E-MU® Systems has announced 64-bit Windows XP drivers for its line of Xboard USB/MIDI controllers, and is available as a free download to all Xboard owners at www.emu.com.

E-MU’s Xboard USB/MIDI controllers for PC and Mac offer unmatched playability, real-time control and programmability in a portable keyboard package ideal for studio and stage use.

The Xboard™ 61, Xboard 49 and Xboard 25 all feature full-size velocity sensitive keyboards with aftertouch, 16 programmable real-time controllers and Xboard Control editing software. The new Xboard 61 additionally features 16 patch select/program change buttons for quick sound changes during performance and ships with E-MU’s Proteus X Software Sound Module with over 3GB of sounds (Xboard 49 and Xboard 25 ship with Proteus X LE with over 1000 sounds).

The Xboard Control software provides an intuitive desktop interface that lets you effortlessly create custom templates for all of your favorite hardware and software instruments. The Xboards also allow you to set discrete MIDI channels for each controller and offer unrivaled real-time control and performance features, including Snap Shot that lets you send multiple program changes and controller values by pressing a single button, and Xboard Latch Mode that enables you to define a section of the keyboard as on/off triggers – perfect for drum loops.

All three Xboard models are ultra-portable and can run on USB, battery, or AC power.

For more information, visit their web site at www.emu.com.

Posted in Computer, MIDI, Technology

A unique merger of art, craftsmanship, and sound, the Sounds Like Art Series of custom snare drums has been expanded to include 14″ and 13″ diameters with variable depths from 5″ up to 8″.

In addition to the new sizes, vertical grain alignment is now available on Maple, Mahogany, Bubinga, Ebony, Walnut, and Rosewood models. The result is even more tonal and visual options for clients when designing a custom snare of this caliber. MSRP starts at $3,470 for 13″ and 14″ Sounds Like Art Series snares. Street price for standard models starts at $1,735, with custom models starting at $2500.

For more information, visit their web site at www.phattiedrums.com.

Posted in Drums & Percussion, Snare Drums

Soniccouture have released Abstrakt Breaks : Glitch + IDM, a collection of hi-tech drum and percussion loops aimed at producers of IDM, Electronica, Glitch, Film Music, Industrial etc.

Each of the 200 Loops are sorted into one of 43 grooves. Kicks, snares, percussion, hats, glitches – all are available as a separate loop allowing you to break down a loop within your track, or to mix and match different elements of different grooves to form original combinations.

Abstrakt Breaks has been fully processed into Rex Files and Apple Loops as well as WAV format, giving full drag and drop compatibility with all major sequencing packages and samplers.

Features:

• WAV, Rex, Apple Loops formats
• 200 24-bit 44.1 Loops
• 350 MB Library
• Grooves spilt into ‘stackable’ component parts
• Down Tempo 80-120 BPM and Up Tempo 125-195 BPM Categories
• Sample Accurate Precision Looping
• Fully Produced and Mastered at 24-bit Resolution
• License free Loops

For more information, visit their web site at www.soniccouture.com.

Posted in Loops, Samples

Korg announces the KP3 Dynamic Effect/Sampler, the latest addition to the KAOSS series. The KP3 provides even more creative power for DJs, musicians and producers while retaining the intuitive, expressive and user-friendly KAOSS interface. New effects, synth sounds, enhanced sampling, computer connectivity and SD data storage are complemented by detailed visual feedback from the new pad lighting system.

Like all KAOSS Pads, the KP3 responds to the touch of a finger on its X/Y pad, for intuitive control over multiple parameters in real time. The Hold button locks the finger’s current position on the pad and Pad Motion memorizes and repeats any gesture played on the pad. The new pad lighting system — 64 individual LEDs in an eight by eight grid — can display the Pad Motion pattern as it plays, as well as many other visual cues.

The KP3 features 128 great-sounding effects programs containing new effects such as grain shifter, decimator, a vintage analog-style filter and expanded EQ. There are also drum grooves and unique vocoder and synth sounds derived from the Korg RADIAS. To prevent abrupt changes when transitioning from one effect to another, the new FX Release function adds an adjustable delay tail when the user’s finger is removed from the X/Y pad. The delay is automatically set to the current tempo and the depth of the FX release can be set and saved with each program.

The KP3 can sample from a wide variety of sources via mic and line inputs. Four Sample Bank buttons (100 total banks) allow the user to create, play and save looped and one-shot samples on the fly. All samples are recorded using high resolution 24-bit converters and stored in 16-bit/48 kHz format. Samples can be saved on a Secure Digital (SD) card or transferred to computer via USB.

The KP3 thinks in musical terms, allowing the sample length to be defined in terms of beats, not seconds. When sampling is finished, the sample will immediately start playing in sync with the sample source. As the sample plays, its start time can be fine-tuned further.

Time-Slicing divides a sample into separate parts. The eight Program Memory buttons can turn individual slices on/off in real time, resulting in new rhythmic patterns. The KP3 can also sample its effects and even resample the entire output for powerful, multi-element sounds.

All tempo-related functions (sampling, effects) are accurate to .1 (one-tenth) of a BPM for more precise matching to external devices. KP3 features an improved auto-BPM detection from the audio input, Tap-Tempo entry, as well as a manual tempo setting. The KP3 can also send and receive tempo information via MIDI clock.

The KP3 is also a MIDI controller, transmitting three controller signals from its touchpad, along with data from the slider. The Sample Bank buttons send and receive MIDI note messages as well as program change commands and clock information.

USB computer connectivity allows for convenient data transfer to a computer. The included editor/librarian software also allows AIFF and WAV audio files to be loaded into the KP3 and includes sample-rate pitch correction.

The Korg KP3 is available November 2006 at a U.S. MSRP of $460.

For more information, visit their web site at www.korg.com.

Posted in Audio, Effects, Hardware, Samples, Technology

Native Instruments is excited to announce KOMPLETE 4, the new version of its powerful software bundle. With a universal selection of state-of-the-art instruments and effects, reinforced through several powerful updates to some of its key components, KOMPLETE 4 continues to mark the cutting edge in software synthesis and to provide an invaluable resource for all areas of modern music production and performance.

KOMPLETE 4 incorporates the latest ABSYNTH 4, BATTERY 3, and FM8 versions, which add significant creative capabilities over their predecessors and offer increased integration with Native Instruments’ host system KORE and its KoreSound format. The new KOMPLETE package also includes AKOUSTIK PIANO, the acclaimed grand-piano emulation that gives musicians and producers access to a comprehensive range of world-class, performance-ready piano sounds.

Native Instruments has refocused the content of KOMPLETE 4, which now offers 12 instruments and effects that cover the full range of applications and musical styles in modern audio production. The sampling instruments INTAKT and KOMPAKT are no longer part of KOMPLETE, and will be discontinued as individual products effectively immediately. Comparable functionality is provided by the more powerful KONTAKT 2 and BATTERY 3 samplers. Owners of the individual versions of INTAKT and KOMPAKT can make use of a special crossgrade offer for KONTAKT 2.

All owners of KOMPLETE CARE 2006 will receive a free update to KOMPLETE 4. The KOMPLETE CARE update program will not be extended beyond its current 2006 version due to a change in Native Instruments’ product-release policy. From now on, relevant product releases will be consolidated and combined with a corresponding annual revision of the KOMPLETE bundle, which will be made available to existing KOMPLETE users at attractive update prices.

ABSYNTH 4, BATTERY 3 and FM8 include Universal Binary versions that support both PowerMac- and Intel-based Macintosh computers. Further Universal Binary updates for instruments contained in KOMPLETE 4 will be made available in 2006 according to the release schedule as detailed on the NI website, and will be free of charge for owners of KOMPLETE 4.

KOMPLETE 4 will be available in October 2006 for a suggested retail price of $ 1499 / 1299 Euro from authorized dealers and in the NI Online Shop. An update for owners of KOMPLETE 3 will be available for $ 339 / 299 Euro. Owners of KORE or two qualifying products will be able to purchase an upgrade to KOMPLETE 4 for $ 1149 / 999 Euro.

All owners of KOMPLETE CARE 2006 as well as all customers who activate KOMPLETE 3 after September 13th 2006 will receive an update to KOMPLETE 4 free of charge.

Customers who purchase KOMPLETE 4 and KORE after September 13th will receive a free copy of MASSIVE, Native Instruments’ new software synthesizer. This special limited-time offer expires December 31st 2006.

For more information, visit their web site at www.native-instruments.com.

Posted in Audio, Software, Technology

Sonicbytes is happy to announce the official release of Phrazor. The latest development cycle adds numerous features covering all existent and new domains. This release elevates Phrazor to an all-purpose audio workstation with an outstanding workflow and live expressiveness.

Phrazor is available for Windows and functions as a VST Instrument or VST Effect and it is also a fully fledged VST Instrument and Effect Host. It costs Euro 49 (USD 69) and a demo version with working save/load functions is available.

