Video: A closer look at the Moog Minitaur
http://youtu.be/4CUMiBDwozQ
Marc Doty, Archive and Education Specialist for the Bob Moog Foundation, gets hands on with Moog’s new synthesizer Minitaur and gives a run down of its features. For specs and purchasing info go to http://www.moogmusic.com/products/taurus/minitaur
NAMM: A whole range of new stuff from Clavia/Nord has been revealed – check them all out here
So NAMM has started and NORD brings us lots of goodies – including the previously teased Nord Drum
Nord Piano 2 – 88 key hammer action stage keyboard with Nord Sample Library support
The Nord Piano 2 HA88 lets you easily play, split and layer stunning Grand, Upright and Electric Pianos from the Nord Piano Library with sounds from the versatile Nord Sample Library. All this in a streamlined portable package with 88 Hammer Action Weighted keys.
The Nord Piano 2 comes with a wide range of quality acoustic and electro-mechanical instruments from the Nord Piano Library, all with their own unique character. The included Nord Triple Pedal features a dynamic sustain pedal that can also recreate the mechanical “stomp” and “sizzle” noises that occur when the lifting or releasing the dampener in an Acoustic Grand or Upright Piano. The Advanced String Resonance feature simulates the subtle phenomenon that occurs when piano strings cause other un-dampened strings to resonate, further adding to an amazing level of realism.
The Nord Sample Library offers more than 1000 high quality sample-instruments ranging from Strings, Brass, Synths and Basses to the legendary vintage sounds of the Mellotron and Chamberlin.
Both the Nord Piano and Nord Sample libraries are continuously updated and are available as free downloads for all Nord owners.
All of the sounds in the Nord Piano 2 HA88 are replaceable, making it an instrument that is built to evolve with you. It’s even possible to create your own sample instruments using the Nord Sample Editor.
We think technology should be transparent to the user, which is why the Nord Piano 2 has dedicated buttons and knobs for all functions the performing musician needs instead of confusing menus.
We’ve made it amazingly simple to layer and split sounds, and there’s a volume pedal input for sneaking in those strings while you keep playing.
The Nord Piano 2 also sports an extensive effects section, covering everything from Phaser, Wah-wah, Flanger, Chorus and Delay effects to a 3-band Equalizer, Amp Simulations, Compressor and Reverb
The Nord Piano 2 will be shown at the AM&S Nord Booth #6464 at NAMM Show 2012″
Nord C2D Combo Organ – Dual manual organ with drawbars
Complete with 2 sets of physical drawbars per manual the Nord C2D is the ultimate portable organ for musicians that play with their drawbars as well as the keys. The new left-hand preset sections offer an unsurpassed level of hands-on control and the upper manual and panel has been tilted for better ergonomics. A LCD-display has been added for easier access to programs and settings.
The Nord C2D features a redesigned simulation of the characteristic mechanical key clicks that are an essential component of the classic tone-wheel experience. Furthermore, the redesigned percussion model offers increased control over the percussion levels when playing near-legato.
The Nord C2D also includes a redesigned Rotary Speaker simulation of a vintage 122 unit.
Naturally, the Nord C2D also includes both the Vox and Farfisa transistor organ simulations and the sampled Baroque Pipe Organ from the acclaimed Nord C2 Combo Organ.
The Nord C2D will be shown at the AM&S Nord Booth #6464 at NAMM Show 2012″
Clavia releases Nord Drum Virtual Analog Drum Synthesizer
The Nord Drum is a revolutionary 4-channel drum synthesizer that is the result of a creative collaboration between Clavia and drum/music technology enthusiasts Bruniusson & Berg. With an amazingly vast sonic palette and an astounding level of playability it is guaranteed to change your perception of what’s possible with synthetic, sample-free percussion.
The Nord Drum lets you create classic retro-futuristic percussion with analog waveforms or use the harmonically complex waveforms together with different colors of noise for results that both sound and respond stunningly organic. The Nord Drum is designed with the performing musician in mind and its extreme dynamic range and super-fast triggering add to the feeling of playing a real instrument.
4 high-sensitivity inputs and MIDI lets you play the Nord Drum with a wide range of Electronic Drum Pads, Acoustic Drum Triggers and MIDI-pads/Sequencers for easy integration into any existing drum-kit or the starting point for something completely new…
The Nord Drum will be shown at the AM&S Nord Booth #6464 at NAMM Show 2012″
NAMM – The new Traktor Kontrol X2
Here’s a new NAMM leak from Native Instruments of what have been called the Kontrol X2, a brand new controller from the Traktor team that features a 4×4 grid of true RGB pads. See the full photo above, as well as a nice mockup of the device made by one of a Traktor forum members over one year ago. Perhaps the most important element of introducing this type of controller is noting that Traktor Pro 2 currently doesn’t have any type of sampling capabilities that would make the X2 an effective controller.
