanwhile we can watch the new videos (episodes) of Omnisphere here.
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04-22-08 / 11:57 PM : IK Multimedia SampleTron (cjed)
IK Multimedia presents SampleTron, a plugin including 700 presets of 17 types of Mellotron (2Gb samples total). It is multitimbral (16 parts) and 32 effects are provided. Audio demos (and videos) are available. It is priced 330$.
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04-22-08 / 11:50 PM : BDF Big Orchestral & Marching Band (cjed)
FXpansion provides a new extension for BDF 1.5 & 2, Big Orchestral & Marching Band. It includes 38Gb of samples and is priced 199$. Audio demos are available.
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04-21-08 / 11:08 PM : EastWest 2008 Contest : SCORE THIS MOVIE (cjed)
EastWest started a new contest (ends June, 30) : 2008 CONTEST SCORE THIS MOVIE. The goal is to create a soundtrack (using EastWest samples libraries) from a 2mn movie (available as download). The price is the complete Play products collection (7 total, including QL Pianos).
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04-21-08 / 01:16 AM : Roland D20 / MRC sequences (cjed)
The Roland D20 sequencer uses 2DD disks (2HD can be used by masking the hole) and sequence files are in MRC format (.SVQ extension). This was the format (MRC Pro) of the MC500 and MC50 hardware sequencers (and later MC50mkII and XP workstations).

The MC50mkII can read D20 disks and play or export them in order to convert them to Midifile format. It also allows to compose without a computer and can chain songs without pause (direct from disk). We can found the official user manual on the Roland , site or at Safe Manual (non official scans). This hardware sequencer can be found around 120$ (used), and can be handful when experiencing a bug in the D20 sequencer while sending midi sequence data through the midi out (tracks muted) : sometimes the pedal hold off are ignored (and later pedal hold off and hold on messages aren't played). It can be fixed temporarly by muting/unmunting quickly the tracks.

Giebler company provides at 55$ the Roland MC package, that includes Roland Diskette Manager and MC-50 Sequencer Conversion Software. These softwares (DOS only) allow to read Roland disks (MC50/500mkII, and probably Roland D-20 ones) and to convert the MRC sequences files to midifiles. A PC with a floppy disk drive (not USB) is required. The drive BIOS compatibility can be checked here.
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04-21-08 / 12:57 AM : Roland SRX12 : user demos / the best (cjed)
Through RolandClan forums we can listen to additional Roland SRX12 card demos (made by a user). This card is said to bring the best electric pianos ever found in a workstation (more expressive than the Motif ES sounds). There is still to compare it with the new Super Natural Electric Piano (ARX-02) extension for new Roland GX.
that is here, there and here.
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04-21-08 / 12:49 AM : New Roland GX available (cjed)
The new Roland RD300GX/RD700GX and Fantom GX6/7/8 are finally still available on most stores (respectively 1200/2100 euros and 2100/2500/3000 euros).
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04-21-08 / 12:43 AM : EastWest/QL Pianos new demos (cjed)
New demos of EastWest/Quantum Leap Pianos are available here. The users reviews on the forums are very positive, however this pianos collection (263 Gb at only 445 euros - it can even be found between 295 and 330 euros !) requires a G5.
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04-20-08 / 11:42 PM : SO Gold to Platinum upgrade (cjed)
The EastWest upgrade to SO Platinum bundle (base and XP) from Gold bundle (base and XP) is now priced 350 euros only (that is 1350 euros total for previous Gold bundle owners that paid about 500 euros each for Gold and Gold XP). After having added the item, we have to click to Edit options, and then on the Upgrade Options link.

However it should be more interesting to wait for the avaibility of SO Platinum Play version before upgrading (the promotions aren't going to vanish as usual). The previous Gold/XP licence can be kepted (35 euros) - for example to continue using Gold/XP through Kontakt for old songs (before migrating them to Platinum) -, and then use the Platinum Play version when it is available.

