OLSZTYN, POLAND: following its introduction to widespread critical acclaim as an aptly-named music world-first, innovative, and unique musical instruments creator Polyend is proud to push the Tracker standalone workstation further forward with a welcomed functionality-boosting firmware update taking it up to v1.3.0 — also adding the timely introduction of onboard games into an otherwise musical mix, allowing users to take a breather from music-making and refill their creative juices, just in time for Christmas — as of December 24…
As the world’s first hardware tracker, Polyend’s Tracker incorporates the quintessential characteristics of a classic software tracker as its vertical timeline, powerful sequencer, and mechanical keyboard combine with an innovative input interface design to make and perform music in a new and intuitive way. When first getting hands-on with Tracker, that interface readily reveals an array of tools that are always at its user’s fingertips, further boosted by the following forward-looking functionality of the latest v1.3.0 firmware update: new MIDI CC input, MIDI micro-tuning effects, tuning effects, and MIDI chord functionality; track arm recording; Line In (input) availability during Song playback; longer sample import; low-quality sample import (saving sample pool memory time); unused sample deletion; bass booster, bit-depth, distortion, five-band EQ, new limiter (with gain reduction meter), and stereo enhancer effects; limiter sidechaining functionality; Sample Editor time stretch effects (with beat and note modes); octave transpose; enhanced Pattern editor fill command (with Euclidean fills creation and Density setting with Random fills availability); and a rewriting from scratch rendering mechanism — all of which will surely be welcomed by both existing Tracker owners and those that are new to the trailblazing hardware device designed to help artists forge unique avenues of sonic construction by breaking patterns on a daily basis.
Better still — some might say, Tracker users can now enjoy playing the onboard games gifted to them by Polyend as part of the latest v1.3.0 firmware update, and allowing them to take a breather from music-making and refill their creative juices, just in time for Christmas! Current Tracker owners — or those that have been good throughout the year and are hoping to get one this Christmas — should seriously consider taking time to visit Polyend’s newly-created What’s Up Blog webpage specifically aimed at them (https://polyend.com/whats-up/polyend-tracker-firmware-update-v1-3-0/). There they are invited to share their work, so others can learn from it and form a Tracker-related community.
Christmas has also come early for owners of other Polyend products with the timely announcement that the firmware for Preset — Polyend’s preset recaller and sequencer (now with Euclidean sequencing implementation) in a space-saving, connectivity-rich Eurorack form factor — is now open source, so expect even more flexible functionality to be happening as a result, while French next-generation musical instruments manufacturer Expressive E’s Carbon sound expansion — originally available as a free add-on for anyone who owns its MPE Collection combining banks of exclusive sounds into a versatile suite, ready to play with any MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) supporting instrument — is now available for Medusa, the Dreadbox & Polyend Hybrid Synthesizer. Served by their own What’s Up Blog webpages (https://polyend.com/whats-up/preset-open-source-firmware/ and https://polyend.com/whats-up/medusa-carbon-synth/), Preset and Medusa owners need not feel left out in the cold. After all, ’tis the season… so time to spread a little (musical) Christmas cheer!
Tracker comes complete with a USB-A power adapter, 2m USB-C cable, 3.5mm to 2x 6.3mm adapter, Minijack to MIDI DIN adapter,16GB MicroSD card, and MicroSD to USB-A adapter, and is available to purchase through Polyend’s growing global network of authorized dealers (https://polyend.com/where-to-buy/) at an MSRP of €499.00 EUR/$599.00 USD. Or order online directly from Polyend itself via the dedicated Tracker webpage (https://polyend.com/tracker/), which also includes more in-depth information.
(Please note that this firmware update is available to download from here: https://polyend.com/downloads/)
Watch the Tracker v1.3.0 firmware functionality-revealing video from Polyend here:
About Polyend (www.polyend.com)
Located in the Land of a Thousand Lakes in northeastern Poland, Polyend was founded in 2015 by current CEO Piotr Raczyński. As a team of dedicated professionals comprising coders, designers, musicians, and technicians, the company is collectively committed to bringing new technologies to creative musicians by building innovative and unique musical instruments. Polyend pushed boundaries from the outset with its first product, Perc, a set of mechanical beaters that can be controlled via MIDI, allowing anyone to play real drums, percussion instruments (or any other inanimate object) from a DAW, drum machine, or MIDI controller. An acclaimed product pairing followed suit soon after — namely, Seq, a highly-intuitive MIDI hardware step sequencer with 32 steps, eight-track polyphony, and 256 patterns, pleasingly housed within a high-quality aluminum and wooden casing, and Poly, a polyphonic MIDI-to-CV Eurorack module boasting a multitude of connectivity options to play nicely with all manner of sequencers, DAWs, keyboards, apps, and more. More recently, a close collaboration with Greek boutique analog synthesizers and effects developer Dreadbox resulted in the Medussa Hybrid Synthesizer, a symbiosis of classic synthesis characteristics and a unique digital controller, while a subsequent trio of extraordinary Eurorack modules — Anywhere, Poly 2, and Preset — foretell of a future Polyend modular system. Fast-forwarding to today, Tracker effectively extracts the best bits of yesteryear’s tricky tracker software classics and reboots them with forward-looking functionality as the world’s first hardware tracker. Polyend’s proven track record of bringing so many distinctive design ideas to market in such a short space of time surely speaks for itself as the creative company continues to innovate with so much more to come.
