Results for keyboard

Roland has announced the V-Combo VR-09, an easy-to-transport, all-in-one solution for performing keyboard players.

Roland V-Combo VR-09 Live Performance Keyboard with instant access to inspiring tones and live expression.

Dedicated piano, organ, and synth sound engines provide essential tones for live playing, while extensive real-time controls and other features offer maximum expression on stage. With its versatile sounds, inspiring operation, and smart user interface, the streamlined V-Combo VR-09 is a dream come true for gigging musicians.

The V-Combo VR-09 was designed from the ground up with live players in mind. An intuitive front-panel layout and clear LCD screen provides quick access to Roland’s top piano, organ, and synth sound engines, as well as plenty of real-time controls for expressive sound manipulation. Seven different effects are available simultaneously, with dedicated knobs that allow users to tweak multiple parameters with a single twist. In addition, convenient buttons make it simple to set up splits and layers and quickly save/recall custom keyboard setups while performing.

V-Combo VR-9 features

• Professional keyboard with instant-access operation for performing musicians.
• Light and mobile; battery or AC power.
• Pro-quality acoustic and electric pianos, including grand piano with 88-note stereo multi-sampling.
• SuperNATURAL-powered Virtual Tone Wheel organ with nine harmonic bars, plus newly developed transistor-type ‘60s organ tone.
• Wide range of synth tones, from vintage classics to modern essentials.
• Seven simultaneous effects with dedicated real-time controls.
• Looper and built-in rhythm patterns; WAV/MP3/SMF song playback via optional USB memory.
• Free VR-09 Editor app available for iPad.

More information: Roland / V-Combo VR-09

Roland has announced the RD-64 Digital Piano, a weighted-action instrument that’s compact and easy to transport.

The 64-note Ivory Feel-G keyboard with Escapement provides a true piano-action feel, while the acclaimed SuperNATURAL® Piano sound engine delivers superb acoustic piano tones. Along with powerful MIDI controller functionality and iPad compatibility, the RD-64 is ideal for stage playing, home studios, mobile composing, teaching labs, and more.

In contrast to large, heavy, and hard-to-carry 88-note stage pianos, the RD-64 allows players to enjoy Roland’s acclaimed piano features in a compact, travel-friendly instrument. The streamlined, lightweight design fits easily in small vehicles and takes up less space on crowded stages, and is perfect for use in home studios and school applications where space is at a premium.

RD-64 features

• Grand piano sound and weighted keyboard action in a compact, mobile instrument.
• SuperNATURAL Piano sound engine delivers authentic, expressive acoustic piano sounds.
• E. Piano based on SuperNATURAL technology provides vintage electric pianos modeled with extraordinary accuracy.
• 12 versatile tones onboard, including clav and organ sounds.
• 64-note Ivory Feel-G Keyboard with Escapement for a pro-quality piano touch.
• Streamlined design that’s light and easy to carry.
• Two-band EQ and reverb, plus two multi-effects (EFX 1, EFX 2) for each tone category.
• Controller mode* provides MIDI master keyboard functionality, including a dedicated, one-touch setup for controlling SuperNATURAL tones in the INTEGRA-7 sound module and JUPITER-80/-50 synthesizers.
• Pitch bend/mod lever and D-BEAM.
• iPad compatibility via Apple’s iPad Camera Connection Kit.

More information: Roland / RD-64 Digital Piano

Roland has announced the HPi-50 Digital Piano, the latest addition to the acclaimed HPi series of interactive home pianos.

Combining Roland’s top piano technologies and latest DigiScore® education features in an attractive, space-saving instrument, the HPi-50 brings the joy of playing the piano to the entire family.

SuperNATURAL® Piano technology brings perfect sound and expression to HPi-50, with seamless velocity response, natural note decay, and authentic key-range behavior. With the SuperNATURAL Piano sound engine, every note has its own character, faithful to the performance of a real acoustic grand.

HPi-50 Digital Piano features

• Roland’s top-level piano features brought together in one instrument.
• SuperNATURAL Piano sound engine for organic, expressive sound and response.
• Top-of-the-line PHA III Ivory Feel Keyboard with Escapement.
• Interactive DigiScore training programs built in, featuring digital sheet music plus entertaining skill-building games and exercises.
• Large, high-resolution (1280 x 800) color LCD built into the music rest.
• 50 onboard rhythm accompaniments and nearly 400 internal songs, including popular études such as Czerny 100 and Hanon, plus classical masterpieces and popular songs.
• 16-part SMF song recorder built in; records and plays WAV audio songs via optional USB flash memory.
• Innovative Acoustic Projection system for natural, multidimensional sound.
• Progressive Damper Action pedal.
• Wood cabinet with beautiful Simulated Rosewood finish.

More information: Roland / HPi-50 Digital Piano

Equinox Sounds has announced the release of its Lounge & Chillout MIDI Keys library by Dave Bradshaw.

