TRANSCRIPT:

Hi everybody, this is Markkus for the Audio Tech News Flash, brought to you by Accusonus. 

Propellerhead has released Reason 10.1, a free update for registered users. With this update, Reason’s marquee wavetable synthesizer, Europa, can now import audio samples to use as one of Europa’s oscillator waveforms or as the filter’s spectral multiplier. Reason 10.1 also supports a new Rack Extension protocol that lets developers create Rack Extension Player devices. Also, Reason 10 users can get the Drum Sequencer Rack Extension Player for free when they update to or purchase Reason 10.1 by the end of May 2018. The full version of Reason costs $399 USD or €349 EUR.

The software synthesizer MOK Waverazor has been updated to version 2.0. Waverazor 2.0 opens up the synthesizer engine with its Contextual Editor. This lets you access the entire synthesizer architecture and craft intricate connections for your sounds. Waverazor 2.0 is distributed by Tracktion, makers of the Tracktion DAW, and is available for $159 USD.

The iZotope VocalSynth2 vocal processing plug-in will be released later this month. VocalSynth2 features a new module called Biovox, which models the physical sounds of the human vocal tract, such as nasality, vowel shapes, breathiness, and formants. VocalSynth2 also adds new effects, new module controls, and works with the inter-plug-in communication of iZotope’s Neutron 2 and Ozone 8 software. VocalSynth is on pre-order now for $149 USD.

Online mastering and music distribution service LANDR has introduced LANDR Samples, a curated, artist-provided free sample pack service for anyone who signs up with LANDR for free. Some of the artists providing free samples include Dirty Projectors, Mike & Keys, Blue Hawaii, and Marc Houle. In the future, music producers should be able to submit their own sample packs to the service. To give LANDR Samples a try, go to landr.com.

That’s this week’s Audio Tech News Flash, brought to you by Accusonus. Please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review to help spread the Audio Tech News.

LINKS:

Propellerhead Reason 10.1 DAW

https://www.propellerheads.se/blog/reason-101-is-here

MOK Waverazor 2.0 software synthesizer plug-in

https://www.tracktion.com/products/waverazor

iZotope VocalSynth2

https://www.izotope.com/en/blog/music-production/coming-soon-vocalsynth-2-and-new-creative-suite.html

LANDR Samples

https://samples.landr.com/

Scottish boutique brand MacBeth revealed the MacBeth Elements EL2 analog synthesizer, a self-contained 3-oscillator synthesizer with a capacitive touch keyboard built-in. The Elements EL2 reuses vintage parts sourced from RCA semiconductors from the 1970s. Price and release date are to be announced.

Dave Smith Instruments launched the Sequential Prophet X keyboard, a polyphonic, 16-voice hybrid digital/analog synthesizer with 150GB of internal samples for running through the analog filters. The samples represent all styles of acoustic and electronic instruments, as well as drones and effects. The Prophet X also has full synthesizer capabilities. It will be available soon at an estimated price of just under $4000 USD. 

On the opposite end of the price spectrum IK Multimedia debuted its first analog synthesizer, the Uno Synth, a compact 2-oscillator, monophonic tabletop module with a sequencer and input keys. Uno Synth is on pre-order now for $199 USD or euros.

The new Dreadbox and Polyend Medusa is a 6-oscillator analog/digital hybrid synthesizer module with a built-in 8-by-8 pad grid controller and sequencer. Medusa should be available in late summer for about 1,000 euros.

FingerSonic Introduced the Synset FM, a 6-operator FM synthesizer with 8 voices and a built-in pattern sequencer with 5 parts and 2 arpeggiators. The Synset FM will go on sale this summer for a price to be announced. 

Roland expanded its System-500 analog modular series with four new Eurorack modules: a synthesizer, mixer, voltage-controlled filter, and a modulation unit. All four are in the pre-ordering stage now.

Speaking of Roland, Behringer will be cloning 13 modules from the vintage Roland System 100M modular synthesizer in Eurorack form. Behringer also debuted its new TR-808 drum machine clone, the all-analog RD-808 and its Pro-One synthesizer, a clone of the Sequential Circuits Pro-One classic monosynth but in a smaller module with Eurorack-friendly patch points. All of those will be on sale later this year.

In other clone news, the Elta Music Polivoks Mini recreates the classic Soviet Polivoks monosynth, except that it’s reformatted into a compact tabletop box. It should sell for less than $500 USD later this year.

That’s this week’s Audio Tech News Flash, brought to you by Accusonus. Please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review to help spread the Audio Tech News.

