Marcos Alonso has recently updated the Samplr app for iOS to version 1.21.
Samplr lets you make music and play with sound in a new and intuitive way by touching the waveform on the screen directly with your fingers. Explore the sounds melody and texture using the different play modes and create your music compositions with the gesture recorder.
Changes in Samplr v1.21
Bugfixes:
Fixed crashes when using Multitasking Gestures.
Fixed loading of 32-bit (int) WAVE files.
Filter can be reset when it becomes silent.
Improved UI contrast.
Manual corrections.
Performance improvements.
Audiobus support improved:
Recordings can be quantized to bars.
Added support for buffer size changes.
Fixed REC button not active when recording from a filter.
Samplr for iOS is available to purchase for $4.99 USD.
Steinberg has announced the release of the CMC Six-Pack, a new bundle deal comprising the award-winning CMC line-up of USB controllers.
“The CMC Six-Pack is the most flexible controller setup ever made for Cubase: it’s a touch-based mixer; it’s a handy pad controller; it’s a transport control you won’t want to miss after the first try,” comments Stefan Schreiber, product marketing manager at Steinberg.
The CMC Six-Pack is made up of all six controllers designed to offer users a modular controller experience. Arranging the units in a way that best suits the personal needs when using Cubase makes the CMC series a very customizable hardware control system. Each of the six slim-sized USB controllers provides tactile control over Cubase features.
CMC Six-Pack features
Six unique micro controllers designed to take control of dedicated Cubase areas — faster and more convenient than with any other solution.
Modular system: combine multiple units to form an eminently powerful Cubase control station that exactly fits your needs; joint plate included for quick and easy connection.
Fully mirrored Cubase functionality: intuitive operation due to the adoption of the Cubase color scheme and icons.
Perfect ergonomics guarantee a unique level of handling quality — created to make your recording and live performance workflow more musical than ever.
Brings innovative technologies to your fingertips: illuminated, high-resolution touch controls and rotary encoders for detailed visual feedback.
Portable and compact: small enough to fit in your pocket, on a master keyboard or wherever desired
User-assignable functions for even more flexibility and tweaking options.
USB-powered: no additional power supply required.
Cross-platform compatible: OS X and Windows support.
Cubase AI download version included to start recording your music straight away.
The CMC Six-Pack is available from selected resellers and through the Steinberg Online Shop as long as stocks last, with a suggested retail price of 299 EUR including German VAT.
Hal Leonard Books has announced it is shipping Studio One for Engineers and Producers, a Quick Pro Guide is specifically designed to help engineers and producers who are already comfortable using another DAW software platform make the transition to Studio One.
The author and audio engineer Bill Edstrom says: “I’ve done projects in just about every DAW on the market. To use most of these systems you need to be in a very technical frame of mind. I was looking for something simpler – something to get creative songwriting ideas out. That’s when I discovered Studio One.”
Studio One for Engineers and Producers starts by relating Studio One’s layout and functionality to other common DAWs, to identify the most important similarities and differences. It then follows the creative process through the normal progression of a modern recording/production. This new cross-platform (Mac/PC) DAW is built from the ground up for speed, efficiency, and power; Studio One for Engineers and Producers is the perfect tool to shorten the pathway from installation to inspiration!
The book is accompanied with 12 new video tutorials covering the key concepts. Studio One for Engineers and Producers demonstrates the creative, practical, and technical benefits provided by PreSonus in this modern, well-developed, flexible, and user-friendly application. All instruction is presented in straightforward and simple language that gets right to the point, taking into consideration the need for amateurs, home studio owners, and commercial professionals to get up to speed very quickly. Readers will enjoy the numerous tips and real world examples. Edstrom adds: “I was recording with Studio One as a canvas for creativity. But I realized that I could produce music end to end without really needing to use other tools. In short, Studio One is fun to use!”
IK Multimedia has announced the release of iLectric Piano for iPad, a virtual electric piano.
iLectric for iPad, the first studio-quality electric piano app for iPad, offers over 40 classic electric pianos, electric grands and clavinets, all carefully sampled from the original instruments.
From clean and icy-cool to sharp and staccato to growling and distorted, iLectric Piano faithfully recreates the gamut of classic electric piano sounds – tones heard on countless hit songs, iconic jazz recordings and classic rock albums.
