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

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Yamaha’s CK61 and CK88 are not just stage pianos – they are portable keyboards that you can play anywhere.

The lightweight models inherit sounds from the CP and YC series.

Yamaha’s product roster is not exactly short on stage keyboards – it can already offer you the CP and YC models– but its new CK series sets itself apart by putting the focus on portability.

The 88-note CK88 and 61-key CK61 promise the sounds of the CP and YC keyboards in a more compact, lightweight form factor (13.1kg and 5.6kg respectively). Both models can be powered by eight AA batteries and have integrated loudspeakers, so the theory is that you can pitch up and play pretty much anywhere.

The soundset is as you would expect. Pianos, electric pianos, strings, brass, organs and “modern synths” are all present and correct, and you can spread these across three keyboard zones or layers to create more complex patches and increase your performance options.

Each part can be processed with the built-in effects – these include filters, envelopes, modulation processors, delay and reverb – and there’s also a final global effects section that features a master EQ.

In addition, Yamaha also promises intuitive control, with all important parameters right under your hands, and the three-part sound architecture is designed to make it easy to switch between sounds and combine them during a performance. The colour coding of the switches can be customised, so you can quickly see which parameters are active for each part.

There are dedicated organ drawbar controls, as well, and the aforementioned effects are said to be quick to adjust.

The CK61 (smaller version) features lightweight ‘Future System Basic’ (FSB) keys and has an action inspired by that of old Electone organs such as the FX-1. With a heavier initial key resistance and increased travel, Yamaha promised more expression and greater stability, and a feel that should be perfect for organs, electric pianos, strings, synths and more.

The CK-88 has ‘Graded Hammer Standard’ (GHS) keys for a more piano-like experience.

Other features include Bluetooth audio connectivity, mic/line-in, MIDI/DAW control and audio interfacing.

The CK88 and CK61 will be available in April priced at $1,899/£1,567 and $1,249/£1,008 respectively. Find out more on the Yamaha website.

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Catalyst is an idea-inspiring MIDI sequencing plugin designed to keep you away from your piano roll. Use it for basslines, melodies, chord progressions and arpeggios.

It is designed to offer inspiration and help you generate ideas when you’re in a creative rut, Toneworks’ Catalyst is a new MIDI plugin that offers sequencing, harmonising and an arpeggiator, and can even host synth plugins.

Toneworks sees Catalyst as an alternative to an empty piano roll, and one that is a whole lot more creative. Choose a root note and scale and you will never stumble on any ‘wrong’ notes, no matter how limited your knowledge of music theory.

Your first stop would likely to be the monophonic step Sequencer. This enables you to create patterns of up to 32 steps long, and each step has its own pitch, velocity and gate time controls. Five pattern slots enable you to store different ideas and variations.

The Harmonizer can generate full chords from single notes. It will only ever play the seven fundamental chords in the selected key, but you can add 6th, 7th and 9th notes and change inversions to create more interesting progressions and smoother chord transitions. You can also select the number of notes in each chord.

And, you can then turn to the Arpeggiator, which will create single notes patterns from your chords. You can design your own arpeggio patterns of up to 32 steps long, and there are various functions that you can use to add further interest.

Each of the aforementioned modules can be switched on or off, so you can use them individually or in any combination. MIDI from your DAW is always routed to the first active module, and you can also send MIDI out.

As well as being a VST/AU plugin, Catalyst is also a VST/AU host, meaning that you can load a synth right into it and send MIDI notes to it. There are also dedicated parameter sequencers that can be used for parameter automation in your hosted soft synth.

Catalyst runs on PC and Mac and is currently available for the introductory price of €49 (will be €79). Find out more and download a demo on the Toneworks website.

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Developer Momo Müller has released an Editor and Soundbank for the Korg Volca Kick.

Volca Kick Editor gives you direct access from your DAW to the Kick’s parameters, allowing you to integrate it into the DAW project.

You can save and reload your sounds, so you can create a sound library of kicks and basses. If you need new ideas, you can use the random function to generate new sounds. And, in your DAW, you can record controller movement, so sound changes can be saved.

Features:

• Complex sound changes can be made easily and quickly.
• All controllers can be automated.
• X-Y modulation of all parameters
• You can randomize the controls of the Volca Kick
• You can use your Volca Kick as a sound module in the DAW

The Editor are available for:

• PC as VST2 and Standalone for 32bit and VST2, VST3 and Standalone for 64bit Windows.
• MAC as VST2, VST3, AU and Standalone, compatible with MAC Intel and M1.

The Korg Volca Kick Editor and Soundbank are available now for €6,90/ $7 (Contains all versions).

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