LINKS:

MacBeth Elements EL2 analog synthesizer

https://www.facebook.com/ken.macbeth

http://www.macbethstudiosystems.com/

Dave Smith Instruments Sequential Prophet-X 

https://www.davesmithinstruments.com/product/prophet-x/

Dreadbox & Polyend Medusa

https://www.dreadbox-fx.com/medusa/

IK Multimedia Uno Synth

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/unosynth/

Fingersonic Synset FM synthesizer/sequencer

http://www.fingersonic.com/products/synset-fm/

Roland System-500 Series new analog Eurorack modules 

https://www.roland.com/us/promos/system-500/

Behringer RD-808 analog TR-808 drum machine clone, Pro-One monosynth clone and Roland System-100M module clones for Eurorack

Behringer RD-808: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQPsln1d-Ek

Behringer Pro-One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBnhs5qw-pw

https://ask.audio/articles/behringer-reveals-full-details-on-roland-system-100m-eurorack-module-clones

https://ask.audio/articles/behringer-announces-analog-tr808-clone-rd-808

https://ask.audio/articles/1stlook-video-behringer-proone-synthesizer

Elta Music Polivoks-Mini

https://www.eltamusic.com/polivoks-mini

A new concept in software workstations came out this week as Berlin-based company ZenAud.io introduced ALK2, a hybrid program combining elements of DAW software with a live performance looper. ALK2 lets songwriters create complex arrangements first, which they can then perform and playback live as loops. Other advantages over hardware loopers include loops of varying length, plug-in support, and better options for correcting mistakes. ALK2 is selling now for 199 euros.

Veteran synthesist Rob Papen released his latest virtual synthesizer plug-in, Go2, for the low price of $49 USD or euros. Go2 was made to be user-friendly for beginners or time-saving for professionals. It features a wave-morphing oscillator, XY pad, modulation matrix, more than 600 presets, and much more.

In hardware synthesizer news, Dreadbox announced the Li’l Erebus DIY Kit. Li’l Erebus is a do-it-yourself version of the Erebus paraphonic analog synthesizer. Li’l Erebus has two oscillators, a filter, voltage controlled echo and LFO, 16 patch points, and built-in MIDI to CV conversion. You can buy Li’l Erebus now for 158 euros for the Eurorack version, or 200 euros for the desktop version. Dreadbox should have more news coming up at the Superbooth18 show in Berlin, and I’ll those headlines on next week’s episode.

For now, that’s this week’s Audio Tech News Flash, brought to you by Accusonus. Please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review to help spread the Audio Tech News.

And if you have an Amazon Echo device, you can command Alexa to play this podcast. To enable this skill, go to Amazon.com and in the search field for Alexa skills, search for Audio Tech News Flash.

LINKS:

ZenAud.io ALK2 live performance sequencing/looping software

https://zenaud.io/

Rob Papen Go2 synthesizer plug-in

https://www.robpapen.com/go2.html

https://www.timespace.com/products/rob-papen-go2

Dreadbox Li’l Erebus DIY Kit paraphonic analog synthesizer

https://www.dreadbox-fx.com/product/lil-erebus-diy-kit/

The synthesizer that originated from a Google artificial intelligence program can now be yours as an open-source, build-it-yourself project. The NSynth Super uses a machine-learning algorithm developed at the Google research project called Magenta, and it creates entirely new sounds from the acoustic qualities of original input sounds. The NSynth Super has a touchscreen that you use to drag between many different combinations of four original sounds. This new technology will require some work for you to build. Go to github.com and search for Nsynth Super to find out how to do it.

The Danish company TC Electronic has announced the TC2290-DT hardware controlled delay plug-in. This a modern version of the TC2290 dynamic delay that was an influential and expensive piece of gear back in 1985. The USB powered desktop hardware recreates the look and feel of the original rackmounted delay. And TC Electronic’s engineers have modeled the new plug-in to try to bring the lush delay tones of the past into a plug-in that will work in all major DAWs. The TC2290-DT  will be available in June of 2018 for $349 USD.

Slate Digital has updated its Virtual Mix Rack channel-strip plug-in to VMR 2.0. The VMR interface resembles a rack of 500-series dynamics modules and lets you create your ideal mixing channel strip from dozens of analog modeled preamps, EQs, compressors, filters, and more. New features include a row of instant recall buttons for your favorite setups, a button to Clear the rack, undo and redo buttons, and more. VMR 2.0 is available now for $199 USD or as part of Slate Digital’s subscription program.

That’s this week’s Audio Tech News Flash, brought to you by Accusonus. Please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review to help spread the Audio Tech News.

