Thursday, October 7, 2021

HARDWARE NEWS: UA Announce New Volt Series Audio Interfaces.

 




Universal Audio have launched a new range of affordable USB 2.0 Audio and Midi interfaces designed for anything from basic podcasting/speech applications through to pro music. 

All of them have vintage microphone tube emulation for a rich, warm sound, built in MIDI capability and a suite of entry level software versions to get you started including Ableton Live Lite, Melodyne, and Marshall and Ampeg amps sims for the guitarists and bass players. 

There are five models in the range. Three of them are desktop format interfaces with on board '76' analog compressor(s) which are based on UA's iconic 1176 compressor. These are available in single, 2, and 4 channel versions known as the 176, 276, and 476 respectively. 

The other two products in the range are mini-rack format types with front mounted controls. These are the Volt 1, and Volt 2 interfaces and are single and 2 channel models respectively. 

No prices as yet, but I'm sure these will fit the bill for many artists and songwriters looking for quality interfaces that don't break the bank. 

The entry level version of Ableton wouldn't be my choice for songwriters, but you could soon download your free copy of Soundbridge alongside my instrument and soundware pack for a much more songwriter-friendly entry level music production platform. In my view. 

More information on Soundbridge and my 'ultimate' entry level music production platform can be found via the link below. 





More information on Universal Audio's new Volt interfaces via UA's website below. 





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Disclaimer:

The information contained within this blog post is offered on an informal basis and is correct to the best of my knowledge. I accept no responsibility for outcomes arising from the mis/interpretation or use of this information and/or associated download files. Always download files via security/scanning software. 





Wednesday, October 6, 2021

FREE VST SYNTH NEWS: Full Bucket FB7999 VST Synthesizer.



 

I have vague recollections of the odd DW6000/8000 coming through one of the retail emporiums I used to work in either as a second hand or part exchanged item. 

I seem to remember rather linking them. Something a bit warmer than the Yamaha FM synths of the time, easier to program, and a bit more instantly gratifying. I only really started to like FM synths once they'd developed and bit and started offering stack modes and such. TX81Z/DX11 generation. That kind of thing. Seem to remember DW Series was a little bit before then. 

Never sold them new. Never really sold any Korg products from new. During my time selling keyboards and synths in the West End, the Korg distributor had their own shop there and were happily retailing items whilst also wholesaling them to dealers. We never involved ourselves in such unethical practices, so no Korg products form me during my time on Denmark Street. 

Interestingly, it's a practice that continues to this day. I don't understand why any keyboard/music shop would spend time, money, and effort grinding out Yamaha products whilst they are happily competing with you via their own swanky, no expense spared retail emporium in the heart of London. But hey..... music retail has never been a bastion of high-ethics. 

Anyway. Before I say something really controversial and end up getting sued, back to the FB7999......

So before Korg conquered the world with the M1, and also before they barely made a ripple with the FM derived 707, and in the wake of the Poly 61, there were the two DWs. 

FB Music seem to specialize in Korg emulations, although there are some 'original' style instruments such as the WhispAir wavetable synth that I checked out a couple of months ago. You'll find this via the link below. 





As it's name suggests, and since it has the 16 digital waveforms of the DW8000, and will respond to velocity information , it is fair to say that the FB7999 can be thought of as a DW8000 emulator. Although I don't think it has the arpeggiator. 

DW Series generated a number of waveforms via two digital oscillators known as DWGS (digital waveform generators). After that, a pretty standard subtractive mode of synthesis is employed with filters and pitch/filter/amp envelope generators. Although digitally controlled, the DW Series are equipped with genuine analog filter and amp sections. 

The two polyphonic and the two unison modes of the original DW have been retained, only now you have 64 voices of polyphony to play with instead of 16. 

The digital delay of the DW Series has also been implemented. The very short delay times can be used to create chorus and phasing effects. 

