UltraNova is here
Novation is now shipping the UltraNova, a ‘Nova’ series analogue-modelling synthesizer with a powerful effects processor.
It is a single-part synth taking the legendary Supernova II synth engine as a starting point and packing it with the latest technology. It now has brand new features including wavetable synthesis, even more powerful filters, a software editor and a revolutionary new touch-sense performance mode.
The ‘Nova’ family was born in 1998 with the Supernova, which was the first of a series of powerful synthesisers. These quickly became industry standard ‘big-synths’ which are still used by countless artists and sound designers.
UltraNova is the latest addition to the family bringing the range right up to date with a host of new features and a more affordable price tag.
UltraNova features
- Brand new Nova-series synth engine based on Supernova II:
- Single part with up to 18 voices, 14 filter types, 36 wavetables, 5 effect slots.
- Patch Browse enables you to browse 300 sounds by type & genre.
- Touch-sense controls enable totally new sound-shaping & performance:
- Trigger envelopes/LFOs/filters/FX by just touching the encoders.
- Large rotary control instantly allows you fine control of any parameter.
- Totally gig-able with 37 full sized keys, a vocoder, and loads of controls:
- Voice optimized 12 band vocoder with gooseneck mic.
- High quality key bed with aftertouch for expressive playing styles.
- Software plug-in editor and Patch Librarian for full visual editing:
- Plug-in editor allows you to view and edit in with software.
- Software Patch Librarian a organise, store and share unlimited patches.
- Built-in 2 in 4 out USB audio interface and it can be bus powered:
- UltraNova can be used to stream audio to and from a host computer.
- Stereo main (analogue & SPDIF) and aux outputs, and MIDI in/out/thru ports.
The Novation UltraNova is now shipping for £499.99 GPB / $699.99 USD. A specially designed UltraNova case is also now available.
More information: Novation / UltraNova
Analogue Solutions Europa sequencing the Omega 8 and Perfourmer
Calvin Cardioid aka cl516 has uploaded a nice run through of the Europa
Quick video showing the Analogue Solutions Europa sequencing the Omega 8 and Perfourmer. I really wanted the groove to be kept constant in this video. It’s pretty much just the two synths, Machinedrum providing tempo and drums, and a little bit of Waves H-Delay. The Europa certainly wasn’t pickup and use right away, but after reading the manual, I’m starting to get the hang of it. Those keys on the left make it so simple to transpose or tap out a small melody. It’s also very easy to mute tracks and switch patterns on the fly. As for the synths, both the Omega and Perfourmer are quite handy for this type of use: Omega can have each of its 8 voices on a different MIDI channel in multi-mode, and same with Perfourmer and its 4 voices
Summing up the analog modular synth gathering at National Museum of Science and Technology Stockholm
Some 30 modular systems was on display last weekend at the museum of science and technology in Stockholm. The gathering was co-hosted in the space exhibition giving it a nice atmosphere but also giving a quite noise level as the general public was including many kids passing on their way to the toy tech department. On the other hand the Lego builders competition would leave plenty of time for parents strolling around the lovely modulars as their kids where building Lego.
Photos below are from the following sources:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jiblite/sets/72157625324995360/ jiblite
http://www.flickr.com/photos/possan/5151066561/ possan
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51395145@N08/sets/72157625204619015/ Peter Erikson
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24097552@N06/sets/72157625204866033/ Faxtelius
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pellesten/sets/72157625330505144/with/5153607155/ pellesten
For the last image we refer to http://maxsynth.wordpress.com
Find out more about the green DIY modulator.
The EMS of Stockholm was kind to bring some of their classic Buchlas. Here shown to the public for the first time.
A quite large system from the now defunct Plan B.
A pure modular synthesizer album, tracking one monophonic line at a time.
The composer Stretta writes: “While modular synths are undergoing something of a renaissance these days with dozens of manufacturers producing interesting new modules, there aren’t a lot of examples of pure modular synth music made today that transcend the banal.
‘A Funneled Stone’ is a pure modular synth release, tracked in the old-shool, 1970’s way: one monophonic line at a time. Every sound you hear was created, patched and recorded for that moment in time. When a new sound is needed, the patch is torn down and a new one is built. Polyphony is achieved by tracking each voice individually.
A modular album is, by definition, unapologetically synthetic. I also tried to take a more minimalist approach to orchestration, so the individual sounds can be more fully isolated and appreciated. I spent much of the final month of production taking elements out, and editing for length. Sometimes this results in the remaining elements merely hinting at the underlying harmonic movement.