And if you have an Amazon Echo device, you can command Alexa to play this podcast. To enable this skill, go to Amazon.com and in the search field for Alexa skills, search for Audio Tech News Flash.

LINKS: 

Nsynth Super

https://nsynthsuper.withgoogle.com/

https://github.com/googlecreativelab/open-nsynth-super

TC Electronic TC2290-DT hardware controlled delay plug-in

https://www.tcelectronic.com/Categories/Tcelectronic/Computer-Audio/Desktop-Controllers/TC2290-DT/p/P0D3X

Slate Digital VMR 2.0 analog-modeled channel strip plug-in

http://slatedigital.com/virtual-mix-rack/

This week I’m highlighting some of the interesting new products from the 2018 Musikmesse trade show in Frankfurt, Germany.

A new British company called Exodus Digital announced Valkyrie, a high-powered virtual analog synthesizer. Valkyrie offers big numbers: 128 voices with up to 10 oscillators per voice and 72 effects. Its wavetable oscillators have over 4,000 waveforms to choose from, and there’s storage for over 3,000 user-programmable patches. Valkyrie could be available as soon as June 2018 for a price of less than £2000.

The Italian brand StudioLogic showed the new Mixface an advanced USB MIDI control surface with support for Bluetooth MIDI connections. Mixface is a channel-strip style MIDI controller with 8 columns of faders, knobs, and illuminated buttons, as well as transport controls and a display. Mixface also supports 4 MIDI zones for incoming keyboards, with discreet control settings for each zone. Mixface will be available later this year for 199 euros.

Steinberg debuted two new USB audio interfaces in collaboration with Rupert Neve Designs. The interfaces use transformer circuitry from Rupert Neve Designs to lend them a characteristic Neve sound of natural compression and saturation. They will be available this June for $349 USD for the four-input UR-RT2 or $599 USD for the six-input UR-RT4.

On the software side, Zynaptiq demonstrated the Orange Vocoder 4 plug-in, with an expanded vocoder section, rewritten synthesizer section, and streamlined user interface to be available in a couple of months.

The General Music Elka Panther VST organ plug-in models the rare and sought-after Elka Panther combo organ from the 1960s and will be available soon for 99 euros.

That’s this week’s Audio Tech News Flash, brought to you by Accusonus. Please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review to help spread the Audio Tech News.

LINKS: 

Exodus Digital Valkyrie virtual analog synthesizer

https://soundcloud.com/exodusdigital

Studiologic Mixface

https://www.studiologic-music.com/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bhb9HpoAoHE/

Steinberg UR-RT interfaces with Rupert Neve Designs transformers

https://www.steinberg.net/en/products/audio_interfaces/ur_rt_series/start.html?et_cid=15&et_lid=22&et_sub=UR-RT%20Series

Zynaptiq Orange Vocoder 4

https://www.zynaptiq.com/orangevocoder4/

General Music Elka Panther VST combo organ

https://www.generalmusic.com/

Cakewalk software is back, and it’s free. After the social music platform Bandlab purchased Cakewalk assets from Gibson last month, it has now relaunched the DAW software as Cakewalk by Bandlab. Available as a free download for Windows computers, Cakewalk by Bandlab includes the same interface as the old Cakewalk Sonar Platinum DAW, as well as the 64-bit mix engine, ProChannel modules and more. To gain access to Cakewalk by Bandlab, go to cakewalk.bandlab.com.

For another low-cost DAW option, Propellerhead released Reason 10 Intro for $99 USD or 79 euros. Reason 10 Intro gives you the entire Reason workflow and interface but with a limited number of instruments, effects, and 16 tracks of audio and MIDI recording. Reason 10 Intro’s 11 effects devices and 10 instruments include the new Europa synthesizer, the NN-XT Advanced Sampler, and Kong Drum Designer.

UVI has created its new USQ-1 wave synthesizer based on the hybrid digital and analog Ensoniq ESQ-1 synthesizer from the late 1980s. The USQ-1 comes with 400 new patches inspired by both vintage sounds and modern electronic genres, with deep editing capabilities. USQ-1 works as standalone software or as a plug-in and is available now for a price of $79 USD or euros.

And finally, the official plug-in version of the TR-909 Rhythm Composer drum machine is now available on the subscription Roland Cloud service. The TR-909 uses Roland’s Analog Circuit Behavior modeling and joins the TR-808 plug-in that was also recently released. You can join at RolandCloud.com.

That’s this week’s Audio Tech News Flash, brought to you by Accusonus. Please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review to help spread the Audio Tech News.

And if you have an Amazon Echo device, you can command Alexa to play this podcast. To enable this skill, go to Amazon.com and in the search field for Alexa skills, search for Audio Tech News Flash.

