PC and Music News

Karma-Lab announces the development and upcoming release of "KARMA Motif Software" for the PC/Mac ($199 direct from Karma-Lab).

This brand-new entry in their line of software applications brings the award-winning and patented KARMA algorithmic music technology, previously only available for Korg workstations, to the Yamaha Motif XS and the new Yamaha Motif XF platforms.
Some features in Karma V3:
- 8-track design (6 KARMA Modules, 2 Keyboard Layers) per Performance
- Per-track Volume and Mute stored in each of the 32 Scenes - individually adjust the mix of all parts in each scene, and which parts are playing
- Velocity Response Curves - individually tailor the velocity response for the left hand keyboard, the right hand keyboard, the input to KARMA from the keyboard, and the Chord Triggers (pads), without editing the Motif's programs or songs.
- Fill/Stop Feature - use one or more modules as a melodic or drum fill, with the ability to stop and start other modules automatically
- Advanced Stutter Feature - rapidly "stutter" (retrigger) the entire groove at different rhythmic resolutions, providing an effect similar to how it would sound if you sampled the entire KARMA groove and then replicated small slices of the beginning of the sample in your DAW. From machine-gun like stutters to slow triplet hits, it adds a completely new dimension to a KARMA Performance.
- Master Transpose - play in one key, generate output in another, switchable in real-time.
- Chord Triggers (Pads) - Individual Vel. Sensitivity and Transpose...

Kronos comes with more than 12 GB SSD hard disk samples, 9 synthesis engines together, 16 units of effects and KARMA technology. 73 and 88 keys are avalaible.


- SGX-1 Premium Piano: German piano with more than 4 GB in samples. 8 layers and the choice of opening angle of the tail of the piano.
- MDS EP-1 Electric Piano, electric pianos (with "signature" by Herbie Hancock, George Duke, Jordan Rudess...)
- Tonewheel CX-3 Drawbars controllable from the faders.
- MS20-EX Legacy Analog Collection
- EX Polysix Legacy Analog Collection
- NOD-7 Waveshaping VPM Synthesizer
- STR-1 Plucked String Synthesizer
- HD-1 High Definition Synthesizer
- Audio/MIDI Sequencer with 16 MIDI tracks +16 Audio Tracks
- Combination with 16 parts (like the Oasys Workstation)
- Special Virtual RAM (Korg Technology) for smooth fades between sound and for simultaneous play between engines.

Available for the Slim Phatty and coming soon for the Little Phatty with OS v3.0, this free download makes experimenting with alternate scales a breeze. Tuning data is easily editable and is displayed as a ratio, frequency and in cents. Scala files (www.huygens-fokker.org/scala) can be imported and exported for use with other tuning software. An unlimited number of tunings can be saved on your computer and the synthesizer's hardware can store up to thirty-two different tunings; enough to take you around the world and back again.

Lightweight and portable, the RD-300NX is perfect for both students and gigging musicians. At the heart of the RD-300NX is Roland's SuperNATURAL Piano sound engine, which provides a stellar grand piano playing experience with seamless variations in tone from pianissimo to fortissimo, notes that fade naturally without looping, and an organic sound and response.

Also onboard the RD-300NX are two types of SuperNATURAL technology-based electric piano sounds, giving players incredibly realistic emulations of classic EPs.

Legendary Rupert Neve sound now heard in VST 3 and AU plug-ins with Yamaha VCM technology ported from Portico 5033 five-band EQ and Portico 5043 compressor.

The RND Portico 5033 five-band equalizer comes with three bands of fully parametric filters, each with dedicated gain, center-frequency, and Q controls as well as one band each of high and low-shelving filters. A global bypass switch and trim control are also available.

The RND Portico 5043 compressor features threshold, ratio, attack, release and gain controls for intricate signal compression. The feed-forward or feed-back compression mode allow users to switch between an aggressive and subtle compression response.

While every note was played by a well-rehearsed ensemble of four brass players, each instrument was recorded separately, which allows you to access each voice individually. Still, they sound like an ensemble and not like four soloists, whether playing in unison, divisi, or even in four-part harmonies.

You can run Vienna Dimension Brass with the free Vienna Instruments player that is included in the box.
4 Brass Ensembles – 16 Instruments

- Trumpet Ensemble (4 Trumpets in Bb)
- Horn Ensemble (4 French Horns)
- Trombone Ensemble (4 Trombones)
- Low Brass Ensemble (1 Tuba, 1 Bass Trombone, 2 Trombones)
Introductory price until February 15th 2011: € 495, £ 415.