© 2020 Polyend
SANTA MONICA, CA, USA: having made a show-stopping splash when introducing it in January at The 2020 NAMM Show at Anaheim Convention Center, CA, USA, trailblazing pro audio manufacturer Antelope Audio is proud to announce that its Zen Tour Synergy Core 18 x 26 desktop Thunderbolt™ 3 and USB 2.0 audio interface has been nominated for Outstanding Technical Achievement in the Computer Audio Hardware category in the 36th Annual Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards® (TEC Awards), the winner of which will be announced during NAMM® Believe in Music Week — a global online gathering to unify and support the people who bring music to the world — being held as a virtual event on January 18-22, 2021…
Outstanding Technical Achievement recognizes innovative product design and excellence in audio and sound production, and includes 22 TEC Awards categories that span across the pro audio product spectrum. By being nominated in the Computer Audio Hardware category, the winner of which will be announced during the NAMM® Believe in Music Week virtual event on January 18-22, 2021, Antelope Audio’s Zen Tour Synergy Core 18 x 26 desktop Thunderbolt™ 3 and USB 2.0 audio interface with onboard DSP has effectively come full circle, having made a show-stopping splash when introduced to widespread critical acclaim at The 2020 NAMM Show in January.
Antelope Audio’s Zen Tour Synergy Core is all about making it easier to effortlessly enter the creative flow and make album-ready recordings with high-fidelity conversion and sharp transient response typically reserved for professional studios and workflow possibilities usually only achievable with complex setups. Indeed, its nomination in the 36th Annual TEC Awards actively recognises its technical excellence in terms of analogue and digital connectivity, clocking and conversion, onboard real-time effects, and workflow enhancement, with notable key features well worth highlighting here as follows: four discrete ultra-linear preamps with 65dB of gain for studio-quality recordings, all of which work as microphone/line inputs on XLR-TRS combo jacks; four Hi-Z/line instrument inputs on TRS ¼-inch jacks; eight DC-coupled analogue output channels over a D-Sub 25 connector allowing control of modular synthesizers; two reamp outputs on TRS ¼-inch jacks for further amp processing of guitar signals; Thunderbolt™ 3 (up to 32 channels) and USB 2.0 (up to 24 channels) ports for native DAW application with custom macOS and Windows drivers; digitally expandable over ADAT (up to eight channels) and SPDIF (up to two channels); two stereo headphone outputs; pair of monitor outputs; collection of 36 analogue modelled effects featuring classic as well as rarely-emulated compressors, EQs, and mic preamps, plus guitar amps and cabs; 4x DSP, 2x FPGA Synergy Core proprietary onboard real-time platform for effects processing with imperceptible latency; up to 112 effects instances per session loaded simultaneously; advanced digital routing matrix enabling complex input/output routing with simple drag-and-drop functionality; four 32-channel mixers for creating individual cue mixes and sub-mixes, allowing headphone mixes distribution to musicians while applying pan, reverb, or other effects, and a stereo link; customisable presets, complete with signal routing, level adjustments, mixer settings, and sub-mixes; direct hardware monitoring with effects, processed in real-time with imperceptible latency; multifunctional touchscreen display for monitoring, operation, and recall of hardware-based presets; front panel-based volume knob with selectable sources and function buttons, plus easily-accessible talkback with built-in microphone via multi-purpose ‘Antelope’ button; optional standalone operation (to work without being connected to a computer); and wireless control of software features from a separate computer connected to the same network.
Needless to say, voting for the 36th Annual TEC Awards is now open — to professionals that make their primary living in the music, sound, and entertainment technology industries. Indeed, the TEC and nominee community are invited to vote, including audio and entertainment technology professionals from studios, venues, houses of worship, audiences of nominated companies, and members of the NAMM retail community that sell pro audio and related gear, with requests to vote being accepted online (https://www.tecawards.org/voting-info). Closing on December 30, 2020, voting is powered by Broadjam, a third-party voting service, with winners’ names being kept in confidence until the online celebration is held during the NAMM® Believe in Music Week virtual event on January 18-22, 2021.
Antelope Audio also invites individuals who qualify to cast their vote for Outstanding Technical Achievement in the Computer Audio Hardware category. Could Zen Tour Synergy Core be the winner? Watch this space…
Priced at $1,995.00 USD/€1,995.00 EUR, the TEC Award-nominated Zen Tour Synergy Core audio interface can be ordered online from Antelope Audio directly via its dedicated (https://bit.ly/34e49sT) webpage, which also includes more in-depth information.
Explore Zen Tour Synergy Core’s included real-time effects here: https://en.antelopeaudio.com/products/zen-tour-synergy-core-real-time-fx/
Watch Antelope Audio’s attractive Zen Tour Synergy Core teaser video here:
About Antelope Audio (www.antelopeaudio.com)
Antelope Audio is a leading manufacturer of high-end professional audio equipment. Founded in 2004 and reinventing the industry with its flawless master clock technologies and versatile multi-channel interface solutions, the company has been steadily expanding its portfolio over the years under the guidance of visionary engineer and CEO Igor Levin. Antelope Audio’s products offer the best of both analog and digital technologies. Among its most recent innovations are compact interfaces with discrete mic preamps, hardware-based effects modeled to the component level running on a Synergy Core of DSP and FPGA processing, and next-generation modeling microphones. These are distributed through Antelope Audio offices in Europe, the Americas, and Asia, and highly acclaimed by users all over the world. The company’s customers include GRAMMY® award-winning sound engineers, top-tier producers, world-class artists, and some of the most renowned recording, mastering, and post-production facilities around the globe.
