Vintage running synths in Klaus Schulze type style
A complex session in Cubase of progressive rock, inspired by Pink Floyd and Klaus Schulze of course…
Transition X – free sample library
Transition FX Demo by Bronto Scorpio
Bronto Scorpio Music has released a free sample library, Transition FX;
Almost everyone needs them but there aren’t many good ones out there (at least not for free).
I’m talking about transition effects like “Boooooom”, “Whoooooosh” and “Tsssssssssh”.
Some time ago I thought I might just design some of these FX from scratch to share them with you.
After some days I came up with 33 samples. Some of them are simple and some of them are quite unique.
I’ve given my best to ensure the best possible quality and usefulness.
The sample library is a free download.
Togu Audio releases free vintage vocoder
TAL-Vocoder is a vintage vocoder emulation with 11 bands that emulates the sound of vocoders from the early 80’s. It includes analog modeled components in combination with digital algorithms such as the SFFT (Short-Time Fast Fourier Transform). This vocoder does not make a direct convolution of the carrier and modulation signal as other digital vocoders maybe do. It includes an envelope follower for every of the eleven bands. This vocoder is optimized for voice processing and includes some algorithms for consonants to make the voice more intelligible.
The carrier signal is a VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator) with a Pulse, Saw, Noise and SubOsc. But it’s also possible to use the left stereo input as carrier. This way every sound source can be used as carrier signal. This plug-in supports every sample rate.
- 11 band vocoder engine.
- Internal carrier synth (pulse, saw, sub osc, noise, mono, poly, portamento, sync mode, tune).
- Possiblity to route an external carrier signal.
- Harmonic control (adds more harmonics to any carrier signal)
- “Ess” enhancer for a clean understandable voice, also with a carrier that hasnt much high frequencies.
- Clip LED, glows if the input signal will be clipped.
- Panic button stopps hanging notes within the synth.
- Documentation shows different routing possiblities.
- Low CPU usage.
Download options:
Free nice sampled based drum machine
Designers Ola Wistedt and Mats Lindfors have released TheDrumSource v1.0, a new sample based drum machine instrument for Windows.
Features:
- Built in sample browser suited for a easy workflow when working with samples. And almost all of TheDrumSource’s functions is still available while browsing.
- Built in sequencer that has 24 sequences for your patterns. The patterns are of the 16-step bar type
- Support for many sample formats (including 24 bit samples): WAV, AIFF, AIFC, AU, SND, RAW, PAF, IFF, SVX, SF, VOC, W64, MAT4, MAT5, PVF, XI, HTK, CAF, SD2, FLAC, OGG.
- A GUI that can be resized to suit you screen.
- A quick button to change the next and previous sample in current directory of the selected sample.
- A stereo output channel for each drum. And a mode to mix down all channels temporary into one stereo channel for quick tests to get you up and running a little bit faster on some hosts.
- The SYNC mode. The sequencer is synced by the host (DAW) and you control which of the 24 track to be played with MIDI (octave 2 and 3).
- The MIDI mode. The samples can be played through midi keyboard (octave 1) with the sequencer turned off.
- The RUN mode. Lets you play around with the TheDrumsource sequencer when your host (DAW) is not running.
- Clean interface so you don’t get distracted in your creative work. TheDrumsource uses context menus to make this possible.
TheDrumSource is a free download.
Boost your Reaktor environment
The Colorspace has released three virtual instruments for Native Instruments Reaktor.
The Colorspace Reaktor ensembles:
- Reaktor Phadia – 4 oscs pads/atmospheres synthesizer.
- Reaktor Bass One – 3 oscs bass synthesizer.
- Reaktor Piky – 2 oscs pikes/plucks synthesizer.
All three Reaktor ensembles are available as a free download. Requires Reaktor full version.
Max for Live: Mark Egloff’s APC Step Sequencer
A mild-mannered logistics expert working for Ableton by day, Mark Egloff is also a hobby musician and remixer, who always preferred the direct control and tactile feel of hardware drum sequencers over their software equivalents. Working with Akai’s Shane Hazleton, Mark created a patch that can be used for hours of beat making without touching the keyboard or mouse.
Download the APC Step Sequencer for free here: http://www.ableton.com/pages/max_for_live/apc_step_sequencer
Also, through April, take advantage of deep discounts on Max for Live with Suite 8: http://www.ableton.com/maximized
Looking for great leads, pads and strings?
If you’re looking for great leads, pads and strings, then check out this beast of a synth. Don’t forget to check out the P8’s big brothers, the Professional and Trance-Pro which both feature upgraded specifications and new preset patches.