As you can imagine, this process is very time-consuming, but fun. I hope you enjoy the results as much as I enjoyed creating it.”
a funneled stone by stretta
Moogerfoogers in action
Truly nice mix of geeky sounds, enjoy. Moogerfoogers can be used as pedals to get analog sounds for use by DJs
Moog MIDI MuRF Moogerfooger
Moog Ring Modulator Moogerfooger
Moog Low Pass Filter Moggerfooger
Hooked up to an MPC-1000
New fat DAW Controller and SuperAnalogue™ audio hub
Solid State Logic has announced Nucleus, a unique, high quality DAW Controller and SuperAnalogue™ audio hub for professional project studios.
Nucleus re-defines the professional project studio with a combination of advanced DAW control, transparent SuperAnalogue™ monitoring, high class analogue mic pres, pro quality USB audio interface and bundled SSL Duende plug-ins. There is no other product available which offers the professional producer/engineer all these elements, with benchmark audio performance and elegant ergonomics. Not only is it unique but Nucleus is also outstanding value; these elements bought separately would cost more and deliver a less elegant solution.
Nucleus is a compact desktop unit that creates a comfortable, efficient, hands on operating environment for DAW based Music and Film/TV Post production. It provides everything you need to record and monitor audio and to control your DAW quickly and efficiently without resorting to your mouse. Nucleus streamlines your workflow and helps you focus on your sound, not your screen.
Nucleus features
- Advanced DAW Controller
- HUI & MCU control; compatible with ProTools®, Logic®, Cubase/Nuendo® and all major DAW applications.
- Switch between 3 connected DAW’s with a single button press.
- Two banks of 8 channel controls plus centre section controls.
- Touch sensitive 100mm motorised faders.
- Digital Scribble Strips with assignable V-Pots and soft keys.
- Completely user customisable DAW & Key Command mapping.
- Large heavy duty transport buttons and high quality jog/shuttle wheel.
- Standard 1/4” Jack footswitch connection.
- Excellent visual feedback via self illuminating buttons, LED’s and DAW Level Metering.
- Remote Logictivity Browser for effortless configuration.
- SD card for non volatile project storage.
- Four USB sockets for use as a 4 port USB hub.
- Unique audio nerve centre for your project studio
- Benchmark SuperAnalogue™ quality output to separate +4dBu & -10dBV connections.
- High quality USB audio interface stereo record and playback path for your DAW.
- Two Combi XLR mic/line/instrument level inputs to audio interface and monitor outputs.
- Digital S/PDIF I/O to the AD/DA of the audio interface.
- Zero latency Rec monitoring with wet/dry control to balance input and DAW playback.
- SSL SuperAnalogue™ Mic Pre’s, identical to those used on SSL Duality and AWS consoles.
- Mic inputs have 80Hz High Pass Filters, Phase Reverse and Phantom Power.
- Insert send/return connections switched between inputs and DAW playback for mixdown.
- Additional ‘external’ SuperAnalogue™ input monitor path for another audio interface.
- Two headphone outputs and one iJack monitor input.
- The Duende Native Essentials Bundle
- Nucleus includes the Duende Native Essentials Bundle of VST/AU/RTAS plug-ins which includes; The SSL Channel EQ & Dynamics plug-in and the Stereo Bus Compressor plug-in.
Nucleus will be available from SSL Resellers Worldwide from Dec 2010 priced at £3000 GBP / 3599 EUR / $4999 USD (prices excl. VAT).
More information: Solid State Logic / Nucleus
iCircuit: Designing and experimenting with circuits on iPad
iCircuit is the premier iPad and iPhone app for designing and experimenting with circuits. Its advanced simulation engine can handle both analog and digital circuits and features realtime always-on analysis. It is the perfect companion to students, hobbyists, and engineers.
You use it as you would any CAD program: you add elements, connect them together, and set their properties.
But iCircuit is unlike other CAD programs because it is always simulating. It’s just like working with the real circuit. You do not stop to take a measurement or spend a lot of time configuring reports. Instead, you just play with the circuit as you normally would, with the power on!
There are over 30 elements you can use to build your circuits. The app has everything from simple resistors, to switches, to MOSFETS, to digital gates.
The app features a multimeter that you use to probe around the circuit to instantly read voltages and currents. If you want to see how a value changes over time, then you can add values to the built-in oscilloscope. The scope can simultaneously track many signals over time and features a touch interface to control the total time displayed and stacked and unstacked modes to easily compare signals.
Supported elements include:
* Signal generators, Voltage sources, and Current sources
* Resistors, Capacitors, and inductors
* Manual SPST/SPDT Switches, and SPST/SPDT relays
* Diodes, BJ Transistors, and MOSFETs
* Speakers, Buzzers, and LEDs
* ADCs, and DACs
* Logic gates: AND, OR, NAND, NOR, XOR
* JK and D Flip-flops
* Because iCircuit is a very CPU intensive application, it is recommended that you only use it on newer generation hardware including: iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPads. However, it will still function on the older hardware.
