Comprehensive Live Pack featuring the German Hohner HS2/E synthesizer
Detunized has released DTS024 – Phase Facets, a comprehensive Live Pack featuring the German Hohner HS2/E synthesizer from 1988.
The Hohner HS2/E and it´s Japanese original, the Casio VZ10m, are the last hardware synths working with „interactive Phase Distortion“ synthesis. The iPD was meant as an effort to deliver sounds comparable to those of FM synthesis while its results are easier to predict. IPD is capable of producing wonderful „non-filter“ and „non-substractive“ tones with sharp attacks and digital precision.
The 650 MB Live Pack „Phase Facets“ contains a diversified collection of such iPD sounds that must be categorized far beyond the standard Bass and Lead libraries. With their rich harmonic content and agile brightness the 30 included Live Instruments enrich each Live Library with some 80s retro charme.
DTS024 – Phase Facets Live Pack (30 instruments/650 MB/842 samples) is available to purchase as an instant download for 6.98 EUR. Subscribers can purchase DTS024 + DTS023 – Curetronic Modular Vol. 2 for 4.98 EUR only.
More information: Detunized
Via Rodney
Quantum Consiousness
Xenos Soundworks has announced the release of Quantum Consiousness, a sound bank for the Vanguard virtual synthesizer plug-in by reFX.
Quantum Consiousness contains 140 sounds for a wide variety of musical genres – Techno, DnB, Industrial, Ambient, Big Beat, etc.
This soundset is a former Pro-Sounds release created back in 2006. I have made some slight improvements and re-released it under the Xenos Soundworks brand.
Quantum Consiousness is available to purchase for $4.95 USD.
More information: Xenos Soundworks
A pure Mellotron M400 treat
Puremagnetik has released Microtron™ XL, a bundle of 3 tapes from Puremagnetik’s popular Microtron series.
All of the original performance nuances of the Mellotron M400 have been immaculately captured through a Neumann U47 Microphone and Reeves Custom 50 Amplifier.
Microtron XL integrates seamlessly into Ableton Live 8, Kontakt 3/4 and Logic 8/9. It comes packed with a palette of 9 expertly recorded instruments and over 1 Gigabyte of multisample content.
The Ableton Live version contains 9 individual multisampled instruments and a full “tape” instrument that has similar sound blending functionality as found on the original M400. Microtron XL also comes packed with over 150 professionally performed phrases complete with Macro and effects integration.
Microtron XL for Kontakt includes all 9 multisampled instruments complete with effects and a custom KSP user interface. Logic and Kontakt versions both come with a collection of over 150 professionally performed Apple Loops in SIAL format.
Microtron XL includes the following instruments as programmed from the original tapes.
- MK II Flute – Undoubtedly the sound that defines Mellotron, the MKII flute instantly conjures images of 1967 Abbey Road. Not only the most famous Mellotron sound, but perhaps the eeriest, the MKII flute’s dubious pitching has been in question throughout the decades. The change in timbre (they say two flutes were used) and odd intonation only adds to the haunting and mesmerizing character of this timeless sound.
- Octave Recorders – The Octave Recorder is a newer sound composed of soprano, alto and tenor recorders. Playing fast staccato chords on this one can make it sound a bit like a harmonium. It has a solid woody tone with breathy articulations and is definitely a contender to fill up the mix with some organic elements.
- Cello – Renown for its melancholy timbre and described by some as “wheezing and groaning” the Cello sound was originally recorded in the 1960s. A double bassist was used for the lower registers. Apparently the original session cellist did not wish to detune his cello for fear of damaging the instrument. Nonetheless, the Microtron Cello recording is undoubtedly a unique character in the tape library.
- Clarinet – The original Mk1 Clarinet that was discontinued but re- introduced for Puremagnetik’s Microtron series. Warm and woody, the Microtron clarinet has an authentic sound that captures a vintage flavor all its own. The Microtron clarinet patch is programmed an octave higher for quick harmonic layering with other Microtron sounds.
- French Horn – Big and brassy, the Microtron French Horn is a uniquely expressive addition to the Microtron collection.
- Glenn Miller – Glenn Miller disappeared from the radar in 1944, but now he has returned for one last swingin’ arrangement in your DAW!