This new Traktor version might feature enhanced sampling capabilities, including group loading of samples, the ability to assign colors to samples, cue points and maybe even keys. The original Traktor Kontrol X1 offers control over Traktor’s looping, syncing and effects. It has more of an emphasis on rotary controllers and cue/play controls. The new control looks like it may retain the same basic format as the Kontrol X1, but feature pad controllers. This would make it a nice complement to the original Kontrol and be a lot more useful for beatmaking and for performers that have more a clip-based approach.
NAMM – StudioConnect for the iPad
Griffin Technology has introduced an alternative to the Alesis IO Dock, the StudioConnect for the iPad.
StudioConnect adds audio in/out, MIDI in/out, and a stereo headphone jack with its own volume control.
It’s has a MSRP of $150, so it will give the IO Dock some competition on pricing, too.
Details below.
Audio in:
- 1/4″ mono
- 3.5 mm stereo
- Gain control
Audio out:
- Line-level stereo R and L RCA
- Front-panel 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack with volume control
MIDI in:
- 5-pin DIN
MIDI out:
- 5-pin DIN
For iPad and other iOS devices:
- 30-pin Apple dock connector with integral cable
- 30-pin Apple dock connector charge/sync cradle
Charging:
- 10 watts (5 volts DC @ 2.1 amps)
StudioConnect is scheduled to be released in February 2012.
NAMM: Video feat MacBeth’s MICROMAC 1 – TEST 1
Here are the details:
Hi there- this is the first *test* of the macbeth micromac- measuring just over a mere 8″ wide- it whacks a punch! This is the first demo that I’ve done of this 3 Oscillator pure analogue synthesizer and on this video- I’m getting to try out a couple of things. Oscillators 1 and 3 have direct outputs to left and right- the filter section has Oscillators, 1, 2 snd 3 pitched 1 octave apart, and a fifth! I guess then I lose the plot and try other things! Anyway- I put up because some folks have wanted to hear it! The micromac is a project that started well over a year ago….and now it is complete! I’m using the all analogue Vortex keyboard to play this thing!
KOMA KOMMANDER – NAMM’12 TEASER
This is not to be confused with the KOMA in the previous post below – this is modular focused stuff 
KOMA Elektronik will present a new product for modular synthesizers and other CV accepting devices at NAMM’12. We call it the KOMMANDER.. Do you have any idea what it is? We think you do…
Also at NAMM’12: our modular effect pedals BD101 and FT201! Come and check ‘m out!
For more updates: follow us on http://www.facebook.com/KOMAelektronik and http://www.koma-elektronik.com.
More stuff at NAMM – Discover the KOMA
Below is their pitch and specs:
This year, Eowave is attending the NAMM 2012 and will announce the release of the KOMA! 2011 has been full of new releases with the Ribbon, a monosynth/USB/audio controller and the release of the little analogue synth DOMINO in November. We’ll show the KOMA [no relation to KOMA Electronik], an analog bassline synth with memory and a 16 step sequencer that will be ready to ship very very soon!
, a step back into the 80s with a touch of 2012…
KOMA is an analog sequenced bass synthesizer inspired by classic synths from the 1980s with a synthesis section with 256 sound presets and 256 patterns and a step sequencer section.
The synthesis section offers the possibility to mix 4 different waveforms (saw, square, sub, noise) for infinite modulations. The SUB DESYNC mode enables to desynchronize and to detune the SUB and the main oscillator for complex sounds. The filter is a 24 dB resonant low-pass filter. The LFO has 8 waveforms (triangle, ramp up, ramp down, square, random, digital noise, staircase up, staircase down) and can modulate the VCO, VCF or PWM.
To this particular analog sound of the 80s, we added a touch of modernity with controls and parameters to save compositions and performances. The 16 step sequencer has 4 sections: 1 for the notes and 3 freely assignable to a parameter of your choice to create living sequences with sonorities like Vince Clark or Jan Hammer.
With 256 sound presets and 256 patterns locations, the KOMA is a versatile instrument for live performance as well as a powerful composition and sound design tool. Its very intuitive control panel allows the user to edit all parameters in real-time.