© 2020 Antelope Audio
LONDON, UK: sound-specialising British music technology company Spitfire Audio is proud to announce availability of DRUMLINE — the eighth release in its ongoing ORIGINALS series of instant library tools with the same outstanding recording quality as the ‘full-blown’ blue-chip libraries with which it has built its reputation, simplified and presented in its free, easy-to-use plug-in, this time collaborating with the Bleeding Fingers Music composer collective (created as a joint venture between composer Hans Zimmer, his business partner Steve Kofsky, and Extreme Music, the production arm of Sony/ATV Music Publishing as the television and film industry’s leading custom scoring company) to work with world champion drum corps The Blue Devils, recorded by Bleeding Fingers Music CEO Russell Emanuel in the controlled acoustics of FOX’s famed Newman Scoring Stage in Los Angeles, CA, USA, for a tight, focused sound served up alongside variable effects as nine presets featuring ~1.5GB of sampled snares, tenor drums, bass drums, and cymbals with five straightforward NKS (Native Kontrol Standard) compatible controls, creating the spirit of the stadium — as of December 21…
Spitfire Audio initiated its (ongoing) ORIGINALS series when releasing EPIC STRINGS — an aptly-named symphonic-sized, 60-strong string section of London’s best players professionally recorded in the hallowed (Lyndhurst) Hall at London’s legendary AIR Studios, serving up 11 appetizing articulations as a wallet-friendly yet eminently essential cinematic ingredient for any professional or budding professional composer and music-maker — to widespread critical acclaim in November last year, successfully followed throughout this year by EPIC BRASS & WOODS, FELT PIANO, CINEMATIC PERCUSSION, CINEMATIC SOFT PIANO, INTIMATE STRINGS, FIREWOOD PIANO, and, now, the also-aptly-named DRUMLINE. Duly delivering the precision and excellence of The Blue Devils drumline to the fingertips of music producers, film composers, and percussion arrangers as the latest in a lengthening line of instant library tools with the same outstanding recording quality as the ‘full-blown’ blue-chip libraries with which Spitfire Audio has built its reputation, simplified and presented in its free, easy-to-use plug-in, DRUMLINE allows its users to harness the spirit of the stadium with a collection of sounds that are guaranteed to add depth and impact to musical projects, freed from the sporting stadiums that its namesake drumline have so successfully performed within to so many for so long.
Let us step back, briefly, in time, then, to — technologically and musically — make our way forward. Founded in 1957, The Blue Devils drumline and Bugle Corps is a world-renowned marching music ensemble based in Concord, CA, USA. Ultimately spending summers traveling throughout the USA as a talented group of brass, percussion, and color guard members, competing and performing for millions of fans in massive stadiums, it is the most decorated ensemble in DCI (Drum Corps International) history, having won the World Championship title an unprecedented 19 times — a record that stands as an envied accomplishment in the drum corps community. Furthermore, finishing first or second in national competitions during the past 13 seasons and placing no lower than fifth since earning third place in 1975, The Blue Devils’ performance pedigree extends beyond the USA with well-known international performances and outreach in Europe, Japan, South Africa, and beyond. But working with world-renowned sound-specializing British music technology company Spitfire Audio to create DRUMLINE is audibly a whole new ballgame!
BD Performing Arts CEO Shaun Gallant says, “This has been a very exciting project for us to work on with Spitfire Audio. They are truly the best in the business, and we’re so thankful for this opportunity to partner with them in providing top-of-the-line tools for arrangers and producers everywhere. We want to extend a special thanks to producer Russell Emanuel and the team at FOX’s Newman Scoring Stage for hosting our session with Extreme Music in preparation for this project. What’s even more exciting is this is only the beginning of what is sure to be an incredible partnership. We can’t wait to see what opportunities the future presents.”
Putting it this way, Spitfire Audio co-founder and composer Paul Thomson responds in kind: “At Spitfire Audio we take pride in working with the most talented musicians and artists in the world. We’re enormously excited to be releasing DRUMLINE with the exceptional players from The Blue Devils. Our mission is to inspire a generation of composers and, working with The Blue Devils and producer Russell Emanuel, we’ve created something that is going to inspire composers of all ages to learn more about this exciting musical genre!”
DRUMLINE is available as an AAX-, AU-, VST2-, and VST3-compatible plug-in supporting Native Instruments’ NKS (Native Kontrol Standard) for Mac (OS X 10.10 or later) and Windows (7, 8, and 10 — latest Service Pack) that loads directly into any compatible DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) for an RRP (Recommended Retail Price) of only £29.00 GBP (inc. VAT)/$29.00 USD/€29.00 EUR (inc. VAT) — from here: https://www.spitfireaudio.com/originals
Spitfire Audio’s namesake Spitfire Audio application allows anyone to buy now and download anytime and is available for free from here: http://www.spitfireaudio.com/info/library-manager/
For more in-depth information, please visit Spitfire Audio’s ORIGINALS Frequently Asked Questions webpage here: https://www.spitfireaudio.com/info/faq/spitfire-originals/
Feel the spirit of the stadium while watching Spitfire Audio’s DRUMLINE trailer video showcasing its stirring sounds here:
About Spitfire Audio (www.spitfireaudio.com)
Spitfire Audio is a British music technology company that specializes in sounds — sample libraries, virtual instruments, and other useful software devices. It collaborates with the best composers, artists, and engineers in the world to build musical tools that sound great and are exciting to use.
© 2020 Spitfire Audio Holdings Limiteds
“We are beyond thrilled to announce that we have partnered with Brainworx and Plugin Alliance to bring our unique sonic signature into the digital world.”
– Looptrotter Founder | CEO Andrzej ‘Looptrotter’ Starzyk, 2020
SANTA CRUZ, CA, USA: Plugin Alliance, supporting all major plugin formats and uniting some of the best-known international audio companies under one virtual roof, is proud to announce that innovative Polish pro audio manufacturer Looptrotter Audio Engineering — encompassing passion, pursuit of music, and high-quality tone, as well as versatile knowledge and expertise in handling sound with a singleness of purpose when it comes to research and experiments in the creation of original pro audio studio gear giving sound an analogue touch, warmth, and saturation so pleasing to both ears and soul — has signed up as its latest partner brand, as of December 21…
In the welcoming words of Dirk Ulrich, CEO of both Plugin Alliance and its developmental partner brand Brainworx Audio — himself no stranger to the virtues of high-quality audio innovation, yellow-colored or otherwise: “Welcome, Looptrotter, who have signed with Brainworx and Plugin Alliance. Who needs some ‘yellow love’ in their DAW?”