The iLectric Piano offers dozens of classic electric pianos for your iPad.
iLectric Piano for iPad features
19 world-class, multisampled electric piano and electronic keyboard instruments.
Expandable library of 22 more studio-quality instruments with our Electric Piano Expansion Pack, available via convenient in-app purchase.
Get a FREE bonus instrument, “Wurly Stage Chorus,” by registering an iRig KEYS or iRig MIDI with IK Multimedia.
Effects section allows 4 simultaneous effects: 3-band EQ, Reverb, Overdrive and one of 5 modulation effects: Chorus, Phaser, Flanger, Tremolo and AutoPan.
Full-featured recorder section with overdub and quantize.
Audio/Visual metronome with tap tempo.
Export recordings as WAV or m4a audio files via File Sharing, email, or Copy.
Virtual MIDI and MIDI Program Change support.
Low-latency for real-time playing.
The iLectric Piano costs $19.99 USD / 15.99 EUR. The Electric Piano Expansion Pack (includes 22 instruments) is available as an In-App Purchase for $9.99 USD / 8.99 EUR.
IK Multimedia has also launched the I Love VI Promo, a limited time promotion in which you can save 60% off various instruments and ReFills.
Ahh, it’s February and young men and women around the globe start to think of just one thing…virtual instruments. So from now until March 15, IK is spreading the love by offering you a 60% savings off ALL of our award-winning professional virtual instrument titles. Now you can save 60% off SampleTank, SampleMoog, Miroslav Philharmonik, Sonik Synth and SampleTron, and all Xpansion Tank 2 refills.
First there was the Maschine, then came Maschine Mikro, and now Native Instruments has updated both to mk2 with new software features, an improved controller, and additional hardware accessories.
For those who have never heard of Maschine before, it is basically a combination of music production software with a dedicated hardware controller. A tightly integrated system that can be used standalone – including hosting of 3rd party plugins, or as a plugin in another host. The groovebox-like hardware controller can also be used to control external hardware and software via MIDI with Maschine’s MIDI mode.
Now, I realize I am a bit late to the party with this review, and to be honest after checking some earlier reviews I found pretty much everything I would like to say has already been written at Oh Drat. So I’ll try my best not to ruminate and list everything you can already find at the Native Instruments website anyway, and instead just mention a few things I found particularly interesting when using the new Maschine.
Multi-colored pads and group buttons on the Maschine mk2 controller.
While the rainbow colored, toy-like appearance did not appeal to me a whole lot at first, I found myself using color coding on sounds and groups pretty much from day one. I already did the same thing in other music production software to indicate groups of instruments, sounds, effects, etc. and having the same kind of thing in Maschine is a definite workflow improvement for me.
Besides having multi-color LEDs, the pads also have a much improved sensitivity. I thought the pads on the original Maschine were really good, but to me the Mk2 is an order of magnitude better still. The sensitivity is just amazing, even at really low velocities. I can now confidently tap away the night without worrying about waking up my kids in the next room.
I also enjoy the new screens a lot better, easier on the eyes and improved readability. It has helped me to do more from the hardware controller where before I would jump to the computer screen. The fact that you can now audition samples from the hardware before committing helps a lot too.
The new screens on the mk2 are very good in places where you have very little light.
On the whole many of these changes are seemingly minimal improvements, but in fact they are most useful. Like the little click response on buttons, something I didn’t even know I wanted until the mk2 came along, what a lovely improvement.
On the software part I feel that Native Instruments has an extremely difficult job. Besides implementing some of the new features to go with the hardware, there are tons of feature requests from existing and potential customers. It is not likely you’re ever going to be able to please everyone with any update, much less a point update.
Time stretch/pitch shift is a much requested feature that was implemented, but… for some reason it is not a real-time process. While the results of processed audio is impressive, it kind of stumps me why can’t just have a preview and commit function?
The additions of the Transient Master module, some new tape and tube saturation models for the Saturator module, and a free copy of the Massive software synthesizer are nice bonus.
With MASCHINE 1.8, all MASCHINE users get the full version of the modern legend MASSIVE – the synth that gave birth to the earth-shuddering bass tones and speaker-troubling leads that have defined the bass music genre. This monster synth contains 1,300 ready-to-go sounds, all instantly browseable via the MASCHINE hardware. MASCHINE’s eight control knobs offer direct access to MASSIVE’s eight Macro controls, for perfect synergy between hardware and synthesizer, and a lightning-fast workflow.
