Archive for April, 2021

Native Instruments and Timbaland have created a Limited-edition Komplete Kontrol M32 MIDI keyboard

 

Native Instruments has teamed up with Timbaland to create a limited-edition version of the Komplete Kontrol M32 MIDI keyboard. You cannot buy it but, you do have the chance to win one, though…

 

The striking 32-note ‘board is emblazoned with the logo for Beatclub, the global marketplace for music creators that was co-founded by Timbaland. Only 150 are being made, and they won’t be for sale in stores.

 

“Komplete Kontrol keyboards have been an integral part of my work for years,” said Timbaland. “I love seeing the Beatclub logo on a piece of equipment that’s been so important to my creative process.”

 

You might not be able to buy one, but you do have the opportunity to win one of the custom M32s via a producer competition on Metapop.com.

 

To enter, you need to use a loop and two one-shots from Timbaland’s upcoming Holy Grail sound pack – the competition will be judged by Timbaland and the top 10 finalists will all receive a keyboard.

 

The competition is open now and runs until 27 May.

 

Your other option is to donate to a fundraiser on StockX, which is auctioning off three of the keyboards. All funds donated will go to Girls Make Beats, a non-profit organisation that aims to expand the female presence of music producers, DJs, and audio engineers.

 

Starting 4 May at 12noon EDT and running through to 7 May at 12noon EDT, customers who donate at least $10 to Girls Make Beats on the StockX platform will be entered to win one of the limited-edition units.

 

Commenting on the limited-edition M32, Native Instruments CEO Constantin Koehncke said: “Music making is as much about access to the tools as it is about being part of a positive and thriving community. That’s why it was a no-brainer for us to work together with Beatclub on this limited edition keyboard.

 

“We are excited to continue our long-standing relationship with Timbaland with this partnership, and are looking forward to future collaborations to fulfil our mission to inspire music creators to shape the future of music.”

 

 

 

M-Audio breathes new life into its Oxygen MIDI keyboard range.

 

M-Audio continues to revise and reboot its classic Oxygen range of MIDI keyboards, with the latest versions, known as the MKV models, adding smart controls, auto-mapping, and a built-in arpeggiator.

 

The MKV series includes 25-, 49– and 61-keys models in the range, all feature full-size, velocity-sensitive keys, faders, trigger pads and more.

 

The Smart Controls relate to chords and scales. With the Smart Chord feature, you can play full chords by pressing a single key, while Smart Scale ensures that you will only be able to play notes from your chosen scale. Both the features are customisable, and you get more than 15 different scale variations.

 

In addition, the Auto-mapping feature enabled you to make setup a breeze, with multiple controls – Transport, Faders, Pan, Record Arm, Solo, Mute, Select – being automatically configured for your specific DAW. Major DAWs are supported, including Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, MPC Beats, Cubase and Studio One. All you need to do is tp select your preferred DAW on the Oxygen (MKV) and making the appropriate preference settings in your DAW.

 

The customisable arpeggiator, enables you adjust Type, Octave, Gate and Swing settings, and can operate in Latch and Momentary modes. It can run either at the tempo you set on the keyboard or sync to your DAW.

 

The new Oxygens include a range of software tools, 60 free lessons from Melodics and a 3-month subscription to Skoove.

 

Oxygen Series (MKV) Features

 

  • Full-size, velocity-sensitive keys
  • Preset and DAW buttons for auto-mapped DAW instruments and plugins
  • Assignable faders let you mix your productions with ease
  • Smart Chord mode enables playing of enharmonic or custom chord voicings
  • Smart Scale mode eliminates wrong notes making it easy to craft a perfect song
  • Arpeggiator with Type, Octave, Gate and Swing controls
  • 2 banks of 8 velocity-sensitive trigger pads with Note Repeat for beat production
  • 8 assignable knobs for manipulating virtual instruments and plugins
  • Transport buttons let you control your DAW without reaching for the mouse
  • Display provides instant parameter feedback
  • Ergonomically designed pitch and modulation wheels & 1/4” sustain pedal input
  • Includes MIDI editor software and a complete software production package

 

Software bundle

  • MPC Beats
  • Ableton Live Lite
  • Hybrid 3 – Multi-oscillator synthesizer
  • Mini Grand – Acoustic piano
  • MPC Beats Producer Kits – Multi-Genre Beat Production Pack
  • F9 Instruments Beats Edition – 25 High Quality Instrument Samples
  • LANIAKEA Sounds – TrapSoul & LoFi Production Pack
  • MSX Audio – Soulful Drums Collection
  • ADSR – LoFi Producer Collection

M-Audio Oxygen 25 (MKV)

 

 

Find out more on the M-Audio website.

 

The Oxygen (MKV) series keyboards are available now.

 

Focusrite taking ownership of Dave Smith’s analogue synths

 

 

In a significant music tech industry development, British audio company has acquires US synth manufacturer. Focusrite has announced that it has acquired Dave Smith highly respected Sequential synth brand.

 

Dave Smith founded Sequential Circuits in 1974, designing the legendary Prophet-5 and many other influential synths and drum machines. He was also a key player in the development of the original MIDI spec, announced in 1981.

 

In 2002, Smith returned to the hardware synth market, starting Dave Smith Instruments. And over the past two decades, his products have been a crucial part of the analogue revival.

 

In 2018, Dave Smith Instruments was rebranded as Sequential, with Yamaha having returned the name to Smith in 2015. A rebooted Prophet-5 was released in 2020.

 

Sequential now joins the Focusrite Group’s family of brands, which includes Focusrite, Focusrite Pro, Martin Audio, Optimal Audio, ADAM Audio, Novation, and Ampify. The theory is that Sequential will now benefit from greater resources to expand its global markets and future Research &Development efforts. The acquisition opens up the possibility of tech being shared between Novation- and Sequential-branded instruments.

 

“With Focusrite, we’ve found an ideal home and a perfect cultural and technological fit,” says Dave Smith. “Phil Dudderidge and his team have a long history of quality, vision, and focus on what musicians and audio professionals really want. We’re excited to join such an industry powerhouse and contribute to our mutual success. I expect great things.”

 

Focusrite Founder Phil Dudderidge commented: “We’re excited and pleased to add Sequential’s instruments and pedigree to Focusrite Group’s portfolio of world-class audio and music production tools.

 

“Dave Smith’s history as an innovator speaks for itself. From his creation of the world’s first fully programmable polysynth, the Prophet 5, to his co-invention of MIDI, Dave has literally changed the world of music several times. We’re looking forward to continuing his history of innovation and expanding the global market for Sequential’s instruments.”

 

Although Sequential has become a wholly owned subsidiary of Focusrite plc, with Dave Smith remaining at the helm, Sequential day-to-day operations and product development will remain unchanged.