What’s with the yellow? “Because in chromotherapy the color yellow has a particular, positive influence on the human brain,” Looptrotter Founder | CEO Andrzej ‘Looptrotter’ Starzyk states. “It is believed to awaken and stimulate the mind, enhance creative thinking, and boost imagination. It helps to break through fixed notions and ideas. I’m confident that this color best represents the objectives of the Looptrotter company.”
Clearly, then, those objectives — creating original pro audio studio gear giving sound an analogue touch, warmth, and saturation so pleasing to both ears and soul as the most versatile yet creative and easy-to-use devices by combining the best solutions provided by all electronic technologies, including electron tubes, discrete semiconductors, integrated circuits, and microcontrollers, and optimizing the signal path with the most meticulous selection of components to target the best possible sound — have served Looptrotter Audio Engineering well since it was founded 10 years ago in Warsaw by Andrzej Starzyk.
Surely all the more reason to celebrate signing up as Plugin Alliance’s latest partner brand? “In honor of Looptrotter’s tenth anniversary, we wanted to create something extra special, so, with that in mind, we are beyond thrilled to announce that we have partnered with Brainworx and Plugin Alliance to bring our unique sonic signature into the digital world,” affirms Andrzej Starzyk, before ending on a high note: “Many have asked for emulations of the Sa2Rate dual-channel saturator, with Looptrotter’s famed solid-state saturation circuit, and the Monster Compressor… well, guess what? They are now in the works!”
About Plugin Alliance (www.plugin-alliance.com)
World-class plugins. Dongle-free. Plugin Alliance is supporting all major plugin formats and uniting some of the best-known international audio companies under one virtual roof. The Santa Cruz, California-based company empowers world-renowned analog hardware companies with a digital strategy and provides software developers with services that allow them to develop products with increasing quality and quantity. It does this by providing professional marketing and distribution as well as platform features like a state-of-the-art authorization system. An open invitation is eternally extended to all developers, engineers, and artists to join its fast-growing community.
About Looptrotter Audio Engineering (www.looptrotter.com)
Looptrotter Audio Engineering is renowned throughout the world as a manufacturer of innovative pro audio gear. Founded in 2010 by Warsaw-based Andrzej Starzyk, it draws upon 10 years of research and experiments, encompassing passion, pursuit of music, and high-quality tone, as well as versatile knowledge and expertise in handling sound with a singleness of purpose.
© 2020 Plugin Alliance LLC
“Brainworx and Plugin Alliance are the go-to companies for engineers who want amazing emulations of awesome analog hardware gear… in-the-box vibes and mojo will soon be available for the DAW world to consume!”
– Mastering engineer and musician Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More, Meatloaf, Yes), 2020
SANTA CRUZ, CA, USA: Plugin Alliance, supporting all major plugin formats and uniting some of the best-known international audio companies under one virtual roof, is proud to announce a partnership with mastering engineer extraordinaire Maor Appelbaum and hand-wired studio gear creator HendyAmps to create a licensed plugin version of their collaborative stereo tube and solid-state multi-band saturation monster THE OVEN — itself a high-end hardware tool that can seriously enhance any track it processes — readying for release in 2021…
As alluded to by its intriguingly-titled Temp, Cook, Burners, Sizzle, and Flow controls, THE OVEN is far from a typical EQ, but rather a vibe/coloration/mojo box with tonal-shaping options. It is the stunning-sounding result of what happens when internationally-acclaimed mastering engineer Maor Appelbaum teams up with hand-wired studio gear creator HendyAmps.
Happily, Dirk Ulrich, CEO of both Plugin Alliance and its developmental partner brand Brainworx Audio — himself no stranger to the virtues of high-quality audio innovation, is especially excited by the partnership prospect: “I am stoked to announce that my LA-based friend, mastering wizard, and hardware developer Maor Appelbaum has signed with Brainworx and Plugin Alliance. Together we’ll create a licensed plugin version of his $6,400.00 USD THE OVEN, an amazing cooperation with HendyAmps!”
His not inconsiderable part in the proceedings notwithstanding, Maor Appelbaum responds in kind by announcing, “As a mastering engineer I am always looking to the cutting edge of what can make my sound and workflow better. Brainworx and Plugin Alliance are the go-to companies for engineers who want amazing emulations of awesome analog hardware gear. Once we had created THE OVEN and decided to get it modeled, we knew there is only one company for the job that we wanted to use, and that is Brainworx. By partnering with them, we hope that users will enjoy using the plugin version of THE OVEN on their sessions as much as we enjoy using the hardware on ours… in-the-box vibes and mojo will soon be available for the DAW world to consume!”
Continuing to sing the announced partnership’s praises, Maor Appelbaum adds, “The community surrounding Plugin Alliance is one of a kind, and we are excited to be part of it for many years to come!”
About Plugin Alliance (www.plugin-alliance.com)
World-class plugins. Dongle-free. Plugin Alliance is supporting all major plugin formats and uniting some of the best-known international audio companies under one virtual roof. The Santa Cruz, California-based company empowers world-renowned analog hardware companies with a digital strategy and provides software developers with services that allow them to develop products with increasing quality and quantity. It does this by providing professional marketing and distribution as well as platform features like a state-of-the-art authorization system. An open invitation is eternally extended to all developers, engineers, and artists to join its fast-growing community.