It is my guess that over time, Native Instruments is going to be integrating more and more of its sounds & effects into the Maschine package.
There are a bunch more improvements, of which I want to mention one that may seem minor but it certainly made my day. You can now use both your hands for recording automation of parameters by pinning down the “Auto Write”. I record automation a whole lot so this little feature is a godsend to me.
What didn’t get much attention is MIDI. I work pretty much completely in the box so it’s no big deal to me, but if you use a lot of external gear and need full MIDI implementation with MIDI CC and multiple outputs, version 1.8 does not yet bring what you’re looking for. Native Instruments never said they would implement this in the update so can’t blame them really, but it would be good to see full MIDI support nonetheless. I haven’t a clue how much work it is to get it implemented, perhaps it will take version 2.0 to get it…
Lastly, I want to mention the new custom kits and stand accessories.
The custom kits are available in a variety of colors.
Some companies were already offering custom stickers and modifications for the original Maschine, so Native Instruments cleverly pulled the market towards themselves by offering a custom kit with faceplate and knobs in various colors. Granted, the pricing of these kits is a bit steep, but I have to say they look really good. Great quality and replacing the magnetic faceplate and knobs is really easy.
The stand is also something you could probably do yourself for less money, but again, great quality piece of hardware and it looks sleek. It can be mounted on standard drum hardware with the included Mounting Adapter.
Alright, to finish I want to show the obligatory Jeremy Ellis video. It should be said that this makes me want to sit down with my Maschine all day, but realize that it is not likely you will ever get anywhere near the amazing stuff he does. At least, this is truth in my case.
Also, for a great overview of everything new in Maschine mk2 and the 1.8 software, check out this excellent video by Dubspot’s Matt Cellitti.
So what do I think?
Product: Native Instruments Maschine mk2 Format: VST/AU/RTAS/Standalone Price: 599 EUR / $669 USD Like: Amazing pads, great screens, many workflow improvements, fun! Don’t like: No real-time time stretch, No full MIDI implementation Verdict: 9/10
Improved pads, screens & workflow, new effects and the Massive synth included. No earth shaking features perhaps, but with mk2 the Maschine platform is moving along rather nicely.
At the same retail price of the first model, Native Instruments is definitely offering a superior package with Maschine mk2. For those who already have the original Maschine, the software update is free. Personally, I enjoy the pads and colored LEDs so much to justify getting the mk2, but whether the controller improvements are worth the upgrade or not is up to you.
There is still a lot of room for Maschine to grow, and I am pretty confident that Native Instruments is going to tackle some of the top feature requests in future upgrades, but as is, Maschine mk2 remains an amazing piece of gear. Native Instruments calls it fast, intuitive, powerful and flexible. I call it a joy to work with.
Steinberg has announced the release of version 1.1 of its Cubasis sequencer app for iOS.
“Cubasis 1.1 takes full advantage of the many music apps supporting Audiobus, resulting in a flexible and more powerful DAW for your iPad than before,” comments Carlos Mendoza Rohde, product marketing manager at Steinberg.
Audiobus allows multiple iOS apps to integrate seamlessly with Cubasis for audio input and processing in a single project.
“Cubasis now boasts one of the best implementations of Audiobus known to me,” adds Sebastian Dittmann from Audiobus.
Cubasis v1.1 features
Unlimited audio and MIDI tracks (depending on the device used).
Over 70 virtual instrument sounds based on HALion Sonic.
Mixer with over 10 effect processors (insert and send effects).
Over 300 MIDI and audio loops.
Virtual keyboard and virtual drum pads.
Sample Editor and Key Editor.
Export to Cubase, Dropbox, SoundCloud, AudioCopy and email.
Core Audio and Core MIDI compatible hardware supported.
Sequence other Core MIDI apps (MIDI recording only) and run Cubasis simultaneously via background audio.
Import audio from your iTunes music library or using iTunes file sharing, use AudioPaste or set up a Wi-Fi server in Cubasis.
Audio mixdown and MIDI export.
Audiobus support.
Cubasis is available as download through the App Store, priced at 44.99 EUR including German VAT.
Send an Email or use social networks Twitter, or Facebook. Listen to some tunes at SoundCloud, or subscribe to the RSS feed to get all the lastest news in your news reader.