LINKS: 

Cakewalk by Bandlab free DAW for Windows

https://cakewalk.bandlab.com/

Propellerhead Reason 10 Intro

https://shop.propellerheads.se/product/reason-10-intro/

UVI USQ-1

https://www.uvi.net/usq-1.html

Roland Cloud TR-909 Rhythm Composer plug-in

https://rolandcloud.com/home/news/5-2-update

The new Roli Songwriter Kit includes two of the company’s controllers with MIDI Polyphonic Expression — the Seaboard Block 2-octave soft keyboard and the illuminated Lightpad M playing surface, which both provide 5 types of playback expression. It also includes the Loop Block transport controller, a protective snapcase for traveling, and a software bundle with Tracktion Waveform and Ableton Live Lite DAWs, and software instruments designed for MIDI Polyphonic Expression such as the Roli Equator software synthesizer and the Noise loop composition app. The Roli Songmaker Kit is in major musical instrument retailers now for a sale price of $599 USD.

The IK Multimedia Syntronik Deluxe virtual synthesizer collection uses a combination of sampling and modeling to recreate some of the most renown hardware synthesizers of all time. The 80GB package for Mac or PC computers includes a total of 22 synths. Five brand new instruments for Syntronik Deluxe are based on the Moog Memorymoog analog polysynth from 1982, two Roland SH monosynths, the Korg Mono/Poly, the British EMS VCS3 modular synthesizer, and percussion sounds created in part from a Moog Modular system. Syntronik Deluxe costs 399 USD or euros, with upgrade pricing available to current users.

French-Canadian pioneers of physical modeling, Applied Acoustics Systems, has released Objeq, a creative effect app and Audio Unit plug-in for iOS. Objeq filters audio signals through three acoustic object resonators, making mundane sounds such as finger taps sound like rich percussion instruments. The $3.99 Objeq works as a standalone app or as an Audio Unit 3 plug-in for iOS DAWs such as GarageBand, Cubasis 2, or iMPC Pro 2.

That’s this week’s Audio Tech News Flash, brought to you by Accusonus. Please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review to help spread the Audio Tech News.

And if you have an Amazon Echo device, you can command Alexa to play this podcast. To enable this skill, go to Amazon.com and in the search field for Alexa skills, search for Audio Tech News Flash.

LINKS:

Roli Songwriter Kit

https://roli.com/products/blocks/songmaker-kit

 

IK Multimedia Syntronik Deluxe

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/syntronikdeluxe/

Applied Acoustics Systems Objeq iOS creative effect app.

https://www.applied-acoustics.com/objeq-for-ios/

Zoom has put out its latest portable audio recorder, the H1n Handy Recorder, with a built-in stereo microphone in a 90-degree, X/Y configuration. The H1n updates the older H1 recorder with a sharper display, an onboard limiter, a low-cut filter with selectable cutoff point, playback speed control, unlimited overdubbing and an updated control interface. The Zoom H1n is available now for just under $120 USD.

If you’d like to have your music mixed, mastered, and cut to vinyl at a famous studio with world-class gear by Grammy-winning engineers, you’ll have your chance beginning April 2nd. Capitol Studios in Hollywood, California is opening its services to anyone in the world through online transactions. Pre-orders coming in before April 2nd will get a 10% discount. Go to CapitolStudios.com for pricing and further details.

Nektar Technology has announced Pacer, a footswitch controller for MIDI hardware and software, as well as for control over almost any DAW software. Pacer has 11 footswitches with multicolor LED feedback. 10 of those footswitches are user programmable. Nektar has programmed the Pacer with integrated DAW control over programs such as Apple Logic, Bitwig Studio, Propellerhead Reason, and Steinberg Cubase, and the Mackie Control protocol makes Pacer compatible with Ableton Live, FL Studio, and other programs. The Nektar Pacer footswitch controller should be available in April of this year for $229 USD. 

That’s this week’s Audio Tech News Flash, brought to you by Accusonus, but that’s not all. If you use an Amazon Echo device, you can command Alexa to play this podcast. To enable this skill, go to Amazon.com and in the search field for Alexa skills, search for Audio Tech News Flash. 

 

And as always, If you like this podcast, please subscribe and leave us a 5-star review. That way you can help spread the Audio Tech News.