About HendyAmps (www.hendyamps.com)
Founded as a reaction to the fact that much of the tube gear on the market today fails to satisfy the needs of truly discerning musicians and recording engineers, HendyAmps creates hand-wired hardware. From guitar amps to mic preamps and EQs to compressors, it specializes in custom designs that turn dreams into reality!
© 2020 Plugin Alliance LLC
December 16, 2020 – IK Multimedia’s leading amp and effects modeling software take a giant leap forward with the release of AmpliTube 5. Accurately capturing the sound, feel, and vibe of the world’s most sought-after guitar and bass gear, the new AmpliTube 5 offers a massive increase in gear, features, and flexibility.
In sync with this launch, IK Multimedia has also released a newly redesigned Custom Shop, letting users browse and discover new gear models à la carte, audition them and add them to their personal library faster than ever. This new Custom Shop offers a refined, inspiring new look and feel for users of IK’s AmpliTube, T-RackS, and SampleTank programs, and is particularly useful in exploring the now over 400 gear models available for AmpliTube 5.
With 129 new gear models, AmpliTube 5 also offers an all-new cabinet section with completely re-captured cabinets and improved power amp/speaker cab interaction for dramatically improved sonic authenticity.
An all-new, resizable interface makes building and routing rigs a breeze, with improved gear selection, drag & drop placement, and support for one-, two- or three-amp rigs with up to 57 simultaneous effects.
AmpliTube’s popular 8-channel DAW now boasts a new mixer window and a selection of effects derived from IK’s award-winning T-RackS 5 to easily craft professionally polished, “just-like-the-album” tones, and an enhanced Looper now offers 2 simultaneous tracks and infinite layers of sound.
AmpliTube 5 can work both as a desktop app and plug-in for any DAW, and it’s available in four versions to suit every need – from the free AmpliTube 5 Custom Shop up through AmpliTube 5 MAX, which offers full access to all current official artist and brand collections.
Nearly 20 years ago, IK introduced the original AmpliTube – the world’s first guitar and bass amp and effects plug-in to model the entire guitar/bass chain, from instrument to a recording device, in a hyper-realistic and intuitive way. Today, the diverse AmpliTube series includes collections created with renowned brands such as Fender®, MESA/Boogie® and Orange®, and iconic artists such as Joe Satriani, Brian May and Slash.
Newly redesigned Custom Shop
The AmpliTube Custom Shop offers an affordable and easy way to demo and build a custom gear collection à la carte. AmpliTube 5 features a totally redesigned Custom Shop with a more modern, easy-to-navigate interface, helping users demo and unlock gear faster, unlock preset-specific gear, and more.
AmpliTube Custom Shop is everyone’s free entry into the world of AmpliTube, and gives users 39 pedals, amps, cabs, speakers, racks, mics and rooms. Plus, it unlocks any gear users may have already purchased, making it all sound even better with a sampling of the new enhancements found in AmpliTube 5.
Easy connection to IK interfaces
AmpliTube connects seamlessly with AXE I/O and AXE I/O Solo, IK’s premium audio interfaces with powerful guitar-shaping tools, as well as offering improved integration with iRig Stomp I/O for live use.
Options, pricing and availability
AmpliTube 5 (for Mac/PC) is currently available for purchase from the IK Multimedia online store and from IK authorized dealers worldwide, with special introductory pricing continuing through December as follows:
AmpliTube 5 CS – free
AmpliTube 5 SE – $/€99.99* intro price (regular price will be $/€149.99)
AmpliTube 5 – $/€199.99 intro price (regular price will be $/€299.99)
AmpliTube 5 MAX – $/€399.99 intro price (regular price will be $/€599.99)
Upgrade/Crossgrade:
Existing customers who have registered any IK product for $/€99 or more can upgrade to AmpliTube 5 for the $/€149.99 intro price or AmpliTube 5 MAX for the $/€299.99 intro price.
Special bundle pricing through December 31st, 2020:
Purchase an AXE I/O + AmpliTube 5 MAX for $/€399.99
Purchase an AXE I/O Solo + AmpliTube 5 for $/€299.99
Purchase an iRig Stomp I/O + AmpliTube 5 for $/€349.99
Purchase a Z-TONE Buffer Boost + AmpliTube 5 for $/€239.99
Purchase a Z-TONE DI + AmpliTube 5 for $/€224.99
*All prices excluding taxes
In addition, any customer who purchased AmpliTube 4 or received it as part of a bundle after October 15, 2020, will automatically receive an upgrade to AmpliTube 5 SE.
For more information about AmpliTube 5, please visit: www.amplitube.com/5
To see AmpliTube 5 in action: www.amplitube.com/5/videos
DUESSELDORF, GERMANY: DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) plugin and audio DSP (Digital Signal Processing) developer Fuse Audio Labs is proud to announce the availability of its VPRE-31A plugin — an exacting emulation of a Sixties-vintage straightforward Germanium preamp, based on the rare 4-transistor original, fueled by a specialist characteristic curve and even harmonic structure found only in Germanium-based designs, completed by a custom UTC (United Transformer Corporation) input transformer — as of December 16…
VPRE-31A is a real tone monster with a nice grind when being pushed, providing a vigorous motor for anything rock and electro. Indeed, its significant low end is perfect for guitars and bass, but it is killer on kicks and snares as well. Wherever vocals could well have benefitted from a stronger proximity effect during recording that is simply not there then VPRE-31A can prove handy when it comes to quickly get the balance right again.
As such, VPRE-31A’s virtual cockpit is laid out for instant driving. Get going by engaging the fully-compensated drive (GAIN), then choose a preferred IMPEDANCE setting for fine-tuning the frequency response, and TRIM the output level if appropriate, while also adding the desired dose of dusty old school vibes with the onboard NOISE control.