‘Lounge & Chillout MIDI Keys’ includes 33 MIDI loops featuring professionally played piano, keyboard and clavinet licks and chord progressions that can be used for creating the melodic foundations for a wide variety of slow tempo styles such as Chillout, Lounge and Downtempo.

This fantastic library has been created by producer and keyboard player Dave Bradshaw. All MIDI files are tempo-labelled.

As these licks and chord progressions are supplied in MIDI format, they will provide you with as much flexibility as possible. You can edit and transpose them, assign any sound you want and get your own and original melodic lines. The editing possibilities are endless as you can play the performances at any tempo or pitch without artefacts.

The MIDI pack costs $19.95 USD.

More information: Equinox Sounds / Lounge & Chillout MIDI Keys

Nektar, the company known for the Panorama P4 and P6 USB controller keyboards that feature deep integration with Propellerhead’s Reason, have announced Panorama integration with Steinberg’s acclaimed DAW Cubase.

Panorama is designed with DAW navigation and workflow in mind, making it easy to control Cubase while performing or recording without having to reach for the computer mouse or the QWERTY keyboard. Each control, transport or navigation button is automatically mapped to Cubase with a logical layout that’s completely transparent thanks to Panorama’s high resolution TFT display.

When changing tracks using the Track -/+ buttons, the track name and the type of track is called out on the TFT display. The Panorama P4/P6 motorized fader automatically adjusts its position according to the volume of the current track selection.

Panorama mainly controls Cubase through 3 dedicated modes; Mixer Mode, Instrument Mode and Transport Mode. Each of which is engaged at the touch of a button. Mixer mode controls the Mix Console with up to 8 channels controllable at the same time. 8 faders are assigned to volume, 8 encoders assigned to either pan or the sends from 1 to 8 and the 8 LED buttons assigned to control channel mute, solo, record arm or select.

Panorama’s second group of 8 encoders control the selected track’s channel settings including EQ, Inserts (as well as plug-in selection and editing), FX sends and Quick controls.
Instrument Mode addresses the active VST Instrument when an instrument track is selected. Just like Reason Instrument Devices and Rack Extensions, many VST instrument plug-ins are pre-mapped and organized in logical modules and menus that completely reconfigure Panorama assignments as needed. For VST plug-ins that are not pre-mapped by Nektar, users can create their own customized VST maps, store and save for use in future sessions. Parameters are easy to assign using a simple Panorama control learn menu so there is no new software or GUI’s to learn.

Transport mode features a big time display, L and R locator positions and control over important functions during song composition like setting pre/post roll, precount, punch in/out, tempo, record mode and click level. Markers and loop cycle positions can also be stored/recalled during a session.

A fourth Internal mode provides access to Panorama’s many generic controller keyboard functions for control of outboard MIDI equipment or other MIDI software. The Pads menu in addition makes it easy to create setups for various VST pad instruments with its 20 Pad-Map memory locations.

Cubase users will also benefit from Panorama’s unique QWERTY macro function which allows up to 8 QWERTY shortcut commands to be sent to Cubase with the push of one button or pad.

Panorama will support Cubase, Cubase Artist and Cubase Elements version 6, 6.5 and 7. Earlier versions may be supported at the time of launch. The Cubase integration will be available as a downloadable update to existing Panorama users free of charge and is expected in March 2013.

More information: Nektar

Nektar has announced Panorama P6, a 61 note USB MIDI controller keyboard with the same deep Reason integration as their acclaimed Panorama P4.

Nektar Panorama: Keyboard and pads are dynamic, sensitive and balanced carefully with a solid feel that allows for complete expression.

Panorama P4 first shipped in June 2012 and has already become a favorite among Reason users who are looking for great integration with hardware and workflow that allows uninterrupted creative freedom

Like the P4, the Panorama P6 features 4 modes that allow the user to switch between Mixer, Instrument and Transport mode and a 4th Internal mode with 20 user presets each configurable for control of external MIDI hardware, ReWired DAW’s or other MIDI controllable software.

A motorized fader, solo and mute buttons give mix channel control in every mode as does the extended transport buttons with no less than 11 functions a button push away. 16 encoders, 9 faders and 9 LED buttons do most of the controlling with parameters and values displayed on the TFT display. All assignable buttons including the 11 function keys and 12 pads can be setup to send MIDI messages or QWERTY macros, a unique Panorama idea where up to 8 computer keyboard shortcuts can be sent with just one button press. In addition the Panorama P6 features a 61 note velocity sensitive semi-weighted keyboard with after touch, pitch bend, modulation wheel, MIDI out, foot switch and expression pedal sockets.

Panorama P6 is shipping in December 2012, at a MSRP of $659.99 USD / 529.99 EUR / £419.99 GBP (anticipated street price of $599.99 USD / 479.99 EUR / £369.99 GBP).

More information: Nektar / Panorama