SuperWave P8 Specifications
Technical Specifications v2.1
Oscillators
2 Oscillators: Single, Dual, 7 Oscillators SuperWave mode
Waveforms: Sine, Saw, Ramp, Triangle, Pulse, White Noise, Pink Noise
Controls: Waveform, Mode, Fine-Tune, Semi-Tune, Detune, Octave, Sync
Filters
2 Resonant Filters: 12dB
Filter Types: Low Pass, Band Pass, High Pass
Controls: Filter Type, Cutoff Frequency, Resonance, Key Follow, Lock (Cutoff Frequency)
Amplifiers
2 Amplifiers
Controls: Level, Pan, On/Off
Envelopes
4 Envelopes (Filter x2, Amp x2)
Controls: Depth, Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release
Low Frequency Oscillators
2 LFO’s with multiple routing options
Waveforms: Sine, Saw, Ramp, Triangle, Pulse, White Noise, Pink Noise
Beat Ratios: 10
Controls: Waveform, Destination, Mode, Rate, Beat, Depth, Key On, Route
Modulation
Modulation with multiple routing options
Controls: Input, Destination, Depth
Effects
Effect Types: Mono Delay x2 (1 Stereo pair)
Delay Controls: Level, Feedback, Pan, Beat, On/Off
Other Features
8 note polyphonic operation
Main volume control
Mono/Polyphonic control
Portamento control
Midi CC control with learn capability
64 high quality presets
800 MHz+ Processor recommended / 1024 x 768 pixels screen resolution / 24 bit colour depth
Get the SuperWave P8 for free legally from the official product page at http://www.superwavesynths.c…
Kirnu’s controls and how to create simple prog house riff
Kirnu is very easy to use MIDI arpeggiator VST created with real-time tweaking in mind. This video briefly shows some of the Kirnu’s controls and how to create simple prog house riff.
Arto Vaarala’s Kirnu is a free MIDI arpeggiator for Mac & Windows, designed with real-time tweaking in mind.
Features:
- Easy realtime tweaking
- User friendly pattern view
- MIDI learn for every major control
- Two independent CC controls with ‘teach’ functionality
- Numerous of different scales
- Hold mode
The video demonstrates some of the Kirnu controls and how to create variations on a simple prog house riff.
Download at the Kirnuarp site.
280 free drum samples from the Korg KPR-77 drum machine
Wave Alchemy has released Tape KPR-77, a collection of over 280 free drum samples (recorded directly to 1/4″ analogue tape) from the Korg KPR-77 drum machine.
The Kits:
- Tape Clean – Includes 127 KPR-77 drum samples which have been recorded directly to 1/4″ tape via a Studer A80 Mk1 analogue tape machine at a clean / neutral level. This kit includes 5 round robin samples per sound as well as 3 velocity layers per hit.
- Tape Saturated – Includes 127 KPR-77 drum samples which have been recorded at a hot level (providing obvious tape saturation) to 1/4″ tape via a Studer A80 Mk1 analogue tape machine. This kit includes 5 round robin samples per sound as well as 3 velocity layers per hit.
- Driven Kit – Includes 27 KPR-77 drum samples which have been recorded and processed through a variety of Wave Alchemy’s outboard studio collection.
Due to the KPR-77’s analogue nature, subtle differences in tone are heard in the sound each time a drum is triggered. This means that no two hits coming from the KPR-77 will sound exactly the same, which in turn makes the overall sound a lot less static and instead, more vibrant and real.
Tape KPR-77 contains three pre-mapped drum kit patches for use with Kontakt 2, 3, & 4 and Battery 3. Each kit makes use of extensive velocity layering, round robin sample playback and choke groups which in turn capture the quirkiness and expressiveness of the original unit.
Wave Alchemy notes:
The KPR-77 was originally manufactured by Korg in the early 1980’s and was advertised as a cheaper alternative to Roland’s successful TR-606 drum machine. Surprisingly this quirky little analogue machine is capable of producing quite powerful drum sounds, we are especially fond of the toms, snares and claps!
Note: Registration at the Wave Alchemy site is required to download the free drum sample library.
Animato – featuring over 1,000 samples and loops, in .wav and .rex formats.
Tonescape has released Animato – a free sample library, featuring over 1,000 samples and loops, in .wav and .rex formats.
Here’s what they have to say about the free sample library:
This pack was carefully crafted in my studio during a period of about four months.
The goal was to deliver some quality loops, drums, fx and vocals for a variety of genres incl. Dubstep, Drum’n’bass, Psytrance and Psydub. It is perfectly applicable to other genres too off course.
Features:
- 407 MB content including Alien, Field recording, Fx, Loops, Moog, Percussion, Tonal, Vocals.
- Tools used to create the sounds include: Moog Voyager, Doepfer Dark Energy, Eventide H7600, NI Deep Freq (used extensively for modulated sounds).
- All samples are 100% royalty free to use in commercial and non-commercial work.
Animato is available as a free download from ToneScape.
DATAMASKIN