Characterful strength sees to it that VPRE-31A is hardly a well-behaved Sunday drive… touch the proverbial pedal to journey along a musical road leading to a massive, true Germanium tone with a remarkably powerful low-end projection.
“This one is really special,” says Fuse Audio Labs CEO Reimund Dratwa. “The 31A is, indeed, a rare piece, so chances are you won’t come across it often. But if you do, it’s an exciting experience for sure since this preamp rocks!”
VPRE-31A is available at an attractive 50%-discounted introductory promo price of $19.00 USD until January 16, 2021 — rising thereafter to its regular price of $39.00 USD — directly from its dedicated webpage, which includes more in-depth information, here: https://fuseaudiolabs.com/vpre31a.html
About Fuse Audio Labs (www.fuseaudiolabs.com)
Fuse Audio Labs was founded in 2017 by Reimund Dratwa. Prior to joining Black Rooster Audio in late 2016, he worked for Brainworx for many years, during which time he was responsible for creating analog modeling titles for brands such as ACME Audio, Black Box Analog Design, Elysia, Millennia, Vertigo, and several others available through Plugin Alliance and the UAD-2 platform. The company was initially intended as an engineering entity to develop DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) plugins and audio DSP (Digital Signal Processing) applications for various partners but soon served as a channel for its own exciting product ideas.
© 2020 Fuse Audio Labs
LANGENAU, GERMANY: having since sold out of its previous built-to-order batches of between 25 and 27 instruments each, the first of which followed from an interest in namesake hardware and software designer Stefan Schmidt’s hand-crafted prototype unit’s show-stopping debut at Musikmesse 2011 in Frankfurt, Germany, Schmidt-Synthesizer is proud to announce that it has started shipping an eagerly-anticipated fourth batch of its no-expense-spared Schmidt Eightvoice Analog Synthesizer — available in classic anthracite- or cool white-colored configurations with visually improved hardware operation, courtesy of cosmetic color changes to several key knobs, and feature-enhancing firmware, currently at version 3.6 — as of December 16…
Starting shipment of the fourth (25-unit) batch of the still-sought-after Schmidt Eightvoice Analog Synthesizer has taken time with time spent waiting while production partner e:m:c (electronic music components) successfully solved procurement problems relating to hard-to-source components. “Now nothing stands in the way of further construction of these unique instruments,” says Schmidt-Synthesizer Product Manager Axel Fischer.
“From a hardware perspective, the new Schmidt Eightvoice Analog Synthesizer is identical to the previous batches, save for the fact that 11 knobs have been changed to a grey color, making for a more clearly arranged operational layout,” Axel Fischer finally notes — not before highlighting some welcomed additions: “It includes the current firmware, which adds an easy-to-use onboard polyphonic step sequencer capable of recording 40 steps with each step made up of up to six notes — designed to be used as a live performance tool, and an arpeggiator.”
Apart from that, the beautifully-built Schmidt Eightvoice Analog Synthesizer’s specifications as an eight-voice polyphonic, true analog dream machine with digital control and preset memories — 1,028 single sounds and 256 multi-sounds are available at any given time — are as they were before. But bearing in mind that it includes almost everything subtractive synthesis is capable of, including some truly unique features — for example, creating colder, wavetable-like sounds thanks to its chain of five ring modulators fed by six pulse-waves, each with different pulse-widths — that have never before been implemented in an analogue synthesizer let alone an analogue programmable polysynth, those impressive specifications are well worth revisiting, as highlighted here: discrete sound generation circuitry — no integrated oscillator/filter circuits on a single chip; dual and true multitimbral modes; separate audio outputs per voice, plus summing outputs and headphone output; 61 keys, semi-weighted with velocity and aftertouch; sophisticated glide/portamento capabilities; several realtime modifiers, fully programmable per preset; comprehensive MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) implementation with USB (Universal Serial Bus) port and DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung) connectivity; adjustable-angle capacious control panel with dedicated knobs and buttons for all sound programming functions; precise information on parameter names and current values via a large LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) with changeable colour background; multi-colour LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes); internal power supply; and, last but not least — though there is clearly so much more besides, an included flight case.
As a case in point, the fourth batch of the no-expense-spared Schmidt Eightvoice Analog Synthesizer surely epitomizes the age-old adage: anything worth having is worth waiting for. Indeed, it has been well worth the wait. With e:m:c recently receiving a sizeable order from the only store it supplies, anyone interested in owning a premier league instrument that will be handcrafted in Germany to meet the highest possible production standards with a metal and wood — carefully selected with a close eye on environmental sustainability — casing that is as beautiful as it is sturdy should seriously consider placing an order directly with Schmidt-Synthesizer’s production partner. After all, the Schmidt Eightvoice Analog Synthesizer is truly a subtractive synthesis world unto itself!
Schmidt-Synthesizer and production partner e:m:c (electronic music components) have had to increase pricing for the fourth batch of the no-expense-spared Schmidt Eightvoice Analog Synthesizer by approximately 10%. Within the EU (European Union) it is €21,900.00 EUR (including VAT) for one in classic anthracite, while white weighs in at €22,900.00 EUR (including VAT), with shipping costs not included. Outside of the EU, it is €18,500.00 EUR (excluding VAT) for one in classic anthracite, while white weighs in at €19,300.00 EUR (excluding VAT), with customs and shipping costs not included. Interested parties should contact e:m:c here: info@emc-de.com
For more detailed information, please visit the dedicated Schmidt Eightvoice Analog Synthesizer website here: http://www.schmidt-synthesizer.com/en/index.html
Enjoy taking a Schmidt Eightvoice Analog Synthesizer ‘sneak peek’ in the suitably-impressive surroundings of the Giesshalle (casting hall) at Sayner Hütte, a German industrial heritage building in Bendorf, here:
About Schmidt-Synthesizer (www.schmidt-synthesizer.com)
Back in the techno music-driven Nineties, German company MAM’s MB-33 Analog Retro Bass Synthesizer — an authentic-sounding clone of Roland’s reverential TB-303 Bassline that was commanding crazy money on the second-hand market at the time — represented Stefan Schmidt’s first foray into serious (and successful) electronic musical instrument design. Its planned successor — a clone of the majestic Moog Taurus bass synthesizer, much loved by the likes of Canadian prog-rockers Rush — remains at a prototype stage only. Instead, its instigator took a radical detour, spending some serious time thinking about and developing what would become his namesake dream machine, the no-expense-spared Schmidt Eightvoice Analog Synthesizer — surely one of the most ambitious analog synthesizer projects ever undertaken. After a show-stopping showcase at The NAMM Show 2013, Stefan Schmidt’s hand-crafted first prototype unit was promptly purchased by a suitably captivated customer directly from the show floor… the rest, as they say, is history.
