Akai Pro promises “a new era in sampling” as it brings stem separation to its MPC platform.
Akai Pro has announced that it is bringing MPC Stems ‘unmixing’ technology to the MPC.
“With MPC Stems, Akai Pro opens Pandora’s box, seamlessly integrating stems separation into the Iconic MPC workflow.
This innovation not only delivers superior sound quality but also enhances the speed of the sampling process, ushering producers and beat makers into a new era of sampling creativity.”
The preview video above indicates that the MPC Stems feature enables you to crack open a mixed sample or song and separate the vocals, bass, drums and one ‘other’ track. These stems are then assigned to a pad and you can adjust their respective levels.
It will also be possible to assign sample slices to different pads and isolate specific parts of the original track, so you can then ‘play’ the separated stems to create something entirely new.
Find out more and sign up to be notified when MPC Stems launches (some time in March, we’re told) on the Akai Pro website.
Korg updates its Gadget music production software and plugin suite with new gadgets, effects and VST3/AUv3 support. You can now use all of Gadget’s 40+ instruments and effects as plugins in your DAW.
Launched in 2014, Korg’s Gadget was initially a music-making app for iPads, but in 2017 Korg introduced an identical version for macOS, before releasing Korg Gadget VR, a virtual music production studio for VR headsets, in 2023.
Now in its third generation, KORG Gadget 3 is more powerful than ever.
Today, Korg has unveiled the third iteration of its Gadget software. The platform is comprised of a number of individual music-making devices (called gadgets) that span everything from synths and drum machines to audio and MIDI effects. Gadgets can be used in the iOS or macOS apps or launched within your DAW as plugins; Gadget 3 introduces VST3 and AUv3 support for this purpose.
Gadget 3 features two new gadgets that round up the total to more than 40. Santa Ana is a rhythm guitar software instrument and Sydney is a looper and sampler made for importing lengthy samples and manipulating loops. Gadget’s stable of effects has been revitalized with a new UI and expanded with the addition of an 8-band EQ, transient shaper, stereo imager, pitch shifter and “auto-pumper”, which we assume is a ducking effect. Check out the full list of gadgets here.
The new version of the software also features a redesigned Gadget Browser for quickly and easily finding the right sounds, and a Genre Select feature that helps you get started on making a track by providing a preset selection of gadgets and stock loops and phrases that are suited for working in a number of different genres. Gadget’s Play page has also been revamped with an easier-to-use scale menu that makes arpeggiation and chord entry more intuitive.
In addition to the Gadget 3 apps, the software is also available as a plugins-only package that includes the standard bundle of gadgets and all of the gadgets based on the Korg Module iOS app, ELECTRIBE Wave, iM1, and iWAVESTATION, ready for use within your DAW.
Korg Gadget Audio Demo:
Korg Gadget 3 is available now for macOS, iOS, Meta Quest 2/Pro and Nintendo Switch. The iOS app is priced at $19.99, the macOS version is $249 and the plugins-only package is $149. Upgrade pricing is also available. Find out more on Korg website.
What’s better than the Roland Space Echo? The RE-501 Chorus Echo, of course, and Nembrini Audio has just brought it back as a plugin.
It might not have quite the profile of the original Roland Space Echo units, but the RE-501 Chorus Echo, which was released in 1980, is still a bit of a classic. As its name suggests, this also benefits from the inclusion of a chorus effect to sit alongside its predecessors’ tape echo and spring reverb, and now it’s been revived by Nembrini Audio as a plugin.
The NA 501 arrives with the same promise as many emulations: the sound of the original hardware plus the benefits of modern, digital technology. Modelling techniques have been used to recreate the tape echo, BBD chorus and spring reverb, and you also get friendly features such as DAW tempo sync, more chorus and delay parameters and independent SOS (sound on sound) timings.
Despite these enhancements, the interface remains reassuringly simple and familiar, sticking to the blueprint of the plugin’s physical forebear.
On PC and Mac, NA 501 runs in VST/AU/AAX formats and is currently available for the introductory price of $29.99 (regular price $99). iOS users, meanwhile, can grab it for the introductory price of just $7.99, which represents a 50% saving.
