Musikmesse 2010 New Tech Roundup

Musikmesse 2010 — “the international fair for musical instruments, sheet music, music production and music business connections” — took place last week in Frankfurt, Germany. The show provides a global stage for MI and pro audio manufacturers, many of which had new products on display. We’ve collected some highlights here for you:

Korg Intros New Electribes, monotron Hand-Held Analog Synth and More

Updating its line of Electribe pattern-based music production stations, Korg has announced the new tube-driven Electribe-MX SD (EMX-1 SD) and Electribe-SX SD (ESX-1 SD), revitalized with new patterns and “massive” SD data storage (and available 06/10; MSRP: $750).

Korg teamed up artists from around the world — including Ninja Tune/Big Dada artists Emika and the Anti-pop Consortium — to deliver fresh beats, patterns and Electribe SX (ESX-1) samples. The addition of SD/SDHC card storage allows up to 32 GB of sound, pattern, song and sample data to be saved on an individual card.

The EMX-1 SD uses Korg’s MMT (Multiple Modeling Technology) sound engine to offer sixteen types of tone generation. The ESX-1 SD offers editing features to provide the freedom to sample and modify sounds in realtime.

Korg also unveiled its new AAA battery-powered, hand-held monotron analog ribbon synthesizer (available 08/10; MSRP: $85) said to generate thick and powerful sounds, plus a true analog filter with audio input.

The unique ribbon controller keyboard borrows from performance aspects of Korg’s KAOSS products. Simple finger motions can produce expressive effects such as vibrato and glide. When used in a band, the monotron can harmonize with another instrument – or take center stage for a monotron solo.

Check out this video demo of the monotron in action, via Moogulator:

The monotron uses the same VCF circuit as Korg’s classic MS-10 and MS-20 semi modular synthesizers. Just as on the original MS-20, the monotron’s filter can be “patched into,” allowing any external audio source to be processed by the monotron’s filter. So, users can connect a KAOSSILATOR, guitar or digital audio player to the monotron and enjoy tone-bending filter effects.

And Korg’s new microSTATION (available 07/10; MSRP: $850) features Korg’s 61-key Natural Touch mini keyboard, numerous effects, dual arpeggiators, an on-board sequencer and 16 tracks of MIDI recording power.

The microSTATION features the new EDS-i (Enhanced Definition Synthesis – integrated) engine, derived from the EDS system found on Korg’s M3 XPanded and M50 professional instruments. The effect section adds up to five Insert effects (including Korg’s proprietary “REMS” amp modeling technology) two Master effects and one Total effect.

For detailed editing of Programs, Combinations, Drum kits and Arpeggio patterns, the microSTATION is bundled with the “microSTATION Editor” and “microSTATION Plug-In Editor” software.

Also new from Korg are the PS60 Performance Synthesizer and MR-2 high-res mobile recorder.

Roland Intros New GAIA SH-01

Roland unveiled several new products, including the new GAIA SH-01 synthesizer, Lucina AX-09 (keytar!) and V-Accordions.

The GAIA SH-01 features three complete virtual analog synths, 64-note polyphony, three oscillators per voice, big selection of FX (and up to 5 simultaneous), full USB DAW capability and more, for an expected street price of $650. Check out the demo vid:

Spectrasonics Announces New Features and Sounds for Omnisphere & Trilian

Spectrasonics announced version 1.3 updates (available April 20; free downloads for registered users) with new features and sounds for their Omnisphere and Trilian virtual instruments, including real-time performance sync capabilities, which allow all three of Spectrasonics virtual instruments (Omnisphere, Trilian and Stylus RMX) to be used together in unique ways.

The new ‘Latch’ and ‘Trigger’ modes are ideal for Electronic Music performers since they allow real-time creation of complex, multi-layered performances with full synchronization between multiple Omnisphere, Trilian and Stylus RMX parts without the need for traditional sequencing techniques.

New performance and live remixing techniques are now possible, since any incoming MIDI data to these instruments can now be quantized in real-time — making it easy to experiment, jam and improvise with any other clocked sources without losing any synchronization.