Anyway. That's about all I can tell you at this point. I've downloaded my copy and will check it out shortly and deliver my verdict/opinion, although I don't have any real DWs lying around so it won't be really possible to assess it's authenticity compared to the real hardware versions. But we'll take a look shortly.

In the meantime, you can find more information and download your own copy via the Full Bucket Music website below. 




Disclaimer:

The information contained within this blog post is offered on an informal basis and is correct to the best of my knowledge. I accept no responsibility for outcomes arising from the mis/interpretation or use of this information and/or associated download files. Always download files via security/scanning software. 

Tuesday, October 5, 2021

VST PRODUCT NEWS: Computer Music Magazine. U-he Zebra CM Gets a Makeover.

 



When I re-ignited my interest in music production, and specifically computer music a few years ago, I'm happy to say that Computer Music Magazine was a large source of information and resources. 

With every edition of the magazine, readers gain access to a comprehensive suite of free instrument and effects plug-ins. 

I still regularly use the Computer Music version of Synapse Audio's DUNE CM despite it being a few years old. In fact I use it much more than my copy of DUNE 3 which I purchased on a special offer last year. I really got to know DUNE via the CM version and I've programmed loads of sounds for it and really got to know it inside out. I consider myself a DUNE CM power user!

Since then, I've also added Dimitry Sches THORN CM to my 'roster' of regularly used plug-in synths. I use that one a lot as well. 

So for the princely sum of £6/7 you get a really powerful selection of synthesizer plug-ins. 

Computer Music U-he Zebra CM and Bazille CM. 


In addition to the Synapse Audio and Dimitry Sches products, U-he also supply two synthesizer products to the Computer Music 'roster', Zebra CM and Bazille CM. Both of these products have received an update and makeover which will be available in the coming issues of the magazine. 

Zebra CM's GUI has had a complete cosmetic makeover of it's GUI and now looks completely different. I think it's a big improvement on the original looks which I always thought a little strange and slightly off-putting if I'm honest. 

But there are a few other important differences. These include support for new Apple M1 ARM chips as well as Big Sur compatibility, VST3 support, and a 'sorted and polished' preset library browser. I'll let you know what that means when I get hold of a copy. 

You can find the full list of updates at the link below. 




In addition to the Zebra CM updates, there's also an updated version of Bazille CM. This is a semi-modular phase manipulation style synthesizer offering phase modulation and phase distortion synthesizer techniques. I must admit, I haven't got too far beyond the factory presets on this one, but it does sound impressive. 

Once again, we have Apple compatibility updates with support for Big Sur and ARM M1 chips, as well as VST3 support but no cosmetic GUI updates. Improved GUI performances and a number of bug fixes are mentioned. 

Once again, you can get the full list of updates via the U-he website via the link below. 




I suppose, in conclusion, I'd just like to say that this level of commitment to two magware products that were released several years ago, I find rather admirable. Making sure they're up to date and compatible with as many reader's machines and setups as possible. Excellent. Well done!

Once they're available via Computer Music, I'll provide updated information, particularly on the updated Zebra CM




Disclaimer:

The information contained within this blog post is offered on an informal basis and is correct to the best of my knowledge. I accept no responsibility for outcomes arising from the mis/interpretation or use of this information and/or associated download files. Always download files via security/scanning software. 





Monday, October 4, 2021

BLOG UPDATE: Coming up. STM OCTOBER 2021. Free Soundware, DAW Review, New Products.

 


October 2021 at STM. 

So what are the plans for October I hear you ask.

Well, this month I'll be taking a closer look at Tracktion's Waveform music production platform. There is a freeware version available and I'll be taking a look at that. It's one of the few entry level/freeware packages I haven't reviewed so we'll take a look and see what it's about. It's probably the most cross-platform of music packages and will run on Mac/Windows and Linux which means theoretically you can run it as a piece of music software for Rasberry Pi computer.



