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

Ahead of the 2023 NAMM Show, IK Multimedia has announced that they will be introducing their Total Studio 4 MAX and entire completely revamped software line. The 2023 NAMM show being held next week April 13-15 in Anaheim, CA.

First up, leading the change we have Total Studio 4 Max, IK Multimedia biggest all-in-one software bundle yet. Designed to cover every stage of the music creation process this contains a whopping 170 products, 640GB worth of sounds and 500 effects. Additions to version 4 include Tonex Max, Modo Bass 2, Modo Drum 1.5, AmpliTube MESA/Boogie, 12 new SampleTank libraries, 12 new Syntronik synths, and 2 new T-RackS modules: The Farm Stone Room and Joe Chiccarelli Vocal Strip.

Next we have AmpliTube 5 Max v2, features all 18 brand/artist collections for more amps, cabs and effects. Users now have 435 gear models to work with and 6,000 presets (available via ToneNET). Additions include AmpliTube MESA/Boogie 2 and all four virtual X-GEAR Pedals.

And T-RackS 5 MAX v2 price is dropping, as well, with 15 new processors coming along for the ride. There are now 53 mixing and mastering plugins, including all the latest T-RackS releases: The Farm Stone Room, Joe Chiccarelli Vocal Strip, Comprexxor, Sunset Sound Studio Reverb, T-RackS Leslie, all 4 models of the TASCAM Tape Collection and FAME Studio Reverb.

Lastly, it’s a similar story in SampleTank 4 Max v2. This includes all 28 SampleTank libraries (these were sold separately up until now), all 34 synths from Syntronik 2 Max, SampleTron 2 and the full version of Miroslav Philharmonik 2. These titles sit alongside the still-included SampleTank 4 factory content, all the legacy SampleTank 2 and 3 factory content and all the legacy SampleTank 3 libraries. That all adds up to 600GB of sounds and over 18,000 instruments in all.

IK Multimedia also says that it’s lowered its pricing across the board. Total Studio 4 Max starts at $/€300 for eligible customers, while AmpliTube 5 Max v2, T-RackS 5 Max v2 and SampleTank 4 Max v2 all start at $/€200 for eligible customers.

The upgrade process for returning customers has also been simplified, with a single upgrade-for-all policy. Regardless of the IK product purchased, all registered IK users will now have access to any software product at upgrade pricing. To be eligible, the registration of any paid product, be it software, hardware or even just an app, is the only requirement. Similarly, any registered owner of another IK MAX product is eligible for IK’s MAXgrade price on the new Total Studio 4 MAX. All the new Max bundles are available now on the IK Multimedia online store
Total Studio 4 MAX – 30 new products added
More affordable prices with more accessible upgrades
IK Releases 4 New MAX Bundles

Behringer has introduced a new Eurorack module, the Four LFO.

The Four LFO seems to be a knockoff of the XOAC Batumi, which is a fully voltage-controlled, quadruple digital LFO module that offers some unique features.

Key features appear to be the same as the Batumi:

• Four voltage controlled LFOs
• Free, quadrature, phase and divide modes
• Assignable waveform outputs
• Assignable reset/tap tempo inputs

The Behringer version appears to be a fairly straight copy, but it looks like it combines the features of the Batumi and the Batumi expander module, Poti.

XAOC shared this response via Facebook:

“To all the pathetic parasites around: imitation is the highest form of flattery…”

Details on Behringer FOUR LFO pricing and availability are to be announced.

1010music shared this video introduction to their Blackbox v3.0, a major update to their compact sampling studio that they say is “a significant step forward for sequencing, songwriting, and arrangement.”

New in Blackbox 3.0:

• Each of the 16 sequences now have 4 layers. You can sequence and switch between all 64 layers for more advanced songwriting.
• You can now double a sequence. Double will double the length and content. Double allows you to write in smaller sections and extend as needed.
• The new Song mode can have up to 32 song scenes per preset. Song scenes can control sequences, Clips, Slicers, Granular samples, and one-shots. Scenes can be looped within a song. Songs mode now has 2 loop modes. You can loop a single scene or the entire song. You can also trigger each scene individually using MIDI notes.
• MID-only sequences are now fully independent of internal Pads.
• MIDI routing has been redesigned. You now have more complete control over MIDI input and output. You can selectively route MIDI in, out, or thru the blackbox. You can enable or disable the USB Device port, and have total control over how clock + transport is sent and received. Find out full details on the 1010music website.

Topics covered:

0:00 Intro

0:19 Pads – multisamples

0:38 Pads – granular samples at different pitches

0:52 Pads – slicers using different pitches

1:11 Pads – slicers using a single pitch

1:33 Pads – one-shot samples

1:48 Pads – granular samples at original pitch

1:59 Pads – start/stop synced clips

2:15 – Internal keys/grid keyboard

2:42 – 16 sequences. 4 layers

3:10 – sequence CLR vs clear

3:23 – sequence double

3:38 – pads sequence

4:02 – keys sequence

4:36 – midi sequence

5:07 – sequence midi output

5:26 – song mode

5:54 – song mode keep

6:07 – song mode loop

6:21 – song mode scene triggers

6:55 – song mode scene length + repeats

7:05 – tools master control output 1-3

7:14 – tools global midi in

7:28 – tools midi seq

7:36 – tool midi out

8:26 – tools usb dev out

8:53 – tools midi clock + transport

9:13 – tools midi clock receive

9:30 – tools midi clock send

9:49 – thanks for watching