Arturia Origin has arrived
Origin Keyboard is based on a vision. The vision of an instrument that would proudly stand among the greatest synths of all time” says Frédéric Brun, President of Arturia. “Difficulties have been numerous, but we are extremely proud to start shipping Origin Keyboard. This is an instrument breaking new boundaries by mixing the latest technologies and the grand tradition of quality and innovation in sound synthesis.
In January of this year, Arturia said that March, 2010 was the expected release time for the Origin Keyboard; well, March and much of the year came and went, with no such unit in sight. After much anticipation, however, Arturia announced today that the Origin Keyboard is now shipping, officially and for real.
Take a look at the Origin Keyboard’s main features:
- Semi-weighted 61-key keyboard with Velocity response and channel Aftertouch
- Exclusive duophonic Aftertouch
- Self-adjustable front panel, from 0° to 135°
- 5.2″ TFT screen for clear visual feedback
- Easily transportable cabinet
- Ultra-sensitive 40 cm ribbon controller
- Modulation and pitch-bend wheels, 3-mode Joystick, 21 potentiometers, 33 rotary encoders, and 81 switches
- Analog audio Connectivity: 2 audio inputs,10 audio outputs
- Digital audio: S/PDIF out, USB 2.0
- Built-in expression pedal and footswitch control inputs
- Analog Devices Tiger Shark processors
- TAE engine
- Up to 32 voices of polyphony for a typical patch
- Effects: Phaser, Chorus, Delay, Distortion, Parametric EQ, Rotary, and more
- Over 600 presets created by musicians and synthesizer specialists
- Create your own patch by connecting independent modules from the Minimoog, ARP 2600, CS-80, Jupiter-8, Moog Modular, and Prophet VS
Coming soon the Akai Pro MPK mini
The Akai Pro MPK mini is an ultra-compact mini-keyboard with an impressive array of buttons, knobs and pads to provide “hands-on” performance and production control no matter your location. MPK mini strikes the perfect balance between portability and comprehensive software control by melding together the complete control offered in the popular Akai Pro MPK family with the grab-and-go convenience of the LPK25 and LPD8. With a 25-note keyboard, 8 back-lit, MPC-style pads and 8 Q-Link knobs, the MPK mini is the ultimate portable controller to get your music moving.
The MPK mini keyboard is ideal for quickly entering notes and phrases into your computer. The velocity-sensitive keys allow you to accurately express dynamics, while accessing different pitch ranges is done instantly through dedicated Octave Up and Down buttons. Create sparkling, staccato leads and driving bass-lines in a variety of time denominations and patterns with MPK mini’s built-in Arpeggiator. A Tap-Tempo button gives you the ability to quickly adjust the Arpeggiator clock which is essential if you’re looking to stay in sync with a band. A Sustain button holds notes after releasing your hand from the keyboard allowing you the opportunity to easily pound pads and twist knobs, with no pedal required.
MPK mini’s 8 back-lit, velocity-sensitive pads are based on Akai Professional’s MPC line of iconic music production stations. Great for firing one-shot samples and sequencing drum patterns, you can use the pads to send note information, MIDI CCs, or even program changes. Pressing the Bank button will quickly toggle between 2 banks of pads giving you access to 16 pads in total. Additionally, the MPK mini has 8 assignable Q-Link knobs to control virtually any parameter in your software.
MPK mini works plug-and-play with Mac and PC and requires no software driver installation or wall power for operation. It has four memory banks for programming and recalling settings appropriate to your favorite software programs. The included software editor lets you quickly map MPK mini’s controls as well.
Multiple-layout isomorphic musical keyboard
Musix is a fully-customizable multiple-layout isomorphic musical keyboard. Each hexagon on the screen is a note, and surrounding hexagons are harmonically related. Songwriters benefit by discovering new melodies and musical relationships. Novices find it easy to learn to play. Experienced musicians are rewarded with an intuitive interface. Shiverware presents Musix: the definitive isomorphic keyboard.
Musix features
- Different Key Sizes.
- Multiple Instrument Sounds (FM synthesis): Accordian, Bell, Brass, Clarinet, Spaceylophone, Xylophone.
- Preset Layouts, including two of the more popular isomorphic layouts as well as two designed as part of the development of the app.
- Create Your Own Layout.
The new Novation UltraNova
Novation today introduced a new keyboard synthesizer, the Novation UltraNova.
Description:
The UltraNova is 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 Novation UltraNova will list for $850 and retail closer to $700.
Key Features of the Novation UltraNova:
- 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
Supernatural pianos
Roland’s inventing the ads for keyboards, NOT 
Supernatural seems somewhat of an overstatement
Roland’s new Digital Piano series are enhanced with Rolands breakthrough SuperNATURAL Piano technology. Three key elements are dramatically improved: velocity response, note decay, and key-range behavior. Where previous sample-based technology created coarse stair-step gaps in velocity and key range, and unnatural looping in note decay, SuperNATURAL bridges the gaps with perfectly smooth and natural three-dimensional sound and response.
Do we need any more virtual keyboards, according to CFA the answer is Yes
CFA-Sound has announced the release of E-Play Divorce, a virtual e-piano instrument.
How many piano libraries are out there? Right, tons of! So what’s the deal with the CFA E-Play Series? You don’t get similar sounding (e)-pianos, you get a whole lot more. Modern, fancy, extraordinary, neverheard or hard-to-achieve keys, suitable for various styles from Jazz to Electronica – all at your fingertips. Samples are wrapped in a small and beautiful plugins for your daw – get in touch!
Divorce – the dirty side of the e-play series. Divorce contains 25 unique e-pianos with a special dirty and nasty touch.
E-Play Divorce sample player
E-Play Divorce features
- Sampleplayer for PC-VST & Mac-AU.
- Contains 25 unique e-pianos.
- 32 bit precision.
- High quality interpolation.
- DFD (direct-from-disk-streaming).
- 32 voices.
- Built-in reverb.
- All e-pianos also included in NKI format.
- 1,99 GB content.
E-Play Divorce is available to purchase for PC and Mac (VST/AU) for the introductory price of 25 EUR. This offer is valid for the first 100 copies sold. The regular price is 40 EUR (prices exclude VAT).
More information: CFA-Sound
Unique iPad keyboard instrument
Audanika has announced that Soundprism – its unique iPad keyboard instrument – is now available (App Store link) for $3.99.
Soundprism dispenses with the traditional keyboard arrangement and replaces it with an interface based on constant relationships between pitches.
Free iPad app that lets you try out hexagonal keyboards
Chromatone Lite (App Store link) is a free iPad app that lets you try out hexagonal keyboards.
According to developers:
MUTO Music Method (Chromatic system), which use Chromatone and 3 scores, let us eliminate unimportant symbols like ? or? and exclude the distinguishment between black key and white key, so we can deal with all 12 keys easier.
The result is all 12 keys of finger-lead and form like chord and scale is identified, so the quantity of practicing will decrease to 1/12. You can perform and memorize the theory 12 times speedy up than before.
Alternate keyboard layouts have long been esoteric. The flexibility of touchscreens like the iPad are making it possible to bring these once-experimental controllers to the mainstream – where they may be given a chance to live or die on their merits.
The Synthstation iPhone MIDI keyboard
Akai has announced that it’s opening up the Synthstation iPhone MIDI keyboard to development by third-party developers, at no cost.
This is a really interesting development – it means that we could soon have an explosion of Synthstation-compatible synths. This makes the $99 Synthstation a lot more interesting; download a $10 iPhone app and you’ve got a new hardware synth!
Here’s what Akai has to say about their AkaiConnect SDK.
The AkaiConnect SDK is a tool for music app developers that allows a direct connection to Akai Pro’s SynthStation25 performance keyboard controller.
Using AkaiConnect in your iPhone or iPod Touch app not only makes your app expandable, it enables your users to fully express themselves and capture every nuance of performance. The AkaiConnect SDK is available to approved Akai developers free of charge.
The AkaiConnect SDK::
- Adds support for the SynthStation25 keyboard to your music app
- Provides app users with hardware control over pitch bend, modulation,note entry and more
- Extends the capabilities of your music apps at no cost to you
This, along with Line 6 opening up its iPhone MIDI adapter to developers, will open up a lot of possibilities for electronic musicians.
The Ocean Beach Digital DB-1 Drawbar Module
The Ocean Beach Digital DB-1 Drawbar Module is an add-on MIDI drawbar module, designed specifically for Nord keyboards:
The Ocean Beach Digital DB-1 Drawbar Module already knows how to send the right commands for your Nord. The sliders have the exact same spacing as the drawbars on a B-3, and they move the same distance, all in a very small package that fits nicely on top of your Nord. It has an extra set of MIDI jacks so you don’t lose the ability to communicate with other gear. It even has a MIDI merge function built-in, so you can use a second keyboard controller as a lower organ manual. You can use one DB-1 Drawbar Module to control both manuals, or you can use two of them together to have dedicated drawbars for upper and lower manual. No other drawbar controller does all that.
It supports the Nord Electro, Electro 2, Electro3, Stage, Stage EX, and the C1 & C2 organs.
The Ocean Beach Digital DB-1 Drawbar Module is expected to ship soon and sell for $279.
DATAMASKIN