Spectrasonics has also taken its Groove Lock technology further in v1.3 and applied it to the multi-stage envelopes in the STEAM engine. This advancement allows all of the envelopes in Omnisphere and Trilian to be ‘Groove Locked’ from external sources and will automatically create rhythmic envelope patterns by dragging standard MIDI files from Stylus RMX and dropping them on the Envelope displays, reducing the time it takes to create rhythmic envelopes.

Also included in v1.3, the Spectrasonics’ sound design team have created a ‘VIP’ Omnisphere Library for users who own both Omnisphere and Trilian. The ‘VIP’ library utilizes the core libraries of both instruments together with Omnisphere’s advanced synthesis to create new sounds. Specifically for Trilian users, the sound design team has created new “produced” multis for the electric and acoustic basses in the 1.3 update which are designed for instantly cutting through heavier rock and pop mixes.

Omnisphere has a retail price of $499, Trilian has a retail price of $299, and Stylus RMX Xpanded has a retail price of $399.

PreSonus Studio One 1.5 Update Adds Big Features

PreSonus announced version 1.5 (available 04/10) of its Studio One DAW software. Key additions include support for video playback and sync for composing to picture, major enhancements to the Browser’s drag-and-drop capabilities, the ability to draw your own automation waveforms, automation points that are locked to events, a new key-command editor, changing tempos within a event without slicing the event into separate events, and support for song and album art.

A built-in SoundCloud client enables you to upload audio files from Studio One directly to the Web. The MIDI features have been improved, including a new MIDI file player in the Browser. PreSonus has enhanced the Native Effects plug-ins and added new ones. And there’s more! Check out URL for a detailed rundown of all the new features added in this update.

Universal Audio Intros “TWIN-FINITY” Four-Channel Mic Pre/DI

Universal Audio announced its latest hardware product — the 4-710D Four-Channel “Twin-finity” Mic Preamp & DI with Dynamics (available Q3 2010; Pricing TBD). The new analog hardware boasts four channels of tone-blending mic pre’s plus true-bypass 1176-style compression and 24-Bit, 192kHz A/D conversion.

Based on the original 710 Twin-Finity preamp — favored by engineers including Al Schmitt (Jackson Browne, Dr. John, Diana Krall) and Matt Boudreau (The Samples, Sean O’Brien) — each of the four mic preamp channels allows for continuously variable tone between 100% tube and 100% solid-state.

Other notable 4-710D features include:

- Newly designed 1176-style compression/soft-limiting circuit per mic channel
- Eight channels of high-quality 24-Bit, 192kHz A/D conversion
- Digital output via dual ADAT optical or AES/EBU DB-25
- Monolithic balanced output stage
- Balanced send/return inserts

Sound Performance Lab (SPL) Rolls Out M/S Master, Transpressor, RackPack, More

On the hardware side, SPL unveiled its new M/S Master, Transpressor, RackPack 4, and RackPack Dual-Band De-Esser. The M/S Master allows for fully adjustable separation of left/right signals to middle/side signals, as well as a frequency filter, stereo width control, and inserts for external processors that allow for instant switching from L/R to M/S processing.

The Transpressor consists of both the Transient Designer and Twin Core Compressor modules, which can be used in any order. The company notes that the Transient Designer’s processing begins at the limits of compression in order to maintain the dynamics of a track or mix.

The RackPack 4 is a mounting frame and power supply for up to four modules, featuring a compact design with a lateral handle, and additional fitting system for a 19-inch rack. The Dual-Band De-Esser, RackPack’s new module, takes sibilance out of vocals with targeted processing, “Auto-Threshold” for keeping a consistent signal level in spite of varying microphone distances, and settings tailored to male and female voices.

On the software end, SPL showcased their new DrumXchanger, a plug-in said to accurately record and replace drum sounds. Included with the software are two complete Transient Designer processing stages, and a 24-bit/96 kHz SPL sample library.

Another new and exciting synth, Radikal Technologies introduced its Accelerator.

