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Did you hear this ? - The Music Composition & Sound Design Newsletter, Issue #002
December 05, 2010

December Audio News 2010


Hi there !

Here are the December audio news, carefully selected just for you !

It is now listed in different categories :
- Music composition
- Music Production / Audio Post
- Sound Design
- Live stage application / Ipad / Iphone etc...
- Free stuff
- Nice videos of the month

Once again, a big thanks to all the nice readers for their feedback and encouragements.

I wish all of you a very nice & happy end of year, merry Christmas and everything...

May the " music composition & sound design " force be with you !

Peace.

Sam.


Music Composition


Voices of Israel @ Sonokinetic


For what I've heard, it's intense and inspiring... from the author's website : "For the first time in sampling history, Sonokinetic is proud to present this unique and one of a kind female vocals sample library. FIlled with intriguing, mysterious and authentically sung traditional jewish music. Performed by one of the greatest contemporary classical Jewish singers of our time; Hadass Pal Yarden. Her musical talents, professional and impressive sound and specifically specialized musical style makes these captured performances stand out from any other previous Sonokinetic projects. This library offers you chants, improvisations, poems and songs in one of the numerous classical Jewish traditional styles namely; “Sephardic” music. This first volume of “Voices of Israel” also includes improvisations on western harmonics which complements music written in western musical root harmonics, which makes this library very flexible and versatile to implement into your musical projects."

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Animato @ Zero G

Zero-G and Xfonic present ANIMATO String & Flute FX for Cinema- 4.5Gb of 24bit cinematic audio inspiration! Animato contains 3000 samples and 139 separate Kontakt instruments each with its own custom GUI created especially for this project.

Featuring world-class instrumentalists from the renowned Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Animato is a uniquely realistic, expressive and playable Orchestral Effects library. With a wide sonic range from chaotic, tense effects to beautiful undulating pads. Distant pianissimo sirens can shift seamlessly to fortissimo ungodly screeches all at the simple command of your Mod Wheel.

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Aliens Skies 2 @ Zero G

Alien Skies - Cinematic Ambiences 2 is a 2 DVD set from Zero-G and the sequel to our critically acclaimed library Dark Skies: Cinematic Ambiences. Alien Skies is a vast collection of ambient soundscapes, textures, drones, hits, and special FX designed to suit the needs of professional media producers such as TV, cinema & game score composers, music producers and web designers.

Extending on from the cutting edge sound design techniques showcased in Dark Skies, this fantastic new library utilizes the most innovative, modern studio technologies to provide a vast range of emotional and evocative timbral experiences.

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Cinematic Drums Volume 1 @ The Loop Loft

Directly from the author's site : "Produced specifically with the big screen in mind, Cinematic Drums contains loops and samples that will quickly conjure up specific moods and imagery in your tracks. From thunderous walls of pounding toms, to angst-ridden, heart pulsing beats, this collection is a must-have for anyone who composes for the moving picture. We also meticulously sampled every individual drum, cymbal and yes, pot and pan, allowing you to quickly program your own grooves using the exact same sounds from the live loop sessions."

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RapidComposer LE @ MusicDevelopments

RapidComposer LE is available now (for the fair price of 99 $) ! RapidComposer is a rapid music prototyping software designed for composers, song-writers and musicians of all musical styles.
Whether you are a seasoned professional or simply ready to take your music to the next level, RapidComposer is the complete solution you need for faster and more productive music composition.

RapidComposer features :
- Advanced tools for phrase editing, phrase generation, phrase morphing, phrase grouping, motif development, chord progression editing,
- Timeline with chords which all phrases automatically conform to
- In-place non-destructive phrase-level and note-level editing
- 2D view of the composition with structure editor as opposed to 1D view of DAW applications
- Sophisticated MIDI CC editing and recording
- Articulations can be assigned to phrases or even individual notes
- Extensive scale, chord, guitar chord, chord progression databases,
- Taggable instrument database of all MIDI, VSTi and SF2 presets in one place
- IdeaTool that can generate a multitrack composition based on the provided parameters and rules
- Unlimited undo and the ability to make several versions of the same composition
- Virtual instruments (VSTi v2.4 plugins) support
- SoundFont (.SF2) support

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World Instruments @ Garritan

Virtual instrument "Garritan World Instruments" makes me think about other virtual instruments like Silk or RA from East West or Ethno from MOTU, but this one is very huge, quite sounding and for instant download at 149$ (not so bad uh ?)... Garritan World Instruments is a new collection of over 350 expressive and exotic instruments from around the world. The world has such a beautiful and rich music heritage expressed through a myriad of diverse instruments. Here is a world of instruments waiting for you to explore and take your music in new and exciting directions.

