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e-instruments lab has introduced Pure Strings – an iOS app designed to turn your iPhone or iPad into an expressive string instrument.

They say that Pure Strings combines “the high-quality sound typically associated with desktop virtual instruments with the intuitive, tactile experience of mobile devices”.

Features:

• Interactive Morphpad – morph, blend and mix string sounds with simple finger movements
• Nine different sounds – navigate between nine core string sounds: sustain, pizzicato, staccato, harmonics, trill, tremolo, string machine, synth, vintage tape string
• Extensive Connectivity – Connect via USB, direct or Bluetooth MIDI, Inter Device Audio (IDAM), Network MIDI
• Standalone and AUv3 plug-in compatible – Plug and play or use within your favourite music production software
• Multiple dynamics control options: velocity, on screen dynamics strip, modwheel, automation
• Arpeggiator for short articulations – transforms chords into synchronized arpeggios that follow your host tempo
• Con Sordino button – soften the sound to create a mellow and emotional atmosphere, replicating the effect of a mute used by string players
• Zynaptiq QREV Reverb – Add extra atmosphere and depth to your sound
• 3-Band EQ and Delay – Get creative with customizable EQ and temposynced Delay effects
• Attack and release envelope control
• “Studio Quality Audio at Ultra-low Latency”
• Save and Load Your Own Presets – Wherever you land on the Morph Pad, if you like the sound you hear – save it and recall it again later
• Customizable velocity curve
• Transposition and tuning options
• 24-bit, 44.1 kHz
• 905MB installation

Pure Strings is available now for $22.49.

Arturia has introduced MiniFreak Vocoder Edition – a special edition of the polyphonic hybrid synth.

The new version features the same dual digital engines, analog filters, modulation and sequencing power, but adds a vocoder and gooseneck mic.

Here’s an example of the new vocoder feature in action:

For existing MiniFreak owners, Arturia has also released MiniFreak 4.0, a free firmware update that adds two new FX modes and 15 new vocoder sounds. It’s available now as a free update.

MiniFreak Vocoder is available now for $699.

Madonna has announced her long-rumored Veronica Electronica album – an album of remixes of her album Ray Of Light – will finally see the light of day. Ray Of Light, her 1998 release produced by William Orbit, is considered by many to be her best album. Orbit produced all the tracks, but one, and his arrangements are creative and full of interesting synth work.

In a 1998 Keyboard magazine interview, Orbit shared these technical details about the album’s production:

“It’s not a ton of gear. Most of it is pretty retro: a Korg MS-20, a [Roland] Juno-106, a [Roland] JD-800. Much of the album was done on a Juno-106. You can get so much out of that synth. Also a significant amount of it was done on the MS-20 — the more spiky sounds. A few things that people think are guitar are actually the MS-20.

And then there were a few more bits and pieces: a few modules, a Yamaha DX7, a Novation Bass Station, a [Roland] JP-8000, a lot of Roland stuff. I’ve always liked Roland stuff.

I started the whole thing on an Atari [ST] system with [Steinberg] Cubase II. I didn’t know that was unusual until about two-thirds of the way through, when people would comment on it. At one point the thing even caught fire. Really. Smoke coming out of it. It was like, “What’s that smell? Oh, it’s burning components.”

But the funniest memory was Madonna, who doesn’t do a lot of keyboard playing, messing around on a keyboard marked up with grease pencils. I mean, picture Madonna, the biggest pop star in the world, playing with this retro gear that you could buy for $50 in the Recycler.”

The album turned out to be a wild success – selling more than 16 million copies and earning four Grammy Awards. But the planned remix album never saw the light of day.

Now, nearly three decades later, Veronica Electronica is being released. It features remixes by Peter Rauhofer, William Orbit, Sasha, BT, Victor Calderone, and others. The first remix, for Skin, is out now (embedded above).

Veronica Electronica is being released July 25 vinyl and in digital formats.

Veronica Electronica LP Track Listing:

Side A

1.”Drowned World/Substitute For Love” – BT & Sasha Bucklodge Ashram New Edit
2.”Ray Of Light” – Sasha Twilo Mix Edit
3.”Skin” – The Collaboration Remix Edit
4.”Nothing Really Matters” – Club 69 Speed Mix Meets The Dub

Side B

1.”Sky Fits Heaven” – Victor Calderone Future New Edit
2.”Frozen” – Widescreen Mix and Drums
3.”The Power Of Good-Bye” – Fabien’s Good God Mix Edit
4.”Gone, Gone, Gone” – Original Demo Version