The Accelerator (available 06/10) is a polyphonic Synthesizer with eight subtractive voices, each consisting of three oscillators, two multimode filters, 6 envelope generators, three voice LFOs and one section LFO. An additional noise source with independent multimode filtering and variable signal routing has been added for more sonic flexibility.

Hear some sounds on this video demo, via Moogulator, from the show floor:

Features include:

- 3 oscillators with sweepable waveforms, time linearity modulation, phasemodulation, ringmodulation between Oszillator 2+3
- oscillator synchronisation 6 envelope generators
- 4 LFOs (3 voice, 1p art LFO)
- noise with noise filter (multimode filter 12 / 24 dB)
- independent amp EG for noise
- 2 multimodefilter per voice LP, HP, BP and
- Notch with 12/24 dB per filter switchable
- independent oscillator to filter feeds
- serial and parallel filter configurations
- arpeggiator
- step sequencer
- MIDI In, Out, Thru
- MORE!

Also, came across the awesome looking/sounding OP-1 from Sweden’s Teenage Engineering. The OP-1 is a synth/sampler/sequencer that was first introduced at last year’s Musikmesse, with a new built-in Tape feature talked up at Winter NAMM. It’s still not out yet but check out this demo and join the relative masses in waiting:

Musikmesse 2010: Korg Intros New Electribes, monotron hand-held analog synth and More

Updating its line of Electribe pattern-based music production stations, Korg has announced the new tube-driven Electribe-MX SD (EMX-1 SD) and Electribe-SX SD (ESX-1 SD), revitalized with new patterns and “massive” SD data storage.

Korg teamed up artists from around the world — including Ninja Tune/Big Dada artists Emika and the Anti-Pop Consortium — to deliver fresh beats, patterns and even Electribe SX (ESX-1) samples. The addition of SD/SDHC card storage allows up to 32 GB of sound, pattern, song and sample data to be saved on an individual card. This enables an entire live show’s worth of data to be saved on a single card.

The EMX-1 SD uses Korg’s MMT (Multiple Modeling Technology) sound engine to offer sixteen types of tone generation. The ESX-1 SD offers powerful editing features to provide the freedom to sample and modify sounds in realtime.

Features common to both models include:

- Twin vacuum tube “valve force” circuitry, delivering analog warmth or menacing bite
- Three stereo effects that can be chained together for radical sound warping
- Crisp filters and speedy-smooth timbral modulation
- Built-in step sequencer, delivering intuitive song production
- Motion Sequence function, to capture and replay sound-tweaking knob movements
- Powerful arpeggiator, ribbon controller and slider, for generating inspired phrases
- Auto BPM Detection, which sets the tempo based on any external audio source

The Korg Electribe EMX-1 SD and ESX-1 SD will be available June 2010 with an MSRP of $750.

Korg has also unveiled its new AAA battery-powered, hand-held monotron analog ribbon synthesizer, said to generate thick and powerful sounds, plus a true analog filter with audio input.

The unique ribbon controller keyboard borrows from performance aspects of Korg’s KAOSS products. Simple finger motions can produce expressive effects such as vibrato and glide. When used in a band, the monotron can harmonize with another instrument – or take center stage for a monotron solo.

The monotron’s circuit is simple: one voltage-controlled oscillator, one voltage-controlled filter and one low frequency oscillator. The controls have been streamlined greatly – the panel contains only five knobs and one switch. Each knob controls a single function, so the process of sound creation is intuitive and instantly understandable. The LFO knob is even equipped with an LED that blinks at the same rate as the LFO, offering a convenient visual cue.

The monotron uses the same VCF circuit as Korg’s classic MS-10 and MS-20 semi modular synthesizers. Originally released over 30 years ago, these instruments are still sought-after for their aggressive, dynamic filters. Just as on the original MS-20, the monotron’s filter can be “patched into,” allowing any external audio source to be processed by the monotron’s filter. So, users can connect a KAOSSILATOR, guitar or digital audio player to the monotron and enjoy tone-bending filter effects.

The Korg monotron will be available August 2010 with an MSRP of $85.