Oscillator section
MAIN OSCILLATOR
– Main VCO with 2 waveforms (square and saw), plus SUB (square) and NOISE
– The pulsewidth of the square waveform can be modulated by env2 or by the LFO.
– The main oscillator can be transposed up to 3 octaves
– The main oscillator frequency can be modulated by the LFO or by env3
– Glide
– Mix of the 4 waveforms
SUB
– sub (sub can be 1 or 2 octaves below the master freq).
– The DESYNC mode enables to desynchronize and detune the SUB from the main oscillator.
– In the DESYNC mode, the SUB can be at the same frequency than the main oscillator or 1 octave below.
Filter section
– 24dB resonant low-pass filter for a classical 80s sound
– Variable cutoff and resonance
– The filter can be modulated by ENV2, KB, LFO.
– External audio with a trimmer to feed the filter
LFO section
– The LFO has 8 waveforms (triangle, ramp up, ramp down, square, random, digital noise, staircase up, staircase down)
– Variable speed
– The LFO modulates the VCO, VCF or PWM
– External MIDI clock synchronization
ENV1, ENV2 & ENV3
– ENV1 & ENV2: these 2 envelopes ADSR modulate respectively the amplitude and the filter.
– Attack goes from 2ms to 10 s.
– ENV3: envelope Attack/Decay modulates the VCO
VCA section
– Vca is affected to env1
MEMORY
– 4 banks of 64 sound presets (SAV PRST, SAVE PAT)
– 4 banks of 64 patterns
– 256 sound presets
– 256 patterns
Sequencer
– 16 steps sequencer with 16 LED
– 4 sections: 1 section for gate and note and 3 sections freely assignable to any parameter of the front panel.
– Random feature
– Adjustable tempo
– You can transpose the sequencer via an external MIDI keyboard.
– Each line can have a different number of steps to create complex modulations
– Chain up to 8 sequences.
– Shuffle feature
– External MIDI clock synchronization
Connections
– Audio in
– Audio out
– MIDI in
– USB (for software update and MIDI in&out)”
NAMM teasers from Eowave – featuring the Domino Filter and Reaktor
Here is a quick look at the Eowave Domino, focusing on the sound of the filter, using the sawtooth oscillator
Eowave Domino’s LFO sync’d to MIDI clock. This video shows LFO waveforms: triangle, ramp up, ramp down, square and random. You can have fun manipulating the LFO speed setting while sync’d to MIDI clock. The LFO is modulating the 24db/oct filter and the pulse width of the square waveform oscillator in this video.
Using the audio input to route a drum beat from a Reaktor Ensemble Krypt, through the Domino’s 24 db/octave filter. Domino’s LFO is tempo sync’d to Reaktor’s MIDI clock, and is modulating the filter cutoff.
NAMM – Kontrol Surface 1974
http://youtu.be/VDdEMezZxek
And here’s the background info:
SmithsonMartin Inc. has done it again. This time it’s called Kontrol Surface 1974.
Launching at NAMM 2012, combine this amazing new controller with the Emulator Modular software and you have the most powerful midi controller on the planet!
Create your own custom multi-touch layouts for ANY midi software;
DJ
Traktor, Virtual DJ, Torq, Mixvibes, Ableton, Serato (with external mixer), ProDJ, MixMeister
Music Production
ProTools, Ableton, Reason, Kore, FL Studio, Sonar, Logic, Acid
Video
Resolume, Arkaos, Grand VJ, PCDJ, Virtual DJ, Serato, Modul8, Mixvibes VFX
Pro Audio
iLive, Cakewalk, ADK, Soundforge, Yamaha PM5D, Digidesign
Lighting
GrandMA, Lightjockey, ShowXpress, Venue Magic
NAMM teaser – Pittsburgh Modular Filter Demo
Teaser demo of the upcoming Pittsburgh Modular Filter. More info is available at www.PittsburghModular.com
More info:
The Filter is a voltage controlled, analog, state variable filter designed by Pittsburgh native and electronics experimenter Michael Johnsen. The state variable topology was chosen because it allowed us to produce a very smooth and natural sounding filter, in addition to offering several other modes of operation, each with a unique sound and energy all their own.
There Is No Sweet Spot
This Filter defines the sound of Pittsburgh Modular. It offers a warm, organic sweep through the full frequency range. The lowpass filter is gummy and relaxed while the highpass is clean and defined. The goal was to produce a filter that did not have a sweet spot; where the every turn of the frequency knob produced something interesting.
View the Filter product page.
DATAMASKIN