 

As far as soundware goes, there'll be the 'Temple Sitar' soundware pack which will be available as an SF2 Soundfont, Zampler patches, Reason NN-XT, and also as a Bitwig Instrument. It's a new and exclusive soundfont developed from scratch and, so far, it's sounding great. Sitars are used across all musical genres from classical music through to rock, indie, and pop, so this one's going to be a good 'un!






I haven't really been able to find a piano soundfont that has really come up to scratch so I'm going to set about creating one. I've got some excellent piano samples, so I'll see what I can come up with. I'm calling it the 'Ultimate Piano' soundfont, but we'll see what transpires!







It's also going to be 'Synthpad Month' for my dedicated soundfont page, so there'll be four more great new synthpad type soundfonts. All developed and sampled 'from scratch' and expertly looped. With lots of accompanying patches for Zampler






On the synth patch front, there'll be the first set of free sounds for Cherry Audio's Mercury 4 Jupiter 4 emulation. It comes with loads of great patches, but I'm sure I can come up with some new and different kind of things. 





  

On the drums front, E-Drum Mechanics Volume Five is coming together with several hundred original electronic drum samples, which should now take the whole E-Drum Mechanics library up to well above a thousand samples. As usual, there'll be big/fat resamples, and 'ready to play' kits for Ritmix






As far as hardware synths are concerned, there'll be a new volume of 'Pads and Soundscapes' for Roland FA Series, and Korg Kross 2 'Urban Vol 1' will be completed with 64 synth patches, 64 drum hits, and 64 sampled drum loops based around 'urban' music styles such as rap and hip-hop. If you can still say that!

....and finally, there'll be a new Ghost Machine vintage drum machine sample/resample/kit collection. Only problem is, I'm not sure which machine it will be yet. I've recently done a classic Yamaha and Roland machine, so maybe it's time for something from an alternative manufacturer. I'll keep you posted, when I decide. 

Plus lots of new product and updates new as and when it happens, so stay tuned, follow me at my Facebook Page for all the updates as they happen, and as the soundware products become available. Hope to see you there.......

Sunday, October 3, 2021

SOUNDWARE: Synth Pads Soundfont (.sf2) and Zampler Patches.

 


Synth Pad .sf2 Soundfont and Eight Zampler Patches. 

'Ethereal' soundtrack style synth pad.
 
New and exclusive synthesizer soundfont. Developed from scratch, this soundfont has been expertly sampled and looped, to produce a synth pad with plenty of motion and power. Great for ambient and soundtrack composers. 

Great thing about synth samples is that once you get them into an instrument like Zampler you can do so much with them. Zampler's filtering, modulation and effects sections allow you to play with these samples as if they were waveform from a synthesizer oscillator. So I've come up with eight Zampler patches using these basic samples, and you could probably come up with a whole lot more. 

Many software instruments are still capable of loading .SF2 soundfonts including Reason's NN-XT sample instrument and Bitwig's Sampler instrument. 

Synth Pad Soundfont Download Links. 

The .SF2 soundfont can be downloaded from the following link. Different instruments have different methods for loading soundfonts. Some let you 'drag' the file into the instrument, some use a 'browser' method or 'load' button. 

You can download the .SF2 soundfont from the link below. 




For the Zampler patches you will need to download the entire following folder. Zampler uses a .sfz soundfont which doesn't embed the samples. So you need the samples, the .sfz soundfont and the .fxb patches. Simply download the whole folder to your hard drive then use Zampler 'load patch' function to navigate to the .fxb patch files. Then select th epatch you want to load and play. Zampler will locate everything else it needs from the 'nested' folder. 

The collection for Zampler is called Ethereal Soundtracks, and you can download the folder from the link below. 




Optional Donation. 

If you like the products and use them, would like to support future projects, or buy me a drink,  then please donate via my Paypal.me page via the image/link below. Suggested donation for this soundware pack: £1-2. Many Thanks. 





Disclaimer:

The information contained within this blog post is offered on an informal basis and is correct to the best of my knowledge. I accept no responsibility for outcomes arising from the mis/interpretation or use of this information and/or associated download files. Always download files via security/scanning software.