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.
Time+Space has announced it is now shipping ProjectSAM’s Lumina, a sample library for Native Instruments Kontakt.
ProjectSAM is well-known for its ensemble recording concept, and this third volume in the critically acclaimed Symphobia series trumps this with even finer arrangements.
The warmth and beauty of orchestra and choir performing together has been captured in stunning, playable ensembles. Moreover, Lumina is packed with superbly orchestrated textures covering the full spectrum of fantasy and mystery. Refined with grand piano, harp and percussion, these recordings are truly luminous.
Lumina’s solo and guest instruments range from legato woodwinds, such as oboe and clarinet, to a beautifully sampled Celtic harp, tin whistle and a full bell tower! The library also pays homage to the playful world of cartoons with dedicated ensembles and phrases for careful tiptoeing and tongue-in-cheek suspense.
Of course you will find ProjectSAM´s popular Dystopia section, too, with all-new sound design based on Lumina’s samples.
Lumina is available to purchase on a USB stick from Time+Space, priced at RRP £840 GBP / €995 EUR (inc VAT).
Kevin Holland and John Staskevich have launched a Kickstarter project for the Luminth, which lets you generate melodies, percussive grooves, and ambient soundscapes.
The Luminth USB controller: click, turn, push+turn!
The Luminth is a minimalist USB control peripheral. To use the Luminth, simply click, turn, and push+turn. The Luminth changes color with the music.
Luminth Orbiter is a generative music software application. Make dramatic changes to the music with a single click. Dive deeper to make refined, subtle adjustments. Or, let Orbiter work autonomously to create music that morphs over time.
The Luminth is the best way to control Luminth Orbiter software, but Orbiter is fully functional with or without the Luminth.
The project is aiming to get $8,000 USD by June 13th, 2013. The Luminth software is available for a pledge of $30 USD, the USB controller is included with pledges of $100+ USD.
Nektar has announced it has started shipping the Panorama P1, a compact control surface with 66 real-time controls, a color high-resolution TFT display and deep integration for Cubase, Nuendo and Reason.
Build on the established Panorama workflow originally developed for Reason, the latest Cubase and Nuendo support offers full navigation of the sequencer tracks, mixer, insert and instrument plug-ins as well as project navigation. Tactile control has never been more intuitive with parameters automatically mapped once a menu is selected. Panorama comes pre-mapped for more than 250 plug-ins including all Steinberg branded plug-ins. Each map can be customized by the user using the unique Panorama “Learn” function. Users can also utilize the “Learn” function to create basic maps for plug-ins that have not yet been pre-mapped by Nektar.
Just like the Reason implementation which has been regularly updated with support for Rack Extensions over the past 12 months, the Cubase and Nuendo implementation for Panorama will continue to evolve. New plug-in maps will be added regularly and provided free to all registered Panorama users.
Both worlds simultaneously Panorama users who ReWire Reason to Cubase/Nuendo can also take advantage of the real-time DAW switching that allows Panorama to control either Reason or Cubase at any one time. There is no loss of control functionality so the full 3 modes, Mixer, Instrument and Transport are available as you switch back and forth between Cubase/Nuendo and Reason. The TFT display provides ongoing navigation and parameter feedback so there is no need to look at the computer monitor. The ReWire switching is color coded to make sure you always know which DAW you are controlling.
Panorama P1 in addition is a comprehensive USB MIDI controller with an easy and transparent user interface. Each assignable control can be programmed to send MIDI messages and any of the buttons are capable of sending QWERTY macros of up to 8 computer shortcut commands, as well as be programmed to load any preset or map.
Panorama P1 is available now at music dealers dealers world wide for MSRP $349.99 USD/289.99 EUR/£244.99 GBP.
The Cubase/Nuendo implementation supports the entire Panorama range. Existing P4 and P6 users can download it immediately from the Nektar website.
Focusrite has announced the 18i8 and 6i6, the latest Scarlett USB 2.0 audio interfaces which aim to suit producers and bands small or large.
Scarlett 18i8 – 18 in/8 out USB 2.0 audio interface with 4 Focusrite mic preamps.
Scarlett 18i8 (18 in, 8 out) and the 6-in, 6-out 6i6 are the two latest additions to Focusrite’s popular range of Scarlett USB 2.0 interfaces. Both are aimed at recording artists, producers and bands, and both feature the award-winning Focusrite mic pre, designed specifically for Focusrite’s computer interfaces, alongside Focusrite’s renowned precision 24/96 conversion. In addition to Mac® and Windows® operation, both are compatible with iOS® devices like the iPad®.
Scarlett 18i8 includes four Focusrite mic pres, plus the ability to also record up to four line inputs at the same time. With the on-board ADAT input you can connect external mic preamps such as the OctoPre MkII, for up to 12 mic inputs, and the unit also includes S/PDIF I/O.
In addition to dual Focusrite mic pres, Scarlett 6i6 features a stereo line input, making it possible to capture, for example, two vocals, stereo piano and guitar at the same time. Both models feature Scarlett’s signature red unibody metal chassis for road-ruggedness and the unique “signal halo” LED rings around the input controls, indicating green for good levels and red for overload. Both also include dual independent headphone outputs with level controls and a large main monitor knob.
The interfaces will be available in June, 2013, priced at £199.99 GBP (Scarlett 6i6) / £299.99 GBP (Scarlett 18i8). Prices inc. VAT.
Sonoma Wire Works has announced that its GuitarJack 2 USB studio quality audio interface for desktop and mobile is now available to pre-order.
GuitarJack 2 USB portable audio I/O connects mics and instruments to your PC, Mac, and select mobile devices through a Micro USB connection.
Featuring a 1/4 inch instrument input, 1/8 inch stereo mic/line input, and 1/8 inch stereo headphone/line output with increased drive for headphones, GuitarJack 2 USB contains the same pristine sounding 24-bit AD/DA converter as the acclaimed GuitarJack Model 2.
GuitarJack 2 USB features
Studio quality sound from a 24-bit A/D and D/A converter with analog front end and digital circuitry designed by renowned audio designer, Joe Bryan, famous for his work on the UA 2192.
1/8 inch (3.5 mm) stereo mic/line input – (no phantom power is provided).
1/8 inch (3.5 mm) stereo headphone/line output with increased drive for headphones provides incredible sound quality.
Micro USB connector.
Sleek and rugged aluminum shell with a brushed finish.
Device powered for ultimate portability – requires no batteries or power adapter.
Input Modes:
Instrument (1/4 inch) – mono Hi-Z.
Mic/Line (1/8 inch) – mono or stereo.
The GuitarJack 2 USB is available to pre-order for the introductory price of $129 USD ((U.S. shipping only, $199 USD MSRP). It is estimated to ship in June 2013. GuitarJack 2 USB is estimated to be available from select dealers worldwide in June 2013.
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