Best Sample Packs This Week: Ambient atmospheres, Chinese bells, trumpets, free drums
This week's best sample packs: ambient, atmospheric sounds with a VHS tape flavour, expertly sampled ancient Chinese chime bells, fantastic-sounding trumpets and a versatile free drum sampler.D&D Modules Elvis Filter, Lord of the Wah and upcoming Heaven 16 sequencer
25 Jul 2020 in Synths
The retro-style Heaven 16 sequencer is the latest in a line of intriguing analogue, handmade Eurorack from D&D Modules that you might not have come across before.
midierror RATCHETEER: semi-automatic MIDI pattern generator for Ableton Live
25 Jul 2020 in Studio
RATCHETEER is able to generate MIDI patterns all by itself, providing new MIDI loops for your projects in control by MIDI keyboards and automation. Neat!
Arturia celebrates 20-year anniversary with Sound Explorers Collection
25 Jul 2020 in Studio
Commemorating 20 successful years in the music tech industry, Arturia has released the Sound Explorers Collection - 250GB of instruments, effects and sounds!
Poly Effects Beebo put Eurorack modules on your pedalboard!
24 Jul 2020 in Guitar
Just, wow. Poly Effects' Beebo pedal puts a host of modular FX and synths from popular Eurorack modules neatly onto your pedalboard, with loads of tweakable settings and a 5" touchscreen. Oh yes.
Reaktor Blocks 6.4 update: You can now patch User Blocks into racks
24 Jul 2020 in Studio
Seems obvious but up until now user-made Blocks couldn't use the front patching "racks" concept that was introduced in version 6.3 - but with 6.4 now they can!
Guqin: Magical Chinese 7-string traditional instrument captured in the Neo Orchestra Hybrid Engine
24 Jul 2020 in Synths
The Guqin is often known as "the instrument of the sages" and here Sound Magic has based their modelling on a design dating from the Tang Dynasty 1200 years ago. It sounds magnificent.
Qu-Bit Surface: Physical modelling in an 8-voice multi-timbral Eurorack module
24 Jul 2020 in Synths
Revealed at NAMM but now shipping is the Qu-Bit Surface multi-timbral physical modelling Eurorack voice for plucks, strikes, bangs, chokes and spatialized stereo.
Hide audio content in your audio files with DECODER / ENCODER apps!
23 Jul 2020 in Studio
Play spy games with your fans and friends by encoding inaudible audio messages or other audio content into your audio files and having your people decypher them to play them back!
Fender and girl in red team up for one-off “Rainbow” Player Series Telecaster
23 Jul 2020 in Guitar
Enter now to win a one-off Fender Player Series Telecaster, hand-painted by girl in red with all the proceeds of the raffle going to the Kaleidoscope Trust, a leading LGBTQ+ charity.
Glitchmachines unleashes a hybrid synth/sampler beast with Polygon 2.0
23 Jul 2020 in Studio
Polygon 2.0 is a complete overhaul of one of the most powerful hybrid samplers out there, with expanded modulation, granular sampling, dual oscillator, and more!
Mesanovic introduces the SC1 small diaphragm condenser microphone
22 Jul 2020 in Studio
Mesanovic has introduced the SC1 small diaphragm condenser microphone. The company's first SDC features exchangeable capsules and is sold in matched stereo pairs.
Tritik Irid serves up shimmering reverbs and colourful ambiences
22 Jul 2020 in Studio
Tritik Irid is a new reverb plug-in with three pitch shifters for shimmering soundscapes and rich harmonic ambiences. Will it give Valhalla Shimmer a run for its money?
A Leslie? No! It’s Dawner Prince Electronics’ Pulse Revolving Speaker Emulator
22 Jul 2020 in Guitar
An iconic 20th century rock sound has been revamped by Dawner Prince Electronics, packing the Doppola and Maestro Rover RO-1 into the compact Pulse Revolving Speaker Emulator pedal.
PreSonus celebrates 25 years with facelift for Audiobox USB 96 interface
22 Jul 2020 in Studio
Celebrating 25 year in the music tech arms race, PreSonus circled back to the home studio classic that is its AudioBox USB 96 dual-channel interface, with a swish black front panel.
VHS Dreamwaves: nostalgic and vibey 80’s throwback rompler
22 Jul 2020 in Studio
"Ghostly VHS tones, softly degraded keys, hypnagogic sound beds and wobbly synth leads" packaged into a convenient rompler with LFO, filters and envelopes! What's not to like?
Fender Parallel Universe Vol II Maverick Dorado, a vintage oddball reborn
21 Jul 2020 in Guitar
Fender's new Maverick Dorado is based on a vintage guitar originally made out of old 12-string guitar parts from Fender's parts bin. A curiosity reborn! Now, about that headstock...
Jared Dines and Sterling by Music Man announce new Jared Dines signature model
21 Jul 2020 in Guitar
YouTube celebrity Jared Dines' new Sterling by Music Man signature model features 24 frets, gold hardware, and a price that's hard to beat. Unfortunately, it will only be available in the US.
AKAI MPC Beats is a complete beat making and remixing studio – for free!
21 Jul 2020 in Studio
AKAI has introduced MPC Beats, a new beat making DAW that's completely free. The included samples and loops and the famed MPC workflow will have you making beats in no time.
Ghost In Translation: Eurorack Modular with a Teensy MIDI heart
21 Jul 2020 in Synths
An interesting project is underway from Ghost In Translation building a unique modular format based on Eurorack sizing but run on Teensy boards and controlled by MIDI behind the scenes.
The new Electro Harmonix 1440 Stereo Looper doubles its predecessor’s loop time
21 Jul 2020 in Guitar
After being leaked earlier this year, the new Electro Harmonix 1440 Stereo Looper has finally been officially released, with 24 minutes of unlimited overdubs and a handy Loop Manager app.
Zoom V3 Vocal Processor: multi-effect box for stage, studio, podcasts and more
20 Jul 2020 in Studio
Zoom has introduced the V3 Vocal Processor, a vocal effects box with 16 voice-altering effects. The V3 isn't just for live singers: You can also use it to add effects to podcasts, videos and more.
Behringer releases images of ARP 2500 clone modules in Eurorack format
20 Jul 2020 in Synths
Behringer has released a bunch of photos of Eurorack modules that appear to be clones of the modules from the classic ARP 2500 synthesizer. Could this be the clone of the most desirable synth ever?
