Bitword has released a new version of Oxide Kits Vol 1, a collection of drum kits now including kits for FXpansion GURU.

If you are looking for an electro-organic drum solution, these kits will thud - stomp and clank your problems away. Excellent for the styles of IDM and Industrial, these kits can be easily utilized for a distinct vibe and flavor in all variants of Electronica, Hip-Hop and Alternative Rock. Multimedia and Film Composers will also find inspiration in this diverse collection of drum kits.

Oxide Kits Vol 1 features

• Reason ReDrum: 191 kits - 108mb.zip
• Ableton Impulse: 275 kits - 104mb.zip
• NI Battery 3+: 33 kits - 226mb.zip
• GURU: 191 kits - 489mb.zip
• WAV: 1,066 files - 224mb.zip
• Each format is pre-mapped using all of the sample content.
• Each format includes all of the same sample data, and while the kits are mapped as close as possible to match each format, there are some differences, such as pads per kit, filters, and ADSR - all given the proper tweaking for each drum sampler.

Oxide Kits Vol 1 (multiformat) is available for download for $59 USD.

A special discount of $10 USD is available until 08-10-2008. Just enter the coupon code GURU at checkout. The coupon is valid for any, or all of the formats.

Visit Bitword for more information and audio demos.

Native Instruments has released Absynth Twilights, a new KORE SoundPack.

ABSYNTH TWILIGHTS contains 200 additional ABSYNTH presets including 1,600 sound variations that range from ethereal, enchanting pads to dark and foreboding soundscapes. You will find both tonal and atonal evolving atmospheres conjuring up everything from heavenly to nightmarish ambiences. Perfect for game designers, score producers and ambient electronic musicians. All sounds make extensive use of ABSYNTH’s flexible multi-stage envelopes and outstanding sound shaping features, giving you truly unique sonic textures for your productions.

Absynth Twilights features

• 200 KoreSounds (+ 1,600 sound variations)
• Pads and soundscapes of various types.
• Derived from Camel Audio /Biolab’s “Absynth Sounds” series, but cannot be found in the KORE 2 or ABSYNTH 4 factory libraries.

Absynth Twilights is available as a download for $59 USD / €49 EUR.

Visit Native Instruments for more information and audio demos.

bioLogic has released a free set of violin samples.

He writes:

Recorded with a Rode NT3 small diaphragm condenser about 6″ from the strings, fed to a Really Nice Preamp and into my M-Audio 2496.

Violin Ricochet features

• 16 Samples, 6.3MB extracted.
• 32bit, 44.1KHz.
• 4 Strings: G, D, A, E stretched to fit.
• 5 Alternate Strikes: for round robin playability.
• 1 Velocity Layer: ricochet style (bow held several inches high, and dropped).

The sampleset includes HALion 3, sfz and wav and can downloaded here.

The first rekkerd.org sample remix contest has come to an end. Well, the fun part of it anyway. Now it’s time to get serious and vote.

I’m absolutely pleased with the amount of tracks submitted. Above and beyond my expectation… almost fifty of them, and of great quality too.

I’m also glad you guys will have to decide who wins, as I don’t think I’d be able to pick just one entry to win the prize…

Thanks to everyone who entered the contest and good luck with the votes!

How to vote?

Voting is simple. Just pick your top 3 and post them in the comments in this page.

Something like this:

1. Artist - Title, this one will get 3 points
2. Another artist - Another track, this one will get 2 points
3. You get the point - right? so yes, 1 point for this entry

Voting is open to anyone, but please don’t vote without considering (and actually listening to) all entries. Make sure to use a working email address when you post your vote.

Voting ends on Friday, August 8, 11.59:59pm CET. You can only vote ONCE, and participants NEED to vote in order to be eligible to win.

… read more