New features since Preview #6

Starter Kit

• 47 tutorials covering all important features
• Help pages in about panel
• Factory containing 170+ clips and prepared tracks
• 3 GTG Synths
• Complete Kjaerhus Classic Series bundled
• 76 ready to use drummaps
• Updated PDF manual (80 pages)

Workflow

• Save command for projects, tracks, slots, programs and clips
• Lock mechanism for programs and states
• Info for projects, tracks, slots, programs and clips
• Browser menus for grooves and drummaps
• Drag tracks to clips (extracts clips from tracks)
• Smart tab selection in browser/manager
• Save message box when closing Phrazor standalone
• Set tempo dialog (doubleclick on BPM)
• Automap functions for clips and states
• Filetype “Clipmap” stores complete remote-assignment-sets

Import/Export

• Drag MIDI clips from Phrazor to host or any other application
• Multiple files can be dragged to Phrazor (e.g. importing multiple MIDI files at once)
• Save all clips to folder function
• MIDI Export of single or all clips

GUI

• Main panel layout reworked
• Titlebar shows project filename
• Filenames of selected objects displayed in browser/manager
• Values displays for all sliders
• Alternative time display (hh:mm:ss)
• Visualization of loading programs
• Visualization of the plugin scan process
• Mono GUI
• Icon for standalone version

MIDI Engine

• Mute/solo for pure MIDI tracks
• Output delay for calibrating audio/MIDI drift
• MIDI Sync. Master (sends Clock, Start, Stop, Continue, SPP)
• MIDI Transport Slave (receives Start, Stop, Continue, SPP)
• Optional only-tempo host synchronization
• Dragging tracks automatically updates MIDI source tracks
• Track playmode “Automatic”
• MIDI Control surface
• Thru option for remote-clips
• Visualization of pending states

Audio Engine

• Pre/Post fader sends
• Thru/Mute send option
• Visualization of track groups (linked by sends)
• Dragging tracks automatically updates send-source and multi-output targets
• Reset all mute/solo function
• Intelligent “Auto-Connect” in mixer panel
• Fade inertia on tracks for smooth mixing
• ASIO driver improvements (standalone)
• Built-in multi-filter component

MIDI Editing

• Visualization of selected ghost notes
• Buttons for important functions (selection, clipboard, quantize etc.)
• Visualization of active notes in keyboard
• Auto-scroll option follows cursor
• Drummap selection in clipeditor
• Automap functions
• More edit functions like trim and auto-length
• Merge into clip at cursor

Songlist

• Virtual project workspace allows one-click project loading
• Projects can be loaded via MIDI song select or program change
• Integration in project notes panel

VST Improvements

• Better compatibility (no non-working plugin known)
• Load VST directly via dialog
• Randomize function in parameter panel
• Close all editors function
• MIDI learn for plugin parameters
• Optional “Prog. Change Thru”
• Take button for faster library building
• Drag VST dll’s to Phrazor

Render to WAV

• Complete project and loop renderingv
• Render to track with autonaming
• Loops are perfectly trimmed
• Rendering up to 384 KHz in 5 different formats

Manager

• Find and classify files by simple keyword selection
• Freely assignable key columns and words
• Check-in utility to take up files from other users/pc’s
• Provides filetypes projects, tracks, slots, programs and clips

Playlist

• Auto-scroll option follows cursor
• Buttons for important functions (selection, clipboard, quantize etc.)
• View selection for playpart parameters (velocity and transpose)
• Auto selection in playlist

General/Options

• Default cliplength, channel and snap settings
• Auto-lock for programs and states
• Better keyboard support
• Reworked installer, separated vst-dll’s and Phrazor folder
• Works on Muse Receptor and mobile devices (e.g. usb-sticks)

For more information, visit their web site at www.sonicbytes.com.

Posted in Audio, Softsynths, Technology, VST

BandmateLoops.com is proud to unveil a new multi-instrument style loop collection. Bandmates Enfusion features a powerful blend of signature breakbeat rhythms and hypnotic trance synth and effects. The beats are complemented by rich synthetic bass, leads, pads and effects. Enfusion serves as a solid foundation for creating authentic club mixes.

Bandmates Enfusion includes:

• 78 Signature Breakbeat Style loops
• 38 Synth Pads, Leads and Arpeggios
• 15 Effects and Percussion

Bandmates Enfusion is available in Apple Loop, Acidized Wave, Rex2 and ReFill formats for compatibility with most major music packages.

BMT-031 Bandmates Enfusion is available 24/7 via electronic delivery for $21.95 USD. Audio demonstrations and sample loops available.

For more information, visit their web site at www.bandmateloops.com.

Posted in Loops, Samples