The Most Comprehensive World Instrument Collection

With over 350 individually sampled ethnic instruments, Garritan World Instruments offers more individually sampled instruments than any other ethnic sample library. Create various sections and groupings - Oriental orchestras, Ewe ensembles, Taiko ensembles, drumming circles, or many groupingss and ensembles of your choosing.

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Cinematic Drums Vol2 @ Prime Loops

Cinematic Impacts Vol. 2 is a 1GB library of ultra-dynamic 24bits percussion loops, arranged into 25 epic rhythm construction kits, suitable for music productions & soundtracks in many genres such as classical, acoustic, ambient & lounge, downbeat, TV, film & soundtrack and more !
This library is available in various formats : WAV, Apple Loops, Rex2 Loops, FL Studio, Acid Loops, Stylus RMX Loops and instantly downloadable for £12.48 !

Here


Woodbox @ Acousticsamples

Woodbox is a virtual instrument that reproduces a regular sized cajon.
WoodBox is a regular-sized cajón recorded at 88.2Khz/24bits resampled to 44.1Khz/24bits
600Mo of stereo samples, 3040 samples, no loops
Right hand/left hand samples
Two microphone positions, a pair in front of the cajon and another behind it to capture more bass.
16 different hit positions to reflect the full possibilities of the instrument
About 15 velocity layers per position
8 round robins
Adjustable mapping, you can assign any element to any key reallyquickly. (kontakt)
Customizable sensitivity (kontakt)
The Midi percussion parts of the demos are included to help you understand how to play it,
Available for Kontakt 2, 3 and 4, and our new player: the ASPlayer (VST and Audio Unit for mac, and VST for windows) : you don't need anything else to be able to play it.

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Ethno World 5 Professional & Voices @ Bestservice

The audio demos are just astonishing for a virtual instrument... That's what decided me to promote this new version of EW... The new voices library from 5 continents let you imagine an endless world of possibilities... It will fit very well with my voices of passion and other ethnic voices virtual instruments... It's just a little bit expensive... even if the quality is very good (449€)... Here what they on their website : " ETHNO WORLD 5 PROFESSIONAL & VOICES is by the renowned award winning film composer Marcel Barsotti (“Die Päpstin”, Deutschland - “Ein Sommermärchen” - “Das Wunder von Bern”). This composer has already won several awards. He has composed music for more than 60 cinema, advertising and television films and his musicians have been placed in the charts several times.

EW5 PRO & VOICES contains more than 240 professionally recorded ethnic instruments and more than 18.000 high quality samples in the following categories: Bowed Instruments, Stringed Instruments, Woodwind & Brass, Key Instruments, Bell Type Instruments, Metal Type Instruments, World Drums, World Percussion, Gongs & Bowls and the new category of Voices & Choirs.

ETHNO WORLD 5 PROFESSIONAL & VOICES contains the entire library "Ethno World 4 Professional" and an additional 10 GB with about 5.500 new samples. Thereby ETHNO WORLD 5 PROFESSIONAL & VOICES with its 20 GB content (uncompressed) and more than 800 patches is one of the largest ethnic sample libraries in the world.

The latest addition to ETHNO WORLD 5 PROFESSIONAL & VOICES are 25 professionally recorded solo-voices from all over the world and an Ethnic Chamber Choir with over 3.800 new samples and phrases. You will find voices from North America, Cameroon, Guinea, China, Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria, Ukraine, North Afrika and Peru."

Here


Broadway Lites @ Sonivoxmi

Broadway Lites is the light edition of Broadway Big Band... But it's not a cheap version... it's very sounding and very attractive at first listening... I might try to offer myself one...From the author's site : "Broadway Lites™ is a virtual instrument with an attitude. A fusion of sound, music and technology. It features 15GB of multi-sample content, with over 20,000 unique samples of saxophones, trumpets, trombone and clarinet.
In addition to being powered by Kontakt 4 player, Broadway Lites™ uses the same groundbreaking midi-processing technologies as well as a select portion of instruments and audio content used in Fable Sounds' award winning and critically acclaimed Broadway Big Band.

Broadway Lites™ provides an affordable introduction to the best-sounding and most realistic emulation of contemporary wind instruments to date, and is suitable for high-end studio work, as well as live shows of any scale."

Pricing : 499 $

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Geist @ FXpansion

From FXpansion Website : " Sample, slice, sequence, mix, arrange, effect, resample. Geist is FXpansion's next-generation sampling drum machine, designed to create evolved, custom beats and grooves, freeing you from the limits of pre-packaged loops and over-complicated DAWs.

Geist fuses creative sample-sculpting tools with fast pattern step-sequencing and arrangement. Browse through sounds with lightning speed, slice and assign loops to pads with a single click; sample, resample and build beats in a slick unified environment. Geist makes fiddly tasks with multiple apps a thing of the past."

