Results for Alesis

Alesis has introduced the Q61, QX61 and QX25 USB MIDI keyboard controllers at the Winter NAMM.

The Q-series USB MIDI controllers are the no-nonsense way to add expressive MIDI control to any production or performance. Each controller features USB MIDI for easy connection to Mac, PC, iOS devices* and traditional MIDI hardware modules, samplers and synthesizers.

The Q61 is a 61-note keyboard controller that works with virtually any music software and MIDI hardware devices. With velocity-sensitive keys, the Q61 offers a five-octave range of expression in a sleek, portable controller, built for the studio or stage. A full array of essential controls is onboard, including pitch and modulation wheels, octave up and down buttons, an assignable data slider, and the ability to send program changes from the keys.

The QX25 and QX61 are 25-note and 61-note keyboard controllers, respectively, that deliver powerful tactile control over any parameter of any favorite music software. Both controllers enable musicians to punch out a drumbeat on great-feeling pads, open up a filter with smooth, tight knobs, or adjust volume and playback of sequencing software with long faders and snappy buttons. The QX25 and QX61 bring immense parameter control and velocity-sensitive keyboards that get the composer’s hands off of the mouse and into the action for a more efficient, visceral music-making experience.

Whether someone is looking to trigger drum samples, tweak a software synthesizer or adjust individual tracks in a mix, the QX25 and QX61′s extensive layouts ensure appropriate feel and proper response thanks to their eight sliders and rotary knobs, four backlit drum pads and dedicated transport controls.

Alesis will unveil the trio of new controllers at booth #6400 of the 2012 NAMM Show from January 19-22 in Anaheim, California.

More information: Alesis / Q-series

Alesis has introduced the Vortex, a USB/MIDI keytar controller.

The Vortex eliminates the barrier between keyboardists and the audience. With an extensive layout of touch-sensitive keys and velocity-sensitive pads on its pearlescent white body, and radical octave and pitch controls on its neck, the Vortex will have keyboard players ruling the stage.

The Vortex includes features never before found on any keytar: both traditional MIDI and USB MIDI are onboard, empowering keyboardists to use the Vortex with all of their software instruments and synths on Mac, PC, and iPad*. They’ll have a virtually unlimited palette of sounds, ready to command with one of the most exciting and eye-catching controllers ever created. And for instant performance, the Vortex comes automapped for today’s most popular software synths and DAWs. Users can customize and create their own mappings for virtually any software they like.

Vortex features

• Dynamic, shoulder-worn performance keyboard with attention-grabbing looks.
• The first USB keytar controller—works with all of your software instruments & synths on Mac, PC, & iOS* devices.
• USB and traditional MIDI jacks for use with virtually any synth, sound module, or other MIDI hardware or software.
• Embedded, MIDI-assignable accelerometer for performance parameter control by tilting the neck.
• Thumb-controlled volume slider, sustain button and pitch-bend wheel on neck.
• Finger-controlled MIDI-assignable touchstrip, sustain, and octave-control buttons on neck.
• 37 velocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch for compact, yet complete melodic range.
• Eight velocity-sensitive drum pads/sample triggers enable you to create beats or trigger clips.
• Large transport & patch-select controls for instant access.
• Includes strap; standard guitar strap pegs are compatible with virtually any strap.
• Bus powered when USB-connected to Mac or PC; battery compartment for use with MIDI modules and iOS devices.

Alesis will debut the Vortex at booth #6400 at the 2012 NAMM Show from January 19—22 in Anaheim, California.

More information: Alesis / Vortex

Alesis has introduced the SamplePad, a compact four-pad instrument that gives drummers access to a limitless palette of sounds.

SamplePad is the perfect addition to any drumset or percussion rig: it’s compact, very easy to use, and allows drummers to load their own sounds. It has 25 percussion and electronic drum sounds built in, and allows drummers to load their own samples using a standard SD card to create stunning sound combinations. An external trigger input and the ability to mount it on virtually any snare stand or rack make SamplePad one of the easiest ways to expand any drumset.

SamplePad offers an intuitive interface that makes it easy to find and assign samples. By simply striking a pad and dialing to the desired sound, drummers can quickly reassign sounds as needed, and entire pad combinations can be saved internally as “kits” for easy recall. Drummers can tune and add reverb to their samples, then assign them to any of the four pads or the kick input. A MIDI output allows drummers to use SamplePad as a controller for triggering sound modules and software. SamplePad fits on a standard snare drum stand or can be mounted to any stand or rack (Alesis Module Mount sold separately). For studio use, SamplePad can simply be played on a tabletop.

SamplePad comes equipped with standard dual 1/4-inch outputs for amplification, and a headphone output for monitoring. Its kick input works with most pads and triggers including the Alesis DMPad and RealHead Kick Pads.

