Akai Professional has just launched the MPC One Retro Edition – a new MPC that offers all the features of the MPC One, but apparently it’s arrived from the late ‘80s – the grey pads and case are back, but the modern features remain.
The distinctive 16 grey pads are here, as is the retro-colored housing. However, under the hood this is a thoroughly modern standalone music-making powerhouse, with a quad-core processor and a seven-inch capacitive multi-touch screen.
In addition, if you are happy to be tethered to a computer, the MPC One Retro can also operate as a controller for the MPC2 software, which offers DAW-like levels of functionality. There’s plenty of connectivity, too, along with 4GB of on-board storage.
“Akai Professional and the MPC have a long-storied history that resonates profoundly with users from all around the world,” says Dan Gill, Akai Professional’s Senior Product Manager. “Each recalls their first MPC encounter and the role it played in their most cherished musical experiences.
“The MPC One Retro is our tribute to this rich history while proudly asserting our continued commitment to creating the most powerful standalone music production devices in the world,” adds Gill. “MPC One Retro truly embodies the best of the legendary products throughout the years and the ultimate modern standalone music production workflow.”
Madrone Music has launched a Kickstarter project to fund production of the SyncArp MIDI Arpeggiator.
The Syncarp is a dedicated arpeggiator that offers real-time control over multiple parameters. In addition, the SyncArp will break up to 10 simultaneously played notes into an arpeggio. You can hold arpeggiated chords, add notes to them in real time, and transpose them.
The SyncArp can sync to an external MIDI clock signal, through either of its MIDI-in ports, or it can provide an internal clock.
Additionally, the SyncArp has six dedicated knobs that provide real time control over:
Best Service has announced the availability of Tone2 Icarus2, a major update to the powerful software synth workstation.
Icarus2 offers 54 different synthesis methods and provides a gigantic sonic range – including 3d-wavetable synthesis, 53 effects, a vocoder, hypersaw, 62 filter types and more. The audio engine can create classic synths sounds, but also has the range to let you create unique original sounds.
*Features:
Icarus2 is described as ‘the most advanced wavetable-synthesizer on the market, but not limited to wavetable-synthesis”
The audio-engine can do 54 different synthesis modes
The 3D-wavetable-synthesis allows a new dimension of dynamic expression
High-end sound-quality with low CPU-requirement
Easy-to-use interface with animated displays and context-sensitive help
Wide sonic range
Over 1600 presets
GUI with 12 sizes, 3 zoom-levels and 26 color-schemes
Drag & drop modulation
Drum-sequencer with 100 drum-patterns
Powerful arpeggiator with autochord-support, shuffle and swing
3 x 53 effects, vocoder
Glitch-sequencer
10x stereo hypersaw, unison, stacks, chords
Polyphonic, monophonic, several legato modes
Dual multi-mode filters with 62 filter-types and 8 distortion-types