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Music Production / Audio post


Nucleus @ SSL

SSL-NUCLEUS

This new tool (toy ?) is sooo sexy, I want one. An audio interface coupled with a control surface + a monitoring section + a mixbus all packaged with pristine audio quality and dedicated buttons / (useful) functions.. that the way SSL designed their Nucleus.

Here are the main key features :
- Ethernet connected DAW Controller re-defines the professional project studio
- Compatible with ProTools, Logic, Cubase/Nuendo and all major DAW applications
- Switch between 3 connected DAW’s with a single button press
- Two banks of 8 channel controls plus centre section controls
- Touch sensitive 100mm motorised faders
- Digital Scribble Strips with assignable V-Pots and soft keys
- Completely user customisable DAW & Key Command mapping
- Remote Logictivity Browser for effortless configuration
- SD card for non volatile project storage
- Large heavy duty transport buttons and high quality jog/shuttle wheel
- Excellent visual feedback via self illuminating buttons, LED’s and DAW Level Metering
- A unique audio nerve centre for your project studio
- Benchmark SuperAnalogue™ quality output to separate +4dBu & -10dBV connections
- High quality USB audio interface stereo record and playback path for your DAW
- Two Combi XLR mic/line/instrument level inputs to audio interface and monitor outputs
- Digital S/PDIF I/O to the AD/DA of the audio interface
- Zero latency Rec monitoring with wet/dry control to balance input and DAW playback
- SSL SuperAnalogue™ Mic Pre’s’, identical to those used on SSL Duality and AWS consoles
- Mic inputs have 80Hz High Pass Filters, Phase Reverse and Phantom Power
- Insert send/return connections switched between inputs and DAW playback for mixdown
- Additional ‘external’ SuperAnalogue™ input monitor path for another audio interface
- Two headphone outputs and one iJack monitor input
- Standard 1/4” Jack footswitch connection
- Four USB sockets for use as a 4 port USB hub specs.

More


Alpha Compressor @ Elysia

ALPHA_COMPRESSOR_ELYSIA

One of the best mastering tool I've ever tried, finally available for public beta and free trial (14 days) hurry up and test it ! You must ! This plugin is a hit. Easy to use, efficient, reliable... everything you need, for (only) 255 $ Here what they say : "The alpha compressor plugin is the software reincarnation of our famous mastering compressor. It gives you a painstaking emulation of the sound and features the hardware is known and popular for – programmed by the code experts from Brainworx.

But not only the final stage of mastering will profit big time from this ultimate dynamics processor. In fact, the compression section alone is such a useful tool that we have decided to include a dedicated mixing version with a reduced interface. You might want to use this on every single track of your DAW...

The plugin license includes all the important formats in one: TDM, RTAS, VST and AU. Treat yourself to a new level of dynamics processing – try it now!

• Integrated M/S Matrix
Mid/Side and stereo processing modes.

• Auto Fast
Perfect attack and release in any situation.

• Feed Forward & Feedback
Two selectable compressor characteristics.

• Sidechain Filter
Frequency selective compression.

• Parallel Compression
Mixing direct and compressed signals.

• Soft Clip Limiter
More headroom, more loudness.

• Audio Filter
Tweaking the sonic structure easily.

• Warm Mode
Instant signal coloration.

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Audio Gate @ Korg

Korg has a wonderful idea releasing this tool... At last DSD for the rest of us... best audio quality for every Korg's MR serie user... Take a look at their press release : "AudioGate has been the ideal partner for the KORG MR series of DSD recorders, allowing you to record in the ultra-high-resolution DSD format and then down- convert to the most suitable format for your needs. It was created to bring out the unlimited potential of a DSD master, and has become an indispensible DSD recording tool used by studios worldwide. Now, everyone can experience the advantages of DSD audio with the new version of AudioGate, which can operate as a free standalone application. Go ahead --- download a favorite song in DSD format, and enjoy ultimate audio quality and flexibility with AudioGate on nearly any computer."

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Pro Tools 9 @ Avid

They finally made it... A complete Protools (choose the HD version first of course) without any Avid interface... At last it is not a dream... I can't find my word. I've waited so long to see this day.. RME interface + PT9 = killer audio installation. I haven't tried it yet but if it's stable, I'll buy it asap !

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Sound Design


Morpheus @ Soniccouture

Specially designed for sound designers and ambient music composers, I think that Morpheus will be one of my favorite metallic / glass sounds provider... I already love it... just listen to the demos... here what they say about it : " Named after the Greek god of dreams, the Morpheus is an aluminum percussion instrument made by the US company Freenotes. The instrument is modular; the keys can be rearranged in any order you like, as each metal bar is attached to its own tuned resonator.

The instrument is available in several different sizes - the version we sampled is two and a half octaves, with the optional 'bass Wing' extension which offers six notes ranging another octave below that of the main unit. The keys are struck with custom mallets, also built by Freenotes, and ring freely afterwards. There is no damping mechanism. The Morpheus is one of the cleanest, purest sounds you will hear - add tremolo and it sounds very much like a vibraphone, but with an extra 'glass-like' quality. Used with subtle delay and phase effects it takes on a hypnotic quality, showing why it is often used for mediative healing. Roll-off the attack transient and you're left with an almost perfect sine-wave, but not quite ; the gloss and shimmer of the metal still remain, making serene yet characterful sustained tones.

The striking clarity of tone enables the morpheus to cut any melody though any mix; but never in a brash way - making it an essential addition your sonic paint box..."

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Live stage & Ipad applications


Molten @ One Red Dog

Molten is a drum machine for Ipad.... that's it. Seems friendly and easy to use...From One Red Dog website : "Molten is a powerful and intuitive tool for creating percussive sounds and rhythm sequences.

Using a revolutionary approach to grid based pattern sequencing that divides time to instantly add tuplets and fills to your drum programming.

Unleash the potential of your beats on the iPad..."

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Midi Monitor @ iOSMidi

Midi Monitor is a free, easy to use MIDI monitor for testing MIDI Hardware compatibility with the iPad. By connecting a hardware device via USB using the USB Camera Connection Kit, you can test to see if your devices work properly and are compatible with the iPad. It can even be used as a basic MIDI controller !

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iMS20 @ Korg

Funny things these days... the mythic MS now available on Ipad ! I don't know what to say... I had the original in my hands so many times... But now you can get it with you anywhere... wow. by the way they also released the iElectribe...

More


V Control Pro @ Neyrinck

I think it's the first serious ProTools controller on Ipad... It seems to have everything needed (except the so long waited surround panner...) anyway I think it's a quite good first intention (the pro version indeed...). From the author's site : "V-Control Pro provides a fully-featured, multi-touch control surface for Pro Tools on a Mac and soon for Windows. V-Control Pro uses WiFi to control transport, editing, and mixing functions with Pro Tools 9, HD, or LE. V-Control Pro provides advanced control of sends, automation, groups, auditioning, plug-ins, scrub/shuttle, I/O assignment, and other controls within an easy-to-use interface.

Features:

Large, touch-sensitive moving faders
Solo, mute, record, and pan controls
Flip mode send editing
Scrub / shuttle control
Automation mode controls and display
Automation and group suspend buttons
Automation and group status display
Automation write enable controls
Plug-in editing
Input monitoring switch
Big counter display
Save and Undo buttons
Pre-roll / Post-roll buttons
I/O assignment
Zoom presets
Window display controls
Keypad popover provides access to many Pro Tools features"

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Free stuff of the month


Freebies @ ToneHammer



Once again... Big up to the Tonehammer guys !
Gnomehammer is a month of freebies !


Gnohmr Fruitcake @ Tonehammer


Freebie Crowbar @ Tonehammer


GB Free Nov2010 @ Gold Baby

GBfree Nov2010 is a small drum samples collection made using U-he's Ace synth with some analog outboard. Plus some glitchy fx made using Audio Damage plug-ins. It contains patches for Guru and NI Battery.

Here.


Happy Birthday greetings @ Celemony

A nice idea... Just see what it is :

Celemony is 10 !

We've been around now for 10 years; and so, for 10 years, has Melodyne. We would like to express our thanks with ten of the legendary wooden boxes in which the first Melodyne was delivered. Each box contains a license for Melodyne editor, for Melodyne studio and for all Celemony software products released in the next 10 years. Whoever gets a box will receive all the software products and updates released by Celemony until the year 2020 free of charge.

Win with a birthday greeting*

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JJP Mixing Competition @ Waves

Until 15th december, you can send to Waves your best mix using JPP Collection plugin and you can have a chance to win your choice of the JJP Artist Signature Collection or the JJP Analog Legends bundle, and the top three songs will be streamed on the Waves website for all to hear.

More


4Front Rhodes update @ Yohng

The classic Rhodes e-piano with a soft overdrive has been updated...

Here.


5 free Live Packs / Creative diversity @ Ableton

Just login to download. (anyway you can NOT use them for commercial projects...)

Here.


Nice videos of the month


Battery - A Sound Designer's tool. from Enrik Anton on Vimeo.


SoundWorks Collection: Gary Hecker, Veteran Foley Artist from Michael Coleman on Vimeo.



Peace.

Sam.

If for any reason, you want to contact me, please feel free to do so, at this address : contact@music-sound-lab.com



Sonic Big Bang


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