Here today, but not gone tomorrow, Schmidt-Synthesizer sees Stefan Schmidt continuing to turn his dream machine into reality with a dream team triumvirate: Achim Jerominek (production), Axel Fischer (product management), and e:m:c (electronic music components) President Stefan Hund (manufacturing).
© 2020 Schmidt-Synthesizer
BRNO, CZECH REPUBLIC: Audified is proud to take experienced mastering/mixing engineer, musician, and programmer Martin Linda’s namesake Linda Audio under its wing with Linda RockStack — realizing a long-held dream of creating a virtual guitar amp sim suited to a wide range of rock and metal sub-genres as a chorus and delay effects-equipped three-channel amplifier and cabinet plug-in by working with the cutting-edge Czech software applications, software effects, and hardware processors developer’s design team to turn his vision into reality — as of December 10…
As a longtime user of various amp sims and cab impulses, experienced mastering/mixing engineer, musician, and programmer Martin Linda started making inroads into programming his dream machine as a guitar amp plug-in perfectly suited to working with a wide range of rock and metal sub-genres many moons ago, but it was only by closely collaborating with software applications, software effects, and hardware processors developer Audified that he was finally able to realize that dream, a plug-in par excellence.
Enter Linda RockStack — not to be confused with retired American singer Linda Ronstadt, who performed and recorded in diverse genres including rock, country, light opera, and Latin! Linda RockStack is a three-channel amplifier plug-in with an independently-switchable — MOD (multi-stage chorus) and DELAY — effects section and a continuously-blend-able cabinet IMPULSE section. It is also equipped with extensive tone-shaping options, such as PRE and POST (LO, MID, and HI) gain EQ alongside additional TIGHT, FAT, and BODY contours, so its tonal possibilities are almost endless. Engaging that multi-stage chorus and delay effects processing independently all adds up to a unique-sounding and unbelievably-versatile virtual amp that provides its user with control over a vast tonal palette with mind-blowing flexibility — fresh from the excellent ear and musical mind of Linda Audio’s Martin Linda, complete with mix-ready guitar tones.
Tuned by an experienced producer’s ear rather than simply taking an already existing design and recreating it in the software domain, Linda RockStack provides its users with the tools to create their own mix-ready rock and metal sounds rather than simply copying what has gone before. Better said by Martin Linda himself: “There is no need to simulate a brand when you can create your dream guitar tone instead!”
No need, indeed, which is why Linda RockStack duly delivers three distinctly different voicings — CLEAN, ROCK, and METAL, each with their own coloration and gain structure, and can be tailored to taste by providing the controls needed to create that dream guitar tone that users might hitherto have only heard in their heads. Having said that, then, the difference between EQ shaping before and after a gain stage is huge — hence Linda RockStack providing PRE EQ controls to push the gain stage in particular frequency ranges and POST EQ controls to finalize the sound, making it more mix ready. The TIGHT control makes both the low end and the gain structure more focused as it is increased, increasing the FAT control results in a fuller lower-midrange response, while turning up the BODY control makes the amp push more aggressively in the higher midrange. Meanwhile, the three-stage multi-switch dynamically accentuates higher frequencies with both active positions being sensitive to the input signal level — BRIGHT 1 being more focused on the higher midrange, while BRIGHT II emphasizes even higher frequencies with a little bass boosting to boot.
Beyond that, though, the chorus can be positioned PRE or POST the gain stages, and has two switchable modes — TYPE 1 and 2. The DELAY is positioned after the gain stages, and capable of delivering anything from clean and precise digital delay to the degraded and clipped repeats that typified yesteryear’s analogue delays.
Down below those effective effects, Linda RockStack flexibly features two CABINET impulses — A and B. Better still, users can blend between them, though the cabinet section can also be switched off — just in case users wish to pair Linda RockStack with their own choice of impulses. Indeed, it is worth noting that the plug-in’s amp and effects sections can also be separately switched on and off, offering users the freedom of choice when it comes to their usage at any given time.
The noise GATE can be switched to ON or OFF positions, the former proving particularly useful when pushing the ROCK and METAL voicings into higher saturation, while the latter works well when playing with the CLEAN voicing or lower gain sounds to maximize dynamics and retain attack information.
By balancing on the edge, Linda RockStack is the key to a great guitar tone. That dream guitar tone so sought after by Martin Linda for so long is surely there for the taking — only others could clearly tap into their own dream guitar tone in a matter of minutes, thanks to Linda RockStack!
Linda RockStack is available to purchase for an introductory price of $29.00 USD — rising thereafter to its regular price of $49.00 USD — from Audified’s online shop, which also includes further information and sound samples, here: https://shop.audified.com/products/linda-rockstack
Linda RockStack can be directly downloaded as an AAX, AU, and VST3 64-bit native plug-in for macOS (10.11 – 10.15) and an AAX (64-bit) and VST3 (32-bit and 64-bit) native plug-in for Windows (7 – 10) — alongside demo versions — from Audified here: https://services.audified.com/download (Note that Linda RockStack is a serial number-protected plug-in, so no iLok is required.)
