WORLD OF MUSIC ; PORTABLE KEYBOARD - Latest Portable Music Keyboards, Synthesizers and Music News

Yamaha has announced 2 new finger drumming pads in the shape of the FGDP-50 and FGDP-30.

Both FGDP finger drum pad designed to capitalise on the increasing popularity of tabletop beat performing, each model features a core setup of 18 pads, with the FGDP-50 also offering a further eight RGB-lighted pads, a display, flash drive support for playback/recording and note repeat.

The layout is to be conducive to three-finger drumming, with the thumb triggering the kick, the index finger firing the snare and the middle finger powering the hi-hat. The pads are velocity-sensitive, and pushing down on one mutes the sound (useful for creating cymbal choke effects, for example).

As regards to sounds, Yamaha has reconfigured the ones from its DTX modules for the new pads. These are said to have been optimised for playing with fingers rather than sticks, with special focus put on how they respond to different velocities.

The sound libraries are well-stocked: there are 1,500 voices and 48 preset kits inside the FGDP-50, and 1,212 voices and 39 preset kits in the FGDP-30.

Both FGDP pads can operate completely standalone thanks to their built-in 2.5w speakers and rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Besides, you can also use them as MIDI controllers via the USB port, which also outputs audio and enables playback from another device so that you can jam along.

Yamaha FGDP-50 and FGDP-30 priced at MSRP: $387.60 and $258.40 respectively. Find out more on the Yamaha website.

Is this the best performance keyboard on the market?

Clavia, the Swedish manufacturer behind Nord keyboards, on 15 February teased an update to its flagship performance keyboard, the Nord Stage 3.

Today, Clavia has officially announced the release of the Nord Stage 4. The instrument has been revamped with a new control panel design, an improved keybed, expanded effects section, an updated synth engine and more, making it a strong contender for one of the best performance keyboards on the market.

The Stage 4 new control panel design is aimed at making the instrument more intuitive to use and features a completely new layout and dedicated LED faders for each sound layer, with the majority of knobs and switches controlling one dedicated parameter. The keyboard has been equipped with a new preset library, to make accessing sounds quicker and easier.

The instrument keybed has been redesigned, an improvement many Nord fans were hoping for. The previous generation’s keyboard has been replaced by a triple-sensor hammer action keybed with aftertouch, with the triple-sensor technology constituting the update.

The Stage 4 Piano Library has been bolstered with an enhanced collection of grands, uprights and electric pianos, while the instrument’s synth engine has been upgraded to operate using Nord’s Wave 2 technology, taken from their synthesizer of the same name. This offers virtual analogue, FM, wavetable and sample-based synthesis, an updated arpeggiator, and an expanded stock sample library with an increased 1GB of onboard memory.

Nord new keyboard has also been outfitted with physical drawbars to control the onboard organ emulator, a feature taken from the Stage 3 Compact that was notably absent on the Stage 3. The effects section has been improved significantly, delivering a complete and independent set-up of effects for each sound layer. The new pump effect allows for tempo-synced or pedal-controlled sidechain modulation, while an upgraded reverb has been bolstered by spring, booth and cathedral settings.

The Stage 4 comes in three different models: an 88-key version, a 73-key version, and the Nord Stage 4 Compact, a smaller and more portable 73-key edition. Clavia has also announced the release of a new premium pedal range that controls a variety of the Stage 4’s new features.

The Stage 4 88 is retailing at $5699/£4399, with the Stage 4 73 coming in at $5399/£4111 and the Stage 4 Compact at $4899/£3869.

Find out more on Clavia website.

Arturia’s $99 Tape Mello-Fi plugin is free to download again, but only for a limited time.

If you missed out on Arturia’s giveaway of its $99 Tape Mello-Fi plugin last time, make sure you do not miss out this time. You’ve now got another chance to download it for free courtesy of Audio Plugin Deals.

This Mellotron-inspired lofi effect is a vintage tape-emulation and lofi effect based on the sound and behaviour of the classic Mellotron (and, in turn Arturia Mellotron V emulation). Parameter knobs enable you to adjust the amount of Noise, Flutter, Wow, Wear and ‘Mechanics’, and also enable you dial in subtle distortion and saturation.

This leaves you with an effect that promises to apply lo-fi vibes to anything you stick it on – drum loops, vocals or even your entire mix.

A 25-preset library, gives you plenty of retro starting points.

Other features include an interactive tape wheel with tempo-synced Tape Stop feature and optional Instant Tape Catch-up, a 12dB low-pass and high-pass filter section, and a Stereo Width feature that introduces offsets to Wow and Flutter from left to right for an extra-wide sound.

Tape Mello-Fi runs as a VST/AU/AAX plugin on PC and Mac and is available for free for a limited time only. Get it download on the Audio Plugin Deals website.