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

iZotope relaunches fan-favourite distortion plugin with free Lite version. The new version of Trash has been equipped with an envelope follower and a “scream filter”, along with a redesigned interface and parameter randomization.

iZotope has announced a relaunch of its popular distortion plugin Trash. Arriving with a redesigned interface, new features, and support for AUv3, Trash is also available as a free version with limited features, Trash Lite.

Originally released in 2003, Trash was a multiband distortion plugin that was later upgraded to Trash 2 in 2012 before being discontinued in 2022. iZotope tells us that the new version combines the “most popular features” of the original with a “modern design”.

Trash’s interface is based around two modules; on the left-hand side you’ll find the Trash module, which offers 60 distortion types covering everything from subtle saturation to all-out sonic destruction. Above this is the multiband display, where you’re able to select different distortion settings for customizable frequency bands.

On the right, you can control Trash’s convolution reverb, which comes with over 600 impulse responses spanning everything from piano cabinets to reversed reverbs and underwater recordings. You’re able to load in your own impulse responses too.

Both modules feature an XY pad that can be used to blend between four distortion algorithms or four impulse responses. The new version of Trash also features an envelope follower, which can be used to modulate distortion parameters, and a resonant “scream filter”. You’ll also find a Dice Roll button for parameter randomization.

iZotope has also announced a free version of Trash. Trash Lite features the Trash module and the randomization function, along with the intelligent auto-gain and limiter settings found in the paid-for version.

Trash is available as an AUv3 plugin for iPad, along with a desktop version for macOS and Windows in VST3/AU/AAX. It’s priced at $99/€109/£95 but is available for a limited time at an introductory price of $79. Owners of the previous versions will not receive a free upgrade, but will be able to upgrade for a discounted price.

Find out more on iZotope website.

Roland’s new premium digital pianos look like uprights, but are designed to sound and play like acoustic grands. The LX-9, LX-6 and LX-5 use a range of technologies to make them feel mighty real.

They look like uprights, but Roland says that its new LX-9, LX-6 and LX-5 digital pianos give you the “sound and playability” of a grand, which could be the ideal combination if space is at a premium but you don’t want to compromise on tone or touch.

These are the latest additions to the long-running LX series and feature the Piano Reality Modelling tech that was debuted in the GP digital grand piano range. This is designed to emulate every part of the acoustic piano tone generation process, the hope being that the end result is as close to the real thing as possible.

The same could be said of the new LX pianos’ 88-note keyboards, which have a hammer action with escapement and a hybrid wood/molded key construction. The LX-9 and LX-6 have the extended key length that you’d get on an acoustic grand, and in the case of the LX-9, you also get haptic feedback that promises to emulate the subtle vibrations that occur when playing said instrument.

In the case of each piano, the keyboard is designed to work with the three-pedal setup that supports all traditional pedalling techniques, while the multi-channel sound systems promise to emulate the sound characteristics of an acoustic piano (string/cabinet resonance, hammer noise and more). You can also choose from a variety of virtual environments, so you can feel like you’re playing in everything from a concert hall to a cosy studio space.

Other handy features include Bluetooth MIDI and audio, a twin mode for teaching and same-range duets, a built-in recorder and a metronome.

Each piano is available in multiple finishes, and if you want to see what it would look like in your room, you can get a ‘virtual installation’ from Roland’s Piano AR tool. Prices range from $3,800 to $7,200, and you can find out more on the Roland website.

SampleScience has introduced the release of Super Lynn Drums, a virtual instrument inspired by the vintage drum machines of Linn Instruments, including the LM1, LM2, Linn 9000 and Linndrum.

Features:

• A classic 80s drum machine sound recreated with modern tools
• 4 new 80s-style drum kits
• 5 variations for a total of 20 drum kits
• Distortion, delay, and reverb effects
• A sub-oscillator for thick drums
• Vinyl and tape layer effects for that organic sound
• Each drum can be tuned and sent to its own output
• Available as a VST/VST3/AU plugin instrument for Windows and macOS.

Super Lynn Drums is available now for $20.