Audio Tech Podcast

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 f

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-osc

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

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

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 int

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 4

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 Ro

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 L

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 c

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, Wavef

Bitwig has released the Bitwig Studio 2.3 digital audio workstation update. Additions include time-signature markers on the timeline, improved time-stretching for audio, new sounds and device presets for the content library, and more. However, the biggest news for Bitwig Studio 2.3 is the new Phase-4 four-oscillator synthesizer. Phase-4 uses phase manipulation synthesis, similar to the classic Casio CZ phase distortion synthesizers from the 1980s. However, Bitwig’s Phase-4 goes even further with extensive modulation control and a highly visual interface. Bitwig Studio 2.3 is a free update to licensed users with an active upgrade plan, and anyone can try the free demo at Bitwig.com. Two large musical artist communities joined together when Splice acquired Indaba Music. Both companies actively present remixing, production, and songwriting contests, and will collaborate on new projects like the weekly Firestarter series, now available at the Splice.com blog. The Firestarter challenges give producers a creative

This week we’re looking at some upcoming hardware. First up, Behringer has revealed more detailed specs for it Neutron semi-modular analog synthesizer, which should be available this April for $299 USD. Unlike Behringer’s current Model D synth, the Neutron is not a clone of a popular old synthesizer, but rather an entirely new design. Neutron is a two-oscillator paraphonic synthesizer, which means both oscillators can be independently controlled. Its purely analog signal path includes a self-oscillating filter and an overdrive circuit. You also have a cable patch point matrix with 32 inputs and 24 outputs for designing complex sounds.  In more semi-modular news, Pittsburgh Modular has announced its first fully stand-alone synthesizer, the Microvolt 3900 monosynth. Its analog oscillator includes what's called a  wavefolder for adding harmonics to the outgoing signal, and there’s also an arpeggiator, sequencer and MIDI to CV control. A 39-point patchbay lets you reconfigure the internal signal routing, or you

A new free sample-based virtual instrument host called SampleScience Player comes with 200 playable instruments, from acoustic piano to drums and synthesizers. SampleScience Player will be able to load and play additional sample libraries formatted for it, similar to the better-known UVI Workstation and Native Instruments Kontakt Player plug-ins. You can download SampleScience Player and its 5GB lossless audio sound library for free from Samplescience.ca.  This week MixedInKey released the new Captain Play plug-in, which is the latest in the Captain Plug-ins bundle designed for Ableton Live and Logic Pro 10 for Mac. These plug-ins work together to assist producers in writing chord progressions, melodies, basslines, and other song elements, with the goal of achieving fast results. There are now four plug-ins in the $79 USD bundle, and there will be three additional plug-ins released at no extra charge.  Anyone interested in iZotope’s Ozone 8 mastering suite and Neutron 2 mixing plug-ins can now purchase them

A long wait ended this week for many electronic music producers as Ableton released its Live 10 digital audio workstation. Live 10 adds four new devices, including Pedal for adding the character of analog stomp box effects; Drum Buss for dialing in the tone of drum tracks; and the new Wavetable synthesizer. Wavetable has two oscillators with oscillator effects and unison mode, and many wavetable shapes to choose from. It also has a modulation matrix, analog-modeled filters and it integrates with Ableton’s hardware Push controller.  Live 10 updates its sound library with new collections of synthesizers, keyboards, and drums, as well new Live Packs based on trending electronic music styles.  Live 10 also includes several big workflow improvements, such as editing multiple MIDI clips in one window, track groups nested within other track groups, and the new Capture function, which can save your MIDI performances after you’ve played them even when Recording wasn’t turned on.  Virtual instrument maker Output revea

I’m wrapping up some of the biggest hits from the 2018 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California, where Avid unveiled the newly named Pro Tools 2018. This major update adds some highly-requested features, such as track presets, retrospective MIDI record, where you can capture performances you played without the Record function on; MIDI editing shortcuts, and other track compositing and mixing enhancements.  Not to be outdone, Apple introduced Logic Pro 10.4, including the new Smart Tempo mode that automatically syncs all audio to the set BPM value, so for example live recorded tracks automatically sync to tempo without quantization or editing. The new Chromoverb color-coded reverb effect lets you apply various amounts to different frequency ranges. Also, a new Mellotron plug-in, Vintage EQ effects, new sequenced effects and improved string and horn sounds make the free 10.4 update feel like a major update, and Logic Pro 10 is still one of the best software buys in the world at 199 US dollars.  Roland announced the