PC and Music News

NI is pleased to announce that the KONTAKT 4.2 update is now available for free download. The update contains several new features, workflow improvements, and fixes.

Some new features and bugs fixed:

- Even faster loading and saving, thanks to a new binary file format.
- A new zero-latency convolution engine, with optimized performance for low-latency settings.
- Revised master output section with presets – for saving complex routing setups – and advanced macro functions.
- Improved file import for most standard workstation formats.
- You can now enter numerical values for parameters directly.
- On Mac OS X®, 64 bit support for VST® plug-ins and REX file import.
The Kontakt 4.2 update is now available to download using the NI Service Center or the Online Update Manager.

IVoxel is not only an amazingly sounding vocoder - the unique concept of iVoxel turns this vocoder into a singing machine going far beyond the capabilities of traditional or software vocoders.

iVoxel lets you:

Speak or sing into your head set mic transforming your voice in a wide variety of ways.
Record words, syllables or other sounds into the voxel dictionary for later reuse.
Play different voxels live on the on-screen keyboard with ingenious pitch bending or with an external MIDI Keyboard.
Arrange and play melodies with the built in sequencer and add the lyrics from a user expandable dictionary of voxels.

For musicians & performers, interactive installations, museums, or meta-instruments, Eobody3 USB Sensorbox is a plug&play versatile solution to use new controls, to trigger and modulate sounds and videos, to create new sensor-based instruments with no computer programming background.
The version with a MIDI output enables to control MIDI hardware devices with sensors with no computer. Its internal signal processing has been especially developped for music and video applications. And if you want to go further into the signal processing control, a PC, Mac compatible Eobody3 Editor enables to adjust internal process parameters and shape the outcoming signal waveform (status/analogue zoom/digital zoom & offset/inverse/lag processor/gate/ note on/off/new waveshaper). These settings can be stored in Sensorbox non-volatile memory! It's now possible to store an entire installation or performance setup inside a Sensorbox and save it for a future use. High-speed USB enables to reduce significantly the latency. A 32-bit resolution avoids 'scale effects' and allows a nearly linear conversion curve. Sensorboxes can be plugged directly to the USB in of your computer or thru a USB hub if you want to plug more.
Eobody3 has a more powerful 32-bits IC, which enables more pre-processings and more pre-mappings.

Loopmasters and Hospital Records are proud to present Drum & Bass Vol. 5 from the well respected duo of Paul Greenhalgh and Paul Smith aka Total Science.

Their tunes are constantly supported around the world by the biggest name DJs and attract vocal support from the likes of Hype, Fabio, Goldie, and Zane Lowe. Total Science have focused their full attention on creating a huge collection of inspirational samples, sounds and beats for the modern DnB, Dubstep and Breaks producer who is looking for the future sound of Drum and Bass.

TWISTED TOOLS have released a brand effects processor and sound generator based on feedback, called Scapes. Scapes uses six independent granular delays, extensive modulation options, a gate sequencer and familiar synth style controls to dynamically manipulate the sound. With Scapes you can create high quality and unique soundscapes, rhythms and sound effects perfectly suited for use in music, film and game audio.

Scapes Features:
- 6 independent delays in one interface
- Independent controls and granular controls per delay
- Sources: External, Impulse, Noise, Saw, Self-Osc. Sine, Square, Tri)
- Playable via MIDI with familiar synth style controls
- 35 scale settings for oscillators, delay time and grain pitch
- 6-voice gate sequencer
- Over 190 presets
- 220mb sample library
- Kore and Maschine Templates
Etc.

Price: $49.

Detunized has reelased DTS024 - Phase Facets, a comprehensive Live Pack featuring the German Hohner HS2/E synthesizer from 1988. The Hohner HS2/E and it's Japanese original, the Casio VZ10m, are the last hardware synths working with „interactive Phase Distortion" synthesis. The iPD was meant as an effort to deliver sounds comparable to those of FM synthesis while its results are easier to predict. IPD is capable of producing wonderful „non-filter" and „non-substractive" tones with sharp attacks and digital precision.
The 650 MB Live Pack „Phase Facets" contains a diversified collection of such iPD sounds that must be categorized far beyond the standard Bass and Lead libraries. With their rich harmonic content and agile brightness the 30 included Live Instruments enrich each Live Library with some 80s retro charme.

Pricing and specifications:
DTS024 – Phase Facets Live Pack (30 instruments / 650 MB / 842 samples) is available as instant download for 6.98 Euro.
Subscribers can purchase DTS024 + DTS023 - Curetronic Modular Vol. 2 for 4.98 Euro only