Glenn Miller inspires hours of fun and creativity with layered brass sounds, warped, flanged and mangled in the classic Mellotron tape style. - Brass – The recorded combined output of two saxophones, two trumpets and a trombone, this is a powerful and punchy sound much beloved of King Crimson, Rick Wakeman, The Moody Blues and even John Lennon who thoughtfully recorded most of a demo of ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ using the black Mellotron Mk II he kept on his half landing. Never fails to impress. Never fails to scare small children either.
- 8 Voice Choir – Certainly one of the major ‘classic’ Mellotron sounds, and perhaps the most arresting, this recording of four females and four males was first used in the early 1970s with the advent of the M400 and was widely used by rock groups who found that the sound of a Mellotron was a bit better than the sound of their chronic off-key harmonising.
- String Section – A combination of violins, viola and cello, these multisampled strings are pre-arranged to sound huge! Layer them together in chords or clusters for some outlandish string effects.
Microtron XL is available to purchase for $29 USD
More information: Puremagnetik / Microtron XL
Zen 1.5 virtual banks
Big Tick Audio has released an update to its free universal presets manager, Zen 1.5.
Zen 1.5 adds a “virtual banks” feature, to organize presets from different plugins. Preset changes can be automated by midi – perfect for live situations, where a program change will create the new plugin and load it with the desired preset.
New In Zen 1.5:
- Major code rewrite, separating Zen into a core library (ZenCore) and the Zen Browser itself
- Added midi-controlled “virtual bank” slots, where presets from different vstis can be stored
- Replaced tooltips with a contextual help box
- Added support for Zen-aware plugins, including assets management
- Added ‘hidden’ flag to permanently hide presets from search results
- Fixed various UI refresh issues
- Fixed crashes when duplicating instances in Ableton Live
- Fixed button for creating own tags on OSX
- Invalid designer keys are now rejected immediately
- Optimized dynamic memory allocations
- Changes for 64bits compatibility
Download at the Big Tick Audio site.
Ambient Chill soundset for Waldorf’s Largo synthesizer
Preview of the presets from the ‘Ambient Chill’ soundset for Waldorf’s Largo synthesizer .
Soundsdivine has announced the release of Ambient Chill, a new soundset for Waldorf’s Largo synth.
This bank contains 72 new sounds for Largo featuring weird timbres, noise washes, strange glitchy soundscapes and some beautiful pads. No bass or lead sounds. Perfect for any style of music.
The price is $25 ($17.50 for existing customers).
For customers who are not signed up to the newsletter, email me at info@soundsdivine.com for the discount code.
TONSTURM 02 Electricity SFX Pack Is Released!
Tonsturm are at it again 
This soundpack is all about high voltage. We risked our lives to serve you highly unique and exciting electricity sound effects.
All sounds are recorded, edited and mastered in High Definition Audio @ 24 Bit, 192 KHz. With TONSTURM 02 I Electricity
you get 221 soundfiles / 4.89 GB (@192 kHz) of electricity sound effects.
Brand new soundpacks for Cakewalk announced
Cakewalk announced today several new sound expansion packs for their Rapture virtual instrument for PC and Mac. New Expansion Packs for Rapture and Rapture LE from Digital Sound Factory work on the full version of Rapture as well as Rapture LE. You can buy each one individually or buy all 3 for the price of 2.
Dance Tools: Rapture Expansion Pack:
Keep the crowd on their feet with this master set of sound tools. Hard core basses and raw synths give you the power to harness the sound. Create new exciting textures and grooves on the fly and send your music into the airwaves. Synth effects smear transitions, cool twisted modern synthesizer waveforms, and a large palate of dance hits are part of this high energy electronic expansion pack.
Analog Digital Synth Resource: Rapture Expansion Pack:
Blend the old with the new to create the fresh modern sounds like never before. Filled with fat analog synths combined with new digital renditions, these synths are primed for your mix. Expand your imagination and explore the endless possibilities. This collection has the resources that will take your sounds beyond your wildest imagination.
Synthesizer Rage: Rapture Expansion Pack:
Everyone has synthesizers in their closet, but no one has ever had synthesizers like these. Rapture is the ‘Rage’ and this sound set proves it. These hard edge slicing sounds will cut through just about any mix, and take your sound over the top. Synth basses that redefine ‘bottom end’ and hybrid sound combinations that will turn heads are awaiting your command.
DATAMASKIN