Krueger Systems, Inc.“
Professional Virtual Analogue Synthesizer for the iPad
Developer Tempo Rubato has introduced what they call a “Professional Virtual Analogue Synthesizer” for the iPad, NlogSynth Pro (App Store link)
Key Features:
- It sounds pretty awesome (see video embed)
- It supports external MIDI input via Line 6 Midi Mobilizer interface.
- Full MIDI implementation for note on/off including velocity control, pitch bend, sustain pedal, modulation wheel and assignable midi controller.
Check out the features below and the demo video for more information. NLogSynth Pro is $14.99.
If you’ve used NlogSynth Pro, leave a comment and let us know what you think of it!
Features:
- 192 presets, including fresh new soundset by the trance producer 7 Skies
- ENDLESS options for SOUND EDITING
- Over one 150 parameters and options
- More than your beloved hardware synths might offer
- Store up to 96 own edits in 3 user banks
- Exchange sounds with your friends by email
- STUDIO QUALITY sounds
- Professional 44.1 kHz Stereo CD quality
- Internal 32bit floating point engine
- Highly efficient sound algorithms
- Enabling maximum CPU performance of your iPad
- STAGE safe KEYBOARD implementation
- Fully customizable keyboard to your personal style
- Keeps all settings automatically in your preferences
- SLIDING keyboard and LOCK options
- Double manual option: two independent keyboards on screen
- POLY, MONO & LEGATO modes
- Optional velocity control
- Four different key sizes
- Full range of 6 1/2 octaves
- Fully customizable EXPRESSION CONTROL
- Realistic PITCH BEND and MOD WHEEL implementation
- X/Y two dimensional controller
- Four fully customizable PERFORMANCE knobs
- Keyboard with VERTICAL modulation control
- FAT & RICH:
- New filter implementation for SMOOTH and JUICY control with 7 FILTER types
- Incredible UNISONO mode for up to 4 parallel sounds with detune, delay and panning control
- RECORDING:
- Tape recorder with metronome
- Waveform display
- Loop playback
- File manager
- Export to Sonoma & BeatMaker paste boards
- WiFi & Email export
- SOUND editing features
- 4 Oscillators with 20 waveforms:
- classic analogue SIN, SAWTOOTH, TRIANGLE and SQUARE
- and 16 additional carefully designed wavetables
- True PWM pulse-width modulation
- Modulated by LFO or envelope
- Frequency modulation
- Sinusoidal and complex waveforms
- Modulation by LFO and envelope
- Ring modulation
- The old school electronic effect
- Noise generator
- Individual modulation by LFO and envelope
- 2 Filter with incredible 7 filter types
- Low Passes, High Passes & Band Passes
- Finest sweeps and smoothest cutoff tuning
- Carefully resonating
- 12 & 24dB option for steepness
- 4 Envelope generators
- Classic Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release
- Velocity controlled attack time
- Slope control
- 4 Modulation LFOs
- 4 waveforms
- Sample & hold
- Fade in delay
- Modulation Matrix
- 4 Modulation slots each modulating 3 destinations
- Multi-effect section
- Stereo delay with cross-feed and damping filter
- chorus
- flanger
- phaser
- distortion
- reverb
- parametric EQ
New analogue emulation accelerator package
Presenting the new UAD-2 Powered Plug-Ins platform trailer. This video overview features the included Analog Classics plug-in bundle, as well as testimonials from UA artists and partners.
Universal Audio today announced the release of the new UAD-2 QUAD Omni (v5.7) DSP Accelerator Package. Specifically, the UAD-2 QUAD Omni (v5.7) gives producers and engineers 50 award-winning UAD Powered Plug-Ins on Mac or PC — saving thousands of dollars versus buying the plug-ins individually. The PCIe card features four Analog Devices SHARC chips to “power” the world’s finest analog emulation plug-ins, including classics from Manley, Neve, Roland, BOSS, dbx, Empirical Labs, EMT, Fairchild, Harrison, Helios, Little Labs, Pultec, SPL, Teletronix and more.
Nice demo fo the Tinysizer
demosong for the TINYSIZER from anywhere instruments. All sounds except the kickdrum are from the tinysizer. sequenced and recorded with ableton live.
the TINYSIZER is an analog modular synthesizer where you can patch everything
with little patch cords and the total size of the synth is like a little laptop.
Its got MIDI to CV build in, so you can sequence with MIDI or CV.
DATAMASKIN
