xoxos has announced the release of Adze, a percussion resynthesizer instrument plug-in for Windows.

Adze VST resynthesizes percussion samples by performing a single frame FFT analysis for the length of the sample, availing spectral functions alongside an extensive featureset.

Adze features

• Spectral Features:
  • Enhance: emphasises the preexistent spectral content (2 modes).
  • Smear: changes the time (phase) information, for resynthesis or timestretching.
  • Frequency Shift.
  • Spectral Inversion.
  • FFT low and high shelf filtering.
  • Stereoisation / Restereoisation.
  • Monophonic Bass.
• Standard Features:
  • Downsampling to 32x.
  • 6 interpolation modes.
  • Bit reduction: 12, 8-1.
  • Preamp section with envelope assign.
  • 54 filter modes + bypass, 8 filter algorithms (4 zero delay feedback), lp, bp, hp, br, pk, punch, add harmonics.
• Modulation:
  • Morphing LFO (bias, shape, 2 rnd modes, host sync).
  • Curve adjustible pitch and filter envelopes.
  • Curve and shape ADSR amplifier.
  • -5 to +7 possible octave range.
  • Start Position/Reverse.
  • Wide Parameterisation.
  • Panning.
  • Channel swap.
  • Signal inversion.

Adze for Windows (VST) is available to purchase for $13.37 USD. Existing xoxos customers pay $4.20 USD. The free/demo Stoooner VST version is limited to two voices instead of six.

More information: xoxos

Keith McMillen Instruments has announced the shipping of its QuNexus Smart Sensor Keyboard Controller to customers around the world.

The QuNexus is a playable, portable, and powerful keyboard controller.

Featuring huge performance capabilities in a tiny footprint, QuNexus gives unprecedented expressive control with KMI’s patented Smart Sensor technology that transmits pressure, tilt, polyphonic aftertouch, and velocity. QuNexus unites four generations of synthesis–CV, MIDI, USB, and OSC–for maximum flexibility.

“QuNexus is the most important evolution in keyboards since the Erard Escapement was introduced to pianos in 1821,” said KMI founder, Keith McMillen. “QuNexus gives keyboardists forms of expression that were only available to string and horn players. Although playful in appearance, it performs and feels like a serious instrument.”

QuNexus re-imagines the portable MIDI keyboard with 25 vividly illuminated, Smart Sensor keys that are uniquely interactive and fun to play. QuNexus is designed to talk to analog synthesizers with Control Voltage (CV), USB, 5-pin MIDI hardware, and networked OSC applications.

“We are very excited about the arrival of QuNexus,” said John Grabowski, Senior Director of Merchandising at Sweetwater Sound. “Its innovative design and unique capabilities have already translated into strong pre-order demand.”

QuNexus features

• 25 Smart Sensor keys detect velocity, pressure, and tilt.
• Polyphonic pitch bend and aftertouch.
• 2 CV/Gate inputs; Gate and 3 CV Outputs (16-bit).
• Pitch bend pad.
• Octave up/down buttons provide a 7 octave range.
• USB powered, receives power directly from iOS device or Mac/PC.
• Class compliant for iOS, Android, Mac OS, Windows and Linux, no drivers required.
• Portable: 3.3″ (84 mm) x 12.8″ (325 mm) x 0.43″ (11 mm), 0.76 lb (345 g).

The QuNexus is now available to purchase for $149 USD.

More information: Keith McMillen Instruments / QuNexus

Native Instruments has announced the release of Abbey Road 50s Drummer, a new Kontakt 5 Player-powered instrument featuring the sound of two classic drum kits from the 1950s.

The kits provide the distinctive drum sound of the era, which was necessary to compete with the electrified instruments gaining popularity at the time. Recorded with both state-of-the-art and period equipment at Abbey Road Studios in London, 50s DRUMMER also includes a groove library, mixer presets, and a new set of brush articulations, delivering the authentic feel of rock and roll, rhythm and blues, country, and jazz from the 1950s.

ABBEY ROAD 50s DRUMMER features rare instruments from the very earliest years of popular music. The first kit is an early 1950s Gretsch Cadillac Green Nitron with a 20″ bass drum, 12″ rack tom and 14″ floor tom. Its toms are tuned low, providing a smooth, open sound that still allows excellent placement in a mix full of amplified instruments. The second drum kit is a late-1950s WFL kit. The WFL provides 20″ kick drum, 12″ and 13″ rack toms, and a 16″ floor tom. The WFL kit’s toms are tuned high, offering a brighter tone that perfectly complements the Gretsch. Each kit features three different snare drums from the same period, offering a wide tonal variety and added degree of customization. The kits are outfitted with a selection of 1950s Zildjian A and K cymbals to round out their authentic vintage tone.