The Platinum bundle is now priced very low (716 euros), but it was fare more expensive two years ago (more than 3000 euros, that was three times the total price for previous owners of Gold/XP wanting to upgrade to Platinum bundle now).
The most interesting pack may be the Complete Composer Collection, at 827 euros. The upgrade to Platinum/XP from the included Gold bundle is priced higher (522 euros), which is logical. So the total price for all Platinum versions is 1349 euros, which is interesting compared with the Composer Pro Bundle (1213 euros, no Colossus nor StormDrum - but aren't necessary for some people -, and SO Platinum bundle from start). There is also the Composer Bundle 2 (981 euros, no RA nor PMI Bosendorfer compared with Composer Pro Bundle).
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04-16-08 / 10:50 PM : Puremagnetik Vintage Collection/Producer Bundle (cjed)
Puremagnetik presents collections (packages) of some of their existing libraries : Vintage Collection (includes TeeBee, Circuit:30, Analog Bass Volume 1, P-50 Linear, String Machines, Eight Bit and Vintage 80's Classics) at 60$ (2Gb, Kontakt Player and EXS24 formats),
Producer Bundle (Purple Kit, PM Mark One, Technosphere, Guitar Rack Volume 1, Guitar Rack Volume 2 and PM-200) also priced 60$ (2Gb, Kontakt Player and EXS24), and finally Designer Bundle (for Ableton Live only, also 60$).
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04-15-08 / 11:21 PM : Pro-sounds Atomik Tags (cjed)
Pro-sounds presents Atomik Tags, a 128 patchs collection for NI Massive, priced 35$ : dark and dirty sequences, sound-fx, basses, and motion-heavy synth sounds. A 24 patchs demo bank is provided, as an audio demo featuring 12 patchs from the full version.
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04-14-08 / 11:23 PM : Studio Devil Virtual Guitar Amp (cjed)
Studio Devil presents Virtual Guitar Amp, a guitar amp plugin (VST/AU/RTAS) that provides 18 amp models (it is priced 79$). Audio demos are available here, and a free demo version (only one amp model, and VST format only) is available, Studio Devil BVC.
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04-12-08 / 05:53 PM : Colour Sonics Pianos 2.0 (cjed)
Sonart Audio presents COLOUR SONICS - PIANOS 2.0, a pianos samples library (24 bits, up to 20 velocity levels) for Kontakt 2 and 3 : Yamaha C7, Steinway D, Bösendorfer 290, Baldwin Vertical & vintage electric keyboards (Wurlitzer, Rhodes MK I, Rhodes MK II, Yamaha CP-80). Pads patchs (synth pads layered with pianos) are also included. Audio demos are provided and it is priced 349$ for the downloadable version (8Gb in RAR format, from 10 to 40Gb data once uncompressed depending on the optimization mode choosen). The recommended configuration is a 1Ghz G4.
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04-10-08 / 11:07 PM : Garritan Authorized Steinway available (cjed)
Garritan now provides its Steinway D piano library, Authorized Steinway (made with the piano maker), that was announced some months ago. It is available in 3 versions : Professional Version (67Gb/5DVDs of 24 bits samples or 45Gb in 16 bits, 400$), Standard Version (16Gb of 16 bits samples, 200$) and Basic Version (1,3Gb, downloadable, 100$). The Professional version offers 5 mic positions : Player perspective from the bench, classical recording perspective, under-the-lid perspective, stage perspective et close audience perspective (the Standard version only provides two positions, classical recording perspective and under-the-lid perspective).
Audio demos are available.
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04-10-08 / 12:09 AM : Synthogy Ivory Upright Pianos (cjed)
Synthogy presented Ivory Upright Pianos, a 50Gb upright piano library (10 velocity layers) : Yamaha U5 Modern Upright, 1914 A.M. Hume Vintage Upright, Honky Tonk, Barroom Upright and Real Tack Piano. Audio demos aren't available yet, as the pricing.
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04-08-08 / 11:12 PM : Nucleus SoundLab Viral Outbreak (cjed)
Nucleus SoundLab presents Viral Outbreak, a samples library made from a Virus Ti, in VSTi and Reason 4 (Refill) formats. The Refill contains 2Gb of samples and a demo refill is provided at download (75Mb). Audio demos are also available. It is priced 99$.
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04-06-08 / 04:34 PM : Ueberschall Analog Attack (cjed)
Ueberschall presents Analog Attack, a plugin (based on Elastik Player AU/VST/RTAS) that provides 1450 patterns and sequences (1,6Gb) made using these analog vintage instruments : Minimoog, Moog Voyager, Prophet 5, Prophet 600, Andromeda, Se-1x, Omega 8, Arp 2600, Yamaha CS 80, Juno 106, SH 101, Matrix 6. The plugin manages time stretching (10 to 480bpm) and pitchshifting.
An audio demo is available, and the software is priced 119$.
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04-06-08 / 04:19 PM : Fxpansion BFD2 review (cjed)
Audiofanzine presents a full review of Fxpansion BFD2 (55 Gb, requires a G5 or Intel mac). We can listen to audio demos here, and even audio samples from each of the hundred elements, with 4 velocity levels (96 velocity levels in the software).
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04-05-08 / 12:17 AM : Studiologic Numa (cjed)
Studiologic announced a new master keyboard, the Numa. The 88 notes keyboard is of type Graded Hammer (as for digital pianos) and is very polished (also said to be very solid). Settings are made through a large LCD screen with touch capability. A laptop can be put on the upper side. It is priced 1170 euros and is expected in the end of this month.
For that price we can get a Kurzweil PC1X, however its keyboard isn't as good.
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04-02-08 / 11:25 PM : Samplemodeling The Trumpet (cjed)
Samplemodeling presents The Trumpet, a Kontakt 2 Player based instrument that brings 237Mb trumpet samples (24 bits). A demonstration video is available, and it is priced 149 euros.
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04-02-08 / 11:17 PM : BigFishAudio Nu Metal City 2 (cjed)
BigFishAudio presents Nu Metal City 2, a loops library (1100) : live drums, screaming guitars, bass, grungy synth textures and atmospheres, plus two additional folders of live drum loops and guitar FX. An audio demo is provided, and it is priced 99$.
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