LINKS:

Zoom H1n Handy Recorder

https://www.zoom-na.com/products/field-video-recording/field-recording/zoom-h1n-handy-recorder

Capitol Studios online mixing, mastering, and vinyl-cutting services

https://www.capitolstudios.com/

Nektar Technology Pacer MIDI and DAW footswitch controller

http://www.nektartech.com/pacer-midi-daw-footswitch-controller.html

French company Arturia has released 3 Filters You’ll Actually Use. And that is actually the name of this 3-plug-in bundle that models the filters from 3 iconic vintage analog synthesizers: the Moog Minimoog, the Oberheim SEM, and the Oberheim Matrix-12. Besides emulating the behavior and response of the hardware filters, these plug-ins add contemporary features like modulation sources and step sequencing. 3 Filters You’ll Actually Use is selling at an introductory price of $99 USD until April 5th of this year. 

Waves Audio has teamed up with Audeze on the new Mobius planar magnetic headphones for 3D audio. With the continued advancement of virtual reality, augmented reality, and high-end gaming, 3D audio is on the rise. The Mobius headphones integrate head tracking, sound localization and room emulation to create an immersive and personalized 3D listening experience. The Mobius Creator Package combines the Mobius headphones with the Waves Nx Virtual Mix Room plug-in and other software for creating 3D Audio content. The package is now funding on an Indiegogo campaign, with prices starting at $499 USD and should be delivered in June of this year.

In the realm of virtual instruments, Spitfire Audio announced Hans Zimmer Strings, and IK Multimedia released the Total Studio 2 bundle of software instruments and effects.

For Hans Zimmer Strings, Spitfire collaborated with the legendary composer and 344 musicians to create an enormous string library using advanced sampling techniques.

With the Total Studio 2 Max bundle, IK Multimedia delivers 94 total products, composed of its best mixing and mastering processors, cinematic and orchestral sounds, and both electronic and acoustic drums, keyboards, and other instruments. It’s selling now for just under $1000 USD, with an entry-level version available for $499. 

That is all for this week’s Audio Tech News Flash, brought to you by Accusonus. 

If you like this podcast, please subscribe and also leave us a 5-star review because that will help spread the Audio Tech News.

LINKS:

Arturia 3 Filters You’ll Actually Use

https://www.arturia.com/products/software-effects/filters-bundle/overview

Audeze Mobius headphones with Waves Audio Nx 3D Audio Technology

https://www.audeze.com/products/mobius-series/mobius-creators-edition

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/mobius-immersive-cinematic-3d-audio-headphone-headphones/#/

Spitfire Audio Hans Zimmer Strings

https://www.spitfireaudio.com/shop/a-z/hans-zimmer-strings/

IK Multimedia Total Studio 2 bundles

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/ts2max

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/ts2deluxe/

This week Roland followed up its TR-8 drum machine with the new TR-8S Rhythm Performer. It has component-level models of sounds from the classic TR-808, 909, 606, 707, and 727 drum machines, as well as 150 other internal samples. It also imports external samples from an SD memory card. All of those sounds are subject to the TR-8S’s sound design, effects, sequencing, and motion recording functions.

The unit has 128 patterns, each with up to 8 variations, and 128 kits, which have total recall of all the settings and routings for the sounds. In addition to being a USB audio interface, the TR-8S also has 8 analog outputs and a trigger output for controlling analog gear. The Roland TR-8S Rhythm Performer is on pre-order now for $699 USD.

Tracktion has released the Waveform 9 digital audio workstation software. Its new Multi Sampler instrument includes the ability to rip audio directly from other software, such as a Web browser, making the possibilities for sampling audio endless. Among many other features, Waveform 9 includes new rack presets, 24-track drum construction kits, Macro controls, and time-saving Chord Tracks. Waveform 9 packages range in price from $109 to $259 USD.

This week Softube released its Volume 2 plug-in bundle, a  total of 19 effects, amplifier models, dynamics plug-ins and also the Heartbeat drum synthesizer and Modular, a virtual Eurorack synthesizer. For the Volume 2 bundle, Softube added a phaser effect, a tape machine emulation plug-in, and the brand new Weiss MM-1 Mastering Maximizer, which is based on the hardware Weiss DS1-MK3 high-end mastering processor. The Softube Volume 2 plug-in bundle is selling now for $399 USD.

That’s this week’s Audio Tech News Flash, brought to you by Accusonus. 

If you like this podcast, please subscribe and also leave us a 5-star review. That way, you can help spread the Audio Tech News.

LINKS: 

Roland TR-8S Rhythm Performer

https://www.roland.com/us/products/tr-8s/

Tracktion Unveils Waveform 9 Music Production Software

https://www.tracktion.com/products/waveform

https://www.youtube.com/user/TracktionSoftware/videos

Softube Volume 2 plug-in bundle

https://www.softube.com/index.php?id=volume2