See and hear Audified’s Marek ‘Murky’ Kvapil (Painting Memories) — musically no slouch when it comes to finding his way around a fretboard — rocking Linda RockStack in a lead guitar capacity, ably accompanied by Martin Linda himself on rhythm guitar, in this impressive introductory video here:
About Audified (www.audified.com)
With more than 20 years of R&D, education, and collaboration connected with its notable name (https://shop.audified.com/pages/history), Audified actively develops software applications, software effects, and hardware processors for musicians, audio engineers, and installed audio. As such, the company’s collective vision is to improve and streamline music production workflow, adding a new aesthetic value to their customer’s work while helping them to achieve the best possible results.
© 2020 Audified s.r.o.
MADRID, SPAIN: Heritage Audio is proud to announce the availability of the BritStrip — beautifully representing the culmination of 50 years of analog design in a single-space 19-inch rack device that nails the sound of yesteryear’s iconic recordings for present-day demanding engineers as a British-spec discrete Class-A console channel strip with the same diode bridge compressor found in the European pro audio manufacturer’s multi-award-nominated Successor stereo bus compressor — as of December 15…
Heritage Audio’s BritStrip console channel strip creatively combines a real-deal 73 mic preamplifier, an expanded 73 equalizer, and a discrete Class-A DI (Direct Input) with the acclaimed diode bridge compressor found in the European pro audio manufacturer’s multi-award-nominated Successor stereo bus compressor, the latter already acknowledged as a noteworthy development by virtue of its bringing a whole new lease of life to a 60-year-old patent, thanks to expanded features and incredibly fast attack/release times. The closest equivalent of the BritStrip would be chaining together a 73JR II single-slot 500 Series true 73-style mic preamp module, a 73EQ JR fully-featured 500 Series line input module, and a ‘mono’ Successor — already a $3,000.00 USD-value proposition in itself, but with added routing flexibility!
The BritStrip begins its journey to tasty console channel strip glory with the same preamp found in Heritage Audio’s 73JR II — flavored with a new custom input transformer co-designed with renowned British company Carnhill, also responsible for the custom output transformer that completes its all-discrete, Class-A, three-gain stage design. Flexible features worth noting from a preamp perspective include -80dB of gain, a 20dB PAD, phase reversal, and an impedance switch for 1,200 or 300-ohm input.
The BritStrip console channel strip’s D.I. is also taken from the highly-acclaimed design found in the 73JR II, an all-discrete Class-A JFET (Junction Field-Effect Transistor) circuit fronting the microphone transformer to provide all the color and weight any present-day demanding engineer could conceivably ask for. Furthermore, the D.I. also includes a passive THRU output to feed a separate amplifier.
As an expanded 73 equalizer, effectively, the BritStrip’s EQ features three Vinkor pot core inductors in the MID band and H.P. (high-pass) FILTER sections, such that the impact is hard to believe with extreme boosts being exceptionally musical. Moreover, the MID band is great for sculpting fat and punchy snare, kick, guitars, vocals, and anything else! No need for subtlety — as is the case with most EQs — since the BritStrip does not sound ‘phase-y’ or lose headroom in extreme settings. Indeed, its inductor-based low-pass filter, directly taken from the 73 design, lets users control out of range low end without affecting the quality of sought-after frequencies. Furthermore, the BritStrip’s HIGH SHELF and LOW SHELF settings have been extended to include a bell mode, making them more versatile.
Veering into compression territory, its implementation in the BritStrip renders it perfect for tracking, thanks to the BLEND control and elaborate SC. (sidechain) FILTER flexibly giving instruments ‘record-ready’ dynamics to provide performers with a ‘finished feel’ in real-time. The compressor section provides plenty of sidechain flexibility, with five frequency choices and an external sidechain (SC. EXT) option. Owners of two BritStrip console channel strips can even LINK their respective compressors, creating the ultimate stereo tracking solution!
Further flexibility abounds as the BritStrip allows for compression and equalizer routing, with pre-compression EQ’ing making the compression detector more sensitive to the boosted frequencies and less sensitive to those cut, while post-compression EQ’ing makes the compression detector unresponsive to the EQ settings.
Saying all that, then, as the culmination of 50 years of analog design, BritStrip is surely specified to nail the sound of yesteryear’s iconic recordings for present-day demanding engineers as a British-spec discrete Class-A console channel strip with a Successor-like compressor, conveniently housed in a single-space 19-inch rack-mounting chassis that looks and feels the part.
The BritStrip is shipping and available now via RAD Distribution in the US (http://www.raddist.com/heritage-audio.php) — with a MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) of $2,499.00 USD — and elsewhere — with an SSP (Standalone Selling Price) of €2,499.00 EUR (including VAT) — via Heritage Audio’s growing global network of dealers (https://heritageaudio.net/where-to-buy-international/).
For more in-depth information, please visit the dedicated BritStrip webpage here: https://heritageaudio.net/catalogue/britstrip/
About Heritage Audio (www.heritageaudio.net)
Heritage Audio is a European pro audio manufacturer based in Madrid, Spain. Founded in 2011 by Peter Rodriguez, a sound engineer, and producer with extensive experience in the music industry, its aim is true: to bring back the philosophy of the golden age of recording and adapt it to the needs of 21st Century studios while contributing to transitioning music into a new era in the process. The company’s canon covers all-analog signal processing bases. All its products are designed and manufactured in Spain and available in over 36 countries worldwide.
© 2020 Heritage Audio