Audio Tech Podcast

NewsFlash #15 | Propellerhead Reason 10.1, LANDR Samples, iZotope VocalSynth2

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/

NewsFlash #14 | SUPERBOOTH18 highlights from Behringer, Roland, IK Multimedia, Fingersonic and more

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

NewsFlash #13 | Dreadbox Li’l Erebus DIY Kit, ZenAud.io ALK2, Rob Papen Go2

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/

NewsFlash #12 | Google NSynth Super, TC Electronic TC2290-DT, Slate Digital VMR 2.0

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/

NewsFlash #11 | Exodus Digital Valkyrie, StudioLogic Mixface, Steinberg x Neve, Orange Vocoder 4

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/