This looks awesome:
"Propellerhead proudly presents Parsec Spectral Synthesizer — the futuristic sound of additive synthesis for the Reason Rack.
With two independent sound engines, up to 1024 oscillators per voice, a wide range of sound sculpting tools, built-in effects and free modulation routing, Parsec won’t leave you wishing when it comes to sonic horse-powers."
As if the Minibrute wasn't small enough, Arturia today announced the Microbrute Analog Synthesizer:
"Packed with mixable waveforms, a new sub oscillator design, the famous Steiner-Parker multimode filter, super fast envelope, syncable LFO and the new step sequencer, not to mention the patchable mod matrix the MicroBrute is a landmark new synth at an incredible price."
The Microbrute is on pre-sale at Sweetwater for $299 USD, shipping begins in November! Speaking of which, check out Sweetwater's Director of Product Optimization Daniel Fisher get down with the new beastie:
Sound on Sound is at the AES 2013 conference where they have reported on a new Sony field recorder! The PCM-D100 is like the missing link between Sony professional and consumer recording lines:
"The PCM-D100 is a high resolution recorder with two-position (X-Y or Wide) stereo microphones, 32 GB of internal flash memory and a SD-XC Card slot. Recording formats include linear PCM (at 192, 176.4, 96, 88.2, 48 and 44.1kHz); DSD (2.8224 MHz) and MP3 (320 and128 kbps). Additional playback support is provided for FLAC, WMA and AAC files. The D100 is constructed of lightweight metal (aluminum) and it's built rugged to withstand the demands of pro applications, plus it offers long battery life using conventional AA alkaline batteries. The recorder includes a USB high-speed port for simple uploading/downloading to/from Windows® PC or Macintosh® computers. Other PCM-D100 features include digital pitch control, dual path digital limiter, low-cut filter, Super Bit Mapping® and A-B repeat capability."
The Elektron Analog Four Voice Synthesizer is one of the best deals around - 4 tracks of analog synthesis, Elektron's killer sequencer with param-locks, and a lovely sounding reverb all housed in a table top synth!
"In this session, all audio is routed through the Octatrack. Analog Four's output goes into Octatrack's input CD and Machinedrum's output goes into input AB. Also, Monomachine is being fed through the Machinedrum to add some Distortion and Sample Rate Reducer.
Most of the beat is made up on the Machinedrum with some additional Loops from Octatrack. Monomachine is making trippy synth sounds and some glitchy hihat sequence towards to end. Analog Four takes care of all the Bass, Lead and other squelchy synth sounds!"
Brad Mehldau with Mark Giuliana tearing it up in Mehliana! Video courtesy of imaginarytube.
Brent Kallmer, from Bluewater VST, posted a new video this morning detailing the Splitter Reaktor ensemble! One of my faves:
"Splitter is a granular beat production environment animated by a special old-school vibe to it that makes it extraordinarily fun and satisfying to use."
Today marks the one year anniversary of the release of the BFD Core ReFill for Reason! The BFD Core ReFill has 3.6GB of high quality FXpansion drum samples (with multiple mic positions), designed specifically for the Reason Rack by Jeremy Janzen, Adam Fielding, Tom Pritchard and Lewis Osborne (hey wait, that's me!) In celebration Nucleus SoundLab has announced a 40% OFF sale on the BFD Core ReFill until Nov.16!
"Nucleus SoundLab and FXpansion present BFD Core Refill for Propellerhead Reason 6+. BFD Core ReFill is a synergy between the best-in-class drum samples of FXpansion, partnered with the proven sound design experience of Nucleus SoundLab. The goal of this product is to be the absolute best drum ReFill available for Reason. Whether you need an incredibly detailed and produced drumkit for your mix, or you need quality samples to produce a drumkit of your own, BFD Core ReFill delivers."
I've been wanting to post about this new synth from FXpansion for months! TRES is a fantastic monophonic synthesizer for the Reason Rack that bucks today's trend of including everything under the sun in an instrument in favor of creating an elegant interface that just begs to be played with... 3 Oscillators, 3 Filter models, an easy to use Mod Bus section, plus Tonal controls that can drastically change the sound of a patch! This is a Rack Extension I think everyone will dig and please check out my patches in the factory library while you're at it (with the LO extension :-). Adam Fielding, Tom Pritchard, Shaun Wallace and Nucleus SoundLab's mad scientist Jeremy Janzen also lent a hand in sound design! Check it:
"Tres is a DCAM analogue circuit-modelled monosynth Rack Extension from FXpansion. It features exciting TransMod modulation and a wide variety of timbral flexibility and tone sculpting.
More info and audio demos in the PropShop! Pick up Tres today for $49 USD.
Nucleus SoundLab has just released the Antimatter ReFill for the Synapse Antidote Reason Rack Extension!
"Antimatter is focused on doing what Antidote does best - incredibly detailed, rich and spacious pads and atmospheres. Filtered chord washes, space exploration soundbeds, heavenly wavesequences, overdriven growls and various forms of supersaw-esque insanity are all on offer. Not only that, but for certain patches Nucleus SoundLab has paired up Antidote with Reason's elder statesmen - Thor and Malstrom - to create Combinators of truly epic sonic scale."
Pick up Antimatter today for $29 USD!
Madrona Labs has a new soft synth in the works called Kaivo, with a GUI similar to their fantastic Aalto synthesizer. Kaivo is a physical modeling synthesizer that's been in the works for almost two years and "brings Aalto’s ease of patching to a new set of modules based around physical modeling." Check it:
A new Reason tip from The Props:
"EQ is probably the most important tool to make sure your mix sounds good. But how do you know where to cut or boost? What frequencies are important? In this video Propellerhead product specialist Mattias lets you in on four EQ tips for a better mix. Learn basic EQ usage, what frequencies matter in a kick drum and more!"
Native Instruments has announced Maschine Studio, "the ultimate groove production system, combining software and hardware in perfect harmony." And it looks awesome:
DJ Tech Tools takes a closer look at the new Maschine: