NAMM 2009 Software Round-Up
Jan 23, 2009 7:42 PM
A comprehensive round-up of all software--even all the new software--shown at NAMM would be a little gratuitous and potentially as boring as watching European CSPAN, so to spare you the discomfort, this round-up has been routed lovingly through the Remix filter. Here then are the new apps shown at NAMM with the most relevance to producers and performers of electronic and urban music, remixers, DJs--basically all the cats and kittens who should be reading Remix in the first place.
Also, see our Remix Top Baker’s Dozen from NAMM 2009for the dirt on the killer programs that made the best of the best list: Ableton Live 8, Arturia Minimoog V 2.0, Celemony Melodyne Editor, Quantum Leap Silk, MOTU BPM and Volta, Sonivox Playa and Wallander Brass 1.
Arturia Brass 2.0
If you bought Arturia’s first version of Brass, you witnessed a valiant attempt at physical modeling of brass instruments, and you’re now entitled to a free download of the upate to Brass 2.0 ($349). The much-improved second iteration looks fly with its completely redesigned interface. It has a brand new saxophone model, including two new sax moutpieces; a new harmonization engine that lets you play four instruments as a time; improved MIDI integration for different kinds of controllers; new spacialization features and hundreds of pre-written phrases organized style, such as hip-hop, latino, rock, military and more.
Focusrite Guitar FX Suite
It seems that everyone but your mom has a group of guitar amp modeling plug-ins these days, but this is Focusrite; anyone who’s made effects as bomb as those found in the Liquid Mix DSP host deserves the benefit of the doubt.
The Guitar FX Suite comes from a collaboration with Italian software company Overloud and includes five of the guitar amp models and four distortion pedal effects in the VST and Audio Units plug-in formats. The amp models are based on the Vox AC30, Marshall JCM900, Fender Twin, MESA Boogie Rectifier and the Fender Bassman, while the pedal models are based on the Boss DS-1, the Ibanez Tube Screamer, the Electro Harmonix Big Muff and the Dunlop Fuzz Face; all of them include a bank of presets to get you started.
It shouldn’t need to be said, but don’t think that plug-ins such as these are for guitarists only. Amp plug-ins are an excellent, quick way to put a distinctive stamp of character on vocals, keyboards and really any other type of track that needs some love. But for the guitarists, Focusrite also includes a tuner and a “smart hum remover.”
IK Multimedia Amplitube Fender
More guitar joy from the great European boot. Italian company IK Multimedia scored the only official Fender endorsement of software amp models and wrapped them up in their acclaimed Amplitube trimmings. Amplitube Fender ($229) includes 45 total pieces of virtual gear, including 12 Fender amps (the Twin Reverb, ’59 Bassman LTD, Super-Sonic, Metalhead and others), 12 cabinets with nine micorphones, six stompboxes (Blender, Phaser, ‘63 Fender Reverb and more) and six rack effects from the Cyber-Twin series (pitch shift, tape echo, sine chorus, triangle flanger, wah and compressor).
There will also be a AmpliTube Fender Studio ($139) bundled that includes the IK StealthPlug USB audio cable interface and AmpliTube Fender LE software, with 15 of the 45 available Fender models. Both products will hit stores in February.
Mixosaurus
A high-end, comprehensive virtual drum instrument *and* a shout out to dinosaurs? Is there any downside? Well, perhaps not, since Mixosaurus ($449) comes with it’s own external FireWire 400/FW800/USB 2.0/eSATA hard drive to store its massive 122 GB of 24-bit samples and still doesn’t cost much more than comparable drum sample instruments. No wonder this small, new company chose to save money on a NAMM booth and just schedule private meetings instead.
Mixosaurus uses the Kontakt 2 instrument framework to host its library, which at more than 80,000 samples, doesn’t try to include a comprehensive history of acoustic and electronic drums. Instead, it comes from a 14-piece acoustic drum kit multitracked on 20 mic mic tracks and with a wide variety of articulations. There are seven alternating samples available for every sound throughout the entire library so that beats never sound repetitive. The goal is for Mixosaurus to be used by drummers on electronic kits or programmers in the studio to make authentic-sounding drum tracks that are indistinguishable from acoustic drums that you could record on your own. Cancel that studio time; Mixosaurus will be available this spring.
Novation Plug-in FX Suite
Hey, remember Novation’s awesome SuperNova II series of analog-modeling digital synths? You don’t?!? Man, we’re getting old. But from that discontinued synth, Novation has berthed its Plug-in FX Suite, five key effects in VST and Audio Units formats: chorus, delay, tremelo, phaser and the renown filter effect. The filter includes envelope-following, five filter types, three different octave slopes and a crunchy overdrive. The rare dual peak filter type can provide that signature “wow” sound heard in much modern dance music. The filter’s Q-Norm dial reduces the signal level in relation to the resonance level, which helps mimic famous filter from Moog and Oberheim synthesisers or the Roland TB-303.
The suit’es delay plug-in is an enhanced version of the Supernova II delay and adds various stereo modes, as well as highpass and lowpass inline filters, which can deliver funky dub-style effects or a vintage tape echo. The tremelo plug-in is based on the panning section of the Supernova II. Depth and speed controls combine with a new phase control to help produce fully variable auto-pan stereo spacial effects.
Adig Human Synchronizer
Sonic Reality Infinite Player and Downloadable Soundz
Steinberg Cubase 5
Waves Tony Maserati Collection
NAMM 2009 DJ Gear Round-Up
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