And Korg’s new microSTATION features Korg’s 61-key Natural Touch mini keyboard, numerous effects, dual arpeggiators, an on-board sequencer and 16 tracks of MIDI recording power.

To benefit novice sequencer users, new features such as easily accessible Loop Recording and Visual Grid Sequencing have been added to jump-start any type of music production.

The microSTATION features the new EDS-i (Enhanced Definition Synthesis – integrated) engine, derived from the EDS system found on Korg’s M3 XPanded and M50 professional instruments. The effect section adds up to five Insert effects (including Korg’s proprietary “REMS” amp modeling technology) two Master effects and one Total effect.

For detailed editing of Programs, Combinations, Drum kits and Arpeggio patterns, the microSTATION is bundled with the “microSTATION Editor” and “microSTATION Plug-In Editor” software. The “microSTATION Editor” is a stand-alone program, while the “microSTATION Plug-In Editor” allows the microSTATION to be used as a VST, AU or RTAS plug-in instrument inside a DAW or other host application on a personal computer.

The Korg microSTATION will be available July 2010 with an MSRP of $850.

Check out all of Korg’s newest products, including the PS60 Performance Synthesizer and MR-2 high-res mobile recorder, at www.korg.com.

Korg Introduces Kaossilator Pro

Korg has introduced the addition of the KAOSSILATOR PRO, a dynamic phrase synthesizer/loop recorder, to the KAOSS family.

The KAOSSILATOR PRO is a touchpad-based synthesizer with a wide range of built-in sounds designed to fit a variety of musical genres: techno, hip-hop, house, as well as sounds built for acoustic instruments.

The KAOSSILATOR PRO’s features are optimized for improvised live performances and quality production. Among them are an X-Y touchpad with precision control that covers 31 musical scales. It can be used in unison with the Gate Arpeggiator, based on Korg’s Electribe products, to create set grooves.

There are 200 programs on the KAOSSILATOR PRO comprised of fifteen vocoder programs that can process and record external audio sources for creative effects. It also contains eight memory keys that allow instant recall of favorite programs, as well as superior PCM (pulse code modulation) samples that emulate realistic drum sounds.

The synthesizer has four Loop Recorder Banks that allow up to four-bar looped phrases in real time with unlimited layering and overdubbing, for DJ-like performances. The external audio signals that run through the internal vocoder can also be looped.

The KAOSSILATOR PRO comes with stereo inputs, outputs (RCA Pairs), an unbalanced ¼” microphone input, and a ¼” headphone jack on the front panel. As a MIDI controller, all the MIDI data produced can be saved to SD storage cards and easily transferred to a computer via a USB.

The Korg KAOSSILATOR PRO will be available in May 2010. KAOSSILATOR PRO owners can download the Editor software free of charge from www.korg.com.

Winter NAMM Music/DJ Products By Korg, Ableton, Akai and Denon

Plenty of awesome looking product introductions in the music production / DJ realm coming out of Anaheim the last couple days….We picked a few to profile here, from Korg, Akai, Ableton and Denon. For a more complete list of DJ products, check out DJ Tech Tools’ show report. For a much more comprehensive list of new musical instrument / tech products and show videos and reports, follow MusicRadar’s coverage HERE.

Korg is bringing back the WaveDrum, a “sonically richer,” programmable, second generation of the Wavedrum synthesizer Korg first introduced in 1994. Wavedrum responds to any and all playing styles — tapping and stroking to “aggressive, rhythmic assaults.”

Compact and built to travel, the Wavedrum allows you to play tabla, conga, and other such acoustic percussion instruments in the studio or in a live concert performance. Moving beyond traditional drum and percussion sounds, Wavedrum also provides totally new and unique sounds, and offers new ways of playing to achieve new levels of musical expression.

Wavedrum can process and respond to traditional hand-drum techniques, such as adding pitch and tonal changes to a strike by pressing the head, and other “intimate performance gestures.” For example, Wavedrum can produce sitar and tambura sounds at the same time. You can produce tambura sounds alone by hitting the head, adding the sitar sounds by applying pressure to the head before hitting it. Applying further pressure can change the pitch of the sitar within the selected scale.

The Wavedrum contains 36 DSP algorithms to conjure an abundance of synthesis methods; analog, additive, non-linear, physical modeling, etc. Using these building blocks, you can create various instrument sounds, natural sounds, or purely synthetic sounds – in addition to WaveDrum’s own unique voice. Go to http://www.korg.com/wavedrum for more information.

Korg’s also introduced the newest addition to its Kaoss product line, with the Kaossilator Pro. A touchpad-based synthesizer, the Kaossilator Pro offers built-in sounds suitable for an expansive range of musical genres (techno, house, hip hop, R&B, reggae and electro, etc.) Additional sounds simulate acoustic instruments such as piano, trumpet and guitar.

According to Korg, high-quality PCM samples have been added to the DSP engine to provide realistic drum sounds, yielding 20 individual drum hits and 25 preset drum patterns. In all, there are 200 programs available – including 15 vocoder programs that can process an external audio signal. Eight memory keys allow instant recall of favorite programs.

The Kaossilator Pro adds another dimension by allowing the creation of up to four-bar looped phrases. External audio signals — from an MP3 player, other instrument or a microphone running through the internal vocoder — can also be recorded as part of a looped phrase. There are four individual Loop Recorder Banks, offering realtime looping, layering and DJ-Style remixing. Loops data can be saved to SD storage cards and transferred via USB to a computer for further use in a DAW.

The Korg Kaossilator Pro (MSRP: $460) will be available May 2010. Check out a complete list of features and functionality here: http://www.korg.com/Product.aspx?pd=564

Meanwhile, Akai and Ableton are announcing the new APC20, a hardware-software musical system for creative composition and performance, following in the footsteps of the APC40.

The APC20 features the APC40′s multicolor 8×5 button Session View Matrix, eight high-quality faders and two-way communication with Ableton Live, and features three modes of operation, built-in customization features and a number of “smart new tricks.”

The APC20 is a slightly smaller version of the APC40, with the same 40-button grid for direct access to the clips in Ableton Live’s Session View. APC40 owners can hook up an APC20 and automatically access 16 tracks and an enormous 80-button grid, thanks to the new “Combination Mode.” It’s also possible to run up to six APC20s together.

The APC20 will be available at music stores worldwide in the second quarter of 2010. For more information, visit:  http://www.ableton.com/apc20 or http://www.akaipro.com/apc20.

And, Ableton and Serato have announced The Bridge, which links Ableton Live and Serato Scratch Live/ITCH. Fusing these DJ and production tools opens up a world of opportunities for DJing, remixing and live performance. Look at all the folks who are excited about it!

The Bridge works in both directions: Ableton to Serato and Serato to Ableton. So, the Bridge provides Ableton Transport Control (ATC), giving DJs turntable-style control of their own multitrack productions. DJs can drag an Ableton Live Set onto one of the decks in Scratch Live or ITCH and use their turntables, CDJ or ITCH controller to control the transport.

And the Bridge works as a mixtape creation tool. DJs can perform mixes in Serato Scratch Live or ITCH and save them as an Ableton Live Set. This way, the DJ can still perform the mix, but also has detailed editing options.

The Bridge will be free for anyone who owns registered versions of both Serato Scratch Live/ITCH hardware and Ableton Live 8 or Suite 8. No release date has been set yet; anyone interested can follow the progress of the project by subscribing to the Ableton newsletter: http://www.ableton.com/newsletter

And in hardware DJ mixers, Denon has unveiled its DN-X1600, a four-channel digital mixer with a variety of features for DJs and electronic musicians.

The DN-X1600 allows DJs to work with vinyl, CD, digital files, DJ software apps via laptops and USB storage devices, and provides an exclusive MIDI control UI area for ease-of-use in the the PC DJ market.

Uniquely, the DN-X1600 is equipped with V-LINK, a function developed by Roland that allows DJ performers to simultaneously integrate audio and video via the mixer’s MIDI terminals.

Check out DJmag‘sfirst look video HERE; the DN-X1600 will be available in February 2010 with pricing TBA.

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