50s DRUMMER was recorded at London’s Abbey Road Studios in the legendary Studio Two. Alongside traditional microphone techniques, vintage RCA 44-BX and AKG D12 microphones, a REDD.17 valve mixing console and valve tape machine were used for 50s DRUMMER’s vintage channels. Users can dial in these ‘vintage channels alongside the modern state-of-the-art equipment for a seamless tone spectrum, ranging from completely modern to period-accurate vintage and anywhere in between.

New brush articulations were also recorded especially for 50s DRUMMER to reflect the playing techniques of the decade. Its extensive groove library encompasses early rock and roll, rhythm and blues, country, and jazz, as well as a wealth of contemporary rhythms, affording users an effortless way to begin sketching out complete drum recordings. Regardless of genre, producers looking to add original 50s flavor to their productions will relish the recording quality, ease of use, and attention to detail in ABBEY ROAD 50s DRUMMER.

The Abbey Road 50s Drummer library is available to purchase for $99 USD / 99 EUR.

More information: Native Instruments / Abbey Road 50s Drummer

VST Buzz has launched a limited time promotion for the Cinematic Metal bundle from Boom Library, featuring the Cinematic Metal – Impacts and Cinematic Metal – Contruction Kit sound libraries.

The Cinematic Metal library is packed with 200 final designed royalty free sounds. From deep booms and high sweeteners, to huge cinematic impact and epic crashes – everything you need to really make an impression! All of these sounds were uniquely designed with the Cinematic Metal – Construction Kit. The Construction Kit brings all the original recordings to your hard disc, giving you a huge selection of royalty free source material. Be creative and innovative in designing completely unique metal hits the world has not heard yet.

This bundle contains over 1,300 samples in WAV format, recorded at 96KHz/24bit and is 7.2GB (zipped).

Cinematic Metal is available to purchase from VST Buzz for $179 USD until May 28th, 2013 (regular $259 USD).

More information: VST Buzz

Sounds To Sample has introduced Funk Tech 2, a sample library from Waveform Recordings.

Waveform’s latest release is a sequel to there XL line weighing in at a massive 1.1GB+ of loops, hits and fills for the funkier reaches of deep, tech house, and techno. Deep and dark with a hint of funk: Waveform seamlessly merge organic tribal grooves, dusty vintage workouts and deep tech beats with deep Chicago-inspired basslines, music loops, percs, tops, vox and more.

Bursting with organic warmth, fuelled by funk and driven jackin’ beats, Funk Tech sums up the ubiquitous sound of the hottest dancefloors worldwide.

The sample pack costs $54.99 USD.

More information: Waveform Recordings Funk Tech 2

Amadeus has announced the re-launch of its famed UDX Series passive speakers – 30 years after originally releasing their first edition.

Including four different models, the UDX Series is perfectly adapted to sound reinforcement applications in concert halls, auditoriums, conference rooms, and theaters. Designed to be included within fixed or long-lasting installations, each UDX speaker system can also be used in touring applications as a stage monitor when fitted with optional accessories.

Gaetan BYK, Marketing Manager at Amadeus, stated, “The core idea behind the UDX Series was to keep the main focus on the values which have given Amadeus its reference-quality status throughout the years, both the unique acoustical characteristics of its sound systems, as well as their aesthetic integration capabilities into installed locations, allowing a real transparency, a consistency between the installation space and the speaker. We wanted to concentrate on the essentials, and go back to our roots, in terms of both sound transparency and finishes. Allowing designers to combine several standard colors of cabinet and acoustical fabric coverings on the front grill, they can put the most efficient and elegant product into a space, matching its cultural, visual and architectural context. This new product direction brings the Amadeus quality to a new customer base.”

Sold from 1980 to 1992, the first UDX speakers embodied the best technologies and innovations of the Atelier 33 Company and its electro-acoustical department, 33 Audio. Now developed under the Amadeus brand, the new UDX Series is built according to the same values of quality, passion and design, which gave them a reference quality status when originally released.

The newly redesigned UDX Series are now available from licensed Amadeus distributors and dealers throughout Europe and Asia, from 1090 EUR to 1990 EUR (VAT excluded), depending on the model.

More information: Amadeus / UDX Series