“The SamplePad is the first multi-pad instrument that gives drummers an easy, compact, affordable way to get virtually any sound into their setup,” said Dan Radin, Alesis Product Manager. “You get the sounds you’ve always wanted, in a package that’s smaller than a 12-inch tom!”

SamplePad will be available at musical instrument retailers in Q1 of 2012 with and estimated street price of $199 USD. Alesis will showcase SamplePad at booth # 641 at PASIC 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana from November 9th-12th.

More information: Alesis / SamplePad

PinkNoise has released Analogue Monsters Kontakt Edition, a sample library featuring sounds of 10 analog synthesizers.

Analogue Monsters is our biggest Kontakt sound library ever, based on the best sounds of 10 legendary synthesizers – from the 70′s up to the present:

• Alesis Andromeda A6
• Korg MonoPoly
• Korg MS-20
• Korg Poly800 MKII
• Moog Prodigy
• Oberheim Matrix-1000
• Roland Juno-60
• Roland Jupiter 4
• Studio Electronics SE-1X
• Waldorf Microwave XTk

Ten great synthesizers, hundredweights of hardware! You could probably hardly find enough room for them in your studio, but still: Analogue Monsters can hold in any notebook’s hard disk. You can play them in your room, take it to the studio or these monsters can be with you even if you are on the road – with no compromise in sound quality.

Analogue Monsters Kontakt Edition features

• 1268 Kontakt instrument patches (in 8 categories).
• 5 GB of 44kHz/24 bit samples (6965 perfectly looped wav files).
• 12 midi controllable knobs for realtime tweaking and for automation of the most important synth parameters.
• Extensive editing techniques: multiple velocity layers, random and round-robin triggering, alternate sample starts to achieve fat, lively and realistic analogue sounds.
• Exclusive IR sample collection for the convolution reverb of Kontakt.
• Requires full retail version of Kontakt 3.5 or higher.

Analogue Monsters Kontakt Edition is available to purchase for the introductory price of 64.80 EUR until November 1, 2011 (regular price 81 EUR).

More information: KontaktBanks / Analogue Monsters Kontakt Edition

HyperSynth has updated Ion-editor, a software editor for the Alesis ION and Micron analog modeling synthesizers.

Ion-editor offers intuitive user interface and it emulates ion LCD display graphics for parameters that need more descriptive information like envelope curve, filter balance, mod matrix and tracking generator.

Changes in Ion-editor v2.1

• New registration method that is based on username instead of machine-id.
• Added readout for all parameters.
• Added option for disabling graphical readout.
• Added dedicated zoom level in settings menu with save option (standalone version).
• Added full-screen button (standalone version).
• Added “reset to default” for m1 and m2 wheel.
• Enhanced m1, m2 and pitch wheel graphics and movement.
• Enhanced Filter Freq, Porta time and ENVs readout format.
• Now for all parameters “reset to default” responds to “Double Click” besides “Ctrl + Click” for more flexibility.
• Fixed OSCs and ENVs LED selectors malfunction after requesting patch.
• Fixed bug in Cubase 5 which caused to block MIDI out after adding plug-in in project.
• Fixed crash after opening a project with multiple instances of the same plug-in in Cubase.
• Fixed problem that caused “Rename” window to be displayed wrongly after manually sending a SysEx patch to editor from micron/ion.
• Fixed problem that blocked auto sysex listening in some circumstances.
• Improved compatibility with VST hosts.

ION-editor is available to purchase as a VST plug-in for Windows for $38 USD.

More information: HyperSynth / ION-editor

Elemental Arts has released Analog Universe – Memories, the first in a series of “sound source” style sample library products made using legendary and unique real analog synthesizers.

Memories is a tribute to the memory of the legendary Alesis A6 Andromeda, a now discontinued but feature-wise unparalleled analog beast whose phat analog sound many synth lovers will no doubt miss sourly.

With this painstakingly produced sound source sample library you have a easy way to conjure the unique Andromeda signature sound in your productions. Long live the A6 Andromeda!

Analog Universe – Memories features

• 291 multi-sampled sfz instruments: Brass 18, Bass 19, Drums 68, Keys 6, Lead 72, Pad 21, Pluck 55, String 22, Sweep 10.
• Total of 6202 .wav files, 48kHz, 24-bit, mono.
• Includes 2425 presets:
  • Alchemy: 313 + 313 no fx versions. All Alchemy presets also include 8-performance variations.
  • Dimension/Pro: 606 (no synth fx used).
  • Rapture: 606 + 587 no fx versions.
• Total content of 2.03 GB.

Analog Universe – Memories is available to purchase for $79.99 